Benzocoumarins from the rhizomes of Juncus acutus

Investigation of the ethyl acetate extract of Juncus acutus rhizomes revealed seven benzocoumarins, probably derived from oxidation of phenanthrenes already isolated from the plant. The structures were determined by means of spectroscopic methods. The anti-algal activity of the isolated compounds tested on the green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata are reported here.     

Speciation of mercury in salmon egg cell cytoplasm in relation with metallomics research

Speciation of mercury in salmon egg cell cytoplasm was investigated by surfactant-mediated high-performance liquid chromatography/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC/ICP-MS), where an ODS (octadecylsilica) column coated with a bile acid derivative, CHAPS (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propane sulfonate), was used for species separation. Prior to the speciation analysis, total Hg in the cell cytoplasm was determined by ICP-MS at m/z 202 in a flow injection mode. For the precise measurement, salmon egg cell cytoplasm was diluted five-fold with 0.1 M Tris (Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane)-HNO₃ buffer solution, and the standard addition method was employed. Thus, the total concentration of Hg in cell cytoplasm was estimated to be 12.4 ng g⁻¹ on the wet weight basis. Next, the cell cytoplasm diluted five-fold with 0.1 M Tris-HNO₃ buffer solution was analyzed by surfactant-mediated HPLC with the dual detection system of a UV absorption detector and an ICP-MS instrument. Two peaks corresponding to some proteins and small molecules were mainly observed in those chromatograms. When salmon egg cell cytoplasm was diluted five-fold with 0.01 M Tris buffer solution or pure water, some precipitates appeared probably because of precipitation of hydrophobic proteins in cytoplasm. After the precipitates were eliminated with a membrane filter, the filtrate was subjected to the analysis by surfactant-mediated HPLC/UV/ICP-MS. As a result, the peaks for small molecular species of Hg were clearly observed at the retention time near 4.0 min (corresponding to low-molecular weight zone) in the chromatograms with UV absorption detection as well as with Hg- and S-specific ICP-MS detections. The small molecule bound with Hg was identified as cysteine through the cysteine-spiked experiment. In addition, the protein fraction on the chromatogram obtained by using the CHAPS-coated ODS column was further analyzed by SEC (size exclusion chromatography). Consequently, several protein peaks with molecular weight of 300, 50 and 12 kDa were observed in all the detections of UV absorption, Hg and Se, although two peaks among them were coincident in the case of S. These results indicate that Hg in salmon egg cell cytoplasm binds with proteins containing selenocysteine and/or cysteine residues in proteins.     

Hydrophilic core-shell microspheres: a suitable support for controlled attachment of proteins and biomedical diagnostics

Functional hydrophilic microspheres (latex particles) have found various applications in life sciences and in medicine - particularly in latex diagnostic tests. This paper presents a comprehensive review of studies on latex particles with a hydrophilic interfacial layer composed of various hydrophilic polymers with reactive groups at the ends of macromolecules or at each monomeric unit along the chain. Typical examples of these hydrophilic polymers are poly(2-hydroxyethyl methyl methacrylate), poly(acrylic acid), poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide), polysaccharides, poly(ethylene oxide) and polyglycidol. Hydrophilic microspheres with different morphologies (uniform or core-shell, see Figure) have been synthesized by emulsion and dispersion polymerizations. The chemical structure of polymers which constitute the interfacial layer of microspheres has been investigated using a variety of instrumental techniques (such as XPS, SSIMS and NMR) and analytical methods based on specific chemical reactions suitable for the determination of particular functional groups. Microspheres are exposed to contact with proteins in the majority of medical applications. This paper presents examples of studies on the attachment of these biomacromolecules to microspheres. The relation between the structure of the interfacial layer of microspheres and the ability of these particles for the covalent binding of proteins is discussed. Several examples of diagnostic tests, in which hydrophilic microspheres with adsorbed or covalently immobilized proteins were used as reagents, are presented. The paper also contains a short review of the application of magnetic hydrophilic particles for protein separation. Examples of hydrophilic latex particles used for hemoperfusion or heavy metal ion separation are presented. Hydrophilic microspheres with uniform or core-shell morphologies.     

Principle of a new immunoassay based on electrophoretic mobility of poly(styrene/alpha-tert-butoxy-omega-vinylbenzyl-polyglycidol) microspheres: application for the determination of helicobacter pylori IgG in blood serum

The principle of a novel latex diagnostic test for the determination of antibodies against Helicobacter pylori in blood sera is described. The test is based on the measurement of the electrophoretic mobility of the microspheres with immobilized H. pylori antigens. The electrophoretic mobility of these microspheres depends on the concentration of the antibodies against H. pylori in suspending medium. Particles with hydrophilic polyglycidol in the surface layer were used for the test. The microspheres were obtained by an emulsifier-free emulsion copolymerization of styrene and alpha-tert-butoxy-omega-vinylbenzyl-polyglycidol macromonomer (D(n) = 220 nm, diameter polydispersity factor D(w)//D(n) = 1.02). Activation of polyglycidol hydroxyl groups with cyanuric chloride allowed for covalent immobilization of H. pylori antigens. The fraction of H. pylori not specifically adsorbed onto the microspheres was negligible. Changes of the electrophoretic mobility of the microspheres with the surface concentration of the covalently immobilized H. pylori antigens Gamma = (1.6 +/- 0.3) . 10(-3) g m(-2) were suitable for the detection of the antibodies in the sera of patients with titer in the range (determined by the indirect ELISA test) from 1:500 to 1:32 000.     

Assessment of corrosion resistance of surface-coated galvanized steel by analysis of the AC impedance spectra measured on the salt-spray-tested specimen

In the present work, corrosion resistance of surface-coated galvanized steel was quantitatively determined by an analysis of the alternating current (AC) impedance spectra measured on the salt-spray-tested specimen. To evaluate the corrosion resistance of the surface-coated galvanized steel, AC impedance spectroscopy was performed on the salt-spray-tested specimen previously exposed to salt-sprayed corrosive environment. From the analysis of the impedance spectra, the area fraction transient of white rust θ ₂(t) was theoretically derived from the equivalent circuit equation by using two fitting parameters. The values of the two fitting parameters were determined by fitting the empirical transient equations to the area fraction of the resin coating layer and to the total resistance obtained from the impedance spectra measured, respectively. From the analyses of θ ₂(t) for four kinds of surface-coated galvanized steels with various resin coating layers, it is indicated that as the values of the two fitting parameters decrease in the order of CP, GI, OD and OM (commercial trade names) specimens, the corrosion resistance increases in that order as well. Furthermore, from the quantitative comparison of the two fitting parameters with the polarization resistance of the upper resin coating layer R _p determined from the potentiodynamic polarization curve, it is suggested that the two fitting parameters decrease in value as well with increasing R _p.     

Carbon dioxide fixation by microalgae photosynthesis using actual flue gas discharged from a boiler

To mitigate CO₂ discharged from thermal power plants, studies on CO₂ fixation by the photosynthesis of microalgae using actual exhaust gas have been carried out. The results are as follows.

The use of silicon in the preparation of apolar glass capillary columns

As an extention of previous reports, variables affecting the performance of columns modified by silicon deposition have been optimized. The aim of this work was to produce thermostable apolar glass capillary columns regardless of the glass type used and to maintain column performance under stressful conditions. The main parameters studied were the influence of glass type, leaching effects, and silicon layer thickness on column activity. Deactivation and stationary phase conditions were held constant. Both coated and uncoated columns were tested. The thickness of the silicon layer was found to be relatively unimportant. There was no difference whether soft glass or borosiiicate glass was used and leaching before silicon deposition did not influence column activity. Bare silicon surfaces showed considerable activity especially in respect to interactions with free acids and bases. There are indications that the surface consists of silicon oxide and other oxygenated forms of silicon rather than of the element. Treatment of the silicon layers with dilute hydrofluoric acid and the strict exclusion of traces of oxygen and water did not improve the situation. In spite of such specific interactions, silicon surfaces were easily deactivated by heat treatment with polysiloxanes. Silicon surfaces deactivated by baking with octamethyltetrasiloxane at 400°C are inert and temperature stable and show characteristics similar to persilylated surfaces.     

Electron beam pretreatment of sewage sludge before anaerobic digestion

The pretreatment of waste-activated sludge (WAS) by electron beam irradiation was studied in order to improve anaerobic sludge digestion. The irradiation dose of the electron beam was varied from 0.5 to 10 kGy. Batch and continuous-flow stirred tank reactors (CFSTRs) were operated to evaluate the effect of the electron beam pretreatment on anaerobic sludge digestion. Approximately 30–52% of the total chemical oxygen demand (COD) content of the WAS was solubilized within 24 h after electron beam irradiation. A large quantity of soluble COD, protein, and carbohydrates leached out from cell ruptures caused by the electron beam irradiation. Volatile fatty acids production from the irradiated sludge was approx 90% higher than that of the unirradiated sludge. The degradation of irradiated sewage sludge was described by two distinct first-order decay rates (k ₁ and k ₂). Most initial decay reaction accelerated within 10 d, with an average k ₁ of 0.06/d for sewage sludge irradiated at all dosages. The mean values for the long-term batch first-order decay coefficient (k ₂) were 0.025/d for irradiated sewage sludge and 0.007/d for unirradiated sludge. Volatile solids removal efficiency of the control reactor fed with unirradiated sewage sludge at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 20 d was almost the same as that of the CFSTRs fed with irradiated sludge at an HRT of 10 d. Therefore, disintegration of sewage sludge cells using electron beam pretreatment could reduce the reactor solid retention time by half.     

A practical approach to the implementation of autoverify

Autoverification is a process in which computer software will automatically evaluate laboratory test results, verify result integrity, and then release the results to the hospital interface without any technologist intervention. Autoverify release criteria are user defined and can be customized. The process of developing, implementing, and monitoring autoverify is achievable for most test results in laboratory medicine. The use of autoverification will improve result quality, increase revenue, and create faster turn-around times. All of this put together will ultimately lead to improved customer satisfaction. Computers and autoverification are survival tools in the competitive market of laboratory diagnostics services.Presented at the 8th Conference on Quality in the Spotlight, 17–18 March 2003, Antwerp, Belgium     

生物检材中乌头类生物碱的检验

 用薄层 (TLC)、高效液相 光电二极管阵列检测器 (HPLC/DAD)、动物实验等方法对生物检材中乌头生物碱进行检验 ,并对这些方法进行比较。结果发现 ,TLC法为此类药物检验筛选的首选方法 ,最小检出量为 0 3μg。在进行HPLC检测时 ,以乌头生物碱的特征紫外吸收光谱和动物实验结果为重要的定性手段 ,其特征吸收波长为 (2 2 8± 2 )nm和 (2 75± 2 )nm。乌头生物碱在 2mg/L～ 5 0mg/L时其峰面积与质量浓度有很好的线性 ,相关系数为 0 9996。经实际案件证明 ,方法准确、灵敏 ,可用于生物检材中乌头类生物碱的检验。