Cafer T. Yavuz

One more in Nano Letters

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Jeongmin gave me the great news this morning. His paper on which I'm an author of, got accepted at Nano Letters with minor revisions. Here is the info:

"Pd-sensitized single vanadium oxide nanowires: highly-responsive hydrogen sensing based on the Mott transition", Jeong Min Baik, Myung Hwa Kim, Christopher Larson, Cafer T. Yavuz, Galen D. Stucky, Alec M. Wodtke*, and Martin Moskovits*

Papers in Nanotechnology and Nano Letters

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:37:00 +0000

I'm a co-author in the following recent articles:

“Applying analytical ultracentrifugation to nanocrystal suspensions”, J. A. Jamison, K. M. Krueger, J. T. Mayo, C. T. Yavuz, J. J. Redden, V. L. Colvin*, Nanotechnology. 20, 355702-12 (2009).

“Growth of metal oxide nanowires from supercooled liquid nanodroplets”, M. H. Kim, B. Lee, S. Lee, C. Larson, J. M. Baik, C. T. Yavuz, S. Seifert, S. Vajda, R. E. Winans, M. Moskovits, G. D. Stucky, A. M. Wodtke*, Nano Lett., articles ASAP.

Two recent articles

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 06:12:00 +0000

The following articles were out recently:

"Markedly Improved CO₂ Capture Efficiency and Stability of Gallium Substituted Hydrotalcites at Elevated Temperatures", Cafer T. Yavuz*, Brian D. Shinall, Alexei V. Iretskii*, Mark G. White, Tim Golden, Mert Atilhan, Peter C. Ford and Galen D. Stucky, Chemistry of Materials, 2009, 21 (15), 3473–3475.

"Magnetic separations: From steel plants to biotechnology", Cafer T. Yavuz, Arjun Prakash, J.T. Mayo and Vicki L. Colvin*, Chemical Engineering Science, 64 (10), 2009, 2510-2521

Please contact me if you don't have access to these journals and need a copy of the papers.

*denotes corresponding authors.

My first grant as a PI

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:03:00 +0000

Early Sunday, about 3 am in the morning, I got a phone call from my dear friend Prof. Mert Atilhan that the grant we applied for was awarded. This marks my first (substantial) grant as a principal investigator (PI). It's for $1,035,382 to be exact and the duration is 3 years. Thanks Qatar Foundation!

The abstract is as follows (from here):

"The aim of this proposed work is to create high surface area solid state materials that can be precisely defined at the atomic level in order to provide a high throughput basis for the optimization of CO2 capture, conversion and co-activation with methane.
This proposed work focuses on the design, production, characterization and testing of materials that potentially have a high capability of capturing carbon dioxide from natural gas precombustion feed and post combustion effluent gases. Conversion and coactivation with methane will also be sought in the scope of this proposal. First phase of our work is to design and synthesize the candidate materials. Second phase will contain testing for carbon dioxide capture performances and catalytic co-activation with methane. The sorbent catalysts that show promise will be advanced to the third phase where pilot scale tests will take place. Following groups will be investigated:
• Mesoporous materials with compositional and structural functionality for CO2 capture, conversion and coactivation
• Hydrotalcites
• Oxime based Metal Organic Frameworks (MOF)
• High surface area inorganic carbonates, borates and iodates
Upon completion of the material synthesis, Stucky and Yavuz will also carry out full characterization of the materials prior to CO2 capture capacity determination. Samples with high affinity to CO2 capture and conversion will be analyzed in detail at the Atilhan group’s “Magnetic Suspension Sorption Device” in Qatar."

Nano rust was on Science Channel

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:23:00 +0000

Discovery's Science Channel had our nano rust project covered in their "Nano water" episode along with MIT's Francesco Stellacci's nano sponges that soak up spills. Click the following link to view the video:http://science.discovery.com/videos/brink-package-nano-water.html

International Congress on Production of Safe Water

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:29:00 +0000

I will be attending the International Congress on Production of Safe Water, January 21-23, 2009, Izmir, Turkey. My talk title is "Pollution Magnet: Nano Magnetite for Arsenic Removal from Drinking Water"

There will be well known scholars of arsenic research (such as Arup K. Sengupta, Lehigh University) and poster sessions that reflect current technology for battling arsenic contamination in water resources.

This conference is very timely and beneficial to the people of Turkey, and will help motivate scholarly activity as well as public consciousness.

Academic Impact Index (AII)

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:07:00 +0000

From my nano blog, nanotella:

Hirsch index seems to be working better for senior or semi-senior professors. The untenured and yet to be graduated (e.g. grad students) are not easy to track in h-index. In other words, h-index is not that sensitive below 5.

Here's a suggestion for an academic impact index (AII):

Your AII = Total [(journal impact factor + times cited)x n]

n=1 if you are not the first, second or corresponding author
n=1.5 if you are the second author
n=2 if you are the first and/or corresponding author

For example, the 5th year chemistry graduate student Jack Sparrow has 3 journal papers (peer reviewed). His Chemistry of Materials paper has 4 citations, Advanced Materials has 11 and JACS (second author) has none because it's just come out.

His AII = (4.883 + 4)x2 + (8.191 + 11)x2 + (7.885 + 0)x1.5 = 67.976 = 68

So Mr. Sparrow's Academic Impact Index (AII) is 68.

Notes:
1. If there is no data for a journal's impact factor then put "0" for impact factor.

Advantages of this method:
1. Everything counts
2. The level of authorship matters (i.e. first, second or corresponding)
3. The journal you are publishing in is important
4. Any newly published papers have an immediate impact on your score

Nano Rust

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:33:00 +0000

My first book was recently published via VDM Verlag. Thanks to Gabriel Caruntu for hooking me up with them. If you're interested in buying please click here, it's only $116(!).

Here's the blurb from the back:
This work describes the first size dependent magneticseparation in nanoscale by using rust like iron oxide. Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanocrystals of high quality and uniform size (4 nm to 33 nm) were synthesized. Batch synthesis was shown to go up to 20 grams which is more than 10 times of a standard nanocrystal synthesis, without loosing the quality and monodispersity. Reactor design for mass (1 gram per hour) production of magnetite nanocrystals isreported for the first time. A green synthesis thatutilizes rust and edible oils was developed.
The cost of a kg of magnetite nanocrystals was brought down from $2600 to $22. Size dependency of magnetism was shown in nanoscale for the first time. Reversible aggregation theory was developed to explain the low field magnetic separation and solution behavior of magnetite nanocrystals. Arsenic was removed from drinking water with magnetite nanocrystals 200 times better than commercial adsorbents. Silica coating was successfully applied and magnetite - silica nanoshells were functionalized with amino groups. For the first time, silver was coated on the magnetite -silica nanoshells to produce triple multishells.

Yenigun daily featured my comments on their frontpage

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 05:14:00 +0000

On the Arsenic crisis in Izmir's (Turkey) drinking water system, I urged the public to be calm and not worry much. The issue will be resolved in 4 months and the toxicity of the current levels will not surmount to the fatal level although the carcinogenic effect of Arsenic is still at large. Scientists still not sure about how much arsenic in water can trigger tumor formations and for this very reason I would be cautious when drinking water with high levels of arsenic.

And CNN Turk interviewed me over 7 pm prime time news about our "pollution magnet" study.

Times Higher Education interviewed for Elsevier spam email

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:08:00 +0000

Finding me from the blog post I wrote in May, Times Higher Education included my comments in their story about the recent Elsevier spam email. Click here to read the full story.

It starts like this:

24 July 2008

By Chloe Stothart

Spam messages calling for research papers could lead to loss of personal details, says Chloe Stothart

Most e-mail frauds are concerned with selling fake Viagra or persuading people to send their bank details to a beleaguered, fictional politician on the other side of the world.

But, in a new development, the fraudsters now want your research papers.

Aktuel interviewed for the recent Arsenic contraversy in Turkey

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:02:00 +0000

The popular Turkish magazine, Aktuel interviewed me once again but this time for my comments on the recent Arsenic problem in Ankara, Turkey's capital city. Click here to reach to the article.

Chemical Search Engine

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Mon, 26 May 2008 21:18:00 +0000

For a long time I've been thinking about such idea, making a chemical specific search engine. Not just chemicals, also glassware, some key physical properties and other related tools. Isotopes of the elements were also added when I finally got down to it - thanks to the Google Custom Search tool. And yes, here it is: Chemical Search Engine

Biography of Cafer T. Yavuz

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:29:00 +0000

Dr. Cafer T. Yavuz received his B.S. degree from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey. He completed the 4 year program in only 3 years being the first in the honor program's and second in the Chemistry department's 40 year old history. When he was in high school, he attended the 29th and 30th International Chemistry Olympiads representing Turkey twice and got a silver and a bronze medal in Canada and Australia, respectively. He was admitted to Rice University in 2001 with Welch scholarship and received his Master's and Ph.D. under the supervision of Dr. Vicki L. Colvin. His research focused on production of magnetic nanocrystals and their use in arsenic removal. His paper in Science magazine received Forbes magazine's "Top 5 nanotech breakthroughs of 2006" honor as well as 80+ different news coverage in media outlets such as New York Times, BBC, Houston Chronicle and The Guardian. His recent work was selected among the "Six Ideas That Will Change The World" by the Esquire Magazine (December 2007). He is currently a Research Associate at the UC Santa Barbara with Dr. Galen Stucky working on CO2 sequestration, conversion and co-activation with methane (CH4).

Email: contact@caferyavuz.com

Recent coverage by Aktuel magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:03:00 +0000

One of the leading weekly magazines of Turkey, Yeni Aktuel, featured our study in its latest issue. Titled as "Dunyanin Arsenigini Bu Turk Temizleyecek!" (This Turk will clean all the Arsenic in the world), story (by Urun Dirier) highlighted Esquire magazine's recent honor.

The article starts like this:

Amerikan Rice Üniversitesi'nden aralarında bir Türk'ün de bulunduğu bilim adamları sudaki arseniği kolay yolla yok edecek bir yöntem geliştirdi. Kimya doktoru Cafer Yavuz'un katkısıyla çok ucuza mal edilen ve bugün kullanılan pahalı filtrelerden 200 kat daha etkin olan "kir mıknatısı", içme sularına karışan arseniğe bağlı sağlık problemleri yaşayan Türkiye gibi ülkeler için umut kaynağı oldu.

Esquire Magazine selected our work in "Six Ideas That Will Change The World"

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:05:00 +0000

The Esquire magazine selected our rust and edible oil method for making magnetite nanocrystals as one of the "Six Ideas That Will Change The World". Listed as the 3rd, it was dubbed "The Pollution Magnet". The article appeared in their "BEST & BRIGHTEST 2007" section.

The others ideas are:

Breaking Down the Firewall by the Citizen Lab (UToronto)
Electronic Skin by Stéphanie Lacour (Princeton)
Machines That Fix Themselves by Hod Lipson
Burying Our CO2 by Kurt Zenz House (Harvard)
The Next Plastic by Geoffrey Coates (Cornell)

Now a doctor

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:12:00 +0000

Although one officially becomes a doctor at a conferral date, passing an oral defense with signatures is considered to be enough for the title.

As of November 1st, I may be called Dr. Cafer T. Yavuz. Thanks to everybody that came to the defense and thanks to all that helped me get to this level.

Visit to Philly

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 21:06:00 +0000

Couple weeks ago I visited the Murray Lab (click here for the news story of Chris Murray joining UPenn) at the University of Pennsylvania. That was by far the best chemistry lab I have ever seen. Cleverly design with the latest technology, the lab calls you to do experiments.

Near the end of my stay I got around the city of Philadelphia. And there I had these pics:

Notes from recent visits

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Sat, 26 May 2007 21:49:00 +0000

These are the pictures taken by the camera of my cell phone and shows views that I found interesting or noteworthy.

San Francisco: View from my hotel room. You can barely see the Bay Bridge at the back. It is about the sunrise.

Washington, DC: At the capitol hill. The iconic ladies of the congressional history. (Left to right: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott). The rumor is that the first ever woman president will be carved on the hump back.

New York City: Manhattan of course. After an excellent dinner at Dervish Restaurant on 47th, I walked around the Times square in the evening. It was cold but well worth it.

Buffalo, NY: The town was awfully quiet. That was before Sabres lost against Senators of Ottawa though (in hockey. I figured the people of north care about hockey more than anything).

Toronto, Canada: Freezing cold (in May!). The pictures are from the bus trip from Buffalo to Toronto.

Niagara Falls, Canadian border: While waiting in the traffic to pass the border, we had a good view of the niagara falls. The middle picture shows the very point that divides these two countries. And marked by a street light. How interesting :)

My new webpage

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Thu, 24 May 2007 17:44:00 +0000

Since April 2007, I've been working on my new webpage and finally it's fully renewed and operational. Please visit the links on the menu and let me know what you think by filling the form at the contacts page

I will be at MRS Spring Meeting, April 11-13, 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 19:34:00 +0000

For those of you who will be at Materials Research Society's Spring 2007 meeting (Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco, CA), I'll be talking on Friday, April 13, at the following session:

10:00-10:15 AM. Room 2001 (Moscone West),
DD17.6: Ultra Large Scale and Green Synthesis of Monodisperse Magnetite Nanocrystals.

C. T. Yavuz; J. Cox; C. Suchecki; A. Tran; V. L. Colvin;

Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanocrystals were synthesized in size distributions below 10% and in mass
quantities. We present the first reactor that would produce highly monodisperse and uniform magnetite nanocrystals 1g/hour. The most environmental friendly (green) synthesis was reported for high quality nanocrystals. Cost of manufacturing of magnetite nanocrystals cut down to industrial standards.

Our work listed in Top Five Nanotech Breakthroughs of 2006 by Forbes

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:33:00 +0000

In a Forbes/Wolfe Nanotech Report (on 12.27.06, 8:30 AM ET), Josh Wolfe listed our work as one of the "Top Five Nanotech Breakthroughs Of 2006" under the title "Nanomagnets to clean up drinking water". Click here to view the article.

An article in Science

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 01:37:00 +0000

The work that we've been doing for about 2.5 years finally paid off in an article in this (Nov 10, 2006) week's issue of Science magazine. After a lengthy work of analyzing data, writing, drawing, answering to critics we were able to publish our results. I feel fortunate and very much indebted to many many people that helped in this.

CLICK HERE to read the article (or HERE).

UPDATE: Rice News, BBC, New Scientist and The Guardian contacted us for news coverage.

UPDATE: Click to read the story at Guardian Unlimited, UK.

UPDATE: Click to read the story at Rice News

UPDATE: Click to read the story at New York Times

UPDATE: Click to read the story at Houston Business Journal

UPDATE: Click to read the story at International Herald Tribune

UPDATE: Click to read the story at EurekAlert

UPDATE: Click to read the story at PlanetSave.com

UPDATE: Click to read the story at BBC

UPDATE: Click to read the story at Houston Chronicle

UPDATE: Click to read all 41 news articles

UPDATE: As of Nov 10, 2006 7:50 pm (central time):

Nanotech cure for arsenic in water, Times of India, India
NEW DELHI: Tiny crystals of magnetite, a mineral similar to rust, could provide a simple and inexpensive option for removing hazardous levels of arsenic from ...
Study: Crystal removes arsenic cheaplyMonsters and Critics.com, UK - HOUSTON, TX, United States (UPI) -- A common rust-like crystal may offer an inexpensive way to rid drinking water of hazardous levels of arsenic, Rice ...
Nanotechnology used to clean waterHouston Chronicle, United States - A common mineral similar to rust fashioned into a powder of tiny crystals could provide a simple, inexpensive method for removing hazardous levels of arsenic ...
Cheap nano knowhow cleans arsenic from waterGuardian Unlimited, UK - Contaminated water that causes illness and fatal poisoning among millions of people worldwide has been made safe to drink using tiny particles created by ...
Rust Could Be the Key to Arsenic-Free WaterScientific American - Rust, or at least one of its constituents, could bring relief to the 60 million people in Bangladesh. They reportedly face the risk ...
Rice researchers use nanotechnology to purify drinking waterBizjournals.com, NC - by Greg Barr. Researchers at Rice University have uncovered a revolutionary method using nanotechnology for cleaning arsenic from ...
Researchers Find Method for Reducing Arsenic LevelsNew York Times, United States - By BARNABY J. FEDER. A common mineral similar to rust, fashioned into a powder of tiny crystals, could provide a simple, inexpensive ...
Cleaning Water With 'Nanorust'Chemical & Engineering News - Rust, olive oil, and a handheld magnet could someday be all that's needed to remove arsenic from drinking water, according to researchers at Rice University. ...
Rust, magnets help reduce arsenic in drinking waterWater Technology Online, NY - HOUSTON – Researchers at Rice University have discovered an inexpensive way to reduce harmful levels of arsenic in drinking water with the aid of rust ...
Nanotechnology shown to remove arsenic from waterPlanetSave.com, ME - Scientists at Rice University in Houston have adapted nanotechnology to clean aresenic contaminated drinking water cheap and simple enough to use in developing ...
'Nanorust' cleans arsenic from drinking waterEurekAlert (press release), DC - HOUSTON, Nov. 9, 2006 -- The discovery of unexpected magnetic interactions between ultrasmall specks of rust is leading scientists ...
Common mineral takes arsenic out of waterInternational Herald Tribune, France - By Barnaby J. Feder / The New York Times. A common mineral similar to rust fashioned into a powder of tiny crystals could provide ...
Cheap nano knowhow cleans arsenic from waterHindu, India - By Ian Sample. Contaminated water that causes illness and fatal poisoning among millions of people worldwide has been made safe to ...
Rustlike Crystals Found to Cleanse Water of Arsenic CheaplyNew York Times, United States - By BARNABY J. FEDER. A common mineral similar to rust fashioned into a powder of tiny crystals could provide a simple, inexpensive ...
Study: Crystal removes arsenic cheaplyPhysOrg.com, VA -
'Nanorust' cleans arsenic from drinking waterNanotechwire.com, PA - The discovery of unexpected magnetic interactions between ultrasmall specks of rust is leading scientists at Rice University's Center for Biological and ...
'Nanorust' cleans arsenic from drinking waterinnovations report, Germany - The discovery of unexpected magnetic interactions between ultrasmall specks of rust is leading scientists at Rice University's Center for Biological and ...
Study: Crystal removes arsenic cheaplyMarket-Day.net, AZ - HOUSTON, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- A common rust-like crystal may offer an inexpensive way to rid drinking water of hazardous levels of arsenic ...
Study: Crystal removes arsenic cheaplyUnited Press International - HOUSTON, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- A common rust-like crystal may offer an inexpensive way to rid drinking water of hazardous levels of arsenic ...

Cleaning arsenic from drinking waterScenta.co.uk, UK - Magnetic reactions observed between ultra-tiny specks of rust have lead scientists to develop a revolutionary technology for ridding drinking water of arsenic. ...
Rice researchers use nanotechnology to purify drinking waterWashington Business Journal, DC - by Greg Barr. Researchers at Rice University have uncovered a revolutionary method using nanotechnology for cleaning arsenic from ...
Rice reports nanotech breakthroughCharlotte Business Journal, NC - Researchers at Rice University have uncovered a revolutionary method using nanotechnology for cleaning arsenic from drinking water, a breakthrough that could ...
Easy method found to remove arsenic from waterDeseret News, UT - By Barnaby J. Feder. A common mineral similar to rust fashioned into a powder of tiny crystals could provide a simple, inexpensive ...
Rice reports nanotech breakthroughMilwaukee Business Journal, WI - Researchers at Rice University have uncovered a revolutionary method using nanotechnology for cleaning arsenic from drinking water, a breakthrough that could ...
Cheap clean water via nano rustTechnocrat.net, MA - The Guardian is picking up on an article similar to a published abstract on EurekAlert of a Science article on using nanorust to clean arsenic from poisoned ...
Tiny tech promises 'no-energy' solution for global problemPressZoom (press release), Netherlands - HOUSTON, Nov. 9, 2006 -- The discovery of unexpected magnetic interactions between ultrasmall specks of rust is leading scientists ...
Rice researchers use nanotechnology to purify drinking waterMilwaukee Business Journal, WI - by Greg Barr. Researchers at Rice University have uncovered a revolutionary method using nanotechnology for cleaning arsenic from ...
Rice reports nanotech breakthroughPhoenix Business Journal, AZ - Researchers at Rice University have uncovered a revolutionary method using nanotechnology for cleaning arsenic from drinking water, a breakthrough that could ...

Rice reports nanotech breakthroughSan Antonio Business Journal, TX - Researchers at Rice University have uncovered a revolutionary method using nanotechnology for cleaning arsenic from drinking water, a breakthrough that could ...
'Nanorust' Cleans Arsenic From Drinking WaterNanotechnology News (press release) - The discovery of unexpected magnetic interactions between ultrasmall specks of rust is leading scientists at Rice University's Center for Biological and ...
Rice reports nanotech breakthroughWashington Business Journal, DC - Researchers at Rice University have uncovered a revolutionary method using nanotechnology for cleaning arsenic from drinking water, a breakthrough that could ...
Rice researchers use nanotechnology to purify drinking waterPhoenix Business Journal, AZ - Nov 9, 2006by Greg Barr. Researchers at Rice University have uncovered a revolutionary method using nanotechnology for cleaning arsenic from ...
Rice researchers use nanotechnology to purify drinking waterSan Antonio Business Journal, TX - Nov 9, 2006by Greg Barr. Researchers at Rice University have uncovered a revolutionary method using nanotechnology for cleaning arsenic from ...
Rice researchers use nanotechnology to purify drinking waterCharlotte Business Journal, NC - Nov 9, 2006by Greg Barr. Researchers at Rice University have uncovered a revolutionary method using nanotechnology for cleaning arsenic from ...
Rice reports nanotech breakthroughBizjournals.com, NC - Nov 9, 2006Researchers at Rice University have uncovered a revolutionary method using nanotechnology for cleaning arsenic from drinking water, a breakthrough that could ...
Nanorust cleans arsenic from drinking waterNanowerk LLC, HI - Nov 9, 2006(Nanowerk News) The discovery of unexpected magnetic interactions between ultrasmall specks of rust is leading scientists at Rice University's Center for ...
Rice reports nanotech breakthroughAustin Business Journal, TX - Nov 9, 2006Researchers at Rice University have uncovered a revolutionary method using nanotechnology for cleaning arsenic from drinking water, a breakthrough that could ...
Rice researchers use nanotechnology to purify drinking waterHouston Business Journal, TX - Nov 9, 2006by Greg Barr. Researchers at Rice University have uncovered a revolutionary method using nanotechnology for cleaning arsenic from ...
'Nanorust' cleans arsenic from drinking waterPhysOrg.com, VA - Nov 9, 2006The discovery of unexpected magnetic interactions between ultrasmall specks of rust is leading scientists at Rice University's Center for Biological and ...

UPDATE: Nov 11, 2006 2:22 pm - 4 more articles

New technology could make clean drinking waterABC Online, Australia - 14 hours agoResearchers in the United States say nanotechnology could provide a cheap way of making clean drinking water for millions of people in developing countries. ...
RUSTLIKE CRYSTALS FOUND TO CLEANSE WATER OF ARSENIC CHEAPLYAmherst Times.com, NY - 51 minutes agoA common mineral similar to rust fashioned into a powder of tiny crystals could provide a simple, inexpensive method for removing hazardous levels of arsenic ...
'Nanorust' Cleans Arsenic From Drinking WaterPlayfuls.com, Romania - 8 hours agoby Mihai. The discovery of unexpected magnetic interactions between ultrasmall specks of rust is leading scientists at Rice University ...
Water safety breakthroughTrade Arabia, Bahrain - 11 hours agoArsenic-contaminated water can be made drinkable cheaply and simply using tiny crystals related to rust, scientists at Rice University in Texas say. ... 'Nanorust' cleans arsenic from drinking waterNanotechwire.com, PA - Nov 10, 2006The discovery of unexpected magnetic interactions between ultrasmall specks of rust is leading scientists at Rice University's Center for Biological and ...

UPDATE: Nov 12, 2006 4:14 pm 1 more article

'Nanorust' cleans arsenic from drinking water and promises 'no ...Gizmag, Australia - 18 hours agoCBEN's technology is based on a newly discovered magnetic interaction that takes place between particles of rust that are smaller than viruses. ...

UPDATE: Nov 13, 2006 11:04 am 4 more articles (Total 50 articles)

New technology to remove arsenic from water developedHindu, India - 10 hours agoNew Delhi, Nov. 13 (PTI): An inexpensive technique to remove arsenic from drinking water has been developed, a finding that could ...

New technology promises to decontaminate arsenic waterEarthtimes.org - 8 hours agoHOUSTON - Cleaning water is now easy and inexpensive and can be done by using crystals of a compound that is related to rust, according to American researchers ...
New method to remove arsenic from waterChennai Online, India - 8 hours agoNew Delhi, Nov 13: An inexpensive technique to remove arsenic from drinking water has been developed, a finding that could be of help to millions of people ...
Nano Solution to Arsenic Contamination in Drinking WaterAZoNano.com, Australia - 17 hours agoThe discovery of unexpected magnetic interactions between ultrasmall specks of rust is leading scientists at Rice University's Center for Biological and ...

UPDATE: Nov 13, 2006 11:15 am

51. 'Nanorust' Cleans Arsenic From WaterPhotonics.com, MA - 54 minutes agoHOUSTON, Nov. 13, 2006 -- The discovery of unexpected magnetic interactions between nanoparticles of rust is leading to a revolutionary ...

UPDATE: Nov 13, 2006 1:50 pm

52. For arsenic-free waterThe New Nation, Bangladesh - 2 hours agoRESEARCH workers of the Centre for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology of the Rice University in Texas in the USA have reportedly discovered a good ...

53. Cleaning Up Water with NanomagnetsMIT Technology Review, MA - 14 hours ago... Arsenic sticks to rust, says Vicki Colvin, a chemist at Rice's Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology. And since ...

54. `Nanorust` could offer cheap alternative to ridding water of ...Zee News, India - Nov 12, 2006... Lead researchers Vicki Colvin and his colleagues insist that the efficiency of this process can be improved by reducing the size of the iron oxide particles ...

UPDATE: Nov 14, 2006 12:33 pm

55. 'Nanorust' Cleans Arsenic From Drinking WaterMedical News Today (press release), UK - 6 hours agoThe discovery of unexpected magnetic interactions between ultrasmall specks of rust is leading scientists at Rice University's Center for Biological and ...

UPDATE: Nov 21, 2006 1:08 pm. Finally there are some news articles about bio applications:

56. Improving blood stem cell transplants, bioseparations using ...Nanowerk LLC, HI - Nov 20, 2006(Nanowerk News) Whether the goal is to separate different types of cells or molecules, methods that rely on the age-old principle of magnetism are a staple ...
57. Improving Blood Stem Cell Transplants via Magnetic NanoparticlesMedgadget.com, CA - 2 hours agoScientists from the Lerner Research Institute at Cleveland Clinic have demostrated a novel method to enrich a sample of peripheral blood progenitor cells with ...
58. Improving Blood Stem Cell Transplants, Bioseparations Using ...AZoNano.com, Australia - 18 hours agoWhether the goal is to separate different types of cells or molecules, methods that rely on the age-old principle of magnetism are a staple among researchers. ...
59. Low-field magnetic separation of monodisperse Fe3O4 nanocrystalsNews-Medical.net, Australia - 19 hours agoWhether the goal is to separate different types of cells or molecules, methods that rely on the age-old principle of magnetism are a staple among researchers. ...

60. 'Nanorust' Cleans Arsenic From Drinking WaterWater and Wastewater, FL - 1 hour ago... ways to remove arsenic, they require extensive hardware and high-pressure pumps that run on electricity," said center director and lead author Vicki Colvin.

61. Nano-Seeds Shown to Grow Pure MaterialsEnvironment News Service - Nov 17, 2006... Dr. Vicki Colvin is a Rice professor of chemistry and chemical engineering. (Photo courtesy Rice). Center director and lead author ...

UPDATE: Nov 27, 2006 Monday 1:59 pm

62. Improving Blood Stem Cell Transplants, Bioseparations Using ...Nanotechwire.com, PA - Nov 25, 2006... inexpensively. The research team, led by Vicki Colvin, Ph.D., at Rice University, published its results in the journal Science. ...

Rewarded by Vice Provost

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Wed, 03 May 2006 20:20:00 +0000

The appreciation luncheon on April 26, 2006 turned out to be a surprise for me. Director of Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) at Rice University, Dr. Adria Baker, said that they nominated me for the GSA Student Awards but since I couldn't win, they wanted to acknowledge what I did (well I didn't do anything :)) by giving a plaque with my name on it.

Another honor was the award presenter, Dr. Jordan Konisky, Vice Provost, Research & Graduate Studies and Professor, Biochemistry & Cell Biology (he is in the middle in the picture). He, with his usual smile, greeted me with a big congratulations, overwhelming me a little more.

Who can forget Dr. Vinod Kumar's presence (the one on the very right of the picture ). He was my partner in the organization we founded, Rice International Student Association.

Thanks for everything, Adria, Vinod, Dr. Konisky and everyone at OISS.
Now I have something to put on my empty walls :)

Better Surveys with Binary Theory

noreply@blogger.com (Cafer T. Yavuz) — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 12:52:00 +0000

As I introduced earlier with my previous post on Binary Theory, for a new antropological methodology, more success on surveys, Binary Theory offers a unique approach.

In a survey of utmost importance and controversy, people tend not to give true answers. It comes partly because of the fear from being exposed or losing secrets to the global media which they might, one day, be accounted for. It doesn't matter how much celebrity you are, you don't give away your personality that easy.

There are several methods for getting the "right" answer for better surveys. However, if there're always multiple choices, there will be "error" in getting the truest answer. Even an honest person will be confused to choose the best selection.

For example;

Which color do you like most?

a) Red
b) Maroon
c) Teal
d) Turquoise
e) Blue

can be separated into 2 choice, binary layout:

Round I . Which color would you choose:
a) Red
b) Maroon

Round II.
a) Teal
b) Turquoise

etc.

This way we will know EXACTLY what color the surveyee likes. With multiple choice we give so much to choose from and this will affect the correct judgment of the choice.

Imagine another question about some emotional subject which has choices of the following. (Black answer is dark and white is bright - no racism here but just dark/bright analogy):

a) black
b) 80 % grey
c) 60 % grey
d) 40 % grey
e) 20 % grey
f) white

The person subjected to this will either choose 20% or 40 % grey if s/he prefers whitish answer but not white. Similarly s/he will prefer 80% or 60% grey if a tendency goes for black. There won't be any black or white, of course depending on the nature of the question. But since it's emotional, people will tend to remain balanced on the decision. But if we had 6 questions with answers only black or white:

Round I. a) black b) white
Round II. a) black b) white
Round III. a) black b) white
Round IV. a) black b) white
Round V. a) black b) white

we would get very correct answer such as:
1st Person: I. Black II. Black III. White IV. Black V. Black = 80% grey!
2nd Person: I. White II. White III. Black IV. Black V. White = 40% grey!

This way it'll be very ACCURATE to analyze one's true answer for a given question.