Sentence:  In the last few years , the application of chromatographic and other modern <WSD>techniques</WSD> 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:  a practical method or art applied to some particular task