Modern, accelerated mass spectrometry

In order to provide AMS analyses to the broad ocean sciences research community, the National Ocean Sciences Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Facility (NOSAMS) was established at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (Massachusetts) in 1989. Studies performed there include identification of sources of carbon-bearing materials in the water column and sediment, dating of sedimentary samples, investigations of paleocirculation patterns (e.g., from observations of differences in 14C relative abundances in planktonic and benthic foraminifera, and coral cores and cross sections), as well as studies of modern oceanic carbon cycling and circulation. In fact, much that is known about advective and diffusive processes in the ocean comes from measurements of chemical tracers, such as 14C, rather than from direct measurements of water mass flow. 

Although several technologies have been used in lipidomics to identify, quantify, and understand the structure and function of lipids in biological systems, it is clear that the progress of lipidomics has been accelerated by the development of modern mass spectrometry (e.g., electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization). Mass spectrometric analysis of lipids plays a key role in the discipline. Therefore, this book is focused on the mass spectrometry of lipids that has occurred in these years. Other technologies for analysis of lipids, particularly those with chromatography, can be found in the book entitled Lipid Analysis Isolation, Separation, Identification and Lipidomic Analysis written by Drs William W. Christie and Xianlin Han. Readers who are interested in classical techniques and applications of mass spectrometry for analysis of lipids should refer to Dr Robert C. Murphy s book entitled Mass Spectrometry of Lipids. 

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