Chemicals & Chemistry

  2010 AUG 27 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to recent research published in the journal Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, "The investigation of the internal morphology of insects is usually performed using classical microtomy yielding optical micrographs of stained thin sections. The achievement of high-quality cross sections for microtomy is time-consuming and the risk of damaging sections is unavoidable."

  "Moreover, the approach is impractical, in particular when quick acquisition of 3D structural information is required. Recently, X-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT) with a high spatial resolution was considered as a potential tool for the morphological classification of insects. We used micro-CT to investigate Quedius beesoni Cameron at the cellular length scale. This method provides a new powerful and nondestructive approach to obtain 3D structural information on the biological organization of insects. The preliminary images presented in this contribution clearly reveal the endoskeleton and the muscles of the head and the thorax with a full 3D structure. We also reconstructed the 3D structure of the brain of Quedius beesoni Cameron, and this is the first reconstruction in Staphylinidae, which will be a great advancement for morphological and phylogenic research," wrote K. Zhang and colleagues, Chinese Academy of Science ...read more

  2010 AUG 27 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "A new hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatographic (HILIC) method for the simultaneous determination of isoascorbic (IAA) and ascorbic acid (AA) was developed. The separation of IAA and AA was studied in various HILIC stationary phases and the influence of the composition of the mobile phase, the ionic strength and the column temperature to the chromatographic characteristics is presented," scientists writing in the journal Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry report ...read more

  2010 AUG 27 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to a study from Ottawa, Canada, "The application of the quick easy cheap effective rugged and safe (QuEChERS) method has generally been used in the preparation of produce samples (e. g., lettuce and oranges) for pesticide analysis. In the present study, the QuEChERS method was successfully applied to the determination of the natural pyrethrins (cinerin I and II, jasmolin I and II, and pyrethrin I and II), as well as two pyrethroid insecticides, cypermethrin and deltamethrin, in fin and non-fin fish products. ...read more