Information Technology

Mount Desert Island Bio Lab unveils database

The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory has publicly released a prototype of the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD: http://ctd.mdibl.org). CTD aims to advance understanding about the impact of environmental chemicals on human health. It is the first database to provide centralized, integrated, and curated molecular and toxicology data from diverse organisms for scientists worldwide.
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Correcting for a time lag built into current Global Positioning System satellites can significantly enhance the accuracy of highly detailed GPS observations that are increasingly used to study Earth systems. Choi et al. report that existing satellite techniques often slightly misjudge the location of ground changes, such as seismic activity, ice sheet flow, and volcanic deformation, because researchers used the wrong time delay in the GPS satellites. The authors show that the orbit period

Penn State engineers have developed a new model for high-speed broadband transmissions over U.S. overhead electric power lines and estimate that, at full data rate handling capacity, the lines can provide bit rates that far exceed DSL or cable over similar spans. Dr. Mohsen Kavehrad, the W. L. Weiss professor of electrical engineering and director of the Center for Information and Communications Technology Research, led the investigation. He says, “Although broadband power line (BPL) service tri

A quiet revolution is coming our way. Recent successful trials of European semantic-Web applications suggest that machine-readable data will soon usher in an improved Web that will facilitate information reuse, and provide for painless building and maintenance of community portals.

“Computers struggle to attach meaning to information written in common Web languages such as Hypertext Markup Language [HTML],” says Libby Miller, coordinator of the IST SWAD-Europe project. “One way to h

Amid concern over fuel costs, parking and air quality, it’s time to reconsider carpooling. The new system called Dynamic Carpool offers the pros of ride-sharing without the cons.

Now in use at Amsterdam’s Schiphol business park, the mobile-phone-based system links riders and drivers in a flexible, hassle-free manner.

“For the first time, we offer real-time matching of trip requests and offers in an ‘eBay’ manner,” says Antti Hannula, CEO for Ecolane. The system enables commuter

ESI Group released today, at the EuroPAM conference, PAM-STAMP 2G version 2004, a cost-efficient sheet-metal stamping simulation software, which offers web-based reporting tools and advanced parametric re-engineering capabilities. PAM-STAMP 2G includes PAM-DIEMAKER for fast design and optimization of binder surface and die-addendum, PAM-QUIKSTAMP for rapid stamping evaluation, and PAM-AUTOSTAMP for forming process validation as well as quality and tolerance control. Offering unmatched busin