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For more information on these science news and feature story tips, please contact the public information officer at the end of each item at (703) 292-8070. Editor: Cheryl Dybas Contents of this News Tip:
SCIENTISTS IDENTIFY NEW GENE THAT CONTROLS SLEEP/WAKE CYCLEA 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] BALANCE BETWEEN WORK AND HOME CONCERN WOMEN SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS MOSTA 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] INDUSTRIAL R&D; UP - TURNAROUND IN MANUFACTURING CITEDAn 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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