Latest news with #PECs
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists create skin-safe adhesive for wearables that grips harder with sweat
Wearable devices have revolutionized healthcare, helping people keep real-time updates on vital health metrics like blood sugar, heart rate, and sleep patterns. However, wearing glucose or heart monitors for hours can leave users with itchy, irritated Texas A&M University researchers have developed a skin-friendly adhesive that could change that experience for millions of people using wearable healthcare devices. When sweat helps stick The newly developed adhesive is based on polyelectrolyte complexes, or PECs—sticky, water-based materials that bond more gently to the skin compared to traditional solvent-based adhesives. Unlike commercial-grade adhesives that can trigger rashes, redness, and inflammation, this PEC formulation reduces irritation and could adhere better when exposed to moisture, including sweat. 'To our knowledge, no one has used a PEC as an adhesive for wearable medical devices,' said Dr. Jaime Grunlan, professor of mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University, who led the research. 'We were able to develop and patent a PEC that can match the adhesive strength of 3M Tegaderm adhesive, without the common skin discomfort.' Today's wearable medical devices, including glucose monitors, heart rate trackers, and sleep disorder monitors, typically rely on hydrophobic, pressure-sensitive adhesives. These adhesives are usually made from acrylates, methacrylates, or colophonium, which help keep sensors attached securely to the body. However, while effective, these materials are solvent-based and can irritate sensitive skin. Users frequently report side effects such as itchiness, rashes, and inflammation, especially with prolonged wear. Gentle grip, tough hold By contrast, PEC adhesives offer a rash-free alternative. Grunlan's team found that the salt content naturally present in sweat could actually improve the adhesive's grip over time, a property that makes PECs particularly well-suited for long-term wear in real-world conditions. 'What makes this discovery stand out is not just the comfort factor but also the adhesive's performance,' said Grunlan. 'Many people assume water-based adhesives would wash away or lose stickiness with moisture. In our case, sweat actually enhances adhesion.' The adhesive builds on Grunlan's earlier research, developing one-pot PEC coatings for flame-retardant treatments in materials like foam, fabric, and wood. Realizing that PECs' inherent stickiness could be useful beyond industrial materials, he and his team expanded their focus to include biomedical applications. The research is still in its early stages, but the team sees broad potential for applying PEC adhesives across a wide range of wearable biomedical devices, particularly for patients with conditions such as diabetes, heart problems, and sleep disorders who rely on skin-mounted sensors. Contributors to the project include formal doctoral students, Drs. Maya Montemayor and Ethan Iverson, along with Dr. Balakrishna Haridas from the Department of Biomechanical Engineering at Texas A&M and his lab, which conducted biocompatibility testing. The project was supported by the Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Underserved Populations (PATHS-UP) Engineering Research Center at Texas A&M and funded through an Army Phase II SBIR grant. The team's findings were published in the journal Macromolecular Rapid Communications. Solve the daily Crossword
The Star
26-06-2025
- General
- The Star
Keeping linguistic, spiritual heritage of Sikhs alive
Punjabi education in Malaysia has gone through a remarkable transformation in just three decades. Bringing back Punjabi language from the brink of fading away in the mid-1990s is a programme that boasts its own locally developed textbooks from kindergarten right up to Form Five. Spearheaded by Khalsa Diwan Malaysia (KDM), its president Jaginder Singh Raipatti said the impact of this initiative's success could be seen in the students' academic performance. 'This year, 66 students are slated to sit for the SPM Punjabi paper, a record number. 'Pass rates consistently exceed 90%, with between 60% and 70% of students scoring A+, A and A- grades,' he said. Part of the Khalsa Diwan Malaysia office building with a centennial commemorative stone, which recognisesKDM as the first national Sikh society registered in the country. Classes for the Punjabi education programme are held on the premises every Saturday. — Photos: RONNIE CHIN/The Star In May, this Punjabi education programme marked its 25th anniversary. To ensure its continued success, Jaginder said an inspection and coaching system had been implemented, including mentoring teachers and guiding Punjabi Education Centres (PECs) on ways to improve academic delivery and student outcomes. 'The teaching force, mostly comprising highly qualified women from Punjab in India who married Malaysians, has been instrumental in the programme's success. 'About 90% of classes are now held in gurdwaras, many of which are designed with dedicated Punjabi education floors,' he said. Road to revival By the late 1990s, Jaginder said Punjabi language education in the country was in crisis. He said with the temporary removal of the Punjabi paper from the then Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) from 1993 to 1995 and shrinking number of students sitting for the Punjabi paper in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) around the same time, it became clear that the language was at risk of fading away. An undated image of teachers at Guru Nanak Institution, which was once a private school in Ipoh. — Courtesy photo He added that KDM called a meeting with Sikh non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and gurdwara management committees across the country in 2000. The groups agreed to give KDM the mandate to revive Punjabi education under a unified umbrella. As such, Jaginder said the Punjabi education programme was born in 2001. And now, 36 PECs currently operate in 11 states, along with about 200 teachers and 1,800 students. He noted that the PECs initially struggled with a lack of trained teachers, textbooks, funding and even venues. But support from Singaporean Sikh counterparts, he said, helped lay the groundwork in terms of textbooks. 'Today, the locally developed textbooks are reviewed every few years and the curriculum is further enriched with the inclusion of Sikh religious studies.' Jaginder explained that until 2009, education funding relied entirely on community support. Vaisakhi High-Tea event at Guru Nanak Institution hall. — Courtesy photo Nevertheless, he said a turning point came with a RM2mil federal grant, followed by more government funding, especially through the Social Economic Development of the Indian Community (Sedic) and Malay-sian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) from 2016 to 2019. 'However, between 2020 and 2024, KDM did not receive any federal funding. 'Recently, a RM265,000 grant from the Prime Minister's Office and support from several state governments have given us renewed hope. 'Additionally, the Sikh community is becoming more self-reliant, with centres now generating income through well-wishers and student fees.' Jaginder said a milestone in the PEC journey was the integration of Punjabi language into national school assessments. It is listed as a subject under the Academic Session Final Test (UASA) for Form One to Form Three and KDM plays a role in preparing, distributing and marking these exam papers. He said KDM was now preparing to roll out standardised e-lessons by next year, which would ease teachers' weekly workloads and enhance resource sharing across centres. Jaginder showing a map where Punjabi Education Centres are located in the country. Cultural resurgence Jaginder observed that there had been renewed interest in cultural engagement as well in recent years. 'Youth participation in religious activities such as kirtan (devotional hymns), tabla playing and prayers has surged, creating a new generation of Sikhs who are deeply connected to their linguistic and spiritual roots. 'With the Punjabi language 'alive again', we are now focusing on sustaining it for future generations,' he elaborated. KDM, he said, also worked closely with other Sikh NGOs, notably the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council, Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia and Gurbani Naad, which organise competitions, quizzes, public speaking events and Sikh spiritual camps. Jaginder said to preserve and promote traditional Punjabi music, KDM provided space at its premises for weekly stringed instrument classes such as dilruba (bowed musical instrument), expanding beyond the classical tabla and harmonium. He said KDM provided monthly financial aid to about a dozen recipients until 2023, but to reduce overlap with other NGOs, the organisation shifted its focus the following year to a case-by-case basis, focusing on urgent and verified needs. 'KDM is also actively involved in state cultural events, whereby in 2024, the organisation co-hosted the Perak Vaisakhi Open House with Guru Kalgidhar Diwan. 'It is frequently consulted by the Education Ministry, particularly on the accuracy of materials related to the Punjabi community,' he added. Jaginder said KDM also defended the rights of Sikh school students, from wearing the kara (steel bangle) to sitting for the SPM Punjabi language paper. He said some schools had attempted to block students from taking Punjabi as an SPM subject. 'KDM intervenes with letters of undertaking and support, ensuring students can sit for their exams. 'In 2015, the Education Ministry issued a circular confirming that Sikh students are allowed to wear the kara and keep unshorn hair,' he added. Jaginder said the Indian High Commission had also been a strong supporter of KDM's efforts, often inviting the NGO to represent the Punjabi community at national events. In 2024, he said KDM was among the organisations invited to present in the very first 'Samagam: Confluence of Indian Language Series', which showcased the survival and growth of Indian diaspora languages in Malaysia. He said to future-proof the Punjabi education ecosystem, KDM was collaborating with Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) to offer Punjabi as a minor subject in degree and diploma programmes, tentatively from 2026. The initiative, he explained, fell under UPSI's Ethnic Languages Programme, where KDM had pledged to offer scholarships annually to students enrolling in these programmes. 'The aim is to build a new generation of local Punjabi teachers, as the current pool of educators, largely recruited from India, are ageing. 'With KDM having successfully led the revival of Punjabi education in Malaysia, it is now focused on sustaining and advancing its mission,' he added. Sikh NGO Established in 1903 in Taiping, Perak, KDM initially focused on the religious and welfare needs of early Sikh migrants. One of the oldest Sikh organisations in the country, it moved operations in 1950 to Ipoh. Its site in Jalan Tun Abdul Razak remains the current location of KDM's operations. Jaginder said the organisation played a pivotal role in uniting and uplifting the Sikh community through religious, social and cultural initiatives. He said it established a fund as early as 1905 to promote Gurmat (tenets) teachings, leading to the establishment of gurdwaras in Penang and Perak. From 1903 to 1937, the organisation held nationwide annual events which combined spiritual, religious and sports activities. The organisation also extended care to hospital patients and prisoners, especially by providing vegetarian food. 'KDM recognised a growing need for formal education among Punjabi children and responded by establishing its educational wing in 1950, known as the Guru Nanak Institution (GNI) at the premises, where classes commenced in 1951. 'Over time, GNI expanded its role, and became a fully licensed private school. 'However, with changing government policies and the easing of public school entry requirements, GNI − like many other private schools − saw a decline in enrolment and ceased operations in the late 1980s.' After that, Jaginder said parts of the NGO's buildings were rented out to various educational institutions over the years. 'Currently, the facilities are occupied by TAJ International College. 'GNI, however, remains as a Punjabi language education school. Classes are held on Saturdays. 'It is the biggest PEC among 36 centres, with a student enrolment of almost 200,' he added.
The Star
26-06-2025
- General
- The Star
Dedicated to teaching Punjabi language
For over three decades, Dayal Singh has devoted his life to keeping the Punjabi language alive among Sikhs in Malaysia. The former government school teacher began his career teaching English in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, in 1969 and retired in Sitiawan, Perak in 2003. But his work as a Punjabi educator extended far beyond the classroom. In the late 1980s, he was roped in to teach Punjabi at the local gurdwara in Sitiawan. 'I did not plan it, but I took the challenge and it became a turning point in my life; teaching Punjabi quickly became a labour of love. 'I have been teaching the Punjabi language even before Punjabi Education Centres (PECs) were established in 2001, and I was among the pioneer teachers in the programme. 'In 2010, I moved to Seremban in Negri Sembilan, and although I had intentions to retire upon relocation, my passion could not be extinguished,' Dayal said. He offered to help after noticing a class at the Gurdwara Sahib Mantin was struggling. Every Saturday since, he has been making the 15km journey from his home to Mantin, teaching beginners and advanced learners phonetics, a skill that helps children who struggle with basic reading. 'Even when I am not well, I teach, as that makes me well and happy,' he added. Dayal emulates the dedication of his father, Ram Singh, who had taught him the basics at his hometown in Batu Gajah, Perak. 'In Batu Gajah back then, we had Punjabi classes every day after school. It became a part of who I am. 'Teaching Punjabi is more than just a service, it is a responsibility for me,' said the man who is fondly known as 'Masterji' (teacher). Similarly, Guru Nanak Institution (GNI) principal Phajan Kaur remains an inspiring force in Punjabi language education. Also a retired government school teacher, Phajan returned to her hometown in Ipoh, Perak, from Johor upon her retirement. Dayal teaching children at the Punjabi Education Centre in Gurdwara Sahib Mantin in Negri Sembilan. — Courtesy photo Phajan said she was recruited as part of the teaching workforce in the year 2000, just as KDM was in the midst of working on the framework of the PECs. Punjabi language lessons started in 2001. 'I scored an 'A' for SPM Punjabi Paper, so they pulled me in because I had the background and passion for teaching. 'I started teaching upper secondary classes and still teach until today. 'Although the student enrolment has dropped since 2001, I still see a glimmer of hope,' she said. She noted that children were more distracted these days with other activities and unfortunately, many parents did not prioritise Punjabi language education. 'Interest is still there but it heavily depends on parental involvement, especially from mothers,' said Phajan. She said students who shone, always had a strong support system at home. In order to keep students engaged, her team organises activities such as language carnivals and monthly birthday celebrations as well as use technology tools in class, including laptops and digital resources. 'We also hold student seminars. Every student is assessed through mid-year and end-year exams, and the school holds report card days where teachers meet with parents to discuss student progress and placement,' she said. 'Some families still struggle, especially those with three children or more. 'If a parent can afford to pay for one child, KDM tries to sponsor the other two,' she added. Despite the challenges, Phajan remains deeply committed. 'This is not just about language but about identity, values and keeping our roots alive for the next generation,' she said. During the 25th anniversary of Khalsa Diwan Malaysia's Punjabi education programme in Kuala Lumpur in May, Dayal and Phajan were among recipients who received the long service and 25 years of service awards respectively.
The Star
29-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Sikhs mark 25 years of Punjabi education
Mohd Azam (second from right) presenting a long-service award to Guru Nanak Institution principal Phajan Kaur Mahinder Singh. Looking on are Jaginder (left) and Kuldip. Mother tongue education is an integral part of a community's identity and keeps members connected to their roots. This year, Sikhs nationwide are celebrating the 25th anniversary of Khalsa Diwan Malaysia's (KDM) Punjabi education programme. Set up by the Sikh non-governmental organisation in 2001, the initiative was prompted by a decline in the number of students pursuing Punjabi language as a subject in public examinations like Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). KDM deputy president Dr Kuldip Kaur said the decline led to concerted efforts aimed at reviving Punjabi classes and ensuring it remains a primary language for members of the community. In 2001, eight Punjabi Education Centres (PECs) were set up in Ipoh, Taiping, Batu Gajah, Kampar and Sitiawan in Perak; Butterworth and Wadda Gurdwara Sahib in Penang and Kota Baru in Kelantan. Presently, KDM runs 36 PECs in 11 states with a total annual enrolment of about 1,800 students. In tandem, the number of candidates for the SPM Punjabi language paper has increased, with an average of 50 students taking it every year. KDM president Jaginder Singh said that as the oldest Sikh organisation in Malaysia, it is proud to have played a role in preserving, promoting and developing the Punjabi language. He shared that in the 2023 SPM examination, students who sat for the Punjabi language paper scored 100% passes, while in 2024, 98.2% passes were recorded. Annually, more than half of the students taking the paper have obtained excellent results (A+, A or A-). Kuldip, who is also the organising chairperson of the 25th anniversary celebrations, said various events were held to bring together stakeholders and well-wishers who had contributed to the programme's success. The celebrations kicked off on May 1 with a thanksgiving event at Gurdwara Sahib Sentul in Kuala Lumpur, where students from 15 PECs sang Kirtan (Sikh hymns). All participating PEC students received certificates of appreciation and gifts. On May 2, a symposium on innovations in Punjabi language education was held at Kelab Aman in Kuala Lumpur where teachers shared advanced techniques for teaching Punjabi and Sikhism. The event was attended by about 140 PEC teachers and administrators. The next day, trainers from Asia Pacific University (APU) led a workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology-enhanced learning. More than 70 Punjabi teachers learnt techniques for assessment skills and building student support systems. A dinner to celebrate the silver jubilee was held on May 3 at Royal Lake Club in Kuala Lumpur. Education deputy director-general (professionalism development sector) Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad represented Minister Fadhlina Sidek at the event. Mohd Azam presented long service awards to 18 teachers who had served 25 years in PECs, and to 60 teachers and administrators who had served between 20 and 24 years. In his speech, Jaginder said the Federal Government had approved RM265,000 for PEC activities this year, with several state governments also extending financial support. He thanked Education Ministry for continuing to offer the Punjabi language as a subject for the Academic Session Final Test (UASA) in Forms 1, 2 and 3, as well as at SPM level. Jaginder also extended gratitude to the Indian government for the Grant in Aid to Indo Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies (GIA) in support of KDM activities. Also present at the dinner were Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia BN Reddy as well as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's special officer Shanmugam Mookan.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tech, tariffs, and Trump cloud NV Energy effort to reduce carbon footprint
Gov. Joe Lombardo and NV Energy CEO Doug Cannon at the utility'sDry Lake Solar Project north of Moapa. (Photo courtesy NV Energy) NV Energy is shrinking its carbon footprint and staying ahead of a state mandate to produce half of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, the utility announced earlier this month in its annual report on efforts to comply with Nevada's Renewable Portfolio Standard, a mandate not only codified in law but enshrined in the state constitution. NV Energy announced that 47% of the electricity it sold in 2024 was from renewable sources, far exceeding the required renewable portfolio standard (RPS) threshold of 34% for 2024, and just under the 50% goal set for 2030. 'These renewable resources provide a fuel-free energy source reducing customer energy costs and also eliminate carbon emissions to help improve the environment,' says the company's news release. But some critics complain consumers aren't getting the full picture. They say NV Energy is relying on legislative loopholes baked into the equation – renewable energy credits that boost the utility's RPS results without the corresponding reduction in carbon emissions. The credits were designed to ease the transition of electric utilities from carbon-emitting fossil fuels to cleaner, greener energy sources. Absent the credits, NV Energy produced 29% of its electricity from renewable sources last year, which is below the mandated RPS of 34% for 2024. NV Energy did not respond to requests for comment. Nevada Consumer Advocate Ernest Figueroa, in a 2023 filing with the Public Utilities Commission, alleged NV Energy is fudging the percentage of electricity sales it reports from renewable energy sources, and would not meet its requirement if not for accounting practices that are being phased out. 'It is the statutory and regulatory loopholes in the accounting for Nevada PECs (Porfolio Enegy Credits) that allow the utilities to claim much higher percentages of PEC compliance,' the Consumer Advocate asserted in the filing. 'Like all other energy providers in the state, current Nevada law requires that energy providers report energy credits, not an energy standard, as part of the RPS,' a spokesperson for the utility said in 2023. In 2023, NV Energy executive Jimmy Daghlian told Clark County commissioners that hitting the 50% renewable threshold by 2030 'is going to be a challenge.' 'I'll be honest,' said Daghlian, vice president of renewable energy, during an update on the utility's efforts to transition away from fossil fuels..'We're seeing a lot of the costs go up. Battery prices have doubled in the last two years. Solar panel prices have gone up 40 to 50%.' 'While NV Energy technically meets its renewable targets, the numbers are inflated by older credits and accounting tactics, not by delivering more real renewable energy to customers,' Nevada Conservation League Executive Director Kristee Watson said via email. 'At the same time, NV Energy is doubling down on fossil fuels by building new gas plants, which undermines the cost savings, economic benefits, and public health improvements Nevadans should be seeing.' Until last year, NV Energy was permitted to use energy efficiency savings, known as demand-side management, to comply with up to 10% of its annual Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). As of this year, no credit for energy efficiency savings is allowed under state law. Three other credits remain available to NV Energy to demonstrate compliance with RPS mandates: Behind-the-meter credits represent renewable energy created by customers, such as rooftop solar panels; Station Usage credits reflect the energy consumed in some operations of geothermal facilities; and The solar multiplier, which credits NV Energy almost 2.5 hours of credit for each hour generated by a photovoltaic system installed before 2016. 'The Rube Goldberg-esque models used to calculate credits depend significantly on purchased credits from other companies in the solar/geothermal business, many of which will be subsidized by the construction of the Greenlink project,' says Boulder City resident Fred Voltz, a close observer of the electric utility. Greenlink, which has ballooned in cost from just under $2.5 billion to more than $4.2 billion, is designed to transport renewable energy generated in remote areas of the state. Greenlink's price tag is likely to increase even more, given President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on products and materials from Mexico, Canada, China and other nations. Obstacles on the path to a carbon-free future, according to Voltz, include the failure of battery storage technology to extend beyond four hours, and a water shortage that ensures 'no new U.S. hydropower projects of any consequence' will be built in the foreseeable future. Less than a week before a massive blackout hit Spain and other European nations earlier this month, Spain's electrical grid ran entirely on renewable energy for the first time on a weekday. The cause of the outage, which is still under investigation, may stem from a loss of power generation, likely from solar plants, resulting in instability in the system, experts say. 'As we learn by events just how essential a steady electricity supply is to modern living, it is regrettable to see the risk taking engaged in by those relentlessly pushing for renewable energy without concern for its down sides,' says Voltz, adding the grid failure in Spain should give pause to renewable energy enthusiasts. 'Neither the purchase of renewable credits nor the actual solar projects NVE spends ratepayers' money on to satisfy the government-fabricated market for renewable energy will change the need for conventional generating capacity to keep the grid stable and energized when renewables are not producing energy.' In Southern Nevada, where the sun shines an average of 294 days a year, and where until recently, the federal government subsidized the development of green energy, solar is the dominant player. Gemini, a contracted 690-megawatt solar facility with 380 megawatts of integrated battery storage, began operating in March of last year, NV Energy said in its news release on the RPS; Dry Lake Solar, a 150-megwatt facility with battery storage, opened a year ago; and NV Energy's 400-megawatt Sierra Solar in Northern Nevada is expected to begin battery storage next summer, with solar service beginning in 2027. The global supply chain for solar largely originates in China. Tiny photovoltaic cells that are imported from China and crafted by American companies into solar panels, are now subject to tariffs totaling 84%, according to a trade publication. Chinese companies have moved operations to south-east Asian nations in an effort to minimize tariffs. The Trump aministration's Golden Era of Energy Development secretarial order from the Department of Energy seeks to 'Advance energy addition, not subtraction,' a policy at odds with the 38 states that adopted renewable energy standards or goals. 'Great attention has been paid to the pursuing (sic) of a net-zero carbon future,' says the order from Energy Secretary Chris Wright. 'Net-zero policies raise energy costs for American families and businesses, threaten the reliability of our energy system, and undermine our energy and national security. They have also achieved precious little in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.' The Trump administration is seeking to limit the ability of states 'to adopt climate mitigation strategies (including cap and trade and renewable portfolio standards) and by taking new authority to permit development of reserves of fossil fuels and other minerals critical to the energy space,' says an article from the National Law Review, adding the actions 'portend radical changes to the balance between state and federal energy regulation if carried through.' 'If they can withhold congressionally appropriated research funds for universities because they don't like their policies with regard to free speech on their campuses, what else might they do?' San Francisco attorney Nico van Aelstyn wondered in a recent interview. 'Withhold Medicaid funding to states where they don't like their renewable energy standards?'
