Positive Technology Journal

Thanks Giuseppe 

 

The International Journal of Biotechnology has announced a special issue on: “The Role, Impact and Diffusion of Information Technology in Biotechnology and Life Sciences”

Guest Editor: Dr. Angel J. Salazar, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

From the journal website 

The aim of this special edition is to provide strong insights about the role, impact and diffusion of information technology across the whole value chain in biotechnology and life sciences. Technological developments such as bioinformatics and the internet, and more recently, grid and web services, are seen as core technologies enabling the creation of powerful scientific and healthcare regional networks. Technology is enabling new ways of working and is reshaping drug discovery, development and clinical trials, as well as the demand side such as electronic prescribing and computer-assisted evidence-based medicine. This special edition will provide the opportunity to attract, review, elaborate and disseminate selected articles related to state-of-the-art applications of information technology and their impact at firm, regional and industry levels. The scope will include the socio-economic, strategic and organisational impact and diffusion of information technology infrastructure, applications and services. In addition, the editor welcomes articles investigating the significance of specific firms’ innovation management capacities, and the regional, national and international conditions and policies contributing to the diffusion of information technology-based innovation. Subject Coverage Suitable topics include, but are not limited to:

• Articles mapping trends of information technology developments in drug discovery and development, and healthcare/life sciences
• Articles assessing the socio-economic, strategic and organisational impact of information technology
• Articles investigating firms’ innovation management capacities at the firm-level and the regional network-level conditions contributing to information technology-based innovation
• Articles depicting diffusion scenarios of information technology-enabled innovation in biotechnology and life sciences • Articles investigating strategic, institutional and organisational drivers and barriers for adoption and diffusion

Integrative review of research related to meditation, spirituality, and the elderly.

Geriatr Nurs. 2005 Nov-Dec;26(6):372-7

Authors: Lindberg DA

Recently, increased attention has been given to meditation-relaxation strategies to improve physical health, reduce pain, enhance immune response, improve emotional well-being, and foster spiritual growth. This article reviews research conducted in the last 25 years about meditation and spirituality, in particular as it relates to the health of the elderly. This review supports the hypothesis that meditation can be taught to the elderly, even those with dementia. The results also support the hypothesis that meditation and spiritual practices could promote significant social and emotional benefits for those in social isolation. Specific treatment plan interventions for nursing homes are discussed. Future research should investigate the effectiveness of various types of meditative and spiritual practices to nursing home residents.

Brainport: an alternative input to the brain

J Integr Neurosci. 2005 Dec;4(4):537-50

Authors: Danilov Y, Tyler M

Brain Computer Interface (BCI) technology is one of the most rapidly developing areas of modern science; it has created numerous significant crossroads between Neuroscience and Computer Science. The goal of BCI technology is to provide a direct link between the human brain and a computerized environment. The objective of recent BCI approaches and applications have been designed to provide the information flow from the brain to the computerized periphery. The opposite or alternative direction of the flow of information (computer to brain interface, or CBI) remains almost undeveloped. The BrainPort is a CBI that offers a complementary technology designed to support a direct link from a computerized environment to the human brain - and to do so non-invasively. Currently, BrainPort research is pursuing two primary goals. One is the delivery of missing sensory information critical for normal human behavior through an additional artificial sensory channel around the damaged or malfunctioning natural sensory system. The other is to decrease the risk of sensory overload in human-machine interactions by providing a parallel and supplemental channel for information flow to the brain. In contrast, conventional CBI strategies (e.g., Virtual Reality), are usually designed to provide additional or substitution information through pre-existing sensory channels, and unintentionally aggravate the brain overload problem.