OPERA-2d and OPERA-3d for Electromagnetic Simulation

Opera is an electromagnetic simulation tool from 'Vector Fields', a company specialized in producing advanced software for modeling and analyzing electromagnetic equipment and effects. Opera provides the complete toolchain for electromagnetic design, simulation and analysis of results, for use on 32- or 64-bit Windows and Linux platforms. It consists of a powerful pre-processing environment for creating design models (or importing them from CAD programs), plus a powerful finite element analysis (FEA) solver. Its latest version no. 12 features improved model parametrization and scripting capabilities to accelerate the virtual prototyping of electromagnetic equipment.

The software is available in versions for both 2D and 3D modelling, along with an optional optimization tool. Application-specific solvers are also available for design work involving rotating machinery, superconducting magnets, particle beams, dielectric insulation, and magnetisation/demagnetisation processes. Component or system models can be imported from CAD programs, or generated using a built-in geometric modeller.

The software includes many time saving features, including macros that automate common tasks, and a new tool that allows users to replay and modify existing models. Adaptive FEA meshing allows users to employ the most efficient resolution for the accuracy of solution required.

Both OPERA-2d and -3d offer powerful features including: Automatic Finite Element Mesh Generation; NonLinear and Anisotropic Materials; Coupling to external circuits; Powerful Post-Processing including ability to compute energy and power, force and torque, contour maps of any variable, harmonics analysis and particle trajectories; Environment for parametrization and creating custom menus. OPERA-3d offers a few other powerful features including: A fully featured geometric modeler with an easy-to-use interface, including De-featuring and healing capabilities and CAD import and export facilities.

Opera also includes a purpose-designed post-processor that simplifies the analysis of results from simulations. Numerous functions are available to prepare and display electromagnetic quantities and results in different format and units that would be suitable for the user. The optimization module incorporates a number of algorithmic techniques including stochastic, descent, Pareto and Kriging to improve complex designs involving many degrees of freedom.

Related links: OPERA-2d, OPERA-3d

Progenesis SameSpots V2.0

Nonlinear Dynamics Ltd is a UK company based in Newcastle upon Tyne. The company develops innovative products for solving problems in proteomics, genomics, biomarker discovery and clinical diagnostics. The Company's product portfolio comprises high-quality analysis and data mining tools for 1D and 2D electrophoresis gels and microarrays, the core technologies of genomics and proteomics.

The company's product 'Progenesis' is the 2D image analysis solutions for the scientist who requires an in-depth view of their proteomics experiments to drive their research. 'Progenesis SameSpots' enhances the analysis workflow with significant improvements in speed, objectivity and statistical power.

The software helps the analysis of 2D single stain and DIGE images for proteomics research. The unique image alignment of SameSpots offers users a streamlined, faster 2D workflow, largely through the elimination post analysis editing. This significantly speeds up the 2D analysis process and reduces the subjectivity of user-operated editing. The SameSpots approach also provides increased statistical power, which generates reliable results that can be used with confidence.

The company announced yesterday that the Japanese National Cancer Research Institute is using 'Progenesis SameSpots' to identify biomarker candidates that could predict the efficacy of chemotherapy for patients of lung cancer. The new technology has quickly shown its value. Dr. Kondo and his group are identifying biomarker candidates for prediction of response to the chemotherapy (gefitinib, Iressa) in lung adenocarcinoma using Progenesis SameSpots. This is important research because in Japan, while the incidence of stomach cancer is decreasing those of lung, colorectal and breast cancers are increasing.

Dr Kondo, who is leading the group, said: "In clinical proteome research, many samples must be analyzed because of individual differences. We are currently running more than 1500 2D-DIGE gels per year. Progenesis SameSpots accurately analyzes such large gel numbers in a very short period. We also need to use data-mining tools effectively, which makes matching very important. Progenesis SameSpots generates good data for data-mining study."

A trial version of Progenesis SameSpot can be downloaded from: http://www.samespots.com/try_it.asp.

Other Links: Nonlinear Dynamics, National Cancer Research Institute,