Analysis of selected pesticides and alkylphenols in human cord blood by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer

A total of seven pesticides and eight alkylphenols were monitored using this method for the determination of their trace levels in human cord blood. The pesticides are lindane, diazinon, α-endosulfan, β-endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, chlorpyrifos and endrin; while the alkylphenols are 4-n-butylphenol, 4-n-pentylphenol, 4-n-hexylphenol, 4-t-octylphenol, 4-n-heptylphenol, nonylphenol, 4-n-octylphenol and bisphenol A. The pesticides and alkylphenols in the cord blood samples were extracted with solid phase extraction IST C18 cartridges and analyzed by selected ion monitoring mode using quadrapole detector in Shimadzu QP-5000 gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. Trace levels of pesticide and alkylphenols in the range of non-detectable to 15.17 ng ml⁻¹, were detected in the human cord blood samples. This technique of monitoring the levels of endocrine-disruptors in blood samples is consistent, reliable and cost effective while reducing wastage of time and solvents.     

Effect of enzyme concentration on the dynamic behavior of a membrane-bound enzyme system

The dynamic behavior of the reaction-diffusion system, composed of glucose oxidase (EC 1.1.3.4) immobilized at a uniform concentration in a membrane, used as a glucose electrode is represented by a diffusion equation with a nonlinear reaction-term in one-dimensional space. The mathematical model is analyzed by computer simulation, that is, numerical integration of the equation under various initial and boundary conditions, to examine the effect of enzyme concentration on the response characteristics (responsiveness and linearity in response) of the electrode. The analysis of the responses of the system to stepwise changes in the boundary value (glucose concentration in simple solution) infers that the enzyme concentration governs the patterns of the spatial distributions of the substrates (glucose and dissolved oxygen) in steady states and transient responses. It is also revealed that the response characteristics of the electrode are optimized with concentration of immobilized enzyme and that the system establishes the steady states at the same spatial distributions of the substrates, regardless of the boundary value. The diffusion of the substrates and the oxygen concentration also have significant effects on the response characteristics of the electrode.     

A New Application of Carbon Nanotubes Constructing Biosensor

Carbon nanotubes used for constructing biosensor was described for the first time. Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) functionalized with carboxylic acid groups were used to immobilize glucose oxidase forming a glucose biosensor. The biosensor response can be determined by amperometric method at a low applied potential (0.40V).     

应用单细胞微凝胶电泳技术研究氯化镉对人血淋巴细胞DNA的损伤效应

详细介绍了单细胞微凝胶电泳（ＳＣＧ）技术的原理和操作过程，并应用该技术研究了氯化镉（ＣｄＣｌ２）对人血淋巴细胞ＤＮＡ的损伤效应，结果表明，ＣｄＣｌ２能引起细胞ＤＮＡ迁移长度增加，且呈显著的剂量效应关系，对未处理对照细胞的ＤＮＡ迁移的原因及ＳＣＧ实验操作过程中应注意的事项也进行了讨论。     

Direct electrochemical assay of glucose using boron-doped diamond electrodes

We report linear sweep and square wave voltammetric studies on glucose oxidation at boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes in an alkaline medium in efforts to evaluate the techniques for electrochemically assaying glucose. The bare BDD electrode showed good linear responses to glucose oxidation for a concentration range from 0.5 to 10 mM glucose, which well encompasses the physiological range of 3-8 mM. The BDD electrodes did not experience interferences from ascorbic acid or uric acid during glucose detection. This method, when applied to real blood samples, gave results similar to those obtained by a commercial glucose monitor.     

A quantitative method for dual‐pass electrostatic force microscopy phase measurements

Electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) has become a powerful tool for investigating charges on surfaces. The use of phase measurement in EFM is a direct and fast way to detect electrostatic force gradients, but only qualitatively. With the dual‐pass scheme, the phase signal at lifted height is often assumed to exclude any influences from the topography, but it does not. We report the collection of both topography and phase data by EFM on charged, micron‐sized metal wires. In order to quantify the electrostatic force, a cone model and finite element analysis are provided to integrate the force gradient from the phase signal. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

对在建标技术报告中正确贯彻《测量不确定度表示指南》的理解

针对计量人员在贯彻《测量不确定表示指南》,尤其是在撰写“建标技术报告”时遇到的一些体问题,进行了探讨。     

A Self‐Sampling‐and‐Flow Biosensor for Continuous Monitoring

A self‐sampling‐and‐flow biosensor was fabricated by sandwiching a nitrocellulose strip on the working electrode side of the double‐sided microporous gold electrodes and a wicking pad on the counter electrode side. The double‐sided microporous electrodes were formed by plasma sputtering of gold on a porous nylon substrate. Sample was taken up to the enzyme‐immobilized working electrode by the capillary action of the front nitrocellulose strip dipped into the sample solution, analyzed electrochemically at the enzyme‐immobilized electrode, and diffuses out to the backside wicking pad through the micropores of the electrodes, constituting a complete flow cell device with no mechanical liquid‐transporting device. Biosensor was formed by co‐immobilizing the glucose oxidase and electron transfer mediator (ferrocene acetic acid) on the thioctic acid self‐assembled monolayer‐modified working electrode. A typical response time of the biosensor was about 5 min with the sensitivity of 2.98 nA/mM glucose, providing linear response up to 22.5 mM. To demonstrate the use of self‐sampling‐and‐flow biosensor, the consumption rate of glucose in the presence of yeast was monitored for five days.     

The assessment of compliance with legal limits. Part 2. How to consider both type I and type II errors when working in the concentration domain

Considering the uncertainty of measurement when assessing compliance with reference values given in compositional specifications and statutory limits is still a controversial matter. In theory, assessing compliance requires considering both type I (false positive) and type II (false negative) errors. The more the concentration of the analyte in the sample under investigation is close to the allowed concentration limit, the more critical it is to consider both types of errors. This paper describes how this could be done. The matter is discussed in the light of the most recent literature information.     

Ion association in calcium phosphate solutions at 37°C

Ion association in the system Ca(OH)₂–H₃PO₄–KCl–H₂O at 37°C has been studied potentiometrically over a range of pH from 3 to 9. The experimental conditions were optimized for the accurate determination of the association constants for the formation of the ion pairs CaH₂PO ₄ ⁺ , CaHPO₄ and CaPO ₄ ^– which were found to be 27.9±0.1, 591±2, and (1.35±0.02)×10⁶ L-mol^–1, respectively.