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Lower Detection Limit (lower + detection_limit)
Selected AbstractsDirect Electron Transfer and Electrocatalysis of Hemoglobin on Chitosan-TiO2 Nanorods-Glass Carbon ElectrodeELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 20 2008Xiaoling Xiao Abstract The direct electron transfer between hemoglobin (Hb) and the glassy carbon electrode (GC) can be readily achieved via a high biocompatible composite system based on biopolymer chitosan (CHT) and TiO2 nanorods (TiO2 -NRs). TiO2 -NRs greatly promote the electron transfer between Hb and GC, which contribute to the higher redox peaks. UV-vis spectra result indicated the Hb entrapped in the composite film well keep its native structure. The immobilized Hb remains its bioelectrocatalytical activity to the reduction of H2O2 with a lower detection limit. A novel, sensitive, reproducible and stable electrochemical biosensing platform of H2O2 based on Hb-TiO2 -CHT electrode is explored. [source] Novel Thorium Membrane Sensors with Anionic Response Based on Trioctylphosphine Oxide and Toluate IonophoresELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 19 2008Abstract Two novel potentiometric polymeric membrane sensors for rapid and accurate determination of thorium are described. These are based on the use of trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) and thorium toluate (Th-TA) as ionophores dispersed in poly(vinyl chloride) matrix membranes plasticized with nitrophenyloctyl ether. In strong nitric acid medium, Th(IV) nitrate is converted into [Th(NO3)6]2, complex and sensed as anionic divalent ion which exclude most cationic effect. Validation of the assay methods using the quality assurance standards (linearity range, accuracy, precision, within-day variability, between-day-repeatability, lower detection limit and sensitivity) reveals excellent performance characteristics of both sensors. The sensors exhibit near-Nernstian response for 1.0×10,6,1.0×10,1 M Th over the pH range 2.5,4.5. Calibration slopes of ,32.3±0.3 and ,27.2±0.2,mV/decade, precision of ±0.5 and ±0.8% and accuracy of 98.8±0.9 and 97.9±0.7% are obtained with TOPO and Th-TA based sensors, respectively. Negligible interferences are caused by most interfering mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hexa-valent elements commonly associated with thorium in naturally occurring minerals and ores. High concentrations of Cl,, F,, SO42,, and NO3, ions have no diverse effect. Complete removal of the effect of the interferents in complex matrices is achieved by retention of [Th(NO3)6]2, complex from 5,M nitric acid/methanol mixture (1,:,9,v/v) on a strong anion exchanger, washing out the cationic interferents followed by stripping off thorium anion complex and measurements. Both sensors are used for determining thorium in certified thorium ore samples (20,120,mg Th/kg) and some naturally occurring ores (200,600,mg Th/kg). The results obtained agree fairly well with the certified labeled values or the data obtained using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry [source] A Biomimetic Potentiometric Sensor Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for the Cetirizine Assay in Tablets and Biological FluidsELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 18 2008Mehran Javanbakht Abstract Despite the increasing number of applications of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in analytical chemistry, the construction of a biomimetic potentiometric sensor remains still challenging. In this work, a biomimetic potentiometric sensor, based on a non-covalent imprinted polymer was fabricated for the recognition and determination of cetirizine. The MIP was synthesized by precipitation polymerization, using cetirizine dihydrochloride as a template molecule, methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a cross linking agent. The sensor showed high selectivity and a sensitive response to the template in aqueous system. The MIP-modified electrode exhibited Nernstian response (28.0±0.9 mV/decade) in a wide concentration range of 1.0×10,6 to 1.0×10,2 M with a lower detection limit of 7.0×10,7 M. The electrode has response time of ca. 20,s, high performance, high sensitivity, and good long term stability (more than 5,months). The method was satisfactory and used to the cetirizine assay in tablets and biological fluids. [source] Development of a Novel Automatic Potentiometric System for Determination of Selenium and Its Application in Pharmaceutical Formulations and Anodic SlimeELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 9 2008Ayman Abstract Poly(vinyl chloride) polymeric membrane sensors containing Sn(IV) phthalocyanine dichloride (SnPC) and Co(II) phthalocyanine (CoPC) as novel electroactive materials dispersed in o -nitrophenyl octylether (o -NPOE) as a plasticizer are examined potentiometrically with respect to their response toward selenite (SeO32,) ions. Fast Nernstian response for SeO32, ions over the concentration ranges 7.0×10,6,1.0×10,3 and 8.0×10,6,1.0×10,3 mol L,l at pH,3.5,8.5 with lower detection limit of 5.0×10,6 and 8.0×10,6 mol L,1 and calibration slopes of ,25.4 and ,29.7,mV decade,1 are obtained with SnPC and CoPC based membrane sensors, respectively. The proposed sensors reveals by the modified separate solution method (MSSM) a good selectivity over different anions which differ significantly from the classical Hofmeister series. A segmented sandwich membrane method is used to determine complex formation constants of the ionophores in situe in the solvent polymeric sensing membranes. Membrane incorporating CoPC in a tubular flow detector is used in a two channels flow injection set up for continuous monitoring of selenite at a frequency of ca. 50 samples h,1. Direct determination of selenium in pharmaceutical formulations and anodic slime gives results in good agreement with data obtained using standard ICP method. [source] Carbon Ceramic Electrodes Modified with Laccase from Trametes hirsuta: Fabrication, Characterization and Their Use for Phenolic Compounds DetectionELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 9 2007Behzad Haghighi Abstract Fungal laccase (Lc) from the basidiomycete Trametes hirsuta was immobilized on top of a carbon ceramic electrode using physical absorption. Direct, unmediated heterogeneous electron transfer between Lc and the carbon ceramic electrode (CCE) under aerobic conditions was shown. The bioelectrocatalytic reduction of oxygen on Lc-CCE started at about 430,mV vs. Ag|AgCl|KClsat at pH,3.5 and moved with about 57,mV in the cathodic region per pH unit. The Lc-modified CCE was then used as a biosensing detection element in a single line flow injection system for the amperometric determination of a variety of phenolic substrates of the enzyme. The experimental conditions were studied and optimized for catechol serving as a model compound. Statistical aspects were applied and the sensor characteristics and Michaelis-Menten constants of the investigated phenolic compounds were calculated and compared with those obtained for solid graphite electrodes modified with Trametes hirsuta laccase. The results showed that the CCE based biosensor in comparison with the solid graphite based biosensor offers a lower detection limit, a wider linear dynamic range, and excellent operational stability with no sensor passivation, indicating that the sol,gel lattice improves the electrochemical behavior of the biosensor. [source] Photoelectro-Synergistic Catalysis at Ti/TiO2/PbO2 Electrode and Its Application on Determination of Chemical Oxygen DemandELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 22 2006Jiaqing Li Abstract In this paper, photoelectro-synergistic catalysis oxidation of organics in water on Ti/TiO2/PbO2 electrode was investigated by the method of electrochemistry. Furthermore, the results were compared with those obtained from photocatalysis and electrocatalysis. The method proposed was applied to determine the chemical oxygen demand (COD) value, Ti/TiO2/PbO2 electrode functioning as the work electrode during the process. It was shown that the method of photoelectro-synergistic catalysis had lower detection limit and wider linear range than the methods of electroassisted photocatalysis and electrocatalysis. The results obtained by the proposed method and conventional one were compared by carrying out the experiment on 8 wastewater samples. The correlation of the results using different methods was satisfactory and the relative bias was below ±6.0%. [source] Electrodeposition of Lead at Boron-Doped Diamond Film Electrodes: Effect of TemperatureELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 12 2003César Prado Abstract The electrodeposition of lead on boron-doped diamond has been studied with a view to identifying the fundamental parameters controlling the sensitivity and lower detection limit in anodic stripping voltammetry. Chronoamperometric transients are used to explore the deposition, indicating a progressive growth mechanism confirmed by ex situ AFM images. Linear sweep ASV experiments show a threshold concentration of ca 10,6,M below which no lead is detected; this is attributed to the need for nucleation of the solid phase on the electrode. Experiments with variable temperature show that this threshold can be usefully lowered at elevated temperatures. [source] Signal-On Electrochemiluminescence Biosensors Based on CdS,Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposite for the Sensitive Detection of Choline and AcetylcholineADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 9 2009Xiao-Fei Wang Abstract This work describes for the first time signal-on electrochemiluminescence (ECL) enzyme biosensors based on cadmium sulfide nanocrystals (CdS NCs) formed in situ on the surface of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The MWCNT,CdS can react with H2O2 to generate strong and stable ECL emission in neutral solution. Compared with pure CdS NCs, the MWCNT,CdS can enhance the ECL intensity by 5.3-fold and move the onset ECL potential more positively for about 400,mV, which reduces H2O2 decomposition at the electrode surface and increases detection sensitivity of H2O2. Furthermore, the ECL intensity is less influenced by the presence of oxygen in solution. Benefiting from these properties, signal-on enzyme-based biosensors are fabricated by cross-linking choline oxidase and/or acetylcholine esterase with glutaraldehyde on MWCNT,CdS modified electrodes for detection of choline and acetylcholine. The resulting ECL biosensors show wide linear ranges from 1.7 to 332,µM and 3.3 to 216,µM with lower detection limit of 0.8 and 1.7,µM for choline and acetylcholine, respectively. The common interferents such as ascorbic acid and uric acid in electrochemical enzyme-based biosensors do not interfere with the ECL detection of choline and acetylcholine. Furthermore, both ECL biosensors possess satisfying reproducibility and acceptable stability. [source] Comparison of continuous-flow microextraction and static liquid-phase microextraction for the determination of p -toluidine in Chlamydomonas reinhardtiiJOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE, JSS, Issue 15 2007Xiujuan Liu Abstract In this study, two microextraction methods, viz. continuous-flow microextraction (CFME) and static liquid-phase microextraction (s-LPME), were optimized and compared for the determination of p -toluidine in water and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii samples. The calibration curve for p -toluidine was linear in the concentration range of 0.01,5 ,g/mL, and the squared regression coefficients (r2) for the lines were up to 0.999 for both CFME and s-LPME treatments. Detection limits in CFME and s-LPME were 8.2 ng/mL and 4.9 ng/mL, based on a signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 3, respectively. The precision was tested, in five replicates, by analysis of a 100-ng/mL standard solution of p -toluidine and the relative standard deviations were 5.43 and 3.08% for CFME and s-LPME, respectively. The concentration factors were 5.5 and 14.4 for CFME and s-LPME, respectively. s-LPME has a higher extraction efficiency, lower detection limit, and higher concentration factor than that of CFME. Additionally, the s-LPME method is precise and reproducible, and requires only a 3.0-,L microdrop of extraction solvent. Therefore, this procedure is more convenient in use, and viable for qualitative and quantitative analysis of p -toluidine in water and biota samples. [source] Assessment of hepatitis C virus-RNA clearance under combination therapy for hepatitis C virus genotype 1: performance of the transcription-mediated amplification assayJOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS, Issue 1 2008D. Ferraro Summary., Monitoring of HCV-RNA in blood during antiviral therapy is performed mostly by commercially available reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction-based (RT-PCR) assays, with a lower detection limit of 30,50 IU/mL of HCV-RNA. Use of different tests in the pivotal trials of combination therapy has generated some discordance, in terms of predictive value of the early virological response (EVR). To evaluate whether the use of a more sensitive test, as a qualitative assay based on transcription mediated amplification (TMA) with a lower detection limit of 5,10 IU/mL of HCV-RNA, may obtain a better prediction of EVR and of the ultimate virological outcome, we retrospectively evaluated serial samples from 108 naïve patients with HCV genotype 1 chronic hepatitis, treated with pegylated ,2b interferon plus ribavirin for 48 weeks and with a 24 weeks stopping rule. Serum samples of patients, obtained during treatment at weeks 4, 12, 24 and 48 and after treatment at week 24, were evaluated by TMA. Comparison of the RT-PCR and TMA assays for the qualitative detection of HCV-RNA showed no significant differences in performance when these tests were used at the end of the treatment period for assessing patients without an on-treatment virological response and those who eventually obtain a sustained virological response. Our results show instead that the use of TMA assay to detect HCV-RNA at 12 and 24 weeks of the combination therapy is more effective than RT-PCR in identifying patients with the highest probability of sustained HCV-RNA clearance. [source] A Novel Device for Single Particle Light Scattering Size Analysis and Concentration Measurement at High Pressures and TemperaturesPARTICLE & PARTICLE SYSTEMS CHARACTERIZATION, Issue 2 2008Heinz Umhauer Abstract Based on the findings of previous work, a novel instrument was developed for the size analysis and concentration measurement of particles dispersed in gases at high temperatures (600,°C) and pressures (16 bar). The main motivation for the construction of this device was a measurement requirement at the conditions of a pressurized pulverized coal combustion (PPCC) test installation in Dorsten, Germany. The development of a high efficiency (>,50,%), coal based, combined cycle process, and specifically, the development of efficient gas cleaning technology for gas combustion under demanding conditions (1400,°C and 16 bar) was the main target. A suitable measurement technique was required for the determination of particle size and concentration downstream of the gas cleaning equipment, which is able to operate close to the given conditions. The performance of the novel device was tested in several measurement series with various monodisperse aerosols at ambient conditions as well as in high pressure, high temperature situations with very satisfactory results, i.e., the lower detection limit (50,% counting efficiency at ca. 0.3 ,m) and resolution of the novel device are comparable to state of the art instruments (of the same principle) intended for room temperature operation. [source] High-precision isotopic analysis of palmitoylcarnitine by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion-trap tandem mass spectrometryRAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 22 2006ZengKui Guo Single quadrupole gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) has been widely used for isotopic analysis in metabolic investigations using stable isotopes as tracers. However, its inherent shortcomings prohibit it from broader use, including low isotopic precision and the need for chemical derivatization of the analyte. In order to improve isotopic detection power, liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-itMS2) has been evaluated for its isotopic precision and chemical sensitivity for the analysis of [13C]palmitoylcarnitine. Over the enrichment range of 0.4,10 MPE (molar % excess), the isotopic response of LC/ESI-itMS2 to [13C]palmitoylcarnitine was linear (r,=,1.00) and the average isotopic precision (standard deviation, SD) was 0.11 MPE with an average coefficient of variation (CV) of 5.6%. At the lower end of isotopic enrichments (0.4,0.9 MPE), the isotopic precision was 0.05 MPE (CV,=,8%). Routine analysis of rat skeletal muscle [13C4]palmitoylcarnitine demonstrated an isotopic precision of 0.03 MPE for gastrocnemius (n,=,16) and of 0.02 MPE for tibialis anterior (n,=,16). The high precision enabled the detection of a small (0.08 MPE) but significant (P,=,0.01) difference in [13C4]palmitoylcarnitine enrichments between the two muscles, 0.51 MPE (CV,=,5.8%) and 0.43 MPE (CV,=,4.6%), respectively. Therefore, the system demonstrated an isotopic lower detection limit (LDL) of ,0.1 MPE (2 × SD) that has been impossible previously with other organic mass spectrometry instruments. LC/ESI-itMS2 systems have the potential to advance metabolic investigations using stable isotopes to a new level by significantly increasing the isotopic solving power. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Optimization of a whole-cell cadmium sensor with a toggle gene circuitBIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 3 2009Cindy H. Wu Abstract This work demonstrates improvement of a whole-cell cadmium detection sensor through construction of a gene circuit. A cadmium (II) specific regulatory promoter, PcadR, from Psuedomonas putida 06909, is used in the assembly of a toggle circuit. The circuit contains the cadR promoter fused to lacIq and gfp, and a divergently transcribed tac promoter and cadR. The toggle sensor exhibits lower background fluorescence, and a 20-fold lower detection limit in comparison to a nontoggle gene circuit. The detection limit of the toggle sensor is 0.01 ,M (1.12 ppb) cadmium chloride, and tunable with the addition of isopropyl-b- D -thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). The toggle sensor is highly specific to cadmium (II), and no response is elicited from zinc, lead, manganese, nickel, copper, and mercury. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009 [source] Faecal calprotectin concentrations in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders diagnosed according to the Pediatric Rome III criteriaACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 5 2010G Flagstad Abstract Objective:, To determine if faecal calprotectin concentrations vary with different entities of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) in children. Methods:, Children (4,15 years) who were consecutively referred by general practitioners to four general paediatric outpatient clinics for the evaluation of recurrent abdominal pain were assessed according to a research protocol which included clinical examination, a minimum set of blood, urine and stool tests, and clinical reassessment after 6,9 months. The diagnoses of FGID were based on the parent version of the Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms-Rome III. Results:, Of the 152 patients included, 142 children were diagnosed with FGID. Of these, 126 (89%) provided a stool specimen for quantification of calprotectin. The median calprotectin concentrations were at or lower than 16 mg/kg which was at the lower detection limit and there were no differences between the FGID subgroups. Nine children (7%) had slightly raised values. Conclusion:, The faecal calprotectin concentration is within normal limits in FGID and does not vary with different FGID entities suggesting that bowel inflammation is not a significant part of the pathogenesis in FGID. [source] Exposure assessment of 17,-ethinylestradiol in surface waters of the United States and Europe,ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 12 2009Robert Hannah Abstract An evaluation of measured and predicted concentrations of 17,-ethinylestradiol in surface waters of the United States and Europe was conducted to develop expected long-term exposure concentrations for this compound. Measured environmental concentrations (MECs) in surface waters were identified from the literature. Predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) were generated for European and U.S. watersheds using the GREAT-ER and PhATEÔ models, respectively. The majority of MECs are nondetect and generally consistent with model PECs and conservative mass balance calculations. However, the highest MECs are not consistent with concentrations derived from conservative (worst-case) mass balance estimates or model PECs. A review of analytical methods suggests that tandem or high-resolution mass spectrometry methods with extract cleanup result in lower detection limits and lower reported concentrations consistent with model predictions and bounding estimates. Based on model results using PhATE and GREAT-ER, the 90th-percentile low-flow PECs in surface water are approximately 0.2 and 0.3 ng/L for the United States and Europe, respectively. These levels represent conservative estimates of long-term exposure that can be used for risk assessment purposes. Our analysis also indicates that average concentrations are one to two orders of magnitude lower than these 90th-percentile estimates. Higher reported concentrations (e.g., greater than the 99th-percentile PEC of ,1 ng/L) could result from methodological problems or unusual environmental circumstances; however, such concentrations are not representative of levels generally found in the environment, warrant special scrutiny, and are not appropriate for use in risk assessments of long-term exposures. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||