Search

Metabolomics refers to the technology for the comprehensive analysis of metabolites and low-molecular-weight compounds in a biological system, such as cells or tissues. Metabolites play an important role in biological phenomena through their direct involvement in the regulation of physiological mechanisms, such as maintaining cell homeostasis or signal transmission through protein-protein interactions. The current review aims provide a framework for how the integrated analysis of metabolites, their functional actions and inherent biological information can be used to understand biological phenomena related to the regulation of metabolites and how this information can be applied to safety assessments of crops created using biotechnology. Advancement in technology and analytical instrumentation have led new ways to examine the convergence between biology and chemistry, which has yielded a deeper understanding of complex biological phenomena. Metabolomics can be utilized and applied to safety assessments of biotechnology products through a systematic approach using metabolite-level data processing algorithms, statistical techniques, and database development. The integration of metabolomics data with sequencing data is a key step towards improving additional phenotypical evidence to elucidate the degree of environmental affects for variants found in genome associated with metabolic processes. Moreover, information analysis technology such as big data, machine learning, and IT investment must be introduced to establish a system for data extraction, selection, and metabolomic data analysis for the interpretation of biological implications of biotechnology innovations. This review outlines the integrity of metabolomics assessments in determining the consequences of genetic engineering and biotechnology in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Experimental Technology & Management is the property of Experimental Technology & Management Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The illicit drug overdose crisis in North America continues to devastate communities with fentanyl detected in the majority of illicit drug overdose deaths. The COVID‐19 pandemic has heightened concerns of even greater unpredictability in the drug supplies and unprecedented rates of overdoses. Portable drug‐checking technologies are increasingly being integrated within overdose prevention strategies. These emerging responses are raising new questions about which technologies to pursue and what service models can respond to the current risks and contexts. In what has been referred to as the epicenter of the overdose crisis in Canada, a multi‐technology platform for drug checking is being piloted in community settings using a suite of chemical analytical methods to provide real‐time harm reduction. These include infrared absorption, Raman scattering, gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, and antibody‐based test strips. In this Perspective, we illustrate some advantages and challenges of using multiple techniques for the analysis of the same sample, and provide an example of a data analysis and visualization platform that can unify the presentation of the results and enable deeper analysis of the results. We also highlight the implementation of a various service models that co‐exist in a research setting, with particular emphasis on the way that drug checking technicians and harm reduction workers interact with service users. Finally, we provide a description of the challenges associated with data interpretation and the communication of results to a diverse audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the general characteristics of chemical analysis, its tasks, and requirements. The main requirement is the reliability of the results. Relations between the tasks of analysis and the means of their resolution are considered. Primary attention is paid to chemical analysis methods and the dynamics of their development: the concept of the significance of individual methods and the ratio of methods, in particular, the ongoing displacement of chemical methods by physical ones, are discussed. Features of the development and practical application of a number of specific methods, spectroscopic, mass spectrometric, electrochemical, and others are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sample preparation is one of the most important steps in metabolome analysis. The challenges of determining microbial metabolome have been well discussed within the research community and many improvements have already been achieved in last decade. The analysis of intracellular metabolites is particularly challenging. Environmental perturbations may considerably affect microbial metabolism, which results in intracellular metabolites being rapidly degraded or metabolized by enzymatic reactions. Therefore, quenching or the complete stop of cell metabolism is a pre-requisite for accurate intracellular metabolite analysis. After quenching, metabolites need to be extracted from the intracellular compartment. The choice of the most suitable metabolite extraction method/s is another crucial step. The literature indicates that specific classes of metabolites are better extracted by different extraction protocols. In this review, we discuss the technical aspects and advancements of quenching and extraction of intracellular metabolite analysis from microbial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms produce and secrete many primary and secondary metabolites to the surrounding environment during their growth. Therefore, extracellular metabolites provide important information about the changes in microbial metabolism due to different environmental cues. The determination of these metabolites is also comparatively easier than the extraction and analysis of intracellular metabolites as there is no need for cell rupture. Many analytical methods are already available and have been used for the analysis of extracellular metabolites from microorganisms over the last two decades. Here, we review the applications and benefits of extracellular metabolite analysis. We also discuss different sample preparation protocols available in the literature for both types (e.g., metabolites in solution and in gas) of extracellular microbial metabolites. Lastly, we evaluate the authenticity of using extracellular metabolomics data in the metabolic modelling of different industrially important microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large arrays of self-aligned gated nanoscale tips (320000 tips in 32 mm^2 with average radii <5~nm ) are reported for application as gas ionizers in portable analytical instruments. The fabricated devices are capable of field ionization (FI) of gases at voltages <150~V even for helium with the highest ionization potential among molecules. Reliable operation of the devices was demonstrated at pressures as high as 1 Torr in He and 10 Torr in N2 . FI at higher pressures was only prohibited by gas discharge rather than device failure. Ion currents as high as 0.35 nA in N2 and 0.1 nA in He were generated at a tip-to-gate bias of 200 V. Continuous operation for 10^4~s at 10 Torr confirmed excellent stability of the device for FI of gases. The device characteristics slowly degraded during continuous operation possibly due to particle adsorption on the tip surface. The device characteristics can be restored by operating the device as a field emitter at pressures <10^-7~Torr . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Algorithms and structural correction schemes for enhancing the accuracy of analytical instruments are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current problems of modern analytical instrument design are considered [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical pathology laboratories increasingly use complex instruments that incorporate chromatographic separation, e.g. liquid chromatography, with mass detection for rapid identification and quantification of biochemicals, biomolecules, or pharmaceuticals. Electronic data management for these instruments through interfaces with laboratory information systems (LIS) is not generally available from the instrument manufacturers or LIS vendors. Unavailability of a data management interface is a limiting factor in the use of these instruments in clinical laboratories where there is a demand for high-throughput assays with turn-around times that meet patient care needs. Materials and Methods: Professional society guidelines for design and transfer of data between instruments and LIS were used in the development and implementation of the interface. File transfer protocols and support utilities were written to facilitate transfer of information between the instruments and the LIS. An interface was created for liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy instruments to manage data in the Sunquest® LIS. Results: Interface validation, implementation and data transfer fidelity as well as training of technologists for use of the interface was performed by the LIS group. The technologists were familiarized with the data verification process as a part of the data management protocol. The total time for the technologists for patient/control sample data entry, assay results data transfer, and results verification was reduced from approximately 20 s per sample to <1 s per sample. Sample identification, results data entry errors, and omissions were eliminated. There was electronic record of the technologist performing the assay runs and data management. Conclusions: Development of a data management interface for complex, chromatography instruments in clinical laboratories has resulted in rapid, accurate, verifiable information transfers between instruments and LIS. This has eliminated manual data entry that is prone to errors and enabled technologists to focus on analytical applications on the instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A procedure and structural-correction diagrams for increasing the accuracy of analytical instruments are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a report of a survey conducted by Committee RA45, Finish Analysis, on types of analytical instruments used by textile researchers. Chemical companies, educational institutions, textile companies and research laboratories responded to the survey. Data will be used to form a data base on instrument users so that AATCC members can obtain names of users willing to share information about a specific instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]