November Vendor Sponsor - Kinesis - http://kinesis-usa.com

 

Main Speaker: 

Arthur Kalimulins

Sales Director, member, Board of Directors

ChromSword

Automating HPLC Method Development

Abstract:  

For many chromatographers developing methods is a time consuming task.  Aside from the sheer volume of method development required, those methods need to support increasingly demanding  separations.  Finally, depending on the research environment, it may be necessary to track how method developmet is performed for regulatory purposes.  All of these factors drive a need for increased automation of method development.  

This talk explores different approaches for automating HPLC method development.  The Design of Experiments approach develops variables around existing conditions.  Coupled with experiments, this approach uses statistics to optimize methods.  The computer assisted approach uses software to change different variables to simulate thousands of chromatograms without running additional experiments.  Finally, fully automated method development runs the LC system automatically and changes variables based on previous runs.  We discuss how these approaches have been incorporated into software and we will examine some real-world examples to show the techniques.

Biography:

Arthur Kalimulins is Sales Director and Member of the Board of ChromSword Group, a Latvian/German company that develops tools for automating HPLC method development.   Prior to Chromsword Arthur worked for 15 years in the IT industry including as Oracle Country Manager for the  Baltic States.  This work included applications to overhaul national systems for registering citizens and automibles and for administering taxes.  At Chromsword Arthur works with industrial and academic teams around the world to help streamline the method development process.  In addition Arthur helped to develop the requirements for Chromsword 5 and he coordinated the work between scientists and engineers.

 

 

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Understanding induced defense responses in eastern white pines against southern pine beetle induced fungal attack

Abstract: 

Adriana Arango-Velez1,4, Sourav Chakraborty2, Kevin Blascyk2, Phan, Mi2, Joseph Barsky1,Walid El Kayal3

1Department of Forestry and Horticulture. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, 06504

2Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT 06050

3Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, 21545 EL-Shatby, Alexandria, Egypt

The increases in temperature have recently allowed the southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimm.; SPB) and its associated fungi to expand its natural range to naïve pine forest with no prior evolutionary exposure. Within the last three years, endemic and epidemic insect population has expanded to the northeast United States. In Connecticut, these beetles attacked several conifers including pitch pine, red pine, eastern white pine, and Norway spruce. In this study, naïve eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) mature trees were used to evaluate naïve tree defense responses to the southern pine beetle. The blue-stain fungus (Ophiostoma minus (Hedgcock) H. & P. Sydow) associated with SPB was used as a proxy of southern pine beetle to evaluate tree defense, because SPB is still in the endemic phase and its use in field conditions are not permitted. Moreover, O. minus best colonize the phloem at early stages of the beetle attack. One aspect of induced defense in plants involve synthesis of soluble phenolics and monoterpenoids which either directly or indirectly affect the invader. In this study eastern white pine tree phloem samples were collected from the field sites, ground to powder and extracted in methanol or hexane. We observed qualitative and quantitative differences in metabolites due to fungal attack. Soluble phenolics such as p-coumaric acid, taxifolin, catechin/epicatechin were induced. Also, elevated levels of monoterpenoids such as α-pinene, β-pinene, β-myrcene, terpinolene and limonene were detected post-attack. Induction of these metabolites indicates that an induced defense mechanism exists within the trees and may play a crucial role in the survival against SPB. We will present analytical method development strategy for complex plant matrices and quantitative determination of induced metabolites in eastern white pine.

Biography - Student Speakers:

Kevin Blascyk is born and brought up in Connecticut. He joined Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) a couple of years ago. Kevin is a senior Chemistry major at CCSU. Kevin enjoys analytical and quantitative problem solving. He joined Dr. Chakraborty’s research group at CCSU to gain experience in method development associated with complex model systems. In past one year, Kevin has gained experience in chromatography, spectroscopy and liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry techniques. Kevin aspire to join industry after his graduation. Today, Kevin will discuss his method development work on soluble phenolics obtained from eastern white pine trees under fungal attack.

Mi Phan moved to United States from Vietnam a few years ago. She is majoring in chemistry with a minor in biochemistry from Central Connecticut State University (CCSU). Mi is always curious about natural processes and underlying principles that drives those processes forward.  Mi had completed almost two years of research at CCSU. Previously, she worked on “Prevention of UV-degradation of amino acids using membrane bound absorbers”. Currently, she is working on two independent projects related to plant biochemistry and analytical method development. In past few years, Mi gained hands on experience in various wet chemistry and instrumentation techniques including spectrophotometry, gas and liquid chromatography and hyphenated mass spectrometry. Mi received Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry at CCSU from Division of Analytical Chemistry of the American Chemical Society this year. Mi aspires to pursue a career in pharmacy (Pharm.D.) and improve the quality of people’s life. Today, Mi will discuss her work on changes in monoterpene composition in field grown eastern white pine trees under fungal attack.

Many thanks to Prof. Sourav Chakraborty at CCSU for encouraging the students in their work and presentations!