Books
Advanced methods and data processing
Computer Assisted Analytical Spectroscopy Steven D. Brown, Ed. John Wiley & Sons 605 Third Ave. New York, NY 10158 1996,275 pp., $79.95
The increased power of laboratory computers has revolutionized many aspects of experimental science. Analytical spectroscopy has realized great benefits from these increased computational capabilities, in enhanced instrumental control and improved data interpretation. This book, which originated from presentations at the 5th Symposium on ComputerEnhanced Analytical Spectroscopy in June 199,, surveys recent efforts in both these areas. Presenters of keynote lectures contributed individual chapters, and the result is a snapshot of research from diverse fields of analytical spectroscopy. The first four chapters focus primarily on using advanced methods for computerbased control of spectroscopic measurements. The techniques discussed are stepscan Fourier transform IR spectroscopy by Peter Griffiths, ion trap MS by Peter Palmer, Raman spectroscopy by Joel Harris, and single-molecule fluorescence by Peter Goodwin. The final five chapters discuss data interpretation or data processing techniques used after the experiment is performed. The topics are feedforward neural networks by Steven Brown, parallel Kalman filtering by Peter 424 A
Wentzell, extraction of pure-component profiles from pyrolysis mass spectra by Michael Mavrovouniotis, transfer of multivariate calibration models across instruments by Bruce Kowalski, and patternrecognition analysis of pyrolysis mass spectra by Roger Freeman. The chapters are approximately 25-30 pages long and are well written. A concern with books that span a diverse set of topics is whether sufficient background is provided for the material to be accessible to me nonspecialist In this regard, ,he authors have done a good job. I found the chapters to be largely self-contained. In addition, most of the chapters provide a good set of references to guide further reading.
Spectroscopy has benefited from increased computational capabilities.
Environmental sampling
Principles of Environmental Sampling, 2nd ed. Larry Keith American Chemical Society 1155 16th St., NW Washington, DC 20036 1996, 848 pp., $104.95
This book is a comprehensive, single source of information about environmental sampling, containing information about various sampling-related topics. The first sections are devoted to planning, sample design, and quality assurance and quality control issues. Other sections are devoted In forming an overall assessment, you to sampling water, air, biota, and solid and must remember that any book derived hazardous wastes. from a symposium suffers from several inherent limitations. The material preThe book presents excellent informasented is from research performed before tion on specific procedures and protocols; 1994. Thus the book does not present rethe chapters on planning and quality assearch that is truly current. Furthermore, surance and control could be of immedialthough the diverse topics provide ate use to scientists and technicians rethe reader with a broad survey of techsponsible for taking samples. The chapter niques and applications, no theme or coon automatic water and wastewater samhesion unifies the presentation. Because pling contains specific information that of the lack of depth on any individual can be used to help choose, purchase, and topic, it is difficult to imagine that the use particular types of pumps. book would be useful as a general referIn contrast, some chapters discuss ence. My recommendation is that the concepts generally, and the sections book is certainly worth borrowing and might be more useful for educating nonperusing but is not of enough general use technical managers about the importance to warrant purchasing a personal copy of sampling procedures. The chapter on legal considerations might be of greatest Reviewed by Gary Small, Ohio University
Analytical Chemistry News & Features, July 1, 1997
interest to nontechnical personnel. Some literature, buffer, capillary, injection presof the theoretical chapters will be of intersure and time, voltage, polarity, temperaest primarily to academic scientists reture, detection method, sample format searching the next generation of sampling (i.e., ethanolic extract in water), and inprotocols. The chapter on the theory of strument used. Pierre Gy, however, is clearly not designed to assist individuals whose job it is Immunoassay: A Practical to keep the sampling pumps working. Guide Although much useful information is Brian Law, Ed. presented in this book, and it should be Taylor and Francis on the desk of anyone involved in sam1900 Frost Road, Suite 101 pling for environmental analyses, I was Bristol, PA 19007-1598 slightly disappointed by the presentation. 1996, 222 pp.. $86 Depending on one's point of view, either the book was intended for a very broad Topics featured in this book's 11 chapters audience, or the intended audience was include hazards and safe handling, imnever really identified. I believe the book munogen preparation and purification, rawould have been better if a narrow audidioimmunoassay, developing ELISAs, stanence had been chosen. dardization and validation of immunoasReviewedbbColinChriswell, Iowa Statesays, quality control, and troubleshooting. University Fuzzy Logic in Chemistry BOOKS RECEIVED Capillary Electrophoresis Procedures Manual: A Laboratory User's Aid for Quick Starts Eugene Jackim and Linda Watts Jackim, Eds. Elsevier Science P.O. Box 945 New York, NY 10159-0945 1996,295 pp., $187.50
This notebook-style manual intends "to provide quick-start procedures for particular CE separations without laborious experimentation and frustrating literature searches" and assumes some knowledge of CE on the part of the user. Procedures are provided for pharmaceuticals, clinical applications, proteins, nucleic acids, pesticides, forensic applications, natural products, and inorganic ions. Each procedure lists the compound (s), a reference to the
Dennis H. Rouvray, Ed. Academic Press 525 B St., Suite 1900 San Diego, CA 92101-4495 1997, 364 pp.. $80
Topics covered in the nine chapters include the treatment of uncertainty, fuzzy logic applied to chirality and quantum systems, molecular shape and size, linguistic variables, computer-aided structure elucidation, and hierarchical classification methods in analytical chemistry. NMR Spectroscopy and Its Application to Biomedical Research Susanta K. Sarkar, Ed. Elsevier Science P.O. Box 945 New York, NY 10160 1996, 387 pp., $250
The book's eight chapters cover twodimensional NMR; multidimensional
NMR of macromolecules; preparing isotopically enriched proteins; determining the structure of proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates; protein dynamics; and applying solid-state NMR to biomedical research. Each chapter contains references, and a subject index is included. Immunochemical Technology for Environmental Applications Diana S. Aga and E. M. Thurman, Eds. American Chemical Society 1155 16th St.. NW Washington, DC 20036 1997, 396 pp., $119.95
This book is based on the symposium "Development and Applications of Immunoassays for Environmental Analysis", held at the 1996 spring national ACS meettng. The 30 chapters cover antibody production and assay development; new formats of immunochemical techniques; immunoassays in environmental studies and monitoring; and sample preparation, chemometrics, and quality control. Author, subject, and affiliation indexes are included. Spreadsheet Applications in Chemistry Using Microsoft Excel Dermot Diamond and Venita C. A. Hanratty John Wiley & Sons 605 Third Ave. New York, NY 10158 1997, 244 pp., $34.95
Chapters cover basics, statistical functions and regression analysis, macros, importtng and processing data, and case studies in quantum and physical chemistry. Appllcations include spectral data processing, ,fuorescence decay, ion-selective electrodes, electrochemical kinetics, and titrations. An appendix discusses rounding errors, and an index and a disk are included.
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