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Statistical Tools Sought for Smaller Placebo Group Sizes

A new challenge on InnoCentive seeks a technique for reducing sizes of placebo group samples in clinical trials — patients who do not receive the test treatments, to whom the patients getting the treatments are compared — without compromising the ability to interpret the results. Proposals describing the solution to this challenge are due by . . . → Read More: Statistical Tools Sought for Smaller Placebo Group Sizes

Robotic Device Reduces Drug-Resistant Hospital Infections

Bioquell Q-10 system (Bioquell Inc.)

Medical researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and two other institutions found a commercial remote-controlled spraying device can reduce the rate of infections to some multidrug-resistant organisms found in hospitals. The team led by Johns Hopkins epidemiologist Trish Perl published its findings in the 1 January 2013 . . . → Read More: Robotic Device Reduces Drug-Resistant Hospital Infections

University, Companies Partner on Air Cleaning Technology

Matthew Johnson (University of Copenhagen)

A chemistry professor at University of Copenhagen in Denmark is working with a Danish entrepreneur and waste processor to test a process for cleaning polluting particles from industrial emissions. Environmental chemist Matthew Johnson (pictured right) and the university have also patented the process he devised, which is based . . . → Read More: University, Companies Partner on Air Cleaning Technology

Economic Growth Affected by Parasitic, Insect-Spread Disease

Women at a health clinic in Haiti (State.gov)

Researchers in the U.S. and France built a mathematical model to estimate the impact of health on economic data that indicates infectious diseases spread by insects, called vector-borne diseases, and parasites found in tropical regions affect economic development in those countries. Their analysis is published . . . → Read More: Economic Growth Affected by Parasitic, Insect-Spread Disease

Collaboration to Build Three New Pediatric Medical Devices

A partnership between Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Ohio and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel will develop three new medical devices designed to meet children’s medical needs. The collaboration that combines Cincinnati Children’s Hospital’s clinical staff with engineers from Ben-Gurion was first announced last May to help address unmet needs for pediatric medical devices, . . . → Read More: Collaboration to Build Three New Pediatric Medical Devices

Covidien to Acquire Blood Vessel Device Developer

(Yale School of Medicine/Wikimedia Commons)

Covidien — a maker of medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and health care supplies based in Dublin, Ireland — agreed to acquire CV Ingenuity in Fremont, California, a developer of a device to treat peripheral artery disease. Financial terms of the deal, expected to be completed in the first quarter . . . → Read More: Covidien to Acquire Blood Vessel Device Developer

MRI Helps Screen Alzheimer’s, Brain Degeneration Dementia

(National Institute of Mental Health)

Medical researchers at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia developed an algorithm based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to differentiate cases of Alzheimer’s disease from front temporal lobe degeneration, which has similar dementia symptoms. The findings from the research team led by postdoctoral fellow and first author Corey McMillan . . . → Read More: MRI Helps Screen Alzheimer’s, Brain Degeneration Dementia

University Develops, Patents New Coke Fuel Process

(Library of Congress)

Researchers at Purdue University’s Calumet campus in Hammond, Indiana created a new less-expensive process for producing coke, a derivative of coal used in the making of steel, and received a U.S. patent for their discovery. Patent number 8,287,696 was awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in October to . . . → Read More: University Develops, Patents New Coke Fuel Process

Enjoy Your Holiday

Science Business is taking a break tomorrow for Christmas, and to get in the spirit of the season, here is a video from the best musicians you’ve probably never heard of. They are part of an initiative called Playing for Change that finds unknown, talented musicians worldwide, many of whom are playing on the street . . . → Read More: Enjoy Your Holiday

Mobility Device with Health Monitor Developed for Disabled

i-Transport (National Cheng Kung University)

Biomedical engineers at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in Taiwan built a robotics device that provides mobility, lifting, standing, and health monitoring for disabled persons. The team led by NCKU engineering professors Fong-Chin Su and Tain-Song Chen demonstrated the system at a recent forum sponsored by Taiwan’s Ministry . . . → Read More: Mobility Device with Health Monitor Developed for Disabled