Research/Studies
BodyMedia Featured in Abstracts at ACSM Annual Meeting
Ten studies at the 57th Annual American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Meeting presented results suggesting the validity and benefits of BodyMedia's activity monitoring technology. BodyMedia's positive and measurable outcomes in these studies serve as a testament to the patented multisensory technologies for a variety of markets -- consumers, health and fitness clubs, corporate wellness programs and healthcare practitioners.
June 7, 2010 | Permalink
Study Suggests ChemoFx-Assisted Chemo Reduces Costs
A study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AJOG) demonstrated the cost savings realized through the use of the ChemoFx Drug Response Marker from Precision Therapeutics for assisting selection of treatment in recurrent ovarian cancer. The study demonstrated that ChemoFx-assisted chemotherapy may result in substantially reduced costs compared with empiric therapy. Learn more about ChemoFx at www.precisiontherapeutics.com.
June 4, 2010 | Permalink
Study: BodyMedia Users Lose 3X More Weight
Results from a two-year clinical trial confirm that particpants who used BodyMedia's wearable body-monitoring technology lost up to three times more weight than individuals who did not. Known as the Lifestyle Education for Activity and Nuturition for a Leaner You (LEAN). The study was conducted under the direction of Dr. Steven Blair at The Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, and followed 197 overweight or obese men and women from February 2008 through December 2009 who had Internet access and were not engaged in an exercise program or formal weight loss program. Dr. Blair said "The initial study results show that wearable body monitors can be a useful weight loss tool alone, or when used with a standard weight loss program." Learn more at www. bodymedia.com.
May 27, 2010 | Permalink
TOA Included in Gartner's Annual Hype Cycle Report
TOA Techologies has been included as a sample vendor in the recently released Gartner "Hype Cycle for CRM Customer Service and Field Service, 2009" report. Hype cycles are graphical representations of the relative maturity of technologies, IT methodologies and management disciplines. TOA is included as a sample vendor in the Field Service Workforce Optimization and Field Service Management categories. According to the report, "The global recession is creating an increased focus on customer service technologies that can help maintain or reduce service costs at the same time as they maintain or improve the customer experience." Read more at www.toatech.com.
September 29, 2009 | Permalink
TOA and Harris Survey Finds High Consumer Cost of Waiting
Early this summer, TOA Technologies partnered with Harris Interactive to conduct a national consumer survey measuring the economic impact of long appointment wait windows on consumers and companies. More than 2,000 Americans were surveyed nationwide and the results showed that both the consumers and the service providers incur significant costs when wait times are long. Consumers report taking vacation, sick days or lost wages when waiting for service calls or deliveries. Companies who don't minimize wait windows risk customer dissatisfaction, cancelled orders and negative perception. For a full report of the survey results, visit www.toatech.com/blog.
September 15, 2009 | Permalink
Plextronics First to Deploy OPV Modules at NREL Facility
A set of Plextronics Inc.'s test solar modules were deployed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for outdoor monitoring and performance testing. This is the first set of organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules ever deployed at NREL. The performance of the test modules will be continuously monitored and the data compared with similar testing being done in Pittsburgh. The data over the next few months will be used to improve outdoor stability of the company's OPV technology and pave the way for testing more modules and refinement of the method. Senior Project Leader at NREL, Dr. Bolko von Roedern, said "I expect this kind of testing will be able to help move OPV technology generally closer to commercialization." Learn more about Plextronics and its OPV modules at www.plextronics.com.
August 14, 2009 | Permalink
ChemoFX May Predict Effectiveness of Cetuximab for Individual Colorectal Cancer Patients
Precision Therapeutics presentated data demonstrating the use of ChemoFX(R), a chemosensitivity assay, to predict the effectiveness of cetuximab (ERBITUX(R)) on the colorectal cancer cells of individual patients. Results of the study were consistant with the reported clinical response rate for cetuximab in colorectal carcinoma patients. A predictive assay such as this could give physicians the edge they need to determine if cetuximab is appropriate for a patient before administering the biologic. ChemoFx(R) provides valuable insights that can help guide physicians' treatment decisions and give both physicians and patients an edge against cancer. Learn more at http://www.precisiontherapeutics.com/.
June 4, 2009 | Permalink
Testing on Biopsy-Sized Specimens Allow Greater Utility in Breast Cancer
Precision Therapeutics has announced that results from the ChemoFx(R) Assay, a cell-based test that examines the response of a specific patient's tumor to various chemotherapies, correlate with pathologic complete response in breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant (pre-operative) chemotherapy. Data published in Anticancer Research show that the assay accurately predicted response to therapy 75% of the time. This study, done in conjunction with US Oncology, a leading cancer research and treatment network, represents the company's first publication in the breast cancer setting. Other major findings in the study addressed technical aspects of the assay, including the feasibility of performing the test on small amounts of tissue and the reproducibility of test results. Learn more at www.precisiontherapeutics.com.
July 1, 2008 | Permalink
ChemoFx May Improve Survival of Ovarian Cancer Patients
Results provided by the laboratory test ChemoFx(R) may improve survival among patients with ovarian cancer. These findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and will be presented at the upcoming 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Ovarian cancer is the most deadly gynecologic cancer in the United States. The study included 206 women with Stages II-IV ovarian cancer who were tested with ChemoFx and received at least one course of chemotherapy between 1997 and 2003. Sean McDonald, CEO of Precision Therapeutics, said "The goal of ChemoFx is to empower patients and physicians with additional diagnostic information to help determine the most appropriate course of therapy for each individual patient." Read more about ChemoFx at www.precisiontherapeutics.com.
May 29, 2008 | Permalink
TOA Named to Visionaries Quandrant in 2008 Field Service Management Magic Quandrant
TOA Technologies, the leading provider of web-based software solutions for companies managing mobile workforces, today announced that it has been named to the Visionaries Quadrant in Gartner's 2008 Field Service Management Magic Quadrant. "We're honored to be evaluated by Gartner, which we believe is recognition for our unique technological and business innovation." said Yuval Brisker, president and CEO of TOA. In the next year, TOA plans to broaden its service base and grow its geographic reach outside the United States and Europe. Read the full release here, and learn more about TOA at www.toatech.com.
May 28, 2008 | Permalink
Correlation Found Between ChemoFx(R) Assay and Improved OS in Patients with Ovarian Cancer
Precision Therapeutics announced that the ChemoFx(R) Assay, a cell-based test that examines the response of a specific patient's tumor to various chemotherapies, correlates with significantly longer overall survival (OS) in patients with primary ovarian cancer. Patients who received a treatment determined by ChemoFx to lead to the best tumor response had an overall survival 1.4 times longer than those receiving a treatment shown by ChemoFx to be non-responsive. Sean McDonald, CEO of PTI, said "The goal of ChemoFx is to empower patients and physicians with additional diagnostic information to help determine the most appropriate course of therapy for each individual patient." This retrospective, multi-center analysis is a published abstract at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago and is available on the here.
May 21, 2008 | Permalink
BitArmor Survey Shows Credit Card Theft a Big Concern for Holiday Shoppers
A survey conducted by BitArmor Systems over the "Black Friday" shopping weekend reveals that more than 3 in 4 shoppers are concerned about companies losing their credit card information to hackers and other criminals this holiday season. In fact, two-thirds of respondants say they will use their cards to pay for less than 25% of their holiday gift purchases. Almost 80% of those responding said they were likely to stop shopping at a store where retailers are not taking adequate measure to protect their personal data. BitArmor conducted the survey along with the news departments from WHAS-TV (Louisville), WTVF-TV (Nashville), WBMA-TV (Birmingham) and WTAE-TV (Pittsburgh).
November 29, 2007 | Permalink
Home Dialysis Clinical Research Study Begins
Renal Solutions has announced that a home use clinical research trial using sorbent technology has begun. The study presents the opportunity for 25 dialysis particpants to evaluate the ability to self-administer extended duration dialysis in the home when using the Allient(R) Sorbent Hemodialysis System. In this study, the use of the Allient System in the home is an investigational use. Patient-focused dialysis centers with certified home programs that are interested in learning more about this home trial should contact Mr. David Vanella, VP of Regulatory Affairs at Renal Solutions, 724-772-6900 ext. 140.
November 8, 2007 | Permalink
Allient System Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance
Renal Solutions has received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration for its Allient(R) Sorbent Hemodialysis System in chronic and acute hemodialysis applications. The new system features improvements in ease of manufacturing, service and user-friendliness. In preparation for the Allient System commercialization, Renal is also launching its SMARRT(TM) platform and campaign, which will introduce the benefits of advanced sorbent therapy to the renal community. For more information, read the press release here, and visit www.renalsolutionsinc.com.
October 23, 2007 | Permalink
Two More Join Five-Year RAND Study
Tenton City, NJ and Bridgeport, CT School Districts are the two latest school district to participate in a five-year study funded by the US Department of Education and conducted by RAND Corporation. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of Carnegie Learning's technology-based Algebra I curriculum across a wide range of students and environments. Trenton City and Bridgeport support a combined 58 schools and more than 34,000 students. Four schools in each district will participate in the study.
July 10, 2007 | Permalink
Carnegie Learning's Math Prep Meets CLRN Review Criteria
Carnegie Learning's Math Prep for the CAHSEE, the high-stakes test preparation solution for California students, has been reviewed by the California Learning Resource Network (CLRN) as a solution that meets the organization's review criteria. All programs successfully reviewed by CLRN are required to align with California state standards and meet Legal and Social compliance requirements. Information about the Math Prep for CAHSEE can be found on the CLRN website.
July 10, 2007 | Permalink
Plextronics Awarded Funding from DOE
Plextronics has been awarded funding by the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar America Initiative (SAI). The award comes from the Solar Photovoltaic Technology Incubator, a program created to make solar photovoltaic technologies competitive with existing technologies by 2015. Plextronic's project will focus on commercializing thin film organic photovoltaic (OPV) technology to enable low-cost solar modules. Subject to negotiating an acceptable statement of work with the DOE, Plextronics expects to receive up to $3 million over the course of the 18-month project. The DOE has also identified Pittsburgh as one of 13 2007 Solar America Cities (click here for more information).
June 21, 2007 | Permalink
Macomb County, MI Joins Carnegie Learning - RAND Study
Macomb Intermediate School District in Michigan is among the districts participating in a five-year study, funded by the US Department of Education and conducted by RAND Corporation, designed to evaluate the effectiveness of Carnegie Learning's technology-based Algebra I curriculum. Sixteen middle and high schools with 2100 Algebra students will participate in the study to evaluate whether the Cognitive Tutor curriculum is effective for a wide range of students and environments.
June 21, 2007 | Permalink
Johns Hopkins Researchers Give Carnegie Learning High Marks
The Best Evidence Encyclopedia, a free web resource created by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Data-Driven Reform in Education (CDDRE), has rated Carnegie Learning math curricula among the three most effective programs in the category of Middle and High School Mathematics. Carnegie Learning's Cognitive Tutor is the only mathematics curriculum to have received high ratings for research demonstrating effectiveness from both the CDDRE and the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC).
June 12, 2007 | Permalink
33 Kentucky Schools to Participate in RAND Study
Kentucky is one of six regions/districts, including Houston (TX) Independent School District, selected to evaluate the effectiveness of Carnegie Learning's technology-based Algebra I curriculum as part of the $6 million US Department of Education-funded study being conducted by RAND Corporation. Thirty-three Kentucky middle and high schools with 3100 Algebra 1 students will particpate with half (17 schools) using the Carnegie Learning Algebra 1 curricula at the beginning of the 2007/08 school year, and the other half (16 schools) using their existing Algebra 1 course for two years and beginning the Carnegie Learning program in 2009.
May 31, 2007 | Permalink
Studies Show SenseWear(R) Improves Weight Loss Outcomes
A study published in the April 2007 issue of Obesity examined the effects of BodyMedia's SenseWear(R) Body Monitoring System on 57 patients enrolled in a 12-week bahavioral weight loss intervention program. The results showed that weight loss was significantly greater (nearly double) among the patients who used SenseWear continuously during the program than those who used the device only intermittently. The study found that the SenseWear provides a tool to inform patients about their level of physical activity, facilitaing behavior changes related to their disease management plan.
May 31, 2007 | Permalink
Houston Independent School District to Participate in RAND Study
The Houston Independent School District is one of six school districts participating in a five-year study funded by the U.S. Department of Education and conducted by RAND Corporation that will evaluate the effectiveness of Carnegie Learning's technology-based Algebra I curriculum. In Houston, 45 middle and high schools with 8400 Algebra students will participate in the five-year study to evaluate whether the Cognitive Tutor(R) curriculum is effective for a wide range of students and environments. Read more about the RAND study on the Carnegie Learning website.
May 11, 2007 | Permalink
The Math Problem in America
A Special Report in eSchool News highlights the ongoing scrutiny of how math is taught in U.S. schools. A 17-member National Mathematics Advisory Panel appointed in 2006 by President Bush, has been charged with advising U.S. policy makers and educators on the effectiveness of various approaches to teaching mathematics. Currently, U.S. students were ranked 15th in eighth-grade math skills, and much disagreement exists on the best way to teach students math skills. Carnegie Learning, and technology-based math instruction, is one of the methods being researched. Red more about the future of math education on the eSchool News website.
April 19, 2007 | Permalink
Rand Receives $6M to Evaluate Cognitive Tutor
The US Department of Education has awarded the RAND Corporation a $6 million grant to conduct a five-year study of the effectiveness of a technology-based mathematics curriculum created by Carnegie Learning. RAND researchers will examine the impact of Carnegie Learning's Cognitive Tutor Algebra I curriculum. The grant to RAND is the largest available under the Department of Education grant program for scientific assessment of academic courses. The study is part of a growing national trend to rigorously test educational programs using experimental methods, and is designed to further the evidence-base for mathematics instructional materials and practices. Carnegie Learning was selected for the study because its Algebra I program is one of a few math courses that meet the Department of Education's grant requirement for strong prior evidence of effectiveness.
April 10, 2007 | Permalink
Cognitive Tutor Receives Support Despite Federal Study
Despite a federal study that found no difference in academic achievement between students who use technology-based math products and those who don't, administrators at Everett School District in Washington are sticking with Carnegie Learning's Cognitive Tutor. Everett has used the high-school Cognitive Tutor program for two years, and so far, is very happy with the program. According to an article in the Everett, Washington Herald, one teacher has noticed larger gains on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning math exam among her Cognitive Tutor students than those in her traditional classroom. The federal report posted to the Education Department's web site on April 5th, was the first part of a 2 year study, commissioned in the No Child Left Behind Act.
April 10, 2007 | Permalink
Renal Solutions Announces FDA 510(k) Clearance
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has granted 501(k) clearance of the Allient Sorbent Hemodialysis System, including the SORB series and the HISORB series cartridges from Renal Solutions. The FDA clearance of the Allient System addresses recent system enhancements which enable improved reliability and performance. The Allient System opens new treatment options to dialysis professionals and patients by virtue of its ability to provide short, standard or extended duration hemodialysis therapy using just 1 1/2 gallons of ordinary dirinking water. This translates into increased transportability, flexibility and ease of system use.
June 8, 2006 | Permalink
Imago Microscope Leads to Northwestern Research Advance
Researchers at Northwestern University have announced that a type of atom probe developed by Imago Scientific allowed them to produce data on the arrangement of individual gold atoms they couldn't have gotten otherwise. The local electrode atom probe, or LEAP, microscope was used to map the position of atoms in three dimensions. Northwestern's advance was featured on the cover of this month's Nano Letters. Read the article on azonano.com.
February 23, 2006 | Permalink
ChemoFx® Valuable Tool in Treating Cancer
A new study published in the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer (IJGC) shows that women with ovarian cancer lived three times longer without experiencing a worsening of the disease when treated with drugs determined to be effective in treating their individual tumor. The new study reports the results of a broad-based trial involving the selection and administration of chemotherapy drugs based upon the results of chemoresponse assay testing with the ChemoFx assay from Precision Therapeutics. ChemoFx is a cell-based test that quantifies an individual patient's likely tumor response to single or multiple chemotherapeutic agents. Read more at http://pittsburgh.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?newsid=61294&type_news=latest.
February 16, 2006 | Permalink
Carnegie Mellon Tops in Educational Research
Although Carnegie Mellon University has no education school, researchers in its interdisciplinary culture are producing innovations that are revolutionizing K-12 and college classrooms. One such example is Cargnegie Learning's Cognitive Tutor, a comprehensive secondary mathematics curriculum and computer-based tutoring program in use in 2,000 schools nationwide. An article in Carnegie Mellon Today highlights the technologies and advancements in education and how they, and Carnegie Learning, will help to advance conventional teaching methods and better educate all children. Download article in .pdf form.
November 10, 2005 | Permalink
Nanotech Tool Market Set for Boom
A new study from Lux Consultants found that the US Market for nanotech tools — products for working at small scales — is set to double over the next five years. Sales of tools ranging from microscopes to software are expect to grow from $580 million in 2004 to $1.1 billion in 2010. Based on interviews with 49 potential buyers at corporate and academic labs nationally, a co-author of the study mentioned that interviewees were very excited about Imago Scientific Instruments and what the company was capable of doing.
September 15, 2005 | Permalink
Study Shows LEAP Microscope Effective in SemiConductor Testing
In a study published in Applied Physics Letters, Imago Scientific Instruments' LEAP microscope was used to pinpoint individual atoms of boron in semiconductors, representing the first practical application of LEAP to semiconductors. LEAP revealed, in precise, 3-D detail, that boron spreads into the crevices between crystals of silicon on the transistors, possibly leading to electrical failure. The information allows semiconductor manufacturers to further investigate rapid-heating techniques for limiting this diffusion, while continuing the push to miniaturize chip components. Read more about the study at PhysOrg.com.
August 2, 2005 | Permalink
Congressman Murtha Increases Funding for Diabetes
Congressman John Murtha is expanding his campaign against diabetes by directing additional funding to education, outreach and research projects through the fiscal year 2006 Defense Appropriations spending bill. Included in the bill is funding for several diabetes-related projects including the rural health project by CERMUSA and research on a non-invasive glucose monitoring device by BodyMedia.
June 14, 2005 | Permalink
PTI Works with Yale to Further Cancer Treatment
Precision Therapeutics has partnered with researchers at the Yale School of Medicine to combine PTI's ChemoFX assay with Yale's apoptosis assay to distinguish drugs that can stop the growth of and/or kill cancer tumors. The test will help physicians predict whether a cancer patient will respond to a specific drug. Recruitment for the clinical study wraps up this month, and results will be available about this same time next year.
June 7, 2005 | Permalink
IDC Discovers the Haley Advantage
A recent IDC report points to natural language processing (NLP) as a leading reason why businesses seeking greater agility should turn to Haley for faster rules capture and management. Visit Haley's website for free access to the full report.
February 8, 2005 | Permalink
Strong Scientific Evidence of Effectiveness for Cognitive Tutor®
The What Works Clearinghouse, a project of the US Department of Education, has just completed a review of middle school mathematics curricula — and has recognized Carnegie Learning's Cognitive Tutor® as having strong scientific evidence of effectiveness. It set a high standard for what counts as evidence of effectiveness. Of over 800 submissions in the area of middle school mathematics, only two studies that showed significant positive effects were deemed to be of high enough quality to earn this distinction. Read the full report on Carnegie Learning's site.
December 16, 2004 | Permalink
Cognitive Tutor® Students Make Noted Gains
Results released from an independent study conducted during the 2002-03 school year showed that math students who used Carnegie Learning's software and text-based Cognitive Tutor® Algebra curricula in the Kent School District, made significantly higher knowledge gains than their peers who used the traditional text only curriculum. The study, led by researcher Dr. Gary Plano of Seton Hall University, involved 779 ninth grade students in seven junior high schools and one k-12 school in Kent, Washington. The results indicate that the Cognitive Tutor program produces knowledge gains for all students, most especially for students who struggle to learn English.
December 14, 2004 | Permalink
