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| Newsletter Vol. 4, No. 3, Fall 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In this issue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | A word from our president |
The crowd stared at me in disbelief until I clarified that it was the "back" cover and not the "front" cover that we had managed to be on. Of course anyone with a few bucks to spend on advertising can end up on the back cover of a journal and for years we were there every month. A few years back I took an informal poll and I couldn't find one structural biologist who actually read the hard copy edition of these two journals, and the electronic version didn't contain the advertisements. So we no longer appear on the back cover of those scientific journals and instead we have been focusing more of our product messaging through electronic means. In this issue of the newsletter, we are proud to announce a new version of the Rigaku web site, the fourth version in an evolutionary process that has occurred over the last 10 years. This new version constitutes a major upgrade and we hope that you will find it more useful as a source of information about Rigaku products. Paul N. Swepston
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| | Calendar of events | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | The new Rigaku.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | FMS success story | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | ActiveSight news | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Cold Spring Harbor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | ACS open house | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Training sessions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | VSEE300 standalone VPD tool | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Rietveld analysis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Ultra Carry for XRF liquid analysis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | What's new at Rigaku.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | New: ZSX 400 WDXRF | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Mini-Z analyzers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | ACTOR pin check tools | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Visit us at www.Rigaku.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The new Rigaku.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rigaku will be attending the following conferences in
the coming months:
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The main goal of the new design is to quickly get both returning and first-time visitors to the information they are seeking. To that end, we devoted a lot of effort to navigation. The most conspicuous mode of navigation is the menubar that appears at the top of every page. This menu cascades to multiple levels; you can stop at any point along the way or follow the cascade all the way to the end. For example, you can stop at Products, Products→Optics, Products→Optics→X-ray or at Products→Optics→X-ray→VariMax. If you are working in a particular field or have an application that you'd like to explore, we have entries into the web site from that perspective as well. Finally, we implemented a Google search appliance that regularly crawls our web site to ensure it is up to date with the current content. The search function appears on every page, uses standard Google syntax and generates standard Google search results, with the scope restricted to www.Rigaku.com. Since people can enter our web site at any level, thanks to search engine technology, we designed every page to look like a "home page." The global navigation section appears at the top of each document. As you navigate into the site, local navigation appears on the left side of the page, allowing you to easily jump from product to product within a category without having to back up. Finally, product-specific navigation appears on the far right, with links to generate printer-friendly layouts or to request information or quotes for the product of interest. For Rigaku customers, the location of customer documents has changed, but your pre-existing Customer ID and password are the same. Visit the Downloads section of the site to access parts lists and user manuals. We hope you enjoy our new design. In the months to come, this site will evolve into the world English Rigaku web site, which means that we'll be adding new products and product lines that are available only in specific geographic regions. Once that content goes online, we will activate the world map on every product page so you can quickly determine if a product is available in your territory and, if it is, who you should contact to learn more about it. >>> Visit www.Rigaku.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ActiveSight introduces iNOS, PPAR-γ; announces fragment screening workshop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bowler, Montgomery, Leslie and Walker at the
MRC Cambridge reported in Reproducible improvements in order and
diffraction limit of crystals of bovine mitochondrial F1-ATPase by
controlled dehydration1 significant improvements (from 2.4 to 1.95 Å)
in the diffraction resolution of F1-ATPase using the proteros FMS (Free
Mounting® System) available from Rigaku. The significance of the resulting
improvement and hence the structure is described in the article How
azide inhibits ATP hydrolysis by the F-ATPases.2 The azide ligand is
not clear at 2.4 Å but is well resolved at 1.95 Å.
1M. W. Bowler, M. G. Montgomery, A. G. W. Leslie and J. E. Walker, Acta Cryst. (2006). D62, 991-995. 2M. W. Bowler, M. G. Montgomery, A. G. W. Leslie and J. E. Walker, PNAS (2006). 103, 8646-8649. |
ActiveSight® recently announced the expansion of their Protein Portfolio to
include inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and peroxisome proliferator-activated
receptor gamma (PPAR gamma). iNOS is an ideal candidate for lead
optimization using structure-based drug design because of the need for
selectivity over closely related enzymes. Inhibitors are currently being
investigated as treatments for septic shock, rheumatoid arthritis,
inflammatory bowel disease and arteriosclerosis.
In addition to its role as a diabetes target, PPAR gamma may also play a role in cancer and inflammation. PPAR gamma is the third nuclear hormone receptor (NHR) available from ActiveSight for rapid co-crystal structure determination. The other NHRs currently available are PPAR delta and the farnesoid X receptor (FXR). ActiveSight will be holding a hands-on fragment screening workshop January 11-12th, 2007, at their lab in San Diego, California. Participants will screen crystals using ActiveSight's fragment library. Topics will include library design, soaking strategies, automated data collection and automated structure solution. Scientists interested in participating should contact Duncan McRee, at dmcree@active-sight.com or (858) 455-6870 x101. |
Don't miss the hands-on ActiveSight fragment screening workshop in San Diego, Jan. 11-12 2007. See the ActiveSight web site for details |
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| ACS open house | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The annual X-ray Methods in Structural Biology course was held for the 19th time at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in October 2006. This well-regarded course, funded by a training grant from NIH, teaches the fundamentals of macromolecular X-ray structure determination from both the theoretical and practical viewpoints. The 2006 course highlighted the importance of high quality diffraction data collection. Rigaku loaned a Saturn 944 CCD area detector that helped immensely with crystal screening and data collection. Advances in the automation of data processing, SAD phasing, structure determination, map interpretation and model validation demonstrate that once crystals are grown almost all structures lead to accurate models. |
The Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society
was held in Houston in October. To recognize this occasion, Rigaku Americas
Corporation (RAC) held an open house at its world headquarters on Saturday, October
21. Over twenty-five scientists from Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas
enjoyed a tour, Texas BBQ and some good conversation.
The tour included demonstrations of Rigaku's lines of general purpose XRF,
general purpose XRD, single crystal XRD and automation instruments. Among the
inventory of instruments were Rigaku's unique 4 kW, tube-above WDXRF system, the
Primus II, which demonstrated the special micro/mapping feature with the
ability to analyze spots down to 500 microns. Our guests also saw the 50 W ZSXmini II which can measure the elements from F to U without
needing special power or cooling requirements and the Mini-Z S
system, one of
many specialized, benchtop, low-power, low-LLD, single element analyzers.
In
the general purpose XRD area, customers viewed demonstrations of the new MiniFlex™ II benchtop X-ray diffractometer, a portable unit perfect for teaching and
industrial applications. Also demonstrated were the Ultima III multipurpose
diffractometer, as well as the SmartLab® high resolution X-ray diffractometer,
winner of the 2006 R&D 100 award. The macromolecular crystallographers
demonstrated a MicroMax™-007 HF fitted with an
R-AXIS
HTC, a MicroMax-007 HF
fitted with Cr radiation and both R-AXIS IV++ and
R-AXIS HR IP detectors.
The
small molecule crystallographers showed our guests the benchtop SCXmini™ with
automated data collection, processing and structure solution software, the
R-AXIS SPIDER for high resolution data collection and absolute structure
determination, and the Saturn 724 high speed data collection CCD system.
The
automation group demonstrated the Alchemist™
II screen maker,
Desktop Minstrel™ and
Minstrel HT imaging systems and accompanying incubator.
As part of the open house, RAC also held a contest for analytical services in
general purposes XRD, general purpose XRF and single crystal XRD. Winners
include Ann West (University of Oklahoma), Edson Perez (UT Dallas), and Lihua Liu (Texas Christian University).
Other winners will be announced pending notification. |
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Training sessions | VSEE300 standalone VPD tool | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rigaku is pleased to announce the
following training sessions:
All classes are held at the Rigaku applications laboratory in The Woodlands, TX. |
Rigaku's VSEE300 is an automated VPD tool providing the VPD capability that is integrated in Rigaku's TXRF-V300. This standalone tool is a perfect complement to an existing TXRF tool (e.g. TXRF 3750 or TXRF-300). It can also be used to extract sample solution for ICP-MS or AAS analysis. Features and benefits:
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| Ultra Carry for XRF liquid analysis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ultra Carry® is a recent accessory development for Rigaku. With so much interest in environmental studies, Rigaku decided to make liquid analysis not only simple but safe and in the process achieved LLDs never before available on analytical systems outside of ICPs or AAs. Ultra Carry requires a liquid sample to be dripped onto its absorbent center pad, dried and run under vacuum. By following these 3 easy steps the Rigaku 4 kW systems can achieve low ppb LLD's. The structures are designed to fit into both the Primus and the Mini systems.
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At this years Denver X-ray Conference held in August, Akhilesh Tripathi, Application Scientist in the Materials Science group, gave a very interesting paper regarding the use of both focusing and parallel beam X-ray optics in the quantitative determination of unknown mixtures using the Rietveld method. The abstract is given below. Results of combined Rietveld analysis of X-ray powder diffraction data collected in parallel beam (PB) and Bragg Brentano (BB) para-focusing beam geometry on two standard reference materials (SRMs) and an acetaminophen tablet displayed lower residual values and smaller estimated standard deviations when compared with the refinement results obtained from the individual data sets. For the two SRMs, with well-packed powder samples, BB geometry provided both higher intensity and resolution and better refinement results. However, the tablet sample had rough and curved surfaces, creating errors associated with sample displacement and transparency, so better refinement results were obtained with PB geometry. Accuracy in peak position was always higher with PB data regardless of the sample type. In the combined analysis, the PB system acted as an additional constraint on the model that fits the data by limiting the error in peak positions, since it provides highly reliable peak locations. >>> For more information or a copy of the full paper please contact Akhilesh. |
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| ZSX 400 WDXRF spectrometer for large samples | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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What's new at Rigaku.com: Absolutely everything!
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Rigaku's ZSX 400
WDXRF spectrometer succeeds
Rigaku's System 3272 to handle large and/or heavy samples. Accepting samples up
to 400 mm diameter and 30 kg, this system is ideal for analyzing sputtering
targets, magnetic disks, or for multilayer film metrology on the next generation
of Si wafers.
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| ACTOR pin check tools | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Following the success of the ZSXmini II, Rigaku has now released an entire series of benchtop 'Mini' systems. The Mini-Z systems are single-element analyzers designed along the same lines as the ZSXmini II: low-powered tube, 120 V power, optimized optics and crystals for resolution and performance. With so many industries requiring simple applications, the Mini-Z systems are literally made to order. The Mini-Z sulfur analyzer is applicable to ASTM D2622 (S in fuel oils) and offers a 0.3 ppm LLD. Other systems fit applications such as the Mini-Z Zr analyzer for coatings on metals (e.g. Al), the Ni analyzer for coating analysis on hard drives, Si and Al analyzers for coatings on paper, or Cl analyzer for coatings on PET films. The list stretches on. Each system can be developed and optimized for single-element analysis in or on a variety of substances. The sensitivity and general wavelength-dispersive capabilities are proving to be the answer where energy dispersive systems are no longer able to perform the analysis due to more exotic chemistries being used or the films becoming too thin. |
Rigaku has designed two new tools that will
be provided with all new
ACTOR orders and are available for purchase by existing ACTOR users. The pin-check tool (shown in black) is used when no vial caps are present to ensure that the pins are properly seated in the ACTOR magazines. Other ACTOR tools include:
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| To subscribe to this newsletter or cancel your subscription, e-mail the webmaster. | Rigaku Americas Corporation: | Rigaku Europe: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9009 New Trails Drive The Woodlands, Texas 77381-5209 U.S.A. e-mail: info@Rigaku.com Tel: (281) 362-2300 FAX: (281) 364-3628 | Unit B6, Chaucer Business Park Watery Lane, Kemsing Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 6QY, England e-mail: info@Rigaku.com Tel: [44] 1732 763 367 FAX: [44] 1732 763 757 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In an attempt to
emphasize how important structural biology is to Rigaku, I once told
an audience that Rigaku held the world record for being on the
covers of the prestigious journals, Structure and Nature
Structural Biology.
If
you've visited 
Vapor
phase decomposition (VPD) is a
technique whereby the surface of a Si wafer is dissolved to
concentrate the contaminants in a droplet in preparation for TXRF,
ICP-MS, or AAS analysis. VPD enables a 100-fold TXRF detection limit
improvement.
Features and benefits:
As the number of