Thermo Fisher Scientific Announces Targeted Protein Quantitation Utilizing Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. has unveiled that targeted protein quantitation in complex matrices can now be routinely achieved by performing high-throughput Highly Selective Reaction Monitoring (H-SRM) analyses using the Thermo Scientific TSQ Quantum Ultra triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. By reducing matrix interference without significant signal loss, the TSQ Quantum Ultra provides enhanced assay sensitivity, selectivity and robustness enabling researchers to accurately quantify more proteins, more reliably.

H-SRM scans are fast (2 milliseconds) and sensitive, allowing practical monitoring and quantitation of hundreds of proteins per second during LC-MS/MS analysis. With this speed, there is no need for complicated MRM scheduling methods, all proteins are monitored during the entire analysis.  In addition, the triple-quadrupole based method produces high-quality confirmation of peptide structure, as targeted proteins are identified by automatic Data Dependent MS/MS scans.

The TSQ Quantum triple quadrupole system is the only instrument that enables Highly Selective Reaction Monitoring (H-SRM) performance, allowing complex samples to be analyzed quickly and efficiently. HyperQuad quadrupoles yield higher ion transmission, minimizing false positives and maximizing sensitivity. The TSQ Quantum features a unique heated ESI probe with Dual Desolvation Zone technology that further optimizes performance.

ICx Technologies Launches New Field-Portable Mass Spectrometer System

ICx Technologies, a provider of advanced technology solutions for homeland and military security, has unveiled its field-portable mass spectrometer system. The system, developed by the ICx Griffin business unit, is comprised of the Griffin 450 Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS/MS), multiple sample introduction methods including the handheld Griffin X-Sorber and enhanced supporting software.

"We’re proud to launch the first fieldable system that provides lab quality answers with the flexibility to analyze both air and liquid phase samples," said Dennis Barket, CEO of ICx Griffin. "The X-Sorber extends the range of high quality sample collection with a handheld unit that seamlessly docks to the Griffin 450 GC/MS/MS."

The Griffin 450, specialized for transportable and mobile applications, provides laboratory quality chemical analysis in the field for a broad range of compounds including explosives, chemical warfare agents (CWAs), industrial chemicals and organic compounds (both volatile and semi-volatile). The Griffin 450 is also equipped with several field-selectable inlet options to accommodate a variety of liquid and gas sample introduction methods, including the Griffin X-Sorber, the world’s first handheld, smart sampler.

Weighing 3 lbs., the Griffin X-Sorber provides a safe and efficient method for downrange air sampling, eliminating the need to carry heavier instrumentation into a hot zone.

Designed to operate seamlessly with the Griffin 450 for sample desorption and data download, the X-Sorber provides a handheld option for a broad range of applications, is easy to use and requires minimal training.

ICx Griffin has also released its System Software Version 3.0 (GSS 3.0) which provides additional features that allow users to intuitively control the Griffin line of mass spectrometers, including the new Griffin 450 system. GSS 3.0 offers an interface that changes based on three different user levels (operator, developer or administrator). Additional software features include tools for more in-depth data analysis, qualification and quantification as well as enhanced real-time identification capabilities.

BVS Announces Complete Handheld 802.11b/a/g Solution

Berkeley Varitronics Systems, Inc. has introduced a new Yellowjacket handheld 802.11b/a/g Wi-Fi analyzer and spectrum analyzer. BVS' latest test receiver system demodulates, sweeps and analyzes all popular 802.11 Wi-Fi network packets including 802.11b (2.4 GHz), 802.11g (2.4 GHz) and 802.11a (5 GHz). Yellowjacket B/A/G is also a powerful spectrum analyzer (accurate to within +1 dB) that measures RF energy allowing not only detailed interference analysis but the ability to see the "whole picture" of your 2.4 and 5 GHz network WISP or hotpsot. When equipped with a BVS DF (direction finding) antenna, Yellowjacket B/A/G locates and pinpoints rogue APs and STAs and even detects spurious interference from sources such as microwave ovens and cordless phones. Powerful Wi-Fi analysis features such as SNR (signal-to-noise), multipath (Ec/Io), delay spread, channel frequency response (CFR), SSID and RSSI allow Yellowjacket B/A/G users to perform quick sweeps or detailed surveys using only one tool. Optional Swarm software bundle creates powerful overlays for mapping coverage analysis. Yellowjacket B/A/G and Swarm Wi-Fi analysis tools will be available in Q3 of 2007.

Durable Flow Device Provides Accurate Results in the Mst Difficult Measurements

Hawk Measurement Systems offers the new Sultan Flow, a rugged and versatile open channel flow meter well suited for real time flow measurement of liquid materials.  Featuring continuous 4 mA to 20 mA output, alarm relays, failsafe relays and serial data via RS-485 with Modbus, the Sultan Flow measures head, flow rate and flow volume and rate totalization.

Featuring frequency optimization capabilities to suit the individual application environments, automatic power and sensitivity control to conform to varying conditions and a wide range of signal conditioning options, the Sultan Flow is one of the most versatile and efficient instruments on the market.  It can monitor liquids even under the most difficult foaming conditions and it offers a wide range of tracking and recovery schedules with temperature compensation standard for enhanced accuracy.

The Sultan Flow operates by transmitting an acoustic wave signal from the transducer to the monitored liquid.  The reflected echo or signal is then received by the transducer and processed by the amplifier. After measuring the time between transmission of the signal and reception of the echo, the distance from the transducer to the liquid being monitored is calculated using the speed of sound through air and is temperature compensated.  Hawk’s sophisticated software is capable of locating and tracking the echo without being affected by echoes from fixed objects or changes in the liquid surface.  The device is even capable of a manual echo selection option for difficult applications.

Rugged Multi-Point Flow Meter Has a Thick Skin When it Comes to Abrasive Air/Gas Environments

Process engineers looking for a rugged instrument to measure complex stack gas flows precisely in accordance with clean air regulatory requirements will find the intelligent MT91 Multi-Point Mass Flow meter from Fluid Components International is available with a tough chromium-carbide coating that protects it from dirty, abrasive and hot particulates for trouble-free, cost-effective operation over a long service life.

In petrochemical refining, coal-fired electric power generation, steel manufacturing and many other industrial processes, hot waste gas flows must be continuously monitored, treated and reported to meet government clean air requirements and to ensure process efficiency.  Flow meters are placed directly in the stack where dirty, abrasive particulates may cause wear to the flow sensor element assembly, which over time can degrade measurement accuracy or excessive repairs.

FCI’s MT91 Multi-Point Mass Flow meter is designed specifically for rugged CEMS pollution control applications.   The combination of FCI’s no-moving parts thermal mass sensor technology and its chromium carbide coated sensor assembly delivers improved flow measurement reliability with virtually no maintenance over years of service for a low life-cycle cost.  This includes high temperature environments up to 850°F in large line sizes greater than 24 inches.

With up to 16 independent thermal mass flow sensor arrays designed into a variable probe length assembly, the MT91 Flow Meter is well suited for applications in the oil/gas, chemical, electric power, steel and other heavy manufacturing industries. It also provides improved flow measurement inside large line sizes of combustion or pre-heater systems, HVAC units, ducts or flue stacks, where unstable thermodynamic conditions make other flow meter techniques ineffective.                

GLT MicroLens LED Light Guides Provide Versatile, Multi-Functional Backlighting

MicroLens edge-lighting modules from Global Lighting Technologies (GLT) provide white LED backlighting for LCDs that serves a multitude of functions with a minimum of LEDs for a wide range of display applications. In addition to bright, clean, uniform white LED backlighting from an ultra-thin, low-power package, MicroLens light guides can provide discrete area backlighting for different parts of the display, including backlighting of the LCD, overlays, buttons, keypads and any other areas that need illumination.

A 2-LED MicroLens light guide measures 4.3 inches at its widest point, 4.5 inches at its longest point and  0.8 mm thick (or less) can backlight a thermostat with multiple discrete areas requiring illumination. These areas include the main 4.3 inch by 5 inch LCD area, characters and directional symbols at the top and sides of the unit, and buttons at the top and bottom, nine discrete areas in all. Illumination can range from straight backlighting of the LCD, characters and symbols to a “halo” effect around the keypad buttons that is both aesthetic and functional.

In addition, raised mechanical features are designed into the light guide, providing an easy solution for positioning the LCD as well as a slotted Zebra strip holder for connection between the elastomeric connector and the PC board.

Vacuum Opto-Mechanics

McPherson, Inc., a manufacturer of instruments to measure and tune specific wavelengths of light as short as 1x10-9m, has expanded the scope of products to include specialized opto-mechanical components for ultraviolet applications, especially those requiring clean inert purge, vacuum or ultra high vacuum environments. Customer specified, made to order components and standard beam delivery accessories include simplified grating actuators, mirror mounts, optical choppers and polarizer mounts. These items are available or o-ring sealed construction for purge applications and vacuum applications to the 10-6 torr range.

All elements are clean and ready for vacuum use. They are contaminant free and Helium leak checked.

Exposed to applications that are more stringent? Take advantage of ultra high vacuum versions for compatibility to the 10-10 torr vacuum range. McPherson provides residual gas analysis certification. McPherson’s accessories are useful for researchers creating special systems and working with novel spectroscopy techniques.

Leading Instrumentation Speeds Single-Chip, Multi-Band HEDGE RF Transceiver to Market

Sirific Wireless, a fabless provider of single-chip, multi-band CMOS RF HEDGE transceivers for the 3.5G mobile communications market, has selected the Teradyne FLEX Test Platform and RF instrumentation to test its NEXUS family of wireless transceivers. With test and verification processes nearing completion, Sirific plans to take their SW3200 and SW3210 single-chip transceivers into volume production this summer. 

The selection of Teradyne was based on the proven high throughput and test economics of the FLEX Platform, the support from Teradyne’s application engineering team as Sirific faced new test challenges, and Teradyne’s RF/Microwave test instrumentation. 
 
Sirific’s NEXUS transceivers integrate advanced direct up-/down-conversion architectures, a patented frequency synthesizer, on-chip DCXO, a 2.5G DigRF-compliant baseband interface and enhanced HSDPA with receive diversity in a single monolithic IC. Mobile applications that incorporate NEXUS transceivers will be able to take full advantage of the increased performance offered by the rapid global deployment of HSDPA / WCDMA / EDGE network infrastructures.

"Teradyne is excited to be able to support Sirific’s next-generation RF transceiver production testing with the FLEX Platform," said David Trounson, General Manager, Wireless Broadband Business Unit, Teradyne. "The FLEX system was developed specifically to help speed advanced solutions like NEXUS to market faster, while delivering lower cost points than alternative testing methods. Working together throughout product development ensures a smooth transition from product characterization to production for Sirific’s innovative 3.5G wireless device solution.”

Moore Industries Bakes NCS Data Acquisition System for Two Years During Long-Life Endurance Test

Moore Industries has been continuously running its NET Concentrator System (NCS) data acquisition system at temperatures hovering around the boiling point of water for more than two years in an environmental chamber, just to prove a point.

Fred Adt, director of quality assurance at Moore Industries, explains that conventional testing and life-test procedures are not enough when products are intended for use in severe operating conditions, such as in the Middle East. The NCS is intended for use as a remote control and data acquisition system in unheated and un-air conditioned enclosures, so it has to endure wide temperature extremes.

“The MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) for the NCS, determined in accordance to the Bell Core reliability model, exceeds 300,000 hours at 25°C,” explains Adt.  But this model isn’t good enough for Moore Industries. Adt wants to find out how long the NCS will really last.

So Adt is using the Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT) concept, which calculates equipment life based on increased environmental stress at higher temperatures.

Running at 90°C provides a factor of 6.5; that is, every hour running at 194°F (90°C) is equal to running 6.5 hours at normal ambient temperatures. Fortunately, meeting the test specs was not difficult. Moore Industries’ products are designed for operation at ambient temperatures of -40oC to 85oC, so the test is just barely above its maximum design temperature.

“HALT lets us demonstrate performance of the NCS outside its specified environmental operational envelope,” explains Adt. “The idea is that any failures induced that way might be consequently eliminated by design, thus creating a product with more margin to failure.  Therefore, we have been running a continuous HALT on the NCS since February 2005, at temperatures from 90°C to 105°C (194°F to 221°F), with open air applications in the Middle East in mind.” So far, it hasn’t failed.

The NCS reached a HALT-calculated MTBF of 123,240 hours in April 2007, and remains in continuous test. The HALT accumulates about 50,000 hours per year, so the full test has less than four years to go before reaching 300,000 hr. “We intend to reach 300,000 hours, and maybe beyond,” notes Adt.

“Having actually operated our product at these high temperatures should give our customers more confidence,” Adt notes. “HALT demonstrates that our MTBF calculations and design verifications are valid so far.”

Onsite Power 2007 - Offgrid, Standby and Back-up Power for Mission Critical Operations, will be held November 6-7 in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Presentations include:

• Guidelines for High Reliability Remote Power System Design, Solarcraft, Inc.

• Sustainable Fuel Cell Solutions to Provide Extended Run Times of Backup Power, IdaTech, LLC
• Advances in Lithium-Ion Batteries for UPS and Portable Solar System Applications, Southwest Electronic Energy Group
• Power Source Considerations for Remote EFM / SCADA Applications, PGI International
• CHG Emission Reductions Using VRB Energy Storage Systems, VRB Power Systems Inc.
• Ensuring Optimum Backup Power for Business Continuity, Triton Power
• Utilizing new Technology to Solve a Problem in the Telecommunications Market, Marathon Engine Systems
• Advancements in Generator Paralleling Technology and the Resulting Impact to System Reliability, Serviceability and Monitoring, Generac Power Systems
• Supercaps – Time to Challenge Battery Short-Term Bridging Power, Mission Critical Power Systems

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