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NEC Electronics America Inc. introduced to the Americas twenty-two new 16-bit All Flash microcontrollers (MCUs) for compact, low-power, battery-operated, and sensor-enabled systems. Based on NEC Electronics' high-performance 16-bit 78K0R CPU core, the new 78K0R/Kx3-L MCUs offer very low power consumption to extend battery life, and more on-chip integration to help reduce the size and cost of battery-driven and sensor-enabled systems, such as fire and security alarms, meters, industrial sensors, anti-shake digital cameras, handheld medical diagnostics devices, and data-logging and point-of-sale terminals. In addition to low power consumption, the new lineup offers high-performance on-chip oscillators, built-in circuits for sensor functions, and extended system operating time. "As environmental awareness has grown, energy-saving systems have become particularly reliant on MCU technology," said Jim Trent, Vice President, Multipurpose Microcontroller and Automotive Group, NEC Electronics America. "Over the past several years, NEC Electronics has delivered many ultra-low-power 8- and 32-bit MCUs that have met the demand for energy efficiency. With the introduction of the new 78K0R/Kx3-L devices, however, NEC Electronics is now delivering the benefits of energy efficiency in its 16-bit products."

It's clear that you won't soon hear that an electric car is being powered by eel-inspired technology, but the main advantage of this type of chemical battery in medical purposes usage is that if it breaks, "there are no toxins released into your system. It would be just like any other cell in your body.", says Xu.

Brush Engineered Materials said it is expecting Q1 revenue to be 30 to 35% lower than that in Q4 2008. The Ohio-based specialty alloys company initially predicted revenue would fall by 15 to 25% from Q4. It also announced that it will cut its staff level by 15% in order to reduce costs. In a press release, Brush Engineered Materials said that it still experiences very weak demand for its products due to the global downturn and the market visibility is very low. Medical and defense-related products are in exceptions to this trend. It suggested from recent activity, the level of business may have bottomed but it is not certain of the case.

"There is currently no uniform approach to nanomaterials at the EU level and no EU register. However, nanomaterials are, to a limited extent, covered by EU sector-specific regulation. For instance the Food Information Regulation, the Cosmetics Regulation, the Medical Devices Regulation and the Biocides Regulation contain specific provisions on nanomaterials. While moreover applying to substances in the nano form, the Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) does not currently contain specific provisions on nanomaterials."

La Farga Tub France, a new subsidiary of La Farga Group, the Spanish copper semis fabricator, commissioned a new distribution facility to supply France with the Group's 'La Farga Tub' copper products. The copper piping will be manufactured at the Les Masies de Voltregà plant and will be 100% recyclable and bacteria-free. The products' intended application areas include: Sanitation, refrigeration, climatization, medical and industrial use. La Farga estimates that the annual consumption of copper piping in France is 30,000t.

Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd. and Tohoku University Graduate School have jointly introduced a medical application made of copper alloy. This development refers to an apparatus that uses copper shape memory alloy and aims to correct ingrown nails. What the apparatus does is to insert an alloy plate at both sides of the nail correcting its curvature. Tohoku University is currently using the instrument on a pilot basis, however, Furukawa is planning to start selling it within this fiscal year. The company expects to sell a significant volume of the newly developed instrument as about 10 million people in Japan suffer from ingrown nails.

Furukawa Magnet Wire Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Furukawa Electric Group, announced that it has expanded its facility in Malaysia. Production capacity of its TEX-E, trilayer insulated wire, which is principally used in rechargers for computers and mobile phones, has been doubled. The company expects that demand will increase in China and other emerging markets in the medium to long term. In addition, it was reported that Furukawa Electric increased its stake in Chongqing Changhua Automobile Harness Co. Ltd., the China-based wiring harness assembler, to 65% from its previously held 50% share.

Four major manufacturers of wire and cable are set to increase their level of capital investment in this fiscal year. The companies are expected to make large investments within emerging country markets, which promise growth over the medium to long term. Another area of investment is the field of smartphone components. Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd., SWCC Showa Holdings Co. Ltd. and Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd. will expand capital investment "significantly", while Fujikura Ltd., will do so only "slightly".

"Prion proteins are unusual in that half of the protein has a well-defined structure, but the other half of it - where the binding occurs - is a flexible, random tangle," Hodak says. "When we looked at the so-called 'random' portion of the PrP where that binding occurs, we found that the copper ions lend stability to the overall protein. This stability may play a role in preventing PrPs from misfolding or aggregating - which indicates that with prion diseases, copper binding may be beneficial."