Animal pregnancy tests get boost

A Moscow, Idaho-based diagnostic test company has received a $150,000 federal grant to study the use of nano particles in pregnancy blood tests for animals.

The money comes in a small business innovation research grant to BioTracking LLC, a 14-person company that provides 24-hour turnaround pregnancy tests for cattle and other ruminants.

The grant lets BioTracking test the use of nanosprings, very small particles developed by another Moscow company, GoNano Technologies.

Nanosprings are being introduced into more biological and chemical applications because they offer an expanded, large surface area tucked into tiny curled materials. Some compare nanosprings to tiny, intricately twisted phone cords.

Alex Sasser, the associate executive officer of BioTracking, said the grant will determine how to adapt the pregnancy test to a wider range of options, including virus tests, microbial tests and other options. Another result could be shortening the result time from 24 hours to one hour, said Larry Branen, BioTracking’s strategic officer.

Tom Sowa

Merkel, Sarkozy push discipline

PARIS – The leaders of France and Germany called Tuesday for greater economic discipline and unity among European nations but declined to take immediate financial measures seen by many investors as the only way to halt the continent’s spiraling debt crisis.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell, the euro slid against the dollar and key European markets edged down in off-hour trading after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced the results of their emergency talks in Paris.

Sarkozy called for a “new economic government” for Europe that would meet at least twice a year with European Union President Herman Van Rompuy as its head, but he offered few other details or indications that the body would have real power.

Merkel and Sarkozy also called for all euro zone nations to enact constitutional amendments requiring balanced budgets.

Associated Press