Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-01-12

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] UN's Guterres on Cyprus: 'We are not looking for a quick fix but for a sustainable solution'

[02] Greek researchers create 'artificial neuron' with quantum-dot lasers

[01] UN's Guterres on Cyprus: 'We are not looking for a quick fix but for a sustainable solution'

Guterres said the issues of security and guarantees are very complicated adding it is very important to take into account the concerns of the two communities.

"You cannot expect miracles of immediate solutions; we are not looking for a quick fix. We are looking for a solid sustainable solution for the two communities and the Republic of Cyprus," he said during a joint press conference, flanked by Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.

"We are very close to an arrangement for the creation of a bi-communal, bi-zonal, federal Cyprus," he said, noting talks have only just begun and expressing hope for a successful conclusion.

The conference is also attended by the foreign ministers of the guarantor powers - Greece, Turkey and Britain.

The head of the UN also hailed the courage of the two leaders during their 20-month-long dialog which he said created the conditions for Cyprus to be reunited. He clarified, however, that a lot remains to be done and that the two sides will take all the necessary time to achieve these goals.

Guterres said the UN's role is to support both sides so that they can reach an agreement. "The solution would be a symbol of hope for the whole world," he added.

[02] Greek researchers create 'artificial neuron' with quantum-dot lasers

A paper on the new breakthrough made by the Greek team, led by Prof. Dimitris Syvridis with Dr. Charis Mesaritakis as main researcher and with Alexandros Kapsalis and Adonis Bogris listed as authors, was published in the "Scientific Reports" section of the science journal "Nature" on December 19.

Simulating the action of biological neurons is the "Holy Grail" of computing; the proposal developed by Mesaritakis and his team uses an integrated all-optical neuron based on an InAs/InGaAs semiconductor quantum-dot passively mode-locked laser.

The researchers reproduced the functions of spiking neurons in the brain with arrays on a scale of a few dozen micrometres. In addition to furthering our understanding of how the brain functions, these can also lead to the building of basic structural elements that make up brain structures. This brings science one step closer to creating a comprehensive neuromimetic system, capable of reproducing complex neural functions and acting as an innovative computing paradigm with various uses.

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