All Things Chromatography

FAQ's from NAOSMM

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While participating at the National Association of Scientific Materials Managers Conference in Norfolk, we had some great questions come up - we wanted to take a moment to address the general questions here (some of the more specific questions we'll be addressing in e-mails).

Q: We're trying to offer our students multiple chances to run thin layer chromatography experiments, but we want to control costs, what can you recommend?

A: We would recommend trying our scored glass-backed plates. As you can see in the photo here, a 20 x 20 cm plate can be easily snapped into smaller (2.5 x 10 cm) sizes.

Q: Why did you decide to color your HPLC Columns?

A: Excellent question! In addition to the fact that we use an advanced packing material that provides close to 100% coverage inside the columns, we realized that traditional columns can be easily mixed up if their labels come off. By color-coding the columns, you always know what material you have inside the column.

Q: We LOVE the video you did and we want to share it with friends, family, and colleagues - where is it available online?

A: We're proud of our video, "The Adventures of Ana L'Tech" - it's been featured on numerous web sites and blogs, and has even been inducted into the Viral Marketing Hall of Fame.

Click Here for the official video web site, Click Here for the YouTube version, or just watch it right here:

Great Interview about Chromatography with Cleanroom.net

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Analtech Video Campaign Inducted into Viral Marketing Hall of Fame

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NEWARK, DE - Analtech, Inc., the only U.S.-based manufacturer of thin layer chromatography plates, was inducted today into MarketingSherpa's 2009 Viral Marketing Hall of Fame for the company's viral video, "The Adventures of Ana L'Tech."

This is the fifth year MarketingSherpa, a research firm specializing in tracking what works in all aspects of marketing, has inducted members into the Hall of Fame. This year's inductees include:
    •    Analtech's Adventures of Ana L'Tech Video
    •    Atlassian's Stimulus Package
    •    California State Parks Foundation's Friend Get A Friend
    •    Disney's What Will You Celebrate?
    •    Grasshopper's Chocolate Covered Grasshopper Mailing
    •    Microsoft's I Am Enabled
    •    Rita's Italian Ice Mystery Flavor

"This is a great honor," said Analtech General Manager Steven Miles, "We've enjoyed great feedback from our customers and colleagues for this project - we're proud to now receive this recognition from MarketingSherpa."

The video was produced by the Delaware Film Company and written and directed by Christopher Stout.

"I am proud of the work done by everyone in this project," Stout said. "This recognition from MarketingSherpa demonstrates that every company, regardless of how much of a niche their market is, can benefit from a well produced viral campaign."

Since the launch of "The Adventures of Ana L'Tech" in September of 2008, the video has been featured on dozens of web sites and blogs around the world and has received praise from those in both the scientific and comedic communities.
 
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Adventures in Making a Viral Video

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We can't believe it - this time last year we were getting together costumes, make-up, swords, pineapples, and ducks!

It was on June 21, 2008 (summer solstice, longest sunlight day of the year), that dozens of us gathered at Mt. Cuba Center and worked from before sun-up until past sun-down to create "The Adventures of Ana L'Tech"

To get a look at what the day was like (from the dressing room to the bloopers), click here.

For an incredible collection of photos from that day, click here.

Cast and Crew of "The Adventures of Ana L'Tech"


Written & Directed By                    Christopher Stout
 
Cast

Ana L'Tech                Stacey Ann Shevlin
Baker                       Betsy Gage
Cloth Dyer                Marcie Weigelt
Brewer                    Tom Wagner
Baldric                     Jim Jones

Sheriff                     Dan “Risk” Sutton
Lackey                          Micky Jones
(no relation to Jim Jones)
First Guard               Bill Berger
Second Guard           Gus Miller
Third Guard              Joe Zilcosky
Fourth Guard            Justin Grant

First “Witch”              Ann-Marie Jordan
Second “Witch”          Eleonore S. Thomas
Third “Witch”             Dr. Merle Edelstein

The Royal Duck          Howard

Turkey-leg guy           JJ Brannon

“No Clue” guy             Matt Lamkin
(founder and president of the company)

“She's French” woman     Rebecca C. Faber
(Executive Director of World Trade Center DE)
"burn her" woman           Sara DiSabatino
“Stay on Task” guy          Phil Jones
(no relation to Micky or Jim)

Clapping Guy                    Alok Patel

Alchemist, Dr. Lamkin        Phil Amico

Ironic commentator            Rick Jensen
(Famous Talk Show Host on WDEL)
“Good PR” guy                Mike Castle
  (U.S. Congressman - DE)

The rest of the “Olde Angrye Mobbe”

Steven Miles
  (General Manager for the company)
Amy Miles
Wesley Miles
Seth Miles
Laurel Miles
Holly Miles
(yes, we're OK with nepotism when it comes to film productions)
Kristin Grant
Kelsey Grant
(yep, more nepotism)
Wendy Swift
(Erica's sister-in-law: see nepotism comment above)
Greg Mazzotta
Allegra DiNetta
Jordyn Buckingham
Kathryn Kohler
Kristen Saksa
Sarah Carnish Berry
Smokey Berkley
Squeaky Whittmore
Caine Kubala
Kathy Leigh Samson
Mary Durbano
Jim Durbano
Eric Winter

“Intermission”

Announcer              Ken Grant
(Kristin Grant's husband)
Lab Tech                 Micky Jones
 (yes, he also played the Lackey - he's just that talented)
Adoring Blonde        Erica Sarver Swift
Adoring Brunette      Laurie Jones
(that's right - even more nepotism)

Best Crew in the world

Cinematography         Blake Eichenseer
Assistant Camera       David Rivera
Sound Recordist         Jamie MacPherson
Sound Mixer              Patrick Mulrooney
Cowboy                     Brian Sowards
Key Grip                    Max Kulish
Grip                   Bonnie Von Duyke
Gaffer                       Kevin Lane
PA                   Timmy Von Duyke


Costumes                Gina Scarnati
(for rentals at Opera Delaware, go to www.operade.org)
Make Up                  Freda J. Carson

Duck Provider          Dr. Rob Teti, Founder and Executive Director of Chenoa Manor - www.chenoamanor.org

Filmed Entirely on the grounds of Mt. Cuba - www.mtcubacenter.org - near Wilmington, Delaware - this is one of the most beautiful places on the face of the earth with the nicest staff ever, seriously, these folks are the best, they let us in before sunrise and helped with anything we asked for all day long - if you get a chance, check out these incredible gardens!

Catering            Bella Vista Restaurant - www.bellavistatrattoria.com

Finally, a HUGE Thank You to Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin - we truly appreciate your collective genius!

Monty Python and Thin Layer Chromatography - the "I'm Not Dead Yet" chemical

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Chemical & Engineering News just published a fascinating piece about how ants let other ants know whether they are dead or not.

Of course, the whole piece starts off with a reference to Monty Python's great "I'm not dead yet" scene from the Holy Grail. It's good to see yet another connection between Monty Python and Chromatography!

Here's an excerpt from the article:

By using thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography to compare live, just-killed, and dead ants, the team showed that a subset of chemicals disappeared from the ants’ outer covering within one hour of death. From those extracts they identified two rapidly dissipating "do not discard" signaling chemicals—specific isomers of the natural products dolichodial and iridomyrmecin.

Click Here to read more and view the video.

Has John Cleese seen this chromatography video?

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As you probably know, there's this fun video that's been making the rounds the past few months:

So the question now is, has John Cleese seen this?

Here's the evidence that indicates he may have:

1) I sent a comment to his blog which needs to have approval before being published, after weeks of waiting, the submission is now posted - click here for exhibit A (scroll down to comment #12)

2) I just received a google alert showing that the video was added to the Cleese page on Funny or Die - click here for exhibit B (scroll down to the 9th video - feel free to give it a "funny" vote while you're there)

So, what do you think? Have you seen or heard anything that indicates he (or any of the other members of Monty Python) have seen this video?

Analtech e-mail campaign recognized as one of the best

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