R & D articles from July 2003

R & D archives from July 2003

Wherefore Biolab? (Editorial).(plans for more level 4 biosafety labs)
July 1, 2003... Level 4 biosafety labs (BSL-4) labs are complex, costly, and secure facilities designed to analyze the most deadly diseases known to man, those for which absolutely no cure is known. Until recently, only four BSL-4 labs existed in the US--at...

CAS Science Spotlight: the first usage-driven snapshot of the literature that interests chemists and other scientists. (Advertisement).(Chemical Abstracts Service )(Advertisement)
July 1, 2003... What literature most interests chemists and other scientists in 2003? Chemical Abstracts Service has the answer. CAS, the leading resource in chemical information and the only organization in the world currently measuring and capable of...

Small stuff generates big praise at MEMGen. (Micro/Nano Technology).(3-D MEMS Design Challenge)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Trying to cultivate the wealth of possible new MEMS designs, MEMGen Corp., Burbank, Calif., a company specializing in micromachining manufacturing, sponsored a national 3-D MEMS Design Challenge and awarded three top prizes. The first...

Photonics gets a shock to its system. (Lasers & Optics).(researchers use shock waves to alter photonic crystals)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Bending, twisting, and altering the path of light is nothing new, but how it is accomplished varies. Mirrors are usually the device of choice, however a team of researchers from MIT, Cambridge, Mass., have recently shown that shock waves could...

UV beam sets record. (Bulletin).(researchers produce 10.4 kilo Joules of ultraviolet laser light in single laser beamline)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Researchers at the National Ignition Facility Project, part of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Calif., have produced 10.4 kilo Joules (kJ) of ultraviolet laser light in a single laser beamline, setting a world record for laser...

MIT and Harvard join to create genomics institute. (Life Science).(Eli and Edythe L. Broad Institute)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Expounding upon the recent completion of the human genome project, academic giants, MIT and Harvard, both of Cambridge, Mass., have agreed to co-develop a new center for genomic study and its future medical applications. The Eli and Edythe L....

ASME unveils new materials forum. (Upcoming: conferences & events).
July 1, 2003... The American Society of Mechanical Engineers announced the creation of the Engineered Materials Pavilion, to be held during the Research Development and Design Expo (RD&D Expo), being held November 17-20 at the Marriott Windham Park Hotel,...

Shedding light on a dark sample. (Laboratory Equipment).(viscometer)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Petrolab Company, Latham, N.Y., has launched a novel viscometer capable of measuring the viscosity in clear, opaque and dark light scattering liquid samples. The new Grabner Minivis II, is a falling ball measuring system which can produce...

Nanotech research partners with NY.-based university. (Laboratory Design).(M and W Zander, State University of New York at Albany)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The popularity of nanotechnology has fostered a strong support base not only in industry, but in academia as well. Recently, the US division of M+W Zander, Stuttgart, Germany and the State Univ. of New York at Albany (SUNY Albany) design and...

Synthesizing a new type of stainless steel. (Materials).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Advancements in steel have led to a bevy of significant scientific and engineering projects. Now, a group at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Tenn., have joined with the Caterpillar Technical Center to create a new modified cast...

New device may hold the key to measuring nanonewtons. (Test & Measurement).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... In the complex scheme of research, measuring and discerning values for specific forces are crucial to the way we experiment, work, and ultimately live. Measuring small-scale forces, such as nanonewtons, is no exception. These forces are...

6D confocal microscopy becomes available. (Microscopy).(UltraVIEW RS multidimensional microscope)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Advancements in microscope design have not only supported significant scientific discoveries but it has also opened the door to multidimensional microscopy. And now comes the latest advancement, 6D confocal microscopy. PerkinElmer Life and...

Pharma and biotech to benefit from collaboration. (Pharmaceutical).(First Genetic Trust, Galileo Genomics)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... First Genetic Trust, Chicago, Ill., and Galileo Genomics, Montreal, Quebec are collaborating to provide data and computer platforms to pharma and biotech industries. Galileo will provide data from patients in the Quebec founder population and...

New tools enable MEMS volume production. (Vacuum & Thin Films).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Engineers at Surface Technology Systems (STS), Newport, Wales, UK, have launched a novel series of devices for MEMS volume production. The new Pro family of plasma etch and deposition tools were designed to shift MEMS out of the...

New device reconfigures data protection. (Data Management & Analysis).(EchoView)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... EchoView, an Internet small computer systems interface (iSCSI) device, which could greatly improve data protection has been recently introduced by StorageTek, Louisville, Colo. This novel appliance continuously protects data while it is being...

Simplifying corporate PCs' management. (Data Management & Analysis).(Intel Stable Image Platform Program)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... A new program that promises to facilitate the management of a company's PCs has been developed by Intel, Santa Clara, Calif. Called Intel Stable Image Platform Program (Intel SIPP), this software is comprised of Intel Centrino mobile technology...

Biocompatible materials market keeps rising.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Manufacturer's sales for US biocompatible materials, whose composition ranges from advanced ceramics to metals, are estimated at $8.2 billion in 2003. This industry is expected to rise at a 7.7% average annual growth...

Media gateway comeback.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Revenues and port shipments of media gateway are beginning to rise, now that the worst of this market's recent decline has passed. In 2002, shipments of media gateway packet voice ports and revenues were reduced by...

Upgrade seeks to quickly widen user base. (Data Management & Analysis).(LabVIEW 7 Express)
July 1, 2003... More than 300 man-years over the past four years went into the development of LabVIEW 7 Express, the latest version of the popular graphical development software from Austin, Texas-based National Instruments (NI), according to Eric Reffett, an...

21 CFR 11 image storage requires extra care. (Data Management & Analysis).(Code of Federal Regulations on electronic records)
July 1, 2003... The specific Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) that deals with how electronic records submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are created, modified, maintained, archived, retrieved, and transmitted are outlined in 21 CFR Part 11....

How to disperse particulates. (Analytical Instruments).
July 1, 2003... In particle characterization, particles in a sample have to be dispersed in a medium in order to be characterized. Liquid sample dispersion is an attempt to suspend a dry powder in an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid medium before analysis. The...

How to calculate non-Fickian coefficients. (Analytical Instruments).
July 1, 2003... In the polymer industry, many research and development applications involve the study of diffusion and solubility coefficients. These, in addition to standard permeability evaluations, allow researchers to better understand the permeant-polymer...

How to connect to instruments. (Data Management).
July 1, 2003... One of the most difficult tasks in automating instrumentation or controlling instruments remotely is not how you connect to them or what bus you create to do that, it's more about the software that you use to communicate with the instruments....

How to estimate the cost of your lab construction. (Laboratory Equipment).
July 1, 2003... The successful facility project begins with dependable financial planning, because resources are in place to bring plans to fruition as envisioned. Unfortunately, the total project cost of a laboratory facility is often underestimated. The...

How to measure birefringence with ellipsometry. (Laboratory Equipment).
July 1, 2003... Few realize that ellipsometry can also be used to measure the phase change in birefringent materials. Birefringent materials have a different refractive index for light traveling along different directions. The refractive index also...

How to select walk-in panels. (Laboratory Equipment).
July 1, 2003... With a wide variety of requirements for cold storage, freezer, or environmental rooms, here are some essential design considerations when determining your walk-in room needs. When considering walk-in panels you should look for a 4"...

How to design labs for new research. (Laboratory Equipment).
July 1, 2003... With new areas of scientific research rapidly developing, the traditional model of the research laboratory is being challenged. Developments in genomics and biophysics, combined with advances in imaging, robotics, and automation call for...

How to weigh the right way. (Laboratory Equipment).
July 1, 2003... With the advent of electronic balances, weight measurement would seem to be a straightforward task. However, poor weighing technique continues to contribute to 90% of errors, causing users continue to use their balances incorrectly. In...

How to maximize lab space. (Laboratory Equipment).(ghost corridors)
July 1, 2003... If you need to add more open space in your lab (and who doesn't?), you may want to consider using a ghost corridor. A ghost corridor is not a spooky passageway, but rather a user-friendly, space-saving, internal people-flow network. Ghost...

How to monitor multiple sites. (Laboratory Equipment).(environmental monitoring)
July 1, 2003... Meeting standard regulatory agency requirements for environmental monitoring and validation is a basic necessity today. An environmental monitoring and access control system is invaluable when you are required to monitor and oversee multiple...

How to optimize your CCD camera. (Microscopy).(charge-coupled device)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... It is important to determine the minimum required resolution for your CCD camera in order to provide the maximum spatial image resolution. According to Abbe's equation (1) the minimum object resolution can be calculated with: (1) d =...

How to digitize a lab. (Microscopy).
July 1, 2003... For years, the routine work done in labs has been undergoing a process of change. Digital technology has earned itself a permanent position in today's lab via PCs and various microprocessor-controlled synthesis, measurement, testing, and...

Camera records high-speed events. (Microscopy).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The HG-100K features a Redlake Exclusive 1.7 megapixel CMOS sensor capable of recording 1,000 frames per second (fps) at full resolution, and up to 100,000 fps ar reduced resolutions. The camera is built around a 1,504 X 1,128 sensor for razor...

High-performance digital imaging. (Microscopy).
July 1, 2003... Our high-speed cameras solve problems, save time and cut costs by providing imaging at very high frame rates in just about every industry you can think of. Use Redlake high-speed cameras to record and play back problems that are too fast to the...

How to select the right ammeter. (Test & Measurement).
July 1, 2003... As modern electronic components become smaller and use less power, associated R&D of new material and components require measuring very low currents. Nanoamp ([10.sup.-9]A) measurements and lower are becoming increasingly more common....

How to apply cryogenics. (Vacuum Tech).
July 1, 2003... Cryogenics applies to the study of materials at or -150[degrees] C (-238[degrees]F or 123 K). The word cryogenic itself is a derivative of the Greek kyros, meaning "ice cold," Cryogenic temperatures are typically obtained by rapidly evaporating...

How to choose a turbopump. (Vacuum Tech).(turbomolecular pumps)
July 1, 2003... Turbomolecular pumps have intrigued us from early developments in the 1960s. Researchers such as Kruger, Maulbetsch, and Shapiro at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology experimented with single-stage axial flow turbines, and their results...

RNAi and microarrays reveal biological pathways: the combination of RNAi with microarrays has enormous potential for elucidating biological pathways. However, before this potential can be fulfilled, important questions need to be answered to ensure the proper interpretation of gene silencing results. (Keywords: biochemistry * interfering RNA * gene analysis).(RNA interference)
July 1, 2003... The ability to utilize a cell's naturally occurring RNA interference (RNAi) pathway to specifically silence a gene s expression has precipitated a new era in functional genomic research. Because of its apparent specificity, reproducibility, and...

CDS/LIMS interfaces: easier to implement and use: this widespread use of chromatography as a primary form of analysis, with chromatography data systems as primary sources of data, has created a problem--how to manage the large volume of data that is being produced. (Keywords: data management * chromatography * software).(laboratory information management systems)
July 1, 2003... For most laboratories, a laboratory information management system (LIMS) is used as the means for assembling data, associating it with samples, and generating reports. Therefore it is critical that there is an effective and secure means for...

Changing drug trends require consistent LIMS: laboratory information management systems can manage the complex data from traditional forms of testing; however, varied LIMS systems address the specific focus and workflow of the discovery and development phases in different ways. (Keywords: life science * drug discovery * quality control).
July 1, 2003... There is debate in the industry about how pharmaceutical R&D will change over the next few years. Today, many pharmaceutical and biotech companies use in silico and computer-based predictive techniques to assist in the move towards targeted...

Creating imaging platforms for discovery: in the high-tech, highly competitive world of microarray scanners, researchers and lab managers have an assortment of imaging systems to choose from ... and the race just got more crowded. (Keywords: automation * microarrays * optics).(related article: US to Receive New Pharmacogenomic Microarrays for Clinical Applications)
July 1, 2003... The simplicity of petri dishes and optical microscopes have given way to a more sophisticated tool for DNA/protein analysis--the microarray. These slides provide an invaluable way to harvest critical expression data from DNA, protein, and...

Lawsuits brought to question fuel economy. (Regulatory Update).(smaller, efficient vehicles less safe in crashes)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Car buyers and drivers in general look to fuel economy as one of the pervading factors when it comes to purchasing a vehicle, especially in SUVs and light trucks. And why not when the cost of gas has peaked to $2.00/gallon in some states. ...

Government agency goes paperless. (Regulatory Update).(Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... As part of the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission released its findings on a two-year study on the effects/progress in transitioning from paper to electronic filing. The FERC online...

Telemarketers beware! (Regulatory Update).(do-not-call registry)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Upon your arrival at home or while dozing off on a Saturday morning, the telephone rings and then, "Hi, my name is Melissa and I am calling from to inform you that you have won a trip to Orlando!" Maybe we are exaggerating here, but...

Shell unveils new solar modules in Europe. (Regulatory Update).(Shell Solar's monocrystalline photovoltaic modules)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Shell Solar, Camarillo, Calif, has introduced two new lines of monocrystalline photovoltaic (PV) modules in Europe which will begin operating this Fall. According to the company, "each new offering will have a power output capacity 6% higher...

Redesigned sensor proteins. (Academic: emerging technologies).
July 1, 2003... A computational technique to build sensor proteins has been developed by biochemists at Duke Univ. Medical Center, Durham, N.C. These proteins could detect a variety of substances, ranging from TNT to chemicals associated with neurological...

Visualizing soft tissues. (Academic: emerging technologies).(new x-ray imaging technology)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... A new x-ray imaging technology capable of imaging soft tissues, not visible with traditional x-rays, has been developed by a team of researchers from the US Dept. of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory, and Rush Medical College, Chicago,...

Destroying melanoma cells. (Academic: emerging technologies).(research on insertion of PTEN gene into melanoma cells)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... One of the mechanisms by which melanoma survives and thrives has been identified by scientists at Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey. The results confirm a role for a significant gene named PTEN, suggesting that its dysfunction may give...

Affordable potable water. (Academic: emerging technologies).(water disinfection system developed by Univ. of California, Berkeley, researchers)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Univ. of California, Berkeley, researchers have devised a water disinfection system that will make clean water affordable for any household in a developing country. Effective at disinfecting water flowing at a rate of 5 L/min, the system is...

Switch-A-View imaging. (Industrial: emerging technologies).(developed by Xerox Corp.)
July 1, 2003... A technology, called Switch-A-View printing, which displays alternating high-quality printed color images, has been developed by Xerox Corp., Rochester, N.Y. The alternating images are achieved by printing more than one image on top of another,...

Skin harvesting tape. (Industrial: emerging technologies).(Adhesives Research, Inc. and DermTech International)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... An innovative skin-harvesting adhesive tape for use in medical/dermatological analysis has resulted from a collaboration between Adhesives Research, Inc., Glen Rock, Pa., and DermTech International, San Diego, Calif. Made of a mixture of high...

Adhesive-free labeling. (Industrial: emerging technologies).
July 1, 2003... A US Patent has been granted to Bioanalytical Systems, Inc., West Lafayette, Ind., for its Chads for Vials labeling system. Chads eliminate the requirement for adhesives and hand labeling. Instead, an object is punched into a sheet of Chads...

Minuscule passive devices. (Industrial: emerging technologies).
July 1, 2003... Wireless communication will soon benefit from custom-built MEMS devices. PHS MEMS, Grenoble, France, has successfully designed custom MEMS-based integrated passive devices (IPD), which can be embedded within radio frequency (RF) modules. Unlike...

Smart as a brick. (Eureka: emerging technologies).(monitoring building conditions)
July 1, 2003... A brick that could monitor a building's conditions and save lives has been produced by researchers at the Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. When fixed into a wall, the "smart brick" could detect a structure's vibration, temperature, and...

An earful of hair cells. (Eureka: emerging technologies).(gene therapy)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Scientists at the Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, have employed gene therapy to grow new auditory hair cells in mature guinea pigs. This was achieved by introducing a gene, named Math1, into the non-sensory epithelial cells, which line the inner...

Miniaturized biological lab. (Eureka: emerging technologies).(microbiological analysis)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... A high-speed technology for microbiological analysis developed by GeneSystems, Bruz, France, is now in commercial production. Called the GeneDisc Cycler, it consists of a CD-sized automated instrument, which performs DNA amplification reactions...

Walking like a gecko. (Eureka: emerging technologies).(adhesive research)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Researchers at the Univ. of Manchester, UK, have created a novel type of adhesive, which copies the mechanism used by geckos to climb surfaces, such as glass ceilings. Named "gecko tape," the adhesive consists of billions of tiny plastic...

Digital flight recorders. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... The D20f and D200f digital flight recorders from Heim Data Systems, Inc. provide highly flexible, modular solutions that can easily adapt to changing mission requirements in airborne and mobile applications. Designed to be extremely compact and...

Microwave GC Column Ovens. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... Execute fast GC column temperature programming with Antek's 3600 Series Microwave GC Column Ovens. The 3600 Series speeds analysis by heating only the GC columns. The 3600's integrated software is fully programmable for all conventional...

Submicron particle analyzer. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... Beckman Coulter introduces the N5 Submicron Particle Size Analyzer with a high power laser, allowing the analysis of 3 nm to 3 [micro]m samples that are difficult to measure due to their weak scattering nature. The PCS control software offers...

Advanced Development Profiler. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... The Dektak 8 Advanced Development Profiler combines high repeatability, low-force tip technology, and advanced 3D data analysis for accurate characterization of MEMS and data storage devices. Its overhead gantry design allows for long scan...

DWS Downflow Workstation. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... The DWS Downflow Workstations has been designed to provide a small bench mounted unit with unrestricted access for those operations that are difficult to perform in a conventional fume hood. The high quality pre-filter and carbon filters...

Parametric, feature-based solid modeling and FEA. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... ALGOR, Inc., along with Alibre, Inc. offer a parametric, feature-based modeling system for creating 3-D solid parts/ assemblies. ALGOR's Professional core packages provide customers with a wide range of modeling tools with no purchase of a...

Ultrasonic probes. (New Products).(Sonics & Materials, Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Sonics & Materials offers two unique multi-element probe systems designed for processing up to 96 deep-well plates, 1.5-2.0 ml microtubes, and 10 ml test tubes. The probes deliver the intensity directly into the sample, acting as mechanical...

XtraDry dry pump. (New Products).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... XtraDry, a positive displacement dry pump technology, provides a hydrocarbon-free vacuum and does not generate particulates that can contaminate vacuum processes. The pumps' operating characteristics make it well suited for use in analytical...

Raman imaging goes portable. (Analytical Instruments).(Jobin Yvon, Inc. introduces portable raman imaging system)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The boom in Raman spectroscopy has yielded another first. Jobin Yvon, Inc., Edison, N.J., has launched PRISm or portable raman imaging system, which will allow for faster on site results of Raman-based spectra experiments. PRISm combines...