Virus detector harnesses ring of light in 'whispering gallery mode'

ScienceDaily (Aug. 24, 2012) ? By affixing nanoscale gold spheres onto a microscopic bead of glass, researchers have created a super-sensor that can detect even single samples of the smallest known viruses. The sensor uses a peculiar behavior of light known as "whispering gallery mode," named after the famous circular gallery in St. Paul's Cathedral in London, where a whisper near the wall can be heard around the gallery.

In a similar way, waves of light are sent whirling around the inside of a small glass bead, resonating at a specific frequency. Just as a small object on a vibrating violin string can change its frequency -- ever so slightly -- so too can a virus landing on the sensor change the resonant frequency of the light. With the initial glass sphere, researchers were able to detect changes in frequency from viruses about the size of influenza, a relatively large virus.

The system, however, was not sensitive enough to detect anything smaller, such as the Polio virus. The researchers were able to increase the sensitivity of the device nearly seventyfold by adding gold nanospheres to the surface of the glass, which created what the researchers referred to as "plasmonic hot spots" -- areas where the light waves coupled with waves of electrons.

This hybrid sensor not only detected the presence of the MS2 virus -- the current light-weight in the world of RNA viruses -- it also was able to determine the weight of the virus by measuring the precise frequency change of the light.

With a few minor adjustments, the sensor should also be able to detect single proteins, such as cancer markers that appear in the blood long before outward signs of cancer can be detected. The results were published in the American Institute of Physics (AIP) journal Applied Physics Letters.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Institute of Physics (AIP), via Newswise.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. V. R. Dantham, S. Holler, V. Kolchenko, Z. Wan, S. Arnold. Taking whispering gallery-mode single virus detection and sizing to the limit. Applied Physics Letters, 2012; 101 (4): 043704 DOI: 10.1063/1.4739473

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_technology/~3/ouzlXWI1Se4/120824081919.htm

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BOOK CLUB FRIDAY - GUEST AUTHOR SUSAN SANTANGELO - Yes

Today we have a return visit from Susan Santangelo, author of the Baby Boomer Mysteries. An early member of the Baby Boomer generation, Susan Santangelo has been a feature writer, drama critic and editor for daily and weekly newspapers in the New York metropolitan area, including a stint at Cosmopolitan magazine. A seasoned public relations and marketing professional, she has designed and managed not-for-profit events and programs for over 25 years, and was principal of her own public relations firm, Events Unlimited, in Princeton NJ for ten years. She also served as Director of Special Events and Volunteers for Carnegie Hall during the Hall's 1990-1991 Centennial season.

A portion of the sales from the Baby Boomer Mysteries is donated to the Breast Cancer Survival Center, a non-profit organization based in Connecticut which Susan founded in 1999 after being diagnosed with cancer herself.? Read more about Susan and her books at her website. -- AP? Location! Location! Location! It?s a major selling point when home buyers are looking at properties to buy. And for me, location is just as important in fiction. As an avid mystery reader, I find myself more willing to take a chance on a new author I know nothing about if I?m attracted to the locale where the book is set. When I started writing the Baby Boomer mysteries, I created the Connecticut town of Fairport. It?s a thinly disguised version of Fairfield, where my family and I lived for many years. And, yes, we lived in an antique house, just like the principal characters in the series, Carol and Jim Andrews. But because Fairport is a fictional place, I was free to populate it with restaurants, churches, stores, and street names to my heart?s content, as long as they all worked into the story line, without any current Fairfield resident (or, heaven forbid, an elected town official!) contacting me to say that I hadn?t gotten the description down correctly. Believe me, that can happen. Don?t ask me how I know, please. Just trust me. I know. But when I started to write Book 3 in the series, Marriage Can be Murder, I wanted to include a destination wedding, so I had to move the location out of Fairport. Where did I decide to have the wedding take place? Somewhere I?ve always loved -- the island of Nantucket. I discovered when I started doing some research about Nantucket that the entire island is designated as a National Historic Landmark. I never knew that. Nantucket is affectionately referred to as The Little Grey Lady of the Sea because of its many grey-shingled buildings and frequent fog. The island is 14 miles long by 3.5 miles wide, and is 27 miles out to sea. Nantucket is 30 miles south of Cape Cod, and has a year-round population of approximately 10,000. The population increases to about 50,000 during the summer months, which is Nantucket?s peak tourist season. There are great shopping opportunities at this time of year. Don?t ask me how I know this, either. But, trust me, I know. Nantucket was the whaling capital of the world from the mid-1700s to the late 1830s, and was made famous by Herman Melville in his classic novel, Moby Dick. Ok, I?ll confess I?ve never read that book. But I?m sure it?s on my to-be-read pile, somewhere in my office. And I did see the movie starring Gregory Peck, so that counts, right? Some atlases describe Nantucket Island as crescent-shaped. To really get the picture, take your right hand and fold in all your fingers but the thumb and index finger. Then rotate your hand to the left, palm down, and voila ? your own Nantucket island. Madaket is where your thumb is -- a tiny community with its own harbor, gorgeous houses and beautiful beaches. Follow your thumb to the right ? that?s Madaket Road, which eventually leads you into the town of Nantucket, approximately where your thumb opens as it heads toward the index finger. Picture that opening as the town, and Straight Wharf, where the ferries to and from the mainland dock. More than 800 houses on Nantucket were built before the American Civil War, and I decided the primary site for my mystery would be one of them. I named it the Grey Gull Inn. You won?t find this inn on Nantucket, because it?s the product of my over active imagination. And then I really had fun -- I gave it some history. Here?s what Carol Andrews, my protagonist, finds out about it from the Grey Gull Inn website: ?The inn was built in 1825 by Nathaniel Grey, a whaling captain, as a gift to his new bride, Charity. Tragically, soon after the couple moved into the house, Charity was found dead at the bottom of the house?s circular staircase. An inquest determined her death was a tragic accident. Captain Grey never recovered from the shock of his young wife?s death, and legend has it that he continues to live in the house, searching in vain for his bride. The building was converted in the 1980s to a 10-bedroom inn. The current owners are siblings JoAnn and Skip Wallace, who are direct descendants of Captain Nate, as he was known in the family. They completely refurbished the structure in 2006, adding a new wing to the inn with six more guest room suites.? I placed the Grey Gull Inn right in the center of Nantucket town, close to historic Main Street, Nantucket?s primary shopping district. I gave it a full-service gourmet restaurant and one of the most notable wine lists on the island. But I didn?t give an en suite bathroom to the older part of the inn, where the Andrews family is staying. Why? Well, I won?t tell. Here?s the back cover blurb for the book. See if you can figure out a clue. Book Three of the Baby Boomer mystery series, Marriage Can Be Murder, brings the Andrews family to Nantucket. Carol is thrilled when daughter Jenny announces her engagement. She?s dreamed of planning her daughter?s wedding since the day Jenny was born. But with only two months to pull together a destination wedding on Nantucket, Jenny insists on hiring Cinderella Weddings to organize the event. Father-of-the-bride Jim objects to the cost, and Carol objects to having her opinion ignored. When Carol finds the wedding planner dead at the bottom of a spiral staircase at a Nantucket inn, and the husband of Carol?s BFF Nancy is accused of her death, Carol has more to worry about than getting to the church on time! If you can?t figure out the clue, you?ll just have to check out Marriage Can Be Murder for yourself. The Grey Gull Inn is open and ready to receive your reservation! But be sure to call ahead for the ferry, if you want to bring a car.

Thanks so much for joining us today, Susan. One of these days I hope to get to Nantucket.?-- AP

Source: http://anastasiapollack.blogspot.com/2012/08/book-club-friday-guest-author-susan.html

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BRANDSTYLE COMMUNICATIONS Seeking PR Intern In NYC ...

An internship at BRANDSTYLE COMMUNICATIONS gives a hands-on, inside look at the world of fashion public relations. Interns will develop writing, communications, and event production skills while learning how to develop targeted media lists, track samples & media placements, create press clips, and coordinate deliveries to key media contacts at the nation?s top newspapers, magazines, online, and broadcast outlets. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in a career in Public Relations, Fashion, and Event Planning.

REQUIREMENTS
? Candidates should be enthusiastic about gaining experience in the world of Fashion PR.
? Excellent writing and communications skills, along with the ability to multi-task & pay attention to detail are essential. Interns should be problem solvers, self starters, and highly organized.
? Previous experience is a plus.

To apply, please send your resume to kate@brandstylecommunications.com or call 212.794.0060.

ABOUT BRANDSTYLE COMMUNICATIONS
BRANDSTYLE COMMUNICATIONS is a lifestyle public relations company offering a highly customized, stylish approach to brand promotion. Our expertise lies in timely creativity and an impeccable network of media, personalities, industry influencers, style-makers and brand relationships. Categories covered include Fashion, Beauty, Arts & Culture, Architecture & Design, Celebrities & Personalities and Luxury Lifestyle Services. BRANDSTYLE COMMUNICATIONS provides clients with original ideas, customized service and personal attention through high-impact promotions, targeted events and increased public awareness.

Source: http://fashionista.com/2012/08/brandstyle-communications-seeking-pr-intern-in-nyc/

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China not enemy in fight against cybercrime

SINGAPORE--China tend to be targeted for blame when the latest cyberattack is conducted or when trade secrets of other countries are stolen. However, one Chinese official pointed out that the country is also a target for such attacks but it is seldom given a chance to contribute to international efforts to fight against online crimes.

That was the view of Du Yuejin, deputy CTO of national computer emergency response team (CERT) and coordination center of China, who was speaking at the Cybersecurity and Cyberterrorism Conference here on Thursday.

Du said there is a lot of "misunderstanding" toward China today in the cybersecurity realm as many countries assume it is behind many online attacks and attempts to steal state and industrial secrets from governments and private sector organizations to gain an edge politically and economically.

He cited Chinese telecoms equipment vendors Huawei Technologies and ZTE as examples, saying these companies face constant scrutiny and allegations from the U.S. of working with its government to steal trade secrets by monitoring the hardware they sell to American companies.

This fear shown by other countries was also mentioned by industry watchers earlier, when they said China's rising stature in the tech arena posed economic concerns for many developed countries, especially those in the West. Benjamin Cavender, senior analyst at China Market Research, for one, observed the rising influence of Chinese companies in the global IT marketplace could bring tension among other economies most notably the U.S.

Additionally, the country is often excluded from having a voice in global security conferences, the official noted. The annual RSA security conference, for example, goes by the theme of "where the world talks about security" but China is omitted from participating, which he finds "a pity".

This is because, like any other country, China-based organizations are also targets for cyberattacks. Using China's CERT report in March, Du said 47,000 foreign Internet Protocol (IP) addresses had been involved in remotely accessing and controlling computers in China, with some 9,528 U.S.-based IP addresses alone controlling 8.85 million computers in China.

International collaboration needed to stop online crimes
The deputy CTO stressed that the real enemies in the war against cybercrime are those who "abuse information, communication, and technology and exploit vulnerabilities", and countries should not be fighting against each other.

"The misunderstanding against China should be eliminated and everyone must work together to fight against the real enemy," he stated.

Moving forward, he hopes there will be more opportunities for China to have a say in international conferences and countries will start to view China as an ally, not enemy, in the fight against cybercrime, the official said.

Some of its contributions to the cause can be seen in its efforts to foster global collaboration by asking governments to guard against online threats in a 2002 proposal to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), he pointed out.

China also established an Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations)-China Framework for network and information security emergency responses in the area of information sharing for IT security, Du added.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/zdnetaustralia-news/~3/LA0zwjmuNRI/

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freshenergy: RT @nobleideas: In Michigan this November, the most important U.S. clean energy vote of the year. http://t.co/I5rx7InI

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Source: http://twitter.com/freshenergy/statuses/239123702657212416

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iPhone 4S discounted to $148 at Walmart

15 hrs.

Rosa Golijan

Given that Apple is expected to announce the next-generation iPhone on Sept. 12, it's no surprise that retailers are slashing prices on the current model. You can now snag a 16 GB iPhone 4S for just $148 at Walmart.

The new pricing kicked in on Thursday morning and it'll be in place as long as supplies last. Walmart previously offered the smartphone for $188, so you're now saving yourself $40. (Do note that you'll have to sign a two-year service agreement with AT&T, Sprint or Verizon in order to take advantage of this offer.)

While Walmart's deal is a rather decent one, you shouldn't forget that the iPhone 4S will feel a bit outdated within about a month. Assuming that the next-generation iPhone is announced on Sept. 12, it is expected to hit store shelves by Sept. 21, according to multiple reports.

Of course, based on current Apple rumors, it sounds like the new device will at least look pretty darn similar to the iPhone 4S (though it will?probably have a?slightly thinner and larger screen?and?a two-tone body), so perhaps it'd be easy to?suppress?any longing for the newer gadget for some time.

Want more tech news?or interesting?links? You'll get plenty of both if you keep up with Rosa Golijan, the writer of this post, by following her on?Twitter, subscribing to her?Facebook?posts,?or circling her?on?Google+.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/gadgetbox/iphone-4s-discounted-148-walmart-960176

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Cheap and cheerful, Chinese phones outsmart Apple

In China's booming smartphone market, which is set this year to overtake the United States as the world's largest, a host of little-known local firms are primed with cheap phones to squeeze market share from U.S. giant Apple Inc's iPhone.

In the latest local challenge to the iPhone, Xiaomi Technology on Thursday launches the successor to its popular MiOne smartphone, which is expected to have top-end specifications exceeding those of the iPhone 4S - at around half the price.

While iPhone sales will increase in China, Apple's market share may stagnate or even dip as the market's changing demographics mean the iPhone flourishes in just a handful of wealthy Chinese cities, analysts said.

"The sweet spot of affordability in China is 800-1,500 yuan," said Michael Clendenin, managing director of Shanghai-based consultancy RedTech Advisors. "The 'Lao Bai Xing', or man in the street, is going to go for these mid-tier phones."

Industry researcher IDC estimates that in China last year, smartphones costing less than $200 made up 40 percent of shipments, while devices costing $700 and more accounted for 11 percent of the market.

Apple releases a single iPhone model a year at a price - around $800 - equivalent to about two months pay for an urban Chinese, who make up half of China's 1.3 billion population. Analysts say the real growth in China is in cheaper smartphones where a wide variety of models at different prices appeal to first-time buyers.

"Apple isn't going to rule China, simply because of the limited models they have and the price points they target," said TZ Wong, an analyst with IDC. "Based on these two factors, we do not think Apple will be the No. 1 smartphone player in China."

Apple ranked second in January-March smartphone shipments in China, with 17.3 percent market share, trailing Samsung Electronics' <005930.KS> 19.2 percent, according to research firm, Gartner.

A graph showing the mobile market in China

?

Smartphones from Xiaomi - founded only two years ago but already worth more than Blackberry maker Research in Motion , according to private market valuations - have proved so popular they sell out in minutes after going on sale online. The company, founded by CEO Lei Jun, said last month its first-half revenue was close to $1 billion as it sold more than 3 million phones.

Mirroring Apple's annual worldwide developers conference (WWDC), where devotees would pay to listen to Steve Jobs showcasing new products, the informally-clad Lei will charge MiOne fans 199 yuan to attend the Beijing launch, with the proceeds going to charity.

Apple's market share by volume has been on a downtrend, and the share of the market commanded by its iOS mobile operating system is expected to slip to third place by 2016 from second earlier this year, according to Gartner analyst Sandy Shen - below Google Inc's Android and Microsoft Corp's Windows.

Apple's iPhone sales in China, its second-largest market, stumbled in April-June on inventory adjustments with the launch of the iPhone 4S. That extra inventory meant resellers didn't need to buy as many iPhones during the quarter, and the expected launch later this year of the iPhone 5, with enhanced Chinese language capabilities, also likely held back orders.

"Apple's market share is pretty stable. It will be flat over the next five years. Although volume-wise it's increasing, that's because the total market is growing," Shen said.

Research firms IDC and Gartner predict China's smartphone shipments could hit 140 million this year, topping those in the United States.

Growth is driven largely by smartphones made by ZTE, Lenovo Group and smaller private firms such as Xiaomi, Gionee and Meizu Technology.

Meizu phones, which sell in China and Hong Kong for 1,500 yuan, are feted by Western technology blogs for offering high-end smartphones at bargain basement prices.

Offering even cheaper models, Alibaba Group, Shanda Interactive and Baidu Inc have all this year launched smartphones for under 1,000 yuan. Baidu's phone, made with partners, retails at 899 yuan, while Alibaba's waterproof smartphone, made with Haier Electronics Group <1169.HK>, costs 999 yuan.

"For those with an iPhone or Samsung ... it's just a replacement cycle. But for many people who haven't got their first smartphone, those are the people who will get cheap smartphones," Shen said.

?

Reuters

Source: http://tech2.com.feedsportal.com/c/34190/f/619587/s/22a53057/l/0Ltech20Bin0N0Cnews0Csmartphones0Ccheap0Eand0Echeerful0Echinese0Ephones0Eoutsmart0Eapple0C373582/story01.htm

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