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Menthol Cigarette Smoking Rising Among Teens, Young Adults

(National Institute of Mental Health)

Public health researchers from University at Buffalo in New York found smoking of mentholated cigarettes is increasing among teenagers and young adults in the U.S., while smoking of non-menthol cigarettes declined in this age group. The findings of the team led by Buffalo’s Gary Giovino — with colleagues . . . → Read More: Menthol Cigarette Smoking Rising Among Teens, Young Adults

Portal Launched Matching Cancer Cells to Drug Molecules

(NIH.gov)

The Broad Institute, a medical research organization with scientists from Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, opened its Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal, an online resource that matches potential drug molecules to their sensitivities among hundreds of cancer cell lines. The portal is described this week in the journal Cell (paid subscription . . . → Read More: Portal Launched Matching Cancer Cells to Drug Molecules

Genetic Technique Tracks Salmonella Strain in Supply Chain

Salmonella Typhimurium, in red, invading cultured human cells. (Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH)

Agricultural scientists at Pennsylvania State University found a way of identifying and tracking strains of antibiotic resistant Salmonella bacteria through the food supply chain, even if the strain evolves. The team from the lab of food science professor Edward Dudley . . . → Read More: Genetic Technique Tracks Salmonella Strain in Supply Chain

NIH Funding Micro-Sutures for Stem Cell Heart Muscle Repair

George Pins, left, and Glenn Gaudette (Worcester Polytechnic Institute)

Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts and University of Washington in Seattle are collaborating on development of tiny bio-compatible polymer threads that help stem cells repair damaged heart muscle. The work of Worcester Tech biomedical engineers Glenn Gaudette and George Pins, with Washington . . . → Read More: NIH Funding Micro-Sutures for Stem Cell Heart Muscle Repair

Princeton Lab, USDA Partner on Egg Pasteurization Process

Engineers from Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in Plainsboro, New Jersey and agricultural scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture research lab in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania developed a process and device for pastuerizing eggs in the shell without damaging the delicate egg white. The team inventing the process filed for a patent and is seeking licensees to . . . → Read More: Princeton Lab, USDA Partner on Egg Pasteurization Process

Balance Device, Software Devised to Measure Concussion

Dan Goble tests the B-TrackS concussion testing system (Antonio Zaragoza, San Diego State University)

An exercise and nutrition researcher at San Diego State University developed a simple, inexpensive, and reliable system to test athletes for concussion. The balance tracking system, called B-TrackS, is the work of SDSU’s Daniel Goble, and in the process . . . → Read More: Balance Device, Software Devised to Measure Concussion

Open Source Energy-Economy Optimization Model Developed

(Brookhaven National Lab)

Computer scientists and engineers at North Carolina State University in Raleigh developed a computer model to aid energy-related economic policy decisions, making both their data and source code available to the public. The model, called Tools for Energy Model Optimization and Assessment or Temoa, is the work of a team . . . → Read More: Open Source Energy-Economy Optimization Model Developed

Biomaterial Skin Patch Shows Promise as Tuberculosis Test

Tuberculosis test microneedle patch (Marco Rolandi, University of Washington)

Engineers at University of Washington and colleagues from the Infectious Disease Research Institute in Seattle found a patch made with material from crustacean shells can deliver a tuberculosis skin test as successfully as current needle-based methods. The findings from the lab of Washington materials scientist . . . → Read More: Biomaterial Skin Patch Shows Promise as Tuberculosis Test

University, Company Partner on Computer-Based Drug Discovery

Mark Dufton (University of Strathclyde)

The drug discovery company Serometrix in Pittsford, New York is deploying bioinformatics software developed by University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland for identifying protein structures that show subtle clues as potential targets for drugs. Financial terms of of the licensing agreement were not disclosed.

The system is a result . . . → Read More: University, Company Partner on Computer-Based Drug Discovery

XPrize Cancels $10 Million Genomics Challenge

Peter Diamandis (XPrize Foundation)

The XPrize Foundation in Los Angeles cancelled a $10 million challenge to bring down the cost of genomic sequencing, saying the advance of technology has overtaken the purpose of the competition. Foundation chair and CEO Peter Diamandis announced the cancellation on Thursday in a Huffington Post article and on the . . . → Read More: XPrize Cancels $10 Million Genomics Challenge