May 2014 Issue of The Analytical Scientist

Where does inspiration come from? I mean the insight that leads you to a new invention or that suddenly makes you aware of the solution to a problem?

Analysis of “dirty” ice from 3000 meters down reveals that ancient soil exists beneath the Greenland ice sheet

A report from the US National Science Board (NSB) has denounced excessive bureaucracy faced by researchers and urges a “focus on the science”

Carbon black nanoreporters can warn oil producers of unacceptable levels of hydrogen sulfide

Nick Kim gifts us with his very analytical and amusing view of the world around us.

Was an assistant analytical chemistry professor mistaken to instruct graduates not to “thank God”?

Removing practical assessments from science education is illogical, say UK chemical engineers

On June 15, the 62nd ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics sails into Baltimore

In August, The Analytical Scientist will publish a special issue celebrating the very best images in the field of analytical science. And you have the chance to submit an image that defines your work.

New methods that focus on increased sensitivity or resolution are being developed on an almost daily basis. But are they the right methods and do we even need them? I say “no and no,” and here’s why.

How to meet today’s demands for nanoscale chemical analysis in materials and life sciences.

Let’s not boast of “complete proteomes” or “protein coverage” until we correct our ignorance of post-translational modifications. Proteome analysis is more than just identifying and counting proteins.

Gun crime is not going away, but current forensic tools are limited at best. We believe that attenuated total reflectance (ATR) imaging could fill a big gap in the crime scene investigator’s armory.

What has driven spectroscopic techniques into their current prominent position in a plethora of application areas?

Deeper consideration of individual analytical unit processes offers a more systematic approach to method development, ensuring that we don’t forget the basics in an increasingly sophisticated world.

How broad are the legal duties of analytical laboratories and what do recent developments in US law mean for labs around the world?

Sitting Down With Ellen Miseo, instrumentation and applications consultant for Analytical Answers and adjunct assistant professor at Bentley University, Massachusetts, USA.

Highly specific enzymes for middle down approach - rapid mass spectrometric analysis of antibody based biotherapeutics using FabRICATOR®

In recent years, the top ten pharmaceuticals sales list has been extensively populated with protein therapeutics, such as monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins, that are used to treat various life-threatening diseases, including cancer and autoimmune diseases.

What’s better than a nice cup of tea and a chat?

For our second episode, we stay in Italy and speak with Chiara Cordero from the University of Turin

Are mass spectral search libraries like crooked politicians? James Harynuk applies thermodynamic common sense to find the answer.

Light scattering detectors play an important role in gel permeation chromatography and size exclusion chromatography (GPC/SEC) analysis because of their ability to directly measure molecular weight distribution. Multi angle light scattering (MALS) detectors are often chosen, in some instances because they provide the most accurate data for the measurement of the radius of gyration (Rg), and in others because they have become an accepted industry standard. The launch of Malvern Instruments’ new Viscotek SEC-MALS 20 detector extends commercial choice in this area and draws the technology into the spotlight.

Work performed in conjunction with the Membrane Protein Laboratory, Imperial College, London

The aim of this guide is to provide the reader with a clear understanding of the different technological approaches used to measure molecular weight by static light scattering in a GPC/SEC experiment.

Polymers can be loosely grouped into two structural categories – linear and branched.

The Zetasizer Nano is the world's most widely used light scattering system, for measuring size, zeta potential and molecular weight. Applications range from characterizing high concentration colloids and nanoparticles, through to measurement of proteins and macromolecules in their native state, requiring as little as 12 microlitres of sample. The Zetasizer Nano can be used for the comprehensive characterization of proteins, colloids and nanoparticles, and is simple to use, highly sensitive, versatile and fast! This videos shows how quickly and easily a measurement can be made on the Zetasizer Nano.

In this application note we will look at two examples where the retention volume of a sample could not be used to obtain an accurate measure of the sample MW. We will also describe the additional information that can be obtained using these advanced detectors. This work has been performed in conjunction with the Institut Pasteur, Paris, France

The Zetasizer µV (MicroV) is a dual purpose light scattering instrument designed specifically for the analysis of proteins. Firstly, it is a highly sensitive cuvette based dynamic light scattering instrument with the same great performance as the market leading Zetasizer Nano. Secondly, by simply changing the cell, it becomes an absolute molecular weight and size detector that can be added to any Size Exclusion Chromatography system (such as the Viscotek TDAmax).