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October 08, 2018

Easily Measure Color Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM)

What is CDOM? CDOM (Color Dissolved Organic Matter) is organic matter whose optical properties are measurable using WPI’s LWCC (Liquid Waveguide Capillary Cell). CDOM occurs naturally in water systems and is derived from organic tannins. CDOM concentration depends on the location where samples are taken, with coastal waters showing higher CDOM concentrations compared to open-ocean waters. In addition, CDOM absorption depends on open-ocean water depth. Why is the study of CDOM levels important? CDOM is naturally occurring but the environment can influence the level of CDOM in water particles. Measuring the level of CDOM is important because CDOM can have a big effect from fresh to oceanic environments. For example, a higher concentration of CDOM in water particles reduces photosynthesis and negatively affects the food chain.

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October 08, 2018

WPI Awards Prize to The Zebrafish Network Winner

Jonas de Jesus, from WPI Brasil visit the winner of a contest to name a mascot for the Zebrafish Network. Jonas presented the winner with a surgical kit for zebrafish research. The project "The Zebrafish Network" is a result of the partnership of the Center for Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS) of the Butantan Institute, and aims to promote communication and integration, as well as foster collaborations between researchers studying the fish "Paulistinha ", Which has been used for many scientific studies because of its genetic similarity with humans (70%). "The idea is that everyone who belongs to the network can divulge their work, interact with other researchers and inform about what is happening, such as publication of articles, lectures and congresses on the subject," explains Mônica Lopes , director of the Special

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August 22, 2018

Get a Clean Consistent Cut Every Time with Biopsy Punches

Clean, Consistent Cut Every Time When you need to quickly take minimally invasive, small samples, the biopsy punch is an easy choice. The biopsy punch is a hand held, pencil-shaped instrument with a slender, pencil-like body. It is lightweight with a hollow, circular, stainless steel, cutting tip. In 1887 Edward Lawrence Keyes, the first president of the American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons, was the first doctor who documented the importance of using the biopsy punch for dermatological diagnostics. He observed that the skin tissue samples can be obtained without complications, minimal bleeding and no need for suturing. Uses for Biopsy Punches Punches are not solely used in dermatology. Biopsy punches are also designed for therapeutics

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July 16, 2018

Using the 900A Micropressure System for Measuring Pressure in Small Blood Vessels and Cells

This 900A video series of 6 videos is designed to help familiarize you with the basic operation of the 900A Micropressure System. The 900A was designed for measuring pressures in kidney tubules, and it has many applications. It has recently been used for measuring ventricular blood pressure in larval fish. We suggest that you become familiar with the information in the instruction manual and the parts and techniques you need to operate the system effectively. Please read the manual and watch these videos prior to setting up and testing your 900A Micropressure System. Instrument Description The 900A Micropressure System is designed to measure pressures from –200 to +400 mmHg in s

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March 13, 2018

How Do I Select Appropriate Surgical Instruments for My Application?

When you are selecting surgical instruments for a procedure, here are a few key points to consider What procedure are you performing? Published research papers usually indicate which instruments other researchers have used for similar procedures. The correct surgical instrument for a particular procedure makes a difference on the outcome of that technique. What is the size of your subject? An instrument that is perfect for a 200–300 g rat (about 22–25 cm long) may not be the best choice for a neo-natal mouse of about 15 g (about 1–2.5 cm long). How often will the instrument be used? If you perform more than 100 cuts per day, a pair of titanium scissors or a pair of scissors with tungsten carbide inserts would be worth considering. They stay sharp longer.

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February 13, 2018

Replacing the Gasket in a Nanoliter2010

In this video you'll see how to replace the gasket in a Nanoliter2010. More Info If you have questions, contact us at 866.606.1974 (US Toll Free) or at wpi@wpiinc.com. To request a formal quote, please email us at quotes@wpiinc.com.

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June 27, 2017

Absorbance Detection

Absorption of light correlates to the energy of a photon that is taken-up by electrons of the substance atom. The electromagnetic energy is transformed into internal energy of the absorbent substance. The absorbance of a substance quantifies how much of the incident light is absorbed by it (instead of being reflected or refracted). Precise measurements of the absorbance at many wavelengths allow the identification of a substance via absorption spectroscopy, where a sample is illuminated from one side, and the intensity of the light that exits from the sample in every direction is measured (see Fig. 1). A few examples of absorption are ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy or infrared (IR) spectroscopy.

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June 27, 2017

Using the Biofluorometer with Muscle Physiology Research systems

The use of fluorescence for sensing and imaging of the cellular signaling pathways has emerged as an indispensable tool in modern physiology, providing dynamic information of quantity and localization of the molecules of interest. Using appropriate indicator dyes, molecules alter their fluorescent characteristics in response to ion binding or membrane integration, so that the optical signal from the indicator can be measured to monitor the amplitude and the time course of various metal ions like Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+, as well as pH and membrane potential, in cellular compartments. A specific target molecule like Ca2+ is responsible for many physiological functions, such as neurotransmitter release, fertilization and ion channel functions. Studying the cellular channel functions is directly related to the transient increase in the myoplasmic free calcium concentration (Δ[Ca2+

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June 27, 2017

Detection of organic compounds in water analysis

Absorption of light correlates to the energy of a photon that is taken-up by electrons of the substance atom. The electromagnetic energy is transformed into internal energy of the absorbent substance. The absorbance of a substance quantifies how much of the incident light is absorbed by it (instead of being reflected or refracted). Precise measurements of the absorbance at many wavelengths allow the identification of a substance via absorption spectroscopy, where a sample is illuminated from one side, and the intensity of the light that exits from the sample in every direction is measured (see Fig. 1). A few examples of absorption are ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy or infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Fig 1. Concept of absorbance spectroscopy using white light and o

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June 27, 2017

Ca2+ Detection in Muscle Tissue using Fluorescence Spectroscopy

The use of fluorescent probes in cell physiology has emerged as indispensable tool in the analysis of cell functioning over recent years. The physics underlying fluorescence is illustrated by the electronic-state diagram (so-called Jablonski diagram, see Fig. 1), showing the three-stage process to create the fluorescent signal (Excitation - Excited/State Lifetime - Fluorescence Emission) in a fluorophore/indicator and simplified described below. Fig. 1– Jablonski diagram illustrating the processes of fluorescence by absorption of higher photon energy by a fluorophore and subsequent emission of lower photon energy, resulting i

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