World Congress on Biosensors 2014

World Congress on Biosensors 2014
Biosensors 2014

Friday 23 December 2011

A very happy, healthy ...

... and prosperous season - and 2012 - to everyone wherever you may be in the world.

Signing off for one week to be with my family.

Best wishes, David

Thursday 22 December 2011

Just Published: Trends in Analytical Chemistry

A new issue of this journal has just been published. To see abstracts of the papers it contains (with links through to the full papers) click here:
Selected papers from the latest issue:

Representative sampling of large kernel lots I. Theory of Sampling and variographic analysis

21 December 2011, 02:42:06Go to full article
Publication year: 2011
Source: TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, Available online 20 December 2011
Kim H. Esbensen, Claudia Paoletti, Pentti Minkkinen
Official testing and sampling of large kernel lots for impurities [e.g., genetically-modified organisms (GMOs)] is regulated by normative documents and international standards of economic, trade and societal importance. The focus nearly always includes only analytical issues – omitting, with very few exceptions, proper accounting for sampling errors. With total sampling errors for irregularly distributed contaminants and impurities typically 10–100 times larger than analytical errors, this issue is critical for procedures based on general notions of material uniformity. When the focus includes sampling, most guidelines recommend sampling plans based on the assumption that kernel-lot impurities, if present, are randomly distributed. The only exceptions are EC Rec. 787/2004 and prCEN/TS 1568 (2006), which suggest sampling strategies suitable for heterogeneous situations.A recent field project, KeLDA, documented highly significant heterogeneity in 13 out of 15 randomly chosen soybean kernel shiploads arriving into Europe intended for the feed market. The KeLDA study argued strongly that only sampling guidelines taking this into account can be viewed as authoritative for kernel-lot testing. The Theory of Sampling (TOS) is the only fully comprehensive, scientifically documented approach for representative sampling of all types of heterogeneous lots and materials (trace constituents, contaminants), and, in this context, GMO-contaminated lots constitute no special type.In this three-part series of articles, we re-interpret KeLDA data from a proper TOS perspective. Part I introduces the fundamental principles for process sampling, resolves terminology differences between TOS and ISO usages and defines variographic analysis in the full detail necessary for parts II and III.

Highlights

► Kernel lot, trace constituents sampling errors outweighs analytical errors by factors 10-100. ► Contemporary kernel lots uniformity assumptions are largely unsubstantiated. ► Theory of Sampling (TOS) introduces fundamental principles for representative sampling. ► Representative process sampling for kernel lots is outlined in full detail (variographics).

Nanoecotoxicity effects of engineered silver and gold nanoparticles in aquatic organisms

21 December 2011, 02:42:06Go to full article
Publication year: 2011
Source: TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, Available online 19 December 2011
A. Lapresta-Fernández, A. Fernández, J. Blasco
Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) are increasingly being incorporated into commercial products. A better understanding is required of their environmental impacts in aquatic ecosystems.This review deals with the ecotoxicity effects of silver and gold ENPs (AgNPs and AuNPs) in aquatic organisms, and considers the means by which these ENPs enter aquatic environments, their aggregation status and their toxicity. Since ENPs are transported horizontally and vertically in the water column, we discuss certain factors (e.g., salinity and the presence of natural organic materials), as they cause variations in the degree of aggregation, size range and ENP toxicity. We pay special attention to oxidative stress induced in organisms by ENPs.We describe some of the main analytical methods used to determine reactive oxygen species, antioxidant enzyme activity, DNA damage, protein modifications, lipid peroxidation and relevant metabolic activities. We offer an overview of the mechanisms of action of AgNPs and AuNPs and the ways that relevant environmental factors can affect their speciation, agglomeration or aggregation, and ultimately their bio-availability to aquatic organisms.Finally, we discuss similarities and differences in the adverse effects of ENPs in freshwater and salt-water systems.

Highlights

► Effects of engineered silver and gold nanoparticles in aquatic organisms have been assessed. ► Salinity and natural organic matter affect to gold and silver nanoparticles aggregation and toxicity. ► Overview of the action mechanisms of both nanoparticles and their effects on bioavailability is given. ► The analytical methodology for oxidative stress determination is reviewed. ► Adverse effects of nanoparticles in fresh and seawater system have been examined.

GOW-MAC Presented with Export Achievement Certificate

GOW-MAC® Instrument Co. has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce for its innovation and exportation of instruments and components for use in gas analysis and gas chromatography to foreign companies. GOW-MAC officers Jeffrey B. Lawson, President, and Kenneth B. Fincke, Vice President, were presented the US Department of Commerce’s Export Achievement Certificate (EAC) at company headquarters in Bethlehem, PA, on November 10th. The award recognizes companies that have shown growth in exports, remained in good financial standing, and have benefited from the Department’s export assistance expanding their international sales into new foreign markets. Including GOW-MAC, four PA companies have received this award in fiscal year 2011.

U.S. Representative Charlie Dent (PA-15) presented the award and toured the GOW-MAC facility with:
§  Cora Landis, Program Director, International Trade Development Program, Lehigh University Small Business Development Center (http://www.lehigh.edu/~insbdc)
§  Antonio Ceballos, Director of the Philadelphia U.S. Export Assistance Center, U.S. Commercial Service (http://export.gov/pennsylvania/philadelphia)
§  Sam Cerrato, Senior International Trade Specialist of the Philadelphia U.S. Export Assistance Center, U.S. Commercial Service (http://export.gov/pennsylvania/philadelphia
§  Peter O’Neill, Executive Director for Trade Development, Office of International Business Development, Department of Community and Economic Development, State of Pennsylvania (www.newPA.com/trade
§  Frank Facchiano, Executive VP, Member Relations and Operations, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce (www.lehighvalleychamber.org)  

“GOW-MAC is a manufacturer and worldwide exporter of high quality analytical instruments for those involved with the detection, analysis, production, or supply of gases within global industrial, medical and specialty gases industries,” said Jeff Lawson.  Foreign exports are driving GOW-MAC’s growth. During the last 3 years, sales of GOW-MAC gas chromatographs and gas analyzers have continued to grow at a rapid pace. The company’s global representative and distributor network is growing to meet the demand for instrument sales and service. GOW-MAC has continued to utilize Pennsylvania’s trade program and that of the US Department of Commerce to build on this momentum. “With assistance from these organizations, GOW-MAC has successfully developed new markets or increased sales to countries such as China, South Korea, India, Turkey, and Russia,” said Ken Fincke.

In addition to their headquarters in Bethlehem, PA, GOW-MAC has sales offices in Beijing, China and Hsinchu City, Taiwan.

Wednesday 21 December 2011

Just Published: Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis

A new issue of this journal has just been published. To see abstracts of the papers it contains (with links through to the full papers) click here:
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis
http://rss.sciencedirect.com/publication/science/5266
Selected papers from the latest issue:

Identification of Genistein and Biochanin A by THz (far-infrared) Vibrational Spectra

21 December 2011, 01:50:06Go to full article
Publication year: 2011
Source: Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, Available online 20 December 2011
Yuping Yang, S. Sree Harsha, Alisha J. Shutler, Daniel R. Grischkowsky
The temperature dependent vibrational spectra of Genestein and Biochanin A, major components in Mongolian medicinesAgi, in the range of 0.5-4.5 THz (16.7-150 cm) are presented for the first time. Over the temperature range from 295 to 77 K, 12 highly resolved spectral features for the Genestein and 13 features for Biochanin A were measured by THz-TDS and display strong linewidth narrowing and frequency blue-shift with cooling. Such narrow-line THz fingerprint spectra provide a rapid, nondestructive and reliable method for the identification of these Chinese traditional medicines.

Highlights

► For the first time the THz-TDS technique has been used to measure the far-infrared spectra of the important anti-carcinogenic compounds Genistein and Biochanin A. ► Over the temperature range from 295 to 77 K, 12 highly resolved spectral features for Genestein and 13 features for Biochanin A were observed over the spectral range from 0.5 to 4.5 THz (from 16.5 to 150 cm). ► With such narrow-line THz fingerprint spectra, it now becomes possible to achieve a full understanding of these molecules and to provide a rapid, nondestructive and reliable method for identification of these Chinese traditional medicines.

Development of chromatographic methods for the determination of genotoxic impurities in cloperastine fendizoate

21 December 2011, 01:50:06Go to full article
Publication year: 2011
Source: Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, Available online 19 December 2011
Antonia García, Francisco J Rupérez, Florencia Ceppa, Federica Pellati, Coral Barbas
The classification of an impurity of a drug substance as genotoxic means that the “Threshold of Toxicological Concern” (TTC) value of 1.5 μg/day intake, considered to be associated with an acceptable risk, should be the admissible limit in the raw material and that leads to new analytical challenges. In this study, reliable chromatographic methods were developed and applied aslimit tests for the control of three genotoxic impurities (GTIs) in cloperastine fendizoate, drug widely used as an antitussive active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). In particular, GC-MS was applied to the determination of one alkyl halide (2-chloroethanol, 2-CE), while HPLC-DAD was selected for the analysis of two sulfonate esters (methylp-toluenesulfonate, MPTS, and 2-chloroethylp-toluenesulfonate, CEPTS).Regarding GC-MS, strong anion-exchange (SAX)-SPE was applied to remove fendizoate from the sample solutions, due its low volatility and its high amount in the raw material. The GC-MS analysis was performed on a Factor Four VF-23ms capillary column (30 m x 0.25 mm I.D., film thickness 0.25 μm, Varian). Single ion-monitoring (SIM) detection mode was set atm/z80.In the case of HPLC-DAD, a suitable optimization of the chromatographic conditions was carried out in order to obtain a good separation of the impurity peaks from the drug substance peaks. The optimized method utilizes a SymmetryShield RP8column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm, Waters) kept at 50 °C, with phosphate buffer (pH 3.0; 10 mM)-methanol (containing 10% ACN) (45:55, v/v) as the mobile phase, at the flow-rate of 1.7 mL/min and UV detection at 227 nm. The required sensitivity level was achieved by injecting 80 μL of sample solution, purified from fendizoate by SAX-SPE, followed by a 1:1 (v/v) dilution of the SPE eluate with water.For both GC-MS and HPLC-DAD, the method validation was performed in relation to specificity and limit of detection (LOD), as required by ICH guidelines in relation to limit assays. The developed methods were successfully applied for the determination of GTIs in five different batches of cloperastine fendizoate. In all the analyzed batches, the three target GTIs were below the concentration limit.

Highlights

► Determination of genotoxic impurities with different physico-chemical properties in cloperastine phendizoate at ppb level.

A method for identifying the origin of chondroitin sulfate with near infrared spectroscopy

20 December 2011, 01:23:35Go to full article
Publication year: 2011
Source: Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, Available online 19 December 2011
Hengchang Zang, Lian li, Fengshan Wang, Qiong Yi, Qin Dong, ...
The object of this study was to explore the feasibility of support vector machine (SVM) to identify the origin of chondroitin sulfate (CS) by near infrared spectroscopy. 96 batches CS from three different origins were collected in this research, 66 batches of which were chosen for training set by Kennard–Stone (KS) method and the rest were used for testing. Through the comparison of pretreatment methods of standard normal variate transformation (SNV), multiplicative scatter correction (MSC), Savitzky-Golay (SG) smoothing and derivative with SG smoothing, a SVM discrimination model was constructed, of which the prediction result is 100% accurate with the pretreatment of first derivative and SG smoothing with 15 points. The result indicated that it had great potential using SVM to identify the origin of CS.

Highlights

► The method is fast, accurate and precise in comparison to the conventional method and maybe a potential method for lot release test in QC laboratory. ► The method is nondestructive, and doesn’t need reagent, so it reduces the test cost. ► We build a SVM classification model with small population and use a value Qsto select regions. The result are acceptable.

Magnetic Beads for Proteomic Applications

Available from AMSBIO - MagSi-proteomics beads are magnetic beads that are an ideal tool for the purification, concentration and desalting of peptides and protein digests. The surface of the beads has been modified with C4, C8 and C18-alkyl groups that are optimised for reversed phase applications.

Sample purity and throughput are areas of key importance for proteomics researchers. Magnetic beads offer a convenient solid support for a variety of assays and procedures based on affinity purification. They are especially well suited for automated procedures because instrumentation is available to easily mix, incubate and separate the magnetic beads in 96-well plates without columns or centrifugation. This ease-of-use enables rapid processing of many samples and seemless integration into automated workflows.

MagSi proteomics beads have been demonstrated as a powerful tool in desalting of proteomics samples after protein digestion and prior to mass spectrometry.  Offering higher throughput and cost efficiency compared to tip-based separations - MagSi proteomics beads efficiently bind and elute even tiny sample fractions. Peptide amounts as low as 20 - 50 ng can be desalted by MagSi proteomics C8 and C18 beads and analyzed by state of the art MALDI-TOF instruments. Typically for small peptides MagSi-proteomics C8 or C18 beads are suited best, whereas MagSi proteomics C4 and the MagSi-WCX are optimised for larger proteins.

The high magnetic strength of MagSi beads makes them applicable for both, manual and automated/robotic fractionation, because the beads will typically collect in less than 1 minute when magnetic force is applied. This quick and complete separation gives very good reproducibility since no beads will be lost during washing steps. Furthermore the quick protein adsorption, desorption and magnetic collection typically shortens significantly the protocol time over conventional column based ion exchange chromatography.

For further information please visit www.amsbio.com/magnetic-beads-Dynal.aspx or contact AMSBIO on +44-1235-828200 / +1-949-768-8365 or email info@amsbio.com

Tuesday 20 December 2011

Just Published: Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis

A new issue of this journal has just been published. To see abstracts of the papers it contains (with links through to the full papers) click here:
Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis
http://rss.sciencedirect.com/publication/science/5247
Selected papers from the latest issue:

Effect of reaction conditions on hydrothermal degradation of cornstalk lignin

20 December 2011, 01:24:54Go to full article
Publication year: 2011
Source: Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, Available online 19 December 2011
Yueyuan Ye, Juan Fan, Jie Chang
Cornstalk lignin was hydrothermally depolymerized at mild conditions in ethanol-water for producing value-added phenolics. The effects of residence time (from 30 min to 180 min), reaction temperature (from 498 K to 573 K) and concentration of ethanol (from 0%to 95% vol.) on yields of liquid products and phenolic compounds were studied in detail. The optimal conditions of 523 K, 90 min and 65% vol. ethanol-water resulted in the highest yield of liquid products (∼ 70 wt.%). The liquid products were analyzed by chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to confirm the presence of primarily heterocycle (2,3-dihydrobenzofuran) and phenolics (such as ethylphenol, guaiacol, ethylguaiacol and syringol). Reaction conditions had significant effects on yield and composition of liquid products.

Highlights

► Lignin was hydrothermally depolymerized in ethanol-water at mild conditions. ► High yield of liquid products was obtained (∼ 70 wt.%). ► The liquid products were mainly composed of phenolics.

Hydrothermal liquefaction of cypress: Effects of reaction conditions on 5-lump distribution and composition

20 December 2011, 01:24:54Go to full article
Publication year: 2011
Source: Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, Available online 19 December 2011
Hua-Min Liu, Xin-An Xie, Ming-Fei Li, Run-Cang Sun
Effects of reaction temperature, reaction time and water amount on the hydrothermal liquefaction of cypress, were studied in this paper. The reaction system was divided into gas lump, water-soluble oil lump, heavy oil lump, volatile organic compounds lump, and solid residue lump. Results showed that temperature was the critical parameter for 5-lump distribution in the cypress hydrothermal conversion process. The higher temperature and longer reaction time were not usually suitable for the production of bio-oil (water-soluble oil and heavy oil). The increase in the yields of gas and volatile organic compounds was also observed as temperature was increased. However, the yield of the volatile organic compounds increased first, and then decreased with the reaction time and the water amount. High amount of water led to high conversion and bio-oil yield. The FT-IR analysis of the solid residues showed that the major peaks of cypress diminished after 280 °C. The GC-MS analysis showed that the volatile organic compounds, water-soluble oil and heavy oil comprised a mixture of organic compounds of 5-7, 5-10 and 7-26 carbons, respectively, which mainly included furfural, phenol, acids, furans and their derivatives. The WSO had similar elemental compositions but the HO had a higher content of carbon and a lower concentration of oxygen as compared to cypress.

Highlights

► The reaction system was divided into gas lump, water-soluble oil lump, heavy oil lump, volatile organic compounds lump, and solid residue lump. ► The volatile organic compounds product was identified to be mainly composed of a mixture of furfural, 2-methoxy-phenol, 5-methyl-2-furancarboxaldehyde, and 2-methyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one. ► The yield of the volatile organic compounds increased fist, and then decreased with the resistance time and water amount.

Copyrolysis of scrap tires with oily wastes

17 December 2011, 23:31:13Go to full article
Publication year: 2011
Source: Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, Available online 17 December 2011
Sermin Önenç, Mihai Brebu, Cornelia Vasile, Jale Yanik
In this study, the conversion of hazardous wastes into liquid fuels was investigated. The pyrolysis of bilge water oil and oil sludge from ships, scrap tires and their blends was carried out at 400 and 500 °C in absence and presence of catalyst. A commercial fluid catalytic cracking catalyst and Red Mud were used as catalyst. Pyrolysis products were separated as gas, oil and char. The pyrolytic oils were characterized by using Gas Chromatography-Mass Selective Detector (GC-MSD) andH nuclear magnetic resonance (H-NMR). The effect of temperature and catalyst on the product distribution and the composition of oil from pyrolysis were investigated. Co-pyrolysis of scrap tire with oily wastes from ships produced oil that could be used as fuel, while its pyrolysis alone produced oil that could be used as a chemical feedstock. The results obtained in this study showed that co-pyrolysis of oily wastes with scrap tires could be an environmentally friendly way for the transformation of hazardous wastes into valuable products such as chemicals or fuels.

Highlights

► co-pyrolysis is an environmentally friendly way for the transformation of hazardous wastes (scrap tyres and oily wastes) into valuable products ► pyrolysis oil derived from scrap tires contained considerable amounts of aromatics, co-pyrolysis oil derived from scrap tires with oily waste contained high amounts of paraffin and low amounts of aromatics.

NEW Wireless Voltage Logger

T&D Corporation has introduced its NEW RTR-505V Wireless Logger. The RTR-505V can measure DC voltages from 0 to 22VDC with accuracy of ±0.5mv.
This NEW Logger can be used to measure voltage directly or from the output of a wide variety of sensors and instruments.
The RTR-505V features a large LCD display, capacity for 16,000 readings, IP64 water resistance and up to 4 years battery life with the "L" version.
Compatible with all TandD RTR-500 Series Wireless Data Collectors, the RTR-505V can be seamlessly integrated into a wireless network with other logger types. They can be monitored locally, through a cellular phone system, or anywhere in the world over the Internet.Advanced features include real-time monitoring and warning notifications. The communication range is up to 500 ft. which can be extended with the use of a repeater.
For additional information on these NEW units contact:
TandD CorporationPO Box 321
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 USA
Phone: 518-669-9227
E-mail:
inquiries@tandd.com
Web: www.tandd.com

Monday 19 December 2011

Just Published: Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems

A new issue of this journal has just been published. To see abstracts of the papers it contains (with links through to the full papers) click here:
Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems
http://rss.sciencedirect.com/publication/science/5232
Selected papers from the latest issue:

ICRM-2011 international chemometrics research meeting

14 December 2011, 22:21:16Go to full article
Publication year: 2011
Source: Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, Available online 13 December 2011
Steven D. Brown, Anna de Juan

Highlights

► The ICRM conference held in Berg en Dal is reviewed ► A brief overview is given of the topics presented ► A discussion of the organization of the conference is provided

A novel nonlinear adaptive Mooney-viscosity model based on DRPLS-GP algorithm for rubber mixing process

11 December 2011, 02:10:17Go to full article
Publication year: 2011
Source: Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, Available online 9 December 2011
Ze Zhang, Kai Song, Tuo-Peng Tong, Fang Wu
Rubber-mixing process is a typical non-linear batch process with very short operation time (commonly, 2 ~ 5 min). The large measurement delay of Mooney-viscosity, one of the key quality indexes of mixed rubber, strongly restricts further improvement of the quality of final rubber products and the development of rubber-mixing process control. A novel nonlinear adaptive Mooney-viscosity prediction model based on Discounted-measurement Recursive Partial Least Squares-Gaussian Process (DRPLS-GP) algorithm is developed. Using rheological parameters as the input variables, which could be measured online, the measurement delay of Mooney-viscosity is markedly reduced from about 240 min to 2 min. In DRPLS-GP model, to overcome the noise and the multi-collinearity of original data, orthogonal latent variables (LVs) are extracted by Discounted-measurement Recursive Partial Least Squares (DRPLS) firstly, and then the LVs are inputted to Gaussian Process (GP) as predictors for further regression. Thus relying on the nonlinear regression power of GP and the multivariate regression power of DRPLS, the nonlinear relationship between rheological parameters and Mooney-viscosity could be regressed successfully by DRPLS-GP. In particular, this method could update Mooney-viscosity prediction model without increasing the computation and sampling burden, so it is very practical for industrial application. Moreover, the flexibility of discounted-measurement factor of the novel method ensures the high precise prediction of Mooney-viscosity of different mixed rubber formulas. The results which are obtained by using of 1006 industrial data sampled in a large-scale tire factory located in east China confirm that the predictive performance of DRPLS-GP is superior to other approaches.

Highlights

► The proposed Mooney-viscosity prediction model can reduced measurement delay from about 240 min to 2 min, and improves the product quality guarantee and reduces the factory's production loss greatly. ► The proposed method can overcome some shortages of the other methods. ► The method is confirmed by the 1006 actual industrial data sampled in a large-scale tire factory located in east China.

Selection of representative calibration sample sets for near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy to predict nitrogen concentration in grasses

04 December 2011, 21:54:36Go to full article
Publication year: 2011
Source: Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, Available online 2 December 2011
Nisha Shetty, Åsmund Rinnan, René Gislum
The effect of using representative calibration sets with fewer samples was explored and discussed. The data set consisted of near-infrared reflectance (NIR) spectra of grass samples. The grass samples were taken from different years covering a wide range of species and cultivars. Partial least squares regression (PLSR), a chemometric method, has been applied on NIR spectroscopy data for the determination of the nitrogen (N) concentration in these grass samples. The sample selection method based on NIR spectral data proposed by Puchwein and the CADEX (computer aided design of experiments) algorithm were used and compared. Both Puchwein and CADEX methods provide a calibration set equally distributed in space, and both methods require a minimum prior of knowledge. The samples were also selected randomly using complete random, cultivar random (year fixed), year random (cultivar fixed) and interaction (cultivar x year fixed) random procedures to see the influence of different factors on sample selection. Puchwein's method performed best with lowest RMSEP followed by CADEX, interaction random, year random, cultivar random and complete random. Out of 118 samples of the complete calibration set, 19 samples were selected as minimal number of representative samples. RMSEP values obtained for subsets selected using Puchwein, CADEX and using full calibration set were 0.099% N, 0.109% N and 0.092% N respectively. The result indicated that the selection of representative calibration samples can effectively enhance the cost-effectiveness of NIR spectral analysis by reducing the number of analyzed samples in the calibration set by more than 80%, which substantially reduces the effort of laboratory analyses with no significant loss in prediction accuracy.

Highlights

► The effect of using reduced representative calibration sets is described ► Quantification of nitrogen concentration in grasses using NIR and PLSR ► Puchwein, CADEX and random sample selection methods were compared ► Reduction of calibration set by 80% with no significant loss in prediction accuracy

Software Tool Enables Easy Pipette Management

INTEGRA has announced VIALINK - a new pipette management tool that allows users to simply create and manage custom programs, maintain a service history and transfer firmware upgrade details between VIAFLO electronic pipettes* and your PC. 

VIALINK can be used to securely manage and productively organise all pipettes in your lab. Personnel can keep track of their VIAFLO pipettes using VIALINK to record user name, serial number, service history and latest software version installed.

Pipetting protocols can be set up as custom programs with VIALINK and then copied onto your VIAFLO pipettes. Users can create a program library which can hold an unlimited number of pipetting protocols. Up to 20 custom programs can then be stored on the pipette itself. With VIALINK, creating individual custom programs is both quick and easy.

Using VIALINK - important service information, such as date of last calibration or service, can be stored on the pipettes. This information cannot be deleted afterwards thereby guaranteeing an authentic service history.

Periodically as INTEGRA releases new firmware upgrades to enhance its electronic pipetting products with new and improved capabilities - VIALINK enables users to rapidly implement the upgrades on their VIAFLO pipettes.

To use VIALINK - VIAFLO single and multi-channel electronic pipettes require a programming stand which not only functions as connector to a PC but also serves as a handy charging stand. To use VIALINK with the VIAFLO 96 only a standard USB cable is required. VIALINK can be downloaded from the INTEGRA website.
For further information please contact INTEGRA on +41-81-286-9530 / info@integra-biosciences.com (Europe / Asia Pacific) or +1-603-578-5800 / contact@viaflo.com (North / South America).

Friday 16 December 2011

Just Published: Analytica Chimica Acta

A new issue of this journal has just been published. To see abstracts of the papers it contains (with links through to the full papers) click here:
Selected papers from the latest issue:

Preparation And Evaluation Of An Immunoaffinity Sorbent For The Analysis Of Opioid Peptides By On-Line Immunoaffinity Solid-Phase Extraction Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry

15 December 2011, 23:27:25Go to full article
Publication year: 2011
Source: Analytica Chimica Acta, Available online 14 December 2011
Silvia Medina-Casanellas, Fernando Benavente, José Barbosa, Victoria Sanz-Nebot
In this study, we explored a procedure for the preparation of an immunoaffinity (IA) sorbent for the analysis of opioid peptides by on-line immunoaffinity solid-phase extraction capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (IA-SPE-CE-MS). We followed a site-specific antibody immobilization approach based on the covalent attachment of the oxidized antibodies through their carbohydrate moieties to hydrazide silica particles, using a polyclonal antibody against Endomorphin 1 and 2 (End1 and End2). The main features of the IA sorbent were studied, such as the amount of hydrazide groups and antibodies attached onto oxidized diol silica particles. Once the procedure was optimized, standard solutions of End1 and End2 were used in order to establish the IA-SPE-CE-MS methodology. Acceptable repeatability, reproducibility and linearity range values were obtained for the proposed methodology. The limits of detection (LODs) of 1 ng mLwere approximately 100-fold better than those obtained by CE-MS. Selectivity of the IA sorbent was good but some cross-reactivity against Dynorphin A (1-7) was observed when a mixture of several opioid peptides was analyzed. Human plasma samples spiked with End1 and End2 were also analyzed and both peptides could be detected down to 100 ng mL.

Highlights

► We prepared an IA sorbent for the analysis of opioid peptides by IA-SPE-CE-MS. ► We followed a site-specific antibody immobilization approach. ► The main features of the IA sorbent were studied. ► Endomorphin 1 and 2 were analyzed in standards and plasma samples to achieve the best LODs.

Amperometricl-lactate biosensor based on screen-printed carbon electrode containing cobalt phthalocyanine, coated with lactate oxidase-mesoporous silica conjugate layer

15 December 2011, 23:27:25Go to full article
Publication year: 2011
Source: Analytica Chimica Acta, Available online 14 December 2011
Takeshi Shimomura, Touru Sumiya, Masatoshi Ono, Tetsuji Ito, Taka-aki Hanaoka
A novel amperometric biosensor for the measurement ofl-lactate has been developed. The device comprises a screen-printed carbon electrode containing cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPC-SPCE), coated with lactate oxidase (LOD) that is immobilized in mesoporous silica (FSM8.0) using a polymer matrix of denatured polyvinyl alcohol; a Nafion layer on the electrode surface acts as a barrier to interferents. The sampling unit attached to the SPCE requires only a small sample volume of 100 μL for each measurement. The measurement ofl-lactate is based on the signal produced by hydrogen peroxide, the product of the enzymatic reaction. The behavior of the biosensor, LOD-FSM8.0/Naf/CoPC-SPCE, was examined in terms of pH, applied potential, sensitivity and operational range, selectivity, and storage stability. The sensor showed an optimum response at a pH of 7.4 and an applied potential of +450 mV. The determination range and the response time forl-lactate were 18.3 μM–1.5 mM and approximately 90 s, respectively. In addition, the sensor exhibited high selectivity forl-lactate and was quite stable in storage, showing no noticeable change in its initial response after being stored for over 9 months. These results indicate that our method provides a simple, cost-effective, high-performance biosensor forl-lactate

Highlights

► Lactate biosensor based on screen-printed electrode, simple to fabricate and use, have been developed. ► Activated electrode containing cobalt-phthalocyanine lowers operating potential of the biosensor. ► Mesoporous silica and nafion layers ensure excellent stability and high selectivity. ► Only a small sample volume is required for the measurement. ► High-performance lactate biosensor is obtained with a simple and cost effective way

Electrochemiluminescence Biosensor For The Assay Of Small Molecule And Protein Based On Bifunctional Aptamer And Chemiluminescent Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles

15 December 2011, 23:27:25Go to full article
Publication year: 2011
Source: Analytica Chimica Acta, Available online 14 December 2011
Ying Chai, Dayong Tian, Hua Cui
An electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor for simultaneous detection of adenosine and thrombin in one sample based on bifunctional aptamer andN-(aminobutyl)-N-(ethylisoluminol) functionalized gold nanoparticles (ABEI-AuNPs) was developed. A streptavidin coated gold nanoparticles modified electrode was utilized to immobilize biotinylated bifunctional aptamer (ATA), which consisted of adenosine and thrombin aptamer. The ATA performed as recognition element of capture probe. For adenosine detection, ABEI-AuNPs labeled hybridization probe with a partial complementary sequence of ATA reacted with ATA, leading to a strong ECL response ofN-(aminobutyl)-N-(ethylisoluminol) enriched on ABEI-AuNPs. After recognition of adenosine, the hybridization probe was displaced by adenosine and ECL signal declined. The decrease of ECL signal was in proportion to the concentration of adenosine over the range 5.0 × 10- 5.0 × 10 M with a detection limit of 2.2 × 10 M. For thrombin detection, thrombin was assembled on ATA modified electrode via aptamer-target recognition, another aptamer of thrombin tagged with ABEI-AuNPs was bounded to another reactive site of thrombin, producing ECL signals. The ECL intensity was linearly with the concentration of thrombin from 5 × 10 M to 5 × 10 M with a detection limit of 1.2 × 10 M. In the ECL biosensor, adenosine and thrombin can be detected when they coexisted in one sample and a multi-analytes assay was established. The sensitivity of the present biosensor is superior to most available aptasensors for adenosine and thrombin. The biosensor also showed good selectivity towards the targets. Being challenged in real plasma sample, the biosensor was confirmed to be a good prospect for multi-analytes assay of small molecules and proteins in biological samples.

Highlights

► A novel ECL biosensor based on bifunctional aptamer and ABEI-AuNPs ► A good prospect for multi-analyte assay of small molecule and protein in biological sample ► The sensitivity of the sensor is superior to most available aptasensors for adenosine and thrombin ► The bifuntional aptamer was for the first time applied to ECL biosensor

Validating the Claims of Functional Foods

Genevac reports shipping several of its centrifugal evaporator systems to manufacturers of functional foods who are looking to validate their health promotion or disease prevention claims

Functional foods are part of the continuum of products that individuals may consume to improve their health or to help manage a disease. Functional foods include fermented foods with live cultures such as probiotics, natural sweeteners and foods fortified with health-promoting additives such as tea with added ginger which is said to help reduce nausea.

Rod Darrington, Product Manager at Genevac commented "Nutraceuticals and functional foods are intensively researched for their role in maintaining health and preventing diseases. The science behind is growing rapidly not only because of the growing number of new substances or type of novel foods, but also because regulatory bodies require more and more evidence on their efficacy, mode-of-action and safety".

To generate accurate analytical results with food and beverage materials careful sample preparation is critical, especially when the analyte of interest is volatile. The proprietary concentration technology in Genevac evaporator systems has been developed with leading analytical laboratories around the world.  This, together with proprietary technologies like Dri-Pure® and SampleGenie™ ensure that food and beverage samples are concentrated safely, rapidly, and with a very high degree of reproducibility.

Genevac evaporators are increasingly used by researchers seeking to extract functional molecules from natural sources.  Typically researchers take a tissue (or micro-organism broth) sample and then perform a primary solvent extraction resulting in a large volume of crude extract.  The crude extract then requires concentration, for which the Rocket Evaporator is ideal, before being fractionated to isolate each component.  These samples then need to be evaporated before storage or analysis which may require lyophilisation on a Genevac EZ-2 Elite or HT Series Evaporator.

Genevac, part of the SP Scientific group, was founded in 1990.  Today the company employs around 85 people, with manufacturing, R&D and marketing headquartered in Ipswich, UK. Genevac today offers a comprehensive portfolio of evaporators to suit almost any solvent removal application, purchasing budget or productivity requirement.

For further information please contact Genevac on +44-1473-240000 / +1-845-255-5000 or email salesinfo@genevac.co.uk

Thursday 15 December 2011

Cell Culture Dishes for all Applications

Porvair Sciences has introduced a new line of cell culture dishes that support a range of applications and growth of many important cell types including primary cells, stem cells, neuronal, mesenchymal, hepatocyte, and endothelial cells.

Available in a range of sizes and styles - Porvair cell culture dishes are designed for optimal performance and ease-of-use.  Porvair cell culture dishes include lids designed for optimal gas exchange and stacking rings that facilitate easy stacking and handling.

Combining the unrivalled optical purity of high-pressure moulded 100% USP VI Class virgin crystal polystyrene with a patented low-pressure gas plasma surface treatment - Porvair cell culture dishes enable cells to adhere more efficiently to the surface by reducing its hydrophobicity. Highly polished moulds and rigorous quality control ensure that you get perfect results every time.

Data from a leading British University shows adherent cells grow as well or better on Porvair cell culture plastics as compared to a leading branded product. The full report, including micrographs, can be downloaded from www.epigeneticsexpress.com/application_notes.html

Production of Porvair cell culture dishes is carried out in a Class 100000 / ISO Class V clean room to ISO 9001:2008 and EN ISO 13485:2003 manufacturing standards to ensure all products are free from DNA/RNA, DNase/RNase and Pyrogen contamination.

Established in 1992, Porvair Sciences Ltd. expertise in microplate technology and manufacturing covers scientific fields including Life Sciences, Drug Discovery, Combinatorial Chemistry, Solid Phase Extraction, Protein Purification, High Throughput Screening, Proteomics and Genomics.  Porvair Sciences Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Porvair plc.

For further information on the cell culture dishes please contact Porvair Sciences on telephone +44-1372-824290, email int.sales@porvair-sciences.com or visit the website at
http://www.blogger.com/www.epigeneticsexpress.com

Oxford Instruments releases White Paper on ion beam etching

As leaders in Ion Beam technology and system manufacture, Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology's Applications and Technology teams regularly produce technical White Papers, and the latest, on Ion Beam Etching, is now available.

Authored by Dr Sebastien Pochon and Dr Dave Pearson, Senior Ion Beam Application and Technology Specialists at the company, the White Paper presents a review of Ion Beam Etch Technology. It considers the main applications and advantages of using this technology for etching processes when compared to technology such as plasma etching. An overview of how an ion beam is generated is first described, and is then followed by a presentation and discussion of the process applications of ion beam technology.
The white paper is available by contacting Oxford Instruments, at process.news@oxinst.com

Comments Robert Gunn, Applications Team Manager at Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology, “In order to offer the very best in ion beam and plasma systems, our experienced teams of applications engineers and technologists continue to develop and research into their areas of expertise, and as a result we offer our customers many technical papers, such as this White Paper, in addition to a process library of over 6000 recipes.”

As global leaders in Ion Beam technology and system manufacture, Oxford Instruments’ range of ion beam tools includes the Ionfab300Plus offering the flexibility to perform etch and/or deposition while maximising system utilisation, the Ionfab500Plus designed for ultra high quality optical thin films, and the Optofab3000,  specifically developed for high quality optical applications.

For further information and electronic copies of the images please contact:
Susie Williams
Marketing Communications Manager
Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology

Wednesday 14 December 2011

Secure Closure of Sample Storage Tubes

Designed to seal sample storage tubes in the 96-well format - the Micronic capping system offers biobanks and biorepositories the ability to securely cap a single tube, a row of tubes or to apply 96 caps in a single action.

With the launch of the new orange Capcluster - caps are now available in 13 different colours, providing a simple, yet effective means of visually differentiating stored samples by person, project or even by the type of sample submitted (blood, urine, plasma etc.).

Available for use with a wide range of tube volumes (0.50ml, 0.75ml, 1.10ml, 1.40ml, and 2.50ml) - Micronic Capcluster caps are made of a USP Class VI certified thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) that acts as an excellent vapour barrier for both water and DMSO.  Use of a retaining foil makes simultaneous secure capping of a single tube, row of tubes or 96-tube rack both quick and easy. The multi-pierceable design of Capcluster TPE caps allows samples to be accessed without removing caps thereby ensuring long-term sample integrity. In addition, Capcluster TPE caps have high solvent resistance that, in combination with ultra low extractable materials, eliminates the possibility of sample contamination from the tube cap. Used in storage facilities worldwide Micronic Capcluster TPE caps are proven to maintain a strong and secure seal at temperatures down to -80°C.

Whether applying caps manually to tubes or using an automated capping system, Micronic Capcluster TPE caps provide maximum sample integrity for long term storage. Used manually or with an automated capping system, Capcluster offers considerable productivity benefits over alternative tube capping products.

Dedicated to the design and production of innovative sample storage tubes, accessories and instruments over the last 25 years, Micronic is uniquely able to offer laboratories the expert advice to help them safeguard one of its most valuable assets - its samples.
 
For further information about Capcluster TPE sample storage caps please contact Micronic Europe BV now on telephone +31-320-277070 or email
sales@micronic.com.

New Electrophoresis Catalog

Hoefer, Inc., a leading manufacturer and supplier of Protein and Nucleic Acid Electrophoresis Apparatus, with over 40 years experience, is pleased to announce their NEW Catalog.
Included in the catalog are:
  • 1D & 2D Protein Electrophoresis– including IEF and vertical units, the industry standard Mighty Small II Vertical and Tank Blotter, and the SQ33 Sequencer
  • Nucleic Acid Electrophoresis - including the HE-PLUS and a family of horizontal units
  • The New High Throughput SUBHT for nucleic acid screening analysis following PCR
  • Blotting equipment and supplies
  • Power Supplies
  • Electrophoresis Reagents
  • An updated Sample Preparation section
  • Quantitation and Detection products – including the new, improved UV25 transilluminator and the Hoefer SP-2001 UV/Vis spectrophotometer
  • Auxiliary Electrophoresis products – including the new RCB20-PLUS Refrigerated/Heated Circulation Water Bath, the CF1000 mini centrifuge & PR250 mini orbital shaker
To receive a copy of the NEW Catalog please visit www.HoeferInc.com or e-mail the Hoefer Technical Support Team at support@HoeferInc.com.
call 1-800-227-4750 or 1-508-893-8999
Fax 1-508-429-5732

AirClean Systems publishes SEFA 9-2010 test results for Silconazyne™ bonded filtration.

AirClean Systems, North America’s leading manufacturer of ductless fume hoods and chemical workstations, has published independently-verified results of SEFA 9-2010 “Filter Efficiency and Adsorption Capacity” testing on Silconazyne bonded carbon filtration. Silconazyne is a next-generation enhanced filtration media available exclusively in the Independence™ ductless fume hood. Testing was performed in accordance with subsection 4.3.1 of SEFA 9-2010, and verified by Exposure Control Technologies, a national leader in fume hood testing and laboratory safety consulting.

Chemicals representing four key chemical families – inorganic acids, amines, alcohols and hydrocarbons – are used in the SEFA 9 test protocol. These are hydrochloric acid, diethylamine, isopropyl alcohol, and toluene. A separate as-manufactured Silconazyne filter was challenged with each chemical until filter breakthrough reached the chemical’s TLV. SEFA 9 is meant to provide ductless fume hood users with an objective baseline for comparing available filtration technologies.

AirClean Systems’ Silconazyne SEFA 9 test result abstract and report can be requested via http://www.aircleansystems.com/forms/report-request.htm?product=Silconazyne%20SEFA%209

SEFA (Scientific Equipment and Furniture Association) was formed in 1988 to advance the goal of creating a safe laboratory environment. SEFA 9-2010 is a comprehensive standard addressing ductless fume hood validation, testing, safety and use.

AirClean Systems, founded in 1992, has over 19 years of experience providing a complete suite of ductless fume hoods, workstations and enclosures for a vast array of applications, with installations world-wide.

Read more about Independence ductless fume hood featuring Silconazyne filtration: http://www.aircleansystems.com/Independence/

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Just Published: Microchemical Journal

A new issue of this journal has just been published. To see abstracts of the papers it contains (with links through to the full papers) click here:
Selected papers from the latest issue:

Recent advances in dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction using organic solvents lighter than water: A review 

11 December 2011, 02:04:35Go to full article
Publication year: 2011
Source: Microchemical Journal, Available online 9 December 2011
Lívia Kocúrová, Ioseph S. Balogh, Jana Šandrejová, Vasil Andruch
Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) has in the very short time since its invention in 2006 grabbed the attention of researchers and become very popular among analytical chemists. Like other analytical methods, however, DLLME also has its drawbacks, which result mainly from requirements related to the extraction solvent and disperser solvent. To overcome these various drawbacks, researchers have recently attempted to use solvents with a density lower than that of water and to perform the extraction without using a disperser solvent and without the need for centrifugation. We offer an overview of what in our opinion are some of the most interesting solutions published recently, those which could possibly expand the applicability of DLLME.

Highlights

Methods utilizing special devicesDLLME based on solidification of a floating organic dropLow-density solvent-based solvent demulsification DLLMEMethods based on the adjustment of the solvents mixture density ► Automation of DLLME using sequential injection analysis

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes – solid phase extraction for isolating marine dissolved organic matter before characterization by size exclusion chromatography

11 December 2011, 02:04:35Go to full article
Publication year: 2011
Source: Microchemical Journal, Available online 9 December 2011
Juan Sánchez-González, Natalia García-Otero, Antonio Moreda-Piñeiro, Pilar Bermejo-Barrera
The feasibility of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for extracting dissolved organic matter (DOM) from seawater has been investigated. Solid phase extraction (SPE) operating in column and batch modes was used as an extractive technique, and the latter mode offered better performance. DOM adsorption was achieved using 60 mg of MWCNTs per each 250 mL of seawater subsample, working at pH 1.0 and under an orbital-horizontal shaking at 180 rpm and 25 °C for 4 hours. DOM desorption from the MWCNTs support implied an orbital–horizontal shaking (180 rpm and 25 °C) for 2 hours using 10 mL of a 0.1 M sodium hydroxide solution (DOM determination), or using 20 mL of alkaline methanol (pH 10.0) for DOM fractionation by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with UV detection at 205 nm. A Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyzer with wet DOM oxidation (30% (m/v) potassium peroxodisulphate in 6.0 M phosphoric acid) under super critical conditions and with Non-Dispersive Infra Red (NDIR) for CO2detection was used for DOM measurements. Calibration covered TOC concentrations within the 0.13–1000 mg Lrange. The percentage of DOM retained in the MWCNTs support was dependent on the seawater sample, and it varied from 34 to 81%. This means that only the DOM of certain molecular weights is capable to interact with the SPE support. Various SEC columns, ranging from 100 to 7000 and from 500 to 15000 Da (optimum separation range for peptides), were therefore used for DOM fractionation. Results have shown that DOM of low molecular weight is retained in the MWCNTs (fractions within the ranges of 125–1102 Da and 6.88–125 Da).

Highlights

► Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for isolating marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) ► Effect of the saline matrix and the solid phase extraction mode on the retained DOM ratio ► Size exclusion chromatography for characterizing the retained DOM ► Retained DOM onto MWCNTs is in low molecular weight (within the 125 – 1102 Da range)

Monitoring of solid-state fermentation of wheat straw in a pilot scale using FT-NIR spectroscopy and support vector data description

11 December 2011, 02:04:35Go to full article
Publication year: 2011
Source: Microchemical Journal, Available online 9 December 2011
Hui Jiang, Guohai Liu, Xiahong Xiao, Congli Mei, Yuhang Ding, ...
Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy coupled with support vector data description (SVDD) as an ideal tool was attempted to rapidly and accurately monitor physical and chemical changes in solid-state fermentation (SSF) of crop straws without the need for chemical analysis. Raw spectra of fermented samples were acquired with wavelength range of 10,000-4,000 cm. SVDD algorithm was employed to build a one-class classification model, and some parameters of SVDD algorithm were optimized by cross-validation in calibrating model. Simultaneously, four traditional two-class classification approaches (i.e., linear discriminant analysis, LDA;K-nearest neighbor, KNN; back propagation neural networks, BPNN; support vector machine, SVM) were comparatively utilized for monitoring time-related changes that occur during SSF. Compared to the four models, SVDD model revealed its incomparable superiority in handling the problem of imbalance training sets. The discrimination rate of SVDD model was 90% in the validation set when the ratio of samples from stationary stage to those from other stages was one to eight. This study demonstrates that FT-NIR spectroscopy combined with SVDD is an efficient method to develop one-class classification model for the rapid monitoring of SSF.

Highlights

► Monitoring of solid-state fermentation (SSF) in a pilot scale by FT-NIR spectroscopy technique. ► Support vector data description (SVDD) was employed to develop identification model. ► Compared to LDA, KNN, BPNN and SVM, SVDD revealed its superiority in handling imbalance training sets. ► This study demonstrates that FT-NIR spectroscopy combined with SVDD is an efficient method for the rapid monitoring of SSF.