Polymeric pH indicators immobilized PVA membranes for optical sensors of high basicity based on a kinetic process

Two kinds of polymeric pH indicators PPF (phenolphthalein-formaldehyde product) and CPF (o-cresolphthalein-formaldehyde product) immobilized cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) membranes (PPF-PVA and CPF-PVA) for optical intermittent determination of high basicity ([OH-] = 1-8 M) based on a kinetic process were developed. In our previous work, we had demonstrated that PPF-PVA and CPF-PVA could perform the determination of high pH values from pH 10.0 to 14.0. Here the discoloring kinetic behaviors of PPF-PVA and CPF-PVA were compared with those of free phenolphthalein, o-cresolphthalein and thymolphthalein. Experimental results and theoretical analysis indicated that the response behaviors of the optodes' membranes in concentrated NaOH solutions were diffusion-independent and still complied with the pseudo-first-order kinetics. In addition, two data analysis methods for determination were presented. One was directly based on the reduced absorbance: the other was based on the discoloring kinetic constant. It was found that the latter could perform a rapid (60 s) and reliable (relative standard deviation: 2.6%) determination for high basicity.

Transporting nutrients from sediments: nitrogen and carbon as indicators to measure scavenging ability of a detritivorous fish, Liza haematocheila

The redlip mullet, Liza haematocheila, is a common species in polyculture as a scavenger in China. Feeding on detritus, redlip mullet transports nutrients from sediments up into the water column and converts them into forms that can be utilized by phytoplankton and affects the relative abundance of detritus and dissolved inorganic nutrients to phytoplankton, zooplankton and other fishes. We used nitrogen and carbon as the indicators in this study to measure the scavenging ability, which means intake of nitrogen or carbon by redlip mullet, and the loss of nutrients. Temperature and body weight significantly affected growth nitrogen, faecal nitrogen and faecal carbon. At a certain temperature, the proportion of growth nitrogen or growth carbon increased while the proportion of excretion nitrogen or respiration carbon decreased with increasing body weight.

Assessing the viability of studying motion indicators of autism spectrum disorders in infants at high and low risk for ASD using a passive motion capture system

Gemstone Team AMIRA

The evolving capabilities of rhodopsin-based genetically encoded voltage indicators.

Protein engineering over the past four years has made rhodopsin-based genetically encoded voltage indicators a leading candidate to achieve the task of reporting action potentials from a population of genetically targeted neurons in vivo. Rational design and large-scale screening efforts have steadily improved the dynamic range and kinetics of the rhodopsin voltage-sensing domain, and coupling these rhodopsins to bright fluorescent proteins has supported bright fluorescence readout of the large and rapid rhodopsin voltage response. The rhodopsin-fluorescent protein fusions have the highest achieved signal-to-noise ratios for detecting action potentials in neuronal cultures to date, and have successfully reported single spike events in vivo. Given the rapid pace of current development, the genetically encoded voltage indicator class is nearing the goal of robust spike imaging during live-animal behavioral experiments.

Quality of care for cancer patients on home parenteral nutrition: Development of key interventions and outcome indicators using a two-round Delphi approach

Purpose: Clear recommendations on how to guide patients with cancer on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) are lacking as the use of HPN in this population remains a controversial issue. Therefore, the aims of this study were to rank treatment recommendations and main outcome indicators to ensure high-quality care and to indicate differences in care concerning benign versus malignant patients. Methods: Treatment recommendations, identified from published guidelines, were used as a starting point for a two-round Delphi approach. Comments and additional interventions proposed in the first round were reevaluated in the second round. Ordinal logistic regression with SPSS 2.0 was used to identify differences in care concerning benign versus malignant patients. Results: Twenty-seven experts from five European countries completed two Delphi rounds. After the second Delphi round, the top three most important outcome indicators were (1) quality of life (QoL), (2) incidence of hospital readmission and (3) incidence of catheter-related infections. Forty-two interventions were considered as important for quality of care (28/42 based on published guidelines; 14/42 newly suggested by Delphi panel). The topics 'Liver disease' and 'Metabolic bone disease' were considered less important for cancer patients, together with use of infusion pumps (p = 0.004) and monitoring of vitamins and trace elements (p = 0.000). Monitoring of QoL is considered more important for cancer patients (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Using a two-round Delphi approach, we developed a minimal set of 42 interventions that may be used to determine quality of care in HPN patients with malignancies. This set of interventions differs from a similar set developed for benign patients. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Evaluation of the quality of the management of cancer of the corpus uteri-Selection of relevant quality indicators and implementation in Belgium

Objective Describe the methodology and selection of quality indicators (QI) to be implemented in the EFFECT (EFFectiveness of Endometrial Cancer Treatment) project. EFFECT aims to monitor the variability in Quality of Care (QoC) of uterine cancer in Belgium, to compare the effectiveness of different treatment strategies to improve the QoC and to check the internal validity of the QI to validate the impact of process indicators on outcome. Methods A QI list was retrieved from literature, recent guidelines and QI databases. The Belgian Healthcare Knowledge Center methodology was used for the selection process and involved an expert's panel rating the QI on 4 criteria. The resulting scores and further discussion resulted in a final QI list. An online EFFECT module was developed by the Belgian Cancer Registry including the list of variables required for measuring the QI. Three test phases were performed to evaluate the relevance, feasibility and understanding of the variables and to test the compatibility of the dataset. Results 138 QI were considered for further discussion and 82 QI were eligible for rating. Based on the rating scores and consensus among the expert's panel, 41 QI were considered measurable and relevant. Testing of the data collection enabled optimization of the content and the user-friendliness of the dataset and online module. Conclusions This first Belgian initiative for monitoring the QoC of uterine cancer indicates that the previously used QI selection methodology is reproducible for uterine cancer. The QI list could be applied by other research groups for comparison. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Biological parameters and glomalin levels as quality indicators in a soil implanted with exotic forest species in Argentine Patagonia

p.83-88

A guide to the assessment of heavy metal contamination in estuaries using biological indicators. Occasional Publication of the Marine Biological Association 4

The rationale behind the use of analyses of estuarine organisms to assess levels of heavy-metal contamination is described and compared with alternative methods such as the analysis of waters or sediments. Based on field observations in United Kingdom estuaries and on evidence from the literature, an assessment is made of the suitability of 17 species as the indicators of metals and metalloids including Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Se, Sn, Pb and Zn.

The use of biological indicators of heavy metal contamination in estuaries. Occasional Publication of the Marine Biological Association 1

The use of the deposit-feeding molluscs Scrobicularia plana and Macoma balthica and the burrowing polychaete Nereis diversicolor as indicators of the biological availability of heavy metals in sediments has been evaluated. Concentrations of Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn and Zn have been measured in organisms and sediments from more than 30 estuaries in south west England and South Wales and indicate that the biological availability of most metals varies by order of magnitude between uncontaminated and contaminated sites. The results have been compared with those obtained with the use of other species of indicator organisms in estuaries.