10 <strong>Spectroscopy</strong> 26(6) June 2011 News Spectrum New Forensic Laser Technique Locks Hair in Time Jim Moran, a geochemist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Richland, Washington), led a team of researchers in the development of a new laser-powered chemical analysis technique that can take dozens of samples from a single strand of hair and distinguish the chemical signatures of each. Because existing methods destroy small samples, they don’t allow for exact time-based measurements. Using the new technique, which breaks up material instead of scorching it, carbon isotope measurements from human hair can be taken over time, revealing information about what people ate, whether they’ve traveled, and where they’ve been. The technique is described in detail in a paper published by Moran and his team in the April 12 issue of Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. “The carbon you eat goes into your hair, so hair is a record of carbon ratios. If you’ve been traveling, I could guess which countries you’ve been to or what you ate,” Moran said in a Wired online article, indicating that forensic scientists should find the technique useful. Biologists exploring food pathways in microbes, and paleontologists using carbon-based data to look at ancient environments may also find value in the technique. www.spectroscopyonline.com In addition to carbon sampling, the laser-ablation system may also work with other chemical isotopes, including nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur as Moran’s team is working on developing those applications. Research Funding Finds Friends in Gingrich, Bernanke In today’s difficult economic times, Americans may be surprised to hear former speaker of the House and potential Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich argue for increased spending on medical and scientific research. In doing so, he contradicts fellow GOP leader, Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, who would cut spending in these areas. According to a Wall Street Journal article, Gingrich, whose mother was bipolar, is a strong supporter of brain research. At a Brookings Institution conference on April 22, he said that while he applauds Ryan’s “courageous effort” to “right-size” government, he disagrees with some of the details. “One of them is cutting investment in science and research,” Gingrich said at the conference. “It’s essentially like saying I want to save money on your car (so) we’re not going to change the oil. And for about a year I can get away with it, then the engine will freeze, and we have to change the engine.” President Obama, in his Plan for Science and Innovation, issued in February, called for doubling the budgets of Market Profile: Process FT-NIR for PAT in Pharma and Biopharma Fourier-transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy continues to be a rapidly growing process analytical technique, particularly in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry. The technique offers a number of advantages for online applications, and most of the major NIR instrument vendors now compete in this segment of the market. FT-NIR spectrometers make use of a simpler mechanical design than dispersive NIR instruments, and therefore provide a more rugged and reliable design that is advantageous in any industrial setting, including pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing. In addition, 7% 5% 5% 7% 14% 20% FT-NIR provides simultaneous analysis of all frequencies in the spectrum range, rather than scanning individual wavelengths. FT-NIR is also capable of much higher resolution than dispersive instruments, which is important in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry. 43% FT-NIR is becoming increasingly popular for process analytical technology (PAT) and other online applications in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry, such as monitoring drying and blending processes. The global market for process FT-NIR in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry in 2010 was more than $21 million, and it is expected to continue to see annual Bruker Thermo Scientific ABB AIT Buchi Yokogawa Other Biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical process FT-NIR vendor share in 2010. growth in the mid-teens for the foreseeable future. At least a half dozen instrument vendors are significant competitors in the market. The foregoing data were extracted from SDi’s market analysis and perspectives report entitled Biotech & Pharmaceutical Process Analysis: PAT Instrumentation and More, March 2011. For more information, contact Stuart Press, Vice President, Strategic Directions International, Inc., 6242 Westchester Parkway, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90045, (310) 641-4982, fax: (310) 641-8851, www.strategic-directions.com.
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