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Spectroscopy instructs scientists, technicians, and laboratory managers in the efficient, productive use of spectroscopic instruments, and promotes the acceptance of spectroscopy as a practical analytical technology in industry and life science. We serve subscribers by publishing a highly focused editorial product that combines peer-reviewed scientific articles with practical, solutions-based information, helping them to become better spectroscopists whether they work in the laboratory, on the process line, or in the field.

Annual Salary Survey
2008 Salary Survey: Salaries and Stress Shrink
Spectroscopy staff editor Brian Johnson discusses this year's salaries and trends in employment for spectroscopists.
The 2004 Spectroscopy Survey of Salaries and Employment Issues
A Look at Spectroscopists' Incomes and Attitudes About Their Jobs
2007 Salary Survey
Staff editor Brian Johnson takes a look at this year's salaries and trends in employment for spectroscopists.
2006 Salary Survey: Salary Changes and Job Satisfaction in the Spectroscopy Community
This year's survey of salaries and job attitudes reveals that the market seems stable, but many spectroscopists are feeling the pressure of the economy at work.
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Application Notes - Atomic Spectroscopy
Confocal Raman Imaging of Diamond Film
RoHS/WEEE Application of a Miniature X-Ray Spectrometer
Analysis of Biodiesel Utilizing a Simultaneous CCD Detector ICP-OES System
Progress in the Development of ICP
Direct Analysis of Undiluted Seawater by ICP-MS Using a Novel High Matrix Introduction System
Oil-Trace: Analysis of Sulfur in Fuels, Biofuels, and Mixtures Using a
Eagle III Micro-XRF: Elemental Imaging Analysis
EDAX, Inc.
Matrix Effects in ICP-AES Analysis
SPEX CertiPrep, Inc.
Meeting Quality Control Requirements in the Routine Inorganic Laboratory
PerkinElmer, Inc.
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Application Notes - General
Ultraviolet Signals in Blue Tits
Dangerous Toys: Rigid Testing Routines Required to Assure Our Children's Safety
The Importance of Using Correct Sampling Procedures in Obtaining
Retsch, Inc.
Miniature Spectrometers: Preventive Maintenance and Calibration
Ocean Optics, Inc.
Low-Frequency and Stokes-Antistoke Raman Measurements Using TriVista
R. Shafer, O. Rohm, Spectroscopy & Imaging GMBH; D. Koulikov, A. O?Grady, Princeton Instruments/Acton Research
Measurement of the Spectroscopic Properties of Optical Components for CD-DVD Players Using the Microsample Measurement Accessory
Stephen T. Watts, Kazuyo Miura, and Takayuki Wakui, Hitachi High Technologies America, Inc.
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Application Notes - Mass Spectrometry
High Throughput Metabolic Stability Screening by MALDI Triple Quadrupole Analysis
Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX
Determination of Estradiol in Plasma with Negative Chemical Ionization GC-MS/MS on TSQ Quantum GC
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Dynamic Range Improvements on the Hitachi NanoFrontier Linear Ion Trap-TOF LC-MS Platform
Hitachi High Technologies America, Inc.
Analysis of Mycotoxins in Various Cattle Forages and Food Matrices with the TSQ Quantum Discovery MAX
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Advanced Data-Reduction Strategies for LC-MS
Advanced Chemistry Development, Inc.(ACD/Labs)
Ammonia Process Gas Analysis
Applied Instrument Technologies
Dynamic Range Improvements on the Hitachi NanoFrontier Linear Ion Trap-TOF LC-MS Platform
Hitachi High Technologies America, Inc.
Performance of Electron Multipliers in High-Pressure Applications
BURLE Electro-Optics, Inc.
Principle Component Analysis of Urine Samples Based upon ESI-TOF-MS Data
Gabriela Zurek, Birgit Schneider, and Carsten Baessmann, Bruker Daltonik GmbH
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Application Notes - Molecular Spectroscopy
Improved Performance and Functionality in UV-Visible Measurements
Examining Molecular Orientation Using ATR Spectroscopy
High-Throughput Push-Button NMR in Fruit Juice Quality Control Using
Miniature NIR Spectrometers: Designed for Harsh Environments
Combining Fast Raman Imaging with Optimization of the Spatial Resolution for Complete Measurement
Extending the Range of MCT Focal Plane Arrays-Based Imaging Systems to Near IR Imaging Applications
Photovoltaic Device Characterization Using the UVISEL Spectroscopic Ellipsometer
HORIBA Jobin Yvon, Inc.
Classification of Bacteria Using FT-IR
Thermo Fisher Scientific
FT-IR Spectroscopy Inside a Glovebox
Bruker Optics
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Atomic Perspectives Column
The Spectral Lines of Hydrogen
A short history of the early scientific developments related to the optical emission lines of hydrogen is presented. These were crucial to the development of the quantum theory. Balmer's empirical formula was an important milestone. Rydberg and others provided additional work, especially for higher atomic numbers. However, it remained for Bohr to provide the physical reasoning.
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen and the Discovery of X-Rays
Volker Thomsen takes a look at the impact that the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895 has had on the world.
A Pragmatic Approach to Managing Interferences in ICP-MS
While inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is capable of part-per-quadrillion (ppq) detection limits under ideal conditions, most applications do not require this level of sensitivity and do not justify the cost associated with achieving it. Practical sensitivity in ICP-MS is determined not by instrument signal-to-noise ratio, but rather by controlling interferences and matrix effects in real samples. Understanding the sources of these effects and their management is critical in determining the most practical way to achieve specific data quality objectives.
Innovations in Speciation Analysis Using HPLC with ICP-MS Detection
Speciation analysis has grown rapidly and has expanded to a variety of markets, including environmental, clinical, food, nutraceutical, and bioanalytical. This growth has resulted from the realization that knowing the total amount of an element does not always provide adequate information for assessing health and environmental effects, but knowing which form of the element is present presents a much more comprehensive picture.
Quantitative Analysis of Low Levels of Chlorine and Iron in Hydraulic Oil Samples
Simple, fast, and reliable on-site hydraulic oil analysis should be an integral part of any preventative maintenance program. Since the majority of machine failures are contamination related, it is important to analyze the hydraulic fluid to monitor equipment condition and identify machine wear. Significant cost savings can result from early identification of machine failure, oil quality, handling and other problems. Oil analysis can detect changes in oil quality, contamination, wear and chemical differences. Benefits of this information include prolonged equipment life, reduced equipment downtime, and reduced overall maintenance costs. In addition, plants can increase intervals between oil changes, thus reducing waste oil, maintenance, and oil purchase costs.
RoHS/WEEE Application of a Miniature X-Ray Spectrometer
The RoHS/WEEE directive requires the electronics industry to certify that products comply with maximum concentration amounts of particular elements and compounds (Cr VI, Pb, Cd, Hg, Br PBB/PBDE) by July 2006. Instrumentation must be developed to perform the certification.
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Atomic Spectroscopy
The Spectral Lines of Hydrogen
A short history of the early scientific developments related to the optical emission lines of hydrogen is presented. These were crucial to the development of the quantum theory. Balmer's empirical formula was an important milestone. Rydberg and others provided additional work, especially for higher atomic numbers. However, it remained for Bohr to provide the physical reasoning.
Spectroscopy Is Applied Quantum Mechanics, Part III: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
Columnist David W. Ball discusses the pioneering work of Erwin Schrodinger, whose work on wave mechanics forms the basis of the modern understanding of subatomic behavior.
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Automation/Computers
Electronic Records Management
Paper is easy to archive, but what about archiving electronic records? What do you do with all the electronic records that are generated? In this month's installment, columnist Bob McDowall explores the issue of electronic records management and looks at the recent guidance issued by the OECD for GLP laboratories.
Understanding the FDA's Current Thinking on Security and Access Control Requirements for Computerized Systems
Using information provided by guidance documents from outside the spectroscopy laboratory can be very useful when trying to meet the regulations that we must follow.
Fully Integrated Analysis of Metabolites, Impurities, andDegradants Using LC–NMR–MS
Combining the three techniques of LC, MS, and NMR into one integrated system provides optimal use of NMR intrument time by using information-rich MS data to automatically guide the NMR operation. Here, the authors explore just this type of system.
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Biological/Medical Analysis
Miniature Optical Spectrometers: Follow the Money Part II: The Telecommunications Boom
The author examines NIR spectrometers and the technologies developed during the telecommunications boom of the late 1990s, focusing on miniaturized optical techniques generally called MOEMS.
Probing the Structural Effects of Pasteurization and Spray Drying on Soy Protein Isolate in the Presence of Trehalose Using FT-IR-ATR and FT-Raman Spectroscopy
The authors present the results of a study in which FT-IR-ATR and FT-Raman spectrosopies were used to probe the effects of pasteurization and spray drying on the secondary structure of soy protein isolate.
Surface-Enhanced Nanosensors
January 2007. This review article summarizes biological applications that utilize surface plasmon resonance, localized surface plasmon resonance, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
Analysis of Volatile Bacterial Metabolites by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Here the authors describe a new method for the identification of key volatile organic compound markers using mass spectrometry combined with gas chromatography.
Measurement of Metabolic Stability Using SIM and Identification of Metabolites by Data-Dependent full-Scan MS-MS and CNL Scanning
In this article, the role of a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer in performing in vitro studies of compound metabolic stability and identification of Phase I and II metabolites is demonstrated.
ICP-MS Speciation Analysis: Three Roles of Selenium
The element selenium plays three distinct roles in biological processes, functioning in turn as a toxicant, a chemopreventive agent, and a heavy metal antagonist. This article discusses current research associated with each role, and how ICP-MS can be employed to better understand and utilize selenium's properties.
Measurement of the Dynamic Rates of Association and Dissociation of EGF with its Cell-surface Receptor in Intact Cells
Many important biological signals are triggered by the binding of a peptide hormone to its cognate receptor at the cell surface. Using stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopy, the authors have been able to observe, in real time, ligand binding to epidermal growth factor receptors expressed at the surface of intact cells. This method allows for the measurement of kinetic association and dissociation rates with high data density in a native cellular environment, providing insights into the signal-initiation process in this system that have not been revealed through the determination of ligand-binding constants obtained by more traditional methods.
Infrared Tissue Imaging Applications Growing in Biomedical Research and Diagnosis
IR imaging provides a new tool for disease detection, revealing compositional and structural information in tissue previously not available with contrast staining.
Influence of Na+ and K+ Concentration in solvents on Mass Spectra of Peptides in LC–ESI-MS
The concentration dependent influence of Na+ and K+ions on mass spectra of peptides is shown with human gastrin as a model peptide. With electrospray ionization the doubly charged protonated molecule ion [M+2H]2+ is normally the preferred ionization product. However, trace amounts of alkali metal ions already form clusters (adducts) with the peptide molecule, such as [M+H+Na]2+, which become dominating at higher concentrations. With Na+/K+ concentrations below 0.1 mg/kg (ppm) only a few clusters appear, which allow the correct doubly charged molecule ion to be assigned for a subsequent MS–MS experiment. With concentrations of 10 ppm and higher the alkali clusters become the most abundant peaks in the spectrum, and the absolute sensitivity is decreased by a factor of 5–10. Experiments were performed with water and water–methanol mixtures with a known Na+/K+ +content.
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Book Reviews