ChemDraw gives organic chemistry coursework a boost at Manchester Metropolitan University

Organic chemistry students at Manchester Metropolitan University are starting the new term this Autumn armed with the latest ChemDraw software by PerkinElmer Informatics which will enable them to better illustrate their work with clear molecular structures. ChemDraw will also make it easier for research and teaching staff to submit their papers to academic journals, as well as collaborate with other institutions.

ChemDraw was chosen to replace an alternative drawing application, because it is easier to learn, faster to use and compatible with a wider range of databases and external websites.

Read the full case study.

Learn more about ChemDraw’s renowned, easy-to-use chemical drawing capabilities.

EndNote boosts child health

It’s probably the most famous children’s hospital in the world. Over the past 162 years Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) has saved or transformed the lives of thousands upon thousands of children. It’s also a centre of pioneering research in paediatric medicine, with an impressive record of innovation in cancer, heart and lung diseases, neuroscience, immunology and more.

As at all major research institutes, clinical researchers at GOSH use EndNote bibliographic software to locate and cite the vast literature resources in paediatric medicine. But until recently, and through a technical anomaly (researchers at GOSH actually work for a separate organisation), hands-on medical staff haven’t had the same access to EndNote except by buying an individual licence – not an affordable proposition for over 200 staff.

An interesting new case study describes how a senior librarian at GOSH, determined to provide equal access to such an essential research resource, overcame financial and organisational hurdles to ensure clinical as well as research staff are now able to use EndNote via a site licence. That means they’re able to keep abreast of all the latest literature, therapies and techniques – and the ultimate beneficiaries are, of course, the children they treat.

GRAMS helps to authenticate art for BBC’s Fake or Fortune

In 1992, Martin Lang bought what he thought was an original nude watercolour said to be painted from 1909-10 by Russian-born, modernist artist Marc Chagall. Authenticity tests carried out by experts for BBC One’s Fake or Fortune programme (broadcast on 2nd February 2014) proved that the painting was in fact a fake. They used Thermo Scientific GRAMS spectroscopy software to identify the pigment used in the painting, which turned out to be Phthalocyanine Blue. This type of colourant was only invented after the 1930s. That meant the watercolour couldn’t possibly have been painted around 1909. Check out the related story on the BBC Entertainment & Arts website.

This isn’t the first instance we’ve heard where GRAMS spectroscopy software has proven useful in the world of art conservation. Gus Shurvell, a Professor in the Art Conservation Program at Queen’s University, Ontario, also uses GRAMS for spectroscopic and chemical analysis of art and archeological artefacts. Its particularly useful for comparing spectra recorded in the laboratory with spectra contained in databases of reference spectra. You can read the full case study here.

Adept’s AIBO Robotic dogs rehomed at The National Museum of Computing

Adept Scientific recently donated two Sony AIBO dogs to The National Museum of Computing at Bletchly Park – home of the World’s first electronic computer. They might be just 14 years old, but that’s positively antique in computing technology terms! Named Spot and Rex, these cyber canines caused quite a stir when they were first bought in the summer of 1999 and became ‘office pets’ at the Adept Letchworth HQ. The interactive, ball-playing, tail-wagging, leg-cocking digital doggy duo were featured regularly on television and in the press at the time because they used state-of-the-art AI technology. There were only 5000 first generation AIBO dogs ever made and they went on sale only in the US and Japan. That makes them quite a rarity in the UK. Hence, they’re taking pride of place in the museum’s robotics display surrounded by a collage of press cuttings that any celebrity would be proud of.

Though Spot was mechanically complete, it didn’t actually work. Rex, on the other hand, still functioned but with a few glitches like an ‘arthritic’ leg and ‘Sleep Head Syndrome’ where he goes into sleep mode and won’t reactivate. The Museum team solved the limb issue by swapping one of Spot’s legs with Rex’s, though the sudden napping needs manual override using the sleep button on the front.

Rex gets the chance to show off to visitors occsionally under close supervision on special museum days and events like the recent visit from Doctor Who’s K9 (see photo) and he’s a big hit with the children who are interigued by his interactive antics.

If you’re passing Bletchley Park, why not pop in for a visit?
Refer to the Museum’s website for opening times and more information

Picture shows George the Robot (made by the late Tony Sale), K9 and the two Aibo's sitting guard.
Picture shows George the Robot (made by the late Tony Sale), K9 and the two Aibo’s sitting guard.

 

 

One purchase buys you EndNote X7.4.4 on both the Windows & Mac platforms

 

This week saw the release of EndNote X7.4 on the Mac, delivering the research tools you need, regardless of whether you’re working on a Windows or Macintosh machine! Your EndNote X7.4 product key allows you to install EndNote on multiple computers without having to purchase separate versions – one single-user licence allows installations on three computers, regardless of platform (2 Windows and 1 Mac or 2 Mac and 1 Windows). This also applies to student and upgrade purchases.

And don’t forget, your purchase of the EndNote desktop software also includes access to EndNote online with 5GB of file storage, unlimited reference storage and group sharing. Once you install your software, you’ll need to register at my.endnote.com.

That’s one comprehensive research toolkit, chock-full of functionality and flexible enough to fit the way you work exactly!

Find out more about the Windows and Mac exclusive new features for EndNote X7.4

Try out EndNote X7.4 on both platforms to see what your single-user licence purchase buys you. Upgrades start from just £75 or buy from new from £159

Prices are for single-user downloadable versions excluding VAT and correct at the time this article was published.

New Script module means more flexibility for DASYLab users

Want to know which new feature stands out in the latest version 13 release of DASYLab – the easy-to-use software for configuring and controlling custom DAQ and analysis applications? If she had to choose from the extensive enhancements, CJ Butler, DASYLab Product Marketing Manager at Measurement Computing, believes the new Script module is the most important, most useful new addition to DASYLab’s toolset.

She said, “The script module addresses a number of instances where DASYLab functions don’t quite do what’s required or a new driver, computation or file type is needed. For example, several years ago, one of our customers needed a very specific, very proprietary computation and so they hired a C programmer to create a module for them using the Extension toolkit. Now with the introduction of the new Script module, it’s very likely they would have been able to use the Python script language to create the module themselves. It would have been faster, cheaper and could have been done in-house. These guys already use Python in a number of other areas. This customer is now looking at the Script module and Python to customise a PID function.”

She goes on to say, “What kinds of things will you be able to do with Python? I wrote a driver as part of the learning and testing process. I had a serial port device that was too complex for the RS232 module, and provided ActiveX/Com objects for developers. It was pretty easy to set up a module that found and initialised the device, programmed it, and then acquired all available data from it at 20-30 samples per second. MeasX has done a number of drivers using the Script functions and the DASYLab IVI modules are all created using the Script functions.”

CJ then tells us about an ongoing project. She explains, “I’ve been working on two Script modules. The first is a supplement for customers with worksheets that use the DDE Out module to send data to Microsoft Excel. It looks for and opens the target Excel workbook before the measurement starts, so that it is ready for the DDE Out. The second takes the thought a step further. Using the Example from the Help, I added the workbook logic that I’d done for the first, and created a Script that would open or create an Excel workbook, create a new sheet and then log data to it.”

The new Script module looks set to open up DASYLab usage for both end users and resellers by enabling them to enhance and extend DASYLab beyond the out-of-the-box release. The ability to export and package it as a standard module secures their intellectual property and allows them to sell or share it without the code. The possibilities are immense, and DASYLab’s developers are really hoping users will take advantage of this new feature!

DASYLab customers who want to share (or sell) their new scripts or modules on the DASYLAB website should email info@dasylab.com.

Disclaimer – the Script module cannot do everything. If you need a new Display module, for example, you will still need to use the Extension Toolkit.

Ever-evolving EndNote notches up another nifty release

You’d think an established product like EndNote might have run out of ‘development’ steam by version 17, but the World’s most popular, most comprehensive reference managing tool doesn’t show any sign of staying still. Quite the contrary! With customers needs changing all the time and mobile technology opening up new possibilities in accessing, building and sharing research around the clock, across the globe, it seems there’s no limit to EndNote’s growth!

In this latest release, EndNote X7.4 fulfils several requirements identified by users. Now users can organise their bibliography in Microsoft Word with subheadings for different categories, as well as insert and edit citations, and generate a bibliography in PowerPoint (Windows only). PDF capture and management is easier thanks to a new Auto Import folder. This works in the background to create references from your PDFs, then store them in auto smart groups so they’re easy to track. In addition, you now have the ability to define a PDF naming convention for easier identification of attachments.

There are numerous other tweaks and improvements throughout the software to streamline the research workflow, automate and simplify syncing between web, desktop and mobile libraries and extend EndNote’s citing, writing and reference managing capabilities.

You can visit our EndNote web pages to read more about the latest version, but the real proof of the pudding is in the eating, so why not download a free 30-day demo for Windows here and put the software to the test?

Referencing round every corner on National Libraries Day

Tomorrow, 9th February is National Libraries Day! So while you’re celebrating your local library and the library staff who strive to connect you with the information you need, why not check out two new tools from Thomson Reuters that streamline research and provide referencing tools wherever your discoveries happen – in the library or on the go. We’re talking about the eagerly anticipated EndNote iPad app and a new free RefScan iPhone app.

The EndNote iPad app enables EndNote X6 users to easily find and import references from online databases into their EndNote library, then use the EndNoteSync capability to update, manage, share and synchronise their references in EndNote desktop and EndNote Web with just one click. Find out more, buy and download now!

Thomson Reuters’ RefScan app lets users simply search for published material on their iPhone or scan the DOIs from printed documents to quickly look up in Web of Knowledge. Then they can store their findings in their own free, password-protected library in EndNote Web to retrieve anytime, anywhere with internet access. Find out more and download free now.