Thursday, December 27, 2012
The Home Test Lab - A Quick Guide to Homemade Science
If you are planning on doing experiments in your private time, you should have a home test lab. While this may seem odd to many people, if you are passionate about science then you will find all sorts of uses for one. There is no end to the experiments you can do at home. Whether science is your hobby or you need a lab for tutoring in, there are some things you need to take into consideration before you launch into setting it up.
One of the first things is the cost of setting the lab up and the budget you have to work with. You will need tables, burners, and lots of containers such as glass beakers. While this doesn't have to be very expensive, it will require some start up capitol. If your funds are limited, prioritize what you need and buy your equipment in batches instead of all at once.
Something else to take into consideration is where you are going to set up your home test lab. This also doesn't have to be fancy, but it does need to be suited to your needs. You shouldn't set it up somewhere that is going to be in the way of others, such as in a main bathroom. It should also be far enough from living areas that if you create fumes they won't bother anyone.
If you can get electricity and running water to the area, this is prime. But you don't have to have these in order to see success with your home lab. Just be sure that you have a chemical sink that drains into a jug so you can properly dispose of used chemicals. Many people use attics, cellars and basements, spare bathrooms, and sheds for their labs. The important thing is that the space is roomy enough for you and well ventilated.
Whatever space you choose, make sure it has room for at least one decent sized table. This way you have somewhere to set up burners and holding racks. You may want to think about getting a metal or wood table since these are unlikely to melt, and chemicals are less likely to erode them.
Also make sure you can put up some large, study shelves. This way your table doesn't have to be covered in glass beakers, burners, chemical containers, or anything else that you aren't using right then. There should be a shelf for your clean containers, another shelf to organize your materials on, and potentially another shelf for items that need to be washed.
Once you know you have a suitable space for working in, you can start buying your supplies. Get the right burner for your setting, whether that be gas or electric. There are also alcohol burners you can get if you don't have electricity or gas available to you. Also get plenty of glass beakers, test tubes, and stirring sticks. Glass is recommended since it won't hold onto chemicals like plastic and won't erode. Finally, make sure you have some cooling plates to set your projects on.
By choosing the right space and buying quality supplies, you will be able to set yourself up with a great home test lab that you will be able to enjoy for years. Over time you will also figure out what you need to add to make your lab perfect.
NovaTech International provides more information on Glass Beakers and other lab equipment.
Test Lab in a Box
Test labs: we know that we need them. But getting one off the ground can seem an insurmountable task! So to help you roll up your sleeves and get started, here is a summary of how we set up test labs for our customers, plus some practical ideas to help you get the most out of your test lab after it is up and running!
Hardware: In previous years, getting approval to set up a test environment was tough due to the number of devices and the class of hardware that were needed. As hardware has improved and virtualization technology has moved forward, we can now build a test lab using a single workstation!
When I set up a test lab for customers who are involved with developing application objects, both traditional and virtual, I recommend that, if possible, they dedicate a machine to the task. For customers who are testing servers, new applications, or a new operating system, setting up virtual machines on their personal workstations is a great option (particularly if they have a laptop). They can then work on the testing environment whenever they have time. Either way, here are some recommendations:
* Make sure the hardware is relatively new. While it is tempting to re-purpose an older machine, you will quickly become frustrated if you don't have enough RAM or disk space.
* Put as much RAM possible into the machine. Most testing can be done on machines with 4G of RAM. However, keep in mind that for testing products like ZCM, you may need even more. My dedicated test machine has 8G of RAM, a 1TB hard drive, and runs Windows XP 64 bit.
* Purchase an inexpensive external drive. This is great for moving, sharing, and storing your virtual machine library. You can also use it for backup. Just be sure that you do a backup of this environment periodically, for obvious reasons!
Software: There are lots of free products out there to use when creating virtual machines. Of course, some are better than others. While it is tempting to use free products, you may quickly become frustrated with their limitations. Paid-for-products have features like unlimited snapshots and cloning. Be sure to check the software licensing particulars when creating clones to be sure that you are in compliance.
Virtual Machine Use: Here are just a few of the many ways you can use your virtual test lab!
* Application Development: First, create a Windows Application Development virtual machine that just contains the base OS with patches and any application development tools needed, and take a snapshot. Then, for each application you develop, return to the original snapshot, develop the app and take a new snapshot. This creates a library of snapshots that you can return to when patching or adjusting settings for a given app.
* Application Testing: You can also create a second VM with just the base OS, patches, antivirus, Novell client, ZEN agent, etc., for testing the applications. Be sure to take a base snapshot so that you can return to it after each test. (You don't need to keep a snapshot of the app tests: just the base.) Whether you are developing virtualized applications or MSIs with AdminStudio, this environment will serve you well.
* Pre-migration Testing: Set up one or multiple servers to mimic a production environment. Again, take a snapshot prior to making any changes. Then test the migration you are planning, such as upgrading GroupWise, migrating to OES Linux, etc. By keeping a library of base virtual machines, the sky is the limit on the types of testing you can do.
* Teaching, Training, and Demos: Keep a library of virtual machines on an external drive. This gives you a great way to quickly set up for classes or provide a product demo for your staff or end-users. For example, you can do a lunch and learn to show your user community GroupWise tips and tricks, get your techs up to speed on ZCM, or present new software to management to show off its capabilities.
Virtualization software has become a must-have tool in our consulting practice. Hopefully the ideas presented above will give you just the encouragement you needed to get started!
Donna Moyer is Principal/Senior Network Consultant of Uptime NetManagement, Inc. - http://www.uptimenmi.com/. Uptime is a Novell Gold Solutions partner providing technology solutions, customized training, and consulting services. If you are interested in finding out exactly what Novell can do for your business, or are seeking to maximize the benefits from your current Novell systems, call us today at 610-621-1244!
DNA Testing Labs - Get Your Paternity Test Online
DNA testing is now available from labs which offer their services online.
Most people who use these labs are interested in paternity - to confirm for their own satisfaction, or for legal purposes, who is the father of a particular child.
How does this work? The process is now very simple and very quick. First, you would request a testing kit from an online DNA service. There are two kinds of kits to choose from. One is to be used for your own peace of mind in confirming the father of the child; the other is for use in child custody or child support cases, or for use as evidence in a court of law.
When the test kit arrives, take a swab from the inside cheek of the child. Take another swab from the inside cheek of the alleged father.
Then you simply send the two samples back to the lab.
In 3-5 days you have your results by phone, mail and email.
What about the accuracy of the results? Accredited testing labs will be able to guarantee that results are 100% accurate for negative tests (proving that the alleged father is not the actual father) and 99% accurate for positive tests (the alleged father is the actual father). For your own safety, you should ensure that the service you use is ISO accredited.
What about discreet paternity testing? Some mothers or possible fathers may wish a test to be done without anyone knowing about it except themselves. Some online services also offer services which are called 'discreet' testing. In this case, cheek swabs are not used, but you send items from which DNA can be extracted.
These items could be nail clippings, dried blood, chewed gum, cigarette butts, underwear, a sweaty t-shirt or even ear wax.
Another kind of paternity test is the prenatal DNA test. This will confirm the paternity of the child before it is even born. This involves testing cells which are taking from the amniotic fluid (and has to be done by a medical professional). Testing has to be done between week 10 and week 21 of the pregnancy.
DNA paternity testing can also be done to establish legal residency and citizenship, and for visa applications. The top services online work with the Immigration and Naturalization Service and with you to provide the legal proof of paternity which is required.
If you want to read the full details about all of these paternity tests, and where to find a reliable and accredited DNA testing lab, check our dedicated page at www.kintraw.com/dna-testing-labs.htm.
Scott Kintraw writes about all the ways the Internet can make your life easier.
The Best Pharmaceutical Testing Labs
Pharmaceutical testing labs make their importance known in every pill someone swallows, every powder a person mixes in water to combat their throbbing headache, and each injection of insulin a diabetic trusts to regulate their blood sugar. The public puts their faith in pharmaceutical testing labs to screen the harmful from the safe, and expects that every medicinal treatment has been carefully monitored to eliminate potential hazards. Simply put, pharmaceutical testing labs make it possible for the public to medicate without fear. The best of the best offer a full-scale catalogue of services. Some of these include:
- Raw material testing - Before the pharmaceutical is formulated, it is helpful to test the raw materials to ensure that each one is of high quality. These raw materials work in synergy with each other to make a pharmaceutical that can alleviate a symptom or symptoms, and by making sure each one is of the best quality possible, the highest results can be expected from the finished product.
- Content uniformity - Just as with any recipe, pharmaceutical ingredients are required in different quantities in order to achieve a uniform final product. Content uniformity testing ensures that the balance of these quantities remains the same, every time. This ensures a consistent product.
- Disintegration and dissolution - Very important especially in the realm of oral medications, disintegrations and dissolution play a huge part in determining how quickly medicine is absorbed by the human body. To learn timeframes of disintegration and dissolution, pharmaceutical makers contract with pharmaceutical testing labs to learn how quickly their medications will disintegrate and dissolve.
- Impurity characterization - If any impurities are suspected, they need to be identified and their health risks considered.
- Method validation - The method in which the pharmaceutical is made must be proven to be consistent and effective. If any tweaks need to be made, they must be identified and fixed before consistent approval can be expected.
- Testing of final product - Perhaps the most important step of the testing process is the testing of the final product, which results in the proverbial thumbs-up or thumbs-down. The bet pharmaceutical testing labs understand the necessity of looking at the product as a whole before it is released into the marketplace.
The best pharmaceutical labs look at each element of a pharmaceutical. With every medication that delivers upon its promise of pain relief or treatment, pharmaceutical labs continue their reign as important keepers of the public's health treatment.
The author of this article has expertise in pharmaceutical testing labs. The articles on chemical testing labs reveals the author's knowledge on the same.
What Takes Place at Device Test Labs
Device testing involves ensuring the quality and/or interoperability of a product. In order for devices to achieve certification from a company or standards organization, the device must pass compliance tests, which ensure it will work with other certified products. Nearly all companies require conforming one's product to stated specifications and protocols to ensure compatibility with products from other manufacturers. Test procedures for ensuring compatibility are developed in partnership with the industry leaders and standards organizations which guide enabling technology. Examples of those standards organizations range from Bluetooth technology to USB to Wi-Fi technologies.
Standards Compliance
Most compliance testing is the product of standards organizations that create test specifications and logo certification guidelines to ensure accuracy and fairness for all product developers. Standards organizations are of the utmost importance throughout the product certification process. Standards compliance groups consist of at least two individuals, companies or organizations coming together to advance a technology.
Common standards compliance tests include USB testing, PCI testing, SATA testing and Wi-Fi testing. Having the device tested at a third-part test lab offers an unbiased, accurate and private testing solution. Testing facilities are driven by the interest of member companies, and as the technologies progress, so do the tests that are offered.
Testing Labs
Device test labs offer test and measurement and can benefit developers in various product life cycle stages. Using a third party test lab offers neutrality and often offers cutting-edge testing methods. A benefit of using a test lab is that a trending problem can be observed and addressed. Testing labs provide valuable feedback to the developers creating the products and the consortia creating the standards. It is generally cost effective to work with a test lab, as developing an in-house test lab requires costly equipment that requires frequent updating and dedicated staff proficient in device testing.
Labs can typically test for interoperability and conformance. Interoperability and conformance are often used interchangeably; however, there is a slight difference between the two terms. Interoperability illustrates that current devices can work together while conformance adds confidence that future devices will also work.
Look beyond the general scope of a test lab's capabilities and consider discussing customized solutions to meet company or organization needs. As with any company offering a service, a test facility is only as strong as its project and engineering team. Be sure to work with specifically trained test engineers who have knowledge of your technology to attain quality performance and satisfaction.
The Device Testing Process
During the product development stage, having access to the most affordable and competitive testing fixtures will improve work efficiency for product development. For example, for the PCI Express test, there are specific device test tools designed for PCI testing. These types of testing tools are user friendly and can be as simple as plugging the PCI card directly into the motherboard for testing.
In the initial stage of testing, the client works with the test lab to agree on testing methods, timing and project scope. Client communications should be open and frequent, and all results, configurations and bugs should be recorded confidentially. Testing can be conducted for both device hardware and software.
Debugging
In early stages of product development, it is necessary to find and fix defects in the device to allow it to perform as it should. Debugging can be a complex process in systems with components that are highly reliant on each other. Combating one bug can lead to bugs emerging elsewhere. Consulting with an engineer with debugging skills is valuable to the product developer.
Debuggers are testing tools that enable the test lab to monitor the execution of a program, stop-it, re-start it, change memory values and in some cases, go backward in time. To debug electronic hardware such as computer hardware, low-level software and firmware, automated testing tools like oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, in-circuit emulators (ICEs), generators and programmable temperature and humidity chambers are used.
Test Cycle Completion
Upon completion of the test cycle, the developer should expect a comprehensive summary report. Before information is captured in a database, it should be reviewed and approved by the testing lead and/or project manager under strict security control.
Once a device reaches all benchmarks and passes all checkpoints, certification can be established. Whether testing a desktop computer, notebook, multi-media device, wireless device, storage product, peripheral or software application, working with a trusted third party test lab throughout product development ensures quality testing and moves the product along through the development cycle.
Logo Programs
Adding a certified logo to a product provides consumers with confidence that the product will function as it should. A product can be perceived as more valuable when it bears a logo, as testing is typically required for logo use. New technologies require educating the industry leaders, retailers and consumers about the value of the logo.
~Ben Anton, 2009
Ben Anton is a frequent writer for Allion Test Labs.
Testing tools for USB PCI, SATA, HDMI and more are available from Allion Test Labs, a television and device test lab located in the U.S. and around the world.