News on R&D across science and industry. Covers R&D awards, applied studies, quantum institutes, and university research initiatives.
A mathematical model helps determine necessary mosquito control levels to prevent West Nile virus outbreaks, reducing economic and environmental damage. The model takes into account regional factors such as mosquito life span and crow biology.
A new study by William Checkley and colleagues found that water and sanitation are key determinants of infant health in developing countries. The research, conducted on 230 Peruvian infants, revealed that inadequate water and sanitation can lead to higher rates of diarrheal episodes and stunted growth.
Scientists at the Hebrew University and Max Planck Institute have discovered a gene-based approach to suppressing stress-induced reactions. They developed an 'antisense' agent that neutralizes the production of modified proteins, preventing extreme fright or immobilizing shock reactions associated with traumatic memories.
Researchers developed a technique using single-stranded DNA to separate and sort metallic and semiconducting carbon nanotubes, enabling uniform conductivity and advancing nanoelectronic applications. The discovery in the journal Science has significant implications for developing sensitive medical diagnostic devices and mini-transistors.
The GSK Drug Discovery and Development Research Grant Program awarded $125,000 grants to Paul Bieniasz for genetic screening of cyclic peptides and Michael Farzan for tyrosine-sulfated peptides. Additionally, Michael H. Malim received a grant for his research on the Vif gene, which plays a critical role in HIV infection.
A new handbook aims to guide public sector research centers in developing countries on managing intellectual property, providing best practices and supporting materials. The handbook is the result of contributions from authorities in IP management from both developed and developing countries.
The NCCAM-funded Developmental Centers for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine aim to increase the quality and quantity of CAM research, promote expertise, and foster partnerships between CAM and conventional institutions. The first two centers focus on chiropractic manipulation and acupuncture, respectively.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCAM) has awarded planning grants to 12 international centers for research on complementary and alternative medicine. These partnerships will allow researchers to conduct studies in unique environments and potentially lead to significant advances in global health. The grant...
A study found individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis had difficulty identifying smells before symptom onset. This discovery could lead to a new diagnostic tool and earlier treatment options for schizophrenia and other psychoses.
The state of Michigan has secured a five-year, $11.9 million grant from the National Center for Research Resources to bolster its cutting-edge proteomics capabilities. This award will provide every Michigan scientist with access to a state-of-the-art research facility and expert support services.
Economic assessments of government R&D programs should be designed to measure productivity, quality, and reliability impacts on production and commercialization. A study's timing is critical, conducted within three to 10 years after a technology's significant marketplace impact.
The NIAID initiative addresses primary immune deficiency diseases by focusing research priorities and uniting established researchers with new investigators. A cell line repository and Web-based patient registry will also be created to advance understanding of these lesser-known diseases.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers are awarded a $2.6 million NIH grant to develop engineered bone tissue that can promote faster and stronger bone healing, potentially treating bone injuries, hip replacements, and arthritis.
The Department of Energy's national laboratories have received a total of 35 R&D awards, recognizing their cutting-edge technologies. The awards are shared among 11 laboratories and partner businesses and universities.
Researchers found that fruit odors play a crucial role in the evolution of a new species among hawthorn maggots. A specific blend of apple and hawthorn volatiles triggers a strong preference for host-plant identification, making it difficult for flies to interbreed. This discovery opens up possibilities for organic pest control methods.
The ISTS report highlights vulnerabilities in the financial sector to large-scale physical events and targeted cyber attacks. The sector's reliance on critical infrastructures such as telecommunications and transportation systems increases its vulnerability to disruptions.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is launching a new program to support interdisciplinary research on infectious diseases, with eight regional centers expected to be established. The program aims to develop new therapies, vaccines, diagnostics, and tools to combat bioterrorism and emerging diseases.
A recent study found that Pakistani researchers face significant challenges after completing their doctoral training abroad, including limited research grants and underutilization of their expertise. The study suggests that innovative models are needed to stimulate research and benefit the country.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a high-power semiconductor switch called the Emitter Turn-off (ETO) Thyristor, suitable for fast and dynamic voltage support in the nation's congested power grid. The ETO switch offers fast switching speed, rugged turn-off capacity, and voltage control, reducing energy storage elements and size.
Researchers at Rice University developed fluoronanotubes with unique chemical properties, allowing for easier manipulation and dispersal in various materials. This breakthrough enables the creation of new materials and applications, including advanced composites, sensor technology, and molecular electronics.
A group of leading US public sector agricultural research institutions has agreed to share their patented technologies to help improve staple crop varieties like rice, cassava, and sorghum. The Public-Sector Intellectual Property Resource for Agriculture (PIPRA) initiative aims to accelerate research and development to boost the domest...
Researchers found that reporters use metaphors to describe gentrifying neighborhoods as living organisms needing salvation, while low-income areas are rarely mentioned. The study's findings suggest that reporters' representations 'legitimize gentrification at actual or anticipated sites of restructuring'.
Researchers find that spontaneous neuronal activity in the retina is crucial for the formation of separate left and right eye connections to the brain. Blocking all activity in the retina leads to abnormal development of these connections.
Researchers found that Puerto Rican migrants injected drugs more often and visited shooting galleries, which have higher levels of needle sharing. However, users who remained in Puerto Rico showed similar risky behavior as migrant counterparts who returned to the island, suggesting migrants learned these behaviors in Puerto Rico.
The GSK Drug Discovery and Development Research Grant Program provides funding for innovative research into HIV/AIDS treatments. Researchers will be selected based on the potential importance of their project, originality, and ability to conduct the proposed research.
The Structural Genomics Consortium will determine the three-dimensional structure of over 350 human proteins, focusing on cancer, neurological disorders, and infectious diseases. The project aims to produce protein structures by the end of 2003, with all structures released freely into the public domain.
RIT's Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies has developed an asset health management system that continuously monitors vehicle health through remote sensors and satellite communications. The system diagnoses problems, recommends repairs, and aggregates data to optimize fleet performance.
The US government has struggled to allocate resources effectively, with basic science being funded without practical ends. New criteria aim to prioritize fields based on their contributions to related areas, with peer review and economic evaluations playing a crucial role in the process.
A St. Louis chemist has developed innovative methods to spin and shape atomic nuclei, which can affect their decay rates. His team has achieved incredibly fast spin speeds, such as 2 million-billion-billion revolutions per second, using specialized instruments.
The KESS research team will use cutting-edge technology to study the dynamical and thermodynamical processes controlling the Kuroshio Extension and its recirculation gyre. The study's findings will have significant implications for fisheries, climate research, and understanding storm tracks.
A new theory proposes Chaco Canyon's powerful political system kept other Pueblo peoples under its thumb from 1000 to 1125. The city's elite ruled a region containing tens of thousands of people, with influence stretching hundreds of miles.
DuPont scientists have developed a bio-based method using corn instead of conventional petroleum-based processes to produce the latest polymer platform. The new process uses fermentation-based production of 1,3 propanediol, which is used to create DuPont Sorona polymer with unique technical properties.
Researchers create device that measures muscle cell forces by measuring displacement of individual needles. The study reveals the relationship between cell shape and contraction force, as well as resolving conflicting scientific reports on cellular forces.
The Office of Naval Research is developing a suite of technologies to help sailors and Marines avoid mines during amphibious landings. The systems, including Moving Map, Augmented Reality Visualization, and Expeditionary Warfare Decision Support System, aim to reduce the risk of accidents by providing real-time navigation data.
Researchers investigate various aspects of exercise and recreation for individuals with mobility impairments, including the effectiveness of vacuum-assisted prosthetic sockets, the importance of walking speed after stroke, and the development of rehabilitation technologies. These studies aim to improve the lives of people with spinal c...
The American Thoracic Society has named two Department of Veterans Affairs clinician-scientists, Rabih I. Bechara and Pierre P. Massion, as the first recipients of its Research Career Development Award. The award will provide $20,000 per year for three years to support their research on respiratory diseases.
The AAAS Top Ten Science Policy List for 2002 highlights concerns over new American security policies impacting scientific research. Human cloning, stem cell science, and sustainable development are among the top issues, with scientists facing a balancing act between global security and scientific progress.
The Princeton Plasma Physics Lab team successfully decommissioned the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor without significant radiological exposure. The $40.3 million project was completed under budget, demonstrating a safe dismantling process for large fusion facilities.
NCCAM is offering grants to establish new research centers focused on complementary and alternative medicine. The centers will support program project grants, developmental cooperative agreements, and planning grants for international institutions.
A study conducted by Todd D. Kashdan and Paul Rose found that highly curious individuals experience more positive interpersonal outcomes than less curious individuals in different social contexts. The research also tested a new theory about how curiosity influences the growth of personal and interpersonal resources.
A recent study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found that individuals with depressive symptoms are more likely to experience unemployment or loss of income. The research suggests a significant economic impact of depression on employment and income, highlighting the need for increased awareness and treatment.
The DOE grant aims to economically derive high-value chemicals and oils from lower value corn fiber, opening new markets for corn growers. The project will develop purification and characterization techniques and design a pilot plant to recover high-value carbohydrates.
The Automatic Linguistic Indexing of Pictures (ALIP) system uses a pictorial dictionary to associate images with keywords, allowing for more accurate image annotation and search. The system has demonstrated great potential for use in biomedicine, digital libraries, and other fields.
Researchers from Indiana University unveiled innovative tools, including GeoMapper and Warscope, to display geographic information and locate network devices. The displays demonstrate collaboration among top universities in the state.
Family income significantly impacts preschool children's cognitive development and behavior, with higher-income families providing more stimulating learning environments and lower-income families facing economic pressure that leads to behavioral problems. The study suggests offering programs promoting learning materials, family literac...
Howie Choset's snakebot technology can navigate through three-dimensional terrains with enhanced flexibility and 'reach' ability. The robot's hyper-redundant mechanisms enable it to thread through tightly packed spaces without disturbing the surrounding areas.
The Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology will bring together researchers to develop new technology that enables scientists and physicians to see living cells in real-time. Applications of biophotonics include selectively treating tumors, sequencing DNA, and identifying single biomolecules within cells.
The University of California, Riverside will receive a $4.9 million grant to develop a program that improves teacher subject knowledge and student achievement in mathematics. The program aims to increase math achievement by 25% among 10,000 students in grades 4-8 through targeted instructional strategies.
The NASA consortium aims to create self-repairing materials that mimic the properties of biological substances like bone and sea shells. Researchers will focus on creating innovative composites of organic and inorganic compounds to make airplanes and spacecraft lighter, stronger, and more reliable.
Andrei Linde has been recognized with the Dirac Medal for his pioneering work in inflationary cosmology, which posits that the universe underwent a rapid expansion. His theory has already had notable observational successes and has become a paradigm for fundamental studies in cosmology.
A new system integrating wireless technology reduces clinical errors by providing real-time access to patient data, allowing medical staff to spend more time with patients. The system has been shown to decrease the time required to see each patient by 30% in post-operative acute pain management wards.
Researchers at Hebrew University have developed a novel technique that uses an engineered virus to induce cancer cells to activate PKR protein, causing them to self-destruct. This innovative approach has shown promising results in halting the spread of brain tumors and offers a new direction for cancer treatment.
The PPS coating system, developed by Brookhaven Lab chemist Toshifumi Sugama, shows dramatic improvements in bonding durability, resistance to wear and abrasion, and service lifetime compared to competitive coatings. The coating's self-healing properties make it suitable for use in geothermal power plants and other harsh environments.
The new technology uses small electric crystal chips that can be embedded into products and read by electromagnetic scanners, providing unique identification for individual items. The tags can be used for tracking, inventory management, and logistical tasks, offering possibilities such as checkout-free shopping.
The article discusses the future of coatings technology, which dates back over 20,000 years, and highlights key challenges to be addressed. Dr. Robert R. Matheson Jr., a DuPont scientist, identifies issues such as reducing environmental footprint and improving biological, mechanical, and transport longevity in soft coatings.
A study by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences found that young tech CEOs are more likely to invest in research and development, while older attorneys tend to be more conservative. The study suggests that CEO characteristics, such as background and tenure, have a significant impact on R&D spending.
The Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development features articles on life satisfaction following spinal cord and traumatic brain injury, as well as a study on foot models for ulcer-prevention treatment. A preliminary study on genetically engineered spinal cord implants also highlights potential improvements in bladder structure af...
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) recommends a single official to coordinate R&D across 26 agencies. This coordination is essential for advancing planned Department of Homeland Security initiatives and investigating terrorism.
Researchers at UC Davis have developed a new type of nanofilter that can selectively separate proteins and DNA molecules based on their size. The filter uses electrostatic screening to 'open' or 'close' pores, allowing for controlled separation of similar-sized proteins.
General Motors researchers have developed a new generation of automobile plastics using molecule-size mineral fillers like clay. The new nanocomposites are stronger, lighter, and offer more design flexibility for automakers.