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Addition of Lightning Data Increases Tornado Warning Times
Engineers at Earth Networks in Germantown, Maryland developed a system for analyzing lightning occurrences during severe weather they say can increase lead times in predicting most tornados by 50 percent. Chonglin (Charlie) Liu of Earth Networks will discuss the company’s dangerous thunderstorm alert system in a presentation this week at a meeting of the American…
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Genetic Tech Company to Acquire Prenatal Test Developer
Illumina Inc., a developer of genetic diagnostics systems in San Diego, will acquire Verinata Health Inc. in Redwood City, California, a provider of non-invasive prenatal tests for high-risk pregnancies. The deal will pay Verinata Health $350 million, with up to $100 million in additional milestone payments through 2015. Illumnia offers technology for research and diagnostics,…
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Battery Life Extended for Working Electric Locomotive
Engineers at Pennsylvania State University in University Park wrote a new energy-reviving algorithm for lead-acid batteries that power an electric locomotive hauling freight for Norfolk Southern Railway. The team led by Penn State mechanical engineering professor Christopher Rahn describe their research, funded by Department of Energy, in this month’s issue of Journal of Power Sources…
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Potential Cause of Statin-Produced Muscle Pain Revealed
Researchers at Copenhagen University in Denmark identified a possible cause for muscle pain encountered by people taking a leading statin drug for control of cholesterol. The team from the university’s Center for Healthy Aging, led by Flemming Dela, reported its findings in this month’s issue of the Journal of American College of Cardiology. Statins are…
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Trial Fails to Show Biogen Idec ALS Drug Efficacy
Biogen Idec, a biotechnology company in Weston, Massachusetts, reported the clinical trial of a drug to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) did not meet its main objectives. Based on these results, the company decided to stop further development of dexpramipexole, the drug tested in the trial. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a…
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Sanford-Burnham, Intrexon to Partner on Stem Cell Technology
Intrexon Corporation in Germantown, Maryland and Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in La Jolla, California will collaborate on research with induced pluripotent stem cells. The deal gives Sanford-Burnham access to Intrexon’s latest stem cell processing technology in exchange for commercial and intellectual property rights to technological advances under the agreement. Financial aspects of the deal were…
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U.S. Industrial Companies Plan More 2013 R&D Spending
Manufacturers in the U.S. expect to make research and development investments in 2013 at the same or higher levels as in 2012, according to a survey by Industrial Research Institute conducted last summer. The annual survey covered 141 medium and large companies mainly in chemicals, advanced materials, gases, food, industrial machinery, and consumer products. Industrial…
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Patient-Doctor Communication Linked to Patients Taking Meds
Medical researchers at University of California in San Francisco and the health plan Kaiser Permanente found patients who feel their doctors involve them in decisions and understand their problems are more likely to take their medications as prescribed. The team that included researchers from University of Washington in Seattle, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Veterans…
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Mergers, IPOs for Venture-Backed Companies Down in 2012
Initial public offerings (IPOs) and mergers and acquisitions (M&As) of venture-backed companies in the U.S. declined overall in 2012 and in the last quarter of the year. Financial industry analytics service Dow Jones VentureSource says the Facebook IPO in May 2012 influenced much of the activity and money raised during the year. During 2012, a…
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U.S. Patent Issued for Anti-Super Bug Disinfectant
Quick-Med Technologies Inc. in Gainesville, Florida received a patent for its antimicrobial disinfectant technology designed to combat drug-resistant bacteria in medical applications. Patent number 8,343,523 was awarded yesterday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to three inventors, including William Toreki, Quick-Med’s vice- president for research and development. The patent covers the composition and methods…