Robinson envisions the possibility of participating in large-scale screening programs when interest in the facility spreads in New Zealand and overseas. Plant breeders at New Zealand's Forest Research Institute have recently provided 1400 samples for mfa measurement, and miscellaneous samples are arriving from around the world for preliminary study. A particularly rich and interesting diffraction pattern was collected from jute samples from Bangladesh and has led Robinson to think about the wider possibilities of fiber diffraction. He explains that initial surveys of materials such as cotton and wool were undertaken in the 1940s and 1950s however the diffraction patterns were difficult to interpret and little use has been made of the diffraction data Robinson believes that many potential applications of fiber diffraction exist and with the availability of modern area detectors and data handling techniques it may be time to re-investigate these materials Alison Downard
BUSINESS Dionex acquires Softron In October, Dionex (Sunnyvale, CA) announced that it had purchased Softron, a privately held German company specializing in HPLC systems. Softron's products are marketed predominantly in Europe and have generated annual revenues of $10 million in fiscal year 1997. Dionex reports that it expects an after-tax charge against earnings this year of between $6 and $8 million for the Softron acquisition.
Analect becomes part of Orbital Orbital Sciences (Dulles, VA) acquired Analect, a manufacturer of FT-IR and I'T-near IK analyzers for the process analytical market, in October. Orbital plans to merge the company into its Applied Instrument Technologies business based in Ponoma, CA. Orbital's business currently focuses on space, satellite, and Earth-imaging services. According to Orbital's management, the purchase of Analect will help the company gain entiy into the chemical and polymer markets.
PEOPLE
Therese M. Cotton 1939-1998 Therese M. Cotton passed away on October 26,1998, after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer. Therese received her A.B. from Bradley University in 1961. After starting a family and working for a few years as a research assistant at the USDA's Northern Research Laboratory in Illinois and at the Argonne National Laboratory, Therese began her graduate studies with Paul Loach at Northwestern University and Joseph Katz at Argonne She then began a postdoctoral stint with Rick Van Duyne and was awarded NSF IBM and NIH postdoctoral fellowships She subsequently held faculty appointments at the Illinois Institute of Technology the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Iowa State University She served as a'member of the Analytical Chemistry A-Page Advisory Panel from Her scientific achievements reside primarily in the development and application of resonance and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopies as tools for the characterization of biological systems. She was the first to recognize and exploit the capabilities of this technique, and her numerous innovations are testimonies to her genius in experimental design. In particular, Therese's contributions to the electrochemistry, photochemistry, and photoelectrochemistry of biological molecules placed her as stated by Van Duyne, "without peer in this area of science". She publishep more than 150 papers and continued to work energetically during her couragtous struggle against this debilitating disease. In recognition of her research accomplishments, Therese rereivea numerous awards, including the Lester Strock Award, which is given by the Society of Applied Spectriscopy for seminal publication (s) ovec afive-yearperiod preceding the award. She was particularly proud of the Distinguished Alumnus Award she received recently from Bradley University. Therese is survived bl three children,
six grandchildren, and more than 60 past and present members of what is known around the Iowa State University campus as the "Cotton Club". Even while ill, Therese served as a role model for the members of her research group as well as her family and many friends. Richard Walsh, a graduate student in Cotton's group, said, "Dr. Cotton is going to live on in my mind, forever teaching me how to be a better person. This is the mark of a powerful teacher." Therese was a role model for us all. She was a unique mix of parent, scientist, teacher, mentor, colleague, and friend. Her courage, spirit, and intellect will be missed by all of us. Marc D. Porter and Edward S. Yeung
New Advisory Board and A-Page Advisory Panel members appointed Advisory Board
Six new members from government, academia, and industry have been selected to serve three-year terms on Analytical Chemistry's Ediiorial Adviiory Board. Each January, membership is rotated as new appointees replace members whose terms have expired. The chair of the ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry serves a one-year term as ex officio representative of the Division. Established in the 1940s to advise the Journal's editors, the board meets formally once a year at ACS headquarters. The board members are a vital link between the editors and the analytical chemistry community, providing guidance and advice on editorial content and policy. Luc Bousse, research director at Caliper Technologies, received an electrical engineering degree from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium) and his Ph.D. from Twente University (The Netherlands) . His research interests include systems-level analysis in microfluidic devices, microfluidics, microfabrication, electrokinetic transport, and chemical and biological sensors.
Analytical Chemistry News & Features, January 1, 1999 21 A
