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Rapid Way (rapid + way)
Selected AbstractsQuantitative Determination of Surface Concentration of Human Apolipoprotein H with Capillary ElectrophoresisIUBMB LIFE, Issue 5 2000Shao-xiong Wang Abstract The phospholipid monolayer at an air/water interface is widely used to mimic the biological membrane. The dynamic process of the protein or peptide interacting with lipid molecules can be reflected in the change in surface pressure of the monolayer. But the conventional method used to measure the surface pressure change gives results that cannot easily be correlated with the contribution of a single protein molecule. Previously, measuring the surface concentration of the protein molecules at the air/water interface has required the protein to be labeled with radioactivity or fluorescence. Here, a new method using capillary electrophoresis is introduced to measure the surface concentration of the protein. The results show at least two advantages of the new method: The numerical results of protein concentration can be obtained in a more precise and rapid way; and there is no need to label the protein sample or to build a special monolayer setup. [source] Simultaneous Spectrophotometric Determination of 2-Thiouracil and 2-Mercaptobenzimidazole in Animal Tissue Using Multivariate Calibration Methods: Concerns and Rapid Methods for DetectionJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 2 2010Abolghasem Beheshti ABSTRACT:, Two multivariate calibration methods, partial least squares (PLS) and principal component regression (PCR), were applied to the spectrophotometric simultaneous determination of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (MB) and 2-thiouracil (TU). A genetic algorithm (GA) using partial least squares was successfully utilized as a variable selection method. The concentration model was based on the absorption spectra in the range of 200 to 350 nm for 25 different mixtures of MB and TU. The calibration curve was linear across the concentration range of 1 to 10 ,g mL,1 and 1.5 to 15 ,g mL,1 for MB and TU, respectively. The values of the root mean squares error of prediction (RMSEP) were 0.3984, 0.1066, and 0.0713 for MB and 0.2010, 0.1667, and 0.1115 for TU, which were obtained using PCR, PLS, and GA-PLS, respectively. Finally, the practical applicability of the GA-PLS method was effectively evaluated by the concurrent detection of both analytes in animal tissues. It should also be mentioned that the proposed method is a simple and rapid way that requires no preliminary separation steps and can be used easily for the analysis of these compounds, especially in quality control laboratories. [source] Ultrasound-facilitated electro-oxidation for treating cyan ink effluentTHE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2008Chee-Yong Chua Abstract The feasibility of using ultrasonication in combination with the Fenton's reaction was investigated for treating cyan ink effluent. A two-step treatment process was developed,the first step was an ultrasound-assisted electro-oxidation, while the second was chemical oxidation through the addition of hydrogen peroxide. The use of electro-oxidation in the first step significantly reduced the amount of iron needed compared with the conventional Fenton's reaction, resulting in a 98% reduction in the amount of sludge produced. A simple technique based on refractive index measurements was introduced as a rapid way to quantify the amount of sludge produced. It was postulated that ultrasonication in the presence of iron (from electrolysis) in the first step converted the ink components into reaction intermediates which were more amenable to peroxide oxidation in the second step. These intermediates were quantified by ultra-violet absorption at wavelengths of 275,400 nm. The two-step treatment process was able to reduce the COD and copper contents in the ink waste water to within the discharge limit, which conventional Fenton's reaction was unable to meet for copper discharge. The same COD removal was also achieved in about half the time. Kinetics study performed to further understand the reaction mechanisms show second-order kinetics for both steps with activation energies of 18.2 and 20.4 kJ/mol for steps 1 and 2, respectively. On a étudié la possibilité de recourir à l'ultrasonification combinée à la réaction de Fenton pour traiter l'effluent d'encre de cyan. Un procédé de traitement en deux étapes a été mis au point: la première étape consiste en une électro-oxydation assistée par ultrasons, tandis que la seconde consiste en une oxydation chimique par ajout de peroxyde d'hydrogène. Le recours à l'électro-oxydation dans la première étape réduit significativement la quantité de fer requis comparé à la réaction de Fenton classique, entraînant une réduction de 98% de la quantité de suspension produite. Une technique simple basée sur des mesures d'indice de réfraction a été introduite comme une façon rapide d'établir la quantité de suspension produite. On a posé comme postulat que l'ultrasonification en présence de fer (de l'électrolyse) dans la première étape convertit les composantes de l'encre en des intermédiaires de réaction qui étaient plus propices à l'oxydation du peroxyde dans la seconde étape. Ces intermédiaires ont été quantifiés par l'absorption des ultraviolets à des longueurs d'ondes de 275 nm à 400 nm. Ce procédé de traitement en deux étapes a permis de réduire la DCO et les teneurs en cuivre dans l'eau usée de l'encre pour les amener à la limite des normes de rejet, ce que la réaction de Fenton classique n'a pu permettre de réaliser pour le cuivre. Le même retrait de DCO a été également réalisé dans un temps inférieur de 50%. L'étude de cinétique effectuée pour mieux comprendre les mécanismes de réaction montre une cinétique de second ordre pour les deux étapes avec des énergies de désactivation de 18,2 et 20,4 kJ/mol pour les étapes 1 et 2, respectivement. [source] Current shortcomings of global mapping and the creation of a new geographical framework for the worldTHE GEOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL, Issue 4 2000DAVID RHIND The vast bulk of topographic mapping - the geographical framework used to underpin many activities of the state and of business - has been created and is maintained to national standards. As a consequence, what is available differs greatly from country to country. Yet there is a range of needs for globally-consistent map information. Such needs have long been recognized: the International Map of the World was an attempt to meet them. A multiplicity of factors has constrained the National Mapping Organizations from meeting this aim. However, new technologies have enhanced our capacity to create a geographical framework almost anywhere in the world. Using such technologies, commercial and other non-commercial bodies (e.g. the US military and its counterparts within NATO) have begun to produce wide-area geographical information. This paper describes the nature of the need for global mapping, the players involved and the drivers and obstacles to progress. It proposes a rapid way to enhance the current situation through public/private sector partnerships based on a combination of skills, information assets and resources. If implemented, this could lead to global coverage of a framework derived from 1:25000 scale mapping within about two years. [source] A de Novo PABPN1 Germline Mutation in a Patient with Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 1 2006Nicolas Gürtler Abstract Background: Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a late-onset autosomal dominantly inherited disorder characterized by dysphagia, ptosis, and proximal limb weakness and is caused by germline mutations (triplet repeat expansions) in the polyadenylate binding protein nuclear 1 (PABPN1) gene. Objective: To describe a 70-year-old female patient with OPMD on the clinical and molecular genetic level and to develop a rapid and efficient molecular genetic screening method to study large patient groups. Methods: Detailed family history and clinical assessment of the OPMD patient were followed by mutation analysis of the PABPN1 gene by direct DNA sequencing and by our newly developed method, fluorescent PABPN1 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product (flPPP) method. A cohort of 50 healthy Swiss probands was screened using the flPPP to assess the frequency of the (GCG)7 allele in the Swiss population. Cricopharyngeal myotomy was performed as treatment for dysphagia. Results: A heterozygous (GCG)9 triplet repeat expansion in PABPN1 was identified. Since the family history proved to be negative, the mutation is likely to have occurred de novo. The frequency of the (GCG)7 allele among healthy Swiss controls amounted to 1%. The flPPP method showed a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. Two years after cricopharyngeal myotomy, the patient is still relieved of dysphagia. Conclusions: An otolaryngologist should include OPMD in the differential diagnosis of a patient presenting with dysphagia, as this symptom can be the first sign of the disease and family history can be negative. Molecular genetic testing represents a highly accurate and rapid way to confirm the clinical diagnosis of OPMD. Cricopharyngeal myotomy relieves the patient of dysphagia in the majority of cases. [source] A rapid way of tracking changes in cell wall polymers during biofuel productionBIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 3 2010Article first published online: 23 DEC 200 No abstract is available for this article. [source] Spatial relationships between intensive land cover and residual plant species diversity in temperate farmed landscapesJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2006SIMON M. SMART Summary 1In temperate farmed landscapes conservation policies increasingly emphasize large-scale reductions in land-use intensity. Yet despite a managed reversion to more favourable abiotic conditions, depleted regional species pools may prevent the re-assembly of target communities. 2Using national-scale survey data recorded across Great Britain in 1998, we investigated the extent to which grassland indicator plant species persisted on potential refuge habitats across a spatial gradient of intensive land cover in lowland 1-km squares. These habitats comprised road verges, field boundaries, watercourse banks and small biotope fragments. Intensive land cover comprised built land, arable and improved grassland. 3The rate of reduction in indicator species richness across the intensive land cover gradient was significantly lower in all potential refuge features than in surrounding fields and larger areas of habitat. 4The best refuge locations were watercourse banks and small biotopes. In both cases, indicator species richness was higher than adjacent fields at the lowest intensive land cover and stayed higher as intensive land cover increased. 5However, as intensive land cover increased, plant traits associated with higher nutrient availability were more prominently represented among indicator species. 6Although richer assemblages of indicator species persisted on refuge features, population sizes are likely to be small, because of species,area effects, and also vulnerable to nutrient surpluses and reduced or inappropriate disturbance. 7Synthesis and applications. Across the British lowlands, linear landscape features and small habitat fragments can provide limited safe havens for unimproved grassland plant species. However, the identity of refuge features and their species richness and composition are likely to vary with local conditions. Three activities are therefore paramount in assessing their role in larger scale extensification schemes: (i) development of rapid ways of assessing the plant diversity and distribution of refuge features in local areas; (ii) quantification of the risks posed to the viability of residual source populations through implementation of different options for incorporating them into extensification schemes; (iii) maximization of scheme performance by targeting landscapes with sufficient residual diversity to enable increases in population size of the target species in the medium term. [source] | |||||||||||||