On-line Analysis (on-line + analysis)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


On-line adaptive metabolic flux analysis: Application to PHB production by mixed microbial cultures

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 2 2009
Joćo Dias
Abstract In this work, an algorithm for on-line adaptive metabolic flux analysis (MFA) is proposed and applied to polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production by mixed microbial cultures (MMC). In this process, population dynamics constitutes an important source of perturbation to MFA calculations because some stoichiometric and energetic parameters of the underlying metabolic network are continuously changing over time. The proposed algorithm is based on the application of the observer-based estimator (OBE) to the central MFA equation, whereby the role of the OBE is to force the accumulation of intracellular metabolites to converge to zero by adjusting the values of unknown network parameters. The algorithm was implemented in a reactor equipped with on-line analyses of dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide through respirometric and titrimetric measurements. The oxygen and carbon dioxide fluxes were measured directly, whereas acetate, PHB, and sludge production fluxes were estimated indirectly using a projection of latent structures model calibrated a priori with off-line measurements. The algorithm was implemented in a way that the network parameters associated with biosynthesis were adjusted on-line. The algorithm proofed to converge exponentially with the steady state error always below 1 mmol/L. The estimated fluxes passed the consistency index test for experimental error variances as low as 1%. The comparison of measured and estimated respiratory coefficient and of the theoretical and estimated yield of sludge on acetate further confirmed the metabolic consistency of the parameters that were estimated on-line. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009 [source]


Spectroscopic Diagnostics of Pulsed arc Plasmas for Particle Generation

CONTRIBUTIONS TO PLASMA PHYSICS, Issue 8 2008
K. Behringer
Abstract Pulsed arc plasmas were diagnosed by means of emission spectroscopy. A capacitor was discharged through argon and hydrogen leading to a few cycles of damped current oscillation with ,120 ,s period and 5-12 kA maximum current. Spectroscopic measurements in the visible range were carried out in order to characterise the electron temperature and density in the arc channel as well as electron and gas temperatures in the afterglow plasmas. Spectra were integrated over 10 ,s time windows and shifted in time from pulse to pulse. The plasmas also contained substantial fractions of electrode material (brass), namely copper and zinc. The electron density was measured in the conventional way from the broadening of H, or from the Ar I Stark width. In the arc channel, it ranged from about 3 · 1022 to 2 · 1023 m,3. The broadening of Zn II lines could also be used. Ratios of Ar I to Ar II and of Zn I to Zn II line intensities were analysed for the electron temperature. Line pairs were found which lay conveniently close in one frame of the spectrometer allowing automatic on-line analysis without relying on reproducibility. Atomic physics models including opacity were developed for Ar II and Zn II in order to check the existence of a Boltzmann distribution of their excited states. These calculations showed that the observed levels were in fact close to thermodynamic equilibrium, in particular, if the resonance lines were optically thick. Electron temperature measurements yielded values between 14000 K and 21000 K. The gas temperature in the afterglow, where particles should have formed, was derived from the rotational and vibrational temperatures of C2 molecular bands. Ratios between Cu I line intensities yielded the electron temperatures. Both were found to be a few 1000 K. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


Direct on-line analysis of neutral analytes by dual sweeping via complexation and organic solvent field enhancement in nonionic MEKC

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 8 2009
Jun Cao
Abstract Conventionally, neutral compounds cannot be separated by nonionic micelle capillary electrophoresis. In this report, the development of a novel on-line preconcentration technique combining dual sweeping based on complexation and organic solvent field enhancement is applied to the sensitive and selective analysis of three neutral glucosides: ginsenoside Rf, ginsenoside Rg1, and ginsenoside Re. Nonionic micelle detectability by CE is demonstrated through effective focusing of large sample volumes (up to 38% capillary length) using a dual sweeping mode. This results in a 50- to 130-fold improvement in the LODs relative to conventional injection method. Neutral compounds sweeping is examined in terms of analyte mobility dependence on borate complexation, solvent viscosity difference, and Brij-35 interaction. Enhanced focusing performance by this hyphenated method was demonstrated by a greater than fourfold reduction in glucoside bandwidth, as compared with common sweeping (devoid of organic solvent-mediated sweeping method in the sample matrices). Moreover, separation efficiencies greater than a million theoretical plates can be achieved by sweeping large sample volumes into narrow zones. The designated method was also tested for its ability to determine the presence of glucosides in the crude extracts obtained from plant sample. [source]


Seeing Through the Fog,Attaining ,Full Spectrum Dominance' with the System-of-Systems Through Operational Engineering

NAVAL ENGINEERS JOURNAL, Issue 4 2000
R. E. Bryant
ABSTRACT Many discussions and articles address the business and military changes supporting implementation of Joint Vision 2010 and its system-of-systems approach. The dynamics of international military operations and commitments, coupled with accelerating information technologies, can lead to confusion and uncertainty. Customary rules recommend caution, even stopping, when confusion and uncertainty are present, yet the needed changes counsel toward accelerated efforts. Currently, systems engineering does not completely address delivering "operational war fighting capabilities," or foster commanders' confidence to fully exploit those capabilities upon delivery. Acquisition reform supports accelerating delivery of systems. Likewise, accelerated delivery of "war fighting capabilities" within any opponents' fielding and deployment cycle is imperative. Technical advances in modeling and simulation, utilization concepts, and innovative evaluation methods create an opportunity to facilitate redevelopment of doctrine, operations, and training prior to producing hardware systems. On-line simulation and evaluation tools can overcome the need for physical systems. Specifically, this paper lays out the opportunity to evolve systems engineering to another level, operational engineering, which leverages from the modeling and simulation environment, prior to hardware production. That modeling and simulation paired with coevolution of procedures and on-line analysis will produce a trained customer base, fully prepared for deliveries of "operational war fighting capabilities". [source]


Continuous recording of accommodation and pupil size using the Shin-Nippon SRW-5000 autorefractor

OPHTHALMIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL OPTICS, Issue 2 2001
J. S. Wolffsohn
Summary A newly released commercial autorefractor, the Shin-Nippon SRW-5000 (Japan), has been found to be valid compared to subjective refraction and repeatable over a wide prescription range. Its binocular open field-of-view allows the accommodative state to be monitored while a natural environment is viewed. In conventional static mode, the device can take up to 45 readings in 1 min using digital image analysis of the reflected retinal image of a measurement ring. Continuous on-line analysis of the ring provides high (up to 60 Hz) temporal resolution of the refractive state to an accuracy of <0.001 D. Pupil size can also be analysed to a resolution of <0.001 mm. The measurement of accommodation and pupil size was relatively unaffected by eccentricity of viewing up to ±10° and instrument focusing inaccuracies of ±5 mm. The resolution properties of the analysis are shown to be ideal for measurement of dynamic accommodation and pupil responses. [source]


Identification of organic hydroperoxides and hydroperoxy acids in secondary organic aerosol formed during the ozonolysis of different monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes by on-line analysis using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization ion trap mass spectrometry

RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 11 2009
Marc-Christopher Reinnig
On-line ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS) enables the real-time characterization of reaction products of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). The analysis was conducted by directly introducing the aerosol particles into the ion source. Positive-ion chemical ionization at atmospheric pressure (APCI(+)) ITMS was used for the characterization of constituents of biogenic SOA produced in reaction-chamber experiments. APCI in the positive-ion mode usually enables the detection of [M+H]+ ions of the individual SOA components. In this paper the identification of organic peroxides from biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by on-line APCI-ITMS is presented. Organic peroxides containing a hydroperoxy group, generated by gas-phase ozonolysis of monoterpenes (, -pinene and , -pinene) and sesquiterpenes (, -cedrene and , -copaene), could be detected via on-line APCI(+)-MS/MS experiments. A characteristic neutral loss of 34,Da (hydrogen peroxide, H2O2) in the on-line MS/MS spectra is a clear indication for the existence of an organic peroxide, containing a hydroperoxy functional group. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Structural characterization of constituents with molecular diversity in fractions from Lysidice brevicalyx by liquid chromatography/diode-array detection/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/nuclear magnetic resonance,

RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 6 2008
Jing Qu
A combination of electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC/ESI-MSn), and hyphenation of liquid chromatography to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HPLC/NMR), have been extensively utilized for on-line analysis of natural products, analyzing metabolite and drug impurity. In our last paper, we reported an on-line analytical method for structural identification of trace alkaloids in the same class. However, the structural types of the constituents in plants were various, such as flavanoids, terpenoids and steroids. It is important to establish an effective analytical method for on-line structural identification of constituents with molecular diversity in extracts of plants. So, in the present study, the fragmentation patterns of some isolated stilbenes, phloroglucinols and flavanoids from Lysidice rhodostegia were investigated by ESI-MSn. Their fragmentation rules and UV characteristics are summarized, and the relationship between the spectral characteristics, rules and the structures is described. According to the fragmentation rules, NMR and UV spectral characteristics, 24 constituents of different types in the fractions from L. brevicalyx of the same genus were structurally characterized on the basis of HPLC/HRMS, HPLC-UV/ESI-MSn, HPLC/1H NMR and HPLC/1H- 1H COSY rapidly. Of these, six (10, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 23) are new compounds and all of them are reported from L. brevicalyx for the first time. The aim is to develop an effective analytical method for on-line structural identification of natural products with molecular diversity in plants, and to guide the rapid and direct isolation of novel compounds by chemical screening. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Application of single-particle laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soot particles originating from an industrial combustion process

RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 8 2003
R. Zimmermann
Combustion-related soot particles were sampled in situ from the stoker system of a 0.5,MW incineration pilot plant (feeding material was wood) at two different heights over the feed bed in the third air supply zone. The collected particles were re-aerosolized by a powder-dispersing unit and analyzed by a single-particle laser desorption/ionization (LDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometer (aerosol-time-of-flight mass spectrometry, ATOFMS). The ATOFMS instrument characterizes particles according to their aerodynamic size (laser velocimetry) and chemical composition (LDI mass spectrometry). Chemical species from the particles are laser desorbed/ionized by 266,nm Nd:YAG laser pulses. ATOFMS results on individual ,real world' particles in general give information on the bulk inorganic composition. Organic compounds, which are of much lower concentrations, commonly are not detectable. However, recent off-line laser microprobe mass spectrometric (LMMS) experiments on bulk soot aerosol samples have emphasized that organic compounds can be desorbed and ionized without fragmentation in LDI experiments from black carbonaceous matrices. This paper reports the successful transfer of the off-line results to on-line analysis of airborne soot particles by ATOFMS. The detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soot particles is addressed in detail. The results are interpreted in the context of the recent LMMS results. Furthermore, their relevance with respect to possible applications in on-line monitoring of combustion processes is discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]