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One-third of pre-approved prescription drugs have not completed the FDA approval process

New research reveals that 36% of post-market studies for pre-approved prescription drugs were not completed, with 50% taking an average of 5 years to begin. The study suggests that manufacturers lack incentive to complete these studies due to lax enforcement and high costs.

SourceInstitute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences·JournalManufacturing & Service Operations Management·DateAug 26, 2019

Story tips from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, August 2019

The Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has developed dynamic vision sensors that can interpret live information in real-time, revolutionizing robotics and autonomous vehicle sensing. Additionally, researchers are using additive manufacturing techniques to unlock new potential in tungsten for fusion energy, while also ...

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateAug 1, 2019

Going green? Not so easy for mainstream brands

A recent study found that when mainstream brands use visual cues suggesting their products are environmentally friendly, consumers tend to perceive them as less effective and switch to more eco-friendly alternatives. The research involved a survey of over 500 consumers across the US, who were shown different product labels with varying...

SourceSan Diego State University·JournalJournal of Advertising Research·DateJul 31, 2019

Chemical makers oppose new tariffs

Chemical manufacturers in the US are opposing new tariffs proposed by the Trump administration on $300 billion worth of Chinese goods. The additional taxes could hurt US companies' competitiveness and pricing advantage over foreign firms that do not have to pay tariffs.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateJul 10, 2019

Rebirth of the Japanese black tea market: challenges for entrepreneurial green tea farmers

The Japanese black tea market has seen a resurgence in recent years, driven by innovation and demand for high-quality products. However, the shift towards direct-to-consumer sales presents unique challenges for farmers, including access to feedback from consumers and adapting production techniques to meet evolving consumer preferences.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalJournal of Economic Structures·DateJun 18, 2019

Ready, jet... print!

Researchers from KAUST have exploited inkjet printing to generate high-efficiency solar cells, replacing inorganic semiconductors with lightweight and flexible organic materials. The technique allows for customized designs, rapid design changes, and low-cost manufacturing, making it suitable for a variety of applications.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalAdvanced Materials Technologies·DateJun 3, 2019

When sand behaves like oil

Researchers have discovered that granular materials, such as sand and coffee, exhibit similar behavior to immiscible liquids when fluidized. This phenomenon has significant implications for industries like pharmaceuticals and energy production, where efficient processing of granular materials is crucial.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 8, 2019

Researchers use 3D printer to print glass

Researchers have successfully 3D printed chalcogenide glass using a modified 3D printer, enabling the creation of complex optical components and fibers for low-cost sensors, telecommunications components, and biomedical devices. This breakthrough could pave the way for efficient manufacturing of infrared optical components at a low cost.

SourceOptica·JournalOptical Materials Express·DateApr 18, 2019

Low-calorie sweetener derived from lactose gets manufacturing boost from yeast

A new strain of yeast can produce tagatose in much larger quantities than traditional enzymatic manufacturing techniques, making it a cost-effective alternative to sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. The glycemic index of tagatose is lower than that of sucrose and fructose, carrying a lower risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.

Scientists develop artificial chemical receptor to assist viral transduction for T cell engineering

A research team developed an artificial chemical receptor that effectively facilitates viral binding to T cells, increasing transduction efficiency by up to 80%. The technique is safe and efficient for human primary T cells and shows great potential for clinical engineered T lymphocyte manufacturing.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateApr 12, 2019

Shrinking the carbon footprint of a chemical in everyday objects

MIT researchers develop an alternative approach to synthesizing epoxides, a type of chemical used in plastics, pharmaceuticals, and textiles, that uses electricity instead of fossil fuels, eliminating carbon dioxide emissions. The process can be done at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, reducing industrial energy consumption.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateApr 9, 2019

Nanocrystal 'factory' could revolutionize quantum dot manufacturing

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a microfluidic system that can synthesize perovskite quantum dots across the entire spectrum of visible light. The system drastically reduces manufacturing costs and allows for real-time process monitoring to ensure quality control, enabling mass production of high-quality QDs.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMar 15, 2019

'Unclonable' tag combats counterfeiters

Scientists have created an 'unclonable' tag that can never be replicated, using physical unclonable functions (PUFs) with microparticles forming random patterns. The system correctly identified 76% of the tags, with estimated 2.5 x 10^120 unique codes.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateFeb 6, 2019