Nitride Solutions Inc of Wichita, KS, USA, which is developing substrates for LEDs, lasers and power electronics, has closed its Series A financing round (which was oversubscribed) at $2.5m. After already participating in the round last June, Nebraska Angels and Aurora UV Inc of Santa Barbara, CA (which makes ultraviolet LEDs for applications including air and water purification) have again joined lead investor Midwest Venture Alliance (MVA) in completing the round.
Founded in 2009, Nitride Solutions’ leadership has 30-plus years of experience in advanced materials businesses (both start-ups and Fortune 500 companies) and a total of 25 years in nitride crystal development. The firm maintains strong ties to Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS, with key employees and advisors hailing from the university, as well as University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB).
The firm is now finishing commercialization of a high-volume manufacturing technology that aims to deliver high-volume, low-cost aluminum nitride (AlN) substrates. With projected defect rates 10 times lower than substrates currently on the market, the substrates will improve the performance, efficiency and cost of existing LED, laser and electronic products, while also making deep ultraviolet (UV) devices, the firm reckons. The result should be improved white lighting for consumer and industrial uses, more efficient power systems in hybrid vehicles, sharper color on flat-screen TVs, and better air and water purifiers. The firm will use the Series A funding to perfect the technology and begin sampling in first-quarter 2012.
“We are excited about the potential for this technology, and the strong demand for the Series A financing is a demonstration of our confidence in the company’s ability to execute on its business plan and deliver this revolutionary technology to market,” says Nebraska Angels’ president Bart Dillashaw.
“Fund raising in this economy is difficult,” notes Trish Brasted, managing member, MVA Capital Group. “All of us at the Midwest Venture Alliance are very excited to see the support from the regional investment community, as demonstrated by the oversubscribed Series A offering.”
2011年12月6日星期二
Santa Ana winds bothering your allergies? Try these tips
For people with asthma and allergies, the Santa Ana winds are still a daily nuisance. The unusually strong winds kick up allergens, causing a host of miserable symptoms.
You might be feeling it in your nose, throat and eyes. Thanks to last week's strong winds and the continuing Santa Anas, allergy doctors are reporting a boom of business. But you don't have to continue suffering.
"Once that wind blows we have several days afterwards that we're dealing with people that suffer from allergies having persistent symptoms, because it does bring up a lot of mold, it brings up pollen and it brings up a lot of dust that irritates people's symptoms," said Dr. Joseph Shapiro, Northridge Hospital Medical Center.
Those 90-mile-per-hour gusts kicked up buried soot and carried pollen and pollution from miles away.
Dr. Shapiro says allergy sufferers should continue to take cover.
"Keep the windows closed," said Shapiro. "You also want to keep your air purifiers going so you can filter out any of the allergens and irritants that get into the house. Make sure you change your filters on a regular basis."
But you've got to go out some time. So Dr. Shapiro recommends taking precautions before you head out.
"These include antihistamines and nasal decongestants, as well some of these sinus-irrigation techniques that allow a person to clean out the irritants that build up inside their sinus cavities and nasal cavities," said Shapiro.
Your nose and throat aren't the only things affected by the high winds. Doctors report many patients are complaining about dry skin and irritated eyes.
"There's some great over-the-counter eye drops and also, even better prescription eye drops, as well as saline eye drops that can be very effective with just washing out whatever irritants are getting in their eyes," said Shapiro.
Dr. Shapiro also recommends drinking plenty of water and keeping dry skin moisturized.
Dr. Shapiro says the change in barometric pressure can also trigger allergic symptoms.
If your symptoms persist, he recommends you see an allergist to create a long-term treatment plan, which may include regular medication and/or allergy shots.
You might be feeling it in your nose, throat and eyes. Thanks to last week's strong winds and the continuing Santa Anas, allergy doctors are reporting a boom of business. But you don't have to continue suffering.
"Once that wind blows we have several days afterwards that we're dealing with people that suffer from allergies having persistent symptoms, because it does bring up a lot of mold, it brings up pollen and it brings up a lot of dust that irritates people's symptoms," said Dr. Joseph Shapiro, Northridge Hospital Medical Center.
Those 90-mile-per-hour gusts kicked up buried soot and carried pollen and pollution from miles away.
Dr. Shapiro says allergy sufferers should continue to take cover.
"Keep the windows closed," said Shapiro. "You also want to keep your air purifiers going so you can filter out any of the allergens and irritants that get into the house. Make sure you change your filters on a regular basis."
But you've got to go out some time. So Dr. Shapiro recommends taking precautions before you head out.
"These include antihistamines and nasal decongestants, as well some of these sinus-irrigation techniques that allow a person to clean out the irritants that build up inside their sinus cavities and nasal cavities," said Shapiro.
Your nose and throat aren't the only things affected by the high winds. Doctors report many patients are complaining about dry skin and irritated eyes.
"There's some great over-the-counter eye drops and also, even better prescription eye drops, as well as saline eye drops that can be very effective with just washing out whatever irritants are getting in their eyes," said Shapiro.
Dr. Shapiro also recommends drinking plenty of water and keeping dry skin moisturized.
Dr. Shapiro says the change in barometric pressure can also trigger allergic symptoms.
If your symptoms persist, he recommends you see an allergist to create a long-term treatment plan, which may include regular medication and/or allergy shots.
2011年5月10日星期二
Ahhhchoo, allergy season coming on strong
An abundance of rainfall this spring has made this year’s allergy season a particularly bad one for seasonal allergy sufferers.
“Just look outside and you can see,” said Parsippany-based allergist Dr. Neal Nadler.
There’s pollen everywhere.
Rain holds pollen down, but when the rain dries up the battle begins, Nadler said. “Now all the pollens that have been suppressed come out in full blast, and people get the itchy eyes and running nose,” he said.
The allergy culprits of the moment are trees and mold (though, Nadler said, mold is a year-round irritant), and come August, ragweed will cause its own share of sniffles and sneezes, he said.
Seasonal allergies last from April to October, or, until the first frost comes and there are about 40 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies.
Dr. Leonard Bielory, a specialist in allergy and immunology with the department of Environmental Sciences at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, said he sympathizes because this year’s allergy season looks to be particularly harsh.
“The grass pollens started last weekend and that Sunday our phones started ringing off the hook,” he said, referring to patients seeking relief at his private practice in Springfield. “This will continue to persist at these elevated states through the end of May and the beginning of June.”
Bielory, who is conducting research on pollen and allergies, said that on Tuesday tree pollen counts soared to 5,600 grains per cubic meter, which is considered high. Information on the daily pollen count can be found on the Asthma and Allergy Research Center, NJ School of Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry website, he said.
Point Pleasant Dr. Richard Murachanian said it’s hard to tell whether it is worse than previous years because there are so many effective, nonsedating over-the-counter allergy medications, like Allegra and Claritin, that people may choose to purchase the medication rather than visit a doctor.
“Just look outside and you can see,” said Parsippany-based allergist Dr. Neal Nadler.
There’s pollen everywhere.
Rain holds pollen down, but when the rain dries up the battle begins, Nadler said. “Now all the pollens that have been suppressed come out in full blast, and people get the itchy eyes and running nose,” he said.
The allergy culprits of the moment are trees and mold (though, Nadler said, mold is a year-round irritant), and come August, ragweed will cause its own share of sniffles and sneezes, he said.
Seasonal allergies last from April to October, or, until the first frost comes and there are about 40 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies.
Dr. Leonard Bielory, a specialist in allergy and immunology with the department of Environmental Sciences at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, said he sympathizes because this year’s allergy season looks to be particularly harsh.
“The grass pollens started last weekend and that Sunday our phones started ringing off the hook,” he said, referring to patients seeking relief at his private practice in Springfield. “This will continue to persist at these elevated states through the end of May and the beginning of June.”
Bielory, who is conducting research on pollen and allergies, said that on Tuesday tree pollen counts soared to 5,600 grains per cubic meter, which is considered high. Information on the daily pollen count can be found on the Asthma and Allergy Research Center, NJ School of Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry website, he said.
Point Pleasant Dr. Richard Murachanian said it’s hard to tell whether it is worse than previous years because there are so many effective, nonsedating over-the-counter allergy medications, like Allegra and Claritin, that people may choose to purchase the medication rather than visit a doctor.
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