Development and Use of a Virtual NMR Facility

Keating, Kelly A.; Myers, James D.; Bair, Raymond A.; Wemmer, David E.; Ellis, Paul D.

doi:10.1006/jmre.1999.1974

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Although there are some limits to what can be accomplished over the internet -mechanical functions such as sample insertion must be performed by local scientists -manipulation of the NMR software and communication with collaborators can be done securely and in real time using desktop computers and standard academic networks [3].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Expanding your laboratory by accessing collaboratory resources

et al. 2004

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

is the home of a research facility set up by the United States Department of Energy (DOE). The facility is atypical because it houses over 100 cuttingedge research systems for the use of researchers all over the United States and the world. Access to the lab is requested through a peer-review proposal process and the scientists who use the facility are generally referred to as "users" [1]. There are six main research facilities housed in the EMSL, all of which host visiting researchers. Several of these facilities also participate in the EMSL collaboratory, a remote-access capability supported by EMSL operations funds. Of these, the High-Field Magnetic Resonance Facility (HFMRF) and Molecular Science Computing Facility (MSCF) have a significant number of their users performing remote work. The HFMRF in the EMSL currently houses 12 NMR spectrometers that range in magnet field strength from 7.05 to 21.1 T. Staff associated with the NMR facility offer scientific expertise in the areas of structural biology, solid-state materials/catalyst characterization, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. The way in which the HFMRF operates, with a high level of dedication to remote operation across the full suite of high-field NMR spectrometers, has earned it the name "Virtual NMR Facility". This review will focus on the operational aspects of remote research done in the HighField Magnetic Resonance Facility [2] and the computer tools that make remote experiments possible. It is our hope that our model will serve as a general example for other laboratories considering the use of remote access to their resources.The suite of tools for computer-supported cooperative work used at the EMSL enables researchers to set the controls of the spectrometer, execute NMR experiments, acquire data, analyze results and communicate with other researchers, all without leaving their home institutions or offices. Although there are some limits to what can be accomplished over the internet -mechanical functions such as sample insertion must be performed by local scientists -manipulation of the NMR software and communication with collaborators can be done securely and in real time using desktop computers and standard academic networks [3].Remote collaboration is supported as an option in many of the standard EMSL user support processes. Web forms for submitting proposals to use EMSL facilities include check boxes to indicate a request for remote operation. When a proposal is accepted users must register and take the standard EMSL online computer training to obtain access to instrument computers and the EMSL network. When training requirements are met remote users are given an account on a VNC (virtual network computing) [4] server computer. This VNC server acts as a launching pad to instrument-control computers in the laboratory. For those not familiar with VNC this is an OpenSource software application that enables remote computer control, sending the computer display to the remote site and accepting remote keyboard and mouse input. VNC ...

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Expanding your laboratory by accessing collaboratory resources

et al. 2004

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Most universities today have reliable broadband connections so that real-time Internet-mediated control is feasible. Such a facility will also allow expensive physical hardware to be shared among different institutions and permit collaborative teaching and research [6]. Advances in networking and improving hardware speeds have led to increasing research in real-time control over the Internet [7], [8].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

An Internet-mediated process control laboratory

Srinivasagupta

Joseph

2003

IEEE Control Syst.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A lthough realistic simulations can provide valuable experience for the student learning control theory, the importance of actual laboratory experiments cannot be overestimated. Real experiments bring with them valuable lessons on the effects of noise, control constraints, nonlinear effects, and time-varying parameters on control system performance. Visual feedback is also important. Due to a variety of factors, however, sometimes it is difficult to provide this experience in a traditional course. This article presents an alternative way to provide such experience using a different delivery mechanism.Two laboratory-scale experiments have been developed that can be executed safely over the Internet. Remote access is within a client-server paradigm. Servers connected to the processes through the usual data acquisition hardware address issues regarding safety, security, data validation, and session management. A unique feature of the lab is the ability for the student to design, test, and verify control strategies in real time over the Internet. Necessary interlocks and cutoffs ensure safe remote operation of the units. Studies have shown that network speeds are not a significant concern for these systems due to slow process dynamics. The availability of Internetmediated laboratory modules on an anytime/anywhere basis will enable a larger fraction of the class to get valuable laboratory experience. These experiments have also been used in an Internet-wired classroom for interactive demonstrations during lecture.A real-time Internet-mediated laboratory has several useful pedagogic features. The teacher can assign laboratory exercises as homework; the laboratory can be run any time from anywhere. As network bandwidth increases in the future with the widespread availability of broadband, this laboratory can be extended to provide live video and audio transmission and can serve as a useful classroom tool and facilitate distance learning. So far, most of the initiatives on Web-based education have been restricted to course content delivery and testing (see [1]-[3]) or virtual laboratories [4]. There have been relatively few real-time laboratories (see [5]) (and even fewer process control laboratories) accessible over the Internet due to concerns about bandwidth requirements, quality of network service, robustness, safety, and security. The real-time laboratories often rely on proprietary solutions and tend to be somewhat inflexible. Our objective is to address some of these concerns and help others who are engaged in similar efforts. Most universities today have reliable broadband connections so that real-time Internet-mediated control is feasible. Such a facility will also allow expensive physical hardware to be shared among different institutions and permit collaborative teaching and research [6]. Advances in networking and improving hardware speeds have led to increasing research in real-time control over the Internet [7], [8].The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has an online process control laboratory at http:...

show abstract

“…The Virtual Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility provides online Internet access to these spectrometers [4]. The VNMRF and its suite of tools for computer-supported cooperative work allow researchers to collaboratively set the controls of the spectrometers, execute NMR experiments, acquire data, analyze results,and communicate with other researchers, all without leaving their home institutions or offices (see Figure 1).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Social networks in the virtual science laboratory

2002

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Field Magnetic Resonance Facility houses 11 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers. The Virtual Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility provides online Internet access to these spectrometers [4]. The VNMRF and its suite of tools for computer-supported cooperative work allow researchers to collaboratively set the controls of the spectrometers, execute NMR experiments, acquire data, analyze results,and communicate with other researchers, all without leaving their home institutions or offices (see Figure 1). Figure 3. (a) An HFMRF consultant's research network; (b) mappings among the consultant's research network (bottom layer), assigned user group (middle layer), and active research collaborations (top layer).

show abstract

Development and Use of a Virtual NMR Facility

Cited by 10 publications

References 14 publications

Expanding your laboratory by accessing collaboratory resources

Expanding your laboratory by accessing collaboratory resources

An Internet-mediated process control laboratory

Social networks in the virtual science laboratory

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About