http://www.platinum.matthey.com//media_room/news_cat_430009324.html Latest news provided by Johnson Matthey. en-us Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:14:29 GMT http://www.platinum.matthey.com//media_room/platinum_coil_gives_couples_better_chance_of_parenthood_18696755.html
A new study published in the August issue of Radiology revealed that a minimally invasive operation can improve the function of sperm in male patients.

By inserting a small catheter through a nick in the skin, doctors can use x-ray guidance to find a varicocele.

The varicocele, a network of tangled vessels in the scrotum, occurs when valves that regulate the blood flow to the testes become defective.

Sometimes they can cause pain, shrinkage or fertility problems and they were traditionally cured with open surgery.

But a tiny platinum coil can now be inserted into the gonadic vein through the catheter to ensure blood flow is restored.

In a survey of 223 infertile males aged 18-50 with at least one varicocele, 226 of the total 228 varioceles were treated successfully.

Sebastian Flacke, Associate Professor of Radiology at the Tufts University School of Medicine, said the treatment allowed more than one-quarter of "their healthy partners" to become pregnant.



Source:

Minimally invasive treatment improves male fertility, 22/07/08
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/rson-mit071508.php]]> 1216832401 http://www.platinum.matthey.com//media_room/new_thin-film_dyes_could_make_solar_panels_more_efficient_18682483.html
Standard photovoltaic concentrators increase output from solar power cells by focussing the light on large mirrors, but this can be both expensive and time-consuming.

But using luminescent solar concentrators, which contain dye molecules with solar cells, could solve the problems.

Light is absorbed then trapped, allowing solar power cells to collect it.

Scientists using two thin films, one containing platinum, have now achieved higher gains, Science Magazine reports.

The layer of Pt(TPBP) combined with the layer of DCJTB allow efficiencies of 4.1 per cent and 5.9 per cent respectively, according to research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US.

Using both the materials could yield 6.8 per cent efficiency while concentrators coupled with additional solar cells may increase efficiency even further.

The concentrators would also be cheap to make and may not affect the price of solar panel technology.

Source:

Thin-film dyes boost solar cells, 12/07/08

http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/34992

High-Efficiency Organic Solar Concentrators for Photovoltaics, 11/07/08

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/321/5886/226]]> 1216036801 http://www.platinum.matthey.com//media_room/new_thin-film_dyes_could_make_solar_panels_more_efficient_18682483.html Scientists believe that new a platinum based thin-film dye that concentrates sunlight may be able to make solar power competitive alongside fossil fuels.

Standard photovoltaic concentrators increase output from solar power cells by focussing the light on large mirrors, but this can be both expensive and time-consuming.

But using luminescent solar concentrators, which contain dye molecules with solar cells, could solve the problems.

Light is absorbed then trapped, allowing solar power cells to collect it.

Scientists using two thin films, one containing platinum, have now achieved higher gains, Science Magazine reports.

The layer of Pt(TPBP) (platinumtetraphenyltetrabenzoporphyrin) combined with the layer of DCJTB allow efficiencies of 4.1 per cent and 5.9 per cent respectively, according to research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US.

Using both the materials could yield 6.8 per cent efficiency while concentrators coupled with additional solar cells may increase efficiency even further.

The concentrators would also be cheap to make and may not affect the price of solar panel technology.



Source:

Thin-film dyes boost solar cells, 12/07/08
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/34992

High-Efficiency Organic Solar Concentrators for Photovoltaics, 11/07/08
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/321/5886/226

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