Software Felix for Windows allows you to zerofill, apodize, and transform an FID and then correct the spectrum for phase and baseline. It has easy-to-use integration and peak-picking functions but no curve fitting. You can print the spectrum or copy it into the Windows Clipboard and then paste it into another application. You can also send a table of integrals to the clipboard. It does not process 2D data, although An on-board expert system assists the our DOS version does. It will not help chromatographer in problem recognition with relaxation measurements. Basically, and recommends solutions. you can transform and integrate a spectrum and paste it into a word-processing program such as Word or some other application. The Clipboard is not an ideal Toolbook applications implement the interface for some graphics tasks; you use of hypermedia concepts. The material should have the option of creating graphic can be viewed in the same way one would files in any of several standard formats. read a book, only a mouse click lets the Felix for Windows has one of the betuser flip from page (screen) to page. Ofter manuals I have seen, and customer ten the text is accompanied by illustrative support was very good. The user's manual and sometimes animated graphics. Howdiscusses requirements for 286- and 386ever, these applications also incorporate based computers; however, most people the more powerful aspects of hypermedia: would not try running Windows 3.1 on a The user can interact with some of the 286-based PC. graphics and text sections. Another advanThe software will be useful in certain tage of this type of presentation is the use niches, but its limitations may preclude of "hot-words," where the user can either many applications. click on that item to get the definition of a Reviewed by James F. Haw, Texas A&M term or skip directly to a section relevant University, College Station, TX to the term under examination. This capability is analogous to browsing through a book without the hassle of having to keep track of page numbers. The program was easily installed on a 486-based HP Vectra PC in our lab and generally ran without problems. HPLCTRAINING PROGRAM TP4 requires a Microsoft Windows (version 3.0 or later) environment on an IBMcompatible computer, 1 MB of memory, a VGA color monitor, 2.5 MB of hard disk space, and a mouse. phenomenex The first chapter covers the objectives and gives an overview of the material. The second chapter deals with general tips and hints for troubleshooting. It also deHPLC-TP4: HPLC scribes the philosophy behind the organiTroubleshooting zation of the chapters, which is related to Phenomenex the order in which problems should be 2320 W. 205th St. addressed: equipment operation (ChapTorrance, CA 90501 ters 3-5), chromatographic output (Chap310-212-0555; 310-328-7768 (fax) ters 6 and 7), and data analysis (Chapter $495 8). Problems arising in relation to the latter subjects often can be traced back to The fourth in a series offiveHPLC trainbasic aspects of the equipment, and it is ing program modules developed in the Toolbook environment and distributed by here that the browsing capabilities of a Phenomenex, this module addresses tech- hypertext environment are most useful. niques used to track and identify possible Chapter 3 concentrates on pressure causes of common problems in daily problems and includes an interactive segHPLC operations as well as how to avoid ment to illustrate the location of a blocksome of them. age as well as a page containing a fill-in.VU ni ?ifji
LC Housecalls
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Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 66, No. 8, April 15, 1994
the-blanks form to calculate the expected pressure drop for a given column. Chapter 4 discusses the likely locations of leaks. Chapter 5 covers the major components of the chromatographic system and related aspects, such as priming (pump), carryover (injector), column storage, and cleaning and removing of bubbles from a detector cell. As indicated above, the discussion is organized according to module rather than symptom, whereas subsequent chapters focus more on symptoms and refer to the relevant sections in this chapter. Chapter 6 deals with baseline problems (noise, drift, and cycling), and Chapter 7 concentrates on peak-related problems (peak shape, negative peaks, retention, and resolution). Chapter 8 presents a limited discussion of problems regarding precision and accuracy of the data analysis. The last section of the program includes an expert system (actually a decision tree) that can be used to generate a list of possible causes of a given problem. In a way this presents another, more focused alternative for searching for information to help a person to organize his or her troubleshooting efforts. This is followed by a summary of the information organized by chapters and appendices, such as a glossary, bibliography, solvent properties, and solvent miscibility data. We did have a problem printing one of the appendices and the Notepad of the column pressure calculations. It is assumed that the user is familiar with the basic theory and operation of a liquid chromatographic system. The information contained in the program is general; only generic elements of the HPLC setup are described without specifics related to vendor or type. Consequently, the information can be used to track or identify a problem, but often additional information such as a user manual of an instrument will be required to fix it. Also, only standard aspects of HPLC are discussed, and references to less common separation schemes or detection modes such as electrochemical detection are made sporadically. The format of displaying information and graphics on a terminal requires a focused presentation. Combined with the generic approach indicated above, this results in pages with concise text sections that, although on the whole are accurate, contain very little detail regarding the chromatography or instrumentation. The package provides a very elegant presentation of basic troubleshooting techniques that is most suitable for labora-
NIST tory personnel who have just started using HPLC. Eleven quiz questions with expla nations of both correct and incorrect an swers have been included to extend the training aspect of the program. Experi enced HPLC users will probably find little or no new material in the package but could benefit from the expert system or text to refresh their knowledge. The pro gram makes efficient use of the various hypertext concepts and facilitates cross referencing among related topics. Reviewed byjoost K. Strasters, Sterling Winthrop Pharmaceuticals, Collegeville, PA
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY The National Institute of Standards and Technology has developed a series of SRM's to serve as calibrants, test mixtures, and standardization materials for Quality Control of analytical instrumentation and methodology. MEASUREMENTS and STANDARDS are important to everyone who needs quality. NIST has over 1,000 Standard Reference Materials that can help you calibrate instruments and check on measurement accuracy. For more information phone or write for a free catalog.
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Stat-Ease Hennepin Square, Suite 191 2021 E. Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55413-2723 800-325-9829; 612-378-9449 Version 4; $795 Design-Expert is designed to aid indus trial chemists in optimizing their process or formulation steps. Experiments can be statistically designed and organized; the validity of experimental results can also be determined statistically. Rotable 3D plots are provided to allow the visualiza tion of response surfaces. Interactive 2D graphics allow users to explore the con tours with a mouse, clicking to set flags that display coordinates and predicted response. Designs can be customized us ing 10 process variables and 24 mixture components. The program runs on IBM PCs and compatibles with a 286 or higher processor. It requires VGA graphics, 2 MB hard disk space, and 640 Κ conventional memory.
Carbon-13 NMR Module SoftShell International 715 Horizon Dr., Suite 390 Grand Junction, CO 81506-8727 303-242-7502; 303-242-6469 (fax) $99 Designed to be used in conjunction with v. 3 of Chemlntosh or ChemWindow structure drawing software, the Carbon-13 NMR Module allows one to predict car bon shifts. Once a structure is drawn, the software provides the NMR shifts and draws them next to their respective car bons. The shifts are calculated using stan dard algorithms; the order of the peaks matches the order of the actual results.
STANDARD REFERENCE MATERIAL PROGRAM Building 202, Room 204 National Institute of Standards and Technology Gaithersburg, MD. 20899 CIRCLE 11 ON READER SERVICE CARD
The Journal of Organic Chemistry
solicits manuscripts that address topics at the interface of organic chemistry and biology.
W
hile such manuscripts should address fundamental problems in organic chemistry (structure, mechanism, synthesis), we encourage submission of manuscripts in which these problems are solved with the use of techniques not traditionally associated with organic chemistry (enzyme kinetics, enzyme isolation and purification, identification of active site residues, etc.). The Journal hopes to foster integrated publications in which the chemical aspects are not separated from the biological aspects. For manuscript format, see J. Org Chem, 1990, 55 (1), 7A-10A. Send manuscripts to: C. H. Heathcock, Editor-in-Chief, The Journal of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 For subscription information American Chemical Society Sales and Distribution 1155 Sixteenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 (202) 872-4363 Toll Free, 1-800-227-5558 Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 66, No. 8, April 15, 1994 471 A
