Portable Meter Research Articles

An Effective Resistive-Type Alcohol Vapor Sensor Using One-Step Facile Nanoporous Anodic Alumina.

With the increases in work environment regulations restricting alcohol to 1000 ppm, and in drink-driving laws, testing for alcohol with a simple method is a crucial issue. Conventional alcohol sensors based on sulfide, metal oxide, boron nitride or graphene oxide have a detection limit in the range of 50-1000 ppm but have disadvantages of complicated manufacture and longer processing times. A recent portable alcohol meter based on semiconductor material using conductivity or chemistry measurements still has the problem of a complex and lengthy manufacturing process. In this paper, a simple and effective resistive-type alcohol vapor sensor using one-step anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) is proposed. The nanoporous AAO was produced in one-step by anodizing low-purity AA1050 at room temperature of 25 °C, which overcame the traditional high-cost and lengthy process at low temperature of anodization and etching from high-purity aluminum. The highly specific surface area of AAO has benefits for good sensing performance, especially as a humidity or alcohol vapor sensor. With the resistance measurement method, alcohol vapor concentration of 0, 100, 300, 500, 700 and 1000 ppm correspond to mean resistances of 8524 Ω, 8672 Ω, 9121 Ω, 9568 Ω, 10,243 Ω, and 11,045 Ω, respectively, in a linear relationship. Compared with other materials for detecting alcohol vapor, the AAO resistive sensor has advantages of fast and simple manufacturing with good detection limits for practical applications. The resistive-type alcohol vapor-sensing mechanism is described with respect to the resistivity of the test substance and the pore morphology of AAO. In a human breath test, the AAO sensor can quickly distinguish whether the subject is drinking, with normal breath response of -30% to -40% and -20% to -30% response after drinking 50 mL of wine of 25% alcohol.

Hubungan Paparan Pestisida Dengan Kejadian Anemia Pada Pada Pekerja Penyemprot Pestisida Di PT. X Tahun 2022

Pesticides are toxic substances that have a negative impact on human health problems. Anemia is one of the chronic effects of pesticide. The effect of pesticides to the farmer’s health, decreasing production or increasing destruction of red blood cells. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship of pesticide exposure with anemia in the blood of pesticide spraying workers at PT. X. The research method used is Cross Sectional at PT. X with a total sample of 61 workers was obtained by Simple Random Sampling. Information was obtained through interviews with questionnaire and examination of hemoglobin levels using a portable hemoglobin meter. Based on the results of the analysis using chi square data, it was found that pesticide exposure were associated with anemia (p = 0.011). It is expected that sprayers pay more attention to the impact of using pesticides with health.

954-P: A New Portable HbA1c Meter—Red Blood Cell Deformability–Based HbA1c Test

In the United States, more than 1 in 5 people with diabetes do not know they have diabetes, and they are at higher risk of severe health complications by diabetes management failure. Early diagnosis and management of diabetes through HbA1c monitoring can address these public health issues, but many people still do not benefit from the HbA1c test due to its limited accessibility. Alternatively, a portable HbA1c meter, which lay users can easily use, could be a valuable solution to monitor their HbA1c levels without visiting the doctor. However, the current HbA1c test requires precise sample volume and temperature-sensitive maintenance, reducing its usability for lay users. In this study, as a solution for portable HbA1c meters, we proposed a new HbA1c assay that can be free from sampling error and maintenance by estimating RBC deformability. This novel system employed a microfluidic channel, evaluating RBCs deformability via detecting the velocity of individual RBCs in a fluidic channel with a narrower width than RBC. The results showed that RBC deformability was inversely correlated with HbA1c level and successfully converted the HbA1c level from estimated RBC deformability data. In conclusion, RBC deformability-based HbA1c test has the potential to revolutionize the HbA1c test assay and could benefit individuals beyond the limits of current point-of-care devices. Disclosure E.Park: Board Member; Orange Biomed Ltd., Co. S.Kang: Board Member; Orange Biomed Ltd., Co. U.Ko: Board Member; Orange Biomed Ltd., Co. Funding Orange Biomed Ltd., Co.

Measurements of the ambient dose equivalent rates around the Manyoni uranium deposit in Tanzania

In this study, pre-mining ambient gamma dose equivalent rates at 1 m above the ground were measured using a Gamma-Scout portable radiation survey meter at two sites, A and B, around the Manyoni uranium deposit in Tanzania. Site A is expected to receive mine-dust particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 µm (PM10) that have mean annual ground level concentrations (AGLC) ≥ 10% of the WHO air quality guideline limit of 20 µg/m3, and Site B is expected to receive PM10 with a mean AGLC ≥ 20 µg/m3. At Site A, the average of the ambient dose equivalent rates was 0.25 ± 0.03 µSv/h and ranged from 0.08 to 0.69 µSv/h. Similarly, at Site B, the average of the ambient dose equivalent rates was 0.23 ± 0.02 µSv/h and ranged from 0.12 to 0.34 µSv/h. The effect of the local geology on the measured dose rates was also presented. Since the ambient dose equivalent is an operational quantity for area monitoring, the results of this study will be very useful for comparing with the operational monitoring results of Sites A and B once uranium mining starts in Manyoni. This can help mine operators and regulatory agencies keep an eye on any rise in background radiation so they can take the necessary measures to safeguard locals and the environment from the harmful effects of ionising radiation.

Hubungan Paparan Pestisida Dengan Kejadian Anemia Pada Pada Pekerja Penyemprot Pestisida Di Langkat Nusantara Kepong 2023

Pesticides are toxic substances that have a negative impact on human health problems. Anemia is one of the chronic effects of pesticide. The effect of pesticides to the farmer’s health, decreasing production or increasing destruction of red blood cells. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship of pesticide exposure with anemia in the blood of pesticide spraying workers at PT. Langkat Nusantara Kepong Gohor Lama. The research method used is Cross Sectional at PT. Langkat Nusantara Kepong Gohor Lama with a total sample of 61 workers was obtained by Simple Random Sampling. Information was obtained through interviews with questionnaire and examination of hemoglobin levels using a portable hemoglobin meter. Based on the results of the analysis using chi square data, it was found that pesticide exposure were associated with anemia (p = 0.011). It is expected that sprayers pay more attention to the impact of using pesticides with health.

CRISPR-powered biosensing platform for quantitative detection of alpha-fetoprotein by a personal glucose meter

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is an important protein biomarker of liver cancer, as its serum levels are highly correlated with the progression of disease. Conventional immunoassays for AFP detection rely on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analyses with expensive and bulky equipment. Here, we developed a simple, affordable, and portable CRISPR-powered personal glucose meter biosensing platform for quantitative detection of the AFP biomarker in serum samples. The biosensor takes advantage of the excellent affinity of aptamer to AFP and the collateral cleavage activity of CRISPR-Cas12a, enabling sensitive and specific CRISPR-powered protein biomarker detection. To enable point-of-care testing, we coupled invertase-catalyzed glucose production with the glucose biosensing technology to quantify AFP. Using the developed biosensing platform, we quantitatively detected AFP biomarker in spiked human serum samples with a detection sensitivity of down to 10 ng/mL. Further, we successfully applied the biosensor to detect AFP in clinical serum samples from patients with liver cancer, achieving comparable performance to the conventional assay. Therefore, this novel CRISPR-powered personal glucose meter biosensor provides a simple yet powerful alternative for detecting AFP and potentially other tumor biomarkers at the point of care.

NIR II light response-based PDA/AuPt@CuS composites: Simultaneous readout of temperature and pressure sensing strategy for portable detection of pathogenic bacteria

In this study, we developed a simultaneous readout of pressure and temperature dual-signals platform based on the second near-infrared (NIR II) light response-based polydopamine (PDA)-functionalized-AuPt nanoparticles (NPs)@CuS nanosheets (PDA/AuPt@CuS NS) composite. Due to the excellent NIR photothermal performance of PDA/AuPt@CuS NS, it contribute to the decomposition of H2O2 and NH4HCO3 to generate gases (including O2, CO2, and NH3) can be promoted, which can amplify the pressure signals in a sealed container. A sandwich mode is formed between Fe3O4 NPs and PDA/AuPt@CuS NS based on the dual-aptamer when target pathogenic bacteria is present. And, it is possible to convert the molecular recognition signals between the dual-aptamers into amplified pressures and temperatures, which can be read out by a portable pressure meter and smartphones simultaneously. It may offer the possibility for quantitative POCT analysis of Pathogenic Bacteria. Moreover, because of the high photothermal efficiency of this method, the developed dual-mode method can achieve that following the detection of bacteria and killing them immediately. As a result, secondary contamination is eliminated and bacterial transmission is avoided. The developed dual-signal sensing platform is also inexpensive, simple to operate and rapidly, indicating that it can be used for food safety analysis, clinical applications, and environmental monitoring.

82 Responses to a combined exercise and transport stressor following dietary supplementation of anti-endotoxin IgY in mature horses

Immunoglobulin Y elicits positive effects in domestic livestock with gastrointestinal or inflammatory diseases; however, there are limited studies in horses. To test the hypothesis that dietary anti-endotoxin IgY (IgY) has a positive effect on gastrointestinal health and mitigates systemic inflammation in horses undergoing exercise, 30 stock-type horses (578 ± 59 kg BW; 14 ± 3 yr) were used in a completely randomized design. Horses were stratified by BW, age, and sex and then randomly assigned to treatments: 0 g/d IgY (CON; n = 10), 1 g/d IgY (TRT1; n = 10), or 2 g/d IgY (TRT2; n = 10). Horses were fed every 12 h, with dietary treatments (Camas Inc., Le Center, MN) top-dressed on the morning concentrate for 33 d. Horses were maintained in dry lots with ad libitum access to Coastal bermudagrass hay. Horses were exercised 5 d/wk for 1 h. On d 0 and 30, BW and BCS were recorded, and blood was collected for complete blood cell count (CBC) and serum blood chemistry. On d 32, horses were transported 270 km and underwent a 3.2 km exercise stressor on concrete at a walk with maximum 15 min of trot. Whole blood, serum, and fecal samples collected via rectal palpation were obtained pre-, post-, and 24 h post-trailering. Fecal pH was determined by a portable meter, and serum cytokine (TNFα, IL-4, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-17, IFN-α, IFN-γ) and chemokine (CCL2, 3, 5 and 11) concentrations weremeasured using a multiplex platform. Whole blood DNA was extracted using a commercial DNA extraction kit. For gut permeability analysis, 16s rDNA was analyzed via qPCR and calculated as fold change from d 0. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS v9.4. Dietary IgY did not affect BW, BCS, blood chemistry, or CBC (P ≥ 0.17). Fecal pH decreased over time (P ≤ 0.01). There was no treatment × time interaction for 16S rDNA (P = 0.45). Dietary treatment affected circulating 16S rDNA (P < 0.01) where TRT2 (1.89-fold) was greater than CON (0.70-fold), and TRT1 (1.24-fold) was intermediate. A significant time effect (P = 0.001) was observed for 16S rDNA where fold change decreased after the stressor from 1.90-fold for pre-, to 1.02 for post-, and 0.92 for 24 h post- trailering. There tended to be a treatment × time interaction (P = 0.08) for CCL3, as CON was greater at 24 h and TRT2 declined post-trailering, returning to baseline by 24 h. Levels of CCL5 decreased (P < 0.01) and TNFα tended to decline (P = 0.06) through 24 h post trailering in all treatment groups. Other cytokines and chemokines were non-detectible. Despite greater circulating 16s rDNA with higher treatment dosages, there was no effect on systemic inflammatory markers.

107 Equine fecal pH measurement methods and storage protocols

The pH of the equine gastrointestinal lumen influences digestion, the microbiome, and enterocyte physiology, each having important impacts on horses. Fecal pH is a simple and noninvasive variable that reflects changes in hindgut pH. The objectives were to evaluate whether there is agreement between fecal pH measured by a meter and pH strips and to determine the effect of storage temperature and time on pH. Fecal samples were collected from 5 broodmares and 8 yearlings on one farm and 12 school horses on another. Feces were collected within 1 min of defecation from an uncontaminated region. A portable pH meter (Hanna Instruments model #9812) and 3 pH strips were used to measure the pH of 4 sub-samples: fresh, 24 h refrigerated at 4°C, 6- and 16-weeks frozen at −20°C. Samples were thawed in a water bath to 20–23°C before measurement. Fecal liquid without the addition of distilled water was used for meter readings. The ranges of the 3 pH strips were 4.5–10 (S1), 5.1–7.2 (S2), and 6.0–7.7 (S3). A 1:2 ratio of feces to distilled water was used for pH strip measurements to ensure readability related to color staining. All pH strips had a strong positive correlation (>0.8) with pH meter. Linear regressions between pH measured by strips and meter resulted in r2 between 0.76 (S1) and 0.86 (S2). Bland-Altman plots quantified agreement between pH meter and S1 (bias 0.005, 95% CI −0.448 to 0.458), S2 (bias −0.033, 95% CI −0.408 to 0.342), and S3(bias −0.044, 95% CI −0.426 to 0.338). Therefore, S2 best reflects the meter pH, with the highest r2 and the narrowest Bland-Altman CI. The influence of storage temperature and time were analyzed with a mixed ANOVA. Significance was set at P < 0.05 and data are presented as means ± sem. The pH of fresh and 6-weeks frozen samples was higher than 24 h refrigerated samples (6.49 ± 0.31, 6.47 ± 0.31, 6.39 ± 0.31, P < 0.001, respectively). No difference was detected comparing the pH of 16-week frozen (6.43 ± 0.31) to other sub-samples. There was a trend for it to be lower than fresh (P = 0.082). This may indicate relevant change due to long-term frozen storage. A difference in the fresh fecal pH (P < 0.001) was detected using all techniques between the 2 farms (pH meter results: 6.78 ± 0.11, 6.20 ± 0.09; respectively). The reason for the difference is beyond the scope of this study. The ability to detect pH differences could be valuable to those interested in management strategies influencing gastrointestinal health. The results of this study indicate that pH strips differ in their ability to reflect pH meter readings, storage temperature and time of storage may influence pH, and pH strips may be useful in detecting relevant differences in fecal pH.

52 Influence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 on the intestinal environment, gut permeability, and markers of systemic inflammation in horses fed a high starch diet

Probiotics may balance the hindgut environment and relieve systemic inflammation in horses fed high starch concentrates to meet energy requirements. Therefore, 30 mature Quarter Horse geldings (545 ± 58 kg BW) were used in a randomized complete design for 32-d to test the hypothesis that supplemental live Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 (SC; Levucell® SC Advantage) stabilizes the intestinal environment, reduces gut permeability, and decreases inflammation when horses are fed a high starch diet. Horses were stratified by BW, age, and body condition score (BCS) and randomly assigned treatments consisting of either a concentrate formulated with 2g starch • kg BW−1 • meal−1 (CON, n = 15) or the same concentrate top-dressed with 25 g/d SC(TRT, n = 15) containing 20 billion cfu. Horses were fed individually in stalls (3 × 3 m) every 12 h. Between meals, horses were housed in adjacent dry lots with ad libitum access to Coastal bermudagrass hay and water. On d 0 and 32, BW and BCS were recorded and blood samples were collected immediately before feeding (h 0) and at h 2, 8, 16, and 24 post meal. Samples were analyzed for serum D-lactate using a colorimetric assay, chemokine (CCL2) and cytokine (TNFα) concentrations were measured using a multiplex platform, and whole blood 16s rRNA sequencing was performedusing Illumina MiSeq. Fecal samples were obtained on d 0, 16, and 32 via rectal palpation before the morning meal and at h 8, 16, and 24 post meal. Fecal pH was determined using a portable pH meter and fecal starch was measured via concentration analysis. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS v9.4. Non-normal data (CCL2) were log-transformed. From d 0 to 32 BW increased (P ≤ 0.01), independent of treatment, with no change in BCS (P = 0.97). Fecal starch was undetectable indicating nearly complete digestion of dietary starch regardless of treatment. On d 0, fecal pH declined to h 16 (P ≤ 0.01) in both groups and returned to baseline by h 24 post meal. At h 0, CON had lower fecal pH on d 32 than d 0 (P ≤ 0.01). D-lactate peaked at h 8 on d 0, and CON was greater (P ≤ 0.01) than TRT. On d 32, D-lactate tended to be higher in TRT (P = 0.10) at 16 h post meal compared with CON. LogCCL2 and TNFα declined (P ≤ 0.02) across treatments to d 32. Fold change of percent reads from d 0 in bacterial 16s rRNA was not different between treatment groups. A high starch diet initially reduced fecal pH and increased BW but after 32 d, there was no difference in intestinal inflammation or gut permeability, regardless of SC supplementation.

Панкреатогенный сахарный диабет: особенности развития, клинического течения, диагностики и лечения

The features of development, characteristic clinical symptoms, laboratory, instrumental methods of examination and the basic principles of therapy of pancreatogenic diabetes mellitus (DM) are determined. Correlations in the development and course of the disease were revealed. It has been proven that pancreatogenic diabetes occurs significantly more often in men, more than half of whom abuse alcohol and smoke, while after surgery for pancreatic necrosis, patients with pancreatogenic diabetes statistically significantly begin to drink less alcohol. According to a scientific study, the duration of pancreatogenic DM is closely interrelated with the duration of chronic pancreatitis. The low level of C-peptide confirms an early decrease in insulin secretion and, accordingly, the need for insulin therapy. Irregular intake of enzymes significantly contributes to exacerbations of chronic pancreatitis, worsens the course of diabetes and leads to the development of diabetic complications. It was noted that with the duration of pancreatogenic diabetes, the risk of hypoglycemia increases statistically significantly, which certainly requires regular blood glucose testing. Self-monitoring of blood glucose in patients with DM should be carried out with the help of modern, accurate and easy-to-use portable glucose meters, one of which is the Contour Plus Uan.

Removal of copper ions from industrial wastewater using waste from iron and magnesium production

Research objective is to assess the possibility of removing copper ions from industrial wastewater using waste from iron and magnesium production. Methods of research. An experiment was conducted to remove copper ions from a solution of industrial wastewater using waste from iron and magnesium production. Data were obtained showing changes in the ion content of the studied metals in wastewater solutions. Theoretical research was carried out to analyze the effectiveness of existing wastewater treatment methods in order to study and generalize the results. The initial concentration of metal ions in solutions was measured with a Varian AA 240 FS atomic absorption spectrophotometer with a deuterium lamp for background correction and flame spraying. Temperature and pH were measured with a Hanna HI 99121 portable pH meter. Mineralization of solid samples was carried out with a MARS 5 Digestion Microwave System in Easy Prep vessels with the addition of nitric and hydrofluoric acids. Results. The results of the research on the removal of copper ions from industrial waste water using iron-magnesium production waste show that the samples under investigation were effective in absorbing copper from aqueous solutions. It was found that the amount of copper in the filtrates varies depending on the tested sorbent sample weight. There is an increase in the indicator of the degree of pollutant extraction from solutions from 52.02 to 99.04% for group 1 and from 43.2 to 98.91 % for group to respectively with an increase in the sample dosing rate from 0.2 to 0.5 g. The indicator of static volume capacity also depends on the mass of the sample added to the solution and decreases with the dosing rate growth. Wastes of iron-magnesium production contain magnesium and iron in high concentrations. After interaction with industrial waste water, they actively release magnesium into the solution, but continue to extract iron from it. The indicators of the degree of pollutant extraction from solutions and of static volume capacity for iron have high values regardless of the sample weight for both groups and vary from 99.85 to 99.98% and from 3.9 to 10.82 mg/g. Scope of results. The data obtained will used to develop effective materials and methods for water bodies pollution elimination.

Assessment of Some Physico-Chemical Parameters and Heavy Metals in The Greater Zab River Path from Bekhma to Al Guwayr District in Erbil Province-KRI.

Fifteen physico-chemical parameters with heavy metals were evaluated from the Greater Zab River path within Erbil province in twelve sites over a period of 10 months (from April 2021 to January 2022). In the field, Air and water temperature measured by thermometer, Electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, potential of hydrogen measured by portable EC and pH meter, While, the laboratory measurement included total hardness, calcium ion, magnesium ion, total alkalinity, chloride measured by titration method, nitrate, nitrite, phosphorus and sulfate measured by spectrophotometric method. Water Quality calculated by using Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI). Heavy metals were analyzed by (AAS Perkins Elmer USA 1100D). The results of the present study shows that electrical conductivity, total alkalinity and phosphorus mean values were higher than the limits of WHO standards, While all remaining mean parameters were found in agreement for drinking purposes for WHO standards. The studied sites were classified under the hard waters. CCME WQI status for all sites located under the category of “Fair” (65-79) except for site 12 was located under the category of “Marginal” (45-64) water quality. The decreasing trend of heavy metals were observed in the water as Si &gt; Fe &gt; Cr &gt; Zn &gt; Mn &gt; Pb &gt; Ni &gt; Co &gt; Cu &gt; Cd.

The photosynthetic eco-physiological adaptability of the endangered plant Tetracentron sinense to different habitats and altitudes

Tetracentron sinense Oliv, the only tall deciduous tree in the family Tetracentraceae, is listed as a national second-grade key protected plant in China. To reveal the effect of associated species, irradiance, and altitudes on photosynthetic capacity of T. sinense, photosynthetic physiological characteristics of T. sinense and its associated species Acer pictum and Pterocarya stenoptera were measured by a Li-6400 portable photosynthetic meter. The light saturation point (LSP), the maximum net photosynthetic rate of the PN-PAR (PNmax), carboxylation efficiency (CE), the maximum net photosynthetic rate of the PN-CO2 (P*Nmax), carbon dioxide compensation point (CCP) and light respiration rate (Rp) of T. sinense in forest gap (FG) were higher than those in forest edge (FE) and understory (US). In FE, the net photosynthetic rate (PN), light compensation point (LCP), LSP, P*Nmax of T. sinense were lower than those of Pterocarya stenoptera, while the LSP, PNmax, and saturation point of carbon dioxide (Ciast) of T. sinense in US were lower than those of Acer pictum and Pterocarya stenoptera. The specific leaf area (SLA) of T. sinense decreased with reduction in the irradiance. With increasing altitude, the PNmax, LSP, and SLA of young individuals of T. sinense (YT) increased; the LCP of YT or the LSP of mature individuals of T. sinense (MT) increased first and then decreased. The results showed that 1) the photosynthetic capacity and adaptability of T. sinense were better in FG than that in FE and US; 2) the photosynthetic capacity of T. sinense in FE and US was weaker than that of its associated species, and its ecological range of light adaptation was also narrower than that of its associated species, placing T. sinense at a competitive disadvantage, which may be one of the important reasons for its poor regeneration; and 3) the environmental conditions at higher altitude can contribute to the growth and survival of T. sinense. Therefore, active artificial intervention should be undertaken to expand area of forest gap for T. sinense and transplant its seedlings to higher altitude to promote growth and population regeneration of T. sinense.

Non-Invasive Multiparametric Approach To Determine Sweat-Blood Lactate Bioequivalence.

Many sweat-based wearable monitoring systems have been recently proposed, but the data provided by those systems often lack a reliable and meaningful relation to standardized blood values. One clear example is lactate, a relevant biomarker for both sports and health sectors, with a complex sweat-blood bioequivalence. This limitation decreases its individual significance as a sweat-based biomarker. Taking into account the insights of previous studies, a multiparametric methodology has been proposed to predict blood lactate from non-invasive independent sensors: sweat lactate, sweat rate, and heart rate. The bioequivalence study was performed with a large set of volunteers (>30 subjects) in collaboration with sports institutions (Institut Nacional d'Educació Física de Catalunya, INEFC, and Centre d'Alt Rendiment, CAR, located in Spain). A neural network algorithm was used to predict blood lactate values from the sensor data and subject metadata. The developed methodology reliably and accurately predicted blood lactate absolute values, only adding 0.3 mM of accumulated error when compared to portable blood lactate meters, the current gold standard for sports clinicians. The approach proposed in this work, along with an integrated platform for sweat monitoring, will have a strong impact on the sports and health fields as an autonomous, real-time, and continuous monitoring tool.

Evaluation of the Clinical Impact and In Vitro Antibacterial Activities of Two Bioactive Restoratives against S. mutans ATCC 25175 in Class II Carious Restorations

Streptococcus mutans is a Gram-positive opportunistic bacterial pathogen and that causes dental caries and then restorative treatment remains the best clinical practice approach to repair and prevent dental caries. This study compared the antimicrobial performance of resin modified glass ionomer cement (RM-GIC) and ACTIVA restoratives by evaluating the S. mutans count, pH levels, and plaque index (PI) scores before and on the 7th day of restoration, and then determined the antimicrobial activities against S. mutans ATCC 25175 in both restoratives in vitro. Seventy-eight eligible Saudi female participants, with class II carious lesions, were randomly distributed into RM-GIC and ACTIVA restorative groups. We evaluated the S. mutans count by the serial dilution technique and salivary pH by using a portable pH meter. The PI scores were determined by Silness-Löe method and the antibacterial activity by the agar well diffusion method. Statistical analysis of normality distribution was performed with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and the difference between groups was an analysis by paired t-test. In addition, the independent sample was compared with the independent samples t-test. Both groups reduced the S. mutans count, pH acidity, and PI scores, and this reduction was statistically significant on the 7th day of restoration (P < 0.05), preference for ACTIVA. The in vitro antibacterial activity against S. mutans ATCC 25175 showed a non-significant difference between both bioactive restorative materials (P < 0.05). The novel application of ACTIVA restorative material is a promising option for patients at risk of caries.

A COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR THE DETERMINATION OF ABSOLUTE ACTIVITIES IN CONTAMINATIONS AND SKIN DOSES.

At radiological facilities, protocols are in place to guide radiation protection personnel in the event of the radioactive contamination of surfaces. A count rate measurement is performed with a portable contamination survey meter and a sample of the contamination is taken for later analysis and identification of the radionuclides. If the contaminated surface was of a worker's skin, then a skin dose assessment is made. The determination of the absolute activity of the radionuclides of the contamination often rests on the assumed detection efficiency of the survey meter used in the initial counting. This may lead to important underestimation or overestimation of the radionuclides' activities as the detection efficiency of the instrument must depend on the radiation type, the energy and the backscatter characteristics of the surface. This paper reports on a user-friendly computer application that relies on databases of pre-calculated detection efficiencies and skin dose rate conversion factors for the accurate assessment of contamination activities and skin doses. The results of some cases are compared with the available data in the literature.

Logic-Gates of Gas Pressure for Portable, Intelligent and Multiple Analysis of Metal Ions.

DNA logic gates have shown outstanding magic in intelligent biology applications, but it remains challenging to construct a portable, affordable and convenient DNA logic gate. Herein, logic gates of gas pressure were innovatively developed for multiplex analysis of metal ions. Hg2+ and Ag+ were input to interact specifically with the respective mismatched base pairs, which activated DNA extension reaction by polymerase and led to the enrichment of platinum nanoparticles for catalyzing the decomposition of peroxide hydrogen. Thus, the gas pressure obtained from a sealed well was used as output for detecting or identifying metal ions. Hg2+ and Ag+ were sensitively and selectively detected, and the assay of the real samples was also satisfactory. Based on this, DNA logic gates, including YES, NOT, AND, OR, NAND, NOR, INHIBIT, and XOR were successfully established using a portable and hand-held gas pressure meter as detector. So, the interactions between DNA and metal ions were intelligently transferred into the output of gas pressure, which made metal ions to be detected portably and identified intelligently. Given the remarkable merits of simplicity, logic operation, and portable output, the metal ion-driven DNA logic gate of gas pressure provides a promising way for intelligent and portable biosensing.

Dual-Mode Biosensor for Simultaneous and Rapid Detection of Live and Whole Salmonella typhimurium Based on Bioluminescence and Fluorescence Detection.

Both live and dead Salmonella typhimurium (S.T) are harmful to human health, but there are differences in pathological mechanism, dosage, and security. It is crucial to develop a rapid and simultaneous assay to distinguish and quantify live and dead S.T in foods. Herein, one dual-mode biosensor for simultaneous detection of live and dead S.T was fabricated based on two phage probes, using portable bioluminescence and fluorescent meter as detectors, respectively. Firstly, a magnetic phage capture probe (M-P1) and a phage signal tag (P2-S) labeled with SYTO 13 fluorescent dye were prepared, respectively. Both M-P1 and P2-S can specifically conjugate with S.T to form a magnetic sandwich complex. After magnetic separation, the isolated complex can emit a fluorescent signal under an excited 365 nm laser, which can reflect the total amount of S.T. Afterwards, the lysozyme was added to decompose the captured live S.T, which can release ATP and produce a bioluminescent signal corresponding to the live S.T amount. The dead S.T concentration can be deduced by the difference between total and live examples. The detection limit of 55 CFU/mL for total S.T and 9 CFU/mL for live ones was within 20 min. The assay was successfully employed in milk samples and prospectively for on-site screening of other dead and live bacteria, while changing the phages for the targets.

Cough Peak Flow Assessment Without Disconnection From the ICU Ventilator in Mechanically Ventilated Patients.

Because ICU ventilators incorporate flow velocity measurement, cough peak expiratory flow (CPF) can be assessed without disconnecting the patient from the ICU ventilator. Our goal was to estimate the correlation between CPF obtained with the built-in ventilator flow meter (ventilator CPF) and CPF obtained with an electronic portable handheld peak flow meter connected to the endotracheal tube. Cooperative mechanically ventilated patients who entered the weaning process and who were ventilated with pressure support < 15 cm H2O and PEEP < 9 cm H2O were eligible for the study. Their CPF measurements obtained on the extubation day were kept for analysis. We analyzed CPF obtained in 61 subjects. The mean ± SD value of ventilator CPF and peak flow meter CPF were 72.6 ± 27.5 L/min and 31.1 ± 13.4 L/min. The Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.63 (95% CI 0.45-0.76), P < .001. The ventilator CPF had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.84 (95% CI 0.75-0.93) to predict a peak flow meter CPF < 35 L/min. Neither ventilator CPF nor peak flow meter CPF differed significantly between subjects who were or were not re-intubated within 72 h (n = 5) and failed to predict re-intubation at 72 h (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.64 [95% CI 0.46-0.82] and 0.47 [95% CI 0.22-0.74]). CPF measurements using a built-in ventilator flow meter were feasible in routine practice with cooperative ICU subjects who were intubated and correlated with CPF assessed by an electronic portable peak flow meter.