Analyzing carbon and nitrogen in hair strands can determine whether a person has an eating disorder, providing an objective measure for diagnosis. The test required only five strands of hair to predict with 80% accuracy whether a person had anorexia or bulimia.
Cornell researchers have extended a top-down approach to analyze larger proteins containing over 2,000 amino acids, providing more efficient identification and revealing protein modifications. The new technique rivals the commonly used bottom-up approach, offering a complete picture of each protein and its modifications.
Researchers have developed a way to image cell membranes with record resolution, shedding light on their chemical composition and organization. This breakthrough allows for high-sensitivity analysis of biological samples on a nanoscale, providing new insights into cellular function and behavior.
Jean Futrell, a Battelle Fellow at PNNL, receives the American Chemical Society's Frank H. Field and Joe L. Franklin Award for his contributions to mass spectrometry theory and practice. His work addresses fundamental questions in the field through innovative instrumentation development.
A cost-effectiveness study found that six out of eight newborn screening tests were not only cost-effective but also cost-saving. The tests identified rare disorders such as hypothyroidism and phenylketonuria, which can have significant impacts on children's health and development.
Researchers have developed a mass spectrometry method to detect norovirus particles, a category B bioterrorism agent. This technique can identify different types and strains of viruses in complex environmental samples without prior knowledge, making it ideal for detecting emerging infectious agents.
A new screening technique using tandem mass spectrometry can detect seven devastating diseases with enzyme deficiencies in lysosomes. Early diagnosis enables the administration of treatments to repair the biochemical chain and minimize damage, offering improved quality of life for affected children.
A new mass spectrometer design will enable scientists to analyze intact protein complexes in seconds, avoiding sample loss and improving research efficiency. This breakthrough technology could revolutionize fields like proteomics, virology, and nanotechnology.
The NIST Mass Spectra Library has been upgraded with approximately 20,000 new spectra, increasing the total number of compounds to over 163,000. The new library includes gas-phase retention index data for volatile organic compounds and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) spectra.
Radiocarbon dating reveals that New Guinean art is significantly older than previously thought, with some pieces dating back to 600-800 years ago. This challenges the assumption that such objects are ephemeral and were only used for a few generations, suggesting a more complex and long-lasting cultural tradition.
A team of researchers at Ames Laboratory is using $1.02 million in DOE funding to study the chemical processes within plant cells. By understanding metabolism, they aim to control the production of sugars, fibers, and waxes. The project involves developing new analytical instruments capable of identifying molecules in small quantities.
A Virginia Tech researcher is awarded a prestigious NSF CAREER grant to develop unique micro-analytical systems and detection strategies for proteomic investigations. The project aims to address basic technological limitations, enabling faster proteomics and new analytical capabilities.
The Idaho National Laboratory has recognized five scientists, William Apel, James Delmore, Paul Meakin, David Petti, and Herschel Smartt, as its first-ever Laboratory Fellows. They were selected based on their professional knowledge, scientific achievements, and national technical leadership.
The GFS program enables matching mass spectrometry data to raw genome sequences, identifying novel proteins in bacteria and model organisms. This grant upgrades the program to benefit the global proteomics community by providing a free, widely-used resource.
Researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are presenting their work on using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) to detect carcinogens, study biomarkers for atherosclerosis, and develop novel drug delivery devices. AMS applications in biological research and soot production chemistry modeling will also be highlighted.
The team discovered a compound called DS-998 that shows promising activity against anthrax lethal factor in cell cultures, blocking the molecule's harmful cutting action. Mass spectrometry is used to screen a library of compounds, enabling rapid screening and reducing costs associated with drug development.
Researchers used SELDI-TOF mass spectrometry to analyze proteins in CSF of patients with known malignancies and non-cancerous conditions. They identified specific protein fingerprints that reliably distinguished between cancerous and non-cancerous disease, offering a promising diagnostic tool.
The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has been awarded three Excellence in Technology Transfer Awards for its innovative technologies. The Electrodynamic Ion Funnel significantly improves the sensitivity of mass spectrometers, enabling the detection of new proteins and biomarkers for cancer early detection. Additionally, alp...
MassSpectator eliminates manual translation errors by automatically identifying peak sizes in mass spectrometry data. This allows for faster and more accurate chemical compound analysis, benefiting law enforcement agencies conducting criminal investigations.
A new technique using laser desorption mass spectrometry can analyze paint samples as thin as 10 micrometres, determining pigment composition and origin. The study improves upon existing techniques for studying pigments in paintings.
Beauchamp's team has developed a method to trap only molecules with certain shapes, allowing for the analysis of specific proteins in complex mixtures. This breakthrough technique enables chemists to detect and analyze unique protein patterns, holding promise for applications such as detecting HIV infection.
A new, high-throughput mass spectrometer has been developed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, providing unparalleled sensitivity and accuracy. This system enables the thorough identification and characterization of proteins, which is crucial for understanding cellular function, disease progression, and treatment options.
The Q TRAP system combines triple quadrupole and ion trap mass spectrometry, enabling researchers to identify more proteins and metabolites with higher confidence and accuracy. This new technology is expected to increase productivity in drug discovery through improved metabolite identification.
Scientists use ion-trap secondary ion mass spectrometer (IT-SIMS) to detect chemical warfare agents like HD and VX at part-per-million levels. The technique offers increased specificity, speed, and minimal sample preparation, making it ideal for environmental restoration and national security applications.
Dahl's award-winning ion optics simulation program, SIMION, has been instrumental in designing instruments for the Cassini mission to Saturn. On Earth, SIMION is used to analyze environmental contaminants, decode DNA, and uncover illegal drugs in urinalysis samples.
Cornell University scientists have developed a new technique for accurately characterizing biomolecules using electrospray mass spectrometry. This breakthrough allows researchers to analyze samples as small as a single cell with unusually high confidence, opening up new avenues for molecular investigations into human medical disorders.