Med Associates and Noldus Announce Collaboration

www.noldus.com

Med Associates and Noldus signed into effect an agreement that allows Med Associates to offer Noldus Ethovision XT software as a video tracking solution with our mazes and arenas. In addition, Noldus will offer Med Associates mazes and arenas in conjunction with Ethovision XT software. Med Associates will be able to provide technical support to our customers, and this combination of Med Associates mazes and arenas with Noldus Ethovision XT software will be available worldwide from Med Associates, Noldus, or our respective representatives.

The management team at Med Associates reflected on this recent agreement. “Med Associates is looking forward to a strong relationship with Noldus. Med Associates is a recognized leader in animal test equipment, such as mazes, arenas, and other behavioral test apparatuses. Noldus is a recognized leader in tracking software. We feel the combination of Med Associates mazes and arenas with Noldus tracking software, such as Ethovision XT, represents a powerful solution for researchers desiring the best hardware and software available. Med Associates is pleased to offer Ethovision XT software as a video tracking solution in combination with our Elevated Plus Mazes, Zero Mazes, T-Mazes, Radial Arm Mazes, Barnes Mazes, Open Field Arenas and Home Cages, and Forced Swim Test, ” Karl Zurn, Founder of Med Associates and Chairman of the Board, Bridget Zurn, President of Med Associates, and Gerry Herrera, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Development at Med Associates.

Lucas Noldus, Ph.D., Founder and President of Noldus Information Technology, commented “We are very pleased with this agreement with Med Associates, who are internationally recognized for their high-quality test equipment. Through our collaboration, we can now offer our worldwide customers integrated measurement and analysis solutions for behavioral neuroscience.”

Please contact Sales if you are interested in a Noldus Ethovision XT, Med Associates maze set-up. •

2000th MED-PC License Issued in 2009
This year marks a significant milestone in the history of Med Associates Inc., and our Industry Standard MED-PC® behavioral instrumentation control software. We are pleased to announce the issuance of the 2000th MED-PC® user license this year.

Although some manufacturers may try, it is difficult to compare any other system to MED-PC®. MED-PC® is the only commercially available software for behavioral experiment control that allows running of multiple, simultaneous, concurrent schedules. This is due to the structure of our state language, MedState Notation™, which was designed specifically for controlling behavioral research instrumentation. Having stood the test of time, MedState Notation™ continues to be the choice of more laboratories than any other behavioral control language. It provides a precise documentation of behavioral procedures, serving as a permanent record of the experimental protocol. MedState Notation™ uses simple commands whose function is inherently recognizable and easy to learn (e.g., ON, OFF, SHOW, ADD, IF, and SET). Placing these commands into logically ordered text gives the user total flexibility over the
control of chamber components, stimuli, reward mechanisms, and data variables. For users who do not wish to develop their own procedures, we have many standard procedures available in turn-key packages. We can also develop custom procedures according to your specifications.

MED-PC® is the software of choice for most serious behavioral science researchers. We maintain a comprehensive database of research articles published using MED-PC® software, and citations using MED-PC® generally out number any other commercially available software. For example, a recent three year survey of all research articles published in the Journal of Experimental Analysis of Behavior (2006–2008) revealed that of the 61 articles published on studies involving animal subjects, 38 of these articles utilized MED-PC® software to control experiments and gather data. Only two articles mentioned other commercial software products. The remaining articles utilized custom or non-commercially available software, or did not use software in their experiments.

MED-PC® software continues to undergo feature design and development. We are always looking for ways to make a good thing even better. Feel free to contact Med Associates for more information, or to provide comments or suggestions. •

Zurn and Herrera Family Companies Announce Program
to Aid Researchers Obtaining Stimulus Funding
On March 5, 2009, the Zurn and Herrera Family companies sent out a letter that supports the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that is providing $8.2 billion to the National Institutes of Health for stimulating basic research. We have created special incentives for stimulus grant funding that include matching contributions and complimentary installation services. Contact Sales to discuss how you may benefit from these offers. We will do our best to provide you with timely quotes and work with you to meet your grant application needs. For more information, go to www.med-associates.com/Stimulus/email.html. •

Med Associates, Razel, and Living Systems to Exhibit at FASEB New Orleans, LA • April 18–22

Stop by our booths! Med Associates #330 Living Systems #326 Razel #328

Med Associates, Razel and Living Systems will exhibit at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology annual meeting at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Please visit our booths to check out the Med Associates updated product literature and mouse wireless running wheel. We will also have copies of the updated behavioral catalog available on CD for your convenience. Living Systems will be displaying the new dual channel self-heated vessel baths and Razel will have all pumps on display.

Please stop by our poster on Monday, April 20, 2009 during the poster session of 12:45-3:00pm for our latest research—Abstract Title: Y-27632 relaxation of carbachol-induced smooth muscle contraction in guinea pig trachea. You can locate the poster by—Abstract Number: 6760, Program Number: 781.2, Poster Board Number: D199. •

Med Associates Exhibits at EPA: Eastern Psychological Association
Pittsburgh, PA • March 6–8
This past March, Med Associates exhibited at the Eastern Psychological Association annual meeting at the Westin Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA. Thank you to the many people who stopped by our booth to discuss their current experiments and equipment needs! •

 

Click here for the Short Courses in Neuroscience
Summer 2009 Schedule.