New Method for Rapid Compound ID by GC/MS
Danbury CT, USA --– The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CTDEP) mobile lab has demonstrated the application of Cerno Bioscience’s MassWorks™ software for improving the accuracy and timeliness of on-site identification of unknown chemical compounds by GC/MS in time-critical environmental and homeland security incidents.

Results of the study were recently presented at the 2008 OnSite meeting for Homeland Security, Forensics, and Environmental Remediation in Baltimore, MD. The approach utilizes Cerno’s Massworks™ CLIPS (Calibrated Line-shape Isotope Profile Search) to provide accurate formula ID of unknowns.

This is used as complementary information to improve the accuracy of established EPA methods which utilize digital library searches. This method could lead to more accurate and timely information to assist in critical decision making for incident commanders and federal and local law enforcement in emergency situations.



Read full article: 'Connecticut DEP Develops Better Method for Quick Compound ID'

Chesham, UK -- Resolve Optics Ltd. have built an international reputation with company's faced with replacing hard to source or obsolete optical components within their camera, sensor and instrument systems.

Driven by financial considerations company's often seek to incorporate 'off-the-shelf' lenses and lens systems in the design of their products.

However, adopting an 'off-the-shelf' lens strategy necessitates accepting risks including having little control over security of supply and compromised performance compared to an optimised bespoke design.

Over the last 20 years Resolve Optics Ltd has successfully developed many innovative, high performance OEM lenses for customers seeking to replace hard to source or obsolete optical components with their camera, sensor or instrument system. Drawing upon an experienced team of optical designers - Resolve Optics Ltd. is able to quickly gain an understanding of the basic physics of the technology associated with each customer's product enabling a novel, optimised and affordable solution to be proposed.


Read full article: 'Replacing hard to source or obsolete optical components'

*NEWS FROM NOAA of The U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE*
THE NOAA ANNUAL GREENHOUSE GAS INDEX (AGGI)
[CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE}{Radiative forcing, relative to 1750, of all the long-lived greenhouse gases. The NOAA Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (AGGI), which is indexed to 1 for the year 1990, is shown on the right axis. Image by NOAA}
WASHINGTON,DC, USA -- Last year alone global levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, the primary driver of global climate change, increased by 0.6 percent, or 19 billion tons.

Additionally, methane rose by 27 million tons after nearly a decade with little or no increase. NOAA scientists released these and other preliminary findings today as part of an annual update to the agency’s greenhouse gas index, which tracks data from 60 sites around the world.

The burning of coal, oil, and gas, known as fossil fuels, is the primary source of increasing carbon dioxide emissions. Earth's oceans, vegetation, and soils soak up half of these emissions.

The rest stays in the air for centuries or longer. Twenty percent of the 2007 fossil fuel emissions of carbon dioxide are expected to remain in the atmosphere for thousands of years, according to the latest scientific assessment by the International Panel on Climate Change.


Read full article: 'Carbon Dioxide, Methane Rise Sharply in 2007'

In its final stage{CAPTION: The roundness delta of the finished Silicon sphere is about 50 nm on a 93.6 mm diameter. It is believed to be the roundest object in the world. PHOTO COURTESY CSIRO, Australia}
Braunschweig Germany -- On 10 April 2008, a new, isotopically pure silicon sphere arrived at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Germany's National Metrology Institute (NMI) from the final station of its production process in Australia.

Thus, the Avogadro Project for the new definition of the kilogram - coordinated by the PTB - is entering its final stage: The scientists expect the 28Si sphere to provide the crucial breakthrough for the determination of the Avogadro constant, i.e. the number of particles in a mole amount of substance.

When using the previous spheres made of a silicon-isotope mix, it was not possible to achieve the required accuracy.

With its unique purity, its uniform structure, the extremely smooth surface, and not least its price, the new sphere is identical to a diva and has only one single equivalent worldwide: a twin which travels to Japan for comparison measurements.


Read full article: ' The Avogadro Project'

Lelystad, The Netherlands & McMurray PA, USA -- Micronic BV has announced a new technical note that describes an elegant automated solution that overcomes the tedious and time consuming task of measuring the volume in capped sample storage tubes.

As the number of samples to be stored has grown so the need for automated sample storage instrumental solutions has become increasingly important. Entitled 'Managing your compound library' the new technical note describes automation products that manage the 4 stages of sample storage volume measurement: tube decapping, non-contact sample volume measurement, tube capping and re-arraying the tubes.


Read full article: 'Managing your compound library...'