Flow injection electrochemical enzyme immunoassay based on the use of an immunoelectrode strip integrate immunosorbent layer and a screen-printed carbon electrode

A flow injection amperometric immunoassay system based on the use of screen-printed carbon electrode for the detection of mouse IgG was developed. An immunoelectrode strip, on which an immunosorbent layer and screen-printed carbon electrode were integrated, and a proposed flow cell have been fabricated. The characterization of the flow immunoassay system and parameters affecting the performance of the immunoassay system were studied and optimized. Amperometric detection at 0.0 V (versus Ag/AgCl) resulted in a linear detection range of 30-700 ng ml(-1), with a detection limit of 3 ng ml(-1). The signal variation among electrode strips prepared from variant batch did not exceed 8.5% (n = 7) by measuring 0.5 mug ml(-1) antigen standard solution.

Determination of ascorbic acid by flow injection chemiluminescence suppression method

chemiluminescence suppression method for the determination of ascorbic acid based on Luminol-KIO4-H2O2-ascorbic acid system was established. The linear range for ascorbic acid is 1.0 x 10(-7) similar to 1.0 x 10(-5) mol/L and the detection limit is 6.0 x 10(-8) mol/L. The relative standard deviation (n = 11) is 1.0% for 8.0 x 10(-7) mol/L ascorbic acid. The method has been used to determine the content of ascorbic acid in tablets and injections with satisfactory results.

Rapid automated in-situ monitoring of total dissolved iron and total dissolved manganese in underground water by reverse-flow injection with chemiluminescence detection during the process of water treatment

Measurement of iron and manganese is very important in evaluating the quality of natural waters. We have constructed an automated Fe(II), total dissolved iron(TDI), Mn(II), and total dissolved manganese(TDM) analysis system for the quality control of underground drinking water by reverse flow injection analysis and chemiluminescence detection(rFIA-CL), The method is based on the measurement of the metal-catalyzed light emission from luminol oxidation by potassium periodate. The typical signal is a narrow peak, in which the height is proportional to light emitted and hence to the concentration of metal ions. The detection limits were 3 x 10(-6) mu g ml(-1) for Fe(II) and the linear range extents up to 1.0 x 10(-4) and 5 x 10(-6) mu g ml(-1) for Mn(II) cover a linear range to 1.0 x 10(-4) mu g ml(-1). This method was used for automated in-situ monitoring of total dissolved iron and total dissolved in underground water during water treatment. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.

Improvements in the selectivity of electrochemical detectors for liquid chromatography and flow injection analysis using the self-assembled n-alkanethiol monolayer-modified au electrode

4-Aminophenol (4-AP), paracetamol (PRCT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA) (all somewhat hydrophobic compounds) were HPLC electrochemically detected while the signals from uric acid (UA) and ascorbic acid (AA) (both hydrophilic compounds at the pH studied) were minimized, taking advantage of the permselectivity of the self-assembled n-alkanethiol monolayer (C-10-SAM)-modified Au electrodes based on solute polarity, The effects of various factors, such as the chain length of the n-alkanethiol modifier, modifying time, and pH value, on the permeability of C-10-SAM coatings were examined, The calibration curves, linear response ranges, detection limits, and reproducibilities of the EC detector for 4-AP, PRCT, NE, and DA were obtained, The result shows that the EC detector can be applied in the chromatographic detection of 4-AP, PRCT, NE, and DA in urine, effectively removing the influence of UA and AA in high concentrations existing in biological samples. As a result, a great improvement in the selectivity of EC detectors has been achieved by using Au electrodes coated with neutral n-alkanethiol monolayer.

FLOW-INJECTION ANALYSIS OF GLUCOSE AT AN AMPEROMETRIC GLUCOSE SENSOR-BASED ON ELECTROCHEMICAL CODEPOSITION OF PALLADIUM AND GLUCOSE-OXIDASE ON A GLASSY-CARBON ELECTRODE

A glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with palladium provides excellent electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrogen peroxide. When the electrolyte contains palladium chloride and glucose oxidase, the GCE can be modified by electrochemical codeposition at a given potential. The resulting modified surface was coated with a thin film of Nation to form a glucose sensor. Such a glucose sensor was successfully used in the flow-injection analysis of glucose with high stability and anti-poisoning ability. It gave a detection limit of 1 X 10(-7) M injected glucose, with a linear concentration range of 0.001-8 mM. There is no obvious interference from substances such as ascorbate and saccharides.

FLOW-INJECTION ANALYSIS OF MYOGLOBIN AND HEMOGLOBIN AT TOLUIDINE BLUE CHEMICALLY MODIFIED ELECTRODE

Electrodeposition of the phenothiazine mediator titrant toluidine blue onto a glassy carbon substrate at an appropriate potential was used to construct a toluidine blue chemically modified electrode (CME) exhibiting electrocatalytic reduction for myoglobin and hemoglobin. The CME catalyzed the hemoprotein electroreduction at the reduction potential of the mediator molecule. When the CME as used as a detector for flow injection analysis at a constant applied potential of -0.30 V vs. a saturated calomel electrode, it gave detection limits of 20 and 50 ng (1.2 and 0.78 pmol) injected myoglobin and hemoglobin, respectively, with a dynamic linear concentration range over 2 orders of magnitude. After a brief equilibration period, the CME retained nearly 90% of its initial myoglobin response over 8 hours of continuous exposure to the flow-through system.

空间电流体系地磁反演及理论研究

The space currents definitely take effects on electromagnetic environment and also are scientific highlight in the space research. Space currents as a momentum and energy provider to Geospace Storm, disturb the varied part of geomagnetic field, distort magnetospheric configuration and furthermore take control of the coupling between magnetosphere and ionosphere. Due to both academic and commercial objectives above, we carry on geomagnetic inverse and theoretical studies about the space currents by using geomagnetic data from INTERMAGNET. At first, we apply a method of Natural Orthogonal Components (NOC) to decomposition the solar daily variation, especially for (solar quiet variation). NOC is just one of eign mode analysis, the most advantage of this method is that the basic functions (BFs) were not previously designated, but naturally came from the original data so that there are several BFs usually corresponding to the process really happened and have more physical meaning than the traditional spectrum analysis with the fixed BFs like Fourier trigonometric functions. The first two eign modes are corresponding to the and daily variation and their amplitudes both have the seasonal and day-to-day trend, that will be useful for evaluating geomagnetic activity indices. Because of the too strict constraints of orthogonality, we try to extend orthogonal contraints to the non-orthogonal ones in order to give more suitable and appropriate decomposition of the real processes when the most components did not satisfy orthogonality. We introduce a mapping matrix which can transform the real physical space to a new mathematical space, after that process, the modified components which associated with the physical processes have satisfied the orthogonality in the new mathematical space, furthermore, we can continue to use the NOC decomposition in the new mathematical space, and then all the components inversely transform back to original physical space, so that we would have finished the non-orthogonal decomposition which more generally in the real world. Secondly, geomagnetic inverse of the ring current’s topology is conducted. Configurational changes of the ring current in the magnetosphere lead to different patterns of disturbed ground field, so that the global configuration of ring current can be inferred from its geomagnetic perturbations. We took advantages of worldwide geomagnetic observatories network to investigate the disturbed geomagnetic field which produced by ring current. It was found that the ring current was not always centered at geomagnetic equator, and significantly deviated off the equator during several intense magnetic storms. The deviation owing to the tilting and latitudinal shifting of the ring current with respect to the earth’s dipole can be estimated from global geomagnetic survey. Furthermore those two configurational factors which gave a quantitative description of the ring current configuration, will be helpful to improve the Dst calibration and understand the dependence of ring current’s configuration on the plasma sheet location relative to the equator when magnetotail field warped. Thirdly, the energization and physical acceleration process of ring current during magnetic storm has been proposed. When IMF Bz component increase, the enhanced convection electric field drive the plasma injection into the inner magnetosphere. During the transport process, a dynamic heating is happened which make the particles more ‘hot’ when the injection is more deeply inward. The energy gradient along the injection path is equivalent to a kind of force, which resist the plasma more earthward injection, as a diamagnetic effect of the magnetosphere anti and repellent action to the exotically injected plasma. The acceleration efficiency has a power law form. We use analytical way to quantitatively describe the dynamical process by introducing a physical parameter: energization index, which will be useful to understand how the particle is heated. At the end, we give a scheme of how to get the from storm time geomagnetic data. During intense magnetic storms, the lognormal trend of geomagnetic Dst decreases depend on the heating dynamic of magnetosphere controlling ring current. The descending pattern of main phase is governed by the magnetospheric configuration, which can be describled by the energization index. The amplitude of Dst correlated with convection electric field or south component of the solar wind. Finally, the Dst index is predicted by upstream solar wind parameter. As we known space weather have posed many chanllenges and impacts on techinal system, the geomagnetic index for evaluating the activity space weather. We review the most popular Dst prediction method and repeat the Dst forecasting model works. A concise and convnient Key Points model of the polar region is also introduced to space weather. In summary, this paper contains some new quantitative and physical description of the space currents with special focus on the ring current. Whatever we do is just to gain a better understanding of the natural world, particularly the space environment around Earth through analytical deduction, algorithm designing and physical analysis, to quantitative interpretation. Applications of theoretical physics in conjunction with data analysis help us to understand the basic physical process govering the universe.

Determination of urinary nucleosides by direct injection and coupled-column high-performance liquid chromatography

A coupled-column liquid chromatographic method for the direct analysis of 14 urinary nucleosides is described. Efficient on-line clean-up and concentration of 14 nucleosides from urine samples were obtained by using a boronic acid-substituted silica column (40 turn x 4.0 mm I.D.) as the first column (Col-1) and a Hypersil ODS2 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm I.D.) as the second column (Col-2). The mobile phases applied consisted of 0.25 mol/L ammonium acetate (pH 8.5) on Col-1, and of 25 mmol/L potassium dihydrogen phosphate (pH 4.5) on Col-2, respectively. Determination of urinary nucleosides was performed on Col-2 column by using a linear gradient elution comprising 25 mmol/L potassium dihydrogen phosphate (pH 4.5) and methanol-water (60:40, v/v) with UV detection at 260 nm. Urinary nucleosides analysis can be carried out by this procedure in 50 min requiring only pH adjustment and the protein precipitation by centrifugation of urine samples. Calibration plots of 14 standard nucleosides showed excellent linearity (r > 0.995) and the limits of detection were at micromolar levels. Both of intra- and inter-day precisions of the method were better than 6.6% for direct determination of 14 nucleosides. The validated method was applied to quantify 14 nucleosides in 20 normal urines to establish reference ranges. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An automated calibration tool for high performance wireless inertial measurement in professional sports

Traditional motion capture techniques, for instance, those employing optical technology, have long been used in the area of rehabilitation, sports medicine and performance analysis, where accurately capturing bio-mechanical data is of crucial importance. However their size, cost, complexity and lack of portability mean that their use is often impractical. Low cost MEMS inertial sensors when combined and assembled into a Wireless Inertial Measurement Unit (WIMU) present a possible solution for low cost and highly portable motion capture. However due to the large variability inherent to MEMS sensors, such a system would need extensive characterization to calibrate each sensor and ensure good quality data capture. A completely calibrated WIMU system would allow for motion capture in a wider range of real-world, non-laboratory based applications. Calibration can be a complex task, particularly for newer, multi-sensing range capable inertial sensors. As such we present an automated system for quickly and easily calibrating inertial sensors in a packaged WIMU, demonstrating some of the improvements in accuracy attainable.

Towards a field-compatible optical spectroscopic device for cervical cancer screening in resource-limited settings: effects of calibration and pressure.

Quantitative optical spectroscopy has the potential to provide an effective low cost, and portable solution for cervical pre-cancer screening in resource-limited communities. However, clinical studies to validate the use of this technology in resource-limited settings require low power consumption and good quality control that is minimally influenced by the operator or variable environmental conditions in the field. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of two sources of potential error: calibration and pressure on the extraction of absorption and scattering properties of normal cervical tissues in a resource-limited setting in Leogane, Haiti. Our results show that self-calibrated measurements improved scattering measurements through real-time correction of system drift, in addition to minimizing the time required for post-calibration. Variations in pressure (tested without the potential confounding effects of calibration error) caused local changes in vasculature and scatterer density that significantly impacted the tissue absorption and scattering properties Future spectroscopic systems intended for clinical use, particularly where operator training is not viable and environmental conditions unpredictable, should incorporate a real-time self-calibration channel and collect diffuse reflectance spectra at a consistent pressure to maximize data integrity.

The role of space charge formation in the generation of thermally stimulated current (TSC) spectroscopy data for a model amorphous drug system

Thermally stimulated current (TSC) spectroscopy is attracting increasing attention as a means of materials characterization, particularly in terms of measuring slow relaxation processes in solid samples. However, wider use of the technique within the pharmaceutical field has been inhibited by difficulties associated with the interpretation of TSC data, particularly in terms of deconvoluting dipolar relaxation processes from charge distribution phenomena. Here, we present evidence that space charge and electrode contact effects may play a significant role in the generation of peaks that have thus far proved difficult to interpret. We also introduce the use of a stabilization temperature in order to control the space charge magnitude. We have studied amorphous indometacin as a model drug compound and have varied the measurement parameters (stabilization and polarization temperatures), interpreting the changes in spectral composition in terms of charge redistribution processes. More specifically, we suggested that charge drift and diffusion processes, charge injection from the electrodes and high activation energy charge redistribution processes may all contribute to the appearance of shoulders and 'spurious' peaks. We present recommendations for eliminating or reducing these effects that may allow more confident interpretation of TSC data.

The Validation of a Two-Dimensional Transient Catalyst Model for Direct Injection Two-Stroke Applications

This paper describes the detailed validation of a computer model designed to simulate the transient light-off in a two-stroke oxidation catalyst. A plug flow reactor is employed to provide measurements of temperature and gas concentration at various radial and axial locations inside the catalyst. These measurements are recorded at discrete intervals during a transient light-off in which the inlet temperature is increased from ambient to 300oC at rates of up to 6oC/sec. The catalyst formulation used in the flow reactor, and its associated test procedures, are then simulated by the computer and a comparison made between experimental readings and model predictions. The design of the computer model to which this validation exercise relates is described in detail in a separate technical paper. The first section of the paper investigates the warm-up characteristics of the substrate and examines the validity of the heat transfer predictions between the wall and the gas in the absence of chemical reactions. The predictions from a typical single-component CO transient light-off test are discussed in the second section and are compared with experimental data. In particular the effect of the temperature ramp on the light-off curve and reaction zone development is examined. An analysis of the C3H6 conversion is given in the third section while the final section examines the accuracy of the light-off curves which are produced when both CO and C3H6 are present in the feed gas. The analysis shows that the heat and mass transfer calculations provided reliable predictions of the warm-up behaviour and post light-off gas concentration profiles. The self-inhibition and cross-inhibition terms in the global rate expressions were also found to be reasonably reliable although the surface reaction rates required calibration with experimental data.

In situ cross-calibration of in-fibre Bragg Grating and Electrical Resistance Strain Gauges for structural monitoring using an extensometer

Special issue on Sensor Systems for Structural Health Monitoring Abstract—This study addresses the direct calibration of optical fiber strain sensors used for structural monitoring and is carried out in situ. The behavior of fiber-Bragg-grating-based sensor systems when attached to metal bars, in a manner representative of their use as reinforcement bars in structures, was examined and their response calibrated. To ensure the validity of the measurements,this was done using an extensometer with a further calibrationagainst the response of electrical resistance strain gauges, often conventionally used, for comparison. The results show a repeatable calibration generating a suitable geometric factor of extension to strain for these sensors, to enable accurate strain data to be obtained when the fiber-optic sensor system is in use in structural monitoring applications.

Characterisation of virus transport and attenuation in epikarst using short pulse and prolonged injection multi-tracer testing

Attenuation processes controlling virus fate and transport in the vadose zone of karstified systems can strongly influence groundwater quality. This research compares the breakthrough of two bacteriophage tracers (H40/1 and T7), with contrasting properties, at subsurface monitoring points following application onto an overlying composite sequence of thin organic soil and weathered limestone (epikarst). Short pulse multi-tracer test results revealed that T7 (Source concentration, Co=1.8x106pfu/mL) and H40/1(Co=5.9x106pfu/mL) could reach sampling points 10m below ground less than 30 minutes after tracer application. Contrasting deposition rates, determined from simulated tracer responses, reflected the potential of the ground to differentially attenuate viruses. Prolonged application of both T7 (Co=2.3x104pfu/mL) and H40/1 (Co=1.3x105pfu/mL) over a five hour period during a subsequent test, in which ionic strength levels observed at monitoring points rose consistently, corresponded to a rapid rise in T7 levels, followed by a gradual decline before the end of tracer injection; this reflected reaction-limited deposition in the system. T7’s response contrasted with that of H40/1, whose concentration remained constant over a three hour period before declining dramatically prior to the end of tracer injection. Subsequent application of lower ionic strength tracer-free flush water generated a rapid rise in H40/1 levels and a more gradual release of T7. Results highlight the benefits of employing prolonged injection multi-tracer tests for identifying processes not apparent from conventional short pulse tests. Study findings demonstrate that despite rapid transport rates, the epikarst is capable of physicochemical filtration of viruses and their remobilization, depending on virus type and hydrochemical conditions.