Sentence:  In the last few years , the <WSD>application</WSD> of chromatographic and other modern techniques to the problem of isolating TSH has led to further purification ( Bates and Condliffe , 1960 ; Pierce , Carsten and Wynston , 1960 ) . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose