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Plug
Kinds of Plug Terms modified by Plug Selected AbstractsMelting and melt segregation in the aureole of the Glenmore Plug, ArdnamurchanJOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, Issue 1 2005M. B. HOLNESS Abstract Contact metamorphism caused by the Glenmore plug in Ardnamurchan, a magma conduit active for 1 month, resulted in partial melting, with melt now preserved as glass. The pristine nature of much of the aureole provides a natural laboratory in which to investigate the distribution of melt. A simple thermal model, based on the first appearance of melt on quartz,feldspar grain boundaries, the first appearance of quartz paramorphs after tridymite and a plausible magma intrusion temperature, provides a time-scale for melting. The onset of melting on quartz,feldspar grain boundaries was initially rapid, with an almost constant further increase in melt rim thickness at an average rate of 0.5,1.0 × 10,9 cm s,1. This rate was most probably controlled by the distribution of limited amounts of H2O on the grain boundaries and in the melt rims. The melt in the inner parts of the aureole formed an interconnected grain-boundary scale network, and there is evidence for only limited melt movement and segregation. Layer-parallel segregations and cross-cutting veins occur within 0.6 m of the contact, where the melt volume exceeded 40%. The coincidence of the first appearance of these signs of the segregation of melt in parts of the aureole that attained the temperature at which melting in the Qtz,Ab,Or system could occur, suggests that internally generated overpressure consequent to fluid-absent melting was instrumental in the onset of melt movement. [source] Occlusion of an aberrant artery to an intralobar pulmonary sequestration using an Amplatzer Vascular PlugPEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 9 2008Haw-Kwei Hwang MD Abstract Pulmonary sequestration is a rare anomaly and is conventionally treated with surgical excision. This report describes the successful occlusion of a large aberrant artery to an intralobar pulmonary sequestration using an Amplatzer Vascular Plug. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:933,935. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Inguinal hernia repair: Where to next?ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 8 2002Martina Zib Background: Hernia repair is one of the most frequently performed operations in general surgery , a total of 39 000 elective inguinal hernia repairs were performed in public and private hospitals in Australia between July 1998 and June 1999 , and, as such, even minor alterations in outcome and resource use have appreciable impact. However, decisions regarding choice of operation for hernia repair remain controversial. The purpose of the present paper is to critically evaluate the evidence available regarding recently introduced open mesh repair techniques and to try to identify meaningful directions for future hernia research. Methods: A thorough search of all published surgical literature was undertaken. Medline, EMBASE and the Cochrane databases were searched by title, by key words and by author. References in review articles and in textbooks were pursued. The manufacturing companies were contacted for trials evaluating their product. Results: Eight original articles evaluating either the Kugel Patch, the PerFix Plug or the Prolene Hernia System were located. None of these trials directly compared two or more of these repair systems. To date, there has been no published review of the evidence regarding the newer mesh repair techniques. With one exception, all of these articles qualify as Level IV evidence. Highlighted is the lack of evidence regarding chronic significant posthernioplasty pain , this has an incidence of 6,12%. This complication is 3,5 times more common than recurrence after open repair, is clinically relevant, is poorly understood and has been poorly studied. Arguably it is a more important end point than recurrence. Conclusion: Only one study comparing the newer techniques of open hernia repair (PerFix Plug) constitutes Level II evidence. The PerFix Plug appears to be quicker to insert and uses a smaller incision. Chronic significant posthernioplasty pain is a more important endpoint in hernia research than is recurrence, and this review concludes with a proposal for a multicentre, randomized, controlled trial evaluating the incidence of chronic significant posthernioplasty pain following elective mesh repair of primary, unilateral hernias. [source] 97 Sensitivity of cyanobacteria to a potential biological control agent, bacterium SG-3JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 2003K. Wilkinson Cyanobacteria cause many problems in freshwater ecosystems. For example, the production of off-flavor compounds by cyanobacteria causes serious problems in catfish aquaculture. Control of cyanobacteria is generally limited to treatment with copper compounds, which are non-selective and sometimes ineffective at controlling certain species of cyanobacteria. Biological control could provide selective management by removing unwanted species while leaving desirable algae species. A bacterium (SG-3) (NRRL B-30043) lyses a number of planktonic species of cyanobacteria including bloom-forming species of Anabaena and Oscillatoria. We tested SG-3 for activity against 10 isolates, representing seven species, of mat-forming cyanobacteria within the genera Oscillatoria, Lyngbya, and Phormidium. Plugs (0.5 cm diameter) were cut from mats of the cyanobacterium, inoculated with liquid cultures of SG-3, and incubated as static cultures. The reduction in dry weights ranged from ,0.5% to 90% compared to the untreated controls and appeared to be species specific. For example, dry weight reductions of Oscillatoria deflexoides and O. amoena ranged from 80 to 90% whereas the reduction of O. limosa tended to be lower at 36 to 72%. Although results varied among and within species, they indicate that this bacterium could have potential for use as a biological control for mat-forming cyanobacteria. Light microscopic observations indicate the bacteria do not penetrate the cyanobacteria cells. Currently, we are studying the possible causes of the observed cell lysis. [source] Chastity belts in gartersnakes: the functional significance of mating plugsBIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 3 2000R. SHINE Male red-sided gartersnakes (Tfiamnophis sirtalis parietalis) deposit a thick gelatinous plug that occludes the female cloaca after copulation. Previous workers have interpreted the plug as a sexually-selected adaptation to (1) physically prevent re-mating by the female, and/or (2) provide pheromonal cues to discourage courtship by rival males or to decrease receptivity by females. Our data support the former hypothesis, but not the latter. Plugs serve as effective physical barriers to additional copulation for <72 h, but this is long enough for most females to become unreceptive, and/or disperse from the mating aggregation. Experimental removal of plugs immediately after copulation results in some re-mating by females, but plug removal several hours later does not rekindle sexual receptivity. Contrary to previous work, our experiments show that fluids associated with copulation (rather than the plug per se) are responsible for the rapid decline of male interest in mated females. Thus, the plug's primary function is to physically prevent matings rather than as a source of pheromonal cues to manipulate the behaviour of females or rival males. Plug mass is determined not only by a male's body size, but by his prior mating history (plug mass decreases with repeated mating) and by the size of his partner (males allocate larger plugs to larger females). Gartersnakes are unusual not only in their production of mating plugs, but also in their brief duration of copulation compared to other snakes. Mating plugs may have evolved in gartersnakes to reduce mating times, because of the extremely high ,opportunity cost' of prolonged mating to a male gartersnake in a mating aggregation. [source] Evaluation of fracture resistance in simulated immature teeth using resilon and ribbond as root reinforcements , An in vitro studyDENTAL TRAUMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Hiremath Hemalatha Material and Methods:, Sixty five freshly extracted human maxillary anterior teeth were prepared with a Peeso no. 6 to simulate immature teeth (Cvek's stage 3 root development). After instrumentation, each root was irrigated with sodium hypochlorite and with ethylene diamino tetra acetic acid to remove the smear layer. To simulate single visit apexification technique a 4,5 mm white Pro Root mineral trioxide aggregate plug was placed apically using schilder carrier. The teeth were divided into three experimental groups and one control group. Group I , control group (root canals instrumented but not filled); Group II , backfilled with thermoplastisized gutta-percha using AH plus sealer; Group III , reinforced with Resilon using epiphany sealer; Group IV , reinforced with Ribbond fibers using Panavia F luting cement. A Universal Testing Machine was used to apply a load, at the level of the lingual cementoenamel junction with a chisel-shaped tip The peak load to fracture was recorded and statistical analysis was completed using student's t -test. Results:, Values of peak load to fracture were 1320.8, 1604.88, 1620, and 1851newtons for Group I to Group IV respectively. The results of student's t -test, revealed no significant difference (P > 0.05,) between Group II and Group III. Comparison between Group IV and Group III and between Group IV and Group II revealed highly significant difference (P > 0.001). Conclusions:, Teeth reinforced with Ribbond fibers using Panavia F luting cement showed the highest resistance to fracture. Resilon could not strengthen the roots and showed no statistically significant difference when compared with thermopasticised gutta-percha in reinforcing immature tooth when tested with universal testing machine in an experimental model of immature tooth. [source] Comparative in vitro study of the sealing efficiency of white vs grey ProRoot mineral trioxide aggregate formulas as apical barriersDENTAL TRAUMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2008Spyridon Stefopoulos Recently conventional grey MTA has been replaced by a new white MTA formula. The aim of this study was to compare the root canal adaptation of white MTA to that of grey MTA when used as an apical barrier in teeth with open apices. We also examined whether a previous calcium hydroxide intracanal medication affects MTA's sealing ability and investigated the ability to remove calcium hydroxide from the root canal walls. Forty-nine teeth were prepared in a manner to simulate a divergent open apex of immature teeth. Four teeth were used in a preliminary experiment to demonstrate the inefficacy of calcium hydroxide removal from the canal walls in teeth with open apices. Four groups of 10 teeth each were created: groups A and B were treated with calcium hydroxide intracanal medication and then received an apical plug of grey and white MTA respectively. Groups C and D received an apical plug of grey and white MTA respectively without previous intracanal medication. Four teeth served as negative and one as a positive control. The marginal adaptation and sealing ability of the apical barrier were tested by means of a dye tracer (basic fuchsine) after longitudinal sectioning. It was found that MTA apical barrier resisted displacement during gutta-percha condensation. Calcium hydroxide pretreatment, adversely affected white MTA sealing ability (P < 0.05). [source] Processes and forms of an unstable alluvial system with resistant, cohesive streambeds ,EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 7 2002Andrew Simon Abstract As a response to channelization projects undertaken near the turn of the 20th century and in the late 1960s, upstream reaches and tributaries of the Yalobusha River, Mississippi, USA, have been rejuvenated by upstream-migrating knickpoints. Sediment and woody vegetation delivered to the channels by mass failure of streambanks has been transported downstream to form a large sediment/debris plug where the downstream end of the channelized reach joins an unmodified sinuous reach. Classification within a model of channel evolution and analysis of thalweg elevations and channel slopes indicates that downstream reaches have equilibrated but that upstream reaches are actively degrading. The beds of degrading reaches are characterized by firm, cohesive clays of two formations of Palaeocene age. The erodibility of these clay beds was determined with a jet-test device and related to critical shear stresses and erosion rates. Repeated surveys indicated that knickpoint migration rates in these clays varied from 0·7 to 12 m a,1, and that these rates and migration processes are highly dependent upon the bed substrate. Resistant clay beds of the Porters Creek Clay formation have restricted advancement of knickpoints in certain reaches and have caused a shift in channel adjustment processes towards bank failures and channel widening. Channel bank material accounts for at least 85 per cent of the material derived from the channel boundaries of the Yalobusha River system. Strategies to reduce downstream flooding problems while preventing upstream erosion and land loss are being contemplated by action agencies. One such proposal involves removal of the sediment/debris plug. Bank stability analyses that account for pore-water and confining pressures have been conducted for a range of hydrologic conditions to aid in predicting future channel response. If the sediment/debris plug is removed to improve downstream drainage, care should be taken to provide sufficient time for drainage of groundwater from the channel banks so as not to induce accelerated bank failures. Published in 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Study on effects of damping in laminated rubber bearings on seismic responses for a , scale isolated test structureEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 10 2002Bong Yoo Abstract The effects of damping in various laminated rubber bearings (LRB) on the seismic response of a ,-scale isolated test structure are investigated by shaking table tests and seismic response analyses. A series of shaking table tests of the structure were performed for a fixed base design and for a base isolation design. Two different types of LRB were used: natural rubber bearings (NRB) and lead rubber bearings (LLRB). Three different designs for the LLRB were tested; each design had a different diameter of lead plug, and thus, different damping values. Artificial time histories of peak ground acceleration 0.4g were used in both the tests and the analyses. In both shaking table tests and analyses, as expected, the acceleration responses of the seismically isolated test structure were considerably reduced. However, the shear displacement at the isolators was increased. To reduce the shear displacement in the isolators, the diameter of the lead plug in the LLRB had to be enlarged to increase isolator damping by more than 24%. This caused the isolator stiffness to increase, and resulted in amplifying the floor acceleration response spectra of the isolated test structure in the higher frequency ranges with a monotonic reduction of isolator shear displacement. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Doppler Ultrasound in MiceECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2007Jörg Stypmann Color, power, spectral, and tissue Doppler have been applied to mice. Due to the noninvasive nature of the technique, serial intraindividual Doppler measurements of cardiovascular function are feasible in wild-type and genetically altered mice before and after microsurgical procedures or to follow age-related changes. Fifty-megahertz ultrasound biomicroscopy allows to record the first beats of the embryonic mouse heart at somite stage 5, and the first Doppler-flow signals can be recorded after the onset of intrauterine cardiovascular function at somite stage 7. Using 10- to 20-MHz ultrasound transducers in the mouse embryo, cardiac, and circulatory function can be studied as early as 7.5 days after postcoital mucous plug. Postnatal Doppler ultrasound examinations in mice are possible from birth to senescent age. Several strain-, age-, and gender-related differences of Doppler ultrasound findings have been reported in mice. Results of Doppler examinations are influenced by the experimental settings as stress testing or different forms of anesthesia. This review summarizes the present status of Doppler ultrasound examinations in mice and animal handling in the framework of a comprehensive phenotype characterization of cardiac contractile and circulatory function. [source] Linking upstream channel instability to downstream degradation: Grenada Lake and the Skuna and Yalobusha River Basins, MississippiECOHYDROLOGY, Issue 3 2009Sean J. Bennett Abstract Unstable fluvial systems are characterized by actively migrating knickpoints, incising channel beds, failing banks, and recruitment of large woody debris and it would appear that river corridors downstream of these processes would be adversely affected or impaired because of higher fluxes of sediment and other riverine products. In north-central Mississippi, the Yalobusha River is one such system and the characteristics of two downstream locations are examined to explore this geomorphic linkage between upstream instability and downstream degradation. For the large woody debris plug along the Yalobusha River, it is found that (1) the deposit is composed mostly of sand covered with a veneer of silt and clay, (2) agrichemicals and enriched concentrations of elements are prevalent, and (3) excessive sedimentation and wood accumulation have forced river flow entirely out-of-bank. For Grenada Lake, it is found that (1) the impounded sediment is predominantly clay, (2) agrichemicals and elements observed throughout the reservoir show no spatial variation, (3) little difference exists in the amount and quality between the sediments deposited in Skuna and Yalobusha River arms, and (4) only a small fraction of the reservoir's storage capacity has been lost because of sedimentation. While excessive sedimentation and large woody debris recruitment have had a marked affect on stream corridor function in the area of the debris plug, the high sediment loads associated with the unstable portions of the Yalobusha River and their associated products have not been communicated to Grenada Lake. The fish consumption advisories within Grenada Lake and its tributaries due to bioaccumulated trace elements and agrichemicals, appear to be independent of the pervasive river channel instability occurring upstream. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Simultaneous determination of six non-polar heterocyclic amines in meat samples by supercritical fluid extraction,capillary electrophoresis under fluorimetric detectionELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 13 2010Fernando De Andrés Abstract A novel, sensitive and selective method for the separation and quantification of a group of non-polar heterocyclic amines (9H-pyrido-[3,4-b] indole, norharmane; 1-methyl-9H-pyrido-[3,4-b] indole, harmane; 2-amino-9H-pyrido-[2,3-b] indole, A,C; 2-amino-3-methyl-9H-pyrido-[2,3-b] indole, MeA,C; 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido-[4,3-b] indole, Trp-P-1 and 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido-[4,3-b] indole, Trp-P-2) in commercial meat samples has been developed. This methodology is faster than others previously described. The method is based on the combination of a supercritical fluid extraction procedure, followed by the analysis of the extracted plug by CE with fluorescence detection. The supercritical fluid extraction procedure was optimized for the clean-up of the samples and the extraction of the analytes. For the electrophoretic separation, the effect of composition, pH and concentration of buffer, organic modifier content, pressure and time of injection, capillary temperature and voltage applied were studied. A 10,mmol/L formic acid,ammonium formate,ACN (10%, v/v) solution at pH 1.5 was selected as the running electrolyte. With 5-s hydrodynamic injection, linear responses in the range from 100 to 1000,ng/mL and detection limits ranging from 15.9 to 28.1,ng/mL were obtained for different amines in less than 13,min. ACN,water (1:1 in volume) was used as a sample solvent. Fluorescence detection enhances the sensitivity and avoids interferences coming from non-fluorescent compounds present in the matrices of the sample extracts. [source] Pump-free and low-cost negative pressure sampling device for rapid sample loading in MCEELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 24 2009Hongmei Hu Abstract A pump-free and low-cost negative pressure sampling device for injecting well-defined non-biased sample plugs into the separation channel of MCE was developed. It was composed of a pipet bulb, a 3-way electromagnetic valve and a single voltage supply at constant voltage. A sub-atmospheric pressure was created by hand-pressing air out of the pipet bulb and retained in it by switching the 3-way electromagnetic valve at cutoff position. During the sample loading stage, the sub-atmospheric pressure in the pipet bulb was applied via a 3-way electromagnetic valve to the headspace of the sealed sample waste reservoir (SW). A pinched sample plug was formed at the channel intersection in less than 0.5,s. Once the 3-way electromagnetic valve was switched to connect SW to ambient atmosphere to release the vacuum in SW, electrophoresis separation was consequently activated under the electric potentials applied. Experimental results demonstrated the pump-free negative pressure sampling device worked well in a wide vacuum degree ranged from ,250 to ,30,mbar with a satisfactory analytical precision. The sample consumption for each cycle was calculated to be 51,12,nL under the sampling pressure. Theoretical deduction indicates that the volume of the pipet bulb can be further reduced to 1,mL, which is critical for minimizing the sampling device for MCE. [source] On-line preconcentration and enantioseparation of thalidomide racemates by CEC with the hyphenation of octyl and norvancomycin monolithsELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 4 2009An-Na Tang Abstract A method was developed for simultaneous preconcentration and chiral separation of thalidomide enantiomers in human urine by CEC in combination with self-concentration and solvent gradient effects. A 4,cm long octyl (C8) monolithic column was hyphenated with a 15,cm long norvancomycin (NVC)-bonded monolithic column via a fluorinated ethylene,propylene interface. Sample solution was injected into the C8 monolithic column, the two thalidomide enantiomers were first preconcentrated on the C8 monolithic column, and then separated with a further concentration on the NVC-bonded monolithic column by CEC. Injection of 34.8,mm plug of sample solution gave 278- and 298-fold enhancement in sensitivity, and detection limits of 90 and 94,,g/L for the two thalidomide enantiomers. Peak areas of the two isomers were linear in a range of 0.5,50,mg/L. The precision for five replicate injections of 10,mg/L were 0.8,0.9 and 1.1,2.3% for the migration time and peak height, respectively. The developed method was applied to the determination of racemic thalidomide in spiked human urine samples. [source] Sensitive analysis of donepezil in plasma by capillary electrophoresis combining on-column field-amplified sample stacking and its application in Alzheimer's disease,ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 17 2008Hsin-Hua Yeh Abstract Field-amplified sample stacking (FASS) in capillary electrophoresis (CE) was used to determine the concentration of donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, in human plasma. A sample pretreatment by liquid,liquid extraction with isopropanol/n -hexane (v/v 3:97) and subsequent quantification by FASS-CE was used. Before sample loading, a water plug (0.5,psi, 6,s) was injected to permit FASS. Electrokinetic injection (7,kV, 90,s) was used to introduce sample cations. The separation condition for donepezil was performed in electrolyte solutions containing Tris buffer (60,mM, pH 4.0) with sodium octanesulfonate 40,mM and 0.01% polyvinyl alcohol as a dynamic coating to reduce analytes' interaction with capillary wall. The separation was performed at 28,kV and detected at 200,nm. Using atenolol as an internal standard, the linear ranges of the method for the determination of donepezil in human plasma were over a range of 1,50,ng/mL. The limit of detection was 0.1,ng/mL (S/N=3, sampling 90,s at 7,kV). One female volunteer (54 years old) was orally administered a single dose of 10,mg donepezil (Aricept®, Eisai), and blood samples were drawn over a 60,h period for pharmacokinetic study. The method was also applied successfully to monitor donepezil in sixteen Alzheimer's disease patients' plasmas. [source] A low-leakage sample plug injection scheme for crossform microfluidic capillary electrophoresis devices incorporating a restricted cross-channel intersectionELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 15 2008Chin-Lung Chang Abstract This study develops a crossform CE microfluidic device in which a single-circular barrier or a double-circular barrier is introduced at the cross-channel intersection. Utilizing a conventional crossform injection scheme, it is shown that these barriers reduce sample leakage and deliver a compact sample band into the separation channel, thereby ensuring an enhanced detection performance. A series of numerical and experimental investigations are performed to investigate the effects of the barrier type and the barrier ratio on the flow streamlines within the microchannel and to clarify their respective effects on the sample leakage ratio and sample plug variance during the injection process. The results indicate that a single-circular barrier injector with a barrier ratio greater than 20% and a double-circular barrier injector with a barrier ratio greater than 40% minimize the sample leakage ratio and produce a compact sample plug. As a result, both injectors have an excellent potential for use in high-quality, high-throughput chemical analysis procedures and in many other applications throughout the micro-total analysis systems field. [source] Separation of cytokinin isomers with a partial filling-micellar electrokinetic chromatography-mass spectrometry approachELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 10 2008Liya Ge Abstract A new method based on partial filling-MEKC (PF-MEKC) directly coupled to ESI-MS was developed for the simultaneous separation and determination of 13 structurally similar cytokinins, including various geometric and positional isomers of cytokinins. On the basis of the resolution of the neighboring isomer peaks, different parameters (i.e., pH and concentration of buffer, surfactant concentrations, length of the injected micellar plug, organic modifier, and applied separation voltage) were optimized to achieve a satisfactory PF-MEKC separation. Under optimum conditions, the separation of 13 cytokinin standards was accomplished within 25,min. MS/MS with multiple reaction monitoring detection was carried out to obtain sufficient selectivity. PF-MEKC-MS/MS allowed for the direct identification and confirmation of the cytokinins present in banana (Musa spp.) pulp sample after extraction and purification. Finally, trans- zeatin riboside (ZR) and trans- zeatin (Z) were unambiguously identified in banana pulp. It is anticipated that the current PF-MEKC-MS method can be applied to analyze cytokinins in a wide range of biological samples. [source] Analyses of gibberellins in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) water by partial filling-micellar electrokinetic chromatography-mass spectrometry with reversal of electroosmotic flowELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 10 2008Liya Ge Abstract In this paper, we present the results of simultaneous screening of eight gibberellins (GAs) in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) water by MEKC directly coupled to ESI-MS detection. During the development of MEKC-MS, partial filling (PF) was used to prevent the micelles from reaching the mass spectrometer as this is detrimental to the MS signal, and a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium hydroxide, was added to the electrolyte to reverse the EOF. On the basis of the resolution of the neighboring peaks, different parameters (i.e., the pH and concentration of buffer, surfactant concentrations, length of the injected micellar plug, organic modifier, and applied separation voltage) were optimized to achieve a satisfactory PF-MEKC separation of eight GA standards. Under optimum conditions, a baseline separation of GA standards, including GA1, GA3, GA5, GA6, GA7, GA9, GA12, and GA13, was accomplished within 25,min. Satisfactory results were obtained in terms of precision (RSD of migration time below 0.9%), sensitivity (LODs in the range of 0.8,1.9,,M) and linearity (R2 between 0.981 and 0.997). MS/MS with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) detection was carried out to obtain sufficient selectivity. PF-MEKC-MS/MS allowed the direct identification and confirmation of the GAs presented in coconut water (CW) sample after SPE, while, the quantitative analysis of GAs was performed by PF-MEKC-MS approach. GA1 and GA3 were successfully detected and quantified in CW. It is anticipated that the current PF-MEKC-MS method can be applicable to analyze GAs in a wide range of biological samples. [source] Application of CE with novel dynamic coatings and field-amplified sample injection to the sensitive determination of isomeric benzoic acids in atmospheric aerosols and vehicular emissionELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 19 2007Ewa Dabek-Zlotorzynska Dr. Abstract A simple and reliable CE method with direct UV detection has been developed to separate eight isomeric benzoic acids in atmospheric aerosols and vehicular emission without complex sample pretreatment. Optimal electrophoretic conditions, with migration times under 5,min, were obtained by using a 50,mM acetate buffer (pH,4.7) containing a dynamic surface coating EOTrolÔ LN (0.005% w/v). The separations were carried out in a cathode to anode direction (,30,kV) allowing the low cathodal EOF (,1×10,9,m2V,1s,1) to extend the effective separation by slowing the movement of the studied aromatic acids. Moreover, the sensitivity of the method at 200,nm was enhanced by using a field-amplified sample injection (FASI) with electrokinetic (EK) sample injection (,2,kV, 60,s). Prior to sample injection, a short water plug (3,s at 0.5,psi) was introduced. Under these conditions, the method was capable of detecting the analytes in deionized water with LODs (S/N,=,3) as low as 0.1,,g/L for most of the studied acids. In the presence of 10,mg/L of sulphate (added to simulate a sample matrix), LODs ranged from 0.26 to 0.62,,g/L. The validation of the method has proven an excellent separation performance and accuracy for the determination of isomeric benzoic acids in the studied matrices. [source] On-line sample stacking and short-end injection CE for the determination of fluoxetine and norfluoxetine in plasma: Method development and validation using experimental designsELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 18 2007Chia-Chia Lu Abstract A short-end injection CE method combining field-amplified sample stacking (FASS) is presented for the analysis of fluoxetine (FL) and norfluoxetine in plasma. In this study, FASS enhanced the sensitivity about 1100-fold, while short-end injection reduced the analysis time to less than 4,min. Parameters involved in the separations were investigated using a central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology to optimize the separation conditions in a total of only 32 runs. Samples injected into the capillary for 99.9,s at a voltage of ,5,kV were stacked in a water plug (0.5,psi, 9,s). Baseline resolution of FL and its major metabolite was achieved using a BGE formulation consisting of phosphate,triethanolamine at low pH, and a separation voltage of ,10,kV. Five percent methanol was added as organic modifier to enhance selectivity and resolution. The linear range was between 10 and 500,ng/mL (r >0.9946), covering the expected plasma therapeutic ranges. The LOD in plasma were 4,ng/mL (S/N,=,3), a value comparable to that obtained using LC-MS, showing the success of the on-line stacking technique. Our method was also successfully validated in quantification and pharmacokinetic studies with three volunteer plasma samples and could be applied to pharmacogenetic studies. [source] Integration of continuous-flow sampling with microchip electrophoresis using poly(dimethylsiloxane)-based valves in a reversibly sealed deviceELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 14 2007Michelle W. Li Abstract Here we describe a reversibly sealed microchip device that incorporates poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-based valves for the rapid injection of analytes from a continuously flowing stream into a channel network for analysis with microchip electrophoresis. The microchip was reversibly sealed to a PDMS-coated glass substrate and microbore tubing was used for the introduction of gas and fluids to the microchip device. Two pneumatic valves were incorporated into the design and actuated on the order of hundreds of milliseconds, allowing analyte from a continuously flowing sampling stream to be injected into an electrophoresis separation channel. The device was characterized in terms of the valve actuation time and pushback voltage. It was also found that the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to the buffer system greatly increased the reproducibility of the injection scheme and enabled the analysis of amino acids derivatized with naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde/cyanide. Results from continuous injections of a 0.39,nL fluorescein plug into the optimized system showed that the injection process was reproducible (RSD of 0.7%, n,=,10). Studies also showed that the device was capable of monitoring off-chip changes in concentration with a device lag time of 90,s. Finally, the ability of the device to rapidly monitor on-chip concentration changes was demonstrated by continually sampling from an analyte plug that was derivatized upstream from the electrophoresis/continuous flow interface. A reversibly sealed device of this type will be useful for the continuous monitoring and analysis of processes that occur either off-chip (such as microdialysis sampling) or on-chip from other integrated functions. [source] Application of Hadamard transformation to MEKCELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 3 2007Kazuki Hata Abstract The Hadamard transform (HT) technique, which permits the S/N in CE to be improved, was applied to MEKC. Multiple sample injection of fluorescent analytes according to a Hadamard code sequence was performed using an optically gated sample injection technique, in which a sample plug was produced based on photodegradation by irradiation with an intense laser beam. The capillary and reservoirs were filled with a sample solution containing buffer components and SDS as a pseudostationary phase. A preliminary study confirmed that fluorescein ion could be photobleached in the presence of SDS. The optically gated sample injection technique was then applied to multiple sample injection, based on a Hadamard matrix. The S/N in the electropherogram obtained by HT-MEKC was improved substantially compared to that obtained by a single injection method. When the technique was applied to the separation of several amino acids labeled with FITC, the S/N ratio for each amino acid was enhanced, without any evidence of degradation in separation resolution. Moreover, HT-MEKC was applied to the analysis of amino acids contained in a Japanese beverage, resulting in improved S/Ns for the amino acids. [source] Development of off-line and on-line capillary electrophoresis methods for the screening and characterization of adenosine kinase inhibitors and substratesELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 12 2006Jamshed Iqbal Abstract Fast and convenient CE assays were developed for the screening of adenosine kinase,(AK) inhibitors and substrates. In the first method, the enzymatic reaction was performed in a test tube and the samples were subsequently injected into the capillary by pressure and detected by their UV absorbance at 260,nm. An MEKC method using borate buffer (pH,9.5) containing 100,mM SDS (method,A) was suitable for separating alternative substrates (nucleosides). For the CE determination of AMP formed as a product of the AK reaction, a phosphate buffer (pH,7.5 or 8.5) was used and a constant current (95,,A) was applied (method,B). The methods employing a fused-silica capillary and normal polarity mode provided good resolution of substrates and products of the enzymatic reaction and a short analysis time of less than 10,min. To further optimize and miniaturize the AK assays, the enzymatic reaction was performed directly in the capillary, prior to separation and quantitation of the product employing electrophoretically mediated microanalysis (EMMA, method,C). After hydrodynamic injection of a plug of reaction buffer (20,mM Tris-HCl, 0.2,mM MgCl2, pH,7.4), followed by a plug containing the enzyme, and subsequent injection of a plug of reaction buffer containing 1,mM,ATP, 100,,M adenosine, and 20,,M,UMP as an internal standard,(I.S.), as well as various concentrations of an inhibitor, the reaction was initiated by the application of 5,kV separation voltage (negative polarity) for 0.20,min to let the plugs interpenetrate. The voltage was turned off for 5,min (zero-potential amplification) and again turned on at a constant current of ,60,,A to elute the products within 7,min. The method employing a polyacrylamide-coated capillary of 20,cm effective length and reverse polarity mode provided good resolution of substrates and products. Dose,response curves and calculated Ki values for standard antagonists obtained by CE were in excellent agreement with data obtained by the standard radioactive assay. [source] A multilayer poly(dimethylsiloxane) electrospray ionization emitter for sample injection and online mass spectrometric detectionELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 24 2005Jamie M. Iannacone Abstract An ESI emitter made of poly(dimethylsiloxane) interfaces on-chip sample preparation with MS detection. The unique multilayer design allows both the analyte and the spray solutions to reside on the device simultaneously in discrete microfluidic environments that are spatially separated by a polycarbonate track-etched, nanocapillary array membrane (NCAM). In direct spray mode, voltage is applied to the microchannel containing a spray solution delivered via a syringe pump. For injection, the spray potential is lowered and a voltage is applied that forward biases the membrane and permits the analyte to enter the spray channel. Once the injection is complete, the bias potential is switched off, and the spray voltage is increased to generate the ESI of the injected analyte plug. Consecutive injections of a 10,,M bovine insulin solution are reproducible and produce sample plugs with limited band broadening and high quality mass spectra. Peptide signals are observed following transport through the NCAM, even when the peptide is dissolved in solutions containing up to 20% seawater. The multilayer emitter shows great potential for performing multidimensional chemical manipulations on-chip, followed by direct ESI with negligible dead volume for online MS analysis. [source] Combination of cationic surfactant-assisted solid-phase extraction with field-amplified sample stacking for highly sensitive analysis of chlorinated acid herbicides by capillary zone electrophoresisELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 18 2005Yan Xu Abstract This report describes a novel online field-amplified sample stacking (FASS) procedure to analyze 16 chlorinated acid herbicides. By using a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-coated capillary to reduce electroosmotic flow and introducing a methanol,water plug before sample loading, the sample injection time could be very long without loss of sample and separation efficiency. Under the optimized condition, the FASS procedure could provide great sensitivity enhancement (5000,10,000-fold) and satisfactory reproducibility (relative standard deviations of migration times less than 2.4%, relative standard deviations of peak areas less than 8.0%). Combined with cationic surfactant-assisted solid-phase extraction (CSA-SPE), the limit of detection of the herbicides ranged from 0.269 to 20.3,ppt, which are two orders lower than those of the US Environmental Protection Agency standard method 515.1. The CSA-SPE-FASS-CE method was successfully applied to the analysis of local pond water. [source] Electronic gel protein transfer and identification using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometryELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 9 2004Jonathan W. Cooper Abstract An electronic protein transfer technique is described for achieving the rapid and efficient recovery of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-protein complexes from polyacrylamide gels. This process involves the use of small-dimension capillaries in physical contact with a resolved protein band within the polyacrylamide gel, providing a large potential drop and high electric field strength at the capillary/gel interface. Several factors controlling the electronic protein transfer, including the applied electric field strength, the electrophoresis buffer concentration, and the capillary dimension, are studied to further enhance the use of field-amplification for sample stacking of extracted SDS-protein complexes. As a result of sample stacking, the extracted proteins from a 50 ng gel loading are present in a narrow (,80 nL) and highly concentrated (0.46 mg/mL or 3.3×10,5 M for cytochrome c) solution plug. Three model proteins with molecular mass ranging from 14 kDa (cytochrome c) to 116 kDa (,-galactosidase) are stained by Coomassie blue and electrophoretically extracted from gels with protein loadings as low as 50 ng. The capillary format of the electronic protein transfer technique allows direct deposition of extracted proteins onto a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) target. Various matrices and solvent compositions are evaluated for the analysis of extracted and concentrated SDS-protein complexes using MALDI-MS. The electronic protein transfer technique, when operated under optimized conditions, is demonstrated for the effective (>70% recovery), speedy (less than 5 min), and sensitive MS identification of gel resolved proteins (as low as 50 ng). [source] Flow-through partial-filling affinity capillary electrophoresis can estimate binding constants of neutral ligands to receptors via a competitive assay techniqueELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 6 2003John Kaddis Abstract This work evaluates the use of a competitive binding assay using flow-through partial-filling affinity capillary electrophoresis (FTPFACE) to estimate binding constants of neutral ligands to a receptor. We demonstrate this technique using, as a model system, carbonic anhydrase B (CAB, EC 4.2.1.1) and arylsulfonamides. In this technique, the capillary is first partially filled with a negatively charged ligand, a sample containing CAB and two noninteracting standards, and a neutral ligand, then electrophoresed. Upon application of a voltage the sample plug migrates into the plug of negatively charged ligand (L,) resulting in the formation of a CAB-L, complex. Continued electrophoresis results in mixing between the neutral ligand (L0) and the CAB-L, complex. L0 successfully competes out L, to form the new CAB-L0 complex. Analysis of the change in the relative migration time ratio (RMTR) of CAB relative to the noninteracting standards, as a function of neutral ligand concentration, yields a value for the binding constant. These values are in agreement with those estimated using other binding and ACE techniques. Data demonstrating the quantitative potential of this method is presented. [source] A strain isolated from gas oil-contaminated soil displays chemotaxis towards gas oil and hexadecaneENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 10 2003Mariana P. Lanfranconi Summary In this report we describe the isolation of a strain from soil contaminated with gas oil by taking bacteria from a chemotactic ring on gas oil-containing soft agar plates. Partial 16 S rDNA sequencing of the isolated strain showed 99.1% identity with Flavimonas oryzihabitans. It was not only able to degrade different aliphatic hydrocarbons but it was also chemotactic towards gas oil and hexadecane, as demonstrated by the use of three different chemotaxis methods, such as agarose plug and capillary assays and swarm plate analysis. In addition, the strain was chemotactic to a variety of carbon sources that serve as growth substrates, including glucose, arabinose, mannitol, glycerol, gluconate, acetate, succinate, citrate, malate, lactate and casaminoacids. This is the first report on chemotaxis of a hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium towards a pure alkane, such as hexadecane. The fact that environmental isolates show chemotaxis towards contaminant/s present in the site of isolation suggests that chemotaxis might enhance biodegradation by favouring contact between the degrading microorganism and its substrate. [source] Male Performance and Body Size Affect Female Re-Mating Occurrence in the Orb-Web Spider Leucauge mariana (Araneae, Tetragnathidae)ETHOLOGY, Issue 12 2009Anita Aisenberg Females can affect male probabilities of paternity success through behavioural, morphological and/or physiological processes occurring during or after copulation. These processes under female-control include the acceptance or rejection of mating attempts by subsequent males. Leucauge mariana is an orb weaving spider that shows male mate guarding of penultimate females, male,male competition on female webs and copulatory plugs, suggesting a polyandric mating system. The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether male behaviour during courtship and copulation in L. mariana relate with female re-mating decisions. Forty-three virgin females were exposed to up to three males until they mated. In 24 cases, the copulatory plug was absent after mating and females were exposed the next day to up to three other males. Eighteen females accepted a second mating. Relatively larger females were more receptive to second matings and were more likely to copulate if the second male was smaller. Longer duration of female tapping and abdominal bobbing during courtship, and first copulations with less short insertions and more flubs, were associated with increased female acceptance to second matings. The results indicate cryptic female choice on male courtship and copulatory performance and suggest female-control over the determination of male mating success in this spider species. [source] Increased circulating platelet,leukocyte aggregates in myeloproliferative disorders is correlated to previous thrombosis, platelet activation and platelet countEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Morten Krogh Jensen Abstract: Platelet,leukocyte adhesion may occur as a consequence of platelet activation and possibly plays a key role in the deposition of activated platelets and fibrin in the thrombotic plug. The aim of the present study was to assess by whole blood flow cytometry the presence of circulating platelet,leukocyte aggregates (PLA) and the platelet,leukocyte response to platelet agonist stimulation (ADP and TRAP) in 50 patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) and 30 controls. PLA were identified as platelet,granulocyte/monocyte aggregates (PGMA), platelet,monocyte aggregates (PMA) and defined as the percentage of leukocytes coexpressing the platelet-specific marker glycoprotein Ib. Compared to controls the mean percentage of PGMA and PMA was increased in unstimulated whole blood from patients with MPD (7.98 vs. 1.76%; p<0.001 and 12.34 vs. 3.2%; p<0.001, respectively). The percentage of PGMA was correlated to the platelet count (r=0.46; p<0.001), percentage of P-selectin (r=0.69; p<0.001) and thrombospondin (r=0.58; p<0.001) positive platelets and platelet expression of GPIV (r=0.33; p=0.02). The mean percentage of PGMA and PMA was significantly increased in ADP-stimulated whole blood of patients (57.14 vs. 47.92%; p=0.009 and 54.91 vs. 45.89%; p<0.001, respectively). Compared to patients without a history of thrombosis, patients having experienced microvascular disturbances or a thrombotic event had a higher mean percentage of PGMA and PMA in non-stimulated whole blood (10.07 vs. 6.34%; p=0.025 and 14.81 vs. 10.48%; p=0.021, respectively) and a higher percentage of PGMA in ADP stimulated whole blood (64.32 vs. 51.50%; p<0.01). These data document an increased frequency of PLA in non-stimulated whole blood in MPD associated with a previous history of thrombosis or microvascular disturbances. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||