R & D articles from December 2002

R & D archives from December 2002

A running start. (Editorial).(Editorial)
December 1, 2002... After months of partisan debate, the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) is law. Along with the creation of this $35 billion new federal agency and its nearly $1 billion R&D budget comes a redistribution of some federal R&D programs and the...

Video devices improve turbine inspection. (Test & Measurement).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... New remote inspection delivery devices are making it possible to look deep inside steam and combustion turbines to detect component damage without taking them apart. The devices can precisely deliver fiber optic video probes through narrow...

Collaboration to provide accelerated screening. (Analytical Instruments).
December 1, 2002... Scimagix Inc., San Mateo, Calif., has is collaborating with Amersham Biosciences, Piscataway, N.J. Scimagix will enhance its Scientific Image Management System (SIMS), the infrastructure platform of its enterprise image management system, for...

3G rollout to be faster. (Bulletin).(third-generation wireless communications)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Worldwide cellular subscribers will grow at a 13.6% annual rate, from 1.1 billion in 2002 to 2 billion in 2006, according to a report from Forward Concepts, Tempe, Ariz. The report, "Wireless Infrastructure & Technology Markets: The Challenge...

National museum exhibits `green' architecture. (Laboratory Design).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... The National Building Museum, Washington, D.C., plans to open a major exhibition on "green" architecture Jan. 17, 2002. The exhibit, entitled Big & Green: Toward Sustainable Architecture in the 21st Century, will demonstrate the transformative...

Weathering instrument unveiled. (Laboratory Equipment).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, Md., recently introduced a revolutionary device that determines quickly and accurately the damage to polymer coatings, materials, and structures exposed to the sun's...

LabAutomation 2003. (Conferences & Events).(Brief Article)(Calendar)
December 1, 2002... LabAutomation 2003 is scheduled for Feb. 2-4 at the Palm Springs (Calif.) Convention Center. The associated exhibition will showcase the latest automation technologies for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and clinical laboratories. Some 270...

Biophotonics center established. (Lasers & Optics).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Using lasers, light, and radiant energy in biology and medicine is the aim of a major new collaborative center recently announced at the Univ. of California, Davis. Funded with $52 million over the next 10 years, including a $40 million grant...

Demand for US emulsion polymers continues. (Materials).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Aided by a shift toward higher priced formulations, the emulsion polymer demand in the US is projected to grow 3% annually to more than 2.2 billion kg in 2006, representing a 4.7% annual expansion to $4.2 billion. According to the Freedonia...

Plant-genome projects receive awards. (Life Science).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... The National Science Foundation (NSF), Arlington, Va., has awarded nearly $85 million to 31 labs for research into plant genomics. Of that amount, a total of $75.6 million went to 23 collaborative research projects in plant genomics while $9.5...

Zero-dimensional nanotechnology IP licensed. (Micro/Nano Technology).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Nanosys Inc., Palo Alto, Calif., has licensed 40 key patents and patent applications in nanotechnology developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the laboratory of Moungi Bawendi. The patents cover critical elements of...

Mini camera to become reality. (Microscopy).(Stanford University's Bio-X program)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Thanks to $3 million in grants awarded by Stanford (Calif.) University's Bio-X program, you may some day be able to go into your doctor's office and swallow a miniature TV camera that allows the physician's staff to instantaneously examine your...

Drug inert ingredients market expands. (Pharmaceutical).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... The global market for pharmaceutical inert ingredients, also called excipients, is estimated to grow at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 4.9%--from 3.3 billion kg in 2001 to nearly 4.2 billion kg in 2006. However, this number is somewhat...

Semiconductor revenues improve. (Vacuum/Thin Film).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Although the recovery of the semiconductor industry has slowed, it has not completely stalled, says Steve Cullen, director and principal analyst with Semiconductor Research. Cullen predicts that after a brief pause, the semiconductor industry's...

Digital archiving digs in. (Data Management & Analysis).(LOCKSS - "Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe" )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... An innovative digital archiving system, now in worldwide beta testing, is designed to preserve access to authoritative versions of Web-published materials by applying contemporary automation to an established idea: preventing loss by...

Wireless Internet market boosted by services rollout. (Data Management & Analysis).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Although seen as somewhat wobbly by market watchers, the growth of the wireless data/Internet market benefits from the availability of proper infrastructure and color handsets and the rollout of next-generation services, according to...

Venture capital investment. (Data Management & Analysis).(investment in biotechnology industry)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Despite Wall Street slumps over the years, the biotechnology industry has demonstrated positive overall trends. Even through fluctuations, the larger trend has been positive, with each upturn resulting in a new peak. The market peaked in 1983,...

Biotech growth leapfrogs downturns. (Data Management & Analysis).(biotechnology industry funding)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... More than $4.9 billion of venture capital was invested in 554 private US-based companies in the third quarter of 2002. While only 25 fewer companies raised funding than in the preceding quarter, there was a 35% drop in companies that raised...

Particle measurement gets smarter. (Analytical Instruments Light Scattering Time-of-Flight).
December 1, 2002... Even established techniques in the particle measurement arena have undergone improvements, both in software and in electronics used for data analysis. One reason is that more detailed information is required than previously. Some companies are...

Wafer probing technologies require unique devices: to make wafer-level, high-frequency measurements, test systems need stable interconnects, signal compensation schemes, and application-specific test algorithms. (Semiconductor Test Systems RF).
December 1, 2002... In general terms, testers source a signal (current or voltage) to the device under test (DUT) and measure its response to that signal. The path for these signals is from the tester chassis, through a cable bundle to the test head, then through...

`Sort of classified' information category emerging. (Regulatory Update).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... A new, vaguely defined category somewhere between "classified" and "unclassified" information may be emerging, and it concerns scientists and academics who could find their government-supported research kept from publication. The label,...

Vendors flock to smart home network market. (Regulatory Update).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Service providers, utility companies, security installers, home builders, and white good appliance manufacturers have spotted revenue opportunities in the increasing acceptance of Internet access and the emergence of home networks. These smart...

Standard aids software users. (Regulatory Update).(Common Industry Format for Usability Test Reports)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Since difficult-to-use software programs are responsible for wasted work time and decreased productivity, computer scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) teamed with US companies to develop a standard way to...

ICC and UL release international building code standards. (Regulatory Update).(International Code Council and Underwriters Laboratories )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... The International Code Council (ICC), Falls Church, Va., and Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Northbrook, Ill., have released a comprehensive publication containing all UL standards referenced in the 2000 International Building Code and the...

Spreadsheets comply with 21 CFR part 11. (Regulatory Update).(Nexxis Information Integration System from Labtronics Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... The Nexxis Information Integration System from Labtronics Inc., Guelph, Ontario, allows laboratories to use new and existing Excel spreadsheets within a framework that meets the requirements of FDA Rule 21 CFR Part 11. This aids labs working in...

Spaceborne soybeans--a better crop? (Emerging Technologies).
December 1, 2002... Researchers across the Midwest are watching a special harvest of soybeans grown aboard the International Space Station. NASA's Space Product Development Program at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., helps companies fly...

HapMap to chart genetic variations. (Emerging Technologies).(International HapMap Project)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... The International HapMap Project, a $100 million public-private venture, has been launched to create the next generation map of the human genome. Expected to take three years to complete, the HapMap will chart genetic variations, and by...

AspenTech cites Owens Corning. (Emerging Technologies).(Aspen Technology Customer Innovation Award)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Owens Corning, Toledo, Ohio, received is first Aspen Technology Customer Innovation Award. It recognizes a significant shift to Six Sigma levels of performance in Owens Corning's application of AspenTech's manufacturing solutions. These...

Philips' ellipsometry goes to Jobin Yvon. (Emerging Technologies).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... An agreement to transfer the ellipsometry business line of the former Philips Analytical business unit to Jobin Yvon has been finalized. The transaction includes metrology tools such as the tabletop PZ laser ellipsometer, which Philips had...

Ultracentrifuge system. (New Products).
December 1, 2002... In sample preparation applications, advanced simulation software eliminates the need for multiple, time-consuming runs by ensuring that separation is optimized at the outset. The Optima L-XP Ultra-centrifuge System, featuring Optima eXPert...

Data acquisition device. (New Products).
December 1, 2002... Built-in graphic capability has been added to the webDAQ/100 Web-enabled data acquisition device for data analysis. The device already has a built-in Web server and net arm processor. The webDAQ/100 combines data acquisition hardware, dual...

Panel finds that R&D relationships need to be remodeled: R&D Magazine's latest IRDO CEO roundtable discussion addressed the effects of a down economy, changing tech transfer working relationships, and identified ways to increase the flow of innovative products once the economy improves. (CEO Roundtable).(2002 Independent R&D Organization CEO Roundtable)(Panel Discussion)
December 1, 2002... The world's a scene of changes," said English poet Abraham Cowley. To be sure, there have been a great many, mostly negative, changes over the past 18 months. Changes in the form of an economic recession, the bursting of the tech stock...

Los Alamos National Laboratory: situated on more than 43 square miles in northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory has more than 7,500 regular full-time employees and an approximate annual budget of $2.2 billion. We are operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration of the US Department of Energy. (Corporate Profile).
December 1, 2002... Over our 59-year history, our primary mission has been to apply science and technology to problems of national security. At first our mission was dedicated principally to stockpile stewardship, but an ever-changing world has expanded our...

NASA Glenn Research Center: the Glenn Research Center is NASA's premier center for new aeropropulsion technologies, aerospace power, microgravity science, electric propulsion, and communications technologies for aeronautics, space, and aerospace applications. (Corporate Profile).
December 1, 2002... Mission The Glenn Research Center mission is to work as a diverse team in partnership with government, industry, and academia to increase national wealth, safety, and security, protect the environment, and explore the universe. Glenn...

Air Force Research Laboratory. (Corporate Profile).
December 1, 2002... As one of the world's premier research laboratories, AFRL is committed to our mission: Leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air and space force. AFRL conducts groundbreaking...

Battelle: the business of innovation. (Corporate Profile).
December 1, 2002... Company Description Battelle is a global leader in technology development, laboratory management, and technology commercialization. With 8,900 employees at more than 100 locations worldwide, Battelle serves more than 1,400 commercial and...

General areas of expertise: independent research and development organizations.(Directory)
December 1, 2002... General Areas of Expertise Independent Research & Development Organizations Advanced computers and Advanced Organization instrumentation engineering Aerospace The...

Wired: high temperature superconductors. (Energy).(ion beam assisted deposition )
December 1, 2002... Soon after high-temperature superconductors (HTS) were discovered, one HTS compound, YBCO, began to stand out as the most promising for wire. It contained fewer elements (four) compared to the bismuth- and thallium-based HTS materials, which...

University of Dayton Research Institute: partnerships for tomorrow's technology. (Corporate Profile).
December 1, 2002... The University of Dayton Research Institute excels at meeting the advanced research and development needs of government and private-sector sponsors. The Research Institute employs more than 350 scientists, engineers, and support personnel, and...

Battelle's safety reporting system spreads its wings. (Aeronautics).
December 1, 2002... Flight attendants and airplane mechanics wouldn't seem to share a connection with doctors, pharmacists and veterans' hospitals. Certainly, none of them are commonly associated with Battelle. But one of Battelle's longest-running projects and...

NASA Glenn applies Hybrid Power Management. (Energy).(NASA Glenn Research Center )
December 1, 2002... Hbrid Power Management (HPM) is the innovative integration of diverse, state-of-the-art power devices in an optimal configuration for space and terrestrial applications. The appropriate application and control of the various power devices...

A heritage of breakthrough innovation: TIAX LLC is a premier technology, product development, and technology-based consulting firm operating at the intersection of business and technology. Our scientists, engineers, and industry experts help commercial and government clients transform ideas into products and problems into solutions. (Corporate Profile).
December 1, 2002... Formerly Arthur D. Little's Technology & Innovation business, TIAX builds upon a rich, century-old heritage of breakthrough innovation. Arthur Dehon Little was among the first to recognize that science and engineering would transform business...

Making fuel cells part of the future. (Energy).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Increasing attention to the issues of economic competitiveness, air quality, and fuel availability is driving the search for new ways to power our lives. Hydrogen-powered fuel cells--with their versatility, low emissions, and energy-storage...

Cost modeling benefits upscale appliances. (Technology Transfer).(TIAX LLC designs products for Wolf Appliance)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... When Wolf Appliance, an affiliate of the SubZero Freezer Company, Inc., wanted to take a new line of built-in cooktops, ovens, and related accessories to market, they turned to TIAX professionals. The target: high-end appliances for the...

Anthropometry--up to date. (Life Science).(Air Force Research Laboratory Human Effectiveness Directorate's Computerized Anthropometric Research and Design Laboratory research)
December 1, 2002... During the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, at the city's downtown Gallivan Center pavilion, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Human Effectiveness Directorate's Computerized Anthropometric Research and Design Laboratory unveiled a...

Determining `black box' data survival. (Aeronautics).(Univ. of Dayton Research Institute project)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... What gets shot from a cannon at 350 miles per hour, comes to a dead stop in 18 inches within 6.5 milliseconds--and survives? A memory unit destined to record data inside a "black box," the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder...

Discovered: potential cause for airplane fuel tank explosions. (Safety).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2002... Airplane fuel tank residues could cause an explosion under certain conditions, according to tests performed for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by a team of organizations led by SRI International, and that include the Univ. of Dayton...

Outsourcing in times of change. (Reader Survey).(survey results)
December 1, 2002... An e-mail survey of R&D Magazine's readers earlier this year revealed that outsourcing is a substantial part of the R&D manager's repertoire of tools for ensuring that their research projects are completed on time, on budget, and meeting all of...

Securing intellectual property: organizations focus, above all, on keeping it safe. (Security Policy).
December 1, 2002... Intellectual property is not a complex concept. It includes agreements, licenses, patents, sensitive descriptions (verbal and written), and also includes what people know. In any case, it must be secured. Approaches differ. Robert Boehmer,...