R & D articles from July 2007

R & D archives from July 2007

Research with blinders.(EDITORIAL)
July 1, 2007... Energy is obviously a complicated issue, especially in the research arena. In no other industry are there such massive combined implications on the economy, international trade, the environment, and our personal lives. According to the Dept. of...

How to perform: accurate failure analysis and defect review using FIB technology.(focused ion beam)
July 1, 2007... Until recently, cross-sectioning in a standard focused ion beam (FIB) was a blind process: the sample surface was imaged before cutting to determine the area of interest and the sample was milled and polished with a pre-defined milling pattern....

How to view: changes in crystal structure.
July 1, 2007... To view changes in the crystal structure of materials during sintering or annealing processes at the light optical microscope level, a high temperature furnace microscope stage is required that has a short working distance between the heated...

Designing the future with DFMA: design analysis and costing software help evaluate designs for automotive hydrogen fuel cell systems.(SOFTWARE)(design for manufacturing and assembly)
July 1, 2007... How do you create and cost a detailed, realistic design using components and processes that don't yet exist? That was the challenge facing Directed Technologies, Inc. (DTI), Arlington, Va., when the Department of Energy (DOE) contracted with...

Clarification.(Correction notice)
July 1, 2007... The reference in the "Software Processes Images in a Spreadsheet Format" article in the June 2007 issue of R&D Magazine (pages 2425) that described the structure of the Origin 8 software should have been defined as "an Excel-like"...

Solver enables parallel applications to run more efficiently: distributed computing is meant to run scientific simulations faster, but the specific math solver employed can make a dramatic difference in its overall speed.(SOFTWARE)
July 1, 2007... Large-scale computer simulations of physical phenomena have become the basis of many researchers' latest discoveries, even more so in some situations than actual physical experimentation. The computing systems used in these applications have...

Haptic interface has a real feel: novel game controller has numerous scientific applications.(SOFTWARE)
July 1, 2007... The global video game market is expected to be worth more than $35 billion in 2008 with more than 235 million gamers. Developers of the Novint Falcon, a new type of game controller, are taking direct aim at this market. The Falcon is the first...

The Variant Reporter performs comparative sequencing.(Tools of the Trade)
July 1, 2007... The Variant Reporter software, by Applied Biosystems, performs comparative sequencing, also known as direct sequencing, medical sequencing, PCR sequencing, and resequencing with DNA sequencing files. The software is designed for reference based...

A CFD code for bubble dynamics, large free surface deformations, and ship motion.(Tools of the Trade)(computational fluid dynamics)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... 2DYNAFS/3DYNAFS is a suite of boundary element method based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes designed for the simulation of unsteady incompressible fluid flows in the presence of free surfaces. The programs can handle the dynamics of...

Abaqus unified FEA reduces time and cost.(Tools of the Trade)(Finite Element Analysis)(SIMULIA)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Energy companies face large investments in pipeline materials and installation. As they expand their exploration into new regions to find, produce, and conserve energy resources, the use of Abaqus FEA technology from SIMULIA provides faster and...

Innovative GC and spectroscopy products: advances in coating technology and the optimization of existing technologies have led to innovative new analytical instruments.(ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS)(gas chromatography)
July 1, 2007... X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and gas chromatography (GC) are widely-used techniques for analyzing samples across many industries and areas of R&D. Although there are few breakthroughs in either of these time-tested technologies,...

Vortex shedding flowmeter and temperature transmitter.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Omega Engineering's FV100 series transmitters are made up of in-line flow meters that use the vortex shedding measuring principle. As the fluid strikes a bluff body, imparting alternating vortices downstream of the bluff, it creates a vibration...

Model LGA-3500 in situ gas analysis system.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The LGA-3500, by Teledyne, is comprised of a laser transmitter, receiver, and a central processing unit. The transmitter and receiver are installed directly opposite one another on the process pipe/duct work. The transmitter launches a laser...

Sartorius extend is reliable.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The new Sartorius Extend series has been specially designed for effective and reliable weighing in daily lab routines due to the Extend's sophisticated digital compensation algorithms. A powerful microprocessor shortens response times for...

Comet-IPL measuring device.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The Comet-IPL from Ophir Optronics is designed for measuring the energy of intense pulsed light (IPL) sources simply and accurately and is suitable for service personnel or end users of IPL machines. Several versions are available offering...

New benchmark in distillation testing.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... OptiDist is a state-of-the-art solution for performing atmospheric distillation. Some of OptiDist's advantages are one button straightforward operation, high precision, and enhanced instrument safety features. * PAC, www.paclp.com ...

Small sample transfection.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... BTX introduces a new microporation technology for transfection of 10 pi to 100 [micro]l sample volumes. Microporation is a novel electroporation technology which enables the transfection of small sample volumes. Transfection takes place in...

Construction boom boosts new lab costs: new constructions costs will see moderate increases, while renovation costs will escalate more quickly.(LAB EQUIPMENT/DESIGN)
July 1, 2007... Currently, the overall economy is active, and construction activity is markedly up from this time last year, although the R&D construction marketplace continues to present a mixed picture. As reported over the past two years, construction costs...

Ultra-low temperature freezers.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Sanyo E & E America, Sanyo Scientific division, has introduced a line of lab-specific, energy-efficient, and conventionally insulated freezers that are ideally suited for use in laboratories and hospitals for long-term preservation and storage...

UV excimer micromachining workstation enables in-house rapid prototyping and pilot production.(Tools of the Trade)(ultraviolet)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Photon Machines introduces the MicroMaster V5, a new generation of UV excimer-based micromachining system that brings rapid prototyping and pilot production in-house. The MicroMaster features patented ultra-short pulse length excimer-laser...

Vibration isolation workstation has variable-height capacity.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The MK26 series vibration control workstation is designed specifically for ultra-low natural frequency applications. Kinetic Systems manufactures the system utilizing the Minus K negative stiffness vibration isolators to provide a compact,...

2007 Micro/Nano 25 Winners.(MICRO NANO: TOOLS & PRODUCTS IN MICRO & NANOTECHNOLOGY)
July 1, 2007... Engineered Carbon Nanotube (CNT) and Nanofiber Buckypapers--Florida State Univ. www.fsu.edu These materials are macroscopic or continuous thin films or membranes comprised of randomly oriented and magnetically aligned CNTs and...

Current MEMS challenges.(INDUSTRY REPORT)(micro electro-mechanical systems )
July 1, 2007... If someone had asked MEMS analysts 10 years ago what the big challenge in MEMS was, most would have answered commercialization. Although technologically promising, MEMS were difficult to sell: the technology was not proven, there was no...

Buckyballs fight allergies.(BIOTECH BRIEFS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Buckyballs ([C.sub.60]) that suppress allergic response and basic immune reactions in human mast cells (MCs) has been reported by Christopher Kepley, Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Health Systems, Richmond. The buckyballs reduce the activation of...

Bursting bubbles move fluid.(BIOTECH BRIEFS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Cavitation in a microfluidic device that accelerates and mixes fluid has been demonstrated by Claus-Dieter Ohl, Univ. of Twente, the Netherlands. Cavitation (bubble dynamics) is created by focusing a pulsed laser into bubbles that are filled...

Bacteria carry nanoparticles.(BIOTECH BRIEFS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Bacteria-mediated delivery of polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles to cells, which precisely deliver diagnostic or therapeutic cargo, has been reported by Rashid Bashir, Purdue Univ., West LaFayette, Ind. In the work, PS nanoparticles that are linked...

Move micromachines remotely.(MEMS BRIEFS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The Casimir force that is changed using a beam of light, enabling the remote operation of micromachines, has been reported by Umar Mohideen, Univ. of California, Riverside. Here, the optical modulation of the Casimir force is demonstrated...

New standards.(MEMS BRIEFS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Six new technical standards that apply to the semiconductor, flat panel display (FPD), and MEMS manufacturing industries have been announced by SEMI, San Jose, Calif. SEMI D50 provides guidelines for measuring the surface hardness of a...

Top 10 foundries.(MEMS BRIEFS)
July 1, 2007... Updated MEMS foundry rankings have been provided by Yole Developpement, Lyons, France. The top MEMS foundries/contract manufacturers in ranked order that reached. total sales of $157 million in 2006 are: Innovative Micro Technology (U.S.); Sony...

MEMS partnerships.(MEMS BRIEFS)
July 1, 2007... A cross-licensing arrangement between Knowles Akustica, Itasca, Ill., and Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Akustica Inc. will strengthen each company's patent portfolio. The terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, however, the partners will not...

Nanoinjector does not damage membrane.(MICRO NANO)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... A nanoscale cell injection system called nanoinjector that uses carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to deliver cargo into cells without plasma membrane damage has been demonstrated by Carolyn Bertozzi and Alex Zettl at the Univ. of California, Berkeley....

Circuit works with misaligned nanotubes.(MICRO NANO)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... An algorithm that determines whether a carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (CNTFET) provides correct logic functions, even in the presence of a large number of misaligned CNTs, has been reported by Subhasish Mitra at Stanford Univ., Calif....

New coalition.(NANOTECH BRIEFS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA), Washington, D.C., has formed the Nanotech SME Coalition for start-ups and small- and medium-sized enterprises that develop and manufacture nanoscale materials. This coalition...

Superalloy materials.(NANOTECH BRIEFS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Processes that use radiolysis to break down the molecular structure of substances to form superalloy nanoparticle compositions are being developed by Tina Nenoff, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, N.M. In one experiment, solvent...

Ultraviolet LEDs.(NANOTECH BRIEFS)(light emitting diodes)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Gallium nitride (GaN) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) made from nanowires that emit ultraviolet (UV) light have been reported by Abhishek Motayed, National Institute of Stand and and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, Md. Electric field-assisted...

Closing the imaging gap between optical and electron microscopy: a new tabletop SEM combines the high magnification of electron microscopy with the ease of use of optical microscopy to improve performance in a benchtop instrument.(MICROSCOPY/IMAGE ANALYSIS)(scanning electron microscopes)(Cover story)
July 1, 2007... A radical new breed of microscope fills the critical gap between optical and electron microscopy. Optical microscopes are easy to use but generally limited to useful magnifications of 1,000x or less. Electron microscopes routinely operate at...

Imaging systems see, feel, and identify.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... With its microscopy systems, WITec enables the identification of local surface and chemical properties on the nanometer scale. With near-field microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and confocal Raman microscopy, the new alpha300 series features...

Leica DM E compound microscope designed for life science.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The Leica DM E compound microscope is designed for general biology and specific life science applications. Its illumination system provides consistent color and intensity throughout the whole lamp life. The Leica DM E has a voltage-sensing...

New release of microscope sample interface.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Thorlabs has released the new microscope sample interface for the spectral radar system which includes 2-D and 3-D imaging capability. The microscope includes x- and y- scanning mirrors with a built-in CCD camera to provide 2-D surface...

JSM-7001F scanning electron microscope.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... A new thermal field emission analytical SEM from JEOL, the JSM-7001F, acquires high-resolution micrographs at up to 1,000,000x for applications ranging from semiconductor, metals, minerals, materials, and ceramics, to non-conductive biological...

New scanning probe microscope from Veeco.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Veeco Instruments Inc. has released the Innova scanning probe microscope (SPM) for a wide range of physical, materials, and life science applications. The Innova is priced lower than similar performance SPM systems on the market and features...

3-D rotational digital microscope system (CX-3000).(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Advanced optic design, precision machining, and the latest Sony megapixel digital camera sensor of CX-3000 provide 3-D live images which surpass optical microscope in image quality and functions. The CX-3000 can be used for detailed inspection...

Making the point: the latest CLSMs pack surprises--stunning resolution, 3-D imaging, micro machines, and new market opportunities.(PHOTONICS/OPTICS)(confocal laser scanning microscopy)
July 1, 2007... One constant in the development of microscopy is change, but sometimes technology is not the only evolution. In the case of a new confocal point-scanning microscope from Olympus America Inc., Center Valley, Pa., for instance, the product could...

Modeling in the life sciences pushes into new areas: life science modeling and simulation have been in use for decades, but new areas continue to be developed that promise to accelerate research.(TEST, MEASUREMENT & ANALYSIS)(EpiCast and hardware-based artificial immune system)
July 1, 2007... Computation methods in life science are widely used by chemists, biologists, and engineers to accelerate their research. Typically, these methods construct a model of the structure of a biological or chemical system, download data from a series...

Airborne wireless line enables M2M communications.(Tools of the Trade)(machine-to-machine)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Quatech Inc. Airborne wireless line enables machine-to-machine (M2M) communications via 802.11 wireless networks through embedded radios, modules, boards, and external device servers. The technology can be embedded in numerous products for a...

Eliminate ground currents.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Now users can eliminate ground currents--a potential source of noise in measurement and control signals--and eliminate timing errors from high-channel count digital I/O. New digital I/O expansion hardware from Microstar Laboratories, Inc....

Field metrology wells are fast and portable.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Hart Scientific, a division of Fluke Corp., announces the 9140 series field metrology wells designed for optimum performance and functionality over the range of -25 [degrees]C to 661 [degrees]C. Unlike traditional field dry-wells, the new field...

New void scanner for underground mining.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... An innovative new void scanner for on-the-spot, underground mine surveys has been launched by Measurement Devices Ltd (MDL). The Void Scanner 150 (VS150) was developed mainly for use in underground mining. The VS150 is easy to use for the 3-D...

Datastick upgrades software for handheld analyzers.(Tools of the Trade)
July 1, 2007... Datastick Systems, Inc., has released version 1.7 of the Datastick Spectrum software suite--including the completely new Datastick Review software utility--for its PDA-based VSA-series vibration spectrum analyzers for predictive,...

Calendar.(Calendar)
July 1, 2007... R&D Magazine presents Lab Design Conference R&D Magazine is hosting the annual Lab Design Conference at the Westin St. Louis, Mo., on Sept. 17-19. The conference will include presentations from lab design experts on topics such as: Creation...

USB to retain clout.( universal serial bus)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The universal serial bus (USB) is a recognized standard for wired device communications with more than 2 billion legacy wired USB connections in the world today. This year, Certified Wireless USB devices are hitting the marketplace and are...

Batteries charging forward.(battery production in the United States)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... U.S. revenue on battery production will see continued growth through 2011 on the strength of demand. An increase of 4.3% annually is expected for both primary and secondary battery types led by lithium types. Motor vehicles and battery-powered...