NEWS BRIEFS

Chicago, ILL. — MIICRO, Inc. has agreed to purchase a parallel computing cluster based on PowerPC microprocessors from Terra Soft Solutions, Inc., Loveland, CO. Parallel processing refers to the concept of speeding-up the execution of a software program by dividing the program into multiple fragments that can execute simultaneously across multiple computers.

MIICRO will use this high-speed computing environment to advance the development of its neuroinformatics services, namely the rapid screening of central nervous system (CNS) compounds and the development of high-speed image analysis tools. “Our ability to rapidly analyze our CNS drug effect profiles in various ways, in conjunction with other analyses and other modalities, from a single point, will provide valuable new insights as well as better bio-measurement tools for CNS drug development,” said Declan Cooper, Vice President of Technology for MIICRO.

Terra Soft is the leading developer of Linux solutions for PowerPC microprocessors. The company recently announced the offering of “Lab Rack,” which is based on eight iMac logic boards acting as one supercomputer. It is portable, and has Terra Soft’s Black Lab Linux operating system installed and configured for parallel software development.

“We recognized the need for a powerful, light weight, Black Lab Linux cluster that could literally be wheeled from room to room in a laboratory, school, or code development environment,” stated Kai Staats, CEO of Terra Soft Solutions. “Parallel code development can be a bit tricky, and it is often comforting to have the entire cluster next to your desk. Our clusters will help developers get their feet wet with PowerPC Linux clusters,” said Staats.

“Linux continues to have a vital role in the development of MIICRO’s commercial services and intellectual property,” said Cooper. “Lab Rack will play an important part in advancing and broadening the scope of our product offerings,” he concludes.

MIICRO, Inc. is a privately held imaging technology company. The company’s core technology, OMEI PET, utilizes positron emission tomography to evaluate drug effects on the brain’s metabolism of glucose. The OMEI technique can provide rational arbiters for decision-making and trial design, limit risk, and shorten the “time to market” for new pharmaceuticals. For more information, please visit http://www.miicro.com / .

Terra Soft Solutions, Inc. is a leading developer of innovative technologies for PowerPC Linux. Black Lab Linux provides an advanced Linux distribution for development, parallel computing, and embedded systems. For more information, please visit http://www.terrasoftsolutions.com and http://www.blacklablinux.com .

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