New system makes hydrogen from plant sugar

BLACKSBURG, Va. (UPI) -- A U.S. scientist says he has developed a technology that can convert plant sugars into hydrogen to be used in hydrogen-fueled cars.

Virginia Tech Assistant Professor Percival Zhang says the process involves combining plant sugars, water and a cocktail of powerful enzymes to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide under mild reaction conditions.

"This is revolutionary work," said Zhang. "This has opened up a whole new direction in hydrogen research. With technology improvement, sugar-powered vehicles could come true eventually."

Zhang and colleagues said they believe they can produce hydrogen from cellulose, which has a similar chemical formula to starch, but is far more difficult to break down.

In laboratory studies, the scientists collected 13 different, well-known enzymes and combined them with water and starches inside a specially designed reactor. The resulting broth reacted to produce only carbon dioxide and hydrogen, with no leftover pollutants. However, they said the amount of hydrogen produced was too low for commercial use and the speed of the reactions wasn't optimal.

Zhang and colleagues described the system -- called the world's most efficient method for producing hydrogen -- this week in New Orleans during the American Chemical Society's 235th national meeting.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International
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Potential diabetes drug target identified

TORONTO (UPI) -- Canadian scientists announced the discovery of a novel signaling pathway to the gut, brain and liver that lowers blood sugar when it is activated.

The scientists at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, led by Dr. Tony Lam, used a rat model to discover that fats can activate a subset of nerves in the intestine, which then send a signal to the brain and subsequently to the liver to lower glucose production.

"This is a new approach in developing more effective methods to lower glucose or blood sugar levels in those who are obese or have diabetes," said Lam.

"We already knew that the brain and liver can regulate blood glucose levels," he said, "but the question has been, how do you therapeutically target either of these two organs without incurring side effects? We may have found a way around this problem by suggesting that the gut can be the initial target instead.

"If new medicines can be developed that stimulate this sensing mechanism in the gut, we may have an effective way of slowing down the body's production of sugar, thereby lowering blood sugar levels in diabetes," said Lam.

The research appears in the online issue of the journal Science in advance of print publication.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International
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Web Designing

I always wanted to learn about web site design. I always find it exciting besides that I am also building now my sites. I admit I still have to learn a lot of things especially web developments. I hope next time I can have the time and resources to learn about all of these.

At maxwebdesign.eu, I found a lot of articles which are very interesting. It has a lot of informative topics raging from web design, engine optimization, SEO, Google pagerank, IP Scheme, Programming, link popularity and a lot more. I am happy visiting this site because I learned some things and got some ideas about building my sites and informations about blogging too.

What really caught my attention was the topic about Web designer's Wish. I was never into online web trainings and even don't read books, brochures and tutorials about web designing. In this post is a website where you can learn web based trainings. I will see if I can try it next time.

If you want to learn more about web site design and other internet things just like me..lol..I highly recommend maxwebdesign.eu...Besides "life is a process of learning" as the saying goes.. so are things on internet and web designing. Don't waste your time check this page now!!

Doctor's Appointment in Germany..

I had an appointment today with my Frauenartz or Gynecologist. Last Friday, I just called to have an appointment for today. The secretary of the OB Gyne told me that I can have the appointment middle of next month because it is already fully book for this month. I told her that the OB GYne told me that if ever I have some complaints or pain, I can come anytime. After hearing this, she then gave me an appointment for today.

I woke up a bit earlier today because I have to go for grocery shopping too. My appointment was 1pm so after I went shopping around 12 noon time, I drove there immediately. The place was around 45 km drive from our home. So from Parsberg to Laaber, I drove thru the Autobahn or Motorway from 130 to 150km/h..well tha't's only how I drive to be in the safe side..There I can drive faster compared to driving in the Landstrasse or backroad..

And you know what happen, the Receptionist told me that my appointment is 1:30pm and I arrived there around 12:30pm..She also said that the Doctor will come at 2pm. well, what can i do ??...What I do instead was went walking to the Laaber Castle Ruins...well again.. been here in this place but not yet to the castle ruin..

It was not so far from the Clinic so I decided to climb there..It was a bit windy and cold..but it's ok besides also breathing fresh air up the hill!! got some pix also here from the place..

As I went back to the clinic I had to wait a long time more because the secretary said that the Doctor had a traffic in Autobahn 3 or Motorway number 3, the longest highway in Germany..guess what time I had my examination....lagot na ko kaayo pero saon man!! At around 3:15pm, my appointment was over.

I hurried up home because I still have to cook for dinner before my hubby come home from work..After eating, we brought my car to his brother-in-law for fixing some scratches on my car..That was the accident in February, as an old woman hit my car in a park place in Neumarkt..

well, just got a hectic day today!! It's still a beautiful day because the weather was very nice!! Thanks God!!

view of the Laaber castle ruins from afar

pix I took as I was on the top of the hill/castle

the gurl modelling in the Castle Ruins..wahehehe naa mo ana!!

the Remains of the castle which was built around the 1200

hiding behind the doors!!

Looking for Cheap Inkjet Printer Cartridges

I am already planning to buy a new printer for my computer. Honestly speaking, it's been 2 years that I did not use my printer because the ink was already empty. My printer need a new Lexmark Inkjet Printer Cartridges. I bought before a very cheap universal inkjet in a discount store which made my printer cartridge bad and it don't work any more.

I just visited InkJetDeals.info, a website that helps not only individuals but also businesses to save their money. Their website provide list of various shopping stores that sell really cheap deals of ink jet supplies. Aside from that, they also provide list of online coupons for these merchants when available.

The listed merchants sell various types of inkjet cartridges of best quality like HP, Dell, Brother, genuine Epson printer cartridges, Hewlett Packard and a lot more. These merchants also sell other printer supplies like laser toner, inkjet refills, photo paper and a lot more.

When you want to have your order ship on the same day, it is also not a problem because they offer same-day shipping. Their personal online and telephone service guarantee a satisfaction when you buy from them.

Where else you can find a service like that!! I guess I can also save some bucks..instead of buying a new printer, I can now buy their cheap and high quality ink products. Visit their site now, get some coupons and save some money!! Isn't it amazing!!!

Great Sunday at Pielenhofen

How was your Sunday?? hope everyone got a great one!! We had a great Sunday today..We really don't have a concrete plan where to go today. The weather was very nice. At the last minute we decided to go to Pielenhofen, a small village in Regensburg. We went walking in the woods, breath some fresh air and enjoy being with the nature!!

We also had a breakfast and dinner together with my hubby..As usual I did not cook today because the Snitzel (as mentioned in my post yesterday) I cooked yesterday still have a lot of leftovers..

Thanks God for this very great and enjoyable day!!

where we went walking

background is the Monastery in Pielenhofen which is now a school

Pielenhofen Monastery..with the two towers is a very nice Church..we also went inside today for the first time.. We can't believed that it is a very beautiful Church with all it's moldings, paintings and decorations inside it..

For more photos please visit Euroangel Graffiti, My Daily Nourishment and
The World Wide Web Addict..

Take care guys!! wish you a nice week ahead!!

What's your Best Quality

I just took a quiz which...just found it interesting..well, I guess part is true but some are not really true!! here it is!!

What's Your Best Quality? Your Result: Ambitious Your best quality is ambitious! People like you because you are a determined person. Once you set a goal for yourself you do whatever it takes to achieve it.
Personality
Intelligence
Out-Going
Loving
Sense of Humor