R & D articles from August 2003

R & D archives from August 2003

Government R&D under review?(Editorial)(Editorial)
August 1, 2003... The US Federal Government will spend more than $115 billion this fiscal year to support R&D within its array of federal labs and government-funded research programs. A significant part of that budgeting has been under review over the past month...

Keeping the pipeline of science and technology talent flowing.(Innovation Insider)
August 1, 2003... As leaders in research and development, we have all heard the dire predictions about the expected decline in the number of students who wish to pursue science and engineering careers. Experts fear that the pipeline of science and engineering...

Creating a tangled web of CNTs.(Materials)
August 1, 2003... The days of plastics and Kevlar may soon be replaced by the tiny powerhouses of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Research conducted by the Univ. of Texas at Dallas and Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, have successfully created the strongest CNT fibers...

Tungsten lattice energy exceeds Planck's Law.(Vacuum/Thin Film)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Though energy is dictated by physical laws, i.e., E=[Mc.sup.2] and [lambda] =f/c, sometimes research throws in a twist or factor that makes accepted principles yield unconventional results. Such is the case with a team of researchers from...

Hubble locates oldest known planet.(Bulletin)
August 1, 2003... New data retrieved by the Hubble Space Telescope has given truth to the adage that age is indeed relative. Scanning deep within a globular cluster, researchers have been able to confirm the planet's mass and distance revealing an age of roughly...

Lab design conference draws near.(Upcoming Conferences & Events)(Calendar)
August 1, 2003... The editors of R&D magazine and Laboratory Design newsletter are preparing to hold the Lab Design Fall 2003 Conference & Workshop in September. The event is an ideal venue for lab managers, planners, construction leaders, researchers, and...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
August 1, 2003... In the July 2003 issue we excluded the phone numbers of Scimagix and the FDA on pg 19. They are 650-377-2300 and 888-INFO-FDA, respectively. Clarification: Also in July, pg. 12, Camp Dresser and McKee (CDM) retains overall design...

R&D services join PerkinElmer and Pfizer.(Analytical Instruments)
August 1, 2003... As part of the growing demand for custom designed solutions. PerkinElmer, Boston, Mass., and Pfizer, Inc., New York City, have joined in PerkinElmer's OneSource Laboratory Services. Under the program, PerkinElmer will provide repair, service,...

Awards for fundamental lab accessories.(Laboratory Equipment)
August 1, 2003... Test and measurement manufacturer Fluke Corp., Everett, Wash., has been recognized in an annual industrial design challenge sponsored by ISDA/Business Week. The award was given to the SureGrip accessory line, which includes test lead clips,...

Transforming gaussian beams into simple flat-tops.(Lasers & Optics)
August 1, 2003... The problems associated with non-uniform laser beams have plagued researchers for years and created a need to somehow convert the fluctuating properties of a Gaussian beam to an isotropic and homogeneous one. Laser and optics manufacturer,...

Hypoallergenic peanuts coming soon?(Life Science)
August 1, 2003... Lactose, caffeine, and pollen are just a few of the common culprits for allergy sufferers. That wonderful legume, the peanut, is also on that list. Millions of American school kids have grown up with candy bars, party mixes, and, of course, the...

Nickel nanostructures simplified in one-step electrochemical machining.(Micro/Nano Technology)
August 1, 2003... Although photolithography has been the dominant method of etching within semiconductor fabs, new research from the Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, and the Fritz Haber Institute, Berlin, Germany, may support the use of electrochemical...

Variable pressure SEM introduced.(Microscopy)
August 1, 2003... A team from Hitachi High-Tech Technologies (HHT), London, UK, has unveiled their newest offering in the SEM (scanning electron microscope) market. The S-4300SE/N field emission variable pressure scanning electron microscope (FEVPSEM) features a...

Experiment displays "new" binding forces in proteins.(Pharmaceutical)
August 1, 2003... While protein structure seems to be well-established, the way proteins stick or bind together has been a point of contention and discovery. In essence, if researchers could understand the mechanism and location behind protein binding, drug...

Wafer QA advances with inspection tool.(Test & Measurement)
August 1, 2003... 300-mm wafers, increased front-end solutions, and customized products have allowed semiconductor manufacturing to change its old standards. Wafer processing giant, Applied Materials (AM), Santa Clara, Calif., has looked at the inspection...

Battelle acquires pipeline simulation facility.(Laboratory Design)
August 1, 2003... Battelle, Columbus, Ohio, has expanded its reach into the petrochemical industry by now being the sole owner of the Pipeline Simulation Facility, located in West Jefferson, Ohio. The facility which was previously co-owned by Battelle and the...

Software organizes email.(Data Management & Analysis)
August 1, 2003... An innovative tool, named eArchivarius, for organizing and visualizing collections of email has been developed by a group of scientists led by Anton Leuski at the Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles. Employing advanced algorithms for...

AIM focuses on research.(Data Management & Analysis)
August 1, 2003... A data-based inventory management system named ActivityBase Inventory Management (AIM) has been launched by IDBS, Guildford, UK. Created with the help of Chiron Corp., Emeryville, Calif., AIM can be integrated with ActivityBase 5.1, allowing...

Growing medical device plastics market.(Data Management & Analysis)
August 1, 2003... The North American medical plastics market is anticipated to rise at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of nearly 4.3% by the year 2008, consuming about $4.7 million. A minor change is expected from commodity thermoplastics to thermosets,...

IP VPN thrive.(Data Management & Analysis)
August 1, 2003... Internet protocol (IP) virtual private network (VPN) services provide unified, efficient connectivity solutions for end-users' Intranet site, Extranet communications, and remote access. With many service providers offering or planning to offer...

Thermal images reveal new information on Mars.(Data Management & Analysis)
August 1, 2003... This August, Mars and Earth come within 56 million km of each other, the closest these planets have been in 50,000 yr. Coinciding with this unusual planetary encounter, a flurry of activity has recently been undertaken by NASA and ESA (European...

Production-scale Math in new release.(Data Management & Analysis)
August 1, 2003... Mathematica 5, the latest release of the preeminent mathematical software package created by Stephen Wolfram (R&D Magazine's 2002 Scientist of the Year) and Wolfram Research, Champaign, Ill., is now faster, more scalable, and offers more...

Bioinformatics--transforming data into models: modeling techniques of biosystems are still in their infancy, but islands of successful applications are beginning to appear that will drive the development of stronger, more refined tools.
August 1, 2003... Talk about the drug discovery process and what's being done today doesn't have the same meaning in the R&D lab that it had just a few years ago. The front end of the process, the true discovery part, more often now involves the manipulation of...

Fiber lasers gain power: fiber lasers are becoming more widely used as they fulfill scientists' need for smaller, cost-effective lasers with higher beam quality.(Keywords: * lasers * fiber devices * optics)
August 1, 2003... Compact, easy-to-use fiber lasers are gaining popularity with researchers. Producing very short pulses, these lasers possess well-known advantages. They are cost-effective, small, stable, and simple to operate and maintain. Since they are...

NMR products grow more user-friendly: the integration and demand for NMR instrumentation continue to rise as the devices become more compact, cheaper, easier to use, and faster in yielding results.(Keywords: * magnets * probes * spectrometers)
August 1, 2003... The prevailing weak economy has not impacted the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) instrumentation market. On the contrary, companies that supply such devices are experiencing an increase in demand. This growing interest is sparking innovations...

Triple detection technique aids drug companies in uncovering aggregates: the quality analysis process in therapeutic proteins is littered with a variety of challenges, one being protein aggregation. A biotechnology center and instrument manufacturer partner to report on the benefits of a multi-prong approach.(Keywords: * liquid chromatography * cetectors * protein analysis)
August 1, 2003... The difficulty in formulating targeted protein therapies is indeed a challenge for all those involved. Pharma companies and medical labs remain confronted with the problem of aggregates. Non-native aggregates, whether you view them as nuisances...

Solving process problems at the molecular flux level: working from pressure readings alone can mislead and misdirect a search for process problems, but reaching down a layer further into the molecular. flux level can provide real solutions.(Keywords: * molecular flux * chambers * vacuums)
August 1, 2003... Every vacuum process has some sort of specified parameters that must be met if the process is to be either initiated or carried out successfully. Most commonly, these parameters state that a certain vacuum level be achieved or maintained, and...

Dow Chemical goes abroad to minimize energy costs.(Regulatory Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Inflated natural gas prices have caused a mass exodus of companies seeking refuge abroad. The newest member is Dew Chemical Corp., Midland, Mich., who has unveiled plans to set up and expand shop in cost-effective Kuwait and China. Of...

IEEE clears amendments to wireless networks.(Regulatory Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Compatibility and confidence seem to be the themes within two amendments the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standards Association (IEEE-SA), Piscataway, NJ, have recently adopted. Specifically addressing wireless local...

British component of EU Clinical Trials Directive postponed.(Regulatory Update)
August 1, 2003... Revisions to the UK's clinical research regulations has been deferred until October according to Parliament. UK Health Minister, Lord Warner, stated that the UK's implementing regulations for the Clinical Trials Directive will not be laid...

EPA offers new "Lock it up" campaign.(Regulatory Update)
August 1, 2003... Lock it up is the newest campaign offered by the federal government to address public safety. The program is aimed at encouraging parents and homeowners to place pesticides and common day solvents in hard to reach areas. The EPA, who is a...

Pill-dispensing device offers independence.(Emerging Technologies)
August 1, 2003... A computer-guided medication-dispensing machine that will allow a quadriplegic person to live a more independent life has been developed by researchers at The Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, Md. The device uses a mouth stick, which enables a...

Cheaper hydrogen catalyst.(Emerging Technologies)
August 1, 2003... A cost-effective nickel-tin catalyst, discovered by researchers at the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, promises to substitute for platinum in the hydrogen manufacturing process from plants. Using a mixture of nickel-tin-aluminum, the scientists...

Nanoswitch interface tuning.(Emerging Technologies)
August 1, 2003... A team of physicists from North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, The Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tenn., performed atomic-level modifications in the functional components of semiconductor switches. These...

Visualizing biopsies.(Emerging Technologies)
August 1, 2003... A novel imaging method that could result in optical biopsies without tissue extraction has been produced by scientists at Cornell Univ., Ithaca, N.Y., and Harvard Univ., Cambridge, Mass. Using a non-invasive laser microscope, a beam of pulsed...

3D metamaterials self-assemble.(Emerging Technologies)
August 1, 2003... Two different kinds of nanoparticles have been assembled into a novel 3D material by a group of researchers at IBM, Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Columbia Univ., N.Y., and the Univ. of New Orleans, La. Using a chemistry technique, the scientists...

The little sensor that could.(Emerging Technologies)
August 1, 2003... A tiny wireless sensor and data acquisition system, called EmbedSense, has been developed by MicroStrain Inc., Williston, Vt. Small enough to be inserted in composite materials, implants, and spinning machinery, it will enable the generation of...

Stabilizing jittery videos.(Emerging Technologies)
August 1, 2003... A tool created by two researchers at NASA's Marshall Center, Huntsville, Ala., to help in space-program projects is finding use as an effective law enforcement device. Known as Video Image Stabilization and Registration (VISAR), the technology...

Quartet boosts lithography.(Emerging Technologies)
August 1, 2003... SUSS MicroTec Inc., Munich, Germany, has launched a collection of novel lithography-based technologies, named SupraYield. Comprised of four products, this packet supplies a high-performance solution for advanced thick-resist applications. Mask...

Internet transmits touch.(Emerging Technologies)
August 1, 2003... An innovative technology that conveys the sensation of touch over the Internet has been developed by engineers at the Univ. at Buffalo, N.Y. This invention could lead to haptic technologies that transmit the sense of touch, allowing users to...

Through-wall radar vision.(Emerging Technologies)
August 1, 2003... A low frequency radar technology, which can "see" through walls, has been invented by Cambridge Consultants, Cambridge, UK. When placed near a wall, this device broadcasts low frequency radar pulses. Capable of traveling through materials up to...

Leading the blind.(Emerging Technologies)
August 1, 2003... A handheld apparatus, called Tormes, which uses a global positioning system (GPS) to guide blind individuals, has been created by the Organizacion Nacional de Ciegos Espanoles (ONCE), Madrid, Spain. Using a computer with a Braille keyboard and...

Probing for disorders.(Emerging Technologies)
August 1, 2003... Galileo Avionica, Campi Bisenzio, Italy, has developed a portable tool that can non-invasively diagnose illnesses, such as cancer, at an early stage. Named Tissue Resonance InterferoMeter Probe (TRIMprob), it is a battery-powered 30 cm long,...

Process management software.
August 1, 2003... Minitab Quality Companion integrates the soft tools needed for any process improvement project--such as brainstorming, consensus building, and process mapping--into one easy-to-use software package. Completely customizable, Quality Companion...

DVG-60 electronic vacuum gauge.
August 1, 2003... The OMEGA DVG-60 is a durable self-contained battery powered vacuum gauge that displays the level of vacuum on a LED color-coded read out. The DVG-60 measures approximate vacuum strengths and is ideal for use by service engineers and for...

Long Distance Microscopes.
August 1, 2003... Questar QM Series of Long Distance Microscopes provide high resolution, precision, optical quality, longer working ranges and flexibility in a variety of system packages. All systems are both visual and video compatible. Questar can get you up...

Molecular weight in 3 minutes.
August 1, 2003... Viscotek's Flow Injection Polymer Analysis (FIPA) technique delivers fast and accurate average molecular weight and intrinsic viscosity in 3-5 minutes--without the need for elaborate sample preparation. FIPA provides the perfect complement to...

X'Pert PRO Alpha-1.
August 1, 2003... PANalytical's X'Pert PRO Alpha-1 system is a diffractometer with a symmetrical incident beam, Johansson monochromator, and the X'Celerator detector. With the X'Pert PRO Alpha-1 system, a scan recorded overnight is sufficient for obtaining...

New ProLine process mass spectrometer.
August 1, 2003... AMETEK Process Instruments has added the ProLine Series of compact, bench-top mass spectrometers to its industry-leading line of process mass spectrometers and analyzers. The ProLine Series offers features and performance usually associated...

High performance plastic connectors.(Product/Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2003... Fischer Connector's 4032 Series miniature plastic connector is available with up to 19 gold-plated contacts in a half-inch diameter housing. The patented SureGrip plug body can be securely gripped, even with wet hands or gloves. This...

Compact turbo pumps.(Product/Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2003... The rugged and reliable line of CompactTurbo pumps are available for mounting in any orientation. Ideal for research and coating applications these Pfeiffer Vacuum pumps feature proven oil lubricated pump bearings for longer life. The compact...

Replacement specialty lamps.(Product/Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2003... Bulb Direct, Inc., the #1 source for replacement lamps for most applications; need help finding what you need, just call up. We offer a large assortment of name brand lamps for medical, photographic, LCD projectors, and graphic arts. We have...

Miniature, regulated, HV supplies now up to 8kV!(Product/Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2003... Miniature, regulated and programmable high voltage power supplies provide 100V t 8000V, + or -, in pc mount packages. The C Series feature low ripple, high stability, very low EMI/RFI, calibration trimpot, and 0 to 100% programmability in a...

Programmable high voltage system has eight channels.(Product/Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2003... Output voltages of 200V through 8000V are offered in any combination of voltage and polarity. Each channel features very low ripple, high stability, 0 to 100% linear programmability, output voltage monitors, are, overload and short circuit...

Electronic FlowHood.(Product/Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2003... The Electronic FlowHood from Shortridge Instruments gives direct digital read-out of air flow with automatic correction for local air density and back pressure. Reads 20 to 2,500 cfm supply or exhaust, in cfm or 1/sec. Brochure describes the...

Keithley Test & Measurement Products Catalog.(Product/Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2003... More than a dozen new products are featured in Keithley's 2003 Test and Measurement Catalog, including an Ethernet-based DMM/acquisition mainframe and plug-in modules, and source/measure systems optimized for automotive electrical testing....

Fully integrated turnkey manufacturing.(Product/Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2003... Nordex, Inc's Design Guide 2004 provides "the building blocks of machines and instruments found from the depths of the ocean floor to the reaches of outer space." Nordex combines electro-mechanical assembly expertise with Class 100 cleanroom,...

Digital vacuum gauges.(Product/Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2003... Pfeiffer Vacuum offers a complete line of digital vacuum gauges to meet the most demanding pressure measurement and process control requirements. DigiLine gauges feature exceptional connectivity capabilities including RS-485, Profibus, and...

New optical testing guide.(Product/Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2003... Our latest technical guide provides lens designer, image sensor and quality assurance engineers with the latest info on Optikos' upgraded OpTest/EROS and I-SITE product lines acquired from Tropel/SIRA/Ealing. Verify the performance of imaging...

LabVIEW 7 Express evaluation.(Product/Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2003... National Instruments LabVIEW graphical development software helps you acquire, analyze, and present data for a variety of measurement and automation applications. LabVIEW 7 Express delivers interactive configurtion development for building data...

Moisture analyzers.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... WinCT-Moisture software from A&D Weighing includes the exclusive Optimum Temperature Sensing (OTS) program, which automatically recommends the ideal time and temperature for a sample type Users no longer have to go through a tedious trial and...

Vortemp 1550.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... Labnet International introduces the Vortemp 1550, a new compact shaking incubator that holds up to 8 x 50 mL or 18 x 15 mL tubes. Shaking speed is fully variable from 200 to 900 rpm and the temperature is variable from ambient to 100[degrees]...

Chemiluminescent nitrogen detection (CLND).(New Products)
August 1, 2003... Antek's Model 8060 HPLC-CLND enables simplified quantitation and fast method development for amino acid, peptide, & protein analyses, allowing analysts to calculate the potency of compounds using a single nitrogen calibration standard. The...

Evaporative Light Scattering Detector.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... ESA, Inc., introduces a modular Evaporative Light Scattering Detector that universally detects non-volatile compounds. The Chromachem ELSD offers high-peak resolution, a sophisticated microprocessor, small footprint, and a large graphic...

Differentially Pumped viewports.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... Ceramaseal introduces its new line of Differentially Pumped, extended range viewports for extreme high vacuum applications. Arranging two or more seals so that the space between the seals is accessible to an appended vacuum pump creates a...

VME Arbitrary Waveform Generator.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... The Model V375 4-Channel VME Arbitrary Waveform Generator from Highland Technology, Inc. is designed with features that make it ideal for simulating sensor signals from complex rotating machines. An onboard microprocessor executes macro...

CD Metrology software for SEMs.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... JEOL USA, Inc. has developed CD-Metrology software that makes it possible to measure critical dimensions of semiconductor device structures. Designed for JEOL field emission SEMs, the software module allows real-time, precise measurement of...

Firewire-based Microfire UV.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... MicroFire UV from Optronics incorporates multiple binning modes and a user-defined subframing mode. A powerful Gain control feature boosts the camera's image intensity, facilitating framing and focusing under extreme low-light applications. The...

High-performance Maglev turbo pump.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... The HiMag 2400 Maglev turbo pump from Pfeiffer Vacuum has a high pumping speed, high compression for light gasses, and high heavy gas throughput and is suitable for use in semiconductor processes with high particle loads, high gas loads, and...

Precision BiSlide Assemblies.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... Precision BiSlide Assemblies from Velmex are for engineers to do positioning, scanning, and automated assembly. These slides have dual 45[degrees] opposing "V" ways to provide high rigidity in all directions. The carriage moves on low friction...

Organizer Drawer Systems.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... MarketLab offers Organizer Drawer Systems to organize and manage your consumable inventory. These systems are designed to streamline management of your refrigerated or room temperature inventory by helping with the rotation of lot numbers,...

Magnetic rotary vacuum feedthroughs.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... Thermo Vacuum Generator's MRD series rotary vacuum feedthroughs feature a high torque and lifetime magnetic coupling, eliminating a key source of leaks and contamination in high/ultra-high vacuum applications. By magnetically coupling the...

Palladium and its alloys available in many forms.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... Palladium, one of the most reactive members of the platinum group of metals, is available from Goodfellow Corporation as a pure metal or alloyed with other metals. The company offers this pure metal as microfoil (as thin as 0.05/am), foil,...

Ductless fume hoods.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... Misonix introduces its new line of Aura ductless fume hoods which offer several filter options to capture a wide variety of chemicals and particulates. There is no installation cost and no increased load on your facility's HVAC system. Valuable...

Spectrophotometer brings possibilities to genomics testing.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... The NanoDrop ND-1000 Spectrophotometer is based on technology that allows one [micro]l samples--even high concentration samples without dilution--to be pipetted directly onto the measurement surface. This instrument allows for measurement of...

Wall-mounted C[O.sub.2] analyzer.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... The CEA 266 is a wall-mounted, infrared C[O.sub.2] gas analyzer contained in a water- and dust-tight NEMA 4X enclosure with digital display readout. The sample gas is continuously drawn into the unit through a built-in air pump. Self-draining...

New RSS-14 Bar Code software.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... TALtech has added the new RSS-14 (Reduced Space Symbology) to its Bar Code ActiveX PLUS v2.1 and its Bar Code DLL product line. The RSS-14 bar code symbology is a new type of bar code that is designed primarily for applications where space for...

Pulsed light signal analyzer & data logger.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... The TR-9600 from Gigahertz-Optik combines a 100 ns slew rate signal amplifier with a 10 Megasample/sec datalogger and 512 kilosample transient recorder for complete analysis and record of peak power, as well as pulse width, shape, energy, and...

Compact S.D.S. Storage and Distribution.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... The S.D.S. Storage and Distribution System from Millipore is designed to maintain pure water quality from the storage reservoir to all required points. The S.D.S. System stores up to 350 liters of purified water, provides protection against...

Flat Magnet Wire program.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... Alpha-Core, Inc. now offers Flat Magnet Wire in sizes ranging from 0.25 mm to 3.0 ram. Flat Magnet Wire is preferred over round magnet when compact coils and improved heat dissipation are desirable. Applications include voice coils in speakers,...

Industrial microserver.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... The iServer from OMEGA can be used to make an existing Serial device a "node" on an Ethernet network with a unique IP address that's accessible from any authorized computer on the LAN, WAN, or Internet. The iServer can instead be used to create...

PXI digitizers with up to 2 GS/s sample.(New Products)
August 1, 2003... LeCroy Corporation releases three new members to its PXD Series of PXI. The new units offer up to 2 GS/s sampling rate, choice of 500 MHz or 1 GHz bandwidth, and up to eight million points of acquisition memory. Featuring high channel density...

Editor's note.(Editorial)
August 1, 2003... Welcome to R&D Magazine's 2003/2004 Industry Guide, an essential component of every researchers toolbox of resources. The main part of this guide is, of course, the product listings grouped by category and indexed alphabetically for faster and...

R&D salaries grow despite economic doldrums: cutbacks in the R&D workforce have created selective demand for high-quality researchers across the management, specialist, and technician arenas.(Salary & Career Survey)
August 1, 2003... The over-riding effect of the current economic slowdown in research and non-research areas alike has either been a reduction in the general workforce or hesitancy to commit to the hiring of additional workers. This has created continued...