Environmental Science

Analytical Cannabis 

Speaking at The Science of Cannabis Cultivation 2022, Kaitlin delivered her talk on the environmental impacts of the cannabis industry.

Environmental Impacts of the Cannabis Industry

Teach Me in 10

As per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds become more prominent, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are developing more stringent regulations for PFAS monitoring. 

In this Teach Me in 10, we hear from field application scientist Marc Elie on the challenges of PFAS analysis in matrices including drinking water and wastewater and how to mitigate interference and contamination on LC-MS/MS instrumentation. 

After watching, you’ll understand the differences between analysis for US EPA Methods 537.1, 533 and 1633 as well as the additional difficulties of PFAS analysis in non-potable water.

Mitigate Interference and Contamination in PFAS Analysis

Due to the unique ion exchange mechanisms and separation chemistry of analytes, it’s important to understand how sample preparation methods can contribute to the success of ion chromatography experiments. Sample preparation is crucial to obtaining the most accurate results - regardless of the sample type. 

This Teach Me in 10 we speak with Dr Yan Liu, Director, of Chemistry R&D for Ion Chromatography at Thermo Fisher Scientific. We cover some of the common sample preparation techniques used in ion chromatography and explore methods to accelerate target analyte determination.

Simple and Effective Sample Preparation Techniques for Ion Chromatography

Understanding Animal Research

Although zebrafish have been used in research for sixty years we can still learn about their preferences. Watching zebrafish in the wild and studying their ecology can help scientists do this.
#FishInResearch

References:
Video: Wild zebrafish in India: https://vimeo.com/200660695
Stevens CH et al. (2021). Enrichment for laboratory zebrafish—a review of the evidence and the challenges. Animals 11(3): 698. doi: 10.3390/ani11030698
Sundin, Morgan, Finnøen, Dey, Sarkar, Jutfelt. 2019. On the observation of wild zebrafish in India. Zebrafish Journal
Where the wild zebrafish are: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41684-020-00665-z
Zebrafish welfare: https://nc3rs.org.uk/3rs-resources/zebrafish-welfare

What can wild zebrafish tell us about keeping zebrafish in the lab?

Speaking at The Science of Cannabis Extraction 2022 in June, Michelle Sprawls, Director of Science at CULTA presented her talk on how to set-up a cannabis extraction laboratory.

Abstract: The cannabis industry is booming across the world and was declared “essential” in the US at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. With strict regulations by state governments, cannabis extraction laboratories need to ensure quality control and perform safety testing. Setting up an extraction laboratory is an uphill task and requires careful consideration of several factors to maximize productivity and minimize losses.

It is essential to contemplate the following areas when setting up a cannabis extraction facility:

Location: You must thoroughly understand the applicable statutory laws of the location where you plan to start an extraction facility to avoid hefty penalties.

Regulatory Compliance: You must have an in-depth understanding of all regulatory requirements, such as current good manufacturing practices (cGMP), NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), Local fire codes, and OSHA.

Staff Management: It is important to have reliable, qualified, trained, and competent staff for performing tasks in a cannabis extraction facility. The staff should be trained to tackle all operational challenges and make decisions.

Waste Management: All laws and regulations consider waste management as one of the most important factors. You must train your staff to characterize and dispose of hazardous and non-hazardous waste as per the standard operating procedures to minimize its impact on the environment.

Supply Chain Management: You must deploy a robust quality and inventory management system to ensure complete traceability of products across the supply chain.

Equipment Selection & Management: It is recommended that extraction systems be UL-listed (UL refers to Underwriters Laboratories) or have similar Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) certification for maintaining safety standards.

An informatics solution helps automate laboratory workflows, streamlines in-house testing processes, and provides real-time access to laboratory data. Furthermore, it helps manage analytical instruments, staff training, SOPs and supports compliance with regulations.

Setting up a Cannabis Extraction Lab? Lessons Learned Along the Way

Speaking at The Science of Cannabis Extraction 2022 in June, Katie Moyer, Founder of Kentucky Hemp Works presented her talk on the possibilities of hemp products.

Abstract: Cannabis has become one of the fastest growing industries in the world, but how can small businesses capture their share of the market without losing their identity?

Whether your focus is in fiber, seed, roots, or cannabinoids, the cannabis plant has the potential to propel your ideas into real, tangible benefits for your business and your community. Katie Moyer, founder of Kentucky Hemp Works, has encouraged and inspired cannabis startups all over the U.S., promoting fellowship among competitors and service to the cannabis industry’s local communities.

Wherever you are, and whatever your focus, cannabis has the potential to create or improve local jobs by utilizing the strengths and values of your business and team. Rather than reinvent the wheel, let the excitement and appeal of cannabis be a launching point for your vision, without changing who you are at your center.

Finding Your Niche in the Cannabis World — A Realm of Endless Possibilities

Bruker Mass Spectrometry

Learn how to utilize MALDI-MSI offers
Precise structural analysis of a wide variety of synthetic materials and the elucidation of polymerization mechanisms 
Isomer differentiation and the determination of polymer sequences and architectures 
Identifying the spatial distributions of analytes or imaging of defects on polymer surfaces 

MALDI Mass Spectrometry of Synthetic Polymers 

Aging (Aging-US)

Aging-US published this trending research paper in Volume 14, Issue 18, entitled, "The association between continuous ambulatory heart rate, heart rate variability, and 24-h rhythms of heart rate with familial longevity and aging" by researchers from Section Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Geriatric Medicine, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands; Section Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.204219

Corresponding authors - Evie van der Spoel - e.van_der_spoel@lumc.nl

Abstract

Aging is associated with changes in heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and 24-h rhythms in HR. Longevity has been linked to lower resting HR, while a higher resting HR and a decreased HRV were linked to cardiovascular events and increased mortality risk. HR and HRV are often investigated during a short electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement at a hospital. In this study, we aim to investigate the relationship between HR parameters with familial longevity and chronological age derived from continuous ambulatory ECG measurements collected over a period of 24 to 90 hours. We included 73 middle-aged participants (mean (SD) age: 67.0 (6.16) years), comprising 37 offspring of long-lived families, 36 of their partners, and 35 young participants (22.8 (3.96) years). We found no association with familial longevity, but middle-aged participants had lower 24-h HR (average and maximum HR, not minimum HR), lower amplitudes, and earlier trough and peak times than young participants. Associations in HR with chronological age could be caused by the aging process or by differences in environmental factors. Interestingly, middle-aged participants had a less optimal HRV during long-term recordings in both the sleep and awake periods, which might indicate that their heart is less adaptable than that of young participants. This could be a first indication of deteriorated cardiovascular health in middle-aged individuals.

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Keywords - aging, longevity, continuous ambulatory measurements, heart rate, heart rate variability

About Aging-US

Launched in 2009, Aging-US publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research and age-related diseases, including cancer—and now, with a special focus on COVID-19 vulnerability as an age-dependent syndrome. Topics in Aging-US go beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR, among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways.

Please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com​​ and connect with us:

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Trending With Impact: Association Between Heart Rate Parameters, and Familial Longevity and Aging

Oncotarget

Oncotarget published this research paper on September 14, 2022 in Volume 13, entitled, "Influence of high altitude on the expression of HIF-1 and on the prognosis of Ecuadorian patients with gastric adenocarcinoma" by researchers from the Universidad Central del Ecuador, Ciencias Médicas, Carrera de Medicina, Hospital de Especialidades de Fuerzas Armadas HE-1, Quito, Ecuador; Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Social Medicine, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Pathology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28275

Correspondence to - José Sebastiao dos Santos - lab.biomol.cirugia@fmrp.usp.br

Abstract

Since the incidence of gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) is high in populations living at high altitudes, we evaluated the influence of altitude on the expression of HIF-1 and survival of Ecuadorian GA patients. Method: 155 GA cases were studied: 56 from coastal (GAC) and 99 from mountainous regions (GAM), and 74 non-GA controls (25 coast and 49 mountain). The expression of HIF-1/HER2 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Analyses were performed using Fisher's exact and Breslow-Day tests for homogeneity and Kaplan-Meier curves and restricted median survival time ΔRMST. Results: HIF-1 was overexpressed in normal/inflamed gastric mucosa, especially in mountainous non-GA patients (p = 0.001). There was no difference between GAC and GAM in terms of age/gender, HIF-1/HER2 expression, stage/tumor location. Median survival at 120 months was significantly higher among GAC, with a difference (ΔRMST) of 43.7 months (95% CI 29.5, 57.8) (p < 0.001) and those with positive HIF-1 expression: ΔRMST 26.6 months (95% CI 11.0, 42.1) (p < 0.001). Positive HIF-1 expression was associated with better GAM survival, with ΔRMST 33.6 months (95% CI 14.2, 52.9) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Despite the limitations of this retrospective study, GA patients in the coastal region and those who expressed HIF-1 exhibited a better prognosis, but this factor was associated with better survival only in the mountain region.

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Keywords - cancer, gastric adenocarcinoma, hypoxia-induced factor, HER2, survival rate, tumor markers

About Oncotarget

Oncotarget is a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal. Papers are published continuously within yearly volumes in their final and complete form, and then quickly released to Pubmed.

To learn more about Oncotarget, please visit https://www.oncotarget.com and connect with us:

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Media Contact
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18009220957

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