July 16, 1998
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contact the public information officer at the end of each item at (703)
292-8070. Editor: Cheryl Dybas
Contents of this News Tip:
A newly discovered gene called double-time regulates the molecular
cycles underlying circadian rhythms, report scientists working through
the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s Center for Biological Timing and
affiliated with The Rockefeller University in New York. The researchers
have also identified the molecular mechanism that allows this gene to
work.
"We've identified a gene in the fruit fly Drosophila that times the
pairing of two proteins essential for circadian rhythms," explains Michael
Young, head of the Laboratory of Genetics at Rockefeller.
Earlier studies indicated that the genes and proteins governing circadian
rhythms in Drosophila play a similar role in humans. In humans, daily
circadian rhythms underlie many functions, including the sleep/wake cycle,
body temperature, mental alertness, pain sensitivity and hormone production.
In natural conditions, many rhythms have a 24-hour period related to sunlight.
Though light can affect the rhythm, it does not cause the cycle. Through
a complicated set of mechanisms, two genes, per and tim, regulate circadian
rhythms. In turn, per and tim are regulated by the newly discovered gene,
double-time.
"The double-time gene determines the time it takes to complete the
cycle, or whether there is any cycle at all," says Young. This information
brings scientists one step closer to understanding circadian rhythms in
animals from fruit flies to humans. [Cheryl Dybas]
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A nationwide survey of women who last year received grants from the
NSF Professional Opportunities for Women in Research and Education (POWRE)
finds that their biggest concern, by far, is how to balance what they
consider exciting career responsibilities against those of family.
The survey was conducted by the University of Florida's Center for
Women's Studies and Gender Research. Sixty-eight women scientists and
engineers who received grants under POWRE responded to the survey. POWRE
is a program designed to provide additional support to women at critical
stages in their careers, especially after a career interruption due to
family responsibilities.
"Children take a lot of time if you want to do it right, then if you
add the notion that science and engineering are somehow perceived as professionally
intense occupations, women see futures in these exciting fields harder
to manage," Sue Rosser, director of the women's studies center and former
director of NSF's program for women and girls, said.
Rosser presented the survey results July 16 at an international engineering
foundation conference in Quebec Province, Canada. Attended primarily by
U.S. and Canadian representatives of industry and academia, the group
has focused an action agenda on career balancing issues for women in the
sciences and engineering. [Bill Noxon]
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An NSF survey of industrial research and development (R&D;) says that
almost $145 billion was spent by industry in 1996 on R&D; activities, a
10-percent increase for the second year in a row, and highlighted by a
remarkable rebound in R&D; spending among manufacturers. The survey was
summarized in a newly published NSF Data Brief.
Following eight years in which nonmanufacturing R&D; rose by about than
15 percent each year in current dollars, while manufacturing increases
were running at about three percent, the figures almost reversed themselves
in a single year. During 1995-96, manufacturing R&D; rose by 12 percent
-- and just as dramatically -- nonmanufacturing R&D; slowed to a modest
two-percent increase for the year.
"This is the second year in a row that the annual R&D; increase for
industry reached 10 percent," Raymond Wolfe, author of the data brief
for NSF's Division of Science Resources Studies, said. As for the shift
in manufacturing R&D;, Wolfe said that 1997 statistics will help determine
if the continued healthy economy is resulting in a higher performance
of R&D; by manufacturers.
The largest industrial R&D; increases in manufacturing were in the machinery
industries, especially in those which produced computers and other office
machines, while the biggest decline in the nonmanufacturing sector was
in trade. Transportation and utilities also showed sharp declines in R&D;
investments. NSF has tracked industrial R&D; through its surveys since
1953. [Bill Noxon]
The entire data brief is at: http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/stats.htm.
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