A survey of sidedness in Northern Irish schoolchildren: The interaction of sex, age, and task

The study examined lateral preference in use of hands, feet, eyes, and ears in a group of nearly 5000 schoolchildren in Northern Ireland. Performance tests were carried out by student teachers during their school-based work in 2002 and data were submitted on-line. Six tasks were used-writing, throwing a ball, kicking a ball, hopping, listening to quiet sounds, and looking through a cardboard tube. There was right bias in every task but the extent of it differed between tasks. Males were generally less right biased than females, and younger children less than older ones; for hearing, the changes with age were markedly different in the two sexes, with females showing a strong increase in right bias but males showing none. These observational results do little to illuminate the reasons for the patterns observed.

Determination of absolute ion yields from a MALDI source through calibration of an image-charge detector

MALDI (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization) is one of the most important techniques used to produce large biomolecular ions in the gas phase. Surprisingly, the exact ionization mechanism is still not well understood and absolute values for the ion yields are scarce. This is in part due to the unknown efficiencies of typical detectors, especially for heavy biomolecular ions. As an alternative, charged particles can be non-destructively detected using an image-charge detector where the output voltage signal is proportional to the total charge within the device. In this paper, we report an absolute calibration which provides the voltage output per detected electronic charge in our experimental arrangement. A minimum of 3 x 10(3) ions were required to distinguish the signal above background noise in a single pass through the device, which could be further reduced using filtering techniques. The calibration results have been applied to raw MALDI spectra to measure absolute ion yields of both matrix and analyte ions.

Rapid Surface Plasmon Resonance Immunoassay for the Determination of Deoxynivalenol in Wheat, Wheat Products, and Maize-Based Baby Food

A rapid screening assay (9 min/sample) has been developed and validated for the detection of deoxynivalenol in durum wheat, wheat products, and maize-based baby foods using an SPA biosensor. Through a single laboratory validation, the limits of detection (LOD) for wheat, wheat-based breakfast cereal, and maize-based baby food were 57, 9, and 6 mu g/kg, respectively. Intra-assay and interassay precisions were calculated for each matrix at the maximum and half-maximum European Union regulatory limits and expressed as the coefficient of variation (CV). All CVs fell below 10% with the exception of the between-run CV for breakfast cereal. Recoveries at the concentrations tested ranged from 92 to 115% for all matrices. Action limits of 161, 348, and 1378 mu g/kg were calculated for baby food, wheat-based breakfast cereal, and wheat, respectively, and the linear range of the assay was determined as 250-2000 mu g/kg.

Rapid confirmatory method for the determination of sixteen synthetic growth promoters and bisphenol A in bovine milk using dispersive solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A rapid liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) multi-residue method for the simultaneous quantitation and identification of sixteen synthetic growth promoters and bisphenol A in bovine milk has been developed and validated. Sample preparation was straightforward, efficient and economically advantageous. Milk was extracted with acetonitrile followed by phase separation with NaCl. After centrifugation, the extract was purified by dispersive solid-phase extraction with C18 sorbent material. The compounds were analysed by reversed-phase LC-MS/MS using both positive and negative ionization and operated in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, acquiring two diagnostic product ions from each of the chosen precursor ions for unambiguous confirmation. Total chromatographic run time was less than 10 min for each sample. The method was validated at a level of 1 mu g L-1. A wide variety of deuterated internal standards were used to improve method performance. The accuracy and precision of the method were satisfactory for all analytes. The confirmative quantitative liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was validated according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The decision limit (CC alpha) and the detection capability (CC beta) were found to be below the chosen validation level of 1 mu g L-1 for all compounds. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for determination of chloramphenicol

Chloramphenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic shown to have specific activity against a wide variety of organisms that are causative agents of several disease conditions in domestic animals. Chloramphenicol has been banned for use in food-producing animals for its serious adverse toxic effects in humans. Due to the harmful effects of chloramphenicol residues livestock products should be free of any traces of these residues. Several analytical methods are available for chloramphenicol analysis but sensitive methods are required in order to ensure that no traces of chloramphenicol residues are present in edible animal products. In order to prevent the illegal use of chloramphenicol, regulatory control of its residues in food of animal origin is essential. A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for chloramphenicol has been locally developed and optimized for the detection of chloramphenicol in sheep serum. In the assay, chloramphenicol in the test samples and that in chloramphenicol-horseradish peroxidase conjugate compete for antibodies raised against the drug in camels and immobilized on a microtitre plate. Tetramethylbenzidine-hydrogen peroxide (TMB/H2O2) is used as chromogen-substrate system. The assay has a detection limit of 0.1 ng/mL of serum with a high specificity for chloramphenicol. Cross-reactivity with florfenicol, thiamphenicol, penicillin, tetracyclines and sulfamethazine was not observed. The assay was able to detect chloramphenicol concentrations in normal sheep serum for at least 1 week after intramuscular injection with the drug at a dose of 25 mg/kg body weight (b.w.). The assay can be used as a screening tool for chloramphenicol use in animals.

Determination of the heat transfer coefficient at the metal–die interface for high pressure die cast AlSi9Cu3Fe

When simulating the High Pressure Die Casting ‘HPDC’ process, the heat transfer coefficient ‘HTC’ between the casting and the die is critical to accurately predict the quality of the casting. To determine the HTC at the metal–die interface a production die for an automotive engine bearing beam, Die 1, was instrumented with type K thermocouples. A Magmasoft® simulation model was generated with virtual thermocouple points placed in the same location as the production die. The temperature traces from the simulation model were compared to the instrumentation results. Using the default simulation HTC for the metal–die interface, a poor correlation was seen, with the temperature response being much less for the simulation model. Because of this, the HTC at the metal–die interface was modified in order to get a better fit. After many simulation iterations, a good fit was established using a peak HTC of 42,000 W/m2 K, this modified HTC was further validated by a second instrumented production die, proving that the modified HTC gives good correlation to the instrumentation trials. The updated HTC properties for the simulation model will improve the predictive capabilities of the casting simulation software and better predict casting defects.

The determination of asialoglycoforms of serum glycoproteins by lectin blotting with Ricinus communis agglutinin

Serum proteins were fractionated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions and transferred to nitrocellulose membranes. The blotted polypeptides were probed with biotinylated Ricinus communis lectin (RCA120) followed by streptavidin/alkaline phosphatase. This procedure detected five asialoglycoproteins (a2-macroglobulin, transferrin, a1-antitrypsin, a1-antichymotrypsin and haptoglobin ß chain). The asialoform of the a1-trypsin inhibitor was found to be decreased in inflammation.

Theoretical and experimental correlations of gas dissolution, diffusion, and thermodynamic properties in determination of gas permeability and selectivity in supported ionic liquid membranes

Supported ionic liquid membranes (SILMs) has the potential to be a new technological platform for gas/organic vapour separation because of the unique non-volatile nature and discriminating gas dissolution properties of room temperature ionic liquids (ILs). This work starts with an examination of gas dissolution and transport properties in bulk imidazulium cation based ionic liquids [C_nmim][NTf2] (n = 2.4, 6, 8.10) from simple gas H₂, N₂, to polar CO₂, and C₂H₆, leading to a further analysis of how gas dissolution and diffusion are influenced by molecular specific gas-SILMs interactions, reflected by differences in gas dissolution enthalpy and entropy. These effects were elucidated again during gas permeation studies by examining how changes in these properties and molecular specific interactions work together to cause deviations from conventional solution–diffusion theory and their impact on some remarkably contrasting gas perm-selectivity performance. The experimental perm-selectivity for all tested gases showed varied and contrasting deviation from the solution–diffusion, depending on specific gas-IL combinations. It transpires permeation for simpler non-polar gases (H₂, N₂) is diffusion controlled, but strong molecular specific gas-ILs interactions led to a different permeation and selectivity performance for C₂H₆ and CO₂. With exothermic dissolution enthalpy and large order disruptive entropy, C₂H₆ displayed the fastest permeation rate at increased gas phase pressure in spite of its smallest diffusivity among the tested gases. The C₂H₆ gas molecules “peg” on the side alkyl chain on the imidazulium cation at low concentration, and are well dispersed in the ionic liquids phase at high concentration. On the other hand strong CO₂-ILs affinity resulted in a more prolonged “residence time” for the gas molecule, typified by reversed CO₂/N₂ selectivity and slowest CO₂ transport despite CO₂ possess the highest solubility and comparable diffusivity in the ionic liquids. The unique transport and dissolution behaviour of CO₂ are further exploited by examining the residing state of CO₂ molecules in the ionic liquid phase, which leads to a hypothesis of a condensing and holding capacity of ILs towards CO₂, which provide an explanation to slower CO₂ transport through the SILMs. The pressure related exponential increase in permeations rate is also analysed which suggests a typical concentration dependent diffusion rate at high gas concentration under increased gas feed pressure. Finally the strong influence of discriminating and molecular specific gas-ILs interactions on gas perm-selectivity performance points to future specific design of ionic liquids for targeted gas separations.

Determination of the molar extinction coefficient for the ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay

The FRAP reagent contains 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-s-triazine, which forms a blue-violet complex ion in the presence of ferrous ions. Although the FRAP (ferric reducing/antioxidant power) assay is popular and has been in use for many years, the correct molar extinction coefficient of this complex ion under FRAP assay conditions has never been published, casting doubt on the validity of previous calibrations. A previously reported value of 19.800 is an underestimate. We determined that the molar extinction coefficient was 21,140. The value of the molar extinction coefficient was also shown to depend on the type of assay and was found to be 22,230 under iron assay conditions, in good agreement with published data. Redox titration indicated that the ferrous sulfate heptahydrate calibrator recommended by Benzie and Strain, the FRAP assay inventors, is prone to efflorescence and, therefore, is unreliable. Ferrous ammonium sulfate hexahydrate in dilute sulfuric acid was a more stable alternative. Few authors publish their calibration data, and this makes comparative analyses impossible. A critical examination of the limited number of examples of calibration data in the published literature reveals only that Benzie and Strain obtained a satisfactory calibration using their method. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.