Newsgroup sci.techniques.spectroscopy 2994

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Hello,
I am a molecular biologist by training and so am a bit rusty on some of the=
 apparatus and
techniques that can be used for more chemical type studies.
However, I am interested in determining the "purity" of a complex mixture (=
a plant extract)
with respect to other contaminating mixtures from, for example, other plant=
 species. I also
need to process many samples with great rapidity and so organic extraction =
and HPLC etc
are probably too slow. I was wondering if the atomic absorption spectra (li=
ke for stellar =
objects) of a reference sample could be compared to an unknown sample and a=
dditional =
absorption bands subtracted to help identify the possible contaminant by co=
mparison to a =
databank of potential contaminating substances (or mixtures). Like I said, =
I'm not very =
familiar with the techniques that might be employed or the equipment. So, w=
ould I need an =
atomic absorption spectrometer to generate the absorption spectra? And can =
anyone
with more experience give me an idea if this might work? I assume that such=
 apparatus is =
highly specialized and costly.
Thanks for any suggestions,
Please reply by e-mail.
      Mark
_______________________________________
Dr. Mark A. Blight,
Institut de G=E9n=E9tique et Microbiologie,
CNRS URA 1354,
B=E2timent 409,
Universit=E9 de Paris XI,
91405 Orsay cedex,
France.
Tel:        +33 1 69 15 66 99
Fax:       + 33 1 69 15 78 08
e-mail:    BLIGHT@IGMORS.U-PSUD.FR
_______________________________________

Mark Blight  asked: I am a molecular biologist by
training and so am a bit rusty on some of the  apparatus and techniques
that can be used for more chemical type studies.
However, I am interested in determining the "purity" of a complex mixture
(=
a plant extract) with respect to other contaminating mixtures from, for
example, other plant  species. I also need to process many samples with
great rapidity and so organic extraction and HPLC etc are probably too
slow. I was wondering if the atomic absorption spectra (like for stellar
objects) of a reference sample could be compared to an unknown sample and
additional absorption bands subtracted to help identify the possible
contaminant by comparison to a databank of potential contaminating
substances (or mixtures). Like I said, I'm not very 
familiar with the techniques that might be employed or the equipment. So,
would I need an atomic absorption spectrometer to generate the absorption
spectra? And can anyone with more experience give me an idea if this might
work? I assume that such apparatus is highly specialized and costly.
Thanks for any suggestions,
Please reply by e-mail.
      Mark"
Atomic absorption measures the metal content of a sample.  Unless the
contaminating species has an unusual metal content, AA would not be a way
to detect the contamination.
My guess, and I'm out of my field on this, is that a method that looks at
the genetic content is most likely to work for you.
Marvin Margoshes

ADDRESS:
             Grzegorz Kruk, Ph.D.
             Wysoka 12A/146
             41-200 Sosnowiec
             Poland (please register mail)
                     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
or           ph./fax/modem (2400-8-N-1) +48 32 1995546
EDUCATION:
Ph.D.
13th of December 1993, graduated from Trinity
College, University of Dublin, Ireland.
Thesis: FT Infrared Spectroscopy of Liquid Crystals.
Papers:
A. Kocot,  R.  Wrzalik,  G.  Kruk,  J.K.  Vij,  Molecular  Materials,  v.1, 
p.273-279, (1992).
A. Kocot, G. Kruk, R.  Wrzalik,  J.K.  Vij,  Liquid  Crystals,  v.12,  n.6, 
p.1005-1012, (1992).
J.K. Vij, A. Kocot, G.Kruk, R. Wrzalik, R. Zental, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst.,
v. 14, p. 337-350, (1993).
G. Kruk, A. Kocot, R. Wrzalik, J.K. Vij, O. Karthaus, H. Ringsdorf,  Liquid 
Crystals, v.14, n.3, p.807-820, (1993).
G. Kruk, J.K. Vij, O. Karthaus, H. Ringsdorf, Supramolecular Science, v.2,
p.51-58, (1995).
6th of July 1989, graduated from  Silesian  University,  Katowice,  Poland, 
(specialization:  experimental and applications of physics). 
Degree of Magistri (Master) in Physics.
    M.Sc. Graduation Exam: "A"
    Total Grade Point Average "B" (4.0)
Thesis: Strong Thermal Lens Induced by Laser Light in Mixtures of 
Organic Liquids with Ferrocene.
Published in Berichte der Bunsenges. Phys. Chem., v.94,  p.417-420,  (1990) 
by G. Kruk and Z. Gburski.
INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS:
Internal EC SCI*0291 project meeting, 1990, University of Dublin, Ireland.
14th International Liquid Crystal Conference, 1991, Pisa, Italy,
(Presented 2 posters).
Internal EC SCI*0291 project  meeting,  1992,  University  of  Manchester, 
U.K., (Seminar).
WORK EXPERIENCE
1988-1994 physicist, Silesian University, Katowice, Poland.
      Duties:
            1)  preparing and explaining basic experiments on physics for
                undergraduate students.
            2)  writing computer programmes for experiments
            3)  designing and performance supervising of new experimental 
                setups for experiments within undergraduate course
            5)  supervising maintenance jobs on experimental hardware
            6)  assembling electronic hardware for experiments like e.g. 
                interfaces for meters and also writing software in ASSEMBLER 
1989-1990 part time teacher of programming in PASCAL and BASIC, III  Liceum 
          Ogolnoksztalcace im. A. Mickiewicza, Katowice, Poland.
         Duties:
            1) Installing software
            2) Teaching programming in Pascal and Basic and also how to
               run and operate other applications 
1991-1993 research student, EEE Department, Trinity College, University  of 
      Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. (working for EC research project SCI*0291 
      in cooperation with groups of University of Mainz and University of
      Manchester).
          Duties:
            1) Laboratory research on liquid crystals and discotic liquid 
               crystals using FTIR spectroscopy equipment and polarizing 
               microscopy including:
                   a) FTIR Spectrometer BIO-RAD FTS60A a Motorola 68000 based
                      system with IDRIS operating system
                   b) Programmable Intelligent Temperature Controller 
                      Oxford ITC4
            2) Writing software applications for data handling in FORTRAN
            3) Data handling and plotting on VAX/VMS (MATLAB), UNIX, DOS 
               (EASYPLOT, WORD, LOTUS MANUSCRIPT)
            4) Preparing seminars for internal project meetings and conferences
            5) Correcting tutorials
03.1994 - Owner of "RAVEN" -Translation & Interpreting Services Bureau.
          Cooperating with:
          East Europen Business Centre, Welling, London, Kent
          International Language Engineering, Boulder, CO, USA (signed 
          contract)
          Duties:
            1) Manager
            2) Accountant
            3) Translator
            4) Writing and modifying own software for accountancy
PROGRAMMING: PASCAL, FORTRAN, C
EXPERIENCE WITH OPERATING SYSTEMS: VMS, UNIX, DOS, RSX-11, CP/M, TOS,                           
LANGUAGES: English-fluent, Polish-native.
OTHER SKILLS: driving licence, yacht steersman licence
INTERESTED IN: programming,  robotics, computer  simulations,  AI,  
               optical computing, OB, optical transistor, space research. 
OTHER FIELDS OF INTEREST: sailing, skiing, sport driving, basketball, swimming,
                          movies, chess.
already 33 y.o., married, 2 children.
REFERENCES:
Prof. H. Robinson-Hammerstein, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
ph. +353-1-7021045
Prof. J.K. Vij, EEE Department, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
ph. +353-1-7021431
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The Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center is offering a workshop on
"Computational Macromolecular Crystallography", June 25-28, 1997.
The workshop will provide hands-on lectures and tutorials for
the programs PHASES and X-PLOR(online). Some of the recent features of
X-PLOR(online) will be discussed, including probabilistic MAD phasing
and torsion-angle molecular dynamics.
The theory and practical considerations of isomorphous replacement
will be described. Several sample data sets with worked examples will be
provided, including a MAD data set.
Maximum likelihood structure refinement will be approached through a
discussion of the basic theory, a description of the implementation within
X-PLOR, and hands-on exercises.
Workshop instructors will be: 
Prof. Axel Brunger, Yale University
Prof. Randy Read, University of Alberta
Prof. William F. Furey, University of Pittsburgh
In addition to the exercises provided, participants are also encouraged
to bring their own data, if available, to work on and discuss with the
instructors.
For more information about this workshop, including financial information,
please check the URL
http://www.psc.edu/biomed/workshops/wk-97/crys97/crys97.html
To apply for the workshop, please submit the following application materials:
                     PITTSBURGH SUPERCOMPUTING CENTER
                          BIOMEDICAL INITIATIVE
       Computational Macromolecular Crystallography Application Form
Name:         _______________________________________________________________
Affiliation:   ______________________________________________________________
Address:       ______________________________________________________________
               (Business)
               ______________________________________________________________
               ______________________________________________________________
               (Home)
               ______________________________________________________________
Telephone:  ____________________________         ____________________________
                   (Business)                                (Home)
*Social Security Number:  _______-_____-_______ 
Citizenship:___________________
Electronic Mail Address:_____________________________________________________
Status: ___Graduate  ___Post-doctoral Fellow  ___Faculty  ___Other (specify)
Please indicate specifically any special housing, transportation or dietary
arrangements you will need: 
___________________________________________________
How did you learn about this workshop:_______________________________________
*****************************************************************************
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must submit a completed application form and a cover letter. The
letter should describe, in one or two paragraphs, your current research, and
how participating in the workshop will enhance this research. Please
include a brief statement describing your level of experience with
computers. Faculty
members, staff and post-docs should provide a curriculum vitae. Graduate
students must have a letter of recommendation from a faculty member.
Please return all application materials by May 14, 1997 to:
     Biomedical Workshop Applications Committee
     Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center
     4400 Fifth Avenue, Suite 230C
     Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Direct inquiries to: Nancy Blankenstein biomed@psc.edu, or (412)268-4960.
*Disclosure of Social Security Number is voluntary.
PSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age,
creed, national or ethnic origin, or handicap.

Hi,
	I'm a Sophomore at the Ocean Township High School in New
Jersey.  For my Honors Biology class, each student has to do an
original research.  This research is later presented to the NJ Junior
Academy of Science.  I'm researching if leafy, green plants, like
lettuce, take in heavy metals, like Cadmium, Lead, Copper, or Mercury
if they are fertilized with municipal sludge.
	What I need to know is, how would I be able to test for these
metals in the plants??  
	I heard that I would need an atomic absorbtion
spectrophometer.  Do I have to do anything during the growth of the
plant to use the spectrophotometer at the end?    Are there anything
else that is less expensive to use? 
If anyone has access to one (college, research lab, etc), would it be
possible for me to use it??
		Thanks for your anticipated responses.
	Johnie Lee

John Lee wrote:
> 
> Hi,
>         I'm a Sophomore at the Ocean Township High School in New
> Jersey.  For my Honors Biology class, each student has to do an
> original research.  This research is later presented to the NJ Junior
> Academy of Science.  I'm researching if leafy, green plants, like
> lettuce, take in heavy metals, like Cadmium, Lead, Copper, or Mercury
> if they are fertilized with municipal sludge.
> 
>         What I need to know is, how would I be able to test for these
> metals in the plants??
> 
>         I heard that I would need an atomic absorbtion
> spectrophometer.  Do I have to do anything during the growth of the
> plant to use the spectrophotometer at the end?    Are there anything
> else that is less expensive to use?
> 
> If anyone has access to one (college, research lab, etc), would it be
> possible for me to use it??
> 
>                 Thanks for your anticipated responses.
> 
>         Johnie Lee
A company called Lab Safety Supply has several soil and water test kits 
for different metals. however the levels nessesary to get a reading may
be higher than what you would find in your experiment. There are some 
quantitative chemical tests you could perform that would be easier than 
locating an AAS.

On behalf of an author who is developing an article on the 
pre-1980 history of fluorescence spectroscopy, Spectroscopy 
magazine is seeking  information on early  fluorescence 
instrumentation. We're trying to pinpoint (as closely as possible) the 
introduction dates of key early instruments, with emphasis on 
filter-based equipment. Any leads on published reference material 
or knowledgeable individuals in this field would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike MacRae
Editor, Spectroscopy

Just scored a Spectronics 21 (digital readout, UV/VIS range) at a surplus
auction (for the princely sum of $10!)
Does anyone have a spare copy of the manual?