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“Printed Solar Power” by the University of Newcastle – Kenznow

“Printed Solar Power” by the University of Newcastle – Kenznow
  • PublishedFebruary 5, 2024

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CAMPUS STORY

“Printed Solar Power” by the University of Newcastle

Source: The University of Newcastle

The University of Newcastle has achieved outstanding advancements in the creation of printed solar energy, a ground-breaking innovation with enormous promise for the mainstream use of sustainable energy sources. This development may alter how we collect and use solar energy, taking us one step closer to a sustainable future.

Solar power has long been recognized as a clean and sustainable energy source. Although efficient, conventional solar panels are frequently constrained by their stiff construction, high production costs, and installation necessities. However, by creating a method to print solar cells using a cheap approach onto thin, flexible surfaces, researchers at the University of Newcastle have achieved important advances.

This innovative technique creates fresh opportunities for using solar electricity in a range of applications. The printed solar cells may be made in vast quantities and are lightweight and flexible. Building materials, windows, electronics, and even wearable technology may all be seamlessly integrated with them. As a result, every surface that receives sunlight has the potential to generate renewable energy, turning the environment into a network of solar power plants.

The University of Newcastle research team has successfully proved the efficiency of printed solar cells in testing environments. A competitive alternative to conventional silicon-based solar panels, the printed cells have demonstrated a high degree of efficiency in converting sunlight into useful power. Additionally, this technology is more widely available because of the low-cost production method, which can lower the entire cost of solar energy systems.

The advancement achieved by the University of Newcastle is unquestionably a huge step forward, even if there is still work to be done to maximize the effectiveness and longevity of printed solar cells. It is a prime example of how research and innovation can advance renewable energy technologies and bring about good change. Let’s honor the hard work and creativity of the scientists and researchers at the University of Newcastle as we advance. We are one step closer to establishing a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future, thanks to their groundbreaking work in printed solar power.

HEARD ON WEB

Valneva’s Experimental Vaccine for Chikungunya Shows Immune Response

Source: Bloomberg

Leading specialty vaccine manufacturer Valneva has made major strides in the creation of a possible vaccine for the crippling viral illness Chikungunya, which is spread by mosquitoes. In clinical trials, their investigational vaccine produced a positive immunological response, which is a big step towards reducing the burden of this infectious illness worldwide.

Fever, joint pain, muscle pains, rash, and weariness are some of the signs and symptoms of the chikungunya virus, which is spread by the Aedes mosquito. In recent years, the illness has spread quickly, infecting millions of individuals on several continents. Since there is no specialized antiviral medication, prevention through efficient immunizations is essential in limiting the disease’s negative effects on public health.

VLA1553, a live-attenuated vaccine by Valneva, is intended to elicit a protective immune response against Chikungunya. The vaccine demonstrated outstanding immunogenicity in Phase 2 research with more than 4,000 participants, which means it produced a strong immune response in the recipients. The findings showed that following a single immunization, VLA1553 elicited neutralizing antibodies in over 98% of the subjects, and this response persisted even after one year.

These positive results open the door for the vaccine’s continuing research and possible licensure. Valneva intends to launch Phase 3 studies to evaluate the vaccine’s safety profile and effectiveness at preventing Chikungunya infection on a bigger scale. Millions of individuals at risk for the disease would have hope if VLA1553 were to become the first licensed vaccination for Chikungunya.

The success of Valneva in developing the Chikungunya vaccine is a monument to the commitment and teamwork of scientists, researchers, and healthcare workers. It is imperative to create vaccinations that are effective against newly developing infectious diseases, especially in light of the threats that diseases spread by mosquitoes represent to the world.

PASSING BY

Artificial Intelligence Can Predict Events in People’s Lives

Source: Technical University of Denmark

Artificial Intelligence designed for written language modeling can be used to anticipate events in people’s lives. According to a research project conducted by DTU, the University of Copenhagen (Copenhagen), ITU, and the Northeastern University (New York) in the United States, if large amounts of information about human life are collected and trained so-called ‘transformer models’ (such as ChatGPT), which are used for language processing, they can systematically organize the data and predict what happens in a person’s life and even predict when they will die.

Once trained in an initial stage, i.e. learning the structure of the data, the model outperforms other high-level neural networks and predicts results such as personality and death time with high precision. When the researchers look at the model’s responses, they find that the results are in line with what is known in the social sciences. For example, if all things are equal, people who are in leadership positions or have higher incomes are more likely to live, while people who are male, skilled, or have a mental illness are more likely to be at a higher risk of death. The data in Life2vec is organized into a large number of vectors, which are mathematical representations of the data.

The researchers who wrote the paper point to ethical issues related to the life2vec model, including the protection of sensitive data, privacy, and the role of bias in the data. These challenges must be fully understood before using models to assess a person’s risk of developing diseases or other preventable life events.

The research project ‘Using Sequences of Life-events to Predict Human Lives’ is based on labor market data and data from the National Patient Registry (NPR) and Statistics Denmark. The dataset includes 6 million Danes with information on income, wages, salaries, occupations, industries, social benefits, etc. The health dataset includes records of healthcare professional visits, hospital visits, diagnosis, patient type, and diagnosis. It is urgent. The data set is from 2008 to 2020, but in many analyses, researchers focus on the period 2008 to 2016 and an annual segment of individuals.

TRIVIA

Know the Language

FRENCH

A language richly woven into the annals of history, French is a symbol of cultural excellence and global influence. It has its origins in Latin in the Middle Ages and over the years has become a language of communication, literature, and art. The music of the sounds of each French word echoes the footsteps of the philosophers, poets, and revolutionaries who shaped the world. From the Palace of Versailles to the cafés of Paris, French has become the lingua franca of famous characters such as Voltaire or Victor Hugo, creating works of literary art that transcend national borders. The importance of French extends beyond linguistic borders and into the world of diplomacy and international communication. As one of the official languages ​​of influential institutions such as the United Nations and the European Union, French plays an important role in promoting international communication and cooperation. In addition to practical applications, the French language has cultural significance and invites us to savor the flavor of gastronomy, cinema, and haute couture. Through his intricate dance of words and phrases, the Frenchman paints a canvas of dynamic and dynamic character. The history of the French language is not simply a progression of language development. It is an odyssey of timeless beauty in culture, mediation, and expression.

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