Shimadzu Scientific Instruments (SSI) has released the AIM-9000 infrared microscope.

Shimadzu Scientific Instruments (SSI) has released the AIM-9000 infrared microscope. With automated analysis functions and an enhanced wide field camera option, the microscope enables analysts of all experience levels to observe, measure, and analyze micro samples quickly and efficiently. Laboratories can use this microscope system to perform high-sensitivity analysis in fields such as electrical/electronics, forensics, pharmaceuticals, life science, foods, and chemicals, the company said.

With a 330X digital zoom “view to scan” feature, the AIM-9000 infrared microscope system provides analysts with an easier and more efficient tool for finding and positioning microscopic samples for accurate analysis, SSI added. In addition to observing large areas up to 10x13 mm, analysts can use the wide field camera and microscope camera together to zoom and position areas as small as 30x40 µm without loss or repositioning of the sample. The microscope’s best-in-class 30,000:1 signal-to-noise ratio allows users to obtain excellent spectra from even the smallest contaminants for more accurate library matching and identification.

The AIM-9000 microscope features automatic contaminant recognition and registration, making the system ideal for contaminant analysis. Analysts simply click one button and the software automatically selects potential areas for analysis and suggests optimal aperture sizes and angles, all in only one second. The user can then select all for analysis, select none, or add their own manually with a mouse click-and-drag operation. All selected sample images are saved into the measured spectral file automatically. Proprietary spectral identification programming uses both library scans and key spectral features to rapidly match spectra and provide identification with reporting.

With convenience and functionality in mind, Shimadzu has equipped the AIM-9000 infrared microscope system with a visible/infrared dual view system, which, the company said, allows users to measure infrared spectra while simultaneously checking a visible image of the sample and provides for more confident measurements while decreasing overall measurement time. Analysts can also use the high-speed mapping program, which captures microscope images and quickly synthesizes them to create visual images for large areas.

The AIM-9000 microscope system is supported by a large array of accessories, including a variety of ATR options, a TGS detector for extended wavelength range or for operation when liquid nitrogen is not available, and visible and infrared polarizers for examining oriented samples.

For more information, visit Shimadzu.

When your company needs to invest in a conveyor to move your product, there are several questions to address, along with the decision whether you make or buy your new conveyor system.

When your company needs to invest in a conveyor to move your product, there are several questions to address, such as: What environment does it need? Will it need an incline or decline? Does it need to rotate or turn corners while it’s being conveyed? Adding to this decision-making process is the decision whether you make or buy your new conveyor system.

As with most decisions, there are pros and cons to each side. A new infographic from Dorner Conveyor provides a decision making tree on Make vs. Buy: the Cost of Making Your Own Conveyor.

As also discussed by Dorner:

Conveyor Costs. If you do choose to build your own conveyor, one of the pros is that you’re guaranteed to optimize the space available in your warehouse. You understand the best dimensions and configuration and can customize your conveyor system to meet these needs. Additionally, building a conveyor belt in-house may have cheaper up-front costs, as you can handpick parts from a variety of suppliers who offer the best price.

You also aren’t required to purchase a warranty on your own product, reducing costs even further. However, without a warranty there’s no guarantee in the protection against future defects or mechanical issues, which is why many conveyor manufacturers provide warranties when you build or purchase a conveyor system from them.

There are potentially small hidden costs that will add up over time with any conveyor, such as the administrative costs of processing a purchase order, the warranty, any changes made in the design process, customization, etc. These costs don’t have to be a surprise. It’s these added expenses that add to the pros of choosing the right conveyor manufacturing company.

Get The Conveyor You Need. While your company may specialize in a product that utilizes a conveyor belt, building the conveyor belt system may not be your specialty. Outsourcing to a conveyor manufacturing company can provide a quality solution, with your conveyor belt built with current technologies, reliable component suppliers, and consistent service and support.

In the end, deciding between making your own conveyor or buying one from another company comes down to weighing the pros and cons and analyzing what will be in the best interest for your company, your budget, and your product. For a comprehensive look at the process of making versus buying a conveyor system, check out the infographic above or contact Dorner.

Although FDA contamination recall levels increased a historical 167% from the first to the second quarters of 2016, the rise is being attributed, not to increased food safety issues but to "powerful new testing methods and tighter regulation," according to the Q2 2016 "Recall Industry Spotlight" report released today by Stericycle ExpertSolutions.

Although FDA contamination recall levels increased a historical 167% from the first to the second quarters of 2016, the rise is being attributed, not to increased food safety issues but to "powerful new testing methods and tighter regulation," according to the Q2 2016 "Recall Industry Spotlight" report released today by Stericycle ExpertSolutions.

The report, which focuses on noteworthy developments related to product recalls, shows a significant trend in the food and beverage industry. More accurate and cost-effective genome testing has enabled companies and regulators to identify food contaminants faster in a wider range of products.

As testing has become more precise, regulators have also reduced the acceptable levels of pathogens in certain classes of foods, with even foods meant for cooking, which kills most contaminants, are subject to stricter regulations, the report notes. Its findings reveal new opportunities and challenges for food producers and manufacturers. With enhanced testing there are opportunities to improve food safety; however, the likely side effect is more recalls and greater regulatory complexity as each new safety issue arises, it states.

"It's not that there's necessarily more contamination, it's that the industry is getting better at detecting what's there," said Stericycle Vice President Kevin Pollack. "These recalls increased when genome testing gave companies and regulators better tools for detecting bacteria. In the past, they might not have known what was causing an outbreak, but now it's easier to identify contamination causes and recall affected products to better protect consumers."

The Q2 Recall Industry Spotlight also revealed that global food recalls are on the rise, making recall execution more complex than ever before, as even a labeling error can trigger a recall when there are jurisdictional differences in the way an ingredient is regulated. "Disparities between U.S. and EU regulations are already having an impact on global food recalls, and it's a trend we expect to continue. For example, companies have been forced to remove products from shelves in some European countries due to propylene glycol, which is 'generally recognized as safe' in the U.S.," Pollack said. "The long-term goal is to increase consumer safety. It's just that each jurisdiction has their own idea of how to reach that goal."

To read more details, download the Q2 2016 Recall Industry Spotlight at stericycleexpertsolutions.com/thought-leadership/.

Purdue University's Center for Food and Agricultural Business and Center for Commercial Agriculture have teamed up to present the 2016 National Conference for Food and Agribusiness, focused on two new research initiatives.

Purdue University's Center for Food and Agricultural Business and Center for Commercial Agriculture have teamed up to present the 2016 National Conference for Food and Agribusiness, focused on two new research initiatives.

The conference, which is themed "Driving Data to Insights," runs Nov. 16-17 at the Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown Union Station. Purdue researchers will provide information on farmers' decision-making processes through the Multi-Generational Farm Study and an in-depth look at the health of the overall agricultural economy through the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.

The Multi-Generational Farm Study is a research partnership between the Center for Food and Agricultural Business and Agri Studies, Inc., led by Purdue's Scott Downey and Agri Studies, Inc.'s Justin Funk. The research has been driven in part by the fact that, although roughly two-thirds of sales come from large-scale family-owned farms, little is known about the informational needs and decision-making processes of these multi-generational farms.

"We know it is extremely important for agribusiness professionals to have access to the information they need about the farmers they serve," said Downey, associate director of the Center for Food and Agricultural Business and an associate professor of agricultural economics. "This study is a comprehensive review of the needs and decision-making processes used by the members of multi-generational farms in North America."

The National Conference will be the first time Purdue and Agri Studies, Inc., unveil their findings. Downey and Funk will help participants understand how the information can be used to develop better marketing and sales strategies.

The second component of the conference features information from the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, which is the only ongoing nationwide measure of the health of the U.S. agricultural economy. It's based on a monthly survey of 400 agricultural producers. Quarterly, researchers also conduct an in-depth survey of industry thought leaders to supplement information garnered from the barometer data.

The project's principal investigator is Jim Mintert, director of the Center for Commercial Agriculture and professor of agricultural economics. Additional researchers are David Widmar, agricultural economics senior research associate, and Michael Langemeier, professor of agricultural economics.

"Numerous factors influence production agriculture - from weather to commodity prices," Mintert said. "Agribusinesses need insight into the agricultural economy and producer sentiment at all times so that they have a better understanding of the challenges their customers face."

Other conference highlights include a panel of farmers from multi-generational operations who will discuss their business management practices, a look at producer plans related to investments and purchases, and an in-depth presentation from futurist Tom Hertel, who is a distinguished professor of agricultural economics at Purdue. There also will be time for networking with agribusiness colleagues and Purdue faculty experts.

Registration is $1,095 per person through September 30. After that, the rate is $1,295 per person. Learn more about the conference and register at http://agribusiness.purdue.edu/NC2016.

Children ages 2 to 18 should eat or drink less than six teaspoons of added sugars daily, according to the scientific statement recommending a specific limit on added sugars for children, published in the American Heart Association journal? Circulation.

Children ages 2 to 18 should eat or drink less than six teaspoons of added sugars daily, according to the scientific statement recommending a specific limit on added sugars for children, published in the American Heart Association journal   Circulation. Six teaspoons of   added sugars is equivalent to about 100 calories or 25 grams.

“Our target recommendation is the same for all children between the ages of 2 and 18 to keep it simple for parents and public health advocates,” said Miriam Vos, M.D., Ms.P.H, lead author, nutrition scientist and associate professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. “Children who eat foods loaded with added sugars tend to eat fewer healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products that are good for their heart health,” said Vos.

Eating foods high in added sugars throughout childhood is linked to the development of risk factors for heart disease, such as an increased risk of  obesity   and elevated blood pressure in children and young adults. The likelihood of children developing these health problems rises with an increase in the amount of added sugars consumed. Overweight children who continue to take in more added sugars are more likely to be  insulin   resistant, a precursor to  type 2 diabetes , according to the statement.

“There has been a lack of clarity and consensus regarding how much added sugar is considered safe for children, so sugars remain a commonly added ingredient in foods and drinks, and overall consumption by children remains high – the typical American child consumes about triple the recommended amount of added sugars,” said Vos.

The statement was written by a panel of experts who did a comprehensive review of scientific research on the effect of added sugars on children's health, which presented challenges common to this kind of nutrition research. The expert panel also recommended that added sugars should not be included at all in the diet of children under the age of two. The calorie needs of children in this age group are lower than older children and adults, so there is little room for food and beverages containing added sugars that don’t provide them with good nutrition. In addition, taste preferences begin early in life, so limiting added sugars may help children develop a life-long preference for healthier foods. Vos noted that the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the World Health Organization and the Food and Drug Administration recommend that added sugars should make up less than 10 percent of calories, which aligns with these guidelines. 

Added sugars are any sugars – including table sugar, fructose and honey – either used in processing and preparing foods or beverages, added to foods at the table, or eaten separately. Starting in July 2018, food manufacturers will be required to list the amount of added sugars on the Nutrition Facts Panel making it much easier to follow the recommendations in this scientific statement.