Ion mobility mass spectrometry in the omics era: Challenges and opportunities for metabolomics and lipidomics

Researchers worldwide are taking advantage of novel, commercially available, technologies, such as ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS), for metabolomics and lipidomics applications in a variety of fields including life, biomedical, and food sciences. IM-MS provides three main technical advantages over traditional LC-MS workflows. Firstly, in addition to mass, IM-MS allows collision cross-section values to be measured for metabolites and lipids, a physicochemical identifier related to the chemical shape of an analyte that increases the confidence of identification. Second, IM-MS increases peak capacity and the signal-to-noise, improving fingerprinting as well as quantification, and better defining the spatial localization of metabolites and lipids in biological and food samples. Third, IM-MS can be coupled with various fragmentation modes, adding new tools to improve structural characterization and molecular annotation. Here, we review the state-of-the-art in IM-MS technologies and approaches utilized to support metabolomics and lipidomics applications and we assess the challenges and opportunities in this growing field.     

Crude oil aggregation by microscopy and dynamic light scattering

This research is focused on establishing a methodology to evaluate the aggregation state of Mexican crude oil solutions from two different sources and SARA compositions, by using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Different crude oil concentrations were established and monitored through time in order to determine their effects on the aggregation state. DLS results indicate that the aggregation state of the studied solutions is influenced by crude oil composition, specifically by the amount of resins. Particle size and elemental analysis of the aggregates were performed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), respectively. Results from these techniques reveal particulated low-porosity smooth surfaces due to the presence of resin, as well as the determination of the characteristic elements found in asphaltenes. High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HTEM) indicated the presence of asphaltene aggregates constituted by nanometric particles and asphaltene stacking as well as ultrafine nanocrystalline-oriented structures.     

Non-destructive Estimation of Mandarin Maturity Status Through Portable VIS-NIR Spectrophotometer

Sugar content is one of the most important quality attributes of citrus fruit, either for fresh or for processing market. Since sugars in citrus juice are highly correlated with total soluble solids (TSS) content, which can be determined easily even by the means of a hand refractometer, TSS is one of the most frequently used quality index. Since TSS can be measured only destructively, the results are representative only if carried out on large samples and do not allow classifying marketable fruit one by one according to their specific sugar content. Objective of this experiment was to assess possibility and limits of a non-destructive estimation of citrus fruits internal quality parameters (TSS and titratable acidity) presenting thick peel by the use of a spectrophotometric portable VIS-NIR system. Four hundred fruit of “Miho” satsuma and 150 fruit of “Page” tangelo were used. Each fruit was first subjected to spectrophotometric acquisition and soon after was juiced and TSS and titratable acidity (TA) determined. Partial least squares (PLS) regression analysis was applied for constructing a predictive model based on the spectral normalized response, constructing the model on a sub-sample and verifying the model (prediction test) on independent ones. The TA relative to Page mandarin was predicted in the test with an r = 0.88 and a standard error of prevision (SEP) coefficient of variability of 3.8% while the TSS scored an r = 0.85 and a SEP coefficient of variability equal to 4%. The TA of Miho mandarin was predicted in the test with an r = 0.81 and a SEP coefficient of Variability of 8.3% while the TSS scored an r = 0.84 and a SEP coefficient of variability equal to 5.6%.     

Application of near (NIR) infrared and mid (MIR) infrared spectroscopy as a rapid tool to classify extra virgin olive oil on the basis of fruity attribute intensity

A sensory analysis of 112 virgin olive oils was performed by a fully trained taste panel. The samples were divided in “defective” and “not defective” on the basis of their olfactory attributes. Then, the “not defective” samples were classified into “low”, “medium” and “high” according to the fruity aroma intensity perceived by assessors. All samples were also analysed by FT-NIR and FT-IR spectroscopy and processed by classification methods (LDA and SIMCA). The results showed that NIR and MIR spectroscopy coupled with statistical methods are an interesting technique compared with traditional sensory assessment in classifying olive oil samples on the basis of the fruity attribute. The prediction rate varied between 71.6% and 100%, as average value. The spectroscopic methods, combined with chemometric strategies, could represent a reliable, cheap and fast classification tool, able to draw a complete fingerprint of a food product, describing its intrinsic quality attributes, that include its sensory attributes.     

Image Analysis Techniques for Automated Hazelnut Peeling Determination

According to FAO statistics, in 2000, Italy was the second largest hazelnut (Corylus avellana, L. 1753) producer in the world. The price of the stock depends on the nut quality (kernel/nut ratio, nut and seed defect, percentage of peeling, and taste panel scores). The evaluation of peeling efficiency after toasting is generally conducted by trained operators in sight on 100 kernels. This work tests two alternative objective methods of after toasting peeling evaluation based on image analysis. Eleven hazelnut cultivars were analyzed and results were compared with the ones assessed by trained operators. Images were analyzed with two statistical approaches: fixed values of RGB thresholding and trained K Nearest Neighbors (KNN). Root mean squared error (RMSE), estimating the comparison between operators and the two image analysis-based techniques, shows better results for KNN (6.6) with respect to fixed threshold (15.9).     

Influence of counterface roughness on friction properties of engineering plastics for bearing applications

The study investigates the effects of the roughness of the metal counterface (mirror finished or polished) on the coefficient of dry friction for some of the most common engineering plastics used in current bearing technology. The results show that an optimal roughness for minimum friction is likely to exist for any polymer, and it depends on the bulk properties of the polymer itself. “Soft” plastics characterized by a low modulus of elasticity exhibit better sliding behaviour on very smooth, mirror finished surfaces, whereas for high-modulus plastics lower friction is measured in combination with rougher, polished counterfaces. The influence of the contact pressure and sliding velocity are also investigated and found to depend on the layout of the tribological system.     

Supervised Multivariate Analysis of Hyper-spectral NIR Images to Evaluate the Starch Index of Apples

Fruit maturity indexes are crucial in harvest time determination and commercial context. The harvest time of apples, matching the desired commercial characteristics, is assessed through starch–iodine test in practice. Fruit halves are dipped into iodine solution and patterns are visually evaluated by experts comparing them to reference charts. Aim of the work was to study the relationships of near infrared (NIR) spectral images (1,000–1,700 nm), starch/starch-free patterns visually assessed and RGB color images. Spectral images of 88 Golden Delicious Klon B apples were sampled at seven different maturity stages. Partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) technique was used on hyper-spectral NIR images to classify single pixels using its NIR reflectance spectrum. The response variable (i.e. the classification for each pixel) was identified through the matching of single pixel obtained with the color images, segmented in two classes (starch and starch-free), and the NIR hyper-spectral matrix. Mean hyper-spectral classification obtained through PLSDA modeling on individual apple correctly classified 80.81% of the total pixels, while the unique model, i.e. a single model including all the fruits, resulted in 66.33%. In the latter case, the relationship with the RGB classification showed high values (Pearson correlation coefficient r = 0.95). The present work shows the feasibility of NIR imaging spectroscopy as a tool for apple fruit maturity determination, avoiding expert’s subjective interpretation by traditional starch index assignments.     

Effect of polypropylene morphology on thermal cis-trans isomerization and photofading of some azo dyes: A kinetic study

Five polypropylene films were prepared having different crystallinity and morphology, the latter having been modified by stretching. They were colored with azo dyes XC₆H₄N?NC₆H₄N(C₂H₅)₂ (where X?H, OCH₃, CN, and NO₂). The kinetics of the thermal cis-trans isomerization of these dyes has been studied in the range 21–41°C, much above the glass transition temperature of the polymer. The isomerization process was found to be strictly first-order; the kinetic parameter values have been correlated with the free volume extent in the amorphous regions of the matrix. Lightfastness of the dyes in the polymer matrices has been also investigated: It appeared to be more important for the unoriented samples with respect to the stretched ones and substantially independent on the crystalinity degree.     

Stability evaluation of high-precision multifunction instrumentsfor traceability transfer

In the traceability transfer process from the national standards of the Istituto Elettrotecnico Nazionale “Galileo Ferraris” to standards of calibration laboratories accredited by Servizio di Taratura in Italia, the use of high-precision multifunction instruments, in particular digital multimeters, as reference standards turned out to be a good transfer method. In fact, their use provides swift and less expensive transfer at an uncertainty level comparable to that one obtained using high-precision individual standards, such as 10 V DC voltage standards, standard resistors, or AC/DC transfer standards. In this paper, how this transfer process is performed and what results are obtained, are described     

A VSWR-protected silicon bipolar RF power amplifier with soft-slope power control

This paper presents the design and measured performance of a 1.8-GHz power amplifier featuring load mismatch protection and soft-slope power control. Load-mismatch-induced breakdown can be avoided by attenuating the RF power to the final stage during overvoltage conditions. This was accomplished by means of a feedback control system, which detects the peak voltage at the output collector node and clamps its value to a given threshold by varying the circuit gain. The issue of output power control has been addressed as well. To this end, a temperature-compensated bias network is proposed, which allows a moderate power control slope (dB/V) to be achieved by varying the circuit quiescent current according to an exponential law. The nonlinear power amplifier was fabricated using a low-cost silicon bipolar process with a 6.4-V breakdown voltage. It delivers a 33.5-dBm saturated output power with 46% maximum power-added efficiency and 36-dB gain at a nominal 3.5-V supply voltage. The device is able to tolerate a 10:1 load standing-wave ratio up to a 5.1-V supply voltage. Power control slope is lower than 80 dB/V between -15 dBm and the saturated output power level.