Agilent Technologies

About: Agilent Technologies is a company organization based out in Santa Clara, California, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Signal & Mass spectrometry. The organization has 7398 authors who have published 11518 publications receiving 262410 citations. The organization is also known as: Agilent Technologies, Inc..

Stable isotope dilution assay for the accurate determination of mycotoxins in maize by UHPLC-MS/MS.

Abstract: A fast, easy-to-handle and cost-effective analytical method for 11 mycotoxins currently regulated in maize and other cereal-based food products in Europe was developed and validated for maize. The method is based on two extraction steps using different acidified acetonitrile–water mixtures. Separation is achieved using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) by a linear water–methanol gradient. After electrospray ionisation, tandem mass spectrometric detection is performed in dynamic multiple reaction monitoring mode. Since accurate mass spectrometric quantification is hampered by matrix effects, uniformly [13C]-labelled mycotoxins for each of the 11 compounds were added to the sample extracts prior to UHPLC-MS/MS analysis. Method performance parameters were obtained by spiking blank maize samples with mycotoxins before as well as after extraction on six levels in triplicates. The twofold extraction led to total recoveries of the extraction steps between 97% and 111% for all target analytes, including fumonisins. The [13C]-labelled internal standards efficiently compensated all matrix effects in electrospray ionisation, leading to apparent recoveries between 88% and 105% with reasonable additional costs. The relative standard deviations of the whole method were between 4% and 11% for all analytes. The trueness of the method was verified by the measurement of several maize test materials with well-characterized concentrations. In conclusion, the developed method is capable of determining all regulated mycotoxins in maize and presuming similar matrix effects and extraction recovery also in other cereal-based foods.

Rapid Method for the Determination of Multiple Mycotoxins in Wines and Beers by LC-MS/MS Using a Stable Isotope Dilution Assay

Abstract: A “dilute and shoot” method for the liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) determination of multiple mycotoxins (aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, ochratoxin A (OTA), fumonisins (F) B1...

Apparatus for the operation of a microfluidic device

Abstract: In a system for operation or handling of a laboratory microchip (41) for chemical processing or analysis, the microchip (41) is mounted in a first physical unit (42). The microchip (41) is arranged on a mounting plate, such that it is readily accessible from the top and thus the fitting and removal of the microchip is considerably simplified. Furthermore, the first physical unit (42) comprises an optical device (43) for contactless detection of the results of the chemical processes conducted on the microchip. The supply systems necessary for the operation of the microchip are arranged in a module unit that has a separable connection with a second physical unit. The proposed modular layout enables ease of interchangeability of the required supply systems and thus, overall, ease of adaptability of the proposed system for various types of microchips.

Eye tracking for visualization evaluation: reading values on linear versus radial graphs

Abstract: An eye tracking methodoLogy can help uncover subtLe cognitive processing stages that are otherwise difficult to observe in visuaLization evaLuation studies. Pros and cons of eye tracking methods are discussed here, incLuding common analysis metrics. One example metric is the initial time at which all elements of a visualization that are required to complete a task have been viewed. An illustrative eye tracking study was conducted to compare how radial and Linear graphs support value Lookup tasks for both one and two data-dimensions. Linear and radial versions of bar, Line, area, and scatter graphs were presented to 32 participants, who each completed a counterbalanced series of tasks. Tasks were completed more quickly on Linear graphs than on those with a radial Layout. Scanpath analysis revealed that a three-stage processing] find desired data dimension, [2] find its datapoint, and [3] map the datapoint to its value. Mapping a datapoint to its value was slower on radial than Linear graphs, probably because eyes need to follow a circular, as opposed to a Linear path. Finding a datapoint within a dimension was harder using Line and area graphs than bar and scatter graphs, possibly due to visual confusion of the Line representing a data series. ALthough few errors were made, eye tracking was also used here to classify error strategies. As a result of these analyses, guidelines are proposed for the design of radial and Linear graphs.