Abstract
Ametek Petrolab
PetroOXY Rapid Oxidation Stability Tester
According to Petrolab, this new tool is for monitoring and control of oxidation stability (aging) of oils, fats, greases, and other products such as proprietary antioxidant and shelf life additives used by food, fragrance, and cosmetic industries. Among the key features of the new tester are faster test times, compared with traditional testing methods as well as clear and easily understood test results. The tester offers excellent repeatability and reproducibility of results along with simple handling procedures, small sample sizes, improved user safety, automatic operation, and simple cleaning procedures. The user-friendly PetroOXY is considered ideal for fast and simple stability spot checks as well as routine monitoring of products.
More: www.petrolab.com
Ams Biotechnology (Amsbio)
Screen Quest Calcium Assay Kit
According to amsbio, its new Screen Quest Calcium Assay Kit provides a homogeneous fluorescence-based assay for detecting intracellular calcium mobilization across a broad spectrum of biological targets. Cells expressing a G protein-coupled receptor of interest that signals through calcium are preloaded with a fluorogenic cell-permeable calcium indicator that can cross cell membrane. Once inside the cell, the lipophilic blocking groups are cleaved by nonspecific cell esterase, resulting in a negatively charged fluorescein dye that stays inside cells, and its fluorescence is greatly enhanced on binding to calcium. When cells stimulated with screening compounds, the receptor signals release intracellular calcium, which greatly increases the fluorescence of the calcium indicator.
More: www.amsbio.com
TRU Block
According to amsbio, its new TRU Block is a highly potent reagent that actively blocks the heterophilic antibody (HA) interference in immunoassays including but not limited to Human Anti-Mouse Antibody (HAMA) interference. TRU Block offers many advantages over traditional Mouse IgG reagents, which inhibit HAMA by serving as antigens of HAMA. TRU Block works differently using an active mechanism and is 5—20 times more effective than Mouse IgG on HAMA blocking, thereby reducing blocker usage. TRU Block works well on HAMA as well as other types of HA, whereas Mouse IgG is effective only on HAMA. Guaranteed as greater than 95% pure, quality control (including a HAMA blocking functional assay, purity, and bioburden testing) ensures that every batch of TRU Block is well characterized.
ARTEL
ARTEL MVS Multichannel Verification System
This objective performance assessment and optimization tool for automated liquid handlers now offers enhanced measurement data comparability, increased volume verification speed, and reduced overall variability of laboratory processes. The ARTEL MVS provides information on both the accuracy and precision of volumes transferred by each channel of an automated liquid handler in one rapid procedure.
More: www.artel-usa.com
BECKMAN COULTER
Kaluza Flow Cytometry Analysis Software
Kaluza Software features new tools that simplify the management of multiple complex data sets, allows visualization of high-content data in different spatial dimensions on a single plot, and provides real-time analysis of high-content flow cytometry files. A dynamic workspace facilitates automatic organization of plots, which combines with a zoom in/zoom out feature to provide an intuitive environment for data exploration. Auto-Layout intelligently reconfigures the workspace and minimizes the clicks required to create and maintain an analysis.
Data replay is made quick and easy with automatic loading of the original plots, gates, and colors from files with embedded analysis protocols. A radial menu provides fast access to all plot and region editing features. Tree plots easily represent data that typically require dozens of plots, gates, and regions. Each phenotype can be used as a gate for further data exploration. Radar plots provide a multidimensional view of data without drawing a single gate. These plots reveal relevant and rare populations that are typically not seen using traditional bivariate plots and gating strategies.
Kaluza Flow Cytometry Analysis Software will readily scale to meet the expanding requirements of future instrumentation. It enables fast refresh rates for even large, complex data sets and works with most of the FCS-compliant files and with most cytometers. It can be used with both network and stand-alone computers and is offered for research use only. Functional examples of Kaluza data analysis and a free, fully functional trial version of the software are available online.
More: www.kaluzasoftware.com
BEIJER ELECTRONICS PRODUCTS
iX HMI Software
iX is a software-based HMI concept designed to fill the gap between proprietary HMI terminals and SCADA license solutions. This fourth-generation version consists of a development environment and a runtime environment and is available in several versions, including a complete Lauer HMI concept that can run on a panel PC or desktop PC platform as well as a runtime version for PCs from other suppliers. Thanks to support for the Microsoft. Net framework, iX enables a multitude of customer-specific adaptation options. With the ability to integrate externally available. Net controls (DLLs), there are practically no limits to the generation of user-defined objects. More: www.beijerelectronics.com
Berthold Technologies
NightSHADE Plant Imaging System
For applications such as gene research, circadian rhythms, regulation of plant growth, stress tolerance, and drug screening, the new NightSHADE imaging system offers unique features for plant research, such as top-view emCCD camera with high-resolution, LED-based plant illumination with daylight simulation, second camera for side-view imaging, x—y table and rotating table for 360° viewing, and temperature and humidity control. NightSHADE is equipped with a highly sensitive 1-megapixel emCCD camera cooled to an absolute temperature of —20 °C. The electron multiplying mode of the camera enhances the signals by amplifying the electrons during readout. This increases the sensitivity with short exposure times and enables single photon detection. The maximum quantum efficiency is reached between 550 and 750 nm, making the camera an ideal choice for luciferases and fluorescent dyes.
More: www.berthold.com
Biotek Instruments
ELx405 Microplate Washer
BioTek's ELx405 Microplate Washer is now available with vacuum filtration and biomagnetic separation modules to meet the growing demand for automated washing of microbead-based assays. Full 96- and 384-well microplate washing for bead-based assays, as well as standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), is available for those who are incorporating various assay types. The ELx405's variable-range vacuum filtration module automates polystyrene bead washing for microplate-based assays developed with multiplex assay platforms along with filtration-to-waste processes. The biomagnetic separation module provides rapid and uniform separation of micrometer- and nanometer-scale magnetic beads for the newest generation of Luminex xMAP assay platforms. Each can also be formatted to wash ELISA and cell-based assays.
More: www.biotek.com
Synergy H4 with Hybrid Technology
BioTek's Synergy Multi-Mode Microplate Reader family now includes Synergy H4 With Hybrid Technology, which combines the sensitivity of filter-based optics with the flexibility of monochromator-based optics in one compact instrument for high-performance fluorescence-based applications. This hybrid of both technologies provides flexibility in current and future microplate-based assay choice and is compatible with the BioTek Take3 Multi-Volume Plate for low-volume measurements down to 2 μL.
According to BioTek, filter/dichroic-based fluorescence optics provide superior light filtering and purification with fast wavelength switching and read speeds and is considered ideal for demanding applications including TR-FRET, fluorescence polarization, or AlphaScreen/AlphaLISA. Quadruple monochromator-based fluorescence optics provide the flexibility to choose any wavelength from the ultraviolet to the near infrared for a broad range of applications, and the variable band-pass selection system is considered ideal for spectral scanning applications. Top and bottom optics enhance assay flexibility even further.
More: www.biotek.com
Biotek Instruments and Millipore
Application Note: Automated Magnetic Bead Washing of Metabolic Hormone Assays
The application details the use of the BioTek ELx405 Magnetic Bead Washer to automate the various wash steps used with the Millipore MILLIPLEX MAP Assay as it pertains to a hormone assay panel. This assay is considered appropriate for users working with cytokines, acute phase proteins, diabetes biomarkers, and other hormones. The system allows measurement of up to 14 analytes simultaneously by multiplexing specific primary antibodies onto a micrometer-scale magnetic bead. During the assay process, the magnetic beads are washed several times; the ELx405 Magnetic Bead Washer retains the beads in each microplate well for rapid and efficient wash cycles. Fluorescently labeled analyte molecules bound to the primary antibody are detected via a Luminex multiplex system.
More: www.biotek.com/resources/articles/metabolic-hormone-assay.html
Chemsw
White Paper: How to Drive Down Lab Operating Costs with SaaS Solutions
A sixth best practices industry white paper, this one detailing best practices associated with the emerging Web-delivered Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions, is now available from ChemSW. According to the company, the white paper explores SaaS application selection and incorporation into laboratory practices that enable organizations to focus on core competencies while using best-of-breed software tools to achieve robust yet low-cost laboratory technology platforms. The paper also examines the components of a SaaS solution, business benefits of such solutions, SaaS best practices, how to ensure deployment of a successful SaaS solution, evaluating cost differences between on-premise and on-demand solutions, and how to select a SaaS solution for the laboratory.
CISPro Globally Harmonized System Tracking Feature
CISPro Global and CISPro Live chemical inventory systems now allow users to define and identify globally harmonized system (GHS) values for chemicals in the CISPro database. Using this new feature enables users to readily adopt and stay within compliance of the United Nations GHS of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals regulation that was released in July 2009.
More: www.chemsw.com/GHS.htm
Compucyte
iGeneration Imaging Cytometers
The iGeneration line of imaging cytometers now includes four laser versions of the iCyte, iCys, and iColor systems. According to CompuCyte, with the option of four excitation lasers chosen from a palette of 405, 488, 532, 561, 594, and 633 nm, these analyzers can dramatically increase system flexibility when using multiple fluorescent and chromatic dyes and take the definition of high-content cellular and tissue analysis to a new level. The recent development of fluorescent proteins that emit light in the cyan, green, yellow, and orange regions of the spectrum has had a significant impact on multicolor cellular imaging experiments, greatly expanding the range of such experiments that can be undertaken with laser scanning cytometry technology. With the introduction of this new functionality, users can capitalize on the availability of these fluorescent proteins.
More: www.compucyte.com
Dolomite
Mitos P-Pump
According to Dolomite, its new Mitos P-Pump provides a pulseless liquid flow using a precise pressure-driven pumping mechanism and offers excellent response time and accuracy, making it ideal for microfluidic systems where highly stable flow is required for applications such as droplet formation. Operating over a wide pressure range of 0—10 bars, the pump is considered suitable for use with systems of high fluidic resistance. The design features a lockable pressure chamber for safety, which is easily accessible and accommodates a wide range of standard and nonstandard fluid vessels. With the ability to contain samples from 100 μL to 30 mL, the pump uses fluid directly from the container to produce no mess or waste.
Mitos Hotplate Adapter
Dolomite's new Mitos Hotplate Adapter is designed to enable exact temperature control of microfluidic chips in conjunction with a range of hotplates. With the ability to hold a chip in position, the adapter is compatible with the Mitos Micromixer chip, the Mitos T-junction chip, the Mitos Thin-layer chip, and the Mitos Droplet Generator chip for advanced management of fluid heating.
The adapter offers a compact footprint of 39 × 43 mm, provides a temperature range of room temperature to 300 °C, and is digitally controlled with an external Pt 100 (thermocouple) temperature probe that can be attached for optimal temperature control.
Y-Junction Chip
Enabling liquid—liquid contact of immiscible fluid streams, as well as investigations into the diffusion of molecules between parallel laminar flow streams, the new glass microfluidic Y-Junction Chip has extremely smooth channel surfaces for an uninterrupted flow. With a compact size of 22.5 × 15 mm, the Y-Junction Chip is compatible with the Mitos Chip Holder H and the Mitos Edge Connector. According to Dolomite, a wide temperature and pressure range in combination with excellent chemical compatibility enables a broad range of fluids to be used. Furthermore, excellent spectral transmission facilitates high visibility, making access with microscopy systems quick and easy. A range of customized options are available. The chip can be etched to a range of different depths, and custom channel layouts can be specified, and offers hydrophobic, platinum, or gold coatings.
Exeter Analytical
Technical Note: Determining Organic Carbon in Sediment Samples
According to Exeter, the organic carbon fraction in sediments is important because it serves as a binding site for contaminant metals. The abundance of organic carbon controls many diagenic processes. Normalizing contaminant data by the percentage organic carbon allows for the distinction of specific anthropogenic sources. A filter-based methodology for determining organic carbon in sediment samples using the Model CE-440 CHN Elemental Analyzer is described in Technical Note 230.
The Model CE440 is a static combustion system with a horizontal furnace design that enables easy removal of filter and sample ash between each sediment analysis. Consequently, one combustion tube will analyze in excess of 1000 sediment samples without the need for removal and cleaning. In addition, the Model CE440 provides the capacity to process filters up to 47 mm in diameter in one analytical cycle. By comparison, Exeter says that other elemental analyzers using vertical furnace designs need cleaning after as few as 20 samples, and larger filters have to be subsampled several times and then corrective calculations made to enable analysis. Effectively eliminating troublesome residue buildup, the gas flow characteristics of the Model CE440 analyzer are said to provide longer-term calibration stability as well as enhanced accuracy and precision for measured sample data.
Because the Model CE440 provides complete control over combustion parameters, it is able to reproducibly achieve 100% combustion with the widest range of sediment samples. For sediment samples with low levels of nitrogen in the 0.1%—0.2% range, proprietary nitrogen analysis software for the Model CE440 enables accurate measurement at these levels with a high degree of accuracy.
Technical Report: Using CHN Microanalysis to Determine Sample Purity
A new technical report from Exeter reviews the benefits that CHN microanalysis offers laboratories for determining sample purity by providing a precise and accurate analysis of percentage carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen contents. The report examines a range of sample types that pose problems for determining sample purity using other popular analytical techniques such as mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The report describes how, with modern horizontal furnace CHN microanalysis instrumentation, precise and accurate results without constant system optimization can be obtained for a wide range of sample types from organic compounds, through organometallic species to proteins and peptides.
The report concludes that a horizontal furnace design CHN microanalyzer, such as the Exeter Analytical Model 440, is a powerful complimentary tool to MS and NMR for analysts seeking to reliably characterize samples.
More:
Fluidigm Corporation
48.48 Access Array Integrated Fluidic Chip for 454 FLX
According to Fluidigm, its new 48.48 Access Array integrated fluidic chip (IFC) is for 454 FLX users active in Amplicon Tagging. This Access Array IFC automatically generates emPCR-ready libraries by simultaneously combining 48 samples and 48 primer sets to produce 48 uniquely barcoded samples per chip for approximately U.S. $7 per sample. When used with a 454 FLX sequencer, Access Array IFC can capture up to 12 kb of sequence data per sample or 576 kb per array. Upcoming applications on the Access Array system, such as long-range polymerase chain reaction, will allow for users to target up to 480 kb of sequence data per sample or 23 MB per array. Fluidigm says that its new Access Array is the first IFC with the ability to harvest the sample out of the chip. Once the sample processing has been completed in the chip, it automatically returns the sample to the inlets where they can be easily extracted and readied for sequencing.
More: www.fluidigm.com
Fluidigm Europe
Technical Poster: Rapid Single-Molecule Haplotyping in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease
According to Fluidigm, sickle cell disease is a genetic condition caused by mutation of the β globin gene on chromosome 11p. Genetic variation elsewhere can lead to a milder form of the disease. One such modifier locus has been mapped to the intergenic region between HBS1L and MYB (HMIP) on chromosome 6q23.3. This new locus is dominated by a 24-kb haplotype block (HMIP-2) characterized by 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms. To identify the causative variant within HMIP-2, researchers at Kings College School of Medicine used a Fluidigm BioMark System and Digital Array Integrated Fluidic Circuit (IFC) technology to investigate the SNP haplotypes in a series of West African and African/European patients.
It was demonstrated that Fluidigm digital arrays can be easily adapted to SNP haplotyping. Applying digital array haplotyping, the researchers were able to phase three SNP markers at a modified locus for sickle cell disease. Further work using the Fluidigm BioMark System and Digital Array IFCs to extend and further characterize the African haplotypes will help identify the causative genetic variants at this locus.
The Fluidigm BioMark System uses IFC technology to reduce complexity, improve throughput with nanoliter precision, and provide significant cost-savings (less reagent and smaller samples) for high-throughput polymerase chain reaction (PCR) applications. The research described in this poster used the Fluidigm 12.765 Digital Array, a unique IFC that employs a network of integrated channels and valves to divide a mixture of sample and PCR reagents into 765 replicates. The chip is specially designed to quantify target sequences very accurately and to detect low-abundance targets that differ by only a base pair from the wild-type sequence. With conventional assays, these targets may be otherwise difficult to detect in the sample as a whole. Fluidigm also offers a 48.770 Digital Array IFC that is capable of testing up to 48 individual samples at a time and automatically partitioning each of the samples into separate sets of 770 reaction chambers—delivering a total of 36,960 simultaneous digital PCR reactions.
Web Site: Gene Expression Profiling in Single Cells
A new Web microsite featuring a 5-min video and downloadable customer conference posters, peer-reviewed publications, success stories, and application notes provides a comprehensive introduction to the rapidly expanding field of single-cell gene expression profiling. Visitors can gain an understanding of the technology, find out how Fluidigm Dynamic Array chips users are accelerating research, and evaluate whether Dynamic Array IFC technology is right for their projects.
Fluidigm Access Array IFC and SlingShot Kit
For next-generation DNA sequencing, Fluidigm offers a new suite of tools that can simplify and accelerate library preparation as well as enable absolute quantification of amplified sequences. The Fluidigm Access Array integrated fluidic circuit (IFC) eases the burden of library preparation for resequencing or long-range PCR because it facilitates the amplification and barcoding of 48 samples in parallel, with minimal time and labor and in as few as 3 h with yields that are equimolar and routinely at 100,000,000 or 1000,000,000. Because every sample may be identified by its barcode, all 48 samples can be multiplexed at the sequencing step. This capability dramatically reduces the time and money required for large-scale projects, opening new vistas of research. For example, scientists interested in large cohort studies can relatively easily sequence specific genes of interest from hundreds of individuals in just a matter of weeks.
The SlingShot Kit from Fluidigm can easily determine the optimal sample concentration before samples advance to sequencing. With SlingShot, digital PCR is used to easily determine the absolute quantity of target sequences, thus improving sequencing results generally and enabling the sequencing of previously undetectable samples. By exploiting the unique microfluidic properties of IFCs to detect only amplifiable molecules within the sample mixture, SlingShot has extremely small sample requirements typically offering a 1000-fold reduction in input volumes. As IFCs are able to count individual molecules using digital PCR, SlingShot eliminates titration steps at the sequencing stage. SlingShot requires only three liquid handling steps per library.
More: www.fluidigm.com/fields-research/next-gen-sequencing.php
Fluxion Biosciences
High Shear Microplate
A new microplate for the BioFlux live cell imaging workstation extends shear flow limits to simulate a variety of pathological vascular conditions. The standard BioFlux 48-well plate is suited for studying normal flow conditions in the body, whereas the new High Shear Plate enables assays under the increased flow characteristic of diseased vasculature. The new High Shear Plate is compatible with both the BioFlux 200 and the higher throughput, fully integrated BioFlux 1000 system. The presterilized SBS standard 48-well plates can be used for up to 24 simultaneous flow experiments.
More: http://fluxionbio.com
G.E. Healthcare
Online Guides for Protein Purification
A new set of interactive selection guides for protein purification from G.E. Healthcare includes solutions for purification of histidine-tagged proteins; solutions for purification of GST-tagged proteins; solutions for antibody purification; and a prepacked columns selection guide. In addition, information on all types of protein separation techniques, in-depth handbooks, and advice on developing successful protein purification protocols are available.
Genevac
EZ-2 Personal Solvent Evaporator
According to Genevac, this new third-generation version of its EZ-2 personal solvent evaporator uses advanced evaporation science and is designed specifically for productive, sample-safe solvent removal, be that concentration of samples, or complete drying. The capability to input up to 10 stored methods now allows users to optimize protocols for applications including environmental test methods, removal of very low-boiling point solvents, and degassing of aqueous ammonia or hydrochloric acid solutions.
The new compact EZ-2 has been made easier to use than a conventional rotary evaporator. In addition to accommodating many more sample formats (round-bottom flasks, tubes, vials, custom reaction blocks, and shallow or deep-well microplates), it can operate entirely unattended. It is fitted with an enhanced version of Genevac's SpeedTrap. This highly chemically resistant cold trap is designed to condense solvents to protect the environment and help to speed evaporation.
More: www.genevac.org
Puck Accessory for Rocket Evaporator
Puck is a new sampling accessory that extends the sampling versatility of the rocket evaporator to simultaneously accommodate up to eighteen 60-mL Accelerated Solvent Extractor (ASE) tubes. Benefiting from new low-temperature, low-pressure steam heating technology, the ASE Compatible Rocket Evaporator is able to uniquely achieve the dual goals of very fast evaporation with very precise temperature control, thereby accelerating the safe concentration of extraction samples. Evaporation of ASE tubes is fast and safe and provides excellent recoveries of even the most volatile analytes. In addition, Dri-Pure technology prevents solvent bumping and cross-contamination inherent with rotary evaporator and other vacuum evaporation systems.
More: www.genevac.org
Hamilton Robotics
MICROLAB NIMBUS Heater/Shaker Package
According to Hamilton, this new integrated system incorporates high-speed automated pipetting with orbital plate shaking and heating. This preconfigured, turnkey package provides streamlined functionality for a variety of applications that require heat for solute mixing or shaking such as in colorimetric, fluorescent, or luminescent bioassays; cell viability assays; and magnetic separations.
The NIMBUS package includes device mounting hardware, optimized test methods, and a choice of either the new Hamilton Heater Shaker module or one of several VARIOMAG Teleshake models. Pipetting can be done directly to microplates on the heater/shaker, and plates can be transported to and from the device with an optional labware gripper. The integrated devices are compatible with standard SBS microplate formats and provide accurate Peltier-based temperature control and orbital shaking with variable speed control. Hamilton's VENUS ONE software controls the heating and shaking method steps and parameter settings. The NIMBUS Heater/Shaker Package is offered in three configurations: shaking only, shaking and heating to 70 °C, or shaking and heating to 95 °C.
More: www.hamiltonrobotics.com
MICROLAB STAR Forensics Method Validation
Hamilton Robotics and Sorenson Forensics are collaborating to provide validated automation systems for DNA analysis in casework and databasing applications. Together, the two companies offer methods with a streamlined validation process for DNA extraction, normalization, polymerase chain reaction setup, amplification, and cleanup using Hamilton's STAR liquid handling platform combined with Sorenson Forensics’ expertise in method validation.
Hamilton's MICROLAB STAR automated pipetting workstation features air displacement pipetting technology for accuracy and precision, along with a Total Aspiration and Dispense Monitoring capability that monitors the air pressure in each pipetting channel in real time to verify that a sample has been successfully transferred. This provides a fully traceable audit trail and the documentation to support casework challenges.
Sorenson Forensics’ team of DNA analysts has validated third-party chemistry kits and methods on the Hamilton MICROLAB STAR platform, documenting new ones as they are introduced. The Sorenson facility is ASCLD-ISO accredited and compliant with SWGDAM validation criteria and FBI QA standards.
More: www.hamiltonrobotics.com
Hemco
Modular Clean Room
HEMCO is pleased to announce our new economy clean room system featuring hard-wall sides with clear vinyl strip door soft-wall entries. These rooms are built to meet class 100 to class 100,000 applications.
HEPA filter fan modules are ceiling mounted and maintain a single-pass airflow system. Windows and control panel are optional. The flexible design of this clean room allows it to be disassembled, moved, and reerected or modified to meet revised cleanliness or size requirements.
More: www.hemcocorp.com
EnviroMax Enclosures
According to HEMCO, its new EnviroMax Enclosures are specifically engineered to isolate laboratory automation equipment and robotic processes while maintaining a safe working area. They are designed to isolate liquid handling workstations, high-performance liquid chromatography equipment, sample weighing, high-throughput screening, powders handling, and other laboratory automated processes by providing exhaust air systems, clean workstation, or temperature/humidity-controlled environments. Systems can be engineered to maintain either vented exhaust air, HEPA filtered supply air, bio-containment enclosures, or temperature-controlled recirculating air. Sliding door accessibility can be from any or all sides. The enclosures feature a flexible, modular design and are engineered and built to exact customer size and design requirements. Available accessories include support tables, work surfaces, lighting, electrical, plumbing, and glove ports.
More: www.hemcocorp.com
HMS Industrial Networks
Intelligent Gateway
This new addition to the Anybus gateway family enables a Profibus-DP Master to read and write J1939 network data for control and monitoring tasks. The gateway accomplishes this by operating simultaneously as a Profibus-DP Slave on a Profibus network and as a CAN node on a J1939 network. Data are exchanged from either network based on a user-defined configuration. HMS provides a free Windows-based configuration tool (BWConfig) that allows users to map J1939 parameter (PGN) data into the module's input and output tables, accessible by the Profibus Master over the Profibus-DP network.
More: www.hms-networks.com
Integra Biosciences
PIPETBOY Vacuum Tweezers
This handheld suction device, designed as a low-cost accessory for the PIPETBOY pipettor, allows users to pick up, move, and position small, delicate, and hard to hold objects that weigh up to 50 g (1¾ oz). Benefiting from an ergonomic, lightweight, and easy-to-use design, PIPETBOY vacuum tweezers allow safe, fatigue-free operation and are supplied with a set of interchangeable suction nozzles.
Voyager Handheld Pipetting Systems
According to INTEGRA, as a complement to its PIPETBOY products, the Voyager range of handheld 8- and 12-channel handheld electronic pipettors are based on a motorized adjustable spacing design, eliminate cross-contamination, and ensure consistent, accurate, and fast delivery of liquids to target vessels with a different spacing than the row of starting vessels. Offering accurate high-productivity parallel pipetting from 0.5 to 1250 μL, Voyager pipettors are considered ideal for liquid handling tool for applications including sample reformatting, polymerase chain reaction setup, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay sample transfers, and Taqman Assay setup.
VACUSAFE Aspiration System
INTEGRA has extended its VACUSAFE aspiration system with new models. According to INTEGRA, unlike most “homemade” aspiration systems, the VACUSAFE has several important safety features like the liquid level sensor and the two hydrophobic filters that block potentially dangerous aerosols. A new handle makes the carrying and emptying of the VACUSAFE waste bottle even easier than before. With a wide range of adapters, removal of liquids is possible from virtually any container. For laboratories looking for the flexibility of an all-in-one vacuum aspiration system, the traditional VACUSAFE includes a low-noise pump, a shatterproof collection bottle, and a versatile hand operator. It is extremely simple to operate—switch on, set the required vacuum, and start working. VACUSAFE is the laboratory aspiration system of choice for a growing range of applications where gentle and controlled vacuum removal of supernatants is required.
Integrated Dna Technologies
miRCat Small RNA Cloning System
According to Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), its updated miRCat Small RNA Cloning System kit is now faster, permitting the cloning of small regulatory RNAs (miRNAs, piRNAs, siRNAs, etc.) from any cellular source in any species. The kit also includes Performa Spin Columns from Edge Biosystems. Featuring a fully hydrated gel matrix, the columns provide a convenient and simple method for recovering extremely pure RNA from denaturing gels of Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The IDT miRCat small RNA cloning system is compatible with the majority existing relevant laboratory protocols.
More: www.idtdna.com
Jeio Tech
Vortex Mixers
New vortex mixers from Jeio Tech feature both touch operation and continuous operation. The Low Profile Design and rubber feet provide excellent stability with minimum vibration and sliding. The highly sensitive touch switch offers real-time mixing, and the variable speed control knob shows indicative mixing conditions by the LED lamp. A wide range of accessories include tube holders from 10 to 25 mm and a micro plate holder. These new mixers also include a built-in safety device for overload protection and are constructed with a chemically resistant polypropylene exterior.
More: www.jeiotech.com/eng
Labvantage
SQL* LIMS SP7
According to LabVantage, its SQL* LIMS is a fully integrated laboratory information management solution and its Service Pack 7 (SP7) release includes more than 100 enhancements, including enhanced graphical user interface; extended dashboard data table, and worklist; advanced calculation verification capabilities; native crystal reports support; and Microsoft Windows Vista support.
More: www.labvantage.com and www.sqllims.com
Mettler Toledo
Online Tool: Risk Check
A new interactive online assessment tool from Mettler Toledo provides qualitative and quantitative analysis of balance performance and weighing environment. In a matter of minutes, the Risk Check can provide advice on optimizing quality assurance. The Risk Check is applicable to all kinds of balances independent of model, type, or manufacturer.
Users plug in real-world data to discover if their weighing risk—the possibility that poor weighing accuracy and the environment are skewing measurements—is low or if they need to make changes to help ensure safe, accurate, and consistent results. The Risk Check then provides advice on which adjustments will optimize balance performance and reduce the risk of inaccurate measurements. The Risk Check analyzes weighing risks based on the international weighing guideline Good Weighing Practice.
Excellence XP Balances
For weighing operations in difficult environmental conditions, Mettler Toledo says that its Excellence XP Balances set standards in hands-free weighing and cleaning, enabling customers to achieve optimal weighing performance and safeguard their investments. The conditions in the petrochemical industry are often challenging for analytical equipment, and balances are exposed to oil or dirty samples and harsh environments.
According to Mettler Toledo, its Excellence XP Balances have several advantages. All Excellence XP analytical and microbalances are equipped with customized, adjustable, motor-driven windshields, which make operating the balance, especially with gloves, much easier and faster. All Excellence XP Balances can be operated with the two built-in SmartSens IR sensors and up to two optional ErgoSens sensors. All weighing operations, including opening/closing the windshield, zero, tare, and print /transfer results, can be performed without adding any impurities, maintaining weighing performance, and protecting internal investments.
Excellence XP analytical and microbalance windshields can be completely dismounted within seconds and efficiently washed, for example, in a dishwasher. The mechanical concept of the SmartGrid “hanging” weighing pan means that there are no difficult-to-reach gaps. The Excellence XP analytical and microbalances are therefore the perfect solution wherever frequent cleaning is required.
All Excellence XP balance displays have covers, which protect the touch screen from contamination. Designed as expendables, the covers are made of robust polypropylene and can be easily replaced, if required.
More: www.mt.com
GWPExcellence
According to Mettler Toledo, its new GWPExcellence balance firmware is a solution for balance testing that comes preinstalled on all new Excellence Plus XP Balances, and a firmware upgrade is freely available for all existing XP Balances. The calibration and testing features are tailored to user applications and individual testing requirements. The new firmware maintains a testing schedule and automatically reminds users when a test is due. Balances cannot be used if the testing requirements have not been fulfilled. The firmware provides full user guidance for each testing protocol; human error is eliminated and advanced routines, such as repeatability testing, can be undertaken by all users.
More: www.mt.com
Micronic Europe
Aluminum Decapper-8
According to Micronic, its new Aluminum Decapper-8 enables quick and simple opening of lightly frozen sample storage tubes in laboratories handling smaller numbers of cryogenically stored samples. The sturdy Aluminum Decapper-8 can simultaneously open a row of eight lightly frozen capped storage tubes, thereby avoiding the need to first thaw samples, and is compatible with wide-ranging tube sizes (0.50, 0.75, 1.10, 1.40, and 2.50 mL).
More: www.micronic.com
Navitar
Online Resource: Optical Wizard Version 2.0
The Optical Wizard Version 2.0 interactive online lens selector tool offers additional assistance in determining an appropriate lens or complete lens system for machine vision or electronic imaging applications. Enhanced functionality offers a more appealing and streamlined look, and the user-friendly interface and step-by-step process simplify the lens selection process.
More: www.opticalwizard.com
Olympus
Olympus CX21LED Microscope
According to Olympus, its new Olympus CX21LED ergonomically designed LED microscope system is designed for use by medical and veterinary students, new doctors, and professionals working in small laboratories and allows for up to 10 years or more of daily use before a lamp change is necessary. The microscope can be set up in minutes and arrives complete with everything needed to begin imaging using bright-field illumination. Featuring Olympus optical performance, the CX21LED delivers crisp, bright images while maintaining rugged, dependable performance. Dark-field imaging is available with the addition of a dark-field stop.
Offers cell^TIRF Microscope Illuminator
According to Olympus, its new cell^TIRF illuminator represents a significant leap forward in objective-based multicolor total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. It offers four motorized channels for simultaneous image capture; intuitive, user-friendly software control of TIRF parameters; and instant setting and confirmation of the precise TIRF angle. The system also allows easy transition back and forth to wide-field fluorescence and a space-saving ergonomic design.
The new system has four individually controlled motorized laser inputs for TIRF imaging. With the cell^TIRF system, each laser wavelength is optimally focused and each angle is individually set, allowing different wavelengths to have the same penetration depth. Combined, these features make cell^TIRF the only such system that can simultaneously capture multiple channels with independently adjusted TIRF angles. Users do not have to make adjustments during experiments.
Users can operate the software through a simple graphical user interface, keyboard arrow keys, or the mouse wheel, making it easier than ever to control the incident angle of each wavelength and adjust TIRF penetration depths. Best of all, users can preset calculated penetration depths for all four lasers with just a single mouse click; the system will individually adjust each laser's angle automatically to simultaneously capture TIRF from all four channels.
Additional capabilities include one laser line that can be adjusted so the system can do fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments. A button is available to seamlessly switch to wide-field imaging, allowing researchers to visualize the complete cell profile, see nuclei, or find the field they want to observe. TIRF imaging mode can be reestablished in less than 500 ms. Users also can control laser intensities easily on-screen.
Accompanying the launch of the cell^TIRF illuminator are new Olympus laser systems incorporating the most commonly used laser wavelengths in the 405- to 640-nm range. The directly coupled laser systems feature attenuable laser power up to 100 mW and offer better delivery efficiency to the microscope than laser combiner options. Each laser system is a small, stackable integrated unit.
60X, NA 1.4 Microscope Objective Lens
According to Olympus, its new super-corrected 60 ×, NA 1.4 microscope objective is designed to deliver its optimal levels of performance using light at wavelengths not only up to 650 nm but down to 405-nm wavelength as well. It is considered useful for cell biologists, neuroscientists, and others using lasers for imaging inter- and intracellular details in biological specimens.
The PLAPON60XOSC lens provides for under 0.1—0.2 μm of chromatic aberration when working with lasers from 405 to 650 nm, which allows multicolor imaging with the highest color fidelity even at the shortest wavelengths commonly used for reliable colocalization and three-dimensional microstructure studies. Images down to 405 nm benefit greatly from highly improved optical performance with better flatness, and shadowed areas at the periphery of the image are virtually gone, so users see a bright crisp image from edge to edge. In addition, the objective provides excellent near-infrared fluorescence imaging up to 850 nm.
Oxford Gene Technology
CytoSure DMD Array
Featuring a 4 × 44-k format and dense probe coverage of the DMD gene region, OGT's new high-resolution CytoSure DMD array offers increased confidence in detecting deletions and duplications within the DMD gene. According to OGT, the array has undergone a process of empirical testing and optimization to provide probe sets of extremely high sensitivity and specificity. Average exon probe spacing of 10 bp (106 bp within introns) ensures excellent resolution. As a result, the entire DMD gene is covered on a single 44,000-feature array, which enables four full arrays per slide to reduce the cost per sample.
More: www.ogt.co.uk
CytoSure Interpret Software
New CytoSure Interpret software is now available for faster and easier translation of oligo aCGH data into meaningful results. This new release builds on OGT's previous software package with the addition of significant functionality such as the Accelerate workflow for speeding up and streamlining the analysis and interpretation of aCGH data. Users are able to tailor the software to their needs, customizing numerous functions including normalization, aberration detectionm and report generation. Importantly, CytoSure Interpret provides comprehensive contextual input by fully integrating results with legacy data, confirmation probe information (including FISH and MLPA), as well as extensive annotation tracks covering syndromes, genes, exons, CNVs, and recombination hotspots. Furthermore, these link to publicly available databases such as Decipher and the Database of Genomic Variants to provide even greater context. CytoSure Interpret ensures that cytogeneticists and molecular biologists benefit from highly flexible workflows and in-depth contextual information for clearer data interpretation.
More: www.ogt.co.uk
Paraytec
ActiPix SDI300 UV Area Imaging Detector
The ActiPix SDI300 is a ultraviolet area imaging detector that enables quantitative imaging of surface phenomena of a diverse range of substances including APIs, formulations, gels, liquids, stents, and patches. Initial results indicate that the SDI300 also offers insight for the investigation of bioavailability and real-time monitoring of dental erosion.
More: www.paraytec.com
Porvair Sciences
TriSeal Pro
Designed to produce an accurate and tight seal on any SBS proposed standard microplate from a thin polymerase chain reaction plate to deep-well plates, the new TriSeal Pro continuous roll microplate heat sealer includes a 610-m sealing film roll enabling up to 5000 plates to be sealed without intervention. Benefiting from a unique turntable design, which allows simultaneous loading, unloading, and sealing, TriSeal Pro is able to achieve plate sealing productivity of three plates per minute.
According to Porvair, its TriSeal Pro provides precisely adjustable temperature control from 50 to 185 °C, enabling it to operate optimally with most foil and film seals. Pneumatically operated, the TriSeal Pro requires only compressed air and mains voltage for routine high-throughput operation. The TriSeal Pro is designed for standalone operation but may be integrated via its RS232 port with most robotic plate stackers and automated equipment lines.
More: www.porvair-sciences.com
Quotient Bioresearch
Evidence Information Series
The latest addition to Quotient Bioresearch's ongoing Evidence Information Series is “Biomarkers in Respiratory Disease—Part 1: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).” This is the first white paper in a new series that will explore the value that biomarkers can add to drug discovery and development in important therapeutic areas. The program includes print and e-newsletters that regularly review the company's scientific publications as well as presentations on Quotient Bioresearch expertise and unique integrated clinical service offering—Synthesis-to-Clinic.
Rts Life Science
RTS SolidPrep
According to RTS, its new SolidPrep is the fastest solution for tablet and capsule homogenization and extraction. The instrument is used in pharmaceutical development where tablets are tested in stability and impurity studies or in quality control environments where assay and content uniformity testing is a requirement of the pharmacopeia. Recently upgraded with two new adaptors to support the processing of larger-volume (80 and 120 mL) tubes, these larger-capacity tubes support existing methods using standard 50- and 100-mL glassware. Standard solvent volumes requiring up to 100 mL of solvent can be processed in the new tubes without having to modify methods. The adaptors are capable of processing 5 × 80-mL or 2 × 120-mL tubes and are simple to fit, and changing between the various adaptors is a tool-free process.
More: www.solidprep.com
SP INDUSTRIES
VirTis Genesis 25 and 35 XL Freeze Drying Systems
Now with new autocascade refrigeration technology, SP Industries’ VirTis Genesis 25 and 35 XL Freeze Drying Systems can achieve low freeze drying temperatures while reducing operational energy consumption by 30%—40% compared with two compressor cascade systems. With only a single 1.5HP compressor powering the environmentally friendly refrigeration system, VirTis Genesis 25 and 35 XL Freeze Dryers can achieve —60 °C shelf temperatures and —70 °C condenser temperatures although still providing uniformity of drying conditions.
More: www.spindustries.com
Qualification and Verification Services
SP Industries has expanded its capabilities to provide qualification, calibration, validation, and maintenance of laboratory and production equipment such as freeze dryers, temperature control systems, washers, stability chambers, and more. SP Industries provides documentation packages and undertakes validation and qualification of both new and existing equipments. SP Industries’ range of validation and qualification checks before delivery of new equipment covers functional/performance specifications; mechanical, software, and hardware design specifications; installation and operational checks; testing of control system software and related hardware; as well as site acceptance testing. A full set of life cycle documentation is provided with new equipment purchases.
In addition to undertaking standard IQ/OQ protocols on laboratory or production equipment, SP Industries also can develop validation protocols for 21 CFR Part 11 qualification or for internal standard operating procedure requirements. Document sets are included when a qualification service is performed.
More: www.spindustries.com
SYMYX TECHNOLOGIES
Symyx Notebook and Thermo Scientific Watson LIMS
Symyx Technologies now offer an out-of-the-box integration of Symyx Notebook and Thermo Scientific Watson LIMS. The integration is designed to enable biological and bioanalytical workflows to electronically pass study information, sample lists, experimental results, and reports between the electronic laboratory notebook and the laboratory information management solution (LIMS), thereby reducing time-consuming manual transcription and data manipulation that can result in costly laboratory errors and regulatory compliance issues. According to Symyx, other benefits include the ability to design studies in Watson LIMS and publish them in Symyx Notebook; transfer sample information from Symyx Notebook into Watson LIMS; document laboratory activities (including sample preparation) in Symyx Notebook; annotate Watson LIMS work lists in Symyx Notebook; perform supplementary calculations and analysis in Symyx Notebook; and transfer completed Watson LIMS reports back to Symyx Notebook. A typical integrated workflow might involve setting up Watson drug metabolism/ pharmacokinetic (DMPK) study parameters in Symyx Notebook, transferring the DMPK setup to Watson LIMS, executing the study and analysis in Watson LIMS and reporting the results back through Symyx Notebook.
More: www.symyx.com
Symyx Direct 6.3 Chemistry Data Cartridge
Symyx Direct 6.3 chemistry data cartridge offers new capabilities in the handling of nonspecific Markush chemical structures and enables users to register, search, and retrieve molecular structures and reactions stored in Oracle relational databases. The new Markush functionality in Symyx Direct supports combinatorial library design and patent claim analysis in drug discovery by expanding the techniques available for managing and exploring large numbers of related chemical substructures. A Markush structure represents a large number of compounds as a single, generic entry by identifying a core structure and listing all possible variants or substitutes using Rgroup notations and substituent lists. Markush structures make it possible to generate and index all possible permutations of a specific chemical entity without creating an unmanageable information repository.
The Symyx Direct chemistry cartridge is a central component of the chemistry engine underlying Symyx Notebook, Symyx Isentris, and related scientific workflow applications including Symyx Registration software.
More: www.symyx.com
SYRRIS
Atlas Sodium Pressure System
This new modular pressure reactor is available in a range of volumes up to 450 mL, offering heating and/or cooling, overhead or magnetic stirring, pressure sensing, pressure control, and mass flow monitoring or control. Designed for applications such as hydrogenations or carbonylations where elevated pressures and temperatures are required, the Atlas Sodium Pressure System is the latest addition to the Atlas family of automated synthesis systems.
With the ability to operate up to 250 °C and 200 bars (higher temperatures and pressures available on request), this easy-to-use system is considered highly versatile, offering liquid sampling at high pressures and temperatures. Furthermore, the system can be supplied with 160-, 300-, and 450-mL pressure vessels in a range of materials and provides high performance stirring with powerful overhead (up to 800 rpm) or magnetic (up to 1200 rpm) stirring options. Maximum temperature and burst disc cutouts ensure that the system is safe and compliant with PED/ASME design codes.
The basic system allows automatic temperature and stirrer control as well as pressure sensing with data logging. Pressure can be controlled manually or automatically using the pressure control module and advanced PC software. Alternatively, it is possible to control mass flow into the reactor. All modes of operation are available with the Atlas Gas Selection Module, allowing automatic or manual selection of up to three gases and a mass flow meter to monitor off-gases.
More: www.syrris.com
The Automation Partnership
Sonata
Funded, in part, by the U.K. Technology Strategy Board, Sonata was developed to automatically incubate and process insect cells in Erlenmeyer shake flasks. The system can count the cells, add and decant media, centrifuge, and harvest cells, as well as keep cells refrigerated until they are required. Automation of these tasks allows users to continually maintain cultures of stock cells and automate infection for the production of baculovirus and protein reagents. Because they are no longer limited to carrying out the optimization processes during the working day, users have increased both the number of process runs they can achieve and the quality and quantity of the proteins. The system also can be used to culture mammalian cells where it can rapidly determine the optimum culture conditions and the most suitable cell lines for production of protein therapeutics.
Tandd Corporation
TR-77Ui Data Logger
This new unit features a relative humidity range from 0% to 99% and a temperature range from —30 to +80 °C. This lightweight unit is approximately 2“ × 3“ and operates on one AA battery. Relative humidity accuracy is ±2.5% and uncalibrated and provides a response of 20 s humidity time constant.
The probe has a 1-m cable that can be increased up to 10 m from the logger with optional extensions. The TR-77Ui can store up to 8000 readings × 2 channels for a total of 16,000 readings in one time or endless recording mode. When connected to a computer via a USB port, the recorded data can be quickly downloaded with the easy-to-use software. The TR-77Ui also features an IrDA port for wireless downloading of data. A built-in adjustment function allows calibration factors to be entered directly into the logger, eliminating the need to adjust readings after they are downloaded.
More: www.tandd.com
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Bindlt 3.1 Software for KingFisher Instruments
Bindlt 3.1 software enables KingFisher magnetic particle processor instruments’ users to create new purification protocols or modify existing ones. According to Thermo, BindIt 3.1 software provides a complete, fully automated solution with the highest possible throughput, enabling the KingFisher Flex to interface with liquid handling and plate stacking instruments as well as robotics. Previous software can be upgraded to Bindlt 3.1 free of charge.
In addition to ready-made and validated purification protocols, custom protocols can be created and stored in a PC database and transferred to the KingFisher instrument memory for stand-alone operation or run directly from the PC. All steps in the process have modifiable, defined parameters, and users can generate a status report to maintain quality control. This can include data on the run log, plate layout, and step parameters.
Finnpipette F2
With an upgraded soft-touch tip ejector for increased ergonomics and a patented gearing mechanism, the tip ejection force of the Finnpipette is decreased by up to 50%, effectively reducing the risk of repetitive strain injury. Furthermore, the advanced volume-gearing mechanism allows volume precision within two decimal places, and the double-action pipetting button prevents volume drift during pipetting.
Ttp Labtech
mosquito LCP
This dedicated pipetting instrument offers the full functionality of the mosquito product along with enhancements specific for lipidic cubic phase (LCP) techniques. It is designed to facilitate the automation and increased throughput of LCP crystallization setups.
Using a positive displacement syringe with automated tip positioning, mosquito LCP provides accurate and repeatable dispensing of the LCP drops. The precise positioning of the LCP material also facilitates automated imaging of membrane protein crystals in a range of high-density plate types. mosquito LCP includes disposable tip technology that guarantees zero cross-contamination for the precipitant addition step. Subsequently, high-throughput rates of more than eight 96-well plates per hour can be easily achieved, and evaporation of the dispensed LCP is minimized.
More: www.ttplabtech.com
Westermo
Wolverine 200 Ethernet Extender Series
Three models in the Wolverine Ethernet Extender series have been enhanced with Class 1, Division 2 approval. This allows the Wolverine series to be installed in hazardous or potentially explosive environments containing volatile, flammable vapors and gases.
More: www.westermo.com
Zinsser Analytic
Automated Testing of Lacquered, Painted, and Coated Surfaces to Environmental Degradation with LISSY
According to Zinsser Analytic, lacquered, painted, or coated surfaces can be exposed to degradation from contact with liquids such as rain water or surface water during routine use. This water can be contaminated with acids, bases, organic solvents, solvent mixtures (oil and petrol), or polymeric substances such as tar and sap, which can degrade the finish of the coating. With LISSY, it is possible to evaluate the effect of these substances on different surface coatings and at different temperatures (—20 to 200 °C); for example, drops of different liquids of a known volume (aqueous or organic, acidic or basic, polar or non polar, viscous, etc.) are placed onto a sample of the coated surface and incubated for a set time and temperature, drops of one liquid are placed onto a sample of the coated surface at a defined temperature but at different time intervals (seconds to hours), or multiple samples with different surface coatings are tested.
Performing this process manually is very time consuming. LISSY fully automates this process, with the user only having to place the labware and the substances of interest on the platform at point of run.
More: www.zinsser-analytic.com
More News
A4 Scientific selected LabCORE to seamlessly tie all of its laboratory informatics systems together and rapidly automate the process of creating, assembling and tracking all data and documents required for full CLP reports. Accelerated Technology Laboratories (ATL) added Dax Morgan to its Laboratory Information Management System Sales and Implementation Team. Mr. Morgan came to ATL with more than 15 years of IT and laboratory automation experience. Previously, he served as director of information technology at Texas Analytical Laboratories for Environmental Management. Adept Technology announced its Adept Quattro Robot broke the 300 cycle per minute barrier. The record robotic performance threshold was set using the 25 × 300 × 25-mm standard cycle. AdvanDx received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a 90-min protocol for its S. aureus PNA FISH and S. aureus/CNS PNA FISH tests. The faster protocol reduces the PNA FISH turn-around time from the original 2.5 h to 90 min by reducing PNA probe hybridization from 90 to 30 min. Clinical validation studies performed at hospitals in the United States demonstrate excellent equivalence between the 90-min protocol and the original PNA FISH protocol, ensuring that the faster protocol maintains the very high sensitivity and specificity required versus slower, conventional methods. Anybots will provide exclusive distributor rights to RoboMatrix, a division of Innovation Matrix, in the Japanese and Taiwan markets for its telepresence robot rental service and will have nonexclusive rights to regional sales distribution once available for production. Beckman Coulter and CompuCyte entered into a 5-year global distribution agreement under the terms of which Beckman Coulter will have the right to distribute CompuCyte laser scanning cytometers in cellular analysis markets worldwide. Beckman Coulter will maintain exclusive distribution rights for CompuCyte iGeneration technology outside of North America and will share with CompuCyte the right to sell the instrumentation to research institutions and pharmaceutical companies within the United States, Canada, and Mexico. CompuCyte will continue worldwide direct sales of LSC instrumentation for automated tissue analysis. Bel-Art Products acquired the assets of Magic Touch Icewares. Bel-Art Products will continue to manufacture Magic Touch products in the United States, and the line will be shipped from its Pokomoke, MD warehouse. Susan Gitelson, formerly president of Magic Touch Icewares, was retained as a consultant. BioFocus appointed Dr. Doris Hafenbradl as senior director, Biology and Natural Products, based in Basel, Switzerland. Doris joins BioFocus from Proteros Biostructures. BioTek Instruments was named Business of the Year at the Lake Champlain (VT) Regional Chamber of Commerce's 99th annual awards ceremony. According to the chamber, BioTek received the award because it showed tremendous growth in a sector that is strong and looks to remain strong in the future. Additionally, the chamber said that BioTek is an active member of the community that gives back when possible and offers good wages to employees, which is reflected in its high employee retention rate. BioTek Instruments announced the winner of its “Win a Free Epoch Multi-Volume Spectrophotometer System” contest was Mr. Joel Tardivel-Lacombe from Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherché Médicale, Luminy Campus in France. Mr. Tardivel-Lacombe was chosen at random from more than 700 qualified entrants from 69 countries. BioTek Instruments expanded its world headquarters in Winooski, VT, adding 8000 square feet to effectively increase the size of its service department by 50% and house a new applications laboratory. Twice the size of the previous laboratory, BioTek's new laboratory will be used for partnerships with major assay developers and for the development of unique applications for BioTek products and to prove their efficacy in real-laboratory environments. This new facility includes cell culture capability for cell-based assays, which represents 75% of the laboratory's current activity. Additional space in the service department includes a dedicated training room. In addition, existing space is being repurposed for manufacturing. CellAura partnered with Cisbio Bioassays to provide pharmacologically validated reagents to Cisbio Bioassays that will be applied to Cisbio Bioassays’ Tag-lite range of nonradioactive assays for cellular studies. ChemSW announced that VendorRate listed ChemSW as the top-rated vendor overall in its third quarter 2009 Customer Satisfaction Industry Report. Chip-Man Technologies’ Cell-IQ live cell imaging and analysis platform is now available to academic and industrial research laboratories in Switzerland through LabForce and in France through AdGenix. Denator received an iF (International Forum) Design Award for its Stabilizor instrument in the “Health and Care” category. Winning products were selected by an international jury of experts, and considered requirements include design quality, finish, choice of material, degree of innovation, environmental impact, functionality, ergonomics, safety, visualization of intended use, brand value, and universal design. In 2009, 778 products were awarded iF Product Design Awards from close to 2500 entries from 39 countries. ERT was honored at the 2009 European Outsourcing Awards ceremony in Madrid with the award for Best New Product for its electronic Patient Reported Outcomes-based suicidality monitoring solution. Evotec extended the drug discovery research collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim for a further 4 years and announced that the scope of the collaboration expanded to include oncology targets in addition to CNS, inflammation, cardiometabolic, and respiratory diseases. Exeter Analytical installed a Model 440 CHN/O/S Elemental Analyzer at Butterworth Laboratory. Fluxion Biosciences expanded its sales and service network into Asia. The company signed a distribution agreement for its BioFlux line with Korea-based DI Biotech. A second agreement with Novel Science covers sales of both the BioFlux and IonFlux platforms in Japan. Fluxion also sold its first BioFlux 1000 system into China. The China Academy of Chinese Medical Science is using the system initially for research on inhibition of thrombus formation on endothelial cells. The Institute of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics at the University of Düsseldorf acquired a Sapphire Near Infrared Chemical Imaging system from Malvern Instruments. According to Malvern, the new instrument is set to transform many of the institute's projects in novel solid drug dosage forms. The system is already being used for testing oral drug-loaded films, also called wafers, in a project designed to tackle the difficulties of administering drugs to young children. Malvern Instruments and Kaiser Optical Systems announced a development collaboration to enhance the product portfolios of both companies. Malvern Instruments will integrate Kaiser RamanRxn System analyzers and probes into its Morphologi platform. The Morphologi's high-performance automated image analysis will then intelligently target and guide the collection of Raman data on a range of particulate and solid materials. Used in conjunction with ISys, Malvern's chemical imaging software, this approach is expected to have many and varied applications, and sophisticated sample and particle handling, automated image recognition, and chemical characterization should combine to move Raman spectroscopy to a new level of intelligence and automation. Kaiser Optical Systems will distribute an exclusive version of Malvern's ISys data processing and analysis software and a new system control software platform specifically developed for its Raman Microprobe and PhAT-enabled Raman Workstation range for improved performance. Raman spectroscopy applications such as chemical mapping, well plate analysis, and tablet analysis are expected to benefit. NEXUS Biosystems acquired Aurora Biotechnologies. PBL InterferonSource and Quansys Biosciences entered into an agreement to broaden Quansys’ Q-Plex multiplex array offerings to enable the detection of interferons. The agreement will grant PBL International and Limited U.S. rights to sell Quansys Q-Plex multiplex array kits and related products. Phenom-World, a majority-owned subsidiary of NTS Group (NTS), acquired FEI Company's Phenom product line. NTS had been FEI's manufacturing partner and was closely involved with the development of the desktop scanning electron microscope. NTS continues to manufacture the product, and Phenom-World will assume responsibility for marketing, sales, and distribution of the product worldwide, as well as service and warranty repairs for the installed base. Roche Diagnostics opened a new customer training center in Pleasanton, CA. Roche has an existing training center in Indianapolis and will open an additional facility in New Jersey in 2010. The new Pleasanton training center, which includes three classrooms and a working laboratory, occupies approximately 5000 square feet at an existing facility owned by Roche Molecular Systems, a division of Roche Diagnostics. The center houses the latest Roche instrumentation for molecular diagnostics and clinical chemistry/immunochemistry testing and is managed by Roche's Indianapolis-based training team, which coordinates training for all U.S. customers. Symyx Technologies closed a deal with China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec Corp.) to supply a Zeolite Synthesis Workflow for research in energy and chemical development. This will be the first large-scale implementation of a high-throughput system by Symyx with a Chinese company. Symyx Technologies appointed John Senaldi as senior vice president of Symyx and president of its High Productivity Research (HPR) business unit. Symyx HPR delivers premium microscale, parallel experimentation tools along with supporting services and software to the life sciences, chemicals and energy, and consumer and industrial product industries. Mr. Senaldi served most recently as division manager of the Protein Function Division within Bio-Rad Laboratories. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), a U.S. Department of Energy research laboratory, purchased two new Symyx workflows to supplement its high-throughput and combinatorial catalyst technology capabilities. These systems are being used for PNNL's research in biomass conversion and alternative energy, specifically, for the high-throughput synthesis and primary screening of heterogeneous catalysts. Symyx Technologies and the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) launched a collaborative partnership to enhance the usability and accessibility of public scientific databases. The first joint project links related chemical structures between two information sources, ChemSpider (from RSC) and DiscoveryGate (from Symyx), enabling scientists to quickly retrieve more complete and comprehensive information. Syrris was awarded the “Eastern Region's UKTI Best Established Exporter” and the “Most Outstanding Export Achievement” at the Global Opportunity Conference on International Trade. The U.K. Trade & Investment trade awards are presented in recognition of successful overseas selling. The Automation Partnership's Advanced Projects Group successfully collaborated with a major European antibody therapeutics company to deliver a custom automated protein purification and concentration system to help the company accelerate its preclinical research. The automated protein purification system has already been installed and tested and can produce equivalent protein yields to the manual protein processes used previously, although decreasing labor and increasing the number of proteins available for analysis. The walkaway system, which has been designed to purify recombinant proteins from a 50-mL sample lysate, includes automated purification via affinity chromatography, buffer exchange, and then protein concentration. The system automatically refrigerates samples overnight, or over the weekend, to maintain quality and allow processing outside working hours. Designed to fit this laboratory's workflow, the system performs two runs every 24 h, each providing 48 high-quality bioassay ready protein samples. Titian Software U.S. expanded into new offices in Westborough, MA. The larger U.S. premises will house sales and support activities. WuXi PharmaTech purchased a Labcyte POD 810 plate assembler equipped with an Echo 555 acoustic liquid handler for its work in high-throughput screening and secondary screening. Rina Wolf joined XIFIN as vice president of commercialization strategies, consulting, and industry affairs. In this capacity, Ms. Wolf will provide consulting services to molecular diagnostic laboratories to assist them in the commercialization of new molecular diagnostic assays and the optimization of their pricing and reimbursement strategies. Before joining XIFIN, Ms. Wolf held the position of vice president of reimbursement and regulatory affairs at Axial Biotech.
Labautomation2010 Awards
2010 ALA Innovation Award
Ali Khademhosseini, Ph.D., of Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA, received the prestigious 2010 ALA Innovation Award and $10,000 for his podium presentation entitled “Microengineered Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Bioengineering.” The ALA Innovation Award recognizes the year's Top Candidates who present innovative laboratory technologies or new, highly useful technological advances and applications as a podium presentation. Those presentations demonstrating extraordinary vision, originality, seminal technology, applications and strategies are selected to qualify for the award. Dr. Khademhosseini and nine other ALA Innovation Award finalists will travel to Beijing, China, to present their work at AchemAsia, June 2-5, 2010. Travel expenses will be paid by ALA, DECHEMA and Peking University.
2010 ALA New Product Awards
Three new products showcased on the LabAutomation2010 exhibit floor received 2010 ALA New Product Award (NPA) designations. Honored this year were ArtusLabs for its new Method Genius, Beckman Coulter for its new SPRIworks, and Emerald Biosystems for its MPCS Plug Maker.
2010 Student Poster Competition Winners
1st Place: “Label-Free Toxin Detection Using Fluorescent Fingerprint Assay” by Govind Kaigala of Stanford University.
2nd Place: “Electrical and Fluidic Characterization of a Novel Integrated System for Automatic Patch-Clamp on Cultured Neural Networks” by Massimo Alberti of the Technical University of Denmark.
3rd Place: “Modular System for Connecting and Actuating Parallel Microfluidic Networks” by David Sabourin of the Technical University of Denmark.
2009 JALA Readers’ Choice Award
Congratulations to the Australian team of George S. Streitberg, Phillip T. Bwititi, Lyndall Angel and Kenneth A. Sikaris, authors of the 2009 JALA Readers’ Choice Award, for their original scientific manuscript entitled “Automation and Expert Systems in a Core Clinical Chemistry Laboratory” (from JALA 14.2 April 2009). For more information, please visit www.labautomation.org/awards/readerschoice.cfm.
Call for Papers
LabAutomation2011
Beginning in April, ALA will accept abstract proposals for LabAutomation2011 podium and poster presentations in five key education tracks: detection and separation, high-throughput technologies, informatics, micro- and nanotechnologies, and evolving applications of laboratory automation featuring agriculture and food. One podium presenter will win $10,000 as the 2011 ALA Innovation Award winner, and up to 10 finalists will travel to Mumbai, India, to present their work at the 25th edition of the Chemtech World Expo, February 23—25, 2011.
The ALA LabAutomation2011 conference and exhibition will be held in January 29 to February 2, 2011, in Palm Springs, CA. For complete program information and access to the online abstract submissions system, visit www.labautomation.org.
Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation
JALA is the only peer-reviewed, scientific journal devoted exclusively to the research, development, and application of technologies in scientific laboratories. Manuscripts are accepted on an ongoing basis from ALA members and nonmembers.
JALA manuscript abstracts are indexed by Analytical Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts CAS+, CINAHL, Compendex, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, Google Scholar, Inspec, ProQuest CSA Tech Research Database, Scifinder, Scirus, and Scopus. Abstracts and full-text articles also are available at JALA Online and Elsevier ScienceDirect.
Lab automation professionals are invited to showcase their achievements by submitting method-focused scientific papers for publication consideration. Manuscript guidelines and submission information are available at www.labautomation.org/journal/submissions.cfm.