| UT students take GM fuel-efficiency challenge
The future of cars — those using alternative fuels to minimize impact on the environment — could rest in the hands of college students. At least that is the thinking of General Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy, who sponsored a week-long workshop for 17 U.S. and Canadian collegiate teams competing in the exploration of cutting-edge technologies at the University of Texas' J.J. Pickle Research Center last week. The goal? "Our entry is a realistic attempt of low fuel consumption and lower emissions with the current infrastructure in place, that is, what's available to consumers now," said Ted Kane, a post graduate student in mechanical engineering at UT, looking at the Chevrolet Equinox SUV he and other mechanical engineering students have been working on for more than a year.
Schering-Plough Cites Today's Anacor Agreement as Latest in Series ...
KENILWORTH, N.J., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As recently announced, Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) has entered into an exclusive, worldwide agreement for the development and commercialization of AN2690, a topical antifungal therapy, with Anacor Pharmaceuticals, a privately held pharmaceutical company. The drug is currently in Phase II clinical trials for onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nail and nail bed that affects 7 to 10 percent of the U.S. population. "The addition of AN2690 builds on our growing strength in anti-infective treatment and brings another important innovation into our pipeline of treatments responding to the needs of physicians and their patients," said Fred Hassan, chairman and chief executive officer, Schering-Plough Corporation. "This announcement is another step in our strategy of accessing external innovations that extend our existing areas of strength in R&D and in customer relationships.
Use of international reserves expected to boost prices
During his weekly broadcast Sunday, President Hugo Chávez announced plans to use further international reserves -managed by the Venezuelan Central Bank (BCV)- to fund his projects. Commenting on the sources of funds for his devised community councils, the ruler said he would eliminate the autonomy of the Central Bank, because "we have international reserves available and let us say that the public budget fails to meet our needs, then we could use reserves to fund the community councils, to fund the construction of houses for indigenous people, or to fund the construction of schools and so many other productive activities." At the end of January 23rd, Venezuelan international reserves amounted to USD 35.48 billion. Experts say, however, that using such funds has a drawback, as increased government expenses could cause indigestion to the local economy and push prices up.
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