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Hyper-bb First for Sequoia |
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Dear Colleague,
Welcome to our April Newsletter
Firstly, thankyou to all those that took the time to visit us at Ocean Business this month. Ocean Business was the first major show to open as we were coming out of lock down in 2021, and this years event, certainly made up for the missing time. I cannot remember a show which was still so busy right up until the final whistle on Thursday, and in fact, beyond. Well done Cheri and team for a fabulous three days and once again, the weather cooperated.
Our share partners from Marine Sonic Technology, and OBSCAPE were kept busy throughout as were our other partners attending in their own right.
Several of our partners released new and exciting technology at the show, we will be reporting on these in future issues.
We have a lot of follow ups to do so please be patient. If any requests are super urgent, please contact [email protected] and we will respond as soon as possible.
All the best,
Terry Sloane
Managing Director
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IN OTHER NEWS
Marine Science and Technology Business Person of the Year 2023 - Geraint West!
We would like to extend a huge congratulations to Geraint West.
The Award recognises individuals who demonstrate outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, strategic business thinking and are regarded as leaders in their field. This Award also acknowledges and celebrates the personal and generous contributions by a Business Person and the difference their involvement makes to the Marine Science & Technology community overall.
Geraint has worked in the maritime sector for over 40 years starting off in the Royal Navy, and he has been a key figure in the MST community since then.
He has truly "made a difference" and is one of the industries gentlemen. Congratulations Geraint!
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Cyber Essentials
Planet Ocean have once again passed the Cyber Essentials Certification with flying colours.
Thanks to the team for their work in achieving this and to our IT support providers Projectfive for guiding us through.
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ALH for FlowCam™ offers an automated high-throughput particle analysis solution for scientists seeking to streamline flow imaging microscopy.
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Laboratory automation is essential in allowing researchers to decrease time and effort required to perform experiments and collect valuable data. ALH for FlowCam™ offers an automated, high-throughput particle analysis solution for scientists looking for a streamlined and repeatable way to incorporate flow imaging microscopy into their analytical toolkit. By providing customizable hardware and software options, ALH for FlowCam gives users the flexibility to tailor the analysis to their existing workflow.
1. Why use automation?
Automation increases productivity by allowing for unattended FlowCam operation, freeing up time for analysts to focus on more complex tasks like experimental design and data analysis. By removing the need for an analyst to prepare and introduce samples through a series of manual steps, automation also improves repeatability by removing intra- and inter-operator variability, resulting in more reproducible and higher-quality data.
It is critical that automation provides a streamlined solution for users of varying skill levels. ALH for FlowCam is configured to provide easy-to-use software integration regardless of a user's experience and requirements. The software allows for customizable workflows ranging in complexity from push-button operation to tailor-made sample analysis protocols.
2. How many samples can be analysed using the ALH for FlowCam system?
The number of samples that can be analysed is adjustable and can be user-selected. The user-configurable sample deck has 10 available positions for well plates, reservoirs, and tip boxes to allow for multiple samples while also providing access to the reagents that may be required for instrument cleaning or dilutions. You can arrange the deck layout to analyse up to 384 samples for a single protocol, which would use four 96-well plates, four pipette tip boxes for samples, one pipette tip box designated for cleaning/rinsing, and one deck position for a reagent reservoir.
3. How can I reduce the amount of tip waste generated by the system?
Pipette tips are expensive and can generate significant laboratory waste, and it is often not necessary to use a fresh pipette tip for every step in an analysis protocol. To minimize tip waste, you can choose to reuse tips utilized during cleaning and rinsing procedures. Methods can be changed within the ALH software to park tips used for detergent and water back in the tip box they were removed from to be reused later. This allows you to change out the tips at a much lesser frequency, saving time and money.
4. Am I limited to the plate types currently listed by the software?
ALH for FlowCam offers flexible options for a variety of plate types. The standard software choices include 8-, 24-, 96-, 384- shallow-well and deep-well microplates, but a wide variety of vials and test tubes can also be accommodated, allowing samples in these containers to be analysed without an additional sample transfer step. You can add any standard SLAS or SBS footprint plates into the database utilized by the system by entering the appropriate measurements. Additionally, users can also request a custom-made vial or container rack for their application at an additional cost. For additional information or assistance with this procedure, contact [email protected].
5. What additional features will allow me to optimize the ALH for FlowCam system for my application?
The flexible hardware and software options adapt to user needs, offering both built-in routines and a fully programmable interface depending on analysis goals and expertise level. Customization options include setting the sampling height within each sample well, using liquid level detection to determine sampling depth, and incorporating a variety of mixing steps. The clean and rinse procedure can be altered to use an assortment of reagents, along with flexible volumes and cycle numbers depending on your cleaning needs. You can utilize accessory plates such as a heat/cool nest or shaker nest to stress samples before being dispensed to the FlowCam, and you can also use the system to perform sample dilutions prior to analysis. Conditional statements within ALH for FlowCam software allow you to manipulate protocols and specific run conditions based on sample number, sample particle count, and other user-defined parameters.
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Rechargeable Tilt and Compass Loggers Now Available |
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Star-Oddi is proud to announce that the popular Starmon Tilt and Starmon Compass loggers are now rechargeable. The battery life on a single charge is significant and can be recharged 500 times before a battery replacement is needed.
Multiple sensors for analysing movements.
Both the Starmon Tilt and Compass loggers boast multiple sensors, high accuracy and large memory. They are ideal for analysing movements on subsea gear and robotics. Both vertical and horizontal placement is possible.
Fast sampling and response
The enhanced battery makes the instrument even more suitable for profiling with fast sampling interval in multiple tests or long-term monitoring on moorings. In addition to fast sampling, the temperature probe has a fast response time constant of 2 seconds, especially useful when using on moving gear. Response is immediate on the other sensors.
Tilt-acceleration and depth measurements at 100 Hz
A new feature in Starmon Tilt allows simultaneous measurements of tilt-acceleration and depth up to 100 measurements per second (100 Hz).
For shallow to deep ocean
Both Starmon Tilt and Starmon Compass have a robust and compact titanium housing with wide selection of pressure sensor ranges, from shallow depth to deep ocean, up to 6000 meters.
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The All New LED AC-S Spectral Absorption & Attenuation Sensor from Sea Bird Scientific |
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The AC-S provides in-situ optical data of beam transmission and absorption over a minimum of 75 wavelengths in real-time. From climate modelling and ocean colour validation, to carbon cycling, this broad spectrum attenuation sensor, with its new LED installation, will enable you to gather more data without it leaving the water, allowing you to make the most informed decisions. AC-S is the top tier optical instrument SBS produces, and one that has no equal in the market.
The ac-spectra (ac-s) is a top tier optical instrument with no equal in the market. Based on the highly successful ac-9, the ac-s offers almost an order of magnitude increase in spectral resolution of in-situ absorption and beam attenuation coefficients. The ac-s features a proven flow-through system, compact size, and excellent stability.
The updated LED light source provides a longer lifetime at 10,000 hours coupled with a 55% power reduction at 12 VDC. Field deployments demonstrate signal-to-noise ratio improvements for a(λ) and c(λ) for λ < 550 nm, improving data quality in the blue region.
The simpler, faster service and calibration on a 2-year cycle means more time collecting data that matters. The ac-s 5000 retains the same performance as the ac-s in a titanium housing deployable to 5000 meters
Key benefits:
- Performance
- The new LED lamp provides the sensor with a known 10,000 hour lifetime.
- Increased resolution (reduction of noise) of the A and C measurements in the “blue” wavelengths.
- Service
- The turnaround time will be more consistent and faster by using a more reliable technology. This keeps the sensor in the water longer, and means you can garner more data!
- Design
- Individual WLED assembly characterization that includes a 48 hour burn in, temperature test (-10 – 50 deg), and a shock test.
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Fluidion ALERT - An Olympic reboot for Paris’ toxic River Seine
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PARIS (AP) — Even before he has dipped his toes into the murky waters of Paris′ famous but forbidden River Seine, French triathlete Thibaut Rigaudeau is already fielding questions from disbelieving friends.
“Are you scared of swimming in the Seine?” he says they ask him. “It looks disgusting.’”
For decades, it was. Though immortalized in art, literature and song, and cherished by lovers who whisper sweet nothings or tearfully part on the privacy of its banks, the river was ecologically dying. It was too toxic for most fish and for swimmers, largely useful only as a waterway for goods and people or as a watery grave for discarded bicycles and other trash. Swimming in the Seine has, with some exceptions, been off-limits since 1923. Now, however, its admittedly unappetizing green-brown waters hide a tale of rebirth.
A costly and complex clean up is resuscitating the Seine just in time for it to play a starring role in the 2024 Paris Olympics and, after that, for it to genuinely live up to its billing as the world’s most romantic river, one that’s actually fit again for people. And in a warming world, a renewed ability to take cooling dips in the river should help France’s capital remain liveable during increasingly frequent heat waves. It possibly might also inspire other cities to invest in reclaiming their waterways.
Our friends at Fluidion have been providing the equipment and sampling the river for E.Coli for a number of years measuring the efficacy of the clean-up operation.
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Check out their video HERE
The ALERT & ALERT Lab are in regular use throughout the UK by Water Companies, and the Environment Agency to provide advance warning to the growing number of open water swimmers as well as other environmental impact studies.
For more information, click HERE
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Ocean Sonics release new products at Ocean Business |
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Our friends at Ocean Sonics launched an impressive array of new technology at Ocean Business this month.
Their new Hydrophone incorporates a transducer of their own design, which amongst other things has extremely tight tolerance in the positioning of the transducer element inside the hydrophone. This has significant impact in accuracy when deploying arrays as well as offering other improvements in specification.
A new fibre-optic cable is now available, with built in drivers moulded into the cable It is directly compatible with the copper cables, but extends the range to over a 1km.
Also released are two new splitters which allow either 2 of 4 hydrophones to be connected to a single cable with synchronised data streams, together with a matching upgrade to LUCY software for ease of use.
Finally, a new battery pack for long term deployments. This pack, designed and manufactured in house offers a significant price improvement over earlier designs.
We expect to release more information on these exciting developments in coming months. If you would like more information in the meantime, please contact [email protected]
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Sequoia Unveil Their "Under Development" Plans at Ocean Business |
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Sequoia are one of the more prolific developers of new technology amongst our partners. Just to wet your appetite, at Ocean Business this month they revealed what is under development and due for release in 2023 - 2025.
The LISST-RTSSV Deep Sea Mining Sensor Which is due for release this year. The Hyper-a, a Hyper-spectral Absorption Meter, due in the early part of 2024, and the OST Optical Sediment Trap for incorporation on ARGO floats slated for 2025.
Watch this space for more details as they become available.
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EcoSUB show their new 4K 2500m camera |
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ecoSUB showed some of the more recent developments in the ecoSUB eco-System at Ocean Business.
Centre stage was the third vehicle in the range the ecoSUBm - Power+. with side scan sonar, DVL, CT, Fl, . The power+ is available in 500m and 2500m variants, and with an impressive range of payload options.
Centre stage was the all new ecoCam an in house designed 4K camera rated for 2500m operation. This will feature in the ecoSUBm-Power+ Scout & Vision. This impressive configuration includes a Valeport CT, Marine Sonic Scout Side Scan Sonar, ecoCAM 4 K camera Nortek Nucleus DVL (with currents) the Nano modem acoustic comms system, and a back seat micro computer to handle the high resolution video.
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Finally, we showed our new phone app for the first time. This has been developed to steer the vehicle whilst on the surface to make recovery even easier. It incorporates a map display of the user and vehicle and a virtual joystick to allow the pilot to actively drive the vehicle using the rudder and thruster to the ideal recovery spot. The app, can also be used to control the moving mass, switch on and off the LED beacons and start and stop a mission. Of course this is only for starters, and you can expect some significant enhancements in coming months.
Latest data sheets for the ecoSUB range will be posted at www.ecosub.uk soon.
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