The porphyrins, chlorophylls, bilins and related tetrapyrroles are vital for all living organisms. Natural and synthetic tetrapyrroles are used extensively in foods, cosmetics, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medicine. Methods for their separation and characterization therefore, have a very wide area of applications. Yet, there is a dearth of books dedicated to HPLC and HPLC/MS of tetrapyrroles. Lim addresses this problem admirably by providing practical HPLC and HPLC/MS protocols coupled with in-depth chromatographic and mass spectrometric reference data. These are invaluable in the analysis, identification and characterization of porphyrins, chlorophylls, bilins and other related compounds found in biological and clinical materials. HPLC method development and optimization for coupling to mass spectrometry are also described in rich detail. Sample preparation, and suggestions for avoiding procedural artifacts during extraction of clinical and biological samples are discussed. Clinical biochemists involved in biochemical diagnosis of human porphyrias will find this monograph assuredly helpful, as would analysts, biochemists and chemists involved in the separation, isolation and characterization of natural and synthetic tetrapyrroles. Undoubtedly, Lim has contributed a master-piece containing sufficient background material for beginners and up-to-date references for all researchers in the field.

Although researchers can profitably investigate heme, chlorophyll, and related tetrapyrroles in a wide range of academic and medical research programs, the handling and manipulation of these delicate compounds requires considerable skill and cross-boundary knowledge. In Heme, Chlorophyll, and Bilins: Methods and Protocols, an interdisciplinary panel of hands-on investigators overcomes these limitations by describing in detail how to work successfully with chlorophyll, heme, and bilins in biological, medical, chemical, and biochemical research. Each method is presented by a researcher who actually uses it on a daily basis and includes step-by-step instructions and pertinent tricks-of-the-trade that often make the difference between laboratory success and failure. Topics range from methods for the analysis of tetrapyrroles, heme, and hemoproteins, to the biosynthesis and the analysis of chlorophyll and bilins. Timely and highly practical, Heme, Chlorophyll, and Bilins: Methods and Protocols is a gold-standard collection of readily reproducible techniques suitable for a wide range of researchers, whether it be a clinician studying photodynamic therapy, an ecologist studying the chlorophyll composition of leaves in a tropical forest, or a cell biologist investigating the function of specific hemoproteins.

The methodology of analytical pyrolysis-GC/MS has been known for several years, but is seldom used in research laboratories and process control in the chemical industry. This is due to the relative difficulty of interpreting the identified pyrolysis products as well as the variety of them. This book contains full identification of several classes of polymers/copolymers and biopolymers that can be very helpful to the user. In addition, the practical applications can encourage analytical chemists and engineers to use the techniques explored in this volume.The structure and the functions of various types of pyrolyzers and the results of the pyrolysis-gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric identification of synthetic polymers/copolymers and biopolymers at 700°C are described. Practical applications of these techniques are also included, detailing the analysis of microplastics, failure analysis in the automotive industry and solutions for technological problems.

A decade of technological advances and research on the human microbiome has re-defined our understanding of biological systems, and now offers diagnostic tools and new approaches to human health. Likewise, marine ecosystems are driven by their microbiome, the ensemble of microscopic organisms that inhabit the water column, sediments and aquatic organisms, and regulate most fluxes of energy and matter. While the human microbiome is composed principally of bacteria, the marine microbiome has a much broader ensemble of microscopic organisms with sizes spanning from viruses of a few tens of nanometres to metazoans of several centimetres. Advances in high throughput imaging and sequencing are emerging in aquatic science, providing important insights into ecosystem structure and functions, and contributing to develop new indicators of ecosystem health and potential hazards to living resources and humans. A number of research exploration and monitoring programs such as the Tara Oceans global expedition and the Marine Biological Observing Network (MBON), and the rising popularity of environmental DNA (eDNA) already led to a wealth of data. However, the wide range of methodologies used in this early exploration phase poses a challenge to integrative studies, prompting community responses such as the Genomic Standards Consortium. This Research Topic will foster cross-community exchange of standards and best practices. It is an opportunity for the different communities working on marine microbiomes to discuss the advantages and the limitations of their sampling and analysis methods. The collection of papers will constitute a knowledge base aimed at (1) addressing the integration of existing observations from heterogenous methods and data types, and (2) working towards cross-communities standards and best practices for future observations and experiments. This Research Topic will publish comprehensive methodological papers that review a sufficiently large body of field or experimental work. Supporting (meta)data, such as environmental context, sampling materials, sample treatments, extraction and imaging yields, must be provided and should preferably be uploaded to an online sample registry such as BioSamples. Protocols and analytical methods should preferably be uploaded to an online repository such as Protocols.io. We welcome contributions from communities working in different environments: · focus on marine systems, but also interested in estuarine and freshwater systems · coastal, open ocean and deep-sea regions · benthic, pelagic and aerosol environments We strongly encourage contributions from communities involved in: · networks of local observatories and long-term monitoring programs · regional & basin-scale surveys, and global expeditions · biodiscovery linked to economic sectors such as pharmaceutics and bioengineering · environmental and health assessments linked to economic sectors such as aquaculture, fisheries, seabed mining, wind-farms, and oil and gas

The Extended Specimen highlights the research potential for ornithological specimens, and is meant to encourage ornithologists poised to initiate a renaissance in collections-based ornithological research. Contributors illustrate how collections and specimens are used in novel ways by adopting emerging new technologies and analytical techniques. Case studies use museum specimens and emerging and non-traditional types of specimens, which are developing new methods for making biological collections more accessible and "usable" for ornithological researchers. Published in collaboration with and on behalf of The American Ornithological Society, this volume in the highly-regarded Studies in Avian Biology series documents the power of ornithological collections to address key research questions of global importance.

The porphyrins, chlorophylls, bilins and related tetrapyrroles are vital for all living organisms. Natural and synthetic tetrapyrroles are used extensively in foods, cosmetics, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medicine. Methods for their separation and characterization therefore, have a very wide area of applications. Yet, there is a dearth of books dedicated to HPLC and HPLC/MS of tetrapyrroles. Lim addresses this problem admirably by providing practical HPLC and HPLC/MS protocols coupled with in-depth chromatographic and mass spectrometric reference data. These are invaluable in the analysis, identification and characterization of porphyrins, chlorophylls, bilins and other related compounds found in biological and clinical materials. HPLC method development and optimization for coupling to mass spectrometry are also described in rich detail. Sample preparation, and suggestions for avoiding procedural artifacts during extraction of clinical and biological samples are discussed. Clinical biochemists involved in biochemical diagnosis of human porphyrias will find this monograph assuredly helpful, as would analysts, biochemists and chemists involved in the separation, isolation and characterization of natural and synthetic tetrapyrroles. Undoubtedly, Lim has contributed a master-piece containing sufficient background material for beginners and up-to-date references for all researchers in the field.