Oz scientists develop apple that doesn't go brown

Sydney: How many times do you cut an apple, only to see it turn into shade of brown, often turning you off? Well, Australian scientists have come up with an apple that does not go brown when cut

Unlike most apples, which go brown almost immediately, the fruit stays a pale pink colour for several hours after it is exposed to air.

It will be sold under the name Enchanted, and state minister Kim Chance said he hoped its unique qualities would make it popular worldwide. "The resistance of Enchanted apples to oxidation makes it much more useful and attractive for industry," said Chance, Western Australia's state agriculture minister.

"It is also likely to be very popular as a fresh apple for platters and lunchboxes, and for fresh juicing, where it retains an attractive pink blush and fresh, light flavour."

The apple was bred naturally in Australia from the varieties Lady Williams and Golden Delicious, the West Australian newspaper said on its website.

Chance said the fact it was produced without genetic modification meant it can be marketed around the world.

"We've got an apple now that has particularly strong qualities," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "You could almost say (the qualities) are unique, particularly the anti-browning, but we also have a non G (genetically modified) apple, which means when we ultimately internationalise the variety it will be acceptable right around the world." REUTERS

City boffins develop low-cost device to detect heart attacks

MUMBAI: City scientists have developed 'iSens' – a low-cost biosensor which they say detects heart attacks well in advance.

Developed at IIT Mumbai's Centre for Excellence of Nanoelectronics, the iSens is now being prepared for clinical trials and will be available by the end of this year, said Dr V Ramgopal Rao, who heads this project.

"Field trials will not take time since it is only a diagnostic tool. We are talking to some Indian and multinational companies to commercialise the product," Rao said. Not only is the cost kept low, he said, but the sensor also detects possible acute myocardial infarction up to six months in advance.

The iSens is primarily a table-top box with a set of sensors, and costs between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000. Blood samples are taken on disposable cartridges, and inserted into the box for a period of around 10 minutes, Rao explained.

The box comprises nano-sized sensors, smaller than a millionth of a millimetre. These sensors measure the levels of proteins and enzymes – such as myoglobin, proponin and CK-MB – which can cause myocardial infarctions. Based on the concentration of these elements, the box displays a reading to classify the risk as low, medium or high.

"Our aim is to reach the iSens to the primary health care (PHC) centres. Only five per cent of patients are able to reach hospitals, while 95 per cent go to PHCs or small clinics," Rao said. "We can train the PHC personnel as the device will be simple to operate."

The project was funded by the National Programme for Smart Materials and the National Programme on Micro and Smart Systems. In association with his colleague Soumyo Mukherjee of the university's Bio-School, Rao and his team have also developed small silicon lockets to be worn by patients. These lockets can take an ECG of the patient, and transfer the data to a doctor via a mobile phone. PTI