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COLUMNS

• THE BASELINE
  Quantities, Symbols, and Units in Spectroscopy
  A reminder of what certain terms mean and how they should be used in scientific work
  David W. Ball

• FOCUS ON QUALITY
  How Much Value Is There in a Software Operational Qualification?
  Answers to common questions about operational qualification (OQ) software
  R.D. McDowall

ARTICLES

• Resonance Light Scattering Assessment of the Combined Contamination of DNA with Thifensulfuron-Simazine
  A study of the toxic interactions of these pesticides with fish sperm DNA
  Lin Luo, Changqun Cai, Ying Ma, Chao Weng, and Xiaoming Chen

• Fundamental Studies Related to Elemental Isotope Selection for Quantitative Analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry with a Helium Collision Cell
  A strategy to use the collision cell as a method development tool for isotope selection in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) operational mode for the quadrupole mass filter.
  Frank A. Kero, Lucas R. Moore, and Jeff Malson

Application Notes: Atomic Spectroscopy

• Improved Sensitivity with the New Apollo XRF ML-50 Detector on the Orbis Micro-XRF Analyzer
  Bruce Scruggs, PhD, EDAX, Ametek

Application Notes: Molecular Spectroscopy

• The miniDOAS: Low Cost, High Performance Contactless Ammonia Measurements
  A.J.C. Berkhout, J.B. Bergwerff, M. Haaima, D.P.J. Swart H. Volten, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment

• Transportable Dual-Band Raman System for Fuel Analysis
  BaySpec, Inc.

• Determination of Low Concentration Methanol in Alcohol by an Affordable High Sensitivity Raman Instrument
  Duyen Nguyen and Eric Wu, Enwave Optronics, Inc.

• Probing the Detection Limits of Concentrated Multiple Reflection ATR Spectroscopy
  Joseph P. Lucania, Harrick Scientific Products, Inc.; Davonne Auguste and Ali Kocak, Department of Sciences, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

COLUMNS

• MOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY WORKBENCH
  Band-Fitting Raman Spectra to Extract Chemical and Physical Information
  Here, real spectra illustrate how to be your own critic when evaluating band-fitted spectra.
  Fran Adar

• MASS SPECTROMETRY FORUM
  More Ways to Make Ions
  The basics of a few "less often seen" ionization methods are described.
  Kenneth L. Busch

• FOCUS ON QUALITY
  Software Out of the Box?
  A look at how the term commercial off-the-shelf can be abused in marketing literature.
  R.D. McDowall

• ATOMIC PERSPECTIVES
  High-Throughput Soil Analysis Using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry
  ICP-OES can provide assistance in setting up an EPA 200.7 soil analysis method.
  James Hannan

ARTICLE

• UV Resonance Raman Characterization of Diphenylalanine-Graphene Nanotubes
  UVRR spectroscopy can be used to characterize nanotubes formed with diphenylalanine peptides and graphene by tuning the excitation wavelengths to match the electronic transitions of the individual components.
  Anwesha Bhattacharya, Jennifer Cheng, Shrinivas Bhosale, Ashish Aphale, Isaac Macwan, Prabir K. Patra, and Ishita Mukerji

DEPARTMENTS

• News Spectrum
• Product Resources
• Ad Index

COLUMNS

• CHEMOMETRICS IN SPECTROSCOPY
  Classical Least Squares, Part XI: Comparison of Results from the Two Laboratories Continued, and Then the Light Dawns
  In the final installment of this series, the main problem is solved using the CLS algorithm to find that the spectroscopy is sensitive to the volume fractions of the various components in a mixture.
  Howard Mark and Jerome Workman, Jr.

• FUTURE OF LIGHT-BASED TECHNOLOGIES
  Making Images at the Speed of Light
  Kicking off this new series on light-based technologies and applications, Spectroscopy interviewed Andreas Velten about his work developing "femto photography" as a postdoctoral associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab.
  

ARTICLES

• Label-Free Chemical Detection in Microfabricated Devices Using FT-IR Spectroscopic Imaging
  A summary of some recent efforts to develop applications of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) imaging for microfluidics and a discussion of different approaches (transmission and attenuated total reflectance mode) to obtain FT-IR images of microfluidic devices.
  K.L. Andrew Chan and Sergei G. Kazarian

• Observing Heterogeneous Catalysts While They Are Working Using Operando Raman Spectroscopy
  The opportunities and current progress of operando Raman spectroscopy are presented through examples based on the authors' work.
  M. Olga Guerrero-Pérez and M.A. Bañares

• Energize Your Laboratory at the 2012 Eastern Analytical Symposium
  The 2012 EAS program chair presents highlights of the invited symposia in spectroscopy and related fields, from the perspective of what the chairs of the invited sessions had in mind when developing the sessions and what you can expect to learn.
  Mary Ellen McNally

DEPARTMENTS

• News Spectrum
• Product Resources
• Showcase/Ad Index

COLUMNS

• MOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY WORKBENCH
  Micro-Raman Spectroscopy of Crystal Lattice Chemistry
  Micro-Raman spectroscopy has been used to depth-profile a waveguide produced by an ion-exchange reaction in a single crystal of a ferroelectric metal oxide, and to reveal the changes in chemical bonding and atomic structure that occur in this process.
  David Tuschel

• MASS SPECTROMETRY FORUM
  Those Ions Know What They Are Doing, Part II
  Here, we expand on some of the central tenets of models introduced in part I and describe the transition state invoked in unimolecular dissociation reactions.
  Kenneth L. Busch

• THE BASELINE
  Fluorescent Lights
  A look at how fluorescent lights are spectroscopically different from the old-fashioned incandescent light bulb.
  David W. Ball

• FOCUS ON QUALITY
  The Write Stuff?
  Guidelines for writing standard operating procedures in a laboratory and best practices for their use.
  R.D. McDowall

ARTICLE

• Field-Flow Fractionation Coupled with ICP-MS for the Analysis of Engineered Nanoparticles in Environmental Samples
  An overview of the capabilities of field-flow fractionation coupled with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and how the technique can separate, detect, and quantitate nanoparticles in environmental matrices.
  Denise Mitrano, James Ranville, Ken Neubauer, and Robert Thomas

DEPARTMENTS

• Guest Editorial
• News Spectrum
• Product Resources
• Calendar
• Showcase/Ad Index

2012-2013 BUYERS' GUIDE

• SPECTROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTATION: SPECTROMETER SYSTEMS
• OPTICS, ELECTRO-OPTICS, OPTRONICS, FIBER OPTICS, AND RELATED COMPONENTS
• SAMPLING/SAMPLE HANDLING
• SPECTROSCOPY SOFTWARE/COMPUTER HARDWARE/AUTOMATION PRODUCTS
• GENERAL SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES
• PROCESS ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTATION
• BIOANALYSIS INSTRUMENTS

ALSO:

• PRODUCT INDEX
• INDUSTRY TRENDS REPORT
• MANUFACTURER DIRECTORY

COLUMNS

• MASS SPECTROMETRY FORUM
  Those Ions Know What They Are Doing, Part I
  A discussion of ion behavior, reaction, and logical patterns under various conditions
  Kenneth L. Busch

• ATOMIC PERSPECTIVES
  Efficient Removal of Polyatomic Spectral Interferences for the Multielement Analysis of Complex Human Biological Samples by ICP-MS
  How to reduce plasma-, matrix-, and solvent-induced polyatomic interference by bleeding a collision-reaction gas into the tip of the interface skimmer cone
  Meike Hamester, Rene Chemnitzer, Pierre Emmanuel Riss, Andrew Gaal, XueDong Wang, and Robert Thomas

• LASER AND OPTICS INTERFACE
  High-Resolution Raman Spectroscopy with Optically Pumped Semiconductor Lasers
  A report on first results of the successful application of optically pumped semiconductor lasers in Raman spectroscopy of condensed-phase samples
  W. Kiefer, V. Pfeufer, and P. Vogt

ARTICLES

• XPS Surface Characterization of Disposable Laboratory Gloves and the Transfer of Glove Components to Other Surfaces
  X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) can be used to determine the contaminants present on laboratory gloves and to evaluate the type and amount of contamination transfer from gloves to other surfaces.
  Brian R. Strohmeier, John D. Piasecki, and Alexander Plasencia

• Denver X-ray Conference: 61st Annual Conference on Applications of X-ray Analysis
  Here's a glimpse of what to expect at this year's Denver X-ray Conference.
  Megan Evans

DEPARTMENTS

• News Spectrum
• Product Resources
• Showcase/Ad Index

COLUMNS

• MOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY WORKBENCH
  Interpreting Raman Spectra of Functionalized Polymers: Applying the Tricks of the Trade
  The interpretation of Raman spectra is discussed for a series of functionalized celluloses.
  Fran Adar

• THE BASELINE
  Maxwell's Equations, Part VII
  Here, Maxwell's fourth equation of electrodynamics and how light is described in terms of Maxwell's four mathematical expressions is examined.
  David W. Ball

• CHEMOMETRICS IN SPECTROSCOPY
  Classical Least Squares, Part X:
  Numerical Results from the Second Laboratory
  The results from the experiment in the second laboratory are calculated and examined.
  Howard Mark and Jerome Workman, Jr.

ARTICLE

• Discrimination of Carbonate-Containing and Carbonate-Free Polyvinyl Chloride with Fourier Transform Infrared Microscopy and Raman Spectroscopy
  A method is presented using IR and Raman microscopy to discriminate carbonate-containing and carbonate-free PVC that helps forensic scientists trace suspects, avoid wrong certificates of authenticity, and characterize and analyze carbonate components.
  Jungang Lv, Jimin Feng, Wen Zhang, Yong Liu, Zhaohong Wang, Meng Zhao, and Yanming Cai

DEPARTMENTS

• News Spectrum
• Product Resources
• Calendar
• Short Courses
• Showcase/Ad Index
• Spec Spotlight

COLUMNS

• CHEMOMETRICS IN SPECTROSCOPY
  Classical Least Squares, Part IX: Spectral Results from a Second Laboratory
  here, the results are examined after repeating the original experiment in another laboratory.
  Howard Mark and Jerome Workman, Jr.

• ATOMIC PERSPECTIVES
  Sample Preparation Problem Solving for Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry with Liquid Introduction Systems: Solubility, Chelation, and Memory Effects
  This tutorial on the chemical principles involved in dissolution, stability, and matrix components will help you successfully analyze a broad spectrum of metal analytes with ICP-MS using liquid introduction or flow injection.
  R. Steven Pappas

ARTICLES

• 2012 Review of Spectroscopic Instrumentation at Pittcon
  Howard Mark

  Our annual review of products introduced at Pittcon, broken down into the following categories:

  • Accessories
  • Atomic Spectroscopy
  • Components
  • Imaging
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Mid-IR (FT-IR)
  • NIR
  • Raman
  • Software
  • Spectroscopy (other)
  • Terahertz
  • UV-visible and X-ray

DEPARTMENTS

• News Spectrum
• Product Resources
• Calendar
• Short Courses
• Ad Index

COLUMNS

• THE BASELINE
  Maxwell's Equations, Part VI
  Results are generalized from the last installment and considerations are made for how it applies to one of Maxwell's equations.
  David W. Ball

• FOCUS ON QUALITY
  Is Cloud Computing Right for Your Laboratory . . . or Are You Living in Cloud Cuckoo Land?
  A discussion of the various options for cloud computing, avoiding the marketing hype and focusing on the potential advantages and disadvantages for your laboratory
  R.D. McDowall

• LASER AND OPTICS INTERFACE
  Advantages of High-Brightness Lasers in Confocal Raman Spectroscopy
  The theoretical and experimental differences between high-brightness and low-brightness lasers used in a dispersive confocal Raman microscope system are compared.
  Dick Wieboldt

ARTICLES

• Discriminating Paints with Different Clay Additives in Forensic Analysis of Automotive Coatings by FT-IR and Raman Spectroscopy
  An investigation of the different kinds of clay used as paint additives with the goal of discriminating the paints
  Jungang Lv, Jimin Feng, Yong Liu, Zhaohong Wang, Meng Zhao, Yanming Cai, and Rongguang Shi

• Improving Accuracy in Inductively Coupled Plasma-Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry: The Interference Standard Method
  An approach for dealing with one of the main limitations of ICP-MS, low sensitivity and accuracy caused by spectral interferences
  George L. Donati, Renata S. Amais, and Joaquim A. Nóbrega

DEPARTMENTS

• News Spectrum
• Products Resources
• Calendar
• Short Courses
• Ad Index
• Spectroscopy Spotlight

COLUMNS

• MASS SPECTROMETRY FORUM
  Organic Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry
  Ionization strategies and themes first developed in organic secondary ion mass spectrometry underlie many modern MS methods. Here's how it works.
  Kenneth L. Busch

• MOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY WORKBENCH
  Raman Crystallography, in Theory and in Practice
  Polarization/orientation micro-Raman spectroscopy promises to be an important analytical tool to complement micro-X-ray diffraction.
  David Tuschel

• ATOMIC PERSPECTIVES
  Spectral Background Radiation and the Background Equivalent Concentration in Elemental Spectrochemistry
  For any given spectrometric system with a defined resolution and excition results, the background equivalent concentration is a characteristic of spectral lines.
  V. Thomsen

ARTICLES

• 2012 Salary Survey: A Steady Ride
  Our annual survey of salaries, workloads, stress levels, and job satisfaction.
  Megan Evans

• Bright Outlook for Continued Spectroscopy Market Growth
  Techniques with the highest growth prospects include Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, portable mass spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction.
  Lawrence Schmid

• Quantitative Analysis of Crystal Violet by Raman Spectroscopy
  A quick and accurate method for detecting the antifungal agent crystal violet in aquaculture.
  Rui Li, Zhou Yi Guo, Zheng Fei Zhuang, Ke Xiong, Si Jin Chen, and Song Hao Liu

DEPARTMENTS

• News Spectrum
• Products Resources
• Calendar
• Short Courses
• Ad Index
• Spec Spotlight

COLUMNS

• MOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY WORKBENCH
  The Contribution of Raman Microscopy to the Characterization of Nanomaterials
  Raman has a unique capability to characterize nanoscale materials that are between crystalline and amorphous.
  Fran Adar

• CHEMOMETRICS IN SPECTROSCOPY
  Classical Least Squares, Part VIII: Comparison of CLS Values with Known Values
  The series on classical least squares continues with a comparison of experimental results and theoretical expectations.
  Howard Mark and Jerome Workman, Jr.

ARTICLES

• Application of Infrared Spectroscopy for the Prediction of Color Components of Red Wines
  A review of the application of IR spectroscopy for the analysis of color components in winemaking, and the contribution of spectral preprocessing to improve the multivariate calibration.
  Andrea Versari, Giuseppina Paola Parpinello, and Luca Laghi

• Confocal Raman Microscopy in Forensic Pharmaceutical Investigations
  Confocal Raman microscopy can identify particles in the 5-50 µm range and can bridge the gap between micro-FT-IR and SEM-EDS analyses.
  Mary A. Miller, Michelle R. Cavaliere, Ming Zhou, and Pronda Few

• Nanoscale IR Spectroscopy: AFM-IR - A New Technique
  By combining atomic force microscopy (AFM) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, one can attain spatial resolution improvements of two orders of magnitude over traditional IR spectroscopy.
  Curtis Marcott, Kevin Kjoller, Michael Lo, Craig Prater, Roshan Shetty, and Alexandre Dazzi

• SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing 2012
  A preview of the conference to be held in Baltimore, Maryland, April 23-27, 2012.
  Megan Evans

DEPARTMENTS

• News Spectrum
• Product Showcase
• Calendar
• Short Courses
• Showcase Ad Index
• Spectroscopy Spotlight

COLUMNS

• MASS SPECTROMETRY FORUM
  Managing Mass Spectrometric Data
  Aspects of integrated data management specifically for mass spectrometric data are explored, including spectral dataset size, laboratory documents, and requirements for archiving and sharing research data.
  Kenneth L. Busch

• THE BASELINE
  Maxwell's Equations, Part V
  Here, we continue the discussion of electromagnetism and Maxwell's second equation.
  David W. Ball

• LASER AND OPTICS INTERFACE
  Tracking Unknown Intracellular Activity with Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy
  The basic techniques of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) are discussed as well as several applications, such as nanoparticle dispersion studies.
  Stephan Briggs

ARTICLES

• Optimization of an Analytical Method for the Determination of Trace Metals in Urine by ICP-MS
  Methods and results from a study analyzing metal concentrations in urine samples usinginductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
  Michela Powell-Hernandez, Andrew Maizel, and Robert Thomas

DEPARTMENTS

• News Spectrum
• Product Resources
• Calendar
• Ad Index