R & D articles from June 2007

R & D archives from June 2007

Simplicity from complexity.(Editorial)
June 1, 2007... Was the world always this complex and rapidly changing or is it now far simpler than it used to be? Communication technologies, for example, have made it possible to help researchers work together now on a 24/7 basis. The complexity and depth...

Images reveal brain changes associated with memory.(LIFE SCIENCE)(research on brain cells by University of California)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Researchers at the Univ. of California, Irvine, have developed the first images of the physical changes in brain cells thought to trigger memory. This discovery is already uncovering clues about memory loss linked to cognitive disorders. ...

Researchers achieve atomic spectroscopy on a chip.(SPECTROSCOPY)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... For the first time, researchers at the Univ. of California, Santa Cruz, (UCSC) and Brigham Young Univ., Provo, Utah, have performed atomic spectroscopy with integrated optics on a chip, guiding a beam of light through a rubidium vapor cell...

Companies join forces to create a better chip.(SEMICONDUCTOR)(Infineon Technologies AG, International Business Machines Corp. and Samsung Electronics America Inc. teams up to develop semiconductor chips)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... IBM, Armonk, N.Y., Chartered Semiconductor, Milpitas, Calif., and Samsung Electronics, Ridgefield Park, N.J., have joined forces to develop and manufacture chips using 32-nm circuitry elements. The partners, which also include Infineon...

U.S. OKs GMO rice.(BIOTECHNOLOGY)(Ventria Bioscience's genetically modified rice approved)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... The U.S. government gave its approval for Ventria Bioscience, Sacramento, Calif., to plant genetically modified (GMO) rice in Kansas. The rice has been modified to produce human proteins that will be used in medicine to treat diarrhea....

GENI will create new research platform.(NETWORKING)(Global Environment for Network Innovations)(BBN Technologies awarded)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... With financial support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Arlington, Va., researchers are working to make a new research platform, Global Environment for Network Innovations, or GENI. GENI will enable researchers across the U.S. to...

Researchers hit the jackpot with nanoglue 'accident'.(NANOTECHNOLOGY)(Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute )(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Like many scientific discoveries, researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y., developed a new scientific method that could impact everything from next-generation computer chip manufacturing to energy production--quite by...

Microsoft joins the war on terror.(INFORMATICS)
June 1, 2007... The U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM), Norfolk, Va., recently signed a cooperative research and development agreement with Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Wash., to explore ways to improve the command's Knowledge and Information Fusion Exchange...

A sunny future ahead for solar power.(ENERGY)(Applied Materials Inc. teams up with TekSun PV Manufacturing)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Applied Materials, Austin, Texas, is keeping its word and lowering the barriers into solar energy for newcomers. Applied Materials is partnering with TekSun PV Manufacturing, Austin, to build a plant in Taylor,...

Animal housing facilities: the road ahead: the NFPA has developed guidelines for acceptable levels of fire and life safety for animal facilities.(LAB DESIGN)(National Fire Protection Association)
June 1, 2007... Concern for the welfare of animals has increased in recent years. Organizations that, because of the nature of their business are involved with animals, face unique challenges. Similar to any other entity, these organizations are obligated to...

Mobile modules a feature of ERGOLAB.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... A.T. Villa USA introduces ERGOLAB, a furniture system made up of mobile modules on casters. ERGOLAB benches accommodate large equipment and heavy instrumentation while addressing the desire for mobility in the lab. Work surfaces and...

New FN Series UPS plus provides labs with affordable solution.(Tools of the Trade)(Falcon Electric Inc. introduces uninterruptible power supplies)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Falcon Electric, Inc. has launched its FN Series family of parallel or N+1 redundant uninterruptible power supplies (UPSes) designed to meet the demands of laboratory equipment and associated computer networks with a scalable platform and N+1...

Teclab creates a safer storage cabinet.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Teclab introduces a high-density storage cabinet designed to increase worker safety and maximize work space. This line of cabinets uses interlocking slides that allow only one drawer to be opened at a time. The...

Modeling earthquakes with realistic simulation software: FEA tools help researchers achieve more accurate earthquake predictions.(SOFTWARE)
June 1, 2007... Massive destruction and loss of life followed the M9 (magnitude 9) Sumatra-Andaman earthquake and tsunami of December 26, 2004, one of the worst natural disasters in recorded history. But there was also a second major (M8.7) earthquake, 100...

Using engineering techniques to study biological systems: systems biology software is taking advantage of the modeling, simulation, and analysis techniques created for engineering and mathematical systems.(SOFTWARE)
June 1, 2007... From medicine and environmental science to alternative fuel technology and agriculture, systems biologists are literally changing the world. By studying the relations between the components that make up an organism, systems biologists build a...

Software processes images in a spreadsheet format: interactive visual interpretation of large amounts of image data is now possible within a user-friendly software update.(SOFTWARE)(OriginLab Corp.)
June 1, 2007... Spreadsheets and databases are the researcher's bread-and-butter tools for analyzing the data they create, collect, and process. Among these data, images have taken on an expanded role in the researcher's collection of information that they...

HydroGeo Analyst v. 3.0 now released.(Tools of the Trade)(Scientific Software Group introduced data management software)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HydroGeo Analyst offers the solution to groundwater and bore-hole data management and visualization technology. HydroGeo Analyst integrates a complete range of easy-to-use analysis and reporting tools, with a...

Skytide rips through terabytes of data.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Skytide, a provider of next-generation analytical solutions, announces the availability of Skytide Analytical Platform v. 2.2, the latest version of its award-winning BI solution. Analytical Platform v. 2.2 includes significant product...

Use a Crystal Ball to create scatter charts.(Tools of the Trade)(Hearne Scientific Software LLC)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Performing Monte Carlo simulation and analysis within Excel spreadsheets is now simpler with Crystal Ball v. 7.3, Microsoft Excel 2007, and Windows Vista. Crystal Ball 7.3 offers users the ability to create scatter charts, display correlations,...

New tools enhance the business impact of materials information.(Tools of the Trade)(Granta Design introduced information management software)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Granta Design announces a new release of GRANTA MI for managing, analyzing, and applying materials information in engineering enterprises. GRANTA MI 1.3 has been optimized through collaboration with top engineering...

GeoAge releases new version of FAST software.(Tools of the Trade)(Field Adapted Survey Toolkit)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... GeoAge has released a new version of FAST (Field Adapted Survey Toolkit), a program designed to rapidly capture data and respond effectively with instant mapping and reporting. New version 3.2 adds key performance capabilities to strengthen...

R&D outsourcing becomes more strategic: R&D organizations are slowly increasing the amount of R&D they outsource, even as the work increases in complexity and political issues mount.(Survey)
June 1, 2007... Outsourcing of various aspects of an organization's business functions has been happening for decades. In recent years, much of this work has been in the information technology (IT) area, although product development work and actual R&D for...

New tools for spectroscopy in the life sciences: new spectrometers and improvements to existing spectrometers enhance the quality of life science research.(ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS)(Bruker BioSpin GmbH, Agilent Technologies Inc. and Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced mass spectrometers)
June 1, 2007... The life sciences are but one of the areas which are benefiting from improved spectroscopy devices and methods. Proteomics, metabolomics, and biomarker profiling all use mass spectroscopy and will advance with these new products. These new...

Eksigent offers MALDI Spotting capability with single-point control.(Tools of the Trade)(Eksigent Technologies)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Eksigent announces the addition of a NanoLC MALDI Spotting System to its nanoflow chromatography product line. It features the Ekspot spotter. The new system complements the company's existing offerings for nanospray...

[r.sup.2]max series refractometers.(Tools of the Trade)
June 1, 2007... The [r.sup.2]max4 and [r.sup.2]max2 are automatic digital benchtop refractometers recommended for substances with high refractive index. Each model is supplied with 21 scales and additional user-defined scales can be stored. Both models...

500 RL On-Line TOC Analyzer provides range of options.(Tools of the Trade)
June 1, 2007... The Sievers 500 RL On-Line Total Organic Carbon (TOO) Analyzer, available from (3 E Instruments, is a reagentless analyzer designed for continuous monitoring of organics in ultrapure water for pharmaceutical, microelectronics, and power...

Time-of-flight capabilities for any lab/budget.(Tools of the Trade)(Leco Corp.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... The time-of-flight HT TOFMS offers all the power, speed, and software features of LECO Corp.'s Pegasus HT in a cost-competitive bench-top design. Continuous full-range mass acquisition rates up to 80 spectra/sec give users accurate...

Agilent extends triple-quad's mass range.(Tools of the Trade)
June 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Agilent plans a significant upgrade to the Agilent 6410 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The instrument's mass range will be extended to 2,000 m/z. The extension will be available as an upgrade in tandem with the...

Through the virtual looking glass: a new interferometric microscopy technique processes discarded data to produce crisp 3-D images.(MICROSCOPY)
June 1, 2007... Diagnosis of many of the world's leading cancers and other diseases depends on rapid and reliable detection methods. A combination of traditional methodologies and the latest technologies have steadily increased efficiency, but old-fashioned...

New imaging system for microscopes.(Tools of the Trade)
June 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Syncroscopy, a division of the Synoptics Group, introduces its new Montage Explorer, an automated sample scanning and image stitching system. The Montage Explorer system is a high resolution color CCD digital camera...

MultiView 4000 is a multi-probe scanned probe microscopy system.(Tools of the Trade)(Nanonics)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Nanonics' MV4000 multi-probe SPM systems allow independent scanning of four probes with ultra-low noise in a variety of SPM imaging modalities. The system allows upgrading from one to four probes. Nanonics' ultra-thin 3-D FlatScanners are...

TriboScope II steps up nanomechanical testing.(Tools of the Trade)(Hysitron introduced nanomechanical test instrument )(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... The Hysitron TriboScope II is the next generation nanomechanical test instrument which provides quantitative nanomechanical testing and in situ imaging capabilities by interfacing with commercial AFM. The system can indent and image 10x faster...

PriorPCI2 features a compact design.(Tools of the Trade)(Prior Scientific Inc.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The all new PriorPCI2 high speed stepper motor controller from Prior Scientific features a new compact (175 mm x 106 ram) design, standard six axis control for XY, focus, and three filter wheels, shutter control for...

A material mix & match: modern flexible circuitry requires durability, conductivity, and flexibility. The challenge is finding the right combination.(MATERIALS SCIENCE)
June 1, 2007... The choice of materials used in the composition of a flexible circuit can have a direct impact on the circuit's ability to bend or flex. The thicker the flexible circuit, the less it will be able to bend without cracking. It is important to...

Automated system for post-extraction clean-up.(Tools of the Trade)(Gilson Inc.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gilson, Inc. introduces a solution for automated post-extraction clean-up of interfering substances from environmental samples, food products, and animal tissue by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) prior to...

e2v unveils new generation of high sensitivity imaging sensors.(Tools of the Trade)(E2V Technologies)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... e2v, a developer and manufacturer of high-technology electronic components and subsystems, announces a new generation of high-sensitivity imaging sensors leveraging circuit layer transfer technology from Tracit Technologies, a new division of...

Cell signaling reagents.(Tools of the Trade)
June 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Beckman Coulter Inc. introduces two additions to its line of cell signal transduction reagents-Phospho-MAPKAPK-2 and Phospho-STAT3 kinase antibodies. These single-color flow cytometric reagents measure kinase...

SITE Services introduces 300 mm manual bake oven.(Tools of the Trade)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... SITE Services introduces a new high-temperature manual bake oven that offers precise and repeatable bake performance for process control in semiconductor development. This product is complementary to the current SITE product line that includes...

Nanotube textiles on the horizon.(Tools of the Trade)(Nancomp Technologies Inc.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Nanocomp Technologies Inc., Concord, N.H. may soon deliver on a long-promised product-advanced textiles made from long carbon nanotubes. The company says it's on the cusp of producing nonwoven sheet and yarn carbon materials that are both...

New conductive polymer coating for capacitor anodes.(Tools of the Trade)(Crosslink Technology Inc.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Crosslink unveils a new family of conductive polymer coatings for capacitor anodes called Crosslink EMPAC. Crosslink EMPAC is a true film former so it provides even coverage, ensuring corners aren't left exposed to a problem that, when...

Reticulated foams maximize surface area to volume ratio.(Tools of the Trade)(Goodfellow Corp.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Goodfellow announces the availability of metal, carbon, and ceramic reticulated foams, low-density, permeable structures of cells and continuous ligaments that offer important benefits to researchers and design engineers, Thanks in part to the...

Testing drives for ever-faster high-speed digital I/O: suppliers continue to introduce new high-speed data acquisition products that often exceed their users' requirements for data streaming.(TEST, MEASUREMENT & ANALYSIS)
June 1, 2007... New high-definition TV (HDTV) products and a host of LCD (liquid crystal display) imaging applications continue to drive the technologies for faster high-speed data acquisition (DAQ) systems. PXI, a rugged PC platform for measurement and...

Model 231 is a new transducer.(Tools of the Trade)
June 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Setra Systems, Inc. has created the new Model 231 multi-sense wet-to-wet differential pressure transducer. The Model 231 is ideal for users who need to monitor control pump differential pressures, chiller or boiler...

Fully featured modular oscilloscope.(Tools of the Trade)(ZTEC Instruments, Inc.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Inspired by a convergence of traditional and modular electronic instrument capabilities, ZTEC Instruments is now offering the new ZT4610 series of digital storage oscilloscopes. With a price and feature set comparable to industry standard...

ChemLogic 8 is a gas detection system.(Tools of the Trade)(DOD Technologies, Inc.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... The ChemLogic 8 is a continuous eight-point gas detection system ideal for the detection of low level toxic and corrosive gases. This system offers a built-in touch screen and a CF flash memory which records event history. The ChemLogic 8...

First compact reverse pulse plating controller.(Tools of the Trade)
June 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kebaili Corp. has released the CPG-500 series, a compact current pulse generator, specifically designed for electrodeposition applications, such as DC plating, pulse plating, and periodic reverse pulse plating for a...

Faster than a speeding bullet: ultra high-speed cameras show the eyes what they've been missing.(PHOTONICS)
June 1, 2007... As early as the fourth century B.C., man has tried to capture images of that which he could not see with is own eyes. However, not until centuries later is it possible to capture micro-scale blast wave phenomena, particle imaging velocimetry,...

Bullseye apodizing filters balance undesirable intensity variations in optical systems.(Tools of the Trade)
June 1, 2007... Reynard Corp, announces the Bullseye apodizing neutral density filter. The filters eliminate undesirable intensity variations in optical systems. The density of the filter decreases radially from a dark center, where light is usually at its...

Pulseo is the first in a series.(Tools of the Trade)
June 1, 2007... The new Spectra-Physics Pulseo high-power UV laser incorporates technologies from Spectra-Physics diode-pumped solid state lasers. Designed to produce 20 W of power, the Pulseo is the first in a series of lasers driving toward ever-higher...

New laser oscillator packs a punch.(Tools of the Trade)
June 1, 2007... The new Micra-10 from Coherent, Inc. is the first one-box ultrafast laser oscillator to deliver over 750 mW of broadband output power. This wide spectral bandwidth can be externally compressed to produce pulses in the 10 fs to 15 fs range. In...

Edmund Optics introduces blackened optics.(Tools of the Trade)
June 1, 2007... Edmund Optics has created new edge-blackened optics that are designed to increase contrast and reduce noise in imaging and electro-optical systems. The blackened edges prevent light from exiting a mounted optic, reflecting off the metal...

Self-assembly meets reality.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES: Industrial)
June 1, 2007... Developing and bringing to market a computer chip that is smaller, faster, and less power-hungry is the major desire of any chipmaker. A new chip assembly from IBM, Armonk, N.Y., claims to do all that, with a bonus: these new chips help make...

Polaritons make it possible.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES: Industrial)
June 1, 2007... Efforts by researchers at the Univ. of Pittsburgh, Penn., to meld the properties of superconductors and lasers have culminated in a new form of matter, the polariton superfluid. Filled with freely-moving energy particles, or polaritons, the...

Screens to charge themselves.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES: Industrial)
June 1, 2007... In response to rising power demands on mobile devices, Motorola, Schaumburg, Ill., has developed a liquid crystal display (LCD) that is also a solar panel. LCDs typically block light, but researchers used polymer film color filters to reflect...

Cool down with corn.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES: Industrial)
June 1, 2007... Researchers at NEC Corp., Tokyo, Japan, have developed a corn-based bioplastic that conducts heat faster than stainless steel. A unique binder in the polylactic resin used to create the material achieves high heat diffusion, roughly double that...

Conference focuses on artificial intelligence.(Calendar)
June 1, 2007... The 2007 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Pattern Recognition (AIPR-07) will be held on July 9-12 in Orlando, Fla. at the Imperial Swan Hotel & Suites. Topics will include: Hybrid clustering for large sequential data,...

Biofuel surges worldwide.
June 1, 2007... [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Global production of biofuel exceeded 48 billion L in 2005, and further growth is expected. World biodiesel production is likely to reach the 12 billion L mark by the end of 2010, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of...

Wireless spreads its wings.(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Wi-Fi system unit shipments grew from 140 million in 2005 to 208 million in 2006 and is forecast to reach 600 million units in 2011. The market for Wi-Fi chipsets and related radio frequency chips was $2.16 billion in...