The Column-03-04-2011

A pheromone from female squid has been identified that triggers immediate and dramatic fighting in male squid that touch it.

Scientists from chocolate company Hershey, in collaboration with other laboratories, have reported improved methods for determining the amounts of flavanol antioxidants in cocoa and chocolate. Flavanol antioxidants promote a healthy cardiovascular system by deactivating free radicals and helping to reduce blood pressure.

A study carried out in Australia has measured plasma carotenoids concentrations and looked for factors in the indigenous Australian population that affect it, with particular focus on the participants? socioeconomic status.

In the wake of the recent dioxin poisoning scare in Europe that sparked import bans on some German farm products, GC-MS is emerging as the perfect analytical tool for forensic analysis.

In this study, the method of two-dimensional comprehensive GC applying an ultra fast quadrupole mass spectrometer as detector was used (GC×GCqMS).

Ion chromatography (IC) is a similar technique to HPLC except that the detector of choice is usually a conductivity detector.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the initial findings of stroke research conducted by its Biomarker Research Initiatives in Mass Spectrometry (BRIMS) centre in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Harvard University. According to the company, the research provides potentially significant insight into patent foramen ovale (PFO) and its connection with strokes.