R & D articles from December 2003

R & D archives from December 2003

Turning swords into fish nets.(Editorial)(human-operated deep ocean submersible)(Editorial)
December 1, 2003... Including R&D costs, the Dept. of Defense will likely spend more than $200 million for each F-22 it purchases, the new stealth fighter expected to become operational in 2005. F-22 development is currently funded at more than $3 billion/yr. Yet,...

Supporting technologies in the face of globalization.(Innovation Insider)
December 1, 2003... As research, and development professionals, it's crucial that we understand the challenges of globalization--cost inflation, price deflation, overcapacity, rapidly changing demographics, environmental sustainability, energy costs and...

"Genomes to Life" program creeps closer to its ultimate goal.(Life Science)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Scientists at the Institute for Biological Energy Alternatives (IBEA), Rockville, Md., have reached a new milestone as they have been able to successfully piece together DNA strands of a phage, or a virus which infects bacterium. Funded by the...

LENS project moves forward.(Laboratory Design)
December 1, 2003... Indiana Univ. (IU), Bloomington, has recently acquired $6.4 million in federal monies to support the creation of a new neutron scattering facility. The Low Energy Neutron Source or LENS complex will be housed within the IU Cyclotron facility...

Tackling corporate supply chains.(Bulletin)
December 1, 2003... Higher operating costs, increased compliancy initiatives, and accelerated times to market have led almost every company at one point to re-assess their packaging/supply chain management. This is the premise of a new offering from 3M, St. Paul,...

Proteomic research employs 800 MHz NMR probes.(Analytical Instruments)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The characteristically large size of proteins and nucleic acids has created the demand for higher field NMR instruments with increased resolution and cleaner signal distribution. This has prompted Varian Inc., Palo Alto, Calif., to expand its...

Renewal agreement sees Beckman Coulter as leading supplier.(Laboratory Equipment)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Beckman Coulter, Inc., Fullerton, Calif., has renewed a hematology agreement with Novation, Irving, Texas, the supply chain company of VHA Inc. and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC). The three-year agreement, effective Nov. 1, 2003,...

Organic electronics may revolutionize data storage.(Materials)
December 1, 2003... It is interesting to think that the very material used to prevent static cling will help people archive digital pictures and research data someday. However, groups from HP Labs, Palo Alto, Calif., and Princeton Univ., N.J., believe in just...

Tech Transfer conference opens new avenues for research ventures.(Upcoming Conferences & Events)(Calendar)
December 1, 2003... The end of February marks the start of the 2004 Technology Transfer & Expo Conference. The conference, being held from Feb 23-26, in Chicago, Ill., is a one-of-a-kind event which hosts new technology developers and buyers for the purpose of...

Microscopy center helps combat crime.(Microscopy)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The advanced optical microscopy facility located within the Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, along with researchers from the Univ. of Toronto, are currently developing ways to use minute dye capsules for use in encrypting photos,...

QC lasers enter a new realm.(Quantum cascade Lasers)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Quantum cascade (QC) lasers were first invented in 1994 at Bell Labs, Murray Hill, N.J., the research and development arm of Lucent Technologies. Based on a multi-layered semiconducting structure, which serves as a medium to build up photon...

Thermo lets go of its Test & Measurement division.(Test & Measurement)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Citing long term strategy, Thermo President and CEO Marjin Dekkers announced that the company has sold its Test & Measurement division to Ling Dynamic Systems (LDS), a business unit of SPX Corp. LDS, which specializes in vibration test systems,...

The latest effort in the fight against TB.(Pharmaceutical)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Eli Lilly and Co., Indianapolis, Ind., has now partnered with the Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Mass., to establish a brand new research program aimed at combating multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The initiative is being...

Organic microchips.(Micro/Nano Technology)
December 1, 2003... The National Science Foundation has recently earmarked close to $2 million for the Univ. of Arizona to investigate the use of proteins as the basis for wiring microchips. This highly theoretical research-experiments with microtubule (MT)...

NSF revises grant guide.(Bulletin)(National Science Foundation)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Those seeking to apply for NSF grants, be forewarned, as the grant proposal guide has been revised. A new version of the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) (NSF 04-2) is now available. It is effective for proposals submitted on or after October 1,...

Semiconductor survey on target for 2003 predictions.(Vacuum/Thin Films)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... With the end of 2003 quickly upon us, industry market-watch firm InStat/MDR is sticking by their projection for a 16.7% growth rate for the semiconductor industry. The firm adds that the worldwide semiconductor revenue should top off at $164.2...

Portable desktop settings.(Data Management & Analysis )(FSLogic Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Saving personalized, portable Windows system settings and recovering information and configurations without rebooting is now possible with a software developed by FSLogic Inc., Prove, Utah. FSLogic Protect is based on a proprietary File System...

Solution eases management burden.(Data Management & Analysis)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... A cost-effective content management solution targeting small- to medium-sized companies has been launched by IBM, Somers, N.Y. Simple to set up, the IBM DB2 Content Manager Express Edition facilitates and automates content management tasks,...

Rising security services.(Data Management & Analysis)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... [GRAPHIC OMITTED] The global managed security services is forecast increase from $1.6 billion in 2002 to $5.9 billion in 2007, resulting in a lot of opportunity for its major players, such as managed service suppliers, and software and...

SFIT market stretches.(Data Management & Analysis)(smart fabrics/interactive textiles)
December 1, 2003... [GRAPHIC OMITTED] The growth predicted for the worldwide industry of solutions based on smart fabrics/interactive textiles (SFIT) will translate into $720 million by 2008. SFIT-enabled solutions are diverse, ranging from medical monitoring...

Terascale grid computing on display.(Data Management & Analysis)
December 1, 2003... Last month's SC2003 conference in Phoenix, Ariz., demonstrated the continuing strong growth in high performance computing and its technical evolution to new platforms and architectures. Next-generation grid tools were demonstrated during the SC...

CEOs optimistic for independent R&D: the war on terrorism, an economic downturn, off-shore manufacturing shifts, and a host of new technologies provide more than enough fuel for the managers of these organizations to provide the needed resources for their industrial and government clients.(CEO Roundtable)
December 1, 2003... Independent R&D organizations (IRDOs) provide industry and government labs with technologies, resources, and capabilities that they would otherwise not have available to them. They continue to supply outsourcing functionalities, innovation...

Battelle: the business of innovation.(Corporate Profile)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... Company Description Battelle is a global leader ill technology development, laboratory management, and technology commercialization. With the national labs it manages or co-manages, Battelle oversees 16,000 staff and conducts $2.7 billion...

Southwest Research Institute[R] (SwRI[R]).(Corporate Profile)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is an independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization devoted to technology development and transfer. The Institute also funds internal research...

Battelle helps NASA safety reporting system spread its wings.(Case Study)
December 1, 2003... 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 one...

Midwest Research Institute: MRI approaching 60-and growing faster than ever.(Corporate Profile)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... Ever since Midwest Research Institute (MRI) was founded in 1944, innovation has been its hallmark. Its scientists developed the process for attaching the candy coating to M&Ms, the technology for making freeze-dried coffee, the cooling...

Maximizing energy yields for photovoltaic cells.(Case Study)
December 1, 2003... It is perhaps the holy grail of energy production. Cheap energy from sunlight carried by hydrogen obtained from splitting water. This is the vision of John Turner and other scientists and engineers at the U.S. Dept. of Energy's National...

Web-based initiative serves terrorist threat to public.(Case Study)
December 1, 2003... Courseware developers at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) have developed a web-based course that provides awareness-level training for possible chemical, biological nuclear or radiological threats from accidents or terrorism. The...

General areas of expertise: Independent Research and Development Organizations.(Directory)
December 1, 2003... General Areas of Expertise Independent Research and Development Organizations Organization Advanced Advanced computers and engineering ...

Digital storage oscilloscopes achieve higher performance: digital storage oscilloscopes are acquiring higher speeds and bandwidth, increased PC connectivity, and longer memory to boost performance. These trends are generating an array of oscilloscopes that function better at a reduced price.
December 1, 2003... KEYWORDS * Test and Measurement * Oscilloscopes * Signal Integrity Over the past few years, a significant shift from analog oscilloscopes to digital storage oscilloscopes (DSO) has taken place. DSOs are indispensable tools for scientists...

Which chip will be in your diagnostic device? Handheld diagnostic devices--most of which are still largely at the research stage--are poised to benefit from new chip technologies.
December 1, 2003... KEYWORDS * Microarrays * Biosensors * CMOS Due to advances in medicine and the biological sciences, where genetic and other biochemical information is crucial, sensitive diagnostic devices will be needed to detect specific molecular agents...

RF sensors invade healthcare: from patient care to pharmaceutical supply chains, RF sensors have made tremendous inroads into the realms of healthcare and biotech.(radio frequency identification)
December 1, 2003... KEYWORDS * Polymer * Electronics * Sensors * Healthcare No longer the premise of outlandish sci-fi novels, radio frequency identification (RFID) systems have galvanized the R&D community, federal regulatory agencies, and the public to...

MEMS-based cell sorter speeds clinical studies: massively parallel microfluidics system allows high-speed sorting of life science fluids for various medical, risk abatement, and bioterrorism applications.(microelectromechanical system)
December 1, 2003... KEYWORDS * MEMS * Screening * Medicine Current live cell sorting technology suffers from limitations that prevent these tools from being used in a clinical environment. These limitations include speed, ease-of-use, and the lack of...

Traversing the drydown zone: the extended pumpdown time through the water vapor-dominated drydown zone is a complex process that can be dissected to show that it is only partially dependent upon pumping speed.
December 1, 2003... KEYWORDS * Water Vapor * Pumps * Vacuum Technology Every vacuum practitioner has seen the phenomenon and felt the frustration. During a pumpdown, the pressure drops fairly quickly to [10.sup.-3] toil or so and the rate of reduction starts...

First ever U.S. government assessment on biotechnology.(Regulatory Update)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... More than 3,000 biotech companies have reported their business practices in the first-ever, federally sponsored survey of the biotechnology sector. Drawing on input from organizations such as the Biotechnology industry Organization (BIO), the...

Europe inches closer to genetically modified foods.(Regulatory Update)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Genetically modified (GM) food products have incited much controversy as of late with the European Union's (EU) refusal to allow U.S. backed GM crops into their market. Against public opinion, however, the EU has indicated that it will end its...

Shedding light on cancer drug development.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Cancer drug therapy suppliers will meet during the second annual "Developing Targeted Cancer Therapeutics from Discovery to Market," conference to be held from Jan. 2628, 2004 in Washington D.C. Bringing together a multitude of figures from...

Transforming energy.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The electric and natural gas industries will benefit from a new set of market behavior rules issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The need to attract investment capitol and create a stable market place was the driving...

New alliance promotes chemical safety.(Society for Chemical Hazard Communication )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC), Annandale, Va., has partnered with the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). The organizations will now have a formal collaboration on devising new training and educational...

Material exhibits unique structural features.(Academic Emerging Technologies)
December 1, 2003... As computers become faster and smaller, so do their chip components. This reduction in size decreases the effectiveness of the silica insulating the chip components, leading to increased capacitance and electrical resistance. A solution to this...

Shell-based reconnaissance.(Academic Emerging Technologies)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Data from satellite images or aerial photos may become a thing of the past for soldiers in ground units, thanks to a device that will allow military personnel to use small artillery weapons as intelligence gathering periscopes. Being produced...

Virtual battlefield.(Academic Emerging Technologies)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The first cyber defense laboratory is set to open early next year at Iowa State Univ., Ames. The Internet-Scale Event and Attack Generation Environment (ISEAGE) will enable scientists to examine defense systems in an artificial, virtual...

Safer rail travel.(Academic Emerging Technologies)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Researchers at the Univ. of Newscastle upon Tyne, UK, have invented a small electronic instrument that could prevent train accidents. Weighing less than 10 g, the Microlog is mounted on a train's wheel axles. Any stresses arising from problems...

Plates boost fuel cells' power.(Eureka Emerging Technologies)
December 1, 2003... A technology that mimics the way plants and animals breathe has demonstrated its ability to increase fuel cells' power, while reducing the manufacturing expense. Such an achievement may allow fuel cells to be used for general power and...

Disks from the cob.(Emerging Technologies)
December 1, 2003... The heat resistant and lightweight properties of polycarbonate make it ideal for the fabrication of today's optical disks. However, since polycarbonate is not biodegradable, facilities that generate excessive heat to burn and dispose of these...

If objects could talk.(Emerging Technologies)
December 1, 2003... A pan-European research group, spearheaded by Cardiff Univ., Wales, UK, is examining how objects like walls can become an interface between a computer and its operator. The Tangible Acoustic Interfaces for Computer Human Interactions (TAI-CHI)...

Graphite beats diamonds.(Emerging Technologies)
December 1, 2003... Using high-intensity x-rays at the Argonne National Laboratory, Ill., and a diamond anvil to generate intense pressures, scientists were able to turn graphite into a form that is stronger than diamonds. The study was performed by a team that...

High voltage control, measurement, & safety devices.(Product/Literature Showcase)
December 1, 2003... This 8-page brochure from Ross Engineering Corporation features high voltage control, measurement and safety devices including HV relays, wide-band high voltage dividers and probes, HV contractors, Hi-Z power class voltmeters, HV digital...

Surface Tensiometers.(Product/Literature Showcase)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... These Surface Tensiometers solve coating formulation problems for laboratory and in-process applications. Formulators can improve transfer, spreading and adhesion of inks, coatings and other formulations by testing for, and choosing surfactant...

Precision 20,000 psi micro-flow pump.(Product/Literature Showcase)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Isco's new 65D syringe pump delivers precise, positive pressure and flow from sub-microliter to 25 ml/minute--and handles viscosities from liquefied gases to slurries and pastes. Low-flow stability at up to 20,000 psi makes this the ideal pump...

High performance plastic connectors.(Product/Literature Showcase)
December 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 series features a push-pull...

Process viscometer line.(Product/Literature Showcase)
December 1, 2003... CANNON Instrument Co. announces the addition of a process viscometer line to its family of viscosity measurement instrumentation. The FVM-80A instrument is a torsion-balanced oscillation viscometer manufactured by CBC America that provides...

Miniature three-axis hall transducers.(Product/Literature Showcase)
December 1, 2003... GMW now offers the Sentron 3M12-2-2 to convert Magnetic Field to Analog Voltage. Three volt age signal outputs for the three field components at a point. 0.2T, 2.0T fs ranges. Magnetic Field >3M 12-2-2. 650-802-8292. GMW Associates Write in...

Free 2004 NI Measurement and Automation catalog.(Product/Literature Showcase)
December 1, 2003... The National Instruments Measurement and Automation catalog is the leading virtual instrumentation resource for engineers and scientists seeking the most productive customer-defined software and hardware tools. You will find everything you need...

Chemicals & lab supplies.(Product/Literature Showcase)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... 2004/2005 Chemicals & Laboratory Products. This soft bound, easy to handle 2000+ page catalog features over 12,000 fine chemicals and 20,000 laboratory supplies and equipment from over 200 top manufacturers. Everything you need for your lab...

Vacuum pumping station.(Product/Literature Showcase)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The compact TurboCube combines a turbo pump with integrated controller and backing pump into a closed housing to form a complete vacuum pumping station. TurboCube can be configured with UHV pumping speeds from 60-500 1/s and a choice of dry or...

New Monarch hydraulic lab presses.(Product/Literature Showcase)
December 1, 2003... CARVER, Inc. introduces Monarch presses with integral hydraulic systems and high technology options. All equipped with expanded metal safety guards for operator and bystander protection. Available in 30, 50, 75 and 100 ton clamp capacities with...

Technology for vacuum systems.(Product/Literature Showcase)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The totally revised VACUUBRAND 2003/2004 catalog contains many new vacuum pumps, oil free pumps, measuring instruments, vacuum components and accessories. It provides much helpful general information, complete technical specifications and many...

Thermal imaging thermometer OMEGASCOPE OS-XL.(Product Review)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The OS-XL displays an image of the measured subject and the temperature distribution at 64 measurement points. The most advanced temperature gauge--brought to you by OMEGA ENGINEERING. The OS-XL is a 2-dimensional infrared thermometer equipped...

New ProLine process mass spectrometer.(Product Review)(Brief Article)
December 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...

XtraDry vacuum pumps.(Product Review)
December 1, 2003... XtraDry from Pfeiffer Vacuum, Inc. replaces dust generating scroll pumps and membrane pumps where speed and reliability are of concern. XtraDry features a simple piston style design for exceptional performance, long service life, ease of...

New polarization microscope.(Product Review)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Ergonomically designed for ease of use and simplicity, Axioskop 40 Pol from Carl Zeiss MicroImaging is built to maximize your performance in routine and research microscopy. It is equipped with many innovative features as well as all standard...

Terahertz camera.(Product Review)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Spiricon introduces the Pyrocam Ill for analyzing Terahertz lasers and sources. The Pyrocam III is a pyroelectric camera with a wavelength response from 1 pm to over 1000/am (0.3 to 300 THz), covering a significant part of the Terahertz...

Nanomanipulation systems.(Product Review)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Explore micro, nano, or molecularscale structures using the Zyvex family of nanomanipulation systems. The systems provide flexible, cost-effective, modular R&D tools for scanning electron microscopes, focused ion beam systems, and optical...

Isolation glove boxes.(Product Review)
December 1, 2003... Terra Universal manufactures HEPA/ ULPA-filtered glove boxes for particle-free processing and safe exhaust release. Open-loop configurations remove particles from incoming and exhaust flow; close-loop configurations allow continuous...

Customized digital high-speed video camera system.(New Products)
December 1, 2003... Olympus Industrial America introduces i-Speed, a digital high-speed video (D-HSV) camera using the latest ha CMOS chip technology and computer enhanced motion analysis. The D-HSV i-Speed system has a capture sPeed from 6032,000 frames/sec...

BioReactor benefits cardiovascular tissue engineering.(New Products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... EnduraTEC has developed the ITEMS (Intelligent Tissue Engineering via Mechanical Stimulation) BioReactor, a multi-specimen bioreactot system with a nutrient-flow environment that is capable of providing mechanical stimulation to a tissue...

High resolution laser particle size analyzer.(New Products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Using a CCD detector, Mie theory, and unique design and data reduction features, the Saturn DigiSizer 5200 from Micromeritics Instrument Corp. is a laser particle sizing system that provides high analytical resolution and gives accurate...

See-through pumping system.(New Products)
December 1, 2003... Manufactured by Turbine Technologies, Ltd., the PumpLab features a see-through flow circuit, vector drive powering a 3HP motor, three interchangeable impeller profiles, see-through flow rotameter, and a fully integrated data acquisition system....

High-performance industrial pressure transducer.(New Products)
December 1, 2003... The new Model 528 high performance industrial pressure transducer from Setra Systems is designed for robust industrial and submersible applications. The Model 528's CVD strain gauge design is resistant to aging and insensitive to thermal...

Multi-wavelength digital imaging system.(New Products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The KODAK Image Station 2000 Multi-Modal Imaging System (IS2000MM) from Eastman Kodak Co. features cooled CCD camera technology for fluorescence, luminescence, radiographic, and chromo- genic imaging abilities. The ability to select and apply...