News bits: New evidence on cholesterol; Nujira shows off new amplifier
Scientists have uncovered a new region in the genome responsible for the body's ability to regulate bad cholesterol. Their findings, published in the latest issue of Lancet, provide insight into why some individuals have higher levels of the cholesterol that has been linked to heart attack and stroke.
The researchers, led by Dr Manjinder Sandhu, from the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit and the Department of Public Health & Primary Care, found three genetic variations in the same region on chromosome 1 which were all linked to levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood.
Teams from the MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and GlaxoSmithKline studied data from large numbers of people across Europe. They looked at genome-wide scans of more than eleven thousand people to find out which genes affect LDL-cholesterol levels.
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Nujira Ltd, the company developing energy efficient, high efficiency power amplifier technology for next generation wireless networks and devices, announced the successful demonstration of ultra-high efficiency RF Power Amplifier operation with DVB OFDM signals, supported by TTP and the Carbon Trust.
“This demonstration shows that the power efficiency savings that Nujira has demonstrated with WCDMA and WiMAX can be achieved with even greater effect for OFDM-based mobile and digital TV standards at UHF, such as DVB-T, DVB-H, ISDB-T and MediaFLO” CEO Tim Haynes (pictured) said.
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Zimiti Ltd has become the second investment by The PegasusBridge Defence & Security Fund Ltd. Zimiti is an award-winning technology company based in Cambridge and London, developing low power, portable, medium-range wireless control, monitoring and sensor systems.
Founded in 2000, the company created and launched the world’s first wristwatch baby and toddler monitor, the Boardbug, using its first generation technology platform. It is now developing solutions for various customers who need to monitor and control security and safety systems, both remotely and at system level, using Zimiti’s symmetrical bi-directional modules that deliver the advantages of ultra-low power consumption, small size, flexible range (typically 1-1000 metres), require no infrastructure, and secure authentication and encryption.
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Cametrics, the software consultancy, said that ixPressia, its software products division, has reached a major milestone. The first licensees of ixPressia's Print Engine Software have manufactured its industrial inkjet printers using ixPressia Print Engine and are shipping them in volume. The software enables inkjet printer makers to drive printers with any printhead type, number and configuration, without having to develop new software each time they design a new printer.
11th February 2008
