Pallua,J.D.; Kuhn,V.; Pallua,A.F.; Pfaller,K.; Pallua,A.K.; Recheis,W.; Poder,R.; The potential of 3-D nondestructive imaging techniques such as micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was evaluated to study morphological patterns of the potential medicinal fungus Hericium coralloides (Basidiomycota). Micro-CT results were correlated with histological information gained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM). It is demonstrated that the combination of these imaging methods results in a more distinct picture of the morphology of the edible and potentially medicinal Hericium coralloides basidiomata. [Read More]

Woess,C.; Drach,M.; Villunger,A.; Tappert,R.; Stalder,R.; Pallua,J.D.; Mid-infrared (MIR) microscopy imaging is a vibrational spectroscopic technique that uses infrared radiation to image molecules of interest in thin tissue sections. A major advantage of this technology is the acquisition of local molecular expression profiles, while maintaining the topographic integrity of the tissue. Therefore, this technology has become an essential tool for the detection and characterization of the molecular components of many biological processes. [Read More]

Arnhard,K.; Gottschall,A.; Pitterl,F.; Oberacher,H.; Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has become an indispensable analytical technique in clinical and forensic toxicology for detection and identification of potentially toxic or harmful compounds. Particularly, non-target LC-MS/MS assays enable extensive and universal screening requested in systematic toxicological analysis. An integral part of the identification process is the generation of information-rich product ion spectra which can be searched against libraries of reference mass spectra. Usually, ‘data-dependent acquisition’ (DDA) strategies are applied for automated data acquisition. [Read More]

Woess,C.; Tuzlak,S.; Labi,V.; Drach,M.; Bertele,D.; Schneider,P.; Villunger,A.; Terminal differentiation of B cells depends on two interconnected survival pathways, elicited by the B-cell receptor (BCR) and the BAFF receptor (BAFF-R), respectively. Loss of either signaling pathway arrests B-cell development. Although BCR-dependent survival depends mainly on the activation of the v-AKT murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (AKT)/PI3-kinase network, BAFF/BAFF-R-mediated survival engages non-canonical NF-kappaB signaling as well as MAPK/extracellular-signal regulated kinase and AKT/PI3-kinase modules to allow proper B-cell development. [Read More]

O’Leary,A.E.; Oberacher,H.; Hall,S.E.; Mulligan,C.C.; Ambient sampling, portable mass spectrometers have the potential to revolutionize forensic chemical analysis by allowing evidence screening to take place at the native locale, expediting criminal investigations and easing the burden on backlogged forensic laboratories. To evaluate the usability of such a system coupled with ambient ionization techniques, tandem MS spectra were obtained for a variety of forensically-relevant analytes and compared to an established reference library, the “Wiley Registry of Tandem Mass Spectral Data, MSforID” (Wiley Registry MS/MS), with an end goal of allowing automated chemical identification for non-technical user operation. [Read More]