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Transcript of What’s New in LAB & Life Sciences Apr/May 2013
APRIL/MAY 2013 VOL.24 NO.1PP100008671
South Australia’s new health & medical research labs
lab wha
t’s n
ew in
& LIFE SCIENCES
APR/MAY 2013
04 Editor’s note
06 Creating a diamond standard in health
and medical research
15 Can Spiderman’s webbing stop
a moving train?
18 Everything you know about osmosis is
(probably) wrong
24 Bringing microbiologists
(and mycologists) together
30 Got worms? Turn your iPhone into
a microscope and check
34 My Lab
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editor’s note
Janette Woodhouse
Chief Editor
What’s New in Lab & Life Sciences
www.labonline.com.au
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Something seem funny to you?Science, research and tertiary education are claimed to be among the government’s most important priorities.
Yet on 16 April, CSIRO chief executive Dr Megan Clark sent an email to CSIRO staff re-vealing that more than 200 staff will lose their jobs as the organisation makes drastic cuts to its budget.
This comes within days of the federal government’s shock decision to raid $2.3 billion from university tills to pay for its “once in a lifetime” opportunity to fix school education funding.
I’m sorry, but how can the government possibly claim science, research and tertiary education as priorities as it perpetrates the two atrocities above?
The 2.5% of CSIRO staff losing their jobs will be spread across the organisation from the executive team down and from both science and support. At the same time, the organisa-tion will be cutting its operational costs by 2.5%. Now this will send a great message to the already diminishing number of students considering doing science at university.
The claim that the funding and staff cuts are the result of industry investing less money in CSIRO research is also pretty dodgy. Problems in CSIRO really go back to the government trying to run the organisation as a business - when it simply isn’t a business.
Some of the organisation’s most successful outcomes grew from pure research - Wi-Fi being a classic example. Why can’t the successive governments realise that one of the most effective ways to stimulate an economy is through education and research? The 1996/97 Budget Statement stated that there was a growing body of evidence that innovation is the dominant factor in economic growth and world trade - yet 15 years later this is not recog-nised by the government.
Australia’s secondary performance in science is slipping against world performance - we have fewer students studying science at university and the courses offered by the univer-sities are contracting as student numbers fall. At this rate, science will disappear into its self-created black hole.
What is the solution? Science needs advocates at every level. We need to be seen more in the mainstream media and we don’t need to perpetuate our image as wild-haired ‘brainiacs’. We need to have the broader community understand that both pure and applied science is essential to their very survival. They want clean food (without horsemeat scandals), they want affordable drugs, they want medical cures, they want quality assurance that the cement in their houses is sound, that imported goods don’t contain illegal contaminants … They need to understand that they need scientists to bring these wants into fruition. And they need to understand that in the long term we need our “best and brightest” to be able to make a good living doing pure research in well-equipped facilities without having to spend most of their time begging for grants because that is where the future of Australia’s success lies.
Maybe it’s time to dust off your soapboxes and start spruiking.
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8 WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 www.LabOnline.com.au
The video management system designed for SAHMRI deploys the latest in Pelco by Schneider Electric’s high-definition cameras, with increased capabilities for video analyt-ics and identification - more than standard resolutions. More than 55 cameras have been specified for this site, based on a fully integrated platform incorporating intercom networks.
Intelligent lighting controlAnother key part of the EcoStruxure archi-tecture is the Clipsal by Schneider Electric DALIcontrol lighting control system, designed to maximise energy efficiencies in the build-ing. DALI is an open control protocol system that ensures compatibility between lighting and control devices.
Although there are key scenes programmed into the building, the system also allows for customised programming in research areas that require constant lighting to simulate daylight levels of light.
DALIcontrol also includes an emergency lighting solution. Test sequences have been scheduled into the operation and provide reports to the facility operator to confirm that the evacuation lighting is functioning properly. Clipsal by Schneider Electric has also supplied energy-efficient exit light fittings for the entire building.
A reliable emergency power supplyIt is critical in medical facilities to have the assurance that the backup power system will perform in an emergency. Schneider Electric’s emergency power supply system (EPSS) test solution provides automated analysis and ac-curate reporting as well as complete power system information. It tests the back-up gen-erator supply and gives reports on the precise timing of transfer switches, the condition and health of the generator, and monitors EPSS load levels and duration of test. It makes manual testing obsolete, saving time and also collecting data during real outages. This ensures that the system is healthy and will perform if and when needed. The EPSS test solution increases patient safety by reducing the chance of an EPSS failure due to human error or inadequate manual testing procedures. To further increase SAHMRI’s standing as a modern facility, Schneider Electric worked
with the design team to install the EPSS test solution into the facility.
Power interruptions also have the potential to create data loss and hardware damage to all communications and computer equip-ment. With 18 communication hubs located throughout the SAHMRI building, Schneider Electric is providing uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) to maintain power continu-ity and protect vital communications equip-ment such as computers, data centres and telecommunication. Each UPS is networked to the IBS for instant monitoring and status.
A monitored power networkMany clients are now asking for more func-tional energy monitoring and reporting capa-bilities as part of their electrical distribution network and SAHMRI is no exception. Sch-neider Electric included its new StruxureWare Power Monitoring 7.0 (SPM7) energy manage-ment software platform to better integrate SAHMRI’s energy metering. To achieve even better power quality and reliability outcomes for SAHMRI, Schneider Electric collaborated with electrical contractors Nilsen to upgrade the metering hardware to allow for better power quality event diagnostics and therefore ensure a shorter ‘mean time to repair’ should any electrical network issues arise.
SPM7 will allow the SAHMRI to monitor the entire installation from the utility-grade power quality (PQ) meter on the main incomer to the PQ meters on the subsectional feeders; and via low-voltage Masterpact air-circuit break-ers and Compact NSX moulded case circuit breakers fitted with Micrologic control units installed on key submains. SAHMRI’s project design team, including electrical services consultant Aurecon, also ensured submetering was installed strategically in specially designed distribution boards to separately meter the power and lighting chassis. This makes it easier to identify energy wastage, act on op-portunities, improve efficiencies, discriminate energy consumption per level, per pod and to comply with SAHMRI’s energy-efficiency expectations.
SPM7 offers real-time power quality and energy monitoring and is able to alarm and report by exception using its various out-of-the-box and customisable reports, which a user can subscribe to. SPM7 is also able to present a user with an easy-to-interoperate
energy dashboard display to indicate how a facility is performing against its energy usage targets and carbon emission targets.
By adopting an EcoStruxure approach, the SAHMRI design team could foresee the further operational and maintenance benefits by com-bining SPM7 with a fit-for-purpose Schneider Electric Medium & Low Voltage electrical dis-tribution system. Schneider Electric partnered with local energy solution integrator AZZO to deliver this integrated technological solution to maximise the functionality and efficiency of the SAHMRI’s electrical distribution network. The key distinguishing factor for Schneider Electric with this type of integrated circuit protection and monitoring system is that it is all offered in one package.
More drive for less inputA facility such as SAHMRI requires an enor-mous number of pumps, fans and motors to ensure the HVAC system is operational. These consume vast amounts of energy; however, the SAHMRI design team has conserved as much energy as possible with the addition of Schneider Electric’s Altivar variable speed drives. These will limit energy usage on start-up and allow for the precise control of heating and cooling through the IBS achiev-ing further efficiencies, while extending the mechanical life of the equipment.
Team of local expertsLocal representation was an important pre-requisite for SAHMRI; in the event of any technical issues, Schneider Electric could quickly resolve them and limit any project delivery delays. Schneider Electric provides this combination of local support and back-up with global access to world-leading expertise in technology implementation and therefore is ideally suited to healthcare and life sciences.
Meeting certification standardsSchneider Electric’s solution also helps the SAHMRI building meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifica-tion standards. This is a globally recognised standard in ensuring that a building project is environmentally responsible, profitable and a healthy place to work.
Bottom lineScheduled for completion in late 2013, the SAHMRI building design brief and goals are well underway and the building is a diamond example of how a holistic approach, based on EcoStruxure architecture, is poised to create great energy efficiencies and intelligent build-ing systems for the long term.
Schneider Electric (Aust) Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T645
www.eppendorf.comEppendorf® and the Eppendorf logo are registered trademarks of Eppendorf AG, Germany and New Brunswick™ is a trademark of Eppendorf AG, Germany. Galaxy® is a registered trademark of New Brunswick Scientifi c Co., Inc., USA. All rights reserved, including graphics and images. Copyright © 2013 by Eppendorf AG.
The Eppendorf CO2 incubator advantage: > State-of-the-art contamination control: Fanless, seamless chamber with optional high-temperature disinfection and anti-microbial copper interior
> Three O2 control options for special-ized high and low oxygen applications
> 14 L incubator fi ts under a hood! Perfect for isolating critical cultures, ensuring assay validity
Eppendorf CO2 Incubators provide the ideal environment for a wide range of culture applications, from stem cell research to oncology, anaerobic bacterial growth, neuroscience, viral studies and more.
O� ered in advanced and economical models, in a range of three sizes (14 to 170 Liters), these direct-heat systems expand your cell culture possibilities.
New Brunswick™ Galaxy® CO2 Incubators
Incubate your way
Automated data logging and graphing!
incubator advantage:State-of-the-art contamination control: Fanless, seamless chamber with optional
10 WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 www.LabOnline.com.au
Detection and differentiation of pathogenic
Yersinia enterocolitica strains
The CHROMagar Y. enterocol-
itica is used for the detection and
direct differentiation of pathogenic
Yersinia enterocolitica strains.
There is clear differentiation of Yersinia among
background flora (citrobacter, enterobacter,
aeromonas etc) and colourful differentiation of
pathogenic strains among non-pathogenic Yersinia
enterocolitica. Inhibited or limited growth is also
differentiated.
Laboratories can now concentrate their efforts
and resources only on suspect colonies that have
a real potential of pathogenicity.
Dutec Diagnostics Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T011
Sterile membranes for dispensersAdvantec’s mixed cellulose ester (MCE) pleated band sterile membranes are said
to offer the same high quality and reliability as the individually wrapped MCE
membranes which Advantec industry partners have used for many years.
The pleated band MCE membranes are suitable for use with commercial
dispensers, providing hands-free convenience and increased efficiency as
well as reducing the risk of membrane contamination from handling. MCE
membrane is a general-purpose industry standard used in many applica-
tions from microbiological examination of water, wastewater, pharmaceuticals,
food and beverages. Membrane characteristics include high recovery rates,
contrasting grid lines to facilitate easy identification and high porosity providing
good flow rates which increase speed and testing efficiency.
Advantec membranes were developed and manufactured to comply with the
ASTM and the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.
Labtek
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T250
Laboratory balance with appsSartorius has made its laboratory balance Cubis even
more user friendly to ensure reliable, error-free results. The
company’s Q-Apps can now be installed on any Cubis
balance to guide users quickly and easily in performing
any weighing application.
The apps are available for weighing applications that
are frequently performed, such as determination of the
minimum sample weight according to the USP, differen-
tial weighing, formula or recipe management, average
weight control, application-specific calibration or pipette
calibration. Once downloaded, they can be selected from the balance’s task list. Each application will guide the user step
by step through the weighing process selected.
The apps ensure 100% compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) that specify workflow instructions and
analytical methods. This eliminates the need for additional checking of weighing results, saving time and money in the
laboratory.
Customised apps have been developed to meet special requirements that differ from standardised weighing processes.
These are individually tailored to the user’s requirements and implement the work instructions and analytical procedures exactly
as described in the user’s SOP. Therefore, the balance ‘adapts’ in order to meet requirements - not the other way around.
The apps enable the balance to exchange data with a higher-level laboratory management system via web services.
This interface protocol is internet-based, recognised and qualified. As a result, a Cubis balance can be quickly and easily
connected to a laboratory management system, minimising the time and effort entailed by manual documentation in the lab.
Q-Apps can be downloaded from the Sartorius AppCenter and installed on the balance using an SD card. The software
can be tested for 30 days free of charge before it must be licensed for a fee.
Sartorius Stedim Australia Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T516
12 WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 www.LabOnline.com.au
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The Royal Mint is one of the world’s leading export mints, making coins and medals for an average of 60 countries every year. Located in Llanstrisant, South Wales, the headquarters were opened in 1968 by the Queen in readiness for the introduction of decimal coinage. With a responsibility to make and distribute United Kingdom coins, the company employs more than 700 people and operates around the clock for 50 weeks a year.
With the treatment of trade effluent increasingly coming under the spotlight, The Royal Mint recently embarked on a multimillion pound project to build a new effluent treatment plant to replace two existing treatment lines and support increased production capacity from two new nickel-plating lines. The new plant would need to monitor hydrogen peroxide levels, pH and turbidity to ensure the safety of the effluent being discharged.
The effluent treatment plant aimed to allow the business to discharge 100% of its trade effluents into the sewer, requiring first-class monitoring instrumentation to ensure water quality. If trade effluents are not safe to be released into a sewer, there is a requirement for companies to either change their process to no longer produce the effluent, treat the effluent before discharging to the sewer or pay for it to be taken off site. These options are all time consuming and costly.
The Royal Mint selected Analytical Technology’s (ATi’s) pH, hydrogen peroxide and turbidity sensors for its water-monitoring needs. The Q45P AutoClean pH monitor with MCERTS classification will be used to control pH levels throughout the nickel-plating process and the pH-correction process in the treatment plant, while the Q45H/84 hydrogen peroxide sensors will monitor the effluent to ensure peroxide levels remained low enough to allow efficient effluent treatment. A minimal maintenance instrument, the ATi d15/76 AutoClean turbidity monitors were chosen to determine water quality by measuring the degree to which the water has lost its transparency due to the presence of suspended solids. ATi’s F12 gas detection system was also implemented to protect employees from harmful exposure.
Graham Hartry, Environmental Manager, Blank Processing, The Royal Mint, explained: “Our new effluent treatment plant has been built using the best available technology and will significantly reduce the amount of effluent discharged, allowing us to recycle wherever possible. The use of Analytical Technology’s pH, hydrogen peroxide and turbidity monitors has allowed us to regulate the levels of chemicals and suspended solids within our effluent discharge, ensuring that we comply with stringent regulations and do our utmost to protect the environment.”
As a result of the effluent treatment plant incorporating Analytical Technology instrumentation, The Royal Mint discharges 100% of its trade effluents into the sewer without damaging the sewer infrastructure or the environment. The instruments are easy to set up and maintain,
delivering reliable and compliant results as well as high levels of customer support to keep the plant running.
Hydramet Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T088
Royal Mint achieves new level of trade effluent monitoring
Optical oxygen measurement for beerIf large amounts of dissolved oxygen are present in finished
beer, oxidation processes take place. These oxidation processes
negatively affect the beer’s flavour and cause premature product
ageing. To ensure the best product quality, taste and a long shelf
life, the amount of the dissolved oxygen must be minimised. This
requires considerable technical effort and continuous oxygen-
content monitoring.
The monitoring of dissolved oxygen content has traditionally
been done with amperometric sensors. Amperometric monitor-
ing is done with the help of electrochemical sensors according to the Clark principle: the content of dissolved oxygen is determined
by means of a current flow in the sensor’s measuring chamber. However, this method has limitations, such as a difficulty with inline
measurements typical of large filling lines due to Clark sensors’ susceptibility to breaking down and requiring a lot of maintenance.
Hamilton has developed an alternative to the amperometric method. Claimed to be the first standardised 12 mm sensor, the VisiFerm
DO measures dissolved oxygen optically using a method based on oxygen-dependent luminescence. Measurement with the sensors
is said to be always identical and stable and the process is not delayed by stop-of-flow effects - thus, filling can resume at any time.
After CIP cleaning, the optical sensors can be re-used faster than with an amperometric sensor. As a result of this, the quantity of
rinsing product used and afterwards discarded can be reduced. Moreover, the optical sensors are also less susceptible to breakdown
and need less maintenance than amperometric sensors, as they have only one part subject to wear: the sensor cap. The sensor cap
must be changed every four to eight months, and the replacement and recalibration only takes a few minutes.
Grace Davison Discovery Sciences
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T408
Advanced Pharma Compliance means maximum operational safety and fully automatic self-monitoring in pharmaceutical laboratories.
Secura® guarantees better results with:
- LevelControl for total confidence in your results: No more incorrect results from an unleveled balance- isoCAL: Internal fully automatic calibration and adjustment function with configurable action level- SQmin: Active monitoring of the USP minimum sample weight requirement
Secura® guarantees compliance with documentation requirements through:
- Cal Audit Trail - GLP-compliant print-out - Password protection for setup settings
Sartorius Australia Phone: 03 8762 1800/1800 645 076 [email protected]
www.sartorius.com/secura
The new Secura®
Riskless weighing in regulated areas.
14 WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 www.LabOnline.com.au
Multiphoton microscopeThe Nikon A1R MP+ multiphoton confo-
cal microscope provides fast and sharp
imaging deep within living
organisms. Ultrasensitive
gallium arsenide phos-
phide (GaAsP) NDD have
approximately twice the sensitivity
of a standard NDD, allowing
clearer, faster and deeper
imaging for higher quality
Z-stack imaging.
The microscope operates
at wavelengths up to 1080 nm. This enables the user
to expand their usable fluorescence proteins such as
mCherry and mRFP1, and allows more efficient excita-
tion with less laser power to achieve a brighter image.
Coherent Scientific Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T133
Flat-packed cryoboxTenak Origami is an innovative way to deliver cardboard cryoboxes. The
boxes are supplied flat packed and can be folded into shape in under
30 s to form a robust and long-lasting box for ULT sample storage.
Due to the flat-pack design, the boxes are economical to buy and
ship, and save space in the lab. Supplied in packs of 100 (which
takes up about the same space as 12 standard cryoboxes), the
boxes are available with 9 x 9 or 10 x 10 grids, or without grids. Also
separately available are grid designs ranging from 3 x 3 array (for
42 mm diameter tubes) to 16 x 16 (for 7 mm diameter tubes) and
virtually everything in-between.
The footprint is 134 x 134 mm, which is suitable for all standard
storage systems, and the boxes are 50 mm high for use with cryovi-
als up to 2 mL.
Capella Science
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T192
WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 15www.LabOnline.com.au
In Spiderman 2, the superhero uses his webbing to bring a runaway train to a standstill moments before it plummets over the end of the track. But could a material with the strength and toughness of spiders’ web really stop four crowded train carriages?
According to a group of three fourth-year University of Leicester MPhys students, the answer is yes.
James Forster, Mark Bryan and Alex Stone first calculated the force needed to stop the four R160
New York City subway cars. To do this, they used the momentum of the train at full speed, the time it takes the train to come to rest after the webs are attached and the driving force of the powered R160 subway car.
The students found the force Spiderman’s webs exert on the train to be 300,000 N.
They then went on to calculate the strength and toughness of the webs. They found that the Young’s modulus - or stiffness - of the web would be 3.12 GPa. This is very reasonable for spider’s silk, which ranges from 1.5 to 12 GPa in the orb-weaver spiders.
The toughness of the silk was calculated as almost 500 MJ/cm3. This is in line with web from a Darwin’s Bark Spider - an orb-weaver with the strongest known webbing of any spider.
They concluded that the ‘friendly neighbourhood’ superhero’s web-bing is indeed a proportional equivalent of that of a real spider - and, consequently, it would be feasible for him to stop a moving train.
Alex Stone, 21, from Kingston upon Thames, said: “It is often quoted that spider webs are stronger than steel, so we thought it would be interesting to see whether this held true for Spider-man’s scaled-up version. Considering the subject matter, we were surprised to find out that the webbing was portrayed accurately.”
James Forster, 22, from Wisbech, said: “While our work may not seem to be very serious, it has helped teach us about applying
physics to varying situations as well as the peer review process through which scientific journals operate. This makes it an invaluable experience to anyone who wants to go into research later in life.”
The students’ paper, ‘Doing whatever a spider can’, was pub-lished in the latest volume of the University of Leicester’s Journal of Physics Special Topics. The journal is published every year, and features original short papers written by students in the final year of their four-year Master of Physics degree.The students are encouraged to be imaginative with their topics, and the aim is for them to learn about aspects of publishing and peer review.
Course leader Dr Mervyn Roy, a lecturer at the University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, said: “A lot of the papers published in the journal are on subjects that are amusing, topical or a bit off-the-wall. Our fourth-years are nothing if not creative!
“But, to be a research physicist - in industry or academia - you need to show some imagination, to think outside the box, and this is certainly something that the module allows our students to practise.
“Most of our masters students hope to go on to careers in research where a lot of their time will be taken up with scien-tific publishing - writing and submitting papers, and writing and responding to referee reports.
“This is another area where the module really helps. Because Physics Special Topics is run exactly like a professional journal, the students get the chance to develop all the skills they will need when dealing with high-profile journals like Nature or Sci-ence later on in life.”
Can Spiderman’s webbing stop a moving train?
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16 WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 www.LabOnline.com.au
return on investment
to configure and install
fully integrated lims solution
local product, service and advice
Rapid
Easy
Complete
Australian
Laboratory balanceThe Secura laboratory balance, developed by Sartorius for
applications in regulated areas such as pharmaceutical labs,
fulfills high-reliability requirements. The balance monitors ambient
conditions automatically, thereby preventing handling errors
and increasing reliability and consistency of the results.
Nine different models are available, covering weighing
capacities from 120 g to 5.1 kg and a readability of 0.1 to
10 mg. The balance is equipped with assistance systems designed to
prevent further processing of uncertain
weighing results, which frequently occur
through operating errors. If errors occur,
the balance identifies the uncertain
results and blocks their transmission.
The electronic LevelControl sensor
ensures the balance is level, which is
important for equipment monitoring
and obtaining accurate readings. Non-
compliance is indicated in the display
and blocks output of the reading. Clear
instructions in the display guide the
user through the levelling procedure.
Lab staff can easily level balances
located in safety work benches or safety
weighing cabinets without having to open the safe work area.
Balances have to be calibrated regularly as ambient condi-
tions change. Once a specified time or temperature threshold
is reached, the unit’s calibration and adjustment function, iso-
CAL, informs the user and automatically adjusts the balance
using internal weights. Every adjustment is documented.
Every balance used in regulated areas has to meet the
requirements specified by the FDA. Pharmaceutical labs have to
determine the minimum sample weight according to the US Pharmacopeia
on site and measurements may not fall below this limit. Sartorius service
staff may determine this value during first operation of the balance and
issue a minimum sample weight certificate. The value will be constantly
displayed on the balance. If a measurement falls below the minimum
sample weight, an alert will appear and the balance will block printout
and transmission of the reading.
The weighing applications are represented as understandable icons
on the touch screen. This allows users to launch any of the balance’s
programs with the touch of a finger, without having to read the operat-
ing manual. The balance only displays the information required for the
particular operation. The colour-coded information and action fields make
operating errors near impossible. Settings that could change data output
or the metrological performance can be password protected.
Sartorius Stedim Australia Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T514
WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 17www.LabOnline.com.au
ICP-OES spectrometerThe Spectroblue, for inductively coupled plasma
optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), was
designed to meet critical elemental analysis
demands such as those required by environ-
mental laboratories, process laboratories and
research institutes.
The Spectroblue ICP-OES employs a Pas-
chen-Runge optical system which covers a wide
wavelength range (165-770 nm) while offering
good resolution and reducing stray light. The
patented OPI-AIR, in combination with the UV-PLUS, decreases operating
cost as there is no need for cooling water or purge gas.
The product’s sealed optic system and UV-PLUS approach eliminates consumable
purge gases and ensures long-term stability. Additionally, Spectro’s high-resolution Paschen-
Runge optic permits a direct, high-luminance light path, allowing the system to easily process
line-rich spectra, improve measurement accuracy and reduce rework.
The OPI-AIR eliminates the cool region of the plasma, allowing for an unobstructed view
of the normal analytical zone (NAZ) - no compressed air or gases are required to cut off
the tail plume. The OPI-AIR interface is said to offer six times greater sensitivity improvement
(ppb and sub-ppb detection levels) and better elimination of matrix effects compared to
conventional techniques.
The free-running RF generator is simple in design (no moving parts), has high efficiency
(better than 70%), a huge amount of reserve power (up to 5 kW) and requires no water cool-
ing. This means that the plasma is stable, even with varying plasma loads. The system can
handle volatile organic solvents and high salt loads (eg, 200 g of NaCl/L).
The instrument achieves a constant resolution of 8.5 pm between the important wavelength
range of 165-285 nm and 15 pm between 285-770 nm. This resolution helps to achieve good
signal-to-background ratios, which translates into better detection limits and also helps with
less interference in spectral-rich matrices such as wastewater.
DKSH Australia Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S067
Transportable hydrocarbon dewpoint analyserMichell Instruments has developed a transportable version of its hydrocarbon dewpoint
analyser, the Condumax II. The latest version enables engineers to provide a fast response
for investigations into the quality of natural gas wherever it is needed.
The transportable analyser measures hydrocarbon and water dewpoint (key indicators
of the quality of natural gas) in the same way and to the same accuracy as the online
version. The analyser is fitted into a robust transport case with a simple sampling sys-
tem that is suitable for performing supervised measurement sequences. It is certified for
use in hazardous areas around the world, including ATEX, IECEx, CSA and GOST, with
specific local certification available.
The flexible analyser package could be employed anywhere in the natural gas supply
chain, from processing plants through to pipeline transmission, and by large users such
as electricity-generation companies. The system can be loaded into and out of a pick-up
truck by two engineers, who will be able to operate and analyse the results on-site. This
ease of use reduces the reaction time of test measurements.
AMS Instrumentation & Calibration Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S554
18 WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 www.LabOnline.com.au
Everything you know about osmosis is (probably) wrong
Osmosis - the flow of a solvent across a semi-permeable membrane from a region of lower to higher solute concentration - is a well-developed concept in physics and biophysics. The problem is that, even though the concept is important to plant and human physiology, osmosis is understood in biology and chemistry in a much simpler - and often incorrect - way.
A range of surprising misconceptions about osmosis continue to appear in papers, websites and textbooks,” says Eric Kramer, professor of physics at Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. “Wrong ideas
about osmosis are especially common in educational materials aimed at students of chemistry and biology. Once learned, these errors influence the thinking of professionals throughout their careers.”
The thermodynamic theory of osmosis was published by JW Gibbs in 1897, and during the next half-century dozens of other scientists published explanations for it in terms of interactions between the solute and solvent molecules. “Many of the greatest scientists of the 20th century took a turn at it,” says Kramer, “A textbook in 1951 offered the first coherent telling of the whole theory.”
Though physicists have had this complete and correct explana-tion since the 50s, chemistry and biology never caught up. Why? One reason is because the incorrect theory is much easier. “The thermodynamic explanation can be pretty dense, and features entropy, which can be scary for people,” he says. “The correct theory would be harder to teach at an introductory level, although I’m working with a textbook author who plans to spread the word.”
Reach back into your memory for your first science lesson on osmosis. It probably involved a demonstration with a bag of sugar with holes poked in it. When dunked into water, the water rushed into the bag. Using this example of osmosis, Kramer lays out the common misconceptions:1. “The first misconception is that osmosis is limited to liquids,”
he says. “But it works just fine for gases, too.”
“ 2. “Another misconception that osmosis requires an attractive force,” he says. “It doesn’t. When water fills the bag of sugar, it’s not because the sugar is pulling the water in. That’s not part of the explanation.”
3. “A misconception is that osmosis always happens down a con-centration gradient,” he says. “When you dissolve something in water, the water doesn’t necessarily get more diluted. Depending on the substance, it can get more concentrated.”
4. “Anther misconception is that you don’t need to invoke a force to explain why the water flows into the bag. It’s thought that, like diffusion, it’s a spontaneous process,” he says. “But, in fact, there is a force. It’s complicated how it happens, but it turns out that the membrane - or the bag, in the familiar lab demonstration - exerts a force that pushes the water in.”“These misconceptions are surprisingly robust,” says Kramer.
“Nearly all have been discussed by other authors during the long history of osmotic research, and yet they continue to find believers in each generation of professionals. While authors in physics and biophysics have generally settled on the correct understanding of osmosis, these ideas have not penetrated into the fields of chem-istry and biology. It’s very surprising that, in 60 years, no physicist talked to a chemist long enough to figure this out.”
Kramer is co-author, with colleague and chemist David Myers, of the article ‘Osmosis is not driven by water dilution’ in the April issue of Trends in Plant Science. They have authored a previous article, ‘Five popular misconceptions about osmosis’, in the American Journal of Physics (August, 2012).
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AirClean Systems Ductless Fume Cabinets
Powdersafe powder/solid chemical weighing enclosure
Completely Ductless and mobile Microprocessor controlled Fluorescent light Audible and visible alarms for airflow and gases Carbon and HEPA Filters for specific applications Every application is assessed by our qualified in-house chemists and biologists Environmentally Sustainable via HVAC Energy Savings (compared to ducted fume cupboards) Fully Compliant to AS/NZS 2243.9
Solid Polypropylene Construction Effectively weigh to 5 decimal places Electrical cord access ports Continuous HEPA filter monitoring Audible and visible alarms Secondary HEPA for additional safety and filter changing Optional Carbon Filter for odourous powders
All AirClean Systems products are manufactured in Australia by Laboratory Systems Group Pty Ltd
Laboratory Systems Group Pty [email protected]
Protecting your laboratory’s most valuable assets
(03) 8720 9000www.labsystemsgroup.com.au
Microplate detection platformMolecular Devices’ SpectraMax i3 multi-
mode microplate detection platform comes
with spectral absorbance, fluorescence and
luminescence detection.
Additional user-installable options allow the
system to grow with the user’s changing application needs to fulfil and extend beyond standard
reader applications. As new assays are developed or needs change, users simply add a cartridge
or the SpectraMax MiniMax Imaging Cytometer option as opposed to purchasing another system.
Users can expand the three-mode base system with additional application cartridges for
FP, HTRF, AlphaScreen assays, cellular imaging and the SpectraDrop micro-volume microplate.
The SpectraMax MiniMax Imaging Cytometer simplifies complex imaging workflow by visualising
cell morphology changes on top of well-based intensity readings.
The Spectral Fusion Illumination delivers a high-powered full-spectrum light source for increased
fluorescence performance across the entire excitation range.
The product has an expanded dynamic range, with sophisticated engineering delivering optimal
sensitivity and maximising signal range.
The SoftMax Pro Microplate Data Acquisition & Analysis Software streamlines complex data
analysis with over 140 built-in protocols, effectively eliminating the need for additional software.
Additional tools for regulatory compliance are included in SoftMax Pro GxP Software.
Bio-Strategy Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T537
Benchtop digital incubatorCrea Laboratory Technologies has released
its benchtop digital thermostatised incubator.
The metallic incubator has a front door made
of metacrilate for easy viewing. A micropro-
cessor with an ARA V2 fuzzy logic algorithm
provides high-precision temperature control
to be used with an internal or external sensor.
User-friendly features include a digital
LCD backlit display, membrane push-button
control and automatic restart after unexpected
shutdown. Security is not an issue as the
product has a system that protects against
overtemperature and comes with forced air
circulation.
The unit can be adapted to the company’s
orbital and horizontal shakers.
Crea Laboratory Technologies Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T620
20 WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 www.LabOnline.com.au
CA
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In a paper recently published in the journal PLOS ONE, a research team headed by Dr Paul Wheeler from the UK Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) reported breakthrough progress in understanding the metabolic and phenotypic properties of the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its close relative Mycobacterium bovis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of the transmissible respiratory disease tuberculosis, which infects an estimated 8 million people worldwide and is responsible for 2 million fatalities each year. Mycobacterium bovis afflicts cattle, with losses to agriculture of approximately $3 billion per year. These mycobacteria have been very difficult for scientists to study because they grow very slowly, so experiments can take weeks or months to perform.
The publication from the AHVLA shows that Biolog’s Phenotype MicroArray (PM) technology allows the bacteria to be studied much more quickly and easily, which will accelerate the pace of mycobacterial research. Results can be obtained in seven to 10 days. The paper further demonstrates diagnostic potential by phenotypically differentiating strains of these mycobacteria with different host ranges and levels of pathogenicity. The paper also expands, as well as confirms, our knowledge of the metabolic properties of the mycobacteria. As a consequence, genome annotation can be improved, the biology of these bacteria can be better understood and hopefully these insights will facilitate discovery of antibiotics more effective in their eradication.
According to Dr Wheeler, “The genome sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was published in 1998 and high-throughput phenotype analysis of pathogenic mycobacterial strains is urgently needed and long overdue. Molecular typing of Mycobacterium strains has limitations. Though key in surveillance and helpful in identifying emerging strains, it does not provide information on biological properties or phenotypes. This is a substantial gap in our knowledge since it is the phenotype which is selectable and must relate to the evolutionary advantage of one strain over another.”
Other mycobacterial species have also been successfully studied with PM technology. In June 2012, researchers in the laboratory of Professor Yung-Fu Chang at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine published also in PLOS ONE on their use of PM technology to analyse the metabolic phenotypes of Mycobacterium avium. In 2009, a team of researchers in the laboratory of Professor Lacy Daniels at Texas A&M used gene knockouts combined with PM technology to show that the Mycobacterium smegmatis gene homolog of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene Rv1238 codes for a transporter of the sugar trehalose and plays a critical role in pathogenicity. Additionally, in a paper published in January 2013 in the Journal of Bacteriology, Professor Daniels’ lab again analyses the phenotypes of gene knockouts with PM technology to define the spectrum of antibiotics and antiseptics for mycobacterial efflux pumps. Antibiotic resistance is another focus of mycobacteria research.
“We are thrilled that three laboratories have now successfully applied Biolog’s PM technology in pioneering research resulting in breakthrough discoveries,” said Dr Barry Bochner, CEO and CSO at Biolog. “PM technology is designed to provide high-throughput phenotyping and metabolic scanning of cells, making it a powerful complement to genotyping experiments.”
Phenotype MicroArray technology, initially developed with SBIR funding from NIH, is thus proving to be a cell profiling technology that can yield breakthrough discoveries. It allows scientists to study the growth properties and culture condition responses of bacterial, fungal and even human cells.
As such, it is becoming a core technology for many cellular studies.
Cell Biosciences Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S648
Phenotype MicroArray technology making breakthrough discoveries on tuberculosis bacterium
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UV testing of plastics and componentsAustest Laboratories now offers UV
testing of components and plastics for
light-fastness, colour-fastness and pho-
tostability in a chamber reproducing the
entire spectrum of sunlight, including
ultraviolet (UV), visible light and infrared
(IR) from 295 to 800 nm. The chamber
includes moisture through water spray,
humidity and temperature conditioning
for accelerated life testing of plastics
and components.
The UV tester is a key research and
development and quality control tool for testing materials that are exposed to direct sunlight,
sunlight through window glass or even harsh indoor lighting from fluorescent or halogen
lamps. In a few days or weeks, it can reproduce the damage caused by full-spectrum
sunlight and rain that occurs over months or years in the field.
The UV tester augments the company’s existing environmental facilities covering salt
spray/mist, temperature and humidity cycling from -40 to 150°C and vibration. The chamber
is fully calibrated and meets the requirements of ISO 4892-2 (along with numerous ASTM
standards) and Annex AA of AS/IEC 60335-2-109 for UV radiation conditioning.
Austest Laboratories
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S192
HI 2221 • HI 2223Calibration CheckTM pH Benchtop Meters
Tel: 03 9769 0666Fax: 03 9769 0699Email: [email protected]: www.hannainst.com.au
• pH Calibration CheckTM
• On-screen electrode condition and response time
• Up to 5 point calibration with 7 standard buffers
• Diagnostic alerts through icons• Log up to 500 samples (HI223)• GLP features• PC interface via USB• Supplied complete with HI1131B pH
electrode, HI7662 temperature probe, HI76404N electrode holder, 12VDC adapter and instructions
Point-of-care test for HIVAlere Australia has gained approval for the
marketing in Australia of the Alere Determine
Combo HIV 1/2 Ag/Ab rapid test for HIV. This
marks the first approval for an innovative
HIV assay to be included on the Australian
Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) for
use in a point-of-care situation.
Marketing approval required lengthy scru-
tiny by the TGA of the scientific and clinical
evidence supporting the test, including its
accuracy when performed in near patient
situations by healthcare professionals other
than pathology laboratory scientists.
The point-of-care test offers significant
benefits to patients and to healthcare
workers in terms of convenience and rapid
management of immediate clinical issues.
It brings HIV testing technology right to the
patient’s bedside.
Alere Australia
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S533
22 WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 www.LabOnline.com.au
compliantYou are
Information is demanding. It has to be accurate and easy to share
across your lab, or across the globe. To flow seamlessly into
reports that ensure product safety, productivity, and compliance.
In over 25 years of work with regulated industries, we’ve learned
what you face today, and what’s on the horizon. This is where
you’ll find sustainable, integrated purpose-built LIMS that
withstand the test of time.
• www.thermofisher.com.au/informatics
with informatics solutions ready for the future
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Laboratory Information Management Systems Designed to meet the flexibility demanded by today’s laboratories
Chromatography Data Systems Enterprise-level for global deployment and maximum instrument functionality
Document Management Systems Compliant document management for mission critical information
Electronic Laboratory Notebooks Secure documentation, enable collaboration and ensure traceability
Spectroscopy Software Industry-leading solutions to visualize, process and manage data
Stand-up sample bagsCollecting water or other liquids for transport and
analysis can present a number of problems. Hard
plastic containers such as specimen jars are com-
monly used; however, these take up lots of space
prior to use, making them difficult to store and
transport. After use they will also present serious
problems with disposal, taking up waste capacity.
An alternative to these containers is Stand Up
Sample Bags. They store flat and, when ready for
use, the special gusseted bottom flattens out, al-
lowing the bag to stand up without the need for a
rack or holder. After the sample has been tested,
the bags can then be collapsed for disposal.
The bags are sterilised and are available in a
selection of sizes ranging from 100 mL to over 2 L.
Australasian Medical & Scientific Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T113
SEC and DLS systems for macromolecular characterisationDynamic light scatting (DLS) and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) are two
commonly used analytical measuring techniques, typically used to measure mol-
ecule and nanoparticle properties such as size, molecular weight and stability. The
techniques are fast, non-invasive and use minimal sample volumes.
Using traditional SEC with a single concentration detector to determine mo-
lecular weight requires creating a calibration curve of standards. This introduces
inaccuracies, especially for proteins as the standards and samples will have
different relationships between molecular weight, size, shape or hydrodynamic
volume. Advanced multidetector SEC systems, such as the Malvern Viscotek
TDAmax, include a light scattering detector to measure molecular weight without
the need for column calibration.
The Viscotek system is a research-grade, temperature-controlled, multidetector SEC
system combining light scattering, RI and intrinsic viscosity detectors. Intrinsic viscosity is a
measure of molecular density and enables structural changes to be assessed. A combina-
tion of light scattering and intrinsic viscosity allows size (Rh) to be calculated. The addition
of a UV photodiode array detector provides a wealth of additional compositional data.
The DLS system Malvern Zetasizer nano ZSP adds protein measurement and microrheol-
ogy capabilities to the Zetasizer family. Recently designed, the DLS-based optical technique
allows rheological characterisation of weakly structured and highly strain-sensitive materials
using just 20 µL sample volumes. Among its applications are measuring the viscosity of
polymer and protein solutions and determining the onset of protein aggregation. The prod-
uct can also be used in flow configuration to operate as a size detector for SEC or FFF.
ATA Scientific Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T474
WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 23www.LabOnline.com.au
pH, conductivity, ions and salt
Simple accurate and reliable
Small samples typically one drop
Uses innovative flat sensor technology
Calibrate and measure at the touch of a button
Light, easy to clean and waterproof
Australian Scientific Pty LtdPO Box 335Kotara, NSW 2289Email: [email protected]
Tel: 1800 021 083Fax: 02 4956 2525
NEW
B-700 Series
Waterproof pocket-size meter
VIS-NIR spectrometersThe Corona Plus range of sturdy,
compact VIS-NIR spectrometers from
Carl Zeiss has been specially designed
for use under industrial conditions. The
systems can be used for the meas-
urement of various optical properties
such as reflection, transmission, colour
and coating thickness of transparent
samples and coatings across a wide
range of industries at every stage of the production process.
The combination of the latest polychromator technologies featuring very
good optics and fast, low-noise electronics provides the foundation for
high sensitivity, linearity and dynamic range. The product’s features are
particularly beneficial where speed, sturdiness, reliability and performance
are vital, eg, for complex, fast measurements in quality and process
inspection in architectural and automotive glass production or in the
plastics, coating and solar energy industries.
The device contains PGS polychromators which enable higher resolu-
tion across the wavelength range. Further benefits include a long service
life of the light sources in the NIR, the use of modern communication
interfaces and reduced power consumption, resulting in less thermal
build-up and therefore higher stability. Most versions are offered either
as single or dual beam systems.
Carl Zeiss Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S663
Digital ultralow-temperature freezerAbacus ALS is now supplying the WiseCryo
Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer from Daihan, which
offers built-in backup due to its high-stability
system powered by two Simplified Hi-Efficiency
Freezing System (SHFS) compressors operating
independently.
Using dual SHFS compressors overcomes
the technical complexity of the typical cascaded
double compressor system by utilising a single
freezing cycle to reach down to -86°C, minimising
noise, power consumption and failure. Even if
one compressor fails, the other compressor still
works and maintains ultralow temperature down
to -80°C, ensuring there is built-in backup to
protect the user’s samples.
Additional features of the dual SHFS compressor freezer
include a touchscreen LCD controller, data storage and USB
connection, graph display for visualising temperature variation,
as well as warning and alarm functions.
Capacities of 393, 503 and 693 L are available.
Abacus ALS Australia
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T619
24 WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 www.LabOnline.com.au
This coming July the world-renowned Adelaide Convention Centre will be hosting the Australian Society for Microbiology Annual Scientific Meeting and the Australasian Mycological Society Joint Conference. Add them to your diary and register to attend now.
ASM 2013 - the Australian Society for Microbiology, Annual Scientific MeetingThe ASM scientific meeting is Australia's largest and most pres-tigious microbiological conference, bringing together researchers, clinicians and other industry professionals. ASM 2013 will showcase the importance of microbiology to our world through presentations delivered by national and international leaders in their disciplines.
WorkshopsA series of workshops will take place on Sunday 7 July 2013. These workshops are free for full conference delegates to attend or can be attended on a Workshop Only registration if you are not a conference delegate.
Workshop Only registrations include name tag, attendance at selected workshop and morning tea only. If you wish to attend the full Sunday program you will need to select, at minimum, a Single Day registration for Sunday.
Antibiotics: What’s in a name? - Impact of MALDI-TOF and Susceptibility Testing in MicrobiologyAustralian Society for Microbiology Antimicrobial Special Interest Group
Decreasing the time to species identification and early anti-biotic susceptibility determination of bacterial strains recovered from infected patients significantly decreases morbidity, mortality in patients and aids in infection-control practices. This workshop will focus on the MALDI-TOF system(s) and current applications with automated susceptibility testing methods (ViTek, Phoenix) and disc-susceptibility testing methods (CLSI, CDS users or EUCAST users), its impact on laboratories in providing a faster and accurate turnaround time. Fast and accurate diagnostic identification and AST methods are an important part in guiding treatment for infections and infection-control practices.
In this ASIG workshop various invited presenters will give brief presentations on the impact of MALDI-TOF and AST methods in
• The Australian Society for Microbiology, Annual Scientific Meeting 7-10 July 2013
• Australasian Mycological Society Joint Conference 10-12 July 2013
ASM 2013: Invited speakers
Prof Ron Atlas University of Louisville, USA
Prof Gurdyal Besra University of Birmingham, UK
Prof Kathleen Collins University of Michigan, USA
Prof Roy Curtiss III Arizona State University, USA Rubbo Orator
Prof Steven J Geary University of Connecticut, USA
Dr Peter D Karp BRG Artificial Intelligence Center, USA
Dr Jean Lang Sanofi Pasteur, France Bazeley Orator
Dr Juan Lubroth Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Italy
Snowdon Lecture
Dr Patrick Murray BD Diagnostics, USA
Prof Forest Rohwer San Diego State University, USA
A/Prof Gilda Tachedjian Burnet Institute, Australia Fenner Lecture
Prof Gisela Storz National Institute of Health, USA
Bringing microbiologists (and mycologists) together
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WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 25www.LabOnline.com.au
their institutions and what the future holds in screening, identifying pathogens and antimicrobial resistance.
For further information contact Dr John Merlino - [email protected].
Culture Media - Review of the SIG’s guidelines for quality control of mediaCulture Media Special Interest Group
The SIG has produced four sets of guidelines for quality control of microbiological media, including the release of one new set of guidelines in 2012 (mycology media) and revision and release of new editions of the three existing guidelines (medical media, solid mycobacteria media, food and water media) in 2012 as well.
This is a dry workshop that, effectively, takes the role of an open editorial meeting, with the opportunity for all ASM mem-bers to present ideas, suggestions or observations on where the various guidelines require adjustment, improvement or expansion. This workshop seeks to review the new editions of the guidelines and to discuss:
• effectiveness of the new editions• opportunities for further revision and improvementThere will also be time made for discussion of:• relevant NATA Field Application document sections• ISO 11133 and its impact
FASMHave you been intrigued by the articles in the Australian mi-crobiology online journal? Do you think that you might meet the requirements for FASM? Have you read the case studies of recent FASM awardees? Are you considering the FASM? What can it offer you?
In this workshop you will meet some members of the FASM Examinations Board and go through the FASM process and also a worked example of a part two type question.
Cosmetics and pharmaceuticalsRisk management has become a cornerstone of GMP in the modern manufacturing environment. This workshop will explore various
aspects of this important responsibility of manufacturers. At this workshop experts will be presenting on risk aspects of biologi-cal production, aseptic production, the microbiology laboratory and a candid look at some interactions between inspectors and manufacturers in some European jurisdictions. This promises to be a very stimulating look at risk management from a variety of viewpoints and well worth attending if you are from the human or veterinary pharma or medical devices industries. Numbers will be limited to 60 to enable full participation.
Workshop registrationTo register for the workshops visit http://asmmeeting.theasm.org.au/registration/.
Exhibitors and sponsors:Visiting the exhibitors’ booths in your breaks from the conference sessions is a great way to connect with current and potential sup-pliers and find out all about their latest equipment and services. The following companies will be exhibiting at the joint conference so make some time to see their latest wares.
Don't miss your opportunity to update your knowledge and skills in all things microbiology at ASM 2013.
The Australasian Mycological SocietyThis society promotes research and teaching in all areas of fungal biology. It aims to raise the profile of mycology in the Australasian region, to promote the conservation of Australasian fungi and to facilitate networking and collaboration among mycologists.
AMS program highlightsFollowing the ASM program stay an extra couple of days for the AMS program. Some of the highlights will be:
David Ellis Adelaide University, Adelaide
My top 10 fungi - fungi that have influenced my career and their impact on medical mycology
David Catcheside Flinders University, Adelaide
Fungal genetics
Fabian Cariconde [Chair] Mycorrhizal fungi
Richard Robinson [Chair] Fungal ecology
Melanie Weckert [Chair] Applied mycology
Sarah Kidd [Chair] AMS proffered talks
Julie Djordjevic [Chair] Molecular mycology
Abbott Australasia Human Genetic Signatures
AGRF Hologic/Gen-Probe
APAF Illumina
BD Pathology Immuno
Bioline Australia Qiagen
Blackaby Diagnostics Tecan Australia
Bruker Biosciences Thermo Fisher Scientific
Cell Biosciences Vital Diagnostics
DiaSorin VWR International
Genesearch
To register your interest in attending the Australasian Mycological Society’s conference contact Diana Leemon at [email protected].
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Cell imaging stationDesigned to remove all of the
inherent complexities of cap-
turing and processing three
colour fluorescent cell images,
the FLoid Cell Imaging Station
allows even novice users to
spend their time on analysing
data rather than thinking about
the operation of a microscope
- the imager’s intuitive user
interface allows novices and ex-
perts to generate fluorescence
cell images in just a few clicks
of the mouse.
The self-contained instru-
ment has no moving parts,
which is said to provide safety
for confocal scopes and allow
day-to-day use.
Protocols and reagent in-
formation is preloaded - the
integrated Molecular Probes
reagent selection guide with
protocols helps users design
and execute cell imaging ex-
periments.
Users can print image stick-
ers directly from the instrument
- users print and stick captured
images into a notebook with
the associated printer.
The instrument design blocks
ambient light - taking fluores-
cent cell imaging out of the
darkroom and onto the bench.
Life Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R147
Laboratory automation workstationThe Biomek 4000 Laboratory Automation Workstation from Beckman Coulter Life Sciences features intelligent
liquid handling that easily adapts to provide the reliability, flexibility and accuracy required by life scientists.
It incorporates easy-to-use, icon-driven software and an enhanced work surface with interchangeable tools.
Prewritten methods for common life sciences tasks are available as add-ons to the workstation and
include PCR reaction set-up and cell staining applications. PCR reaction set-up automates reaction setup
for 24- or 96-well format labware. The template method for cell staining applications offers a starting point
for several cell-based workflows and uses a graphical user interface that makes set-up easy. These ap-
plications do not require programming capability and include on-site training and support.
An intuitive software interface provides icons for liquid handling, labware movement and control of ex-
ternal devices. Common pipetting tasks such as liquid transfers or serial dilutions are building blocks for
easy method design and creation.
Available with an optional enclosure, the hardware was designed with adaptability in mind and includes
automated deck framing for increased accuracy using three-dimensional positioning. Interchangeable tools
in various volume ranges cover the breadth and depth of today’s life sciences applications. Heating, cooling
and shaking accessories are also available. The modular deck configuration allows up to 12 deck positions
to be tailored for the automation of all major life sciences tasks.
Beckman Coulter Australia
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T636
Manual dissection microscopeScientex has acquired exclusive distribu-
tion for Australian and New Zealand for
Singer Instruments, a manufacturer of
precision devices for the handling and
manipulation of microorganisms.
The SporePlay Manual Dissection
Microscope is a high-quality dissec-
tion platform that incorporates Singer’s
compact micromanipulator, offering fast
dissection. The product uses a sterile,
inverted plate environment with precision
glass needles to provide users with an
easy and fast tool for separating and
repositioning yeast and fungi.
The microscope features ergonomic functionality with coarse and fine focus on
both sides at bench height for operational ease, speed and convenience. It has a
manual, smooth-action stage with torque control and 5 mm increment click stops.
The X, Y and Z needle controls form a single, pendant joystick which facilitates
fast, precise manipulation of tetrads, spores and cells. The device’s plate holder
is compatible with standard depth 90 mm Petri dishes.
There is a wide range of accessories available.
Scientex Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T367
28 WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 www.LabOnline.com.au
Analytical balanceThe Crea analytical balance is said to provide
high performance and accurate results within a
short time, no matter the complexity of the
task. Built-in programs such as counting, per
cent weighing, animal weighing, formulation,
totalisation, statistics and density determination
let the user weigh routine jobs with ease.
A large draft shield chamber gives more space to the user.
Samples can be easily placed on the pan, which gets accus-
tomed to the interior temperature. There are optimal lighting
conditions inside the draft shield due to its nearly frameless
all-glass design.
The product is user friendly with a single cable to transfer
data through an RS232C interface, a high-contrast LED backlit
display and a built-in clock. A facility for editing IDNR and LID
for individual reading makes documents comply according to
ISO/GLP and automatic external calibration ensures consistently
accurate results.
Crea Laboratory Technologies Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T622
Digital temperature
indicatorsNoshok 820/821 Series Digi-
tal Temperature Indicators
are a suitable replacement
for bimetal, liquid bulb and
glass thermometers in ap-
plications including pharma-
ceutical, food preparation,
utilities and municipal,
refineries, chemical
and petrochemical
plants, paper mills
and hydraulics.
Features include:
large 4-digit LED display;
field reprogrammable with optional PC interface module
and software; software includes a security feature to pre-
vent accidental reprogramming; 4-20 mA programmable
linearised output signal; self-calibration feature for accurate
and stable performance; optional fully programmable switch
output, relay or transistor; PT100 Ω RTD Class A element for
temperature sensing; M12 x 1 (5-pin) plug or 36″ integral
cable electrical connection.
The indicators are constructed from 316 stainless steel.
They are IP 65/NEMA 4 rated for environmental protection.
Installation is easy with various mounting configurations.
AMS Instrumentation & Calibration Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T255
Fixed toxic and combustible gas detection instrumentsAmpcontrol has announced
the release of the IQguard
range of fixed toxic and combustible gas detection
instruments.
Designed and manufactured in Australia, the equipment
has been targeted to fit applications requiring accurate
and reliable gas monitoring where a high degree of safety
is required. The detectors are intuitively simple to set up
and use, reliable in operation and, along with their robust
construction, provide for high-integrity monitoring solutions.
The product is designed to accommodate a wide range
of options and configurations, including but not limited to:
moulded PVC or folded stainless steel enclosures; display or
non-display; built-in relays. Communication options include
Modbus RTU or ethernet, facilitating connection to a wide
variety of controllers and building management systems.
All iQguard detectors carry EMC and EMI approvals and
incorporate in-built sensor self-testing.
Ampcontrol Electronics
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R655
WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 29www.LabOnline.com.au
Autoclave hoistThe launch of Loadlite, a hoist option for integration into Priorclave top-loading autoclaves, facilitates easier loading
of tall and heavy awkward items into the steriliser, preventing potential for personal back injury but also enabling
the full working height of the vertical sterilising chamber to be utilised. Use of the product can negate the need
to consider purchasing a more expensive, much larger rectangular chamber autoclave, often the only alternative
for taller items.
The hoist, available as an option on Priorclave QCS V100 and V150 top-loading autoclaves, uses a quick-release
clip to easily and securely fix to the handle of a standard wire basket. The company can also supply tailor-made
collars for fixing to the neck of fermenters for direct loading and unloading.
The hoist comprises a vertical column housing a drive rack which directly controls the vertical movement of a
590 mm long jib, enabling it to be lowered and raised directly into the sterilising chambers or swung sideways
through a 1200 mm arc to lower/pick up from an adjacent platform such as a trolley, benchtop, etc. The product
is equipped with a ‘push-button’ handset on an umbilical cord for controlling the lowering and raising of its jib.
The two top-loading autoclave models for which the hoist has been designed have 500 mm diameter chambers
with depths of 500 or 720 mm and loading heights of 755 and 935 mm respectively.
Bio-Strategy Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S907
Microplate readerSynergy NEO is specif ical ly
designed for today’s smart,
streamlined screening assays.
A combination of filter- and mon-
ochromator-based fluorescence
optics, known as Hybrid Technol-
ogy, in one compact unit provides
increased application flexibility,
speed and performance.
Mult iple paral lel detectors
decrease measuring time and
dedicated filter-based optics are
optimised for live cell assays.
Additionally, with a plate trans-
fer time of about 6 s per plate,
the product’s optional integrated
BioStack3 plate stacker is said to
be the fastest available, allowing
increased efficiency and walk-
away automation.
The product is powered by
user-friendly Gen5 data analysis
software, providing predefined
or custom protocol creation, data
processing and export flexibility.
Millennium Science Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S828
Point of Care DiagnosticsUnit 14, 76 Reserve RoadArtarmon NSW 2064ph: 02 9437 1355 fax: 02 9437 1399email: [email protected]
Full product details on our website www.pocdscientific.com.au
Australia’s locally owned manufacturer of quality stains and solvents and supplier of premium laboratory equipment!
30 WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 www.LabOnline.com.au
Got worms? Turn your iPhone into a microscope and checkScientists working in rural Tanzania have used a simple US$8 glass lens, a strip of double-sided tape and a cheap flashlight to convert an Apple iPhone into a field microscope that can successfully detect intestinal worm infections in children, according to a study published online by the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
There’s been a lot of tinkering in the lab with mobile phone microscopes, but this is the first time the technology has been used in the field to diagnose intestinal parasites,” said Isaac Bogoch, MD, an infectious disease specialist at
Toronto General Hospital and the study’s lead author.The scientists used the mobile phone microscope, along with a
standard light microscope, to evaluate 199 children’s stool samples that had been prepared on a typical laboratory slide. The children were participating in a clinical trial on Pemba Island in Tanzania that was testing the efficacy of different drug treatments for get-ting rid of intestinal worms.
To examine a stool sample, the researchers covered the slide in cellophane, used double-sided tape to attach it to the camera, lit it from underneath with the flashlight and then took a photograph.
Though the iPhone microscope was not as sensitive as a light microscope - the gold standard for detecting intestinal worms in stool samples - Bogoch and his colleagues believe that, with a few adjustments, it can come very close. “We think mobile phone microscopes could soon become a valuable diagnostic tool in poor, remote regions where intestinal worms are a serious health problem, particularly in children,” he said.
Overall, the mobile phone microscope detected evidence of intestinal worm infections (by revealing the presence of eggs) in about 70% of the samples that had been deemed infected via a light microscope.
The sensitivity of the mobile phone microscope varied greatly depending on the type of worm and the intensity of infection. It detected 81% of infections with giant roundworm (A. lumbricoides) and 54% of roundworm infections (T. trichiura). However, it revealed only 14% of all hookworm infections, which the researchers at-tributed to the fact that the hookworm infections had left far fewer eggs than the other parasites.
“It was quite successful at detecting moderate to heavy infec-tions but not very good at detecting mild infections where there might be only a few eggs in the sample,” Bogoch said.
Intestinal worms such as hookworms and roundworms, also known as soil-transmitted helminths, infect some two billion people worldwide. The burden of disease is particularly high in remote, impoverished regions of developing countries where they can hinder physical and mental development in children by causing chronic anaemia and malnutrition. However, if quickly diagnosed, there are several relatively inexpensive drugs available that provide effec-tive treatment. But detection typically involves examining a stool sample with a conventional light microscope, a device that costs about $200 and requires electricity.
For the study, Bogoch and his colleagues sought out an alter-native tool by taping a 3 mm ball lens to the camera of Bogoch’s Apple iPhone 4S, which he used because he already owned one. But he said that any mobile phone equipped with a camera that has a zoom option should work equally well. Ball lenses are commonly
“
© iStockphoto.com/Yunus Arakon
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WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 31www.LabOnline.com.au
used in the telecommunications industry in couplings for optical fibre cable. They can be purchased from commercial suppliers for about $8 to $10.
In place of the microscope’s electric light, the researchers used a small flashlight that requires a single battery for several hours of operation. They estimate the entire set-up can be put together in about five minutes at a cost of less than $15 beyond the cost of a phone.
Bogoch and his colleagues, who include scientists from Mas-sachusetts General Hospital in Boston and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Basel, believe that a “mobile phone microscope would likely be of clinical use when it is sensitive enough to detect 80% of infections”. And they note that there are new approaches to mobile phone microscopes under development that should meet or exceed this threshold.
“I’m confident that in the near future we will see mobile phone microscopes widely used in low-resource settings,” Bogoch said. “They’re easy to make, portable, and today, you can find mobile phones with cameras even in some of the most remote regions in the world.”
He sees the devices as useful for diagnosing and treating individual patients suspected of harbouring worm infections and for monitoring the prevalence of disease in the broader population. For example, one approach to addressing the high burden of worm infections in certain regions is to simply administer drug treatment to everybody. Bogoch said mobile phone microscopes could provide a simple and inexpensive way to conduct the disease surveillance required to evaluate the effectiveness of these so-called MDA (mass drug administration) campaigns.
“I have nothing but praise for the ingenuity of scientists using all available tools to solve pressing health problems in some of the poorest parts of the world,” said David H Walker, MD, president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. “This study is an illustration of how a modest investment in tropical disease research can help reap enormous health benefits for children.”
This research was supported by the Lichtenstein-based Medicor Foundation and the Swiss National Science Foundation, but neither they nor anyone associated with Apple played a role in the study design, according to Bogoch.
Focus system for live cell imagingThe third generation of Nikon’s Perfect Focus System (PFS) has been released.
The product combats the challenges of live-cell imaging by eliminating
focus-drift, which reduces the reliability of acquired data.
Features include: wider usable excitation wavelength range; maintained
focus at deeper depths; compatible with plastic dishes and well plates.
For multiphoton use, the product operates over a larger range of imaging
wavelengths, increasing the flexibility of fluorophores that can be used.
Coherent Scientific Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T138
SpectrophotometerThe VWR UV-6300PC Spectrophotometer has a double-beam design consisting of
two detectors measuring a sample and reference cell simultaneously for optimised
measurement accuracy.
The product is reliable, versatile, robust and easy to use with a range of accessories
for tailoring to the user’s needs.
The included UV-VIS Analyst Application PC software provides all the important
methods expected from a universal instrument.
Features include a large LCD, full scanning, high accuracy and precision, in-built memory
and software for stand-alone use or application software that allows full PC control.
Modes include basic, quantitative, wavelength scan, kinetics, multi-wavelength and
DNA/protein for use in a wide range of industries such as research, food/beverage,
pharmaceutical, biochemical and clinical applications.
VWR International Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S956
32 WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 www.LabOnline.com.au
RI detector for UHPLCThe Wyatt Technology Optilab UT-rEX is claimed to be
the first RI detector of its kind, specifically designed
for use with UHPLC systems using columns packed
with small beads. Besides UV, mass spectrometry and
evaporative light scattering, there has been no RI de-
tector available for UHPLC applications until now. The
product uses a combination of miniaturised components,
semiconductor photo-diode technology and proprietary
computer algorithms.
Due to the extremely small volumes of UHPLC, the dead volume for the instrument is <1.5 µL, compared to
10-20 µL for other RI detectors. As a result, the product offers high resolution which will not be compromised.
In addition to having no range or gain setting, the full range of instrument detection is always present and
the full sensitivity exists over the entire range. The small flow cell and temperature regulation enable stable
RI baselines and RIS signals which further enhance the detector’s sensitivity.
The product can be operated below ambient temperatures as easily as above ambient. Its no-hassle
temperature control can be programmed down to 4°C or as high as 50°C. The device is compatible with all
UHPLC systems.
Shimadzu Scientific Instruments (Oceania) Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T070
3D and 4D real-time imaging softwareBitplane’s Imaris imaging software allows visualisation of original and derived data
objects in a real-time interactive manner so the user can quickly make visual assess-
ments of experiments in 3D and 4D to discover relationships that are otherwise hidden.
The product provides a complete set of features and segmentation options for
working with 3D and 4D multichannel images of any size, from a few megabytes
to multiple gigabytes. Users simply load, process, identify and visualise data and
images acquired from almost any confocal and wide-field microscope to gain new
and groundbreaking insight from the image data.
Key features of version 7.6 include customised multiparameter plots to interactively compare control vs test
groups and also vantage plots with box-and-whisker plots (five-number summary) which enable comparisons
between experimental groups within Imaris. Improved filament tracing in images with sub-optimal quality is
possible and it includes tools for applications in the fields of neurosciences, developmental and cell biology.
SciTech Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T168
WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 33www.LabOnline.com.au
Imagine a microscopy system that allows you to record the development of your specimens, gently imaging them to deliver exceptionally high information content, while protecting them from photo damage. Such a system could transform your work and open doors to new discoveries.
Carl Zeiss’ Lightsheet Z.1is the first commercially available multiview light sheet system of its kind. This innovative system is capable of collecting amazing time-lapse fluorescent images of the development of large living samples; while also delivering the features, capabilities and quality you have come to expect from Carl Zeiss. Prepare to be amazed.
Carl Zeiss Pty Ltd
Ph: 1300 365 470 (AU) Ph: 0800 334 353 (NZ) [email protected] www.zeiss.com/lightsheet
// INNOVATION MADE BY ZEISS
Lightsheet Z.1
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Life Technologies Corporation has announced it will provide a complete laboratory solution to identify an estimated 20,000 human remains found in various mass graves in Libya following the uprising of 2011 and to address missing persons cases from the 42-year regime of Muammar Gaddafi. This identification work is expected to take several years.
Life Technologies will provide the infrastructure, including the expertise, training, forensic instruments and materials to validate the workflow and process DNA samples through its Dubai-based distributor Integrated Gulf Biosystems (IGB).
“It is our hope that many families will find the answers to what happened to their loved ones,” said Peter Silvester, President, Life Technologies, Europe, Middle East & Africa. “By providing the laboratory set-up and forensic expertise, we will help train Libyan scientists in the very latest instruments, technology and protocols to enable them in their work and help promote reconciliation in Libya.”
Life Technologies will create two separate DNA lines - one geared towards reference samples and the second focusing on processing samples from human remains. Fifty thousand samples will be processed per year. Human remains samples will be processed using PrepFiler BTA chemistry optimised to isolate DNA from bones and teeth in combination with the AmpFlSTR NGM SElect PCR Amplification Kit and MiniFiler Kit, designed for heavily degraded samples. Reference samples will be processed using direct amplification technology combining Copan NUCLEIC-CARD with NGM SElect Express.
The laboratory will utilise the latest generation of genetic analysers and ancillary equipment and will be functionally validated under the quality assurance standards and guidelines required by the ASCLAD-LAB, SWGDAM and ISO 17025. Some training of Libyan scientists will take place in the United States under the direction and supervision of Dr Arthur Eisenberg, a world-renowned forensic scientist, leading up to the lab’s opening in Tripoli.
“The University of North Texas Health Science Center, with its extensive experience in the identification of missing persons and human decedents, is extremely pleased to partner with Life Technologies in the training of the Libyan forensic scientists to help them complete their mission,” said Dr Eisenberg, Director of the UNT Center for Human Identification.
The humanitarian project is funded in part by Repsol, a Spanish-based oil company which donated to the Libyan government through its foundation, $2.5 million in 2012 to help establish a state-of-the-art laboratory to identify and generate profiles from human remains and references from associated relatives of missing people.
Life Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S873
Identifying human remains in Libya’s mass graves
34 WHAT’S NEW IN LAB & LIFE SCIENCES - April/May 2013 www.LabOnline.com.au
my
lab
Metabolomics and mass spectrometry at Murdoch University
The field of metabolomics is, according to Murdoch University’s Profes-sor Robert Trengove, a relatively new one. Thanks to breakthroughs in instrumentation and data processing software, scientists can now “look at a very broad cross-section of the compounds that are present in a cell, in an organism, etc.” These compounds are then measured in response to biological or non-biological treatments - eg, drugs, chemicals, etc - to work out what parts of the biological system are being affected.
Through the national network for metabolite analysis and identification, Metabolomics Australia, Murdoch’s Separation Science and Metabolomics Laboratory, recently received $1 million for infrastructure and equipment. Among other things, this funded the acquisition of a Waters Synapt G2-S imaging mass spectrometer - one of few in Australia. The spectrometer
has allowed the team to look at the distribution of compounds within a tissue section, as opposed to extracting tissue and just getting an average.
“If we can go down and look at things in situ in the tissue, then we start to be able to work out what is happening at a biological level. This is very new for us and opening up a whole range of new scientific enquiries,” said Professor Trengove.But Professor Trengove noted that there’s “no single instrument that solves all of our prob-lems; we really need a very strong collaboration, nationally and internationally, so that we can get access to the best solution for all the equipment we have.” Thus, there are research nodes of Metabolomics Australia all around the country with different focuses and capabilities.
“We’re not trying to duplicate what each other has - we’re actually trying to build com-plementary capabilities so that we all have the ability to move forward, because each instru-ment will have its own strengths,” Professor Trengove explained.
“Part of our collaborative duty is to identify what kinds of systems work best on which instrumentation, so we can then work with the scientific community based in Australia and regionally; hopefully internationally as well.”
Most of the work conducted at the facility is indeed collaborative. One of the more interesting projects, with Professor Peter Hartman of The University of Western Australia (UWA), is a study of human lactation, looking at the compounds in breast milk and the best way to store it. There is even a study of the levels of residual pesticides in breast milk, which have dropped over time as we have become more aware of what we’re eating. The Australians are working with international groups to determine current levels, combining their data with groups from the US.
But metabolomics covers a wide variety of areas, only some of which are studied at Murdoch. Professor Trengove hopes future funding will strengthen the lab’s ability to work “in the agriculture
sector, in the medical sector, in environmental areas, climate change, and even wine production.” The facility will also collaborate with the Fiona Stanley Hospital when it opens in 2014,
helping to develop diagnostic tools.
By Lauren Davis
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