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Challenge Seeks Cost-Effective Fleet Vehicle Data Capture

(A. Kotok)

A challenge at InnoCentive seeks a more cost-effective way of capturing data from a large fleet of vehicles with little, if any, intervention by the drivers. The competition has a prize of $25,000 and requires a written proposal. The deadline for entries is 28 September 2011.

InnoCentive in Waltham, Massachusetts is . . . → Read More: Challenge Seeks Cost-Effective Fleet Vehicle Data Capture

Wireless Bridge Safety Sensor Developed, Commercialized

Woodrow Wilson Bridge, Capital Beltway (A. Kotok)

An engineer at University of Maryland in College Park has developed a wireless, self-powered safety sensor for bridges, and started a company to take the device to market. Electrical engineering researcher Mehdi Kalantari says the sensor can provide public works authorities with an effective structural monitoring . . . → Read More: Wireless Bridge Safety Sensor Developed, Commercialized

Surfactants Discovered Among Naturally Occurring Yeasts

Starmella yeast cells (Agricultural Research Service/USDA)

Scientists with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service in Peoria, Illinois have found naturally-grown yeasts that can produce molecules with surfactant properties. Surfactants are wetting agents that lower a liquid’s surface tension, used in a variety of consumer and industrial products, and normally derived from petroleum.

Surfactants work . . . → Read More: Surfactants Discovered Among Naturally Occurring Yeasts

Laser-Printed Drone Aircraft Developed, Flown

SULSA aircraft (University of Southampton)

Engineers at University of Southampton in the U.K. have designed and flown an unmanned aircraft made with a three-dimensional laser printing process. The university worked with 3T RPD Ltd, a company in Newbury, U.K., for the aircraft’s manufacturing.

The Southampton University Laser Sintered Aircraft (SULSA) project led by . . . → Read More: Laser-Printed Drone Aircraft Developed, Flown

NSF Unveils Innovation Corps to Extend Innovation Impact

National Science Foundation launched today its Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program, a public-private partnership to help turn scientific and engineering discoveries into useful technologies and products. I-Corps expects to support up to 100 projects at $50,000 a project.

In I-Corps, NSF will ask members of the private sector to share their knowledge and experience with I-Corps . . . → Read More: NSF Unveils Innovation Corps to Extend Innovation Impact

Baxter Sets Up Venture Fund for New Therapies

Baxter International in Deerfield, Illinois has established Baxter Ventures to invest in promising early-stage companies developing therapies that complement Baxter’s product lines. Baxter Ventures will make up to $200 million in equity investments and report to Norbert Riedel, the company’s chief scientific officer.

Baxter is a developer of medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology solutions. The . . . → Read More: Baxter Sets Up Venture Fund for New Therapies

Study: Computer Detection No Aid in Finding Breast Tumors

(Cancer.gov)

A group of university, research institute, and National Cancer Institute researchers have concluded that computer-aided detection (CAD) technology, often used with mammograms, is ineffective in finding breast tumors. The research indicates that CAD may also increase a woman’s risk of being called back needlessly for additional testing following mammography.

The study, published . . . → Read More: Study: Computer Detection No Aid in Finding Breast Tumors

Lab Creates Graphene Composite for Lithium Ion Batteries

Graphene molecular illustration (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

Researchers with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California have developed a graphene and tin nanoscale composite material for high-capacity energy storage in renewable lithium ion batteries, like those used in electric cars. The team at the lab, funded by the Department of Energy, published its . . . → Read More: Lab Creates Graphene Composite for Lithium Ion Batteries

FDA Alerting Pharmas Over Work of Contract Research Company [UPDATED]

The Food and Drug Administration has notified pharmaceutical companies that hired contract research organization Cetero Research of Houston, Texas that the work done by Cetero may need to be redone or confirmed. The alert to pharmaceutical companies follows an FDA letter sent yesterday to Cetero identifying problems in the company’s research, including falsification of entries . . . → Read More: FDA Alerting Pharmas Over Work of Contract Research Company [UPDATED]

Head Cap Devised to Capture Brain Signals to Control Devices

EEG powered brain cap (John Consoli, University of Maryland)

A neuroscience/engineering team at University of Maryland in College Park has developed headgear like a swim cap with sensors that read brain signals and let the wearer control electronic devices. The Maryland team’s findings appear in the current issue of the Journal of Neurophysiology . . . → Read More: Head Cap Devised to Capture Brain Signals to Control Devices