Dry Strips Research Articles

Performance evaluation and clinical application of the UA-5600 automatic dry chemistry urine analyzer in renal diseases.

Urine testing as a routine screening programme, abnormal test results can be suggestive to clinicians but can sometimes be overlooked, and the establishment of a diagnostic model can better assist clinicians in identifying potential problems. BLD (blood), LEU (leukocyte), PRO (protein) and GLU (glucose) are the four most important parameters in urine testing, and the accuracy of their results is a key concern for clinicians, so it is essential to verify the accuracy of their results. In this study, we evaluated the analytical and clinical performance of Mindray's automatic urine dry chemistry analyzer, the UA-5600 (Hereinafter referred to as the (UA-5600), and the test strips configured with the instrument, and developed a machine-learning (ML) model for kidney disease screening from the results of 11 parameters output from the UA-5600 with the aim of detecting abnormal urine test results. Urine samples from outpatients and inpatients at The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were collected from August to September 2022 to evaluate the performance of the Mindray UA-5600 dry chemistry analyzer and test strips. The evaluation of the UA-5600 and its test strips focused on the agreement of the urine BLD and LEU readings with the RBC (red blood cell) and WBC (white blood cell) counts obtained by the Mindray EH-2090 urine formed element analyzer. We also compared the PRO and GLU readings with the results of the Mindray BS-2800M biochemistry analyzer. Urine samples from outpatients and inpatients were retrospectively analysed and grouped according to LIS diagnosis. Additionally, eight ML models for kidney disease screening were developed using 11 parameters measured by the UA-5600. And the model was validated by the validation set. The UA-5600 had an 89.55% concordance rate for BLD and a 91.04% concordance rate for LEU compared to the EH-2090 analyzer. When benchmarked against the BS-2800M, the concordance rates for PRO and GLU were 94.14% and 95.20%, respectively. A total of 1,691 samples were used for the construction of the ML models, of which 346 patients (135 males and 211 females, age range: 18 to 98 years) diagnosed with renal disease, and 1,345 patients (397 males and 948 females, age range: 18 to 92 years) with non-renal disease diagnosed with other conditions. Notably, the Naïve Bayes (NB) model, which was built from the UA-5600 parameters, demonstrated superior predictive capabilities for renal disease, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.9470, a sensitivity of 0.7767, and a specificity of 0.9457. The Mindray UA-5600 demonstrates robust detection abilities for both BLD and LEU, and its results for PRO and GLU align closely with those obtained from the chemistry analyzer. The NB model has a good screening ability and shows promise as an effective screening tool.

Biotope preferences in groups of closely related species: a case study of Sylvaemus (Mammalia)

The trapping of small mammals was carried out in 2017 to 2023 in the territory of the Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. In total, 19 biotopes were studied: different types of oak forest, dry and floodplain meadows, riparian vegetation, areas of the steppe, field protection forest strips, fields, as well as various ecotones. The trapping of small mammals was carried out using the standard trap-line method on 93 trap lines. With a trapping effort of 17 310 trap-nights, 1295 individuals of small mammals were caught, 689 of which belonged to the genus Sylvaemus. Three species of mice of the genus Sylvaemus were found in the territory of Kharkiv Oblast during the study period: Sylvaemus uralensis, Sylvaemus sylvaticus, and Sylvaemus tauricus. According to the relative abundance, wood mice can be arranged in the following order: uralensis > sylvaticus > tauricus. The cyclicity of annual fluctuations in relative abundance is not noticeable. The similarity of the abundance fluctuation in S. sylvaticus and S. tauricus was revealed, taking into account that these are competing species. S. uralensis and S. sylvaticus lead the top three dominant species in the overall dominance structure of small mammals. The highest relative abundance of wood mice during the study period was recorded on dry meadows, on the border of riparian vegetation with fields and floodplain meadows, on the border of field protective forest strips with fields, and in dry maple-linden-oak forest. S. uralensis belongs to the eurytopic species, is found in almost all studied biotopes, avoids oak forests, occurs on the edges of forests, dominates in abundance in open biotopes, in particular in the steppe, on dry meadows, riparian vegetation, and field protection forest strips. S. sylvaticus is also prone to eurytopy, it is recorded in significant abundance in both open and forest biotopes, mostly prefers riparian vegetation, field protection forest strips, dry coniferous forest, fresh maple-linden-oak forest and forest edges. S. tauricus is found mostly in forest biotopes, in particular in various types of oak forest and on forest edges, it prefers field protection forest strips with an old stand of oak, linden, and robinia. All three species of mice of the genus Sylvaemus are common species.

The status of the European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) in Hungary: a review

Abstract In 2021, the European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) became the ‘Bird of The Year’ in Hungary, which makes it very timely to summarise our knowledge about the status of the species in the country and to emphasise conservation priorities. In Hungary, the species is a common, widespread breeder of dry roadside grass strips, abandoned ploughlands, bushy slopes and vineyards. It is most likely in the arid habitats between the Danube and Tisza and east of the Tisza. The largest populations also breed in these regions. The Hungarian population was estimated at 195,000–210,000 pairs between 2014 and 2018. The breeding population halved between 1999 and 2018, though it was stable until 2004. The breeding period begins from late March to early April and lasts until the end of July. First males arrive in February, and spring migration peaks in early March. Autumn migration peaks in late September. Few may overwinter. The number of birds ringed in Hungary since 1951 is 13,484, of which 1,401 were juvenile. Three birds ringed in Hungary were found abroad (Italy 2, Greece 1), and two specimens marked abroad (Croatia, Italy) were found in Hungary. The oldest bird was recaptured 1679 days after its ringing day in Hungary. The average body mass of juveniles increased significantly for both sexes by an average of 0.9 grams over 22 years. In the case of all age and sex groups, the average body mass increased during the autumn season. The average wing length of adults also increased during the autumn. The arrival time of either sex during spring migration did not change significantly between 1999 and 2020. In the case of all age and sex groups, the arrival time shifted later in autumn migration. The European Stonechat belongs to the red list category Near Threatened in Hungary.

Wat betekent ‘rabat’ en sinds wanneer leggen we bossen op rabatten?

What is the meaning of ‘rabat’ and since when were forests planted on rabatten? ‘Rabatten’ (singular ‘rabat’) are elongated and rather narrow ridges between ditches. The soil from the ditches is used to raise the ‘rabat’. The method is used in forestry to obtain dry strips on which the trees are planted. The ditches are used for drainage and soil improvement seems to have played a role as well. The phenomenon occurs in many forested areas in the Netherlands, especially on the sandy soils in the South and East of the country. The earliest references to ‘rabatten’ in forestry date from the 18th century but early sources in which the phenomenon is explicitly mentioned are rare. In this article, we trace the history, meaning and use of the word ‘rabat’ as well as the history of these objects in forestry in the Netherlands. It appears that the word was first used with the meaning ‘plant bed, border’ in formal gardens. Dated examples of ‘rabatten’ in forestry which can be located date from the late 19th century but in a few rare instances it can be shown that actual ‘rabatten’ must date from before 1750. Thus, the phenomenon is certainly older than the use of the word with this specific meaning. It becomes clear that de semantic development of the word is exclusively Dutch and that the use of the word in forestry only took off since the second half of the 19th century.

Engineering high quality and conformal ultrathin SiNx films by PEALD for downscaled and advanced CMOS nodes

In this study, we explored the key properties and functionalities of plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) SiNx films, synthesized using different deposition temperatures (500–550 °C) and plasma conditions (lower and higher), both on 300 mm blanket Si and on several integrated 3D topology substrates, at the thicknesses relevant for diverse nanoscale applications. Our study shows that with an increase of temperature (500–550 °C), a small reduction in HF wet etch rate (1.1–0.69 nm/min), and H content (9.6% vs 7.4%) was observed. When using higher plasmas, significant improvements in blanket properties were observed. The films were denser (2.95 g/cm3), exhibited lower H content (2.4%), showed better etch rates (0.39 and 0.44 nm/s for HF and CF4 based), and SiNx grew without any nucleation delay on alternative Si1−xGex channel surfaces. The vertical and lateral conformality was found to be similar and appears not to be impacted with the plasma conditions. Extensive steam oxidation barrier studies performed at the sidewalls of different aspect ratio lines showed the PEALD SiNx liner scaling potentiality down to 1 nm when deposited using higher plasma. In addition, the outer gate and inner spacer properties were found to be superior (with lower loses) for higher plasma films when subjected to several dry etch, strips, and H3PO4 chemistries. The outstanding conformality (90%–95% on aspect ratios ≤10:1) combined with excellent high end material properties in the ultrathin regimes (1–10 nm) corroborate the virtue of PEALD SiNx toward integration in scaled down and advanced nanoelectronics device manufacturing.

Physical, mechanical and morphological properties of laminated bamboo hybrid composite: a potential raw material for furniture manufacturing

Laminated hybrid composites were prepared by incorporating dry bamboo strips and oil palm trunk veneer (OPTV) to form five-layer laminated composites. Two different species of bamboo were used including Dendrocalamus asper and Gigantochloa levis to explore their potential for furniture manufacturing. Influence of the bamboo species along with the different arrangements of lamination on the physical, mechanical and morphology properties of the hybrid laminated composites were investigated via scanning electron microscope (SEM), density, water absorption (WA), thickness swelling (TS) as well as impact and hardness strength test. Morphological study showed that filling up of surface cavity by adhesive improved the bonding strength between the surfaces of the bamboo strips and OPTV in the laminated hybrid composites. Additionally, different layer arrangements affected the mechanical properties, i.e., perpendicular arrangement exhibited higher strength compared to the parallel arrangement for both hardness and impact strength. The species of bamboo did not show significant impact on the density for different layer arrangements. Thus, test results clearly indicated that bamboo strips and OPTV hybrid composites could be used as an alternative to wood-based composites for furniture manufacturing.

A Refractometric Uric Acid Biosensor Based on Immobilized Uricase and PVA+PEG Composite Hydrogels

A mechanically stable, high-sensitivity, high-selectivity, optical uric acid sensitive membrane (UASM) was prepared by immobilizing uricase in a mixture of SiO2 mesocellular foams (SiMCFs) and nanoparticles (SiNPs), then embedding it in a composite gel of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The UASM was spin-coated onto a gold-glass sheet to create a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor without electromagnetic and light-intensity disturbances. A series of prism-based SPR sensing experiments showed that, for a UASM consisting of SiMCFs and SiNPs at a mass ratio of 6:4, PVA and PEG at a mass ratio of 4:1, the resonance angle of the sensor decreased by about 2.610° and the average sensitivity was 2.175°/mM within a UA concentration range of 0 – 1.2 mM. Young’s moduli of four dry UASM strips (670 – 1050 MPa) were obtained, demonstrating that UASMs have good biomechanical stability. Langmuir adsorption isotherm could explain the adsorption law of the UASMs for UA molecules in the concentration range of 0.2 – 1.2 mM.

Evaluation of screw pulling and flexural strength of bamboo-based oil palm trunk veneer hybrid biocomposites intended for furniture applications

Screw withdrawal and flexural strength were evaluated for Dendrocalamus asper and Gigantochloa levis bamboo species to explore the possibility of their use as structural material in place of wood. Dry bamboo strips and 4-mm-thick oil palm trunk veneer (OPTV) were processed into thin laminates and hot-pressed using urea formaldehyde resin to produce bamboo-OPTV hybrid biocomposites. Bamboo furniture is far more resistant to damage than traditional hardwoods. Bamboo is even used in cutting boards for this reason. Even though there have been some reports on the mechanical enhancement of the bamboo-based composites, so far there has been no comprehensive study on the screw pulling and flexural strength of bamboo-based hybrid composites. The results revealed a stronger correlation of the bamboo hybrid under screw withdrawal and flexural strength, but there was a weaker correlation in the mechanical properties of the bamboo hybrid due to the random selection of laminate from different bamboo species. Furthermore, test results clearly showed that bamboo-OPTV hybrid biocomposites can be used as an alternative to wood and wood-based composites for furniture applications.

Baseline urinalysis values in common bottlenose dolphins under human care in the Caribbean.

Urinalysis is a rapid, simple, inexpensive, and reliable test that documents urine abnormalities reflecting various types of renal, hormonal, or metabolic diseases. Urinalysis could assist proper monitoring of the health of dolphins under human care; however, normal baseline values for dolphin urinalysis have not been reported, to our knowledge. We sampled urine from 193 common bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus), living under human care in 24 Caribbean dolphinariums, by voluntary free-catch and analyzed the urine for chemical and microscopic variables using multi-agent dry reagent chemistry dipstick test strips, dedicated pH reagent strips, and unstained sediment slides. Most urine was clear, pale yellow to dark yellow, and had a fishy odor. Dipstick glucose, bilirubin, ketones, and nitrites were negative in all dolphins. The urine pH was acidic ( ± SD; 5.88 ± 0.58) and specific gravity (SG) was 1.035 ± 0.008. Most animals had 0-2 red blood cells and white blood cells per 40× field, and were negative for proteins. On microscopic sediment, 42.7% of samples had few-to-many squamous epithelial cells; hyaline and epithelial casts were observed only rarely. Crystals were observed in 36.6% of the samples; most were calcium oxalate dihydrate (48.2%) and amorphous urates (42.4%). The values obtained in our study can be used as a reference for health monitoring of dolphins in dolphinariums, and to monitor renal conditions and function in dolphins being rehabilitated or under human care.

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal from Agricultural Runoff in Integrated Buffer Zones.

Integrated buffer zones (IBZs) represent a novel form of edge-of-field technology in Northwest Europe. Contrary to the common riparian buffer strips, IBZs collect tile drainage water from agricultural fields by combining a ditch-like pond (POND), where soil particles can settle, and a flow-through filter bed (FILTERBED) planted with Alnus glutinosa (L.), a European alder (black alder). The first experimental IBZ facility was constructed and thoroughly tested in Denmark for its capability to retain various nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) species within the first three years after construction. We calculated the water and nutrient budget for the total IBZ and for the two compartments, POND and FILTERBED, separately. Furthermore, a tracer experiment using sodium bromide was conducted in order to trace the water flow and estimate the hydraulic residence time in the FILTERBEDs. The monthly average removal efficiency amounted to 10-67% for total N and 31-69% for total P, with performance being highest during the warm season. Accordingly, we suggest that IBZs may be a valuable modification of dry buffer strips in order to mitigate the adverse impacts of high nutrient loading from agricultural fields on the aquatic environment.

Characterization and modelling of soil CO2 efflux in old and young irrigated citrus orchards

Soil respiration (Rs) represents the largest CO2 efflux to the atmosphere of terrestrial ecosystems. The regular alternation of wet and dry soil strips prevailing in irrigated orchards is a singular case-study among ecosystems as it may help to understand the impact of the spatial variability of abiotic factors on soil respiration in orange orchards having contrasting age and structural heterogeneity. We characterised Rs in adult (AO) and young (YO) drip-irrigated orange orchards with special focus on the main factors driving Rs site-by-site and across-sites. Tree structure (leaf area index, LAI) was measured fortnightly during two years, whereas Rs, soil temperature (Ts) and moisture (θs) were measured during the same period in dry and wet longitudinal transects parallel to the tree rows. The data sets collected in the field were used to carry out a modelling exercise aimed to predict Rs from only abiotic factors (here Ts and θs) or from a combination of abiotic and biotic (LAI) factors. The modelling results indicated that the seasonal changes of Rs were temperature-driven in predominantly wet transects and moisture-driven in predominantly dry ones; and that the emerging seasonal pattern of spatially-weighted mean soil respiration (Rs,mean) was mainly explained by abiotic factors. An abiotic model assuming a constant value of the reference respiration (Rb,10=Rs at Ts=10°C) was found suitable to describe the temporal variations in Rs,mean within an orchard, but was not able to reproduce the differences in Rs between orchards (R2=0.20). The model fitness was strongly improved (R2=0.80) when Rb,10 was assumed an increasing function of LAI, suggesting that LAI might be a suitable biotic variable for predicting the magnitude of soil respiration in citrus orchards.

The Effect of Weight Loss on the Muscle Proteome in the Damara, Dorper and Australian Merino Ovine Breeds.

Seasonal Weight Loss (SWL) is an important constraint, limiting animal production in the Tropics and the Mediterranean. As a result, the study of physiological and biochemical mechanisms by which domestic animal breeds respond to SWL is important to those interested in animal breeding and the improvement thereof. To that end, the study of the proteome has been instrumental in gathering important information on physiological mechanisms, including those underlying SWL. In spite of that, little information is available concerning physiological mechanisms of SWL in production animals. The objective of this study was to determine differential protein expression in the muscle of three different breeds of sheep, the Australian Merino, the Dorper and the Damara, each showing different levels of tolerance to weight loss (low, medium and high, respectively). Per breed, two experimental groups were established, one labeled “Growth” and the other labeled “Restricted.” After forty-two days of dietary treatment, all animals were euthanized. Muscle samples were then taken. Total protein was extracted from the muscle, then quantified and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis were conducted using 24 cm pH 3–10 immobiline dry strips and colloidal coomassie staining. Gels were analyzed using Samespots® software and spots of interest were in-gel digested with trypsin. The isolated proteins were identified using MALDI-TOF/TOF. Results indicated relevant differences between breeds; several proteins are suggested as putative biomarkers of tolerance to weight loss: Desmin, Troponin T, Phosphoglucomutase and the Histidine Triad nucleotide-binding protein 1. This information is of relevance to and of possible use in selection programs aiming towards ruminant animal production in regions prone to droughts and weight loss.

Effects of Aqueous Extract ofMyrtus Communis L. Leaves on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Background: Leaves, oil and fruit of Myrtus communis L. (MC) have therapeutic effects on diabetes mellitus (DM). Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) are liver enzymes associated with hepatic injury caused by DM. Aims: In this study, we aimed to investigate the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of the aqueous extract of MC leaves on normal and diabetic rats induced with streptozotocin (STZ). Material &Methods: A total of thirty rats divided into six groups as each composed of five rats were used. DM was induced by a single 40 mg/kg dose of STZ in diabetic control group (Group II) and DM groups (Group IV,V and VI). Three different doses (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg) of aqueous extract of MC leaves were administered to the DM groups for 14 days. Serum samples and liver homogenates were obtainedin order to determine serum glucose levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde levels (MDA), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels. Serum glucose levels were determined by a commercial glucose monitor with disposable dry reagent strips. SerumSOD activity, GSH and MDA levels were measured by commercial ELISA kits. Serum ALT, ALP, and AST levels were measured by biochemical and immune-enzyme analyzers with respective standard kits. Results: Serum glucose, AST, ALT and ALP levels were reduced by MC administration in all diabetic groups. MC administration provided significance increment in SOD activity and GSH level, and significant reduction in MDA levels compared to controls (p<0.05) in all diabetic groups for all parameters, being highest at the dose of 600 mg/kg (p<0.001). Conclusion: Aqueous extracts of MC leaves at the doses of 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg decreased blood glucose, serum ALT, AST and ALP levels. Besides, all extracts have antioxidant effects being highest at 600 mg/kg dose. Key Words: Myrtus communis L., leaves, diabetes mellitus, antioxidant

Upconverting phosphors as an amplifier of a colorimetric signal in dry chemistry test strips for enzymatic measurement of glucose

We describe the use of upconverting phosphors (UCPs) as an amplifier of the colorimetric signal in enzymatic dry chemistry test strips for the determination of glucose. The indicator compound used in the strips attenuated both the emission and excitation wavelengths of the upconverting phosphors, thus taking advantage of the nonlinear relationship between the excitation and emission of these particles. By monitoring the emission of the UCPs under 978 nm excitation, we were able to obtain significantly higher signal response (a steeper calibration curve) from the colorimetric assay compared to a reflectance measurement. The limit of detection of the developed method was 2.1-fold lower than the reflectance-based reference method. The new method was able to determine glucose from a sample of water in the range of 5.7 μM to 22 mM, which covers the typical blood glucose range in newborns and adults. In low analyte concentrations we obtained up to 3-fold improvement in the slope of the assay calibration curve. This difference decreased with increasing analyte concentration and the effect was diminished by the highest glucose concentration. However, the analytical sensitivity (the ratio of slope and standard deviation) was practically identical between the two methods because of the higher deviation in the UCP emission signal.

Influence of tool surface on tribological conditions in conventional and dry sheet metal forming

The realization of lubricant free forming processes is motivated by an increasing demand for resource efficiency and higher environmental standards. Further potentials are the reduction of production steps and time. The dry conditions lead to an intensive interaction between tool and workpiece. Increasing friction and wear are the consequences. One approach to face these challenges is the implementation of tailored tool surfaces. Within this study the behavior of different tool surfaces under dry and lubricated conditions is investigated. In this regards, a flat strip drawing test was conducted to determine the friction coefficients depending on the tool surface properties resulting from various machining processes. Furthermore, a surface characterization before and after the experiments was performed to gain knowledge about the wear mechanisms. The tests series with dry strips lead to a higher friction level. Furthermore, the results show that the friction can be reduced when the grinding marks are orientated transversal to the drawing direction. A further friction reduction is achieved when applying polished tools.

Near-infrared excited ultraviolet emitting upconverting phosphors as an internal light source in dry chemistry test strips for glucose sensing.

Upconverting phosphors are inorganic crystals with interesting optical properties, including the ability to convert infrared radiation to emission at shorter wavelengths. In this paper we present the utilization of nanosized β-NaYF4:Yb(3+),Tm(3+), synthesized in the presence of K(+), emitting at 365 nm under 980 nm excitation as an internal light source in glucose sensing dry chemistry test strips. The feasibility of the nanoparticles as an internal UV light source was compared to the use of an external broadband lamp. The results obtained from glucose measurements using UCNPs were in agreement with the traditional method based on measuring reflectance using an external UV light source. In addition the multiple emission peaks of UCNPs offered the possibility of using them as a control signal to account for various sources of error arising in the assay. The high penetration depth of the NIR-excitation made it also possible to excite the UCNPs through a layer of whole blood, giving more freedom to the design of the optical setup.

Differential Proteome Analysis of Different Brucella spp. by Two Dimensional Electrophoresis

Brucellosis is a major bacterial zoonosis affecting domestic livestock, wild mammals, as well as humans around the globe. In the present study, proteomes of three different species of Brucella were compared by two dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). B. abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis, were cultured in Mueller–Hinton agar. The cells were harvested by centrifugation and lysed in lysis buffer. Protein fraction was purified by 2-DE cleanup kit and subjected to isoelectric focusing (IEF) using 3–10 pH gradient Immobiline dry strips. After IEF, the strips were equilibrated and subjected to 2nd dimension SDS PAGE. The gels were stained with Coomassie Brilliant blue stain, scanned and analysed using Image master platinum 7. A total of 381, 386 and 362 protein spots were detected for B. abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis, respectively. Out of them, 312 spots (proteins) were common to all the three species of the bacteria, the remaining spots were unique either to one species or two, but were not present in all the three species. Twenty-two proteins were significantly over-expressed in B. abortus as compared to B. melitensis and B. suis, while 12 proteins were significantly over-expressed in B. melitensis as compared to the rest of the species.

Identification of Diagnostic Protein Markers of Subclinical Mastitis in Bovine Whey Using Comparative Proteomics

Abstract The proteomics of inflammatory response in whey from cows with subclinical mastitis were analysed. Whey protein lysates were separated on 24 cm dry IPG strips (pH 3-10 linear) and 24 cm dry IPG strips (pH 4-7) using two-dimensional electrophoresis. The results indicated that the whey proteins in milk from cows with subclinical mastitis are different from those in milk from healthy cows. All protein spots were found to have biologically relevant changes in relative abundance during subclinical mastitis using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis, including ß-1,4 galactosyltransferase, ß-2 microglobulin, complement 3, a-1-acid glycoprotein, ß-lactoglobulin A, a-S1 casein precursor, ß-casein B, and serotransferrin precursor. The mRNA expression of these genes was verified by quantitative real-time PCR. These proteins are involved in signal transduction, binding, transport, and immune defence activity. The results suggest that the markers may be used for the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis.

Characterization of discharges on non-uniformly polluted glass surfaces using a wavelet transform approach

In this work, the electric discharges activity on non-uniformly polluted glass plane insulator model is investigated for increasing applied voltage levels up to flashover. The effect of pollution severity was simulated using pollution solution containing various kaolin concentrations. The polluted sample has a strip that is dry and clean which is parallel to the electrodes planes. Configurations with various widths (2 to 14 cm) and locations of this dry clean strip were tested, and both the leakage current and the accumulated charge were examined. Further in-depth examination of the leakage current waveforms was carried out using a wavelet analysis approach. The Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) is adopted for the leakage current decomposition in several time-frequency bands. The STD-MRA (Standard Deviation-Multi Resolution Analysis) representation is employed to specify the Detail components (frequency components). It is shown that these can be used to detect the presence or absence of partial arcs activity over the dry clean strips. The reported results show that the simultaneous increase in the standard deviation of the Details components D8 and D10 indicates the presence of the partial arcs. However, the increase only in the standard deviation of the Detail component D10 indicates no discharge activity. Such approach may have some useful application when analyzing the leakage current on its own to monitor discharge activity on polluted surface. Further work is on-going to apply this approach to full outdoor insulators.

Study of extraction procedures for protein analysis in plankton samples by OFFGEL electrophoresis hyphenated with Lab-on-a-chip technology

Extraction procedures for protein analysis from plankton samples were studied. OFFGEL electrophoresis combined with Lab-on-a-chip technology has been applied for protein analysis in plankton samples. BCR-414 (plankton) certified reference material from the European Commission was used to evaluate the protein extraction procedures. Three protein extraction procedures were studied: (1) by using Tris–HCl buffer containing a protease inhibitor cocktail, (2) urea/triton X-100 buffer extraction, and (3) using the phenol/sodium dodecyl sulphate method after different washing steps with 10% trichloroacetic acid/acetone solution and methanol. The pellet of proteins obtained was dried and then dissolved in the OFFGEL buffer. Proteins were separated according to their isoelectric points by OFFGEL electrophoresis. This separation was performed using 24cm, pH 3–10 IPG Dry Strips. The proteins present in each liquid fraction (24 fractions) were separated according to their molecular weight using a microfluidic Lab-on-a-chip electrophoresis with the Protein 80 LabChip kit. This kit allows for the separation of proteins with a molecular weight ranging from 5 to 80kDa. Taking into account the intensity and the number of the protein bands obtained, the protein extraction procedure using the phenol/sodium dodecyl sulphate after different wash steps with 10% trichloroacetic acid/acetone solution was selected.The developed method was applied for protein determination in a fresh marine plankton sample. The proteins found in this sample have a molecular weight ranging from 6.4 to 57.3kDa, and the proteins with highest molecular weight were in the OFFGEL fractions with an isoelectric point ranging from 4.40 to 8.60. The concentration of proteins were calculated using external calibration with Bovine Serum Albumin, and the protein concentrations varied from 50.0 to 925.9ngµL−1.