Nanoanalysis of the arthropod neuro-toxins

Many kinds of venomous principles modulate physiological responses of mammalian signal transduction systems, on which they act selectively as enhancers, inhibitors or some other kind of effectors. These toxins become useful tools for physiological research. We have employed and characterized paralyzing toxins from the venom of spiders, insects and scorpions with a limited supply. We have developed rapid and sensitive mass spectrometric technology and applied for the identification of these toxins. Venom profiles are screened by MALDI-TOF fingerprinting analysis prior to purification of venomous components, then marked target toxins of small molecular mass (1000–5000) are characterized directly by means of mass spectrometric techniques such as Frit-FAB MS/MS, CID/PSD-TOF MS, Capil.-HPLC/Q-TOF MS/MS etc.     

Exploring the potential of applying infrared vibrational (micro)spectroscopy in ergot alkaloids determination: Techniques,current status,and challenges

Ergot alkaloids (EA) are toxins produced mainly by Claviceps fungi and are considered as one of the most important groups of mycotoxins. Rapid and reliable detection techniques are urgently required by producers, importers and market regulators. As a promising alternative to conventional wet chemistry, infrared (IR)-based techniques are non-destructive, rapid and cost-effective. However, very limited studies on the qualitative or quantitative analysis of ergot or EA in food or feed based on IR vibrational spectroscopy have been reported so far. Being a secondary technique, the accuracy of IR method heavily depends on the robustness of chemometrics models. This paper aims to offer a brief overview of the EA issue in food and feed, conventional detection methods, theoretical principles of IR-based techniques and commonly used chemometrics for spectral data processing. In addition, the current application status of IR spectroscopy in ergot research is also considered.     

Identification and structural characterization of the synthetic cannabinoid 3-(1-adamantoyl)-1-pentylindole as an additive in 'herbal incense'

Since the end of 2010, more than 20 synthetic cannabimimetics have been identified in 'Spice' products, demonstrating the enormous dynamic in this field. In an effort to cope with the problem, many countries have already undertaken legal measures by putting some of these compounds under control. Nevertheless, once a number of compounds were scheduled, they were soon replaced by other synthetic cannabinoids. In this article, we report the identification of a new--and due to its substitution pattern rather uncommon--cannabimimetic found in several 'herbal incense' products. The GC-EI mass spectrum first led to misidentification as the alpha-methyl-derivative of JWH-250. However, since both substances show different retention indices, thin-layer chromatography was used to isolate the unknown compound. After application of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, high-resolution MS and GC-MS/MS techniques, the compound was identified as 3-(1-adamantoyl)-1-pentylindole, a derivative of JWH-018 carrying an adamantoyl moiety instead of a naphthoyl group. This finding supports that the listing of synthetic cannabinoids as prohibited substances triggers the appearance of compounds with uncommon substituents. Moreover, it emphasizes the necessity of being aware of the risk of misidentification when using techniques sometimes providing only limited structural information like GC-MS.     

The use of Raman microscopy and laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry in the examination of synthetic organic pigments in modern works of art

Synthetic organic pigments are widely used in modern and contemporary works of art. They have been examined by a variety of techniques including spectroscopic methods such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman, and X‐ray powder diffraction as well as chromatographic or mass spectrometric techniques such as pyrolysis‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (LDI–MS). Often, a combination of techniques has been used to examine these pigments. This paper describes use of Raman spectroscopy to create a database of colorants including two pigments not previously reported, PO1 and PO2. Then, using Raman spectroscopy in combination with LDI–MS, samples from modern works of art by artists including Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, and José de Rivera were examined in order to identify the pigments present. One finding was that Rothko used a variety of red pigments over the course of his career including PR11 which has not been previously reported in artwork, and PO2 found with its positional isomer PR1. Knowledge of the colorants serves to inform conservators about display and treatment decisions. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

哌嗪雌酚酮的结构研究

哌嗪雌酚酮是一种可望用于骨质疏松症的雌激素类防治药物. 文中采用IR、MS、NMR 等波谱技术,特别是¹H-1H COSY、HMQC和HMBC谱等2D NMR技术, 确定了它的氢谱和碳谱的信号归属,对它的结构进行了确证.     

Mössbauer spectroscopy in biomedical physics research

Several applications of Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS) as an analytical tool in research on biomedical physics are reviewed: (1) The evaluation of treatments for some diseases such as thalassemia, iron-overload disease, high altitude polycythemia. (2) Medical research on the effects of environmental factors on the human body, for example, the effects of electromagnetic radiation on human red blood cells (RBCs). Some advantages and weaknesses of MS, a new application of the Mössbauer effect, cancer therapy, and some possible applications such as monitoring the RBCs of the patients before, during, and after surgical operation, are discussed.     

近红外光谱技术在红砂岩文物风化研究中的应用

用现代近红外光谱分析技术研究红砂岩文物的风化机理,分别对六组红砂岩样品进行分析,结果表明近红外光谱技术能较好的分析红砂岩风化前后的物质组分,达到探究组分变化的目的,是一种快速有效的研究手段,且比其他研究技术更具测量样品用量少、速度快、无破坏、无污染的特点,这些优点表明近红外技术也能用于其他石质文物的研究,尤其对那些取样难、珍惜贵重、不能破坏的石质文物其作用更显得尤为重要.所以随着时代的进步近红外技术作为石质文物的研究手段将会越来越凸显其意义.     

Analytical Instrumental Techniques to Study Archaeological Wood Degradation

Abstract

Historically, a very large variety of everyday artifacts were made of wood, which makes them representative of their historical period or social context and valuable for archaeologists and historians. In order to preserve degraded wood and to develop and apply suitable conservation treatments, chemical and physical characterization of archaeological wood is needed. This review provides the reader with a survey on state-of-the-art of instrumental analytical tools available to understand the morphology and the chemical composition of archaeological wood. The focus is on microscopic and spectroscopic techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and analytical techniques based on pyrolysis, such as direct exposure–mass spectrometry (DE-MS), pyrolysis–mass spectrometry (Py-MS), pyrolysis–gas chromtography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), with emphasis on their respective potentialities and limitations. The advantages of techniques based on synchrotron radiation are also discussed. In addition, the applicability of each examined technique is illustrated and discussed through specific examples from the literature.     

Recent advances and spectroscopic perspectives in fluoride removal

With the constant rising demand for pure water to meet the needs of the growing population particularly in developing countries, fluoride remediation from drinking water has emerged as an increasingly important matter of public concern. In the past decade, significant efforts and advances have been made for developing efficient adsorbents for fluoride removal from water. This review summarizes recent advances (2012–2016) in defluoridation techniques and highlights the challenges and opportunities for future research in the important field of fluoride removal. The spectroscopic techniques, used to develop adsorbents/adsorption mechanism, discussed in this review are X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, atomic absorption spectrometry, inductive coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The defluoridation techniques have been discussed in four categories: precipitation, membrane, ion-exchange, and adsorption techniques. Then recent research on fluoride removal using various adsorbents with their spectroscopic studies are summarized and discussed with regard to their synthetic chemistry, properties, and applications. The advantages and disadvantages of defluoridation techniques and adsorbents have been presented. Finally, the future needs and perspectives of fluoride removal are addressed.     

Restorative effect of endurance exercise on behavioral deficits in the chronic mouse model of Parkinson's disease with severe neurodegeneration

Background  

Animal models of Parkinson's disease have been widely used for investigating the mechanisms of neurodegenerative process and for discovering alternative strategies for treating the disease. Following 10 injections with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP, 25 mg/kg) and probenecid (250 mg/kg) over 5 weeks in mice, we have established and characterized a chronic mouse model of Parkinson's disease (MPD), which displays severe long-term neurological and pathological defects resembling that of the human Parkinson's disease in the advanced stage. The behavioral manifestations in this chronic mouse model of Parkinson's syndrome remain uninvestigated. The health benefit of exercise in aging and in neurodegenerative disorders including the Parkinson's disease has been implicated; however, clinical and laboratory studies in this area are limited. In this research with the chronic MPD, we first conducted a series of behavioral tests and then investigated the impact of endurance exercise on the identified Parkinsonian behavioral deficits.     

Technical Development of Raman Spectroscopy: From Instrumental to Advanced Combined Technologies

Abstract

Raman-based techniques have developed into excellent analytical tools in various research fields, primarily due to their noninvasive sampling capability, minimal sample preparation, and short analysis time. Major improvements in lasers, spectrometers, detectors, and holographic optical components have made Raman spectroscopy an effective tool for analyzing natural and synthetic materials. This article presents a short introduction to Raman spectroscopy and several recently related advances, including, Fourier transform (FT) Raman spectroscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, Raman sensing, and stand-off Raman spectroscopy techniques. Other topics discussed in this article are the importance of its combination with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF).     

Early detection of diseases in plant tissue using spectroscopy – applications and limitations

Plant diseases can greatly affect the total production of food and agricultural materials, which may lead to high amount of losses in terms of quality, quantity and also in economic sense. To reduce the losses due to plant diseases, early diseases detection either based on a visual inspection or laboratory tests are widely employed. However, these techniques are labor-intensive and time consuming. In a view to overcome the shortcoming of these conventional approaches, several researchers have developed non-invasive techniques. Recently, spectroscopy technique has become one of the most available non-invasive methods utilized in detecting plant diseases. However, most of the studies on the application of this novel technology are still in the experimental stages, and are carried out in isolation with no comprehensive information on the most suitable approach. This problem could affect the advancement and commercialization of spectroscopy technology in early plant disease detection. Here, we review the applications and limitations of spectroscopy techniques (visible/infrared, electrical impedance and fluorescence spectroscopy) in early detection of plant disease. Particular emphasis was given to different spectral level, challenges and future outlook.     

光谱及成像技术在果蔬损伤检测研究中的应用现状与展望

果蔬在收获、运输、贮藏、分拣、包装和销售过程中均会遭受不同程度的挤压、碰撞或摩擦,从而造成果蔬损伤,如挤伤、开裂、擦伤等外部损伤,同时,在生长过程中会产生黑心、水心、褐腐、霉心等内部损伤。果蔬损伤初期特征不明显,外观与正常果实基本无异,然而随着时间的推移,损伤组织恶化扩散,最终导致整个果实腐烂变质,又进而接触感染其他果实,造成周边甚至整箱果蔬病变,对果蔬产业造成巨大的经济损失。果蔬采后损伤检测方法多种多样,其中人工检测最为简单常用,但是该方法不仅耗时耗力,容易造成错判和漏判现象,而且无法实现肉眼不可见的皮下或内部损伤检测。近年来,随着计算机技术的快速发展,越来越多的无损检测技术被广泛应用于果蔬损伤检测,其中最为常用的当属光谱和成像技术。光谱成像技术通常结合图像处理、光谱分析、化学计量学方法、统计分析等手段,利用损伤果蔬和正常果蔬的图谱信号差异实现损伤检测,具有无损、快速等优点,能解决人工检测耗时耗力且准确率低的问题。在此主要概述了8种光谱及成像技术（近红外光谱、拉曼光谱、荧光光谱、高光谱成像、空间频域成像、核磁成像、X射线成像和热成像）在果蔬损伤检测的最新研究进展,包括检测原理及其技术特点,总结分析了各技术在果蔬损伤检测方面的应用情况,并展望未来发展趋势,以期为果蔬损伤无损检测提供借鉴与参考。     

Degradation of materials and passivity

Demanding for a reduction in materials degradation is a serious problem all over the world. Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS) is, among others, a very valuable tool to follow many degradation processes. Evidently, Fe is the most important Mössbauer element considering the overall presence of iron in everyday life. MS may contribute to our knowledge about nearly all fields of materials degradation, chemical, mechanical, thermal, irradiative, etc. Following some general lines, corrosion is considered in particular. MS is applicable to investigate the bulk of materials as well as their surface layers with an information depth of ca. 250 nm. In general, it has to be applied as a surface sensitive method in combination with other relevant methods in order to get a detailed insight into ongoing processes. Some examples have been selected to elucidate the application of MS in this field. Another class of examples concerns attempts to prevent corrosion, i.e., the application of coatings and transforming chemicals. A very effective and most natural way to reduce corrosion is the passivation of materials. The effect of passive layers and their destruction by environmental influences are discussed using results of MS and related methods. It is outlined that passivity is not restricted to chemically treated metals but can be considered as a general concept for preventing different kinds of materials from degradation.     

Laser spectroscopy applied to energy,environmental and medical research

Through the development of powerful laser spectroscopy techniques new means for advanced diagnostics and sample analysis have emerged. Applications of laser spectroscopy in the fields of energy, environmental and medical research are discussed. Emphasis is placed on non-intrusive diagnostic techniques for studying combustion processes, for remote monitoring of atmospheric pollutants and for industrial and medical applications of laser-induced fluorescence. Selected examples from work performed at the Lund Institute of Technology are used as illustrations, and references to books, reviews and selected papers are given.     

水源性病原菌光谱检测技术研究进展

水源性病原菌污染会引发多种疾病,严重危害人类健康和公共卫生安全。水源性病原菌检测对人类医疗保健、水安全保障和疾病诊断等具有重要的意义。常规水源性病原菌检测技术,如人工培养法、分子生物法和免疫学法,其测量结果准确、有效,但样品预处理繁琐且费时,不利于病原菌实时在线检测。光谱检测技术以非侵入式获取病原菌发射、散射或吸收光谱特征,能够确定病原菌性质、结构和含量等信息。由于该技术具有易于操作、快速、便携、无损和便于实时监测等优点,在环境监测、生物分析中具有广泛的应用前景。文章介绍了现有水源性病原菌检测技术及其优缺点,指出开展病原菌快速、高效检测的必要性;讨论了光谱检测技术原理及数据分析方法,重点综述了紫外可见光谱、荧光光谱、红外光谱、拉曼光谱和太赫兹光谱在水源性病原菌检测的工作原理和研究进展;最后总结了各技术的优缺点。提出了光谱技术在病原菌检测的实际应用中面临的挑战及应对策略,为进一步发展基于光谱技术的水源性病原菌的快速检测提供参考。     

High energy spectroscopies and magnetism

We present a review of high energy spectroscopy (HES) techniques in the field of magnetism, and show that the use of HES techniques can give valuable information on magnetic systems. There is a wide range of HES techniques, so that a large number of parameters relevant to magnetism can be probed. This review will present some illustrations thereof.     

High. Resolution Infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract

Until recently, infrared spectroscopy has been performed with spectrometers utilizing filtered broadband sources and gratings or prisms to spatially spread the energy spectrum of the source. These wavelength measuring spectrometers characteristically have large spectral tuning ranges with resolutions typically limited to 0.1–1 cm^?1: In the far-infrared region where only small amounts of energy are available from broadband sources, two-beam interferometric techniques have been employed with computing techniques to perform Fourier transform spectroscopy. In this technique the entire spectrum to be analyzed is incident upon the detector from the two interfering beams to take advantage of all of the energy available and then computations are made to display the entire spectrum.