R & D articles from July 2004

R & D archives from July 2004

Defense costs can limit R&D.(Research and development)(Editorial)
July 1, 2004... The war in Iraq has taught the U.S. Armed Forces some important lessons about the power, or lack thereof, of high-technology weapons in being able to maintain some semblance of control and peace in an occupied territory. Terrorism by its very...

Chip redefines traditional HPLC.(High performance liquid chromatography)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Unveiled at this year's ASMS (American Society for Mass Spectrometry) Conference in Nashville, Tenn., the new high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) chip from Agilent Technologies, Pale Alto, Calif., promises to be a significant...

Capital infusion for body armor.(Honeywell Inc.'s research investments)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... In an effort to meet the increasing demand from the U.S. military, Honeywell, Morristown, N.J., has announced that It will reinvest $20 million to boost production of its Spectra fiber. Touted as the strongest man-made fiber in commercial...

Creating the perfect lab.(Upcoming Conferences & Events)(Calendar)
July 1, 2004... Laboratory planners, architects, and researchers will come together in mid-September to attend the Fall 2004 Lab Design conference in Boston, Mass., September 20 to 22. Organized by the editors of Laboratory Design Newsletter and R&D Magazine,...

Middleware furthers grid-based computing.(Laboratory Equipment)
July 1, 2004... The National Science Foundation (NSF) has recently released the latest version of its Middleware software. The software is the result of the NSF's National Middleware Initiative (NMI) which aims to supply software, services, and documentation...

New alliances for semiconductor services.(Amkor Technology Inc., International Business Machines Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Amkor Technologies, West Chester, Pa., has entered into a strategic long-term agreement with IBM, Armonk, N.Y., for semiconductor assembly and test services. Four principal elements compose the relationship framework: 1. A long-term supply...

Correction.(News & Developments)(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2004... In the story "DAQ Systems Guide Vehicle Development," featured on page 48 of the May 2004 R&D, the name of WebDAQ's developers was regrettably omitted. The correct phrasing should read: WebDAQ, developed by Dr. Raymond B. Sepe, Jr., from...

SpaceShipOne makes history.(manned spacecraft)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... From its starting point in California's Mojave desert, SpaceShipOne has garnered a place in history by becoming the first privately funded, manned space flight. Backed by its sole sponsor, Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder and chairman of Vulcan...

World's first proteome array unveiled.(Invitrogen Corp.'s new product)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Showcased at this year's annual BIO conference in San Francisco, Calif., life science technologies firm Invitrogen Corp., Carlsbad, Calif., has introduced the industry's first proteome microarray, or protein chip, for functional genomics...

Pharmacopeia undergoes change.(Pharmacopeia Inc. changed name to Accelrys Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Life science software supplier Pharmacopeia Inc., San Diego, Calif., has changed its name to Accelrys Inc., effective immediately. The new name coincides with a series of changes underway at the company, Including a new CEO and the spin-off of...

University science center rooted in collaboration.(Indiana University, Gill Center for Biomolecular Measurement, Johnson Center for Science and Entrepreneurship)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Construction of Indiana Univ.'s, Bloomington (IUB), new multidisciplinary science building has officially begun. The 13,000 [m.sup.2] building known as Simon Hall will be constructed by Flad & Associates, Madison, Wisc., and will house...

Kodak sees OLED potential.(Eastman Kodak Co. developed new materials for organic light emitting diodes)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The R&D arm of Eastman Kodak, Rochester, N.Y., has recently developed new materials for the burgeoning organic light emitting diode (OLED) market. Launched at this year's Society for Information Display (SID) conference in Seattle, Wash., this...

CNTs infiltrate CMOS production.(carbon nanotube, complimentary metal oxide semiconductor )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Nanotech startup Nantero Inc., Woburn, Mass., and semiconductor supplier LSI Logic Corp., Milpitas, Calif., have joined in a new partnership that may soon spur the creation of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based complimentary metal oxide semiconductor...

Spectra-Physics finds a new home.(Newport Corp. bought Spectra-Physics Lasers Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Spectra-Physics, the optical technologies division formerly of Thermo Electron Corp., Waltham, Mass., has recently been sold to optic/photonics giant Newport Corp., Irvine, Calif., for an estimated $300 million. "The sale of Spectra-Physics...

Zeiss adds to its business line.(Carl Zeiss Inc. acquired Cell Science Division of Bio-Rad Laboratories)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany, has recently purchased Bio-Rad Laboratories' Cell Science Division, well known for its contributions in the realms of confocal and multi-photon microscopy. With this agreement, Zeiss will now hold worldwide...

Cells facilitate storage services.(Hewlett-Packard Co.'s new HP StorageWorks Reference Information Storage System)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Information managers in data-laden fields like healthcare are constantly trying to minimize the complexity and expense of storing and retrieving long-term data, while still complying with information retention regulations. Simplifying all these...

Technology boosts offline productivity.(BEA Systems Inc. developing Alchemy, a web browser)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Individuals working without an Internet connection may soon be as productive as online users thanks to a technology concept recently demonstrated by BEA Systems, Inc., San Jose, Calif. Still in development, Alchemy is a Web browser designed to...

PC boards niche.(personal computer)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Most embedded merchant computer boards are finding a niche in the communications field. One of the main products going into that sector in 2003 were standards-based embedded blades, with 84% of these units being consumed by communications...

IAQ industry flourishes.(indoor air quality )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Indoor air quality (IAQ) is becoming a major issue of concern, with its $5.6 billion market in 2003 forecast to grow to $9.4 billion by 2008 at an average annual growth rate of 11.1%. The environmental services segment is predicted to go...

Nokia broadens China R&D.(Nokia Corp., research and development)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Telecom manufacturer Nokia, Helsinki, Finland, recently announced several R&D activity expansions in China. The new R&D undertakings will include the launch of a Nokia Postdoctoral Program, creation of a unit to promote open standards and...

R&D outsourcing to grow in India.(reasearch and development)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The R&D outsourcing market for information technology (IT) in India is forecast to grow from $1.3 billion in 2003 to more than $9 billion in 2010 (32% CAGR), according to a recent report by Frost & Sullivan, an international market research and...

Chinese eBAy R&D.(eBAy's research and development facilities)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... ebay has announced that it would open its first overseas R&D center in Shanghai, China, on July 1. The decision was made to better satisfy the needs of unique Chinese users. Key staff at the R&D center would come from the technical team at...

Harvard B-School to India.(Harvard University. Graduate School of Business Administration's research center)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Mass., has announced that it would set up a research center in India by the end of 2005. The research center is expected to be located in either Mumbai (India's business capital) or Bangalore (India's IT...

Motorola consolidates R&D.(Motorola Inc.'s merging of its research and development facilities in China)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Motorola, Schaumburg, Ill., has announced that it plans to merge its 19 R&D centers in China into one R&D firm. The company is expected to invest $90 million in the new firm and about $500 million over the next four years to strengthen its...

How to maximize results for Six Sigma.(JMP's software to achive highest quality standards)
July 1, 2004... JMP software combines comprehensive statistical analysis with unique graphical inter-activity and scripting capabilities that enable everyone in an organization to contribute to the productivity gains promised by Six Sigma. Graphical...

How to improve the accuracy of a DAQ system.(data acquisition)
July 1, 2004... Multi-function devices and modular instruments are used in a variety of data acquisition (DAQ) systems. In laboratories, in validation, and on manufacturing plant floors, these devices act as general-purpose measurement tools that are well...

How to deploy an effective data analysis platform.(Data Management)
July 1, 2004... Advances in technologies employed by R&D organizations have led to increasing amounts of data (e.g., high throughput screening experiments) and a focus on leveraging past research studies. Recent emphasis on process improvement frameworks, such...

How to revalidate laboratory water equipment.(Laboratory Equipment)
July 1, 2004... Water validation study: a comprehensive validation program that ensures each system is in compliance with regulatory organization such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ...

How to select an isolator for variable-condition studies.(Laboratory Equipment)
July 1, 2004... What do rodent inhalation studies and circuit board solderability testing have in common? Both require a well-designed, multiplexed isolation chamber that offers the flexibility of running concurrent exposure tests under a carefully controlled...

How to choose an orbital welding system.(Laboratory Equipment)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2004... Orbital welding is a viable and economical method for connecting stainless steel tubing, especially in applications in which maximum leak integrity, high performance, vibration resistance, or ultra cleanliness is paramount. In considering...

How to approach lab lighting.(Laboratory Equipment)
July 1, 2004... In general, there are three primary options for creating an effective laboratory lighting scheme. Each option can succeed in providing a good workplace environment if properly designed. The parameters described below can help determine which...

How to pick optomechanical positioners.(Laboratory Equipment)
July 1, 2004... Selecting the optimum set of positioners begins with determining the number and type of adjustments needed to align the system. To position an object precisely in space may require as many as six orthogonal degrees of freedom--three linear (x,...

How to optimize cross sectioning and TEM sample prep.(Microscopy)(transmission electron microscopy)
July 1, 2004... The use of Focused Ion Beam (FIB) systems has increased to a high level in recent years. The imaging, milling, and deposition capabilities of the FIB make it the ideal instrument for e.g., site-specific failure analysis, specimen preparation,...

How to optimize your camera-to-microscope connection.(Microscopy)
July 1, 2004... Achieving the proper connection between your camera and microscope is critical to maximizing the effectiveness of your research imagery. The digital camera or video coupler that best suits your application will relay the maximum amount of image...

How to optimize TIRF scans.(Microscopy)(Total Internal Ieflectance Fluorescence)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... TIRF (total internal reflectance fluorescence) is a promising method for visualizing thin layers of samples in fluorescence microscopy. The TIRF effect is based on the generation of a so-called evanescent light field, which is located at the...

How to choose an IR blackbody calibration source.(Test & Measurement)(infrared calibration source )
July 1, 2004... Understanding your infrared (IR) calibration source does not have to be a topic too hot to handle. It is important to select the proper source for your intended purpose, and to be sure you are using your source properly to ensure the most...

How to choose the right current source.(Test & Measurement)(characterizing constant current sources through the device under test)
July 1, 2004... While all power supplies can deliver current to a device, most merely set the output voltage, then supply as much current as the device demands. However, it's often preferable to characterize a device's behavior as a function of the current...

How to digitize your lab.(Test & Measurement)(benefits of a digital lab)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Digital technology has earned itself a permanent position in today's laboratory via PC's and various measurement, testing, and analysis apparatus. Information created in an R&D lab can now readily take on many forms such as spectra, datasheets,...

How to select a full-service foundry for making MEMS.(Vacuum Technology)(microelectromechanical systems)
July 1, 2004... For many MEMS companies without access to a fabrication facility, finding and establishing a partnership with a full-service MEMS foundry is critical to reaching high-volume manufacturing. The selection criteria must include foundries that have...

How to choose a vacuum system.(Vacuum Technology)(Illustration)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2004... How to Choose a Vacuum System Every vacuum process requirement has at least one solution. Mechanical vacuum systems that are used in the 0.01 to 350 Torr vacuum range offer a wide variety of choices, each with distinct advantages: ...

How to measure birefringence with ellipsometry.(Vacuum Technology)
July 1, 2004... 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...

Electron microscopes stand corrected: correction for the spherical aberration of lenses in electron microscopes is allowing scientists to push the resolution into the sub-angstrom range, opening the doors to new frontiers.
July 1, 2004... KEYWORDS * Electron Microscopes * Aberration Correction * Resolution Microscopes are indispensable tools to researchers in various scientific fields, allowing them to examine the relationship of a material's properties to its structure. In...

Microarrays move into R&D mainstream: microarray technology has become the de facto standard for analyzing life science materials, approaching the status of being an enabling technology for the industrialization of many pharmaceutical and biotech research and development processes.
July 1, 2004... KEYWORDS * Life Science * Automation * Chemistry A number of drivers over the past decade have helped microarrays become a mature technology. The race to map the human genome, heavy pharmaceutical investments, and the growth of the...

Photonic crystal devices find commercial footing: nearly a decade since its original conception, photonic crystals make the leap from the lab to real-world applications.
July 1, 2004... KEYWORDS * Photonic Band Gap * Material Science * Nanotechnology The ability to tailor structures on the micro and nano scale has allowed researchers the opportunity to scrutinize the relationship between matter and light. Within this...

New, renewed, and revived confocal: higher performance and more affordable confocal microscopes now provide biologists with views into living cells that they've never had before.
July 1, 2004... KEYWORDS * Microscopy * Detectors * Biology Confocal microscopy is nearing its 50th anniversary (patented in 1957 by MIT's Marvin Minsky) and still new technologies and innovations in this technique appear to be increasing. "In the...

Reforming clinical trials.(Regulatory Update)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The American Medical Association (AMA) has recently called for the Dept. of Health and Human Services to create a comprehensive registry for all clinical trails conducted in the U.S. The move is part of a growing effort to address concerns over...

Anti-spam registry nixed.(Do-Not-Spare )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Officials at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have declined to endorse the creation of a government-run "Do-Not-Spare" registry. Although programs such as the government's Do-Not-Call list are active and growing, FTC analysts contend...

Minimizing govt. paperwork.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The U.S. House of Representatives has recently passed several relief measures aimed on reducing the federal paperwork and regulatory burden imposed on small businesses. A study by the Office of Advocacy has shown that companies with fewer than...

Transparency in standards.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... In early June, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) issued a report, Intellectual Property Rights in Standards Development Organization and the Impact on Trade Issues with the People's Republic of China, to the U.S. Commerce and...

Updating the UV index.(Ultraviolet)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service have announced the new Global Ultraviolet (UV) Index, replacing existing UV reporting methods in the U.S. The new reporting...

BioCD detects biomolecules.(Emerging Technologies)
July 1, 2004... At the onset of an illness, specific proteins are expressed in different quantities, making them good markers for diseases. Unfortunately, however, today's blood tests screen for only a limited number of proteins. Furthermore, the results of...

Handling nanowires.(Emerging Technologies)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... It's a known fact that moving materials to exact locations gets trickier at the nano-scale. This challenge may now be overcome with a solution, which attaches nickel caps to nanowires' extremities, allowing researchers to magnetically handle...

Talking washers.(Emerging Technologies)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Knobs on most household appliances have been replaced with high-tech light emitting diode displays. Although sleek, such displays are useless to visually impaired individuals. However, a group of students at Michigan State Univ., East Lansing,...

Smart biometric bodysuits.(Emerging Technologies)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Bodysuits that turn clothes into smart biometric suits have been developed by researchers at Arizona State Univ., Tempe. Using fluidics and integrated electronics, the Scentsory Chameleon Bodysuits function as a smart second skin to promote...

Mounted anamorphic prism pair.(R&D Manufacturers' Showcase)
July 1, 2004... Edmund Industrial Optics announces new optics for conditioning beams from visible and near-IR diode lasers. Anamorphic prism pairs are designed to expand a visible or near-IR laser beam in only one dimension, circularizing elliptical output...

Real time trench depth monitoring: TDM-200.(R&D Manufacturers' Showcase)
July 1, 2004... >From Jobin Yvon-Horiba Group: Jobin Yvon, a world leading company in Ellipsometry and Advanced Process Control, introduces the TDM 200 to monitor in real time the absolute trench depth from the first nanometers down to 600 microns with a...

IEEE Enterprise.(R&D Manufacturers' Showcase)
July 1, 2004... IEEE Enterprise provides desktop access to IEEE periodicals and conferences at prices any organization can afford. Search the IEEE Xplore delivery system until your downloads run out. Papers are available online instantly, and are stored in an...

New CoolPix 8700 Digital Camera Coupler.(R&D Manufacturers' Showcase)
July 1, 2004... Connect the immediacy and convenience of 8MB of digital imaging to your microscope with Thales Optem Inc.'s new Optem Digital Camera Coupler for NIKON's CoolPix 8700. Connects into your microscope's 23mm or 30mm i.d. eyepiece, 25ram of 26mm...

The LIMS Company.(R&D Manufacturers' Showcase)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2004... InnaPhase Corp., Philadelphia Pa., develops, implements, and services purpose-built laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and is a world-leading LIMS supplier to the pharmaceutical industry. The company also provides chromatography...

Measurement seminars on CD.(R&D Manufacturers' Showcase)
July 1, 2004... Eleven of Keithley Instruments' most popular online seminars have been compiled on one CD, "Making Measurements with Confidence." These tutorials offer techniques for obtaining the most accurate and precise measurements possible. Each seminar...

JMP version 5.1.(R&D Manufacturers' Showcase)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2004... Learn how JMP software can help your organization make significant process improvements that increase the efficiency of doing business and give you a competitive edge. JMP links statistics with graphics to interactively explore, understand, and...

Best product award for ZEISS CrossBeam.(R&D Manufacturers' Showcase)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2004... Semiconductors International's 2004 Editors' Choice Best product award goes to the ZEISS 1540XB CrossBeam from Carl Zeiss SMT AG. The tool enables leading edge 3-D FIB analysis, precise TEM sample prep, and ultra-high resolution SEM imaging. It...