Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Concentration Levels (concentration + level)
Kinds of Concentration Levels Selected AbstractsORIGINAL ARTICLE: Differences in the Soluble HLA-G Blood Serum Concentration Levels in Patients with Ovarian Cancer and Ovarian and Deep EndometriosisAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 5 2010Pawel Mach Citation Mach P, Blecharz P, Basta P, Marianowski P, Skret-Magierlo J, Kojs Z, Grabiec M, Wicherek L. Differences in the soluble HLA-G blood serum concentration levels in patients with ovarian cancer and ovarian and deep endometriosis. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010 Problem, The relationship between endometriosis and cancer has been widely discussed in the literature but is still not well clarified. Perhaps significantly, soluble human leukocyte antigen-G (sHLA-G) has been identified in the microenvironment of both ovarian cancer and endometrioma. The aim of this study has been to evaluate the sHLA-G levels in the blood sera of women with deep endometriosis and ovarian endometrioma over the course of the menstrual cycle and to compare to the levels of sHLA-G in the blood sera of women with ovarian cancer. Method of study, In our study, we examined the blood sera obtained from 123 patients operated on because of ovarian cancer (65 cases), ovarian endometrioma (30 cases), and deep endometriosis (28 cases). We decided to compare the levels of sHLA-G in patients with endometriosis to those found in patients with ovarian cancer with respect to the menstrual cycle phases. The sHLA-G concentration level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results, The level of sHLA-G concentration in the blood serum of patients with deep endometriosis fluctuates over the course of the menstrual cycle, and during the proliferative and secretory phases, it remains at a high level comparable to that found in patients with ovarian cancer. By contrast, the level of sHLA-G concentration in the blood serum of patients with ovarian endometrioma fluctuates minimally over the course of the different menstrual cycle phases and, as in patients with ovarian cancer, it remains at high level during the proliferative phase. Conclusion, sHLA-G blood serum concentration levels would seem to provide important information regarding the degree of immune system regulation disturbance in both ectopic endometrial cells and the cancer cell suppressive microenvironment. [source] A New Type of Bismuth Electrode for Electrochemical Stripping Analysis Based on the Ammonium Tetrafluorobismuthate Bulk-Modified Carbon PasteELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 13 2010Hanna Sopha Abstract A carbon paste electrode bulk-modified with ammonium tetrafluorobismuthate (BiF4 -CPE) was developed and examined in the anodic stripping voltammetric mode for measurement of selected trace heavy metals. The BiF4 -CPE has revealed a favorable performance in more acidic solutions (pH,0.5,2.5) in the presence of dissolved oxygen for Cd(II) and Pb(II) as model metal ions at the low ,g L,1 concentration level. In comparison with the bismuth-oxide bulk-modified carbon paste electrode and the other two bismuth film-plated carbonaceous substrate electrodes examined, the BiF4 -CPE proved to be another attractive variant of the environmentally friendly bismuth-based electrodes, particularly convenient for analysis of acidified water samples. [source] Novel Sensitive Voltammetric Detection of Trace Gallium(III) with Presence of Catechol Using Mercury Film Silver Based ElectrodeELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 16 2009Robert Piech Abstract A new adsorptive stripping voltammetric method for the determination of trace gallium(III) based on the adsorption of gallium(III)-catechol complex on the cyclic renewable mercury film silver based electrode (Hg(Ag)FE) is presented. The effects of various factors such as: preconcentration potential and time, pulse height, step potential and supporting electrolyte composition are optimized. The calibration graph is linear from 2,nM (0.14,,g L,1) to 100,nM (6.97,,g L,1) for a preconcentration time of 30,s, with correlation coefficient of 0.9993. For a Hg(Ag)FE with a surface area of 9.7,mm2 the detection limit for a preconcentration time of 90,s is as low as 7,ng L,1. The repeatability of the method at a concentration level of the analyte as low as 0.05,,g L,1, expressed as RSD is 3.6% (n=5). The proposed method was successfully applied by studying the natural samples and simultaneous recovery of Ga(III) from spiked water and sediment samples. [source] Pulsed Amperometric Detection of Histamine at Glassy Carbon Electrodes Modified with Gold NanoparticlesELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 4 2005V. Carralero Abstract Gold nanocrystal-modified glassy carbon electrodes (nAu-GCE) were prepared and used for the determination of histamine by flow injection and high performance liquid chromatography using pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) as the detection mode. Experimental variables involved in the electrodeposition process of gold from a HAuCl4 solution were optimized. A catalytic enhancement of the histamine voltammetric response was observed at the nAu-GCE when compared with that obtained at a conventional Au disk electrode, as a consequence of the microdispersion of gold nanocrystals on the GC substrate. The morphological and electrochemical characteristics of the nAu-GCE were evaluated by SEM and cyclic voltammetry. PAD using a very simple potential waveform consisting of an anodic potential (+700,mV for 500,ms) and a cathodic potential (,300,mV for 30,ms), was used to avoid the electrode surface fouling when histamine was detected under flowing conditions. Flow injection amperometric responses showed much higher Ip values and signal-to-noise ratios at the nAu-GCE than at a conventional gold disk electrode. A limit of detection of 6×10,7,mol L,1 histamine was obtained. HPLC-PAD at the nAu-GCE was used for the determination of histamine in the presence of other biogenic amines and indole. Histamine was determined in sardine samples spiked at a 50,,g g,1 concentration level, with good results. Furthermore, the chromatographic PAD method was also used for monitoring the formation of histamine during the decomposition process of sardine samples. [source] Integrated Microanalytical System Coupling Permeation Liquid Membrane and Voltammetry for Trace Metal Speciation.ELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 10 2004Optimization, Technical Description Abstract A new minicell coupling the liquid-liquid extraction technique called permeation liquid membrane (PLM) with an integrated Ir-based Hg-plated microelectrode array for voltammetric detection has been developed for the speciation of heavy metals in natural waters. Lead and cadmium have been used as model compounds. The PLM consists of a carrier (0.1,M 22DD+0.1,M lauric acid) dissolved in 1,:,1 mixture of toluene/phenylhexane held in the small pores (30,nm) of a hydrophobic polypropylene membrane (Celgard 2500). One side of this membrane is in contact with a flowing source solution, containing the metal ions of interest. An acceptor or strip solution (pyrophosphate) is placed on the other side of the PLM with the microelectrode array placed at 480,,m of the PLM. The analyte is transported by the carrier from the source solution to the strip solution. The originality of the new minicell is that accumulation in the strip solution is voltammetrically followed by the integrated microelectrode array in real time, and at low concentration level, using square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). In order to protect the Hg microelectrodes from the adsorption of the hydrophobic carrier, the microelectrodes are embedded in a thin gel layer (280,,m) of 1.5% LGL agarose gel containing 10% of hydrophobic silica particles C18. The choice of optimum conditions is discussed in details in this article. Due to the very small effective strip volume of the new cell (less than 1,,L), high enrichment factor can be obtained (e.g., 330 for Pb) after 2,hours of accumulation. No deaeration of the solutions is required for SWASV measurements. Detection limits under these conditions are 2,pM and 75,pM for Pb and Cd, respectively, using a voltammetric deposition time of 5,min. In addition, no fouling effects were observed with natural water samples. [source] Copper toxicity in relation to surface water-dissolved organic matter: Biological effects to Daphnia magnaENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 12 2004Kees J.M. Kramer Abstract Water quality standards for copper are usually stated in total element concentrations. It is known, however, that a major part of the copper can be bound in complexes that are biologically not available. Natural organic matter, such as humic and fulvic acids, are strong complexing agents that may affect the bioavailable copper (Cu2+) concentration. The aim of this study was to quantify the relation between the concentration of dissolved natural organic matter and free Cu2+ in surface waters, and the biological effect, as measured in a standardized ecotoxicological test (48 h-median effective concentration [EC50] Daphnia magna, mobility). Six typical Dutch surface waters and an artificial water, ranging from 0.1 to 22 mg/L dissolved organic carbon (DOC), were collected and analyzed quarterly. Chemical speciation modeling was used as supporting evidence to assess bioavailability. The results show clear evidence of a linear relation between the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (in milligrams DOC/L) and the ecotoxicological effect (as effect concentration, EC50, expressed as micrograms Cu/L): 48-h EC50 (Daphnia, mobility) = 17.2 × DOC + 30.2 (r2 = 0.80, n = 22). Except for a brook with atypical water quality characteristics, no differences were observed among water type or season. When ultraviolet (UV)-absorption (380 nm) was used to characterize the dissolved organic carbon, a linear correlation was found as well. The importance of the free copper concentration was demonstrated by speciation calculations: In humic-rich waters the free Cu2+ concentration was estimated at ,10,11 M, whereas in medium to low dissolved organic carbon waters the [Cu2+] was ,10,10 M. Speciation calculations performed for copper concentrations at the effective concentration level (where the biological effect is considered the same) resulted in very similar free copper concentrations (,10,8 M Cu) in these surface waters with different characteristics. These observations consistently show that the presence of organic matter decreases the bioavailability, uptake, and ecotoxicity of copper in the aquatic environment. It demonstrates that the DOC content must be included in site-specific environmental risk assessment for trace metals (at least for copper). It is the quantification of the effects described that allows policy makers to review the criteria for copper in surface waters. [source] Local Industry Agglomeration and New Business ActivityGROWTH AND CHANGE, Issue 1 2003Todd Gabe New businesses are highly involved in innovative activity, which enhances worker productivity and leads to increased economic output. This paper investigates the effects of industry concentration on the incidence of new business openings in the 5,504 Maine county-industries. Empirical findings indicate that new business activity increases with the number of incumbent establishments in a county-industry and its concentration level relative to the U.S. economy. Model simulations show that raising county-industries, with no initial industry presence, to concentration levels similar to that of the industry in the U.S. economy results in a 1.7 to 8.9 percent increase in the expected number of business openings over a three-year period. Empirical results also suggest that industry clusters comprised of young and small establishments are more conducive to new business formation than clusters made up of mature and large companies. [source] Long-term changes in distribution and chemistry of middle Miocene to Quaternary volcanism in the Chokai-Kurikoma area across the Northeast Japan ArcISLAND ARC, Issue 1 2004Hirofumi Kondo Abstract To understand the characteristics of long-term spatial and temporal variation in volcanism within a volcanic arc undergoing constant subduction since the cessation of back-arc opening, a detailed investigation of middle Miocene to Quaternary volcanism was carried out within the Chokai-Kurikoma area of the Northeast Japan Arc. This study involved a survey of available literature, with new K,Ar and fission track dating, and chemical analyses. Since 14 Ma, volcanism has occurred within the Chokai-Kurikoma area in specific areas with a ,branch-like' pattern, showing an east,west trend. This is in marked contrast to the widespread distribution of volcanism with a north,south trend in the 20,14 Ma period. The east,west- trending ,branches' are characterized by regular intervals (50,100 km) of magmatism along the arc. These branches since 14 Ma are remarkably discrepant to the general northwest,southeast or north-northeast,south-southwest direction of the crustal structures that have controlled Neogene to Quaternary tectonic movements in northeast Japan. In addition, evidence indicating clustering and focusing of volcanism into smaller regions since 14 Ma was verified. Comparison of the distribution and chemistry of volcanic rocks for three principal volcanic stages (11,8, 6,3 and 2,0 Ma) revealed that widely but sparsely distributed volcanic rocks had almost the same level of alkali and incompatible element concentrations throughout the area (with the exception of Zr) in the 11,8 Ma stage. However, through the 6,3 Ma stage to the 2,0 Ma stage, the concentration level in the back-arc cluster increased, while that in the volcanic front cluster remained almost constant. Therefore, the degree of partial melting has decreased, most likely with a simultaneous increase in the depth of magma segregation within the back-arc zone, whereas within the volcanic front zone, the conditions of magma generation have changed little over the three stages. In conclusion, the evolution of the thermal structure within the mantle wedge across the arc since 14 Ma has reduced the extent of ascending mantle diapirs into smaller fields. This has resulted in the tendency for the distribution of volcanism to become localized and concentrated into more specific areas in the form of clusters from the late Miocene to Quaternary. [source] Spectroscopic Differentiation and Quantification of Microorganisms in Apple JuiceJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 7 2004Chenxu Yu ABSTRACT: A fast and easy-to-operate Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry-based approach was developed for microbial differentiation and quantification in apple juice. Eight different microorganisms were evaluated: Enterobacter cloacae, Salmonella typhimurium, Enterobacteraerogenes, Salmonella choleraesuis, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas vulgaris, Vibrio cholerae, and Hafnia alvei. FTIR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics could differentiate the microorganisms studied at low concentration level of 103 colony-forming units (CFU) /mL in apple juice. The chemometric models developed to count microorganisms in apple juice were validated by an independent test set consisting of 18 samples and correlated against plate counts satisfactorily up to a detection limit of 103 CFU/mL. [source] Analysis of low content drug tablets by transmission near infrared spectroscopy: Selection of calibration ranges according to multivariate detection and quantitation limits of PLS modelsJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 12 2008Manel Alcalŕ Abstract The content uniformity of low dose products is a major concern in the development of pharmaceutical formulations. Near infrared spectroscopy may be used to support the design and optimization of potent drug manufacturing processes through the analysis of blends and tablets in a relatively short time. A strategy for the selection of concentration ranges in the development of multivariate calibration is presented, evaluating the detection and quantitation limits of the obtained multivariate models. The strategy has been applied to the determination of an active principle in pharmaceutical tablets of low concentration (0,5%, w/w), using Fourier Transform Near Infrared (FT-NIR) transmission spectroscopy. The quantitation and detection limits decreased as the upper concentration level of the calibration models was reduced. The results obtained show that the selection of concentration ranges is a critical aspect during model design. The selection of wide concentration ranges with high levels is not recommended for the determination of analytes at minor levels (<1%, w/w), even when the concentration of interest is within the range of the model. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 97:5318,5327, 2008 [source] Membrane protected conductive polymer as micro-SPE device for the determination of triazine herbicides in aquatic mediaJOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE, JSS, Issue 8 2010Habib Bagheri Abstract A micro-SPE technique was developed by fabricating a rather small package including a polypropylene membrane shield containing the appropriate sorbent. The package was used for the extraction of some triazine herbicides from aqueous samples. Solvent desorption was subsequently performed in a microvial and an aliquot of extractant was injected into GC-MS. Various sorbents including aniline- ortho -phenylene diamine copolymer, newly synthesized, polypyrrole, multiwall carbon nanotube, C18 and charcoal were examined as extracting media. Among them, conductive polymers exhibited better performance. Influential parameters including extraction and desorption time, desorption solvent and the ionic strength were optimized. The developed method proved to be rather convenient and offers sufficient sensitivity and good reproducibility. The detection limits of the method under optimized conditions were in the range of 0.01,0.04,ng/mL. The RSDs at a concentration level of 0.1,ng/mL were obtained between 4.5 and 9.3% (n=5). The calibration curves of analytes showed linearity in the range of 0.05,10,ng/mL. The developed method was successfully applied to the extraction of selected triazines from real water samples. The whole procedure showed to be conveniently applicable and quite easy to manipulate. [source] Free and bound fumonisins in gluten-free food productsMOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH (FORMERLY NAHRUNG/FOOD), Issue 4 2009Chiara Dall'Asta Abstract In this work a multiresidual LC-ESI-MS/MS method for the simultaneous detection of free and bound fumonisins is described, which allowed for a very low LOD and a very good recovery for all the analytes. The method was applied to the determination of free and bound fumonisins in several gluten-free products from the Italian market. Free fumonisins were found to occur in 90% of the samples: the overall median value was below the EU legal limit for foods for human consumption (800 ,g/kg). Nonetheless, fumonisins occurred in several samples at concentrations above the legal limit, reaching also very strong contamination levels (maximum concentration level: 3310 ,g/kg). Anyway, considering the limited diet of people suffering of the celiac disease or allergic to other wheat proteins, the incidence of fumonisin contamination may be envisaged as problematic. Furthermore, bound fumonisins were found to be present in all the analysed samples at similar or even higher amounts than the free forms. In many cases the sum of free and bound fumonisins exceeded the EU legal limit for total fumonisins also for those samples characterized by a low contamination of free fumonisins, thus opening a new important task to be addressed for the risk assessment in this field. [source] Potential determination of aminated pesticides and metabolites by cyclodextrin capillary electrophoresis,laser-induced fluorescence using FITC as labellingPEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 2 2005Miguel Navarrete-Casas Abstract We describe a detailed study on the possibility of analyzing aminated pesticides and metabolites using pre-column derivatization with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and their subsequent separation and detection by cyclodextrin capillary electrophoresis,laser-induced fluorescence (CE-LIF) detection. Different variables affecting the derivatization reaction (pH, FITC concentration, reaction time and temperature) and those related with the separation itself (buffer concentration, addition of various organic modifiers, pH, applied voltage and injection time) were studied. The limit of detection obtained was between 0.45 and 3.48 µg litre,1 showing a relative standard deviation between 0.26 and 2.08% at a concentration level of 50 µg litre,1. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Rondine® PV concentrators: Field results and developmentsPROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS: RESEARCH & APPLICATIONS, Issue 7 2009A. Antonini Abstract In this work the experimental results of a new PV concentrator (named Rondine®) are presented. This concentrating module has a medium concentration level (,25×) and employs silicon solar cells. The tests have been carried out in Italy and the energy production of a prototype module is compared with that produced from a tracking flat plate crystalline PV panel. The non-imaging optics of the concentrator allows for larger angular acceptance with respect to many solar concentrators, giving us the possibility to employ trackers for standard PV modules. The first results of complete systems of 3·9 and 4·8,kW of peak power installed in summer 2008 are presented here. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Efficacy of tricaine methanesulphonate and clove oil as anaesthetics for juvenile cobia Rachycentron canadumAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 7 2009Mariel Gullian Abstract Six experiments were designed to determine the optimal anaesthetic dosage of tricaine methanesulphonate (TMS) and clove oil that could be used safely on juvenile cobia Rachycentron canadum of two sizes [G1=4.9±0.8 g; G2=13.9±3.1 g]. We documented the stage of anaesthesia and the acute toxicity as 96 h LC50 (lethal concentration 50% population) at various exposure times of the two anaesthetics. At 10 min induction time, the TMS 96 h LC50 was 93.9 mg L,1 in G1 and 97.0 mg L,1 in G2. Compared with clove oil, the 96 h LC50 was 60.0 mg L,1 in G1 and 69.8 mg L,1 in G2. The difference between the two groups (G1, G2) did not influence anaesthesia safety (P>0.05). Rachycentron canadum achieved stage 3 anaesthesia more rapidly at a lower clove oil concentration level (40 mg L,1, 10 min) than TMS (60 mg L,1, 10 min), but the recovery period of clove oil, was significantly longer. Clove oil was the most effective in reducing the short-term stress induced by routine biometry (20 mg L,1, 10 min) and also by transporting (1 mg L,1, 8 h). Whereas, for long-term exposure, 40 mg L,1 TMS was found to be safe. [source] Synthesis and Cytotoxic Evaluation of 6-(3-Pyrazolylpropyl) Derivatives of 1,4-Naphthohydroquinone-1,4-diacetateARCHIV DER PHARMAZIE, Issue 10 2009Aurora Molinari Abstract Several new 6-(3-pyrazolylpropyl) derivatives of 1,4-naphthohydroquinone-1,4-diacetate (NHQ-DA) have been prepared by chemical modifications of the Diels,Alder adduct of ,-myrcene and 1,4-benzoquinone. All these new compounds and precursors have been evaluated in vitro for their cytotoxicity against cultured human cancer cells of MB-231 breast-adeno carcinoma, A-549 lung carcinoma, and HT-29 colon carcinoma. GI50 values ranged in and below the micromolar concentration level. [source] Ammonia Removal Using Hepatoma Cells in Mammalian Cell CulturesBIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 5 2000Yeon Sook Choi It was examined whether hepatocyte cell lines can be used for ammonia removal in mammalian cell cultures. It was found that there exists a critical ammonium concentration level for each hepatocyte cell to remove ammonia. Among the cells tested in this work, primary hepatocytes showed the strongest ammonia removal capability if ammonium concentration is higher than the critical level. However, primary hepatocytes lost the liver function gradually and finally died after 2,3 weeks. Because of this limitation, primary hepatocytes were not appropriate to be used for ammonia removal in long-term cultures. Hep G2 cells, which are immortal, also showed a strong ammonia removal activity. The ammonia removal activity of Hep G2 cells depended on the concentration of ammonium in the medium, as in the case of primary hepatocytes. However, urea could not be detected in the course of ammonia removal by Hep G2 cells. Instead of urea, Hep G2 cells secreted glutamine into the culture medium. The capacity for ammonia removal was higher in the absence than in the presence of glutamine. Thus we checked the activity of glutamine synthetase in the Hep G2 cells. The level of glutamine synthetase activity increased with the addition of ammonium chloride. This result accounts for the ammonium concentration dependency of Hep G2 cells in ammonia removal and glutamine synthesis. Furthermore Hep G2 cells could grow well in the absence of glutamine, which was necessarily required in mammalian cell cultures. These results prove that glutamine formation serves as the primary mechanism of detoxifying ammonia in hepatocyte cell lines as expected. In addition, it was demonstrated that ammonium level could be reduced 38% and that erythropoietin production increased 2-fold in the mixed culture of Hep G2 and recombinant CHO cells. [source] Kinetics and Mechanism of Ni(II) Chelation in Model and Real Solutions of Xylem Sap of Quercus ilexELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 22 2007Margarida, Maria Correia, Santos Abstract The kinetics of formation and dissociation of Ni(II) complexes with oxalic and citric acids was studied by cyclic voltammetry in model solutions of xylem sap of Q. ilex (the dominant tree growing on serpentine soils of Northeast Portugal) using representative concentrations, pH and ionic strength. The role of magnesium on complex formation was analyzed from solutions where Mg is present at concentration levels found in the xylem sap of Q. ilex growing on both nonserpentine and serpentine soils. Kinetics studies were also done in diluted solutions of real xylem sap samples, spiked with increasing amounts of magnesium. The values obtained for the apparent rate constants were those anticipated by the proposed model. To test the validity of the methodology and mechanisms, formation rate constants, kf (M,1 s,1) of Ni(II) complexes with citrate and oxalate were evaluated that compare with the values from Eigen mechanism. [source] DNA Determination in the Presence of Copper in Diluted Alkaline Electrolyte by Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry at the Mercury Film ElectrodeELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 11 2007Augusto, Mardini Farias, Percio Abstract A stripping method for the determination of single-stranded DNA in presence of copper at the submicromolar concentration levels is described. The method is based on controlled adsorptive accumulation of adenine (from acid-treated DNA) at thin-film mercury electrode followed by linear scan voltammetry measurement of the surface species. Optimum experimental conditions were found to be the use of a 5.0×10,3,M NaOH solution, an accumulation potential of ,0.40,V and a scan rate of 200,mV s,1. The response of adenine,copper is linear over the concentration range 50,250,ppb. For an accumulation time of 15,minutes, the detection limit was found to be 4,ppb. The more convenient relation to measuring the ssDNA in presence of metals and nitrogenated bases were also investigated. The utility of the method is demonstrated by the presence of adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) and amino acids. [source] Lectin-aided separation of circulating tumor cells and assay of their response to an anticancer drug in an integrated microfluidic deviceELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 18 2010Li Li Abstract Metastasis caused by the entry of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) into the bloodstream or lymphatic vessels is a major factor contributing to death in cancer patients. Separation of CTCs and studies on CTC,drug interactions are very important for prognostic and therapeutic implications of metastatic cancer. In this study, an integrated microfluidic device for CTC separation through the combination of lectin and microstructure is presented. This microfluidic device and lectin concanavalin A were utilized for the separation of K562 cells in whole blood samples. The results showed that the separation efficiency can reach 84%, which is much higher than that of an experiment without concanavalin A treatment. To further demonstrate the feasibility of this microfluidic device application in sequential studies after target cells were separated, the interactions of K562 cells and an anticancer drug, cytarabine, were also examined. After 6,h on-chip treatment with cytarabine, the viabilities of K562 cells were 85.29, 77.05, and 40% for drug concentration levels of 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0,g/L, respectively. This system can facilitate the rapid and efficient in vitro investigation of CTC separation and CTC-related studies. [source] Simple method for determination of cocaine and main metabolites in urine by CE coupled to MSELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 12 2009José Luiz da Costa Abstract In this work, a simple method for the simultaneous determination of cocaine (COC) and five COC metabolites (benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene (CET), anhydroecgonine, anhydroecgonine methyl ester and ecgonine methyl ester) in human urine using CE coupled to MS via electrospray ionization (CE-ESI-MS) was developed and validated. Formic acid at 1,mol/L concentration was used as electrolyte whereas formic acid at 0.05,mol/L concentration in 1:1 methanol:water composed the coaxial sheath liquid at the ESI nozzle. The developed method presented good linearity in the dynamic range from 250,ng/mL to 5000,ng/mL (coefficient of determination greater than 0.98 for all compounds). LODs (signal-to-noise ratio of 3) were 100,ng/mL for COC and CET and 250,ng/mL for the other studied metabolites whereas LOQ's (signal-to-noise ratio of 10) were 250,ng/mL for COC and CET and 500,ng/mL for all other compounds. Intra-day precision and recovery tests estimated at three different concentration levels (500, 1500 and 5000,ng/mL) provided RSD lower than 10% (except anhydroecgonine, 18% RSD) and recoveries from 83,109% for all analytes. The method was successfully applied to real cases. For the positive urine samples, the presence of COC and its metabolites was further confirmed by MS/MS experiments. [source] Enantioselective analysis of pheniramine in urine by charged CD-mediated CZE provided with a fiber-based DAD and an on-line sample pretreatment by capillary ITPELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 15 2007Jozef Marák Abstract Application potentialities of CZE on-line coupled with capillary ITP and DAD to the identification and determination of trace concentration levels (,g/L) of pheniramine (PHM) enantiomers and their metabolites present in complex ionic matrices of biological origin (urine) are shown. An enhanced (enantio)selectivity of the CZE separation system obtained by the addition of carboxyethyl-,-CD (CE-,-CD) to the carrier electrolyte provided CZE conditions for a reliable identification of similar/identical DAD spectra of structurally related compounds (PHM enantiomers and their metabolites) in clinical urine samples differing in qualitative and quantitative composition of sample matrix constituents. A high sample loadability (a 30,,L sample injection volume), partial sample clean-up (removing macroconstituents from the sample), and preconcentration of the analytes in ITP stage resulted in the decrease of concentration LOD for PHM enantiomers in urine to 5.2 and 6.8,,g/L (2.2×10,8 and 2.8×10,8,mol/L), without using any sample pretreatment technique. The background correction and smoothing procedure applied to the raw DAD spectra provided analytically relevant DAD spectra of PHM enantiomers and their metabolites also when they were present in urine sample (30,,L injection volumes of ten-times diluted urine sample) at a 9×10,8,mol/L concentration. DAD spectra of PHM enantiomers present in urine samples matched their reference spectra with reasonable certainties. DAD spectra of PHM metabolites were compared with the reference spectra of PHM enantiomers and a good match was found which indicates the similarities in the structures of enantiomers and their metabolites detected in the urine samples. This fact allows performing the quantitative analyses of PHM metabolites in the urine samples by applying the calibration parameters of PHM enantiomers also for PHM metabolites and the results show the possibilities of using the ITP,CZE,DAD combination for the direct analysis of PHM enantiomers and/or their metabolites in urine without any sample pretreatment. ITP,CZE,DAD method with oppositely charged selector is suggested to use in clinical research as it provides favorable performance parameters including sensitivity, linearity, precision, recovery, and robustness with minimal demands on sample preparation. [source] Enzyme-catalyzed amperometric oxidation of neurotransmitters in chip-capillary electrophoresisELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 12 2004Maria A. Schwarz Abstract The determination of biogenic monoamines by enzyme-catalyzed oxidation after electrophoretical separation on a microfluidic chip decreases their detection limits significantly. An amperometric system with a chemically amplified response for neurotransmitters and their metabolites is presented. The principle is the rapid cyclic oxidation of the analyte on the amperometric detector in the presence of the redoxactive enzyme glucose oxidase in the capillary electrophoresis buffer. With this approach, detection limits in the range of 10,7,10,8M could be reached. Because of the good linearity between the current response and the concentration of catecholamines and their metabolites at concentrations up to 300 ,M, this method is attractive for the analytical detection at low concentration levels such as in biological fluids. [source] Combined effects of the fungicide propiconazole and agricultural runoff sediments on the aquatic bryophyte Vesicularia dubyanaENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 9 2005Qinglan Wu Abstract Pesticides, firmly attached to the topsoil, might enter nearby watercourses at periods with high erosive loss of sediments. Therefore, exposure of aquatic organisms to these low mobility pesticides, in many cases, will coincide with a high sediment concentration. In this study, both individual and combined effects of propiconazole and runoff sediment on the aquatic model bryophyte Vesicularia dubyana are studied. Individual exposure to propiconazole induced responses in V. dubyana at rather low concentration levels (,1 ,g/L), showing that harmful effects of propiconazole potentially may occur in watercourses draining propiconazole-treated fields. Individual exposure to the sediment size fractions S1 (0.16,2 ,m) and S2 (0.03,0.16 ,m) caused plant stress at a concentration of 100 mg/L. The coarser fraction S1 showed strong inhibition effects on photosynthesis, probably due to light attenuation. Compared to S1, the suspension with the finer fraction S2 showed lower turbidity, higher nutrient content, and a higher proportion of sediment-bound propiconazole. The combined effects of propiconazole and suspended sediment are dependent on concentrations of sediment and propiconazole. At low sediment concentration (e.g., 100 mg/L), neither S1 nor S2 reduce the toxicity of propiconazole, as only 2% of propiconazole are bound to particles. An increase in sediment concentration decreases the bioavailable concentration of propiconazole; however, at the same time, this increases the turbidity, thereby inhibiting plant photosynthesis. [source] Perceptual interactions between fruity and woody notes of wineFLAVOUR AND FRAGRANCE JOURNAL, Issue 6 2004Boriana Atanasova Abstract The quantitative olfactory interactions in three binary mixtures of wine aroma compounds were studied. For the ,rst two mixtures, whisky lactone (woody note) was mixed separately with two esters (fruity note), ethyl butyrate and isoamyl acetate. For the third mixture, guaiacol (woody note) was mixed with ethyl butyrate (fruity note). Perceived odour intensity of 24 stimuli (four supra-threshold concentration levels of two compounds and the respective 16 mixtures) were evaluated in ,ve replications, by a trained panel of 13 subjects. The results showed that for the three binary mixtures studied, quantitative perceptual interactions were non-level independent, non-symmetrical, and reached the compromise level of hypo-addition. The experimental data highlighted that generally mixtures with high whisky lactone levels led to the compromise level of mixture intensity perception, whereas mixtures with high fruity note intensity proportions did not. A tendency to hyper-addition was observed in iso-intense mixtures only at the lowest intensity level. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Production and sensory characteristics of flavoured soymilk samplesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSUMER STUDIES, Issue 3 2003Christina Antwiwaa Nti Abstract The sensory quality characteristics of four flavoured soymilk samples including vanilla, banana, coffee and chocolate were evaluated at varying concentrations of the flavour. This was done to establish the most acceptable flavour and desired concentration for commercial production of soymilk and also to facilitate increased consumption of soymilk for improved nutrition. Hot extraction of the milk from blanched soybeans was achieved by blending in hot water and sieving through muslin cloth. Different concentration levels of the flavours being assessed, namely chocolate, coffee, vanilla and banana, were added. Consumer preference for the various samples was assessed using a nine-point hedonic scale. Addition of flavours was found to improve the sensory characteristics and consumer preference of soymilk. Colour, taste, aroma, mouthfeel and hence overall acceptability of the soymilk samples were improved significantly by the addition of vanilla, banana, coffee and chocolate flavours. The maximum concentrations of the individual flavours for optimal sensory impact were established. Based on the results, the following flavour concentrations are recommended per 100 ml of soymilk: 0.03% vanilla, 0.01% banana, 1.5% coffee and 4% chocolate. [source] Determination of biochemical properties of foam-mat dried mango powderINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 8 2010Dattatreya M. Kadam Summary Investigations were carried out to see the impact of drying air temperature (65, 75 and 85 °C) and milk as foaming agent in different concentration levels (0%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%) on the chemical properties of foam-mat dried mango juice powder. Chemical properties such as total sugars, ascorbic acid, total carotenes, minerals, total acid, pH, total soluble solids (TSS) and microbial load (fungal and bacterial) of foam-mat dried mango powder were determined. Data were analysed as per two-way anova, Duncan's multiple range test and l.s.d. of AgRes Software statistical package. Almost all chemical properties show decreasing trend with increase in drying air temperature. Microbial load was not detected in foam-mat dried mango powder. It was found that addition of 10% milk as foaming agent and drying at 65 °C temperature gave better results. [source] Allelopathic Effects of Parthenium hysterophorus Extracts on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Eragrostis tefJOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 5 2002T. Tefera The present study was conducted to investigate the allelopathic effects of Parthenium hysterophorus weed on seed germination and seedling growth of tef. Flower, stem, root and leaf aqueous extracts of Parthenium at 0, 1, 5, and 10 % concentrations were applied to determine their effect on tef seed germination and seedling growth under laboratory conditions. Increasing concentrations of aqueous extracts of Parthenium from leaf and flower inhibited seed germination and complete failure of seed germination was recorded when the extract concentration from the leaf part was 10 %. In contrast, aqueous extracts from stem and root had no effect on tef seed germination. Roots appeared more sensitive to allelopathic effect than shoots. Extracts from flower, root and stem had a stimulatory effect on shoot length at all concentration levels, as against an inhibitory effect of leaf extracts. Root extracts at low concentration (1 %) greatly promoted root length but aqueous extracts from leaf and flower inhibited root length. [source] Assessment of bismuth thiols and conventional disinfectants on drinking water biofilmsJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2003F. Codony Abstract Aims: Biofilms in water distribution systems represent a far more significant reservoir of micro-organisms than the water phase. Biofilms are (i) resistant to disinfectants, (ii) nuclei for microbial regrowth, (iii) a refuge for pathogens, (iv) accompanied by taste and odour problems, and (v) corrode surfaces. The effects of the current strategies for disinfection of drinking water systems in large buildings (chlorination, copper and silver ionization, and hyper-heating) were compared with a new generation of bismuth thiol (BT) biocides. Methods and Results: Multispecies biofilms were treated with 0·8 mg l,1 of free chlorine, 400 and 40 ,g l,1 of copper and silver ions, respectively, at 55 and 70°C, and bismuth-2,3-dimercaptopropanol (BisBAL). Furthermore, the effect of combined heat and BisBAL on planktonic cell viability was examined in monoculture using Escherichia coli suspensions. Inactivation rates for BisBAL were similar to copper,silver ions, where the effects were slower than for free chlorine or temperature. The BisBAL effect on E. coli monocultures was augmented greatly by increasing temperatures. Conclusions: Like copper,silver ions, BTs show more persistent residual effects than chlorine and hyper-heating in water systems. BT efficiency increased with temperature. Like copper,silver ions, BT action is relatively slow. Significance and Impact of the Study: BT presents a new approach to containing water biofilms. BT action is not as rapid, but is more thorough than chlorine, and less caustic. BTs may also be more efficacious in hot water systems. At sub-minimum inhibition concentration levels, BTs uniquely inhibit bacterial exopolysaccharide, thereby retarding biofilm formation. Thus, the combination of bactericidal and residual effects may prevent slime build-up in hot water systems. [source] Evaluation of the Genotoxicity of Chitosan Nanoparticles for Use in Food Packaging FilmsJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 6 2010Renata De Lima Abstract:, The use of nanoparticles in food packaging has been proposed on the basis that it could improve protection of foods by, for example, reducing permeation of gases, minimizing odor loss, and increasing mechanical strength and thermal stability. Consequently, the impacts of such nanoparticles on organisms and on the environment need to be investigated to ensure their safe use. In an earlier study, Moura and others (2008a) described the effect of addition of chitosan (CS) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) nanoparticles on the mechanical properties, water vapor, and oxygen permeability of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose films used in food packaging. Here, the genotoxicity of different polymeric CS/PMAA nanoparticles (size 60, 82, and 111 nm) was evaluated at different concentration levels, using the,Allium cepa,chromosome damage test as well as cytogenetic tests employing human lymphocyte cultures. Test substrates were exposed to solutions containing nanoparticles at polymer mass concentrations of 1.8, 18, and 180 mg/L. Results showed no evidence of DNA damage caused by the nanoparticles (no significant numerical or structural changes were observed), however the 82 and 111 nm nanoparticles reduced mitotic index values at the highest concentration tested (180 mg/L), indicating that the nanoparticles were toxic to the cells used at this concentration. In the case of the 60 nm CS/PMAA nanoparticles, no significant changes in the mitotic index were observed at the concentration levels tested, indicating that these particles were not toxic. The techniques used show promising potential for application in tests of nanoparticle safety envisaging the future use of these materials in food packaging. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||