Month: July 2011
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Vaccine Against Heroin High Tested in Animals
Scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego, California have developed a vaccine against a heroin-induced high and tested its potential in lab rats. Their findings appear online in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (paid subscription required). The team led by chemistry researcher Kim Janda devised a vaccine that generates antibodies to stop heroin…
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Companies Join National Lab in Composites Consortium
Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee, part of the U.S. Department of Energy, has established a consortium with 14 companies to promote the development and commercialization of carbon fiber and composites materials. The Oak Ridge Carbon Fiber Composites Consortium will hold its first meeting in September. Oak Ridge Lab has been involved in composite materials…
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FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Mobile Medical Phone Apps
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued a draft of guidance to industry on oversight of mobile medical applications (apps) designed for smartphones and other mobile computing devices. Interested parties have 90 days to comment on the proposed regulations. The industry market analysts Research2Guidance expect as many as 500 million smartphone users worldwide will…
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Mercury Found in Soil Near Central Indiana Coal Power Plants
A study by researchers at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis found that measurable amounts of mercury emitted by coal-fired power plants are deposited in central Indiana soil and can subsequently enter regional watersheds. The findings by earth scientists Carrie Lynne Hatcher (now at University of Toronto) and Gabriel Filippelli appear in the journal Water, Air, and…
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Roche Acquires Cancer Diagnostics Company
The global pharmaceutical company Roche has acquired mtm laboratories AG in Heidelberg, Germany, which specializes in detection and diagnosis of cervical cancer. mtm will become part of Roche’s Ventana Medical Systems Inc. business unit. Under the agreement, Roche will pay mtm shareholders an upfront payment of EUR 130 million (USD 182 million) as well as…
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International Team Develops Optical Packet Router
Researchers from Spain, the Netherlands, and Canada have developed an optical router chip, capable of operating up to 100 times faster than currently available chips. The router, that incorporates the principle of directing packets of data, are described in the latest issue of the journal Optics Express. The new chip is capable of routing optical…
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Venture Company to Invest in Early-Stage Science Enterprises
True North Venture Partners, a venture capital company in Chicago, unveiled today its $300 million investment fund and strategy. The company plans to invest in early stage companies in the energy, water, agriculture, and waste sectors — where products and services are often based on scientific research findings — with amounts invested ranging from $100,000…
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Council Recommends Steps for Home Medical Devices, Health IT
The National Research Council has recommended a series of actions to meet the likely increased demand for home use of medical devices and health information technology. The study was sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services. The 11 recommendations for other agencies…
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Gov’t Agencies, Companies Partner on Better Wind Forecasts
Two U.S. companies are working with the Department of Energy and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to improve wind forecasting that can help wind power providers better plan and deliver electric power. AWS Truepower in Albany, New York and WindLogics Inc. in Saint Paul, Minnesota won grants last fall to deploy atmospheric measurement systems…
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Cleveland Clinic Enrolling Fighters for MRI Brain Study
The Cleveland Clinic has begun a study with professional fighters to help determine if magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain can detect changes in brain health that correlate with impaired thinking and functioning. The clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas is working with the Nevada Athletic Commission and fight promoters…