Issues

Browse our previous issues below, or browse and search for specific features or analysis & opinion.

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February/March 2020

Feature

Making the case for cloud

24 February 2020

Robert Roe considers the latest cloud and SaaS technology, and the benefits it can provide to laboratories with today’s workflows and AI initiatives

 

Feature

Exascale efficiency

24 February 2020

European researchers have developed a framework to boost the energy efficiency of CPU, GPU and FPGA resources, writes Robert Roe

 

Laboratory Informatics Guide 2020

Feature

AI accelerates drug development pipelines

12 February 2020

For the potential for AI and machine learning methods in drug development to be realised, companies and organisations are forming partnerships to better understand and develop these technologies, writes 
Sophia Ktori

December 2019 / January 2020

Feature

Winds of change

7 January 2020

Advanced simulation tools provide a platform to develop advancements in energy generation technologies, writes Robert Roe

Feature

Data standards

6 January 2020

As the amount of data increases, organisations are looking to data standards to increase the value of data in the laboratory, writes Sophia Ktori

Feature

Energy-efficient supercomputing

6 January 2020

With a myriad of technologies available to HPC users, it is not always clear which technology provides the most energy-efficient solution for a given application, finds Robert Roe

HPC 2019-20

Feature

Processing possibilities

5 February 2020

As competition in the processor market heats up there are increasing options available to HPC users, writes Robert Roe

Feature

Exascale in Europe

5 February 2020

Robert Roe looks at the development of exascale in Europe, funded through the European Commission, its member states and industry partners

Feature

Katrin cuts neutrino mass estimate

5 February 2020

An international team of scientists that includes researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), have announced a breakthrough in research which aims to measure the mass of the neutrino

Feature

Sea of data

5 February 2020

Robert Roe explores the use of HPC storage technology in off-shore energy exploration

October/November 2019

Feature

In silico heaven

31 October 2019

Gemma Church investigates how simulation and modelling are helping expedite the development of cutting-edge medical devices

Feature

Maximising long-term value

31 October 2019

Correct storage and use of data is the key to keeping data ‘current’ and relevant in modern laboratories, writes Sophia Ktori

August/September 2019

Feature

PRACE encourages industry

1 August 2019

Robert Roe speaks with Lee Margetts, chair of PRACE’s industrial advisory committee, about its work to increase the engagement of industrial HPC users

Feature

Mapping infection

1 August 2019

Clare Sansom discusses the use of computational tools to help researchers map and treat infectious diseases

Feature

Controlling your data

1 August 2019

Sophia Ktori takes a look at technology which helps labs carefully manage and store data securely

Feature

Supporting science

1 August 2019

Robert Roe looks at HPC technologies that could enable the next generation of scientific breakthroughs

Feature

Oil Change

1 August 2019

As the world makes better use of renewable energy, the Oil and Gas market aims to use more simulation to ensure sound decision making, writes Gemma Church

Building a Smart Laboratory 2019

Feature

Specifying and Building the smart laboratory

11 February 2020

This chapter looks at how to build a smart laboratory; what approaches to take; and how to deal with potential problems. Becoming ‘smart’ takes time, not only due to the level of investment required, but also because of the impact of change and the need to consider legacy requirements.

 

Feature

Beyond the laboratory

11 February 2020

This chapter considers who cares about how smart the laboratory is, and why? It also looks at the broader business requirements and their impact on the laboratory, with an emphasis on productivity and business efficiency, integration with manufacturing and business systems, patent evidence creation, regulatory compliance, and data integrity and authenticity

Feature

Laboratory informatics tools

11 February 2020

This chapter will look at the four major laboratory informatics tools – laboratory information management systems (LIMS), electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs), laboratory execution systems (LES) and scientific data management systems (SDMS) – their differences and how they relate to each other. Each of these systems functions at or around the ‘Information’ layer (see Figure 1) and typically serves to collate data and information about the laboratory’s operations

Feature

Document management

11 February 2020

This chapter considers how the smart laboratory contributes to the requirements of a knowledge eco-system, and the practical consequences of joined-up science. Knowledge management describes the processes that bring people and information together to address the acquisition, processing, storage, use, and re-use of knowledge to develop understanding and to create value

Feature

Instrumentation

11 February 2020

This chapter will consider the different classes of instruments and computerised instrument systems to be found in laboratories and the role they play in computerised experiments and sample processing – and the steady progress towards all-electronic laboratories. 

However, the choice of best-of-breed laboratory instruments and instrument systems can present challenges when it comes to getting everything to work together in a seamless way. The final part of this chapter will look at the issue of standard data interchange formats, the extent of the challenge, and some of the initiatives to address them

 

Feature

The smart laboratory

7 February 2020

This chapter discusses what we mean by a ‘smart laboratory’ and its role in an integrated business. We also look at the development of computerised laboratory data and information management; the relationships between laboratory instruments and automation (data acquisition); laboratory informatics systems (information management); and higher-level enterprise systems and how they align with knowledge management initiatives.

Feature

Dealing with data

7 February 2020

Informatics experts share their experiences on the implementation of new technologies and managing change in the modern laboratory

Feature

An introduction to building a smart laboratory 2019

7 February 2020

This chapter serves as an introduction to this guide, Building a Smart Laboratory 2019. We hope to highlight the importance of adopting smart laboratory technology but also to guide users through some of the challenges and pitfalls when designing and implementing paperless technologies in the laboratory.

Feature

Data analytics

11 January 2020

This chapter takes the theme of knowledge management beyond document handling into the analysis and mining of data. Technology by itself is not enough – laboratory staff need to understand the output from the data analysis tools – and so data analytics must be considered holistically, starting with the design of the experiment

Feature

Summary

11 December 2019

In this guide we have attempted to coalesce much of the information required in order to design and implement as smart laboratory or, at the very least, to begin the process of laboratory automation. While it may seem like a challenging prospect, the underlying principles are simple and focused on crafting a strategy that will enable more productivity and insight to be generated from scientific research

June/July 2019

Feature

The Need for Speed

14 June 2019

Simulation and modelling increasingly expedite widespread change across the automotive industry, writes Gemma Church

Feature

Laboratory in the cloud

14 June 2019

Cloud-based informatics software is growing fast thanks to highly flexible and customisable deployment methods, writes Sophia Ktori

Feature

Storage in life sciences

14 June 2019

With data rates increasing and more complex challenges arising in life sciences, Robert Roe speaks with Panasas’ Jim Donovan and Dale Brantly about the benefits of using HPC for these workloads

Feature

Managing HPC resources

14 June 2019

As HPC systems get larger and more complex, companies are developing services and tools to help users manage their resources effectively, writes Robert Roe

Feature

Reprogrammable HPC

14 June 2019

FPGAs provide an early Insight into possibile architectural specialisation options for HPC and machine learning, writes Robert Roe

April/May 2019

Feature

Expect Exascale

14 May 2019

Robert Roe looks at advances in exascale computing and the impact of AI on HPC development

Feature

The imperfect storm

1 April 2019

Gemma Church investigates modelling and simulation tools required for accurate weather prediction

February/March 2019

Feature

Learn to fly

1 February 2019

Gemma Church looks at modelling and simulation software in the aerospace industry

Feature

Life and LIMS

4 January 2019

Sophia Ktori speaks to laboratory informatics experts about the development of Laboratory Information Management SYSTEM

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