Day: July 12, 2012

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From Ars Technica: Viruses used in vaccines can recombine—and get virulent

The first successful vaccines, like Jenner’s smallpox vaccine and the first Salk vaccine against polio, were based on viruses that do not cause illness or severe symptoms. Vaccine development has since shifted largely to the use of proteins that are used by the disease-causing agents, but there are still some cases where a dead or attenuated virus is the most effective method of generating immunity.

The use of viruses for vaccines, however, has always come with a bit of a concern. When it comes to viruses, one-in-a-million events happen all the time, and evolution gives any viruses used in vaccines a lot to work with: many related viruses in the wild, and animal genomes that are littered with pieces of former viruses. Now, researchers have discovered a case where two different agricultural vaccines have recombined to create a new, virulent strain of the disease they were intended to prevent.

In poultry, a form of herpesvirus (gallid herpesvirus 1) causes a respiratory disease that is sometimes fatal; even if it doesn’t kill the animals, it causes a reduced egg production. As a result, several vaccines have been developed against the virus responsible, based on attenuated forms that do not cause serious illness. Three of these vaccines are approved for use in Australia: two based on viral strains that are present in Australia, and a third developed against a strain common in Europe.

 

from Ars Technica

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From Ars Technica: Researchers pave way for much brighter OLEDs

The two poles of an electromagnet control the orange glow from a spin-organic LED.
Tho Nguyen, University of Utah

Researchers have built the first organic LED (OLED) that is controlled by the spin of the charge carriers running through the device, paving the way for future OLED devices to offer increased brightness. Though rumors say Samsung will release a 55-inch OLED TV this fall, don’t expect a spin-OLED on the market soon. This prototype orange OLED only works at temperatures below -33°Celsius (-28°Fahrenheit).

OLEDs contain layers of organic polymers sandwiched between two electrodes. (Organic here refers to molecules containing mostly carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, like those in our bodies.) These polymers act like semiconductors, so applying voltage across the sandwich generates electrons at one electrode, and their positive partners, called “holes,” at the other. These electrons and holes travel along the polymers, smashing together when they meet. This collision pumps energy into the molecule. It loses that extra energy by emitting light.

But there’s a catch. Polymers only emit light when the spins of the electrons and holes are arranged in particular combinations. Think of spin as a tiny bar magnet inside the electrons and holes. When two spins meet, the north poles of each spin can point the same direction, or they can oppose each other. Both of these combinations can create light, though whether or not they both do it in the same organic semiconductor depends on the individual polymers.

 

from Ars Technica

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From Ars Technica: DEA installs license-plate recognition devices near Southwest border

This story was produced by the Center for Investigative Reporting. Learn more at www.cironline.org. Contact the reporter at gwschulz@cironline.org.

In their unending battle to deter illegal immigration, drug trafficking and terrorism, U.S. authorities already have beefed up border security with drug-sniffing dogs, aircraft, and thousands more agents manning interior checkpoints.

Now, the US Drug Enforcement Administration has decided it wants more, and the Justice Department agency doesn’t care whether someone has even set foot in Mexico.

 

from Ars Technica

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From Autoblog: Video: This is how good car crashing in video games is about to become

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It is evident even with the most realistic car games that crashes have mainly been left off of the realism menu. Sure, hit a wall or another car and there will be some damage and crumpling, but it usually doesn’t look like a genuine car crash. A start-up company called BeamNG is working to change that, developing a physics modification for the Cry Engine 3 to create wrecks that appear to be lifted from a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash-test video.

They team has been at it for a while, and the latest multicore version shows off one- and two-car collisions that feature shattering glass and more realistic deformations. They’re still at work on it and have promised more improvements, but the video belowshows off just how real things are about to get in the world of video games. Well, once a game maker decides to use the Cry Engine 3 for a driving game, that is…

 

from Autoblog

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From Autoblog: Official: 2013 Ford Focus ST gets 23 mpg city, 32 mpg highway ratings

2013 Ford Focus ST - yellow - front three-quarter view, dynamic

Ford has released the official Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy ratings for its 2013 Focus ST. The hottest of Blue Oval hatches will manage 32 mpg highway, 23 mpg city and 26 mpg combined from the turbocharged 2.0-liter Ecoboost four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission. Ford notes those numbers best both the Volkswagen GTI five-door at 21 mpg city and 31 mpg highway and the MazdaSpeed3 at 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. At 252 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, the Focus ST also bests the Volkswagen in power, but loses that fight to the Mazda.

Judging by our recent first drive, that doesn’t stop the machine from being plenty entertaining, however. With a conservative 0-62 mph time of 6.5 seconds and a top end of 155 mph, this is about as far from a rental Focus at the Hertz lot as one can get. For comparison’s sake, the base, naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder Focus is capable of up to 40 mpg highway with a special fuel economy package, but it also delivers 92 fewer horsepower and far fewer thrills. Check out the full press releasebelow.

 

from Autoblog