Calorimetric method for the monitoring and control of biocatalysed reactions

A method for determining the reactant concentration and biocatalyst activity during a biocatalysed reaction is described. The analyser functions by monitoring the temperature change of a sample of reaction mixture which is held under adiabatic conditions. Details are given of the successful application of the analyser to the monitoring and control of a fed-batch bioconversion by Rhodococcus ruber NCIMB 40757 of acrylonitrile to 42% (w/w) (4.37 M) ammonium acrylate and the wider application of the analyser to other bioconversions is considered.     

Desktop analysers: quality of results obtained by medical office personnel.

We carried out a study to evaluate the quality of results obtained by 14 nontechnical medical office personnel using desktop analysers. The instruments evaluated were the Reflotron analyser, the Seralyzer, the Vision analyser and the DT60 analyser. For precision studies low and high concentrations of control materials were used. For correlation studies the results obtained by the office personnel were compared with those obtained by a trained technologist. The coefficient of variation for the office personnel ranged from 3.0% to 8.1% with the Reflotron analyser, from 6.3% to 26.5% with the Seralyzer, from 1.0% to 4.1% with the Vision analyser and from 1.4% to 16.7% with the DT60 analyser. The correlation coefficient ranged from 0.970 to 0.997 with the Reflotron analyser, from 0.779 to 0.997 with the Seralyzer, from 0.975 to 0.998 with the Vision analyser and from 0.963 to 0.995 with the DT60 analyser. The proportion of results obtained by the office personnel that differed by more than 10% from those obtained by the technologist was 7% with the Reflotron analyser, 42% with the Seralyzer, 2% with the Vision analyser and 21% with the DT60 analyser. The instruments whose operation involves the least number of steps gave the most reliable results in the hands of medical office personnel.     

Correction of infra-red gas analyser readings for changes in reference tube CO2 concentration

Abstract The theoretical basis for correcting infra-red gas analyser readings for changes in reference tube CO₂ concentration is developed, but in practice the corrections made are empirical. Analyser gain (G_A) is related to reference tube concentration (A) in hyperbolic manner. The constants in the equation are determined by plotting 1/G_A against A. Calibration and operating procedure for a particular type of analyser are described and a numerical example given.     

Data security in information systems by language analysis.

The paper describes how a language analyser (parser) is used as interface between a user and the functions of an information system. A specific user is at log-on forced into a sublanguage analyser, which only recognizes statements relevant to this specific user. Every attempt to use non-allowed functions is rejected, and the user is guided into his sublanguage. The language analyser is defined completely separately from the semantics of the information system, and it can be automatically generated outgoing from a definition of language functions.     

Optical multiple-analyte immunosensor for water pollution control

A prototype of a portable optical immunosensor (called river analyser) has been developed. It can be applied for the monitoring of surface water quality. Antibodies carrying a fluorescent label are used for the specific recognition of pollutants, such as frequently applied pesticides. The transduction principle is based on total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF). The outstanding advantage of the river analyser is, that at least three analytes can be detected simultaneously in one sample. Test cycles and fluid handling are automated and enable unattended measuring.     

Measurement of α-amylase activity by Sequential Injection Analysis

Summary A Sequential Injection Analysis (SIA) system for monitoring -amylase activity is described. The SIA analyser is a further development of previously investigated Flow Injection Analysis (FIA) analyser. The analysis of -amylase activity is based on monitoring the decoloration of an iodine-starch complex. Performances of the SIA analyser have been compared with the FIA analyser. A good agreement has been obtained between the SIA measurements and the FIA measurements.     

Electronic thrombocyte count from total blood]

Platelets were simultaneously counted in 52 persons by the conventional method of Cronkite and Brecher and with a new electronic cell volume analyser. The platelet counts estimated by the electronic analyser were 10% lower than that measured with the conventional method. This difference decreased to 1.5% when the same diluent was used for both methods. The described electronic counting method of platelets in whole blood is a simple procedure, which gives well reproducible and exact results.     

An automated method for counting and sizing fish eggs

This paper describes an automated method for counting and sizing fish eggs in the diameter range 200–2500 μm. Eggs, suspended in water, are pumped at a controlled rate through an electronic sensor which produces a voltage pulse which is proportional in amplitude to particle size. The sensor is connected to a HIAC Criterion PC-320 particle analyser which is in turn connected to a Tracor Northern pulse height analyser. This equipment separates the voltage pulses into 398 recording channels. An ACT 1 Sirius microcomputer is used to store the data, transform it to egg size and then produce a histogram of egg size distribution in 20-μm class intervals.
The method has a counting accuracy of 99.5 ± 0.5%. It has been compared with two manual methods of estimating egg numbers.     

New, miniaturized breath analyser for applications on Earth and in space

The present article deals with the development and application of an innovative breath analyser for metabolic stress testing and cardio respiratory measurements. The system is based on new, miniaturized ceramic gas sensors, which have the unique ability to measure simultaneously oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations as well as flow rates. The small size of just a few millimetres allows the operation of the sensor directly in a breathing mask, minimizing dead space and breath resistance. Due to these properties and the fast response time of the measurement, it will be possible to perform a breath-by-breath analysis, in both stationary and mobile mode, with low environmental and psychological influences of the experimental circumstances to the tested person. The current development status and the most interesting technical data, experimental results, and benefits of the new breath analyser are described in the article.     

Comparative study of automatic blood-gas analysers and their use in analysing arterial and capillary samples.

Three automatic blood-gas analysers were compared for ease of use; calibration; reproducibility and accuracy of results; maintenance; fault-finding; and use of expert technician time. Results obtained from arterial and capillary blood were compared with duplicate values obtained with a semi-automatic analyser controlled and calibrated with tonometered blood. No analyser was fully automatic, and all three needed maintenance by expert technicians. Difficulties were encountered when inexperienced operators used the machines. One automatic blood-gas analyser gave aberrant values for oxygen pressure (PO2) due to electrode dysfunction that was not indicated by the fault-finding system. A second analyser gave significantly lower values for blood pH than the standard machine. A comparison of pH, carbon dioxide pressure (PCO2), and PO2 measured in 40 simultaneous paired samples of arterial and arterialised capillary blood showed no significant difference for pH or PCO2, but the PO2 values were significantly lower in the capillary samples over the range studied. We conclude that all machines perform satisfactorily in terms of blood-gas analysis, but none may be regarded as fully automatic. Some degree of technical supervision is essential, as is proper training for all potential users.     

Quality control issues in point of care testing

* Quality Control (QC) in Point of Care Testing (PoCT) is often thought of as a complex issue; however intelligent system analysis can simplify matters and greatly increase the chances of a well controlled system. What we want to achieve is a QC program which adequately controls the PoCT system, but does not excessively contribute to the operating costs or complexity of maintaining a PoCT instrument, or network of instruments. * Don't neglect effective pre-analytical work: good documentation, operator training, monitoring, and analyser maintenance programs are essential, as for any analyser. * Look closely at your analyser: Is it a "laboratory type" instrument or cartridge or strip based? Can it perform multiple test types or a single test only? How is it calibrated? Does it have built in self-check capabilities or an electronic check cartridge? Is the sample in contact with the instrument? What are the cartridge/strip/reagent storage requirements? * Establish where the analysis is taking place and which system component is involved. * Tailor your QC program to target this component, but still check the system as a whole. * A common approach is to check cartridges/strips on delivery and run a QA sample at least monthly to check storage conditions and operator performance. If there is no independent electronic instrument check, daily QC checks are also recommended. * Don't be afraid to stray beyond conventional QC models if necessary. Some PoCT systems are not adequately controlled by the application of conventional QC alone.     

A system of automated measurement of frequency-amplitude characteristics of auditory neurons

The digital system for automatic measurement of frequency-amplitude and frequency-threshold characteristics of auditory neurons is described. A multi-channel analyser is utilized as a storage device.     

The relative merits of open- and closed-path analysers for measurement of eddy fluxes

Theoretical and practical aspects of measuring eddy fluxes of trace gases using open-and closed-path analysers are presented. Trace gas fluxes measured with an open-path analyser require the concurrent measurement of sensible and latent heat fluxes to correct for density fluctuations in trace gas concentration caused by these fluxes. A closed-path analyser eliminates the corrections due to sensible heat flux, but not for water vapour, provided temperature fluctuations are completely removed without significantly reducing fluctuations in the trace gas mixing ratio. Theory for the design of heat exchangers and for the attenuation of concentration fluctuations during air flow through tubes is used to provide design criteria for closed-path systems. Spectral transfer functions are used to estimate flux losses caused by flow through the sampling tube and gas analyser. Other factors considered include cross-sensitivity of infrared CO₂ analysers to water vapour, and deterioration of system performance caused by contaminants on the walls of sampling tubes. Of two open-path, infrared CO₂ analysers tested, one showed a strong interaction between CO₂ and water vapour, while the other showed little sensitivity to the presence of water vapour, other than caused by dilution. A commercial closed-path CO₂ analyser also showed little cross-sensitivity to water vapour. Compared to results for a clean sampling tube, the spectral bandwidth for water vapour fluctuations decreased significantly after several weeks of sampling. No such deterioration in bandwidth was observed for CO₂. These findings are attributed to differential adsorption/desorption of water vapour by dust or salt on the tubing walls. Rain and dust must be removed from open-path analysers to obtain satisfactory measurements. Careful system design and maintenance is required for both open- and closed-path systems to ensure satisfactory long-term measurement of trace gas fluxes. With these precautions, both approaches will provide satisfactory flux measurements.     

尿素氮-葡萄糖双功能分析仪的研究

由固定化脲酶、谷氨酸脱氢酶、谷氨酸氧化酶、葡萄糖氧化酶的复合酶膜组成的双电极系统,可以同时测定尿素氮和葡萄糖的含量,每次进样量为25μl,20s即可测定出尿素氮和葡萄糖的含量。在0～60mg/dl尿素氮、0～500mg/dl葡萄糖范围内具有良好的线性关系。连续测定20次的变异系数分别为1.02％和1.05％。酶膜使用寿命为两星期以上。此仪器可广泛应用于临床检验和体育训练中。     

Carbon Dioxide Infra-Red Gas Analysis: EFFECTS OF WATER VAPOUR

Theory shows that it is nearly always necessary to correct carbondioxide infra-red gas analyses for the presence of water vapour.The necessary corrections are derived for both an analyser fittedwith selective filters and where the air is dried for use inleaf-chamber experiments and also for measurements of absolutecarbon dioxide concentrations and determinations of field profiles.The magnitudes of the corrections are determined for typicalexamples.     

A split stream ion exchange chromatographic method for isolating amino acids and peptides

The technique whereby a standard type single-column amino acid analyser may be modified to operate in a split stream mode is described. The column effluent is divided so that $\text{1}\text{10}$ proceeds to reaction with ninhydrin in the regular way and $\text{9}\text{10}$ proceeds to a fraction collector. Approximately 1–2 nmoles only of each amino acid is necessary for generation of the analog display. The split stream analyser has proved to be valuable in the isolation of several peptides and two glycosides.     

A new infra-red gas analyser and portable photosynthesis meter

The new infra-red gas analyser for measurement of CO₂ concentration described uses a focussed, dual optical path. The 2W radiation source is a heated alumina bead and a cooled lead selenide photoconductive detector measures the difference in radiation absorption at 4.26 m by the gas in sample and reference tubes. Radiation is chopped alternately between these tubes at 120 Hz. The signal from the detector is processed through an a.c. coupled amplifier, phase sensitive detector and low pass filter. Incorporated into the photosynthesis meter, the sample tube of the analyser is connected to a leaf chamber and circulating pump forming a closed gas circuit. As a leaf in the chamber removes carbon dioxide from the air in the closed circuit, the decrease in its concentration is sensed by the analyser. The time taken for the concentration to decrease by a predetermined amount (typically 30 ppm) is displayed and rate of net photosynthesis can be calculated from this and the volume of the closed circuit. A measurement of the light-saturated rate of net photosynthesis of a healthy flag leaf of wheat can be made in 10–15 seconds. The system is fully portable and has been used intensively in the field for two summers.     

Rapid on-line protein detection in biotechnological processes by flow injection analysis (FIA)

Two rapid methods for on-line protein determination useful for control purposes in the automation of biotechnological processes such as fermentation and downstream processing are described. Both methods are derived from colorimetric laboratory biuret and Bradford protein assays adapted to a flow injection analyser.     

A Simple and Accurate Method for Infra-Red Gas Analyser Calibration

An alternative method for calibrating infra-red gas analysersis described which uses gas mixtures prepared with a gas mixingcircuit constructed from commonly available materials. It isshown that the maximum error in the gas mixture is about 1.5%,and possible improvements to the technique are discussed. Key words: Infra-red gas analyser, Calibration