Amperometric separation-free immunosensor for real-time environmental monitoring

Immunoanalytical techniques have found widespread use due to the characteristics of specificity and wide applicability for many analytes, from large polymer antigens, to simple haptens, and even single atoms. Electrochemical sensors offer benefits of technical simplicity, speed and convenience via direct transduction to electronic equipment. Together, these two systems offer the possibility of a convenient, ubiquitous assay technique with high selectivity. However, they are still not widely used, mainly due to the complexity of the associated immunoassay methodologies. A separation-free immunoanalytical technique is described here, which has allowed for the analysis of atrazine in real time and in both quasi-equilibrium and stirred batch configurations. It illustrated that determinations as low as 0.13mM (28 ppb) could be made using equilibrium incubation with an analytical range of 0.1–10mM. Measurements could be made between 1 and 10 mM within several minutes using a real-time, stirred batch method. This system offers the potential for fast, simple, cost-effective biosensors for the analysis of many substances of environmental, biomedical and pharmaceutical concern

Ensiling of the whole maize plant

Silirana cijela biljka kukuruza (Zea mays L.) se uobičajeno koristi za hranidbu preživača, prvenstveno radi visoke pogodnosti biljke kukuruza za siliranje, visokog sadržaja energije i visokog prinosa suhe tvari (ST) po jedinici površine. Cilj ovog rada je prikazati tehnološke zahvate u proizvodnji kukuruzne silaže od odabira hibrida kukuruza za sjetvu, gustoću sklopa usjeva kukuruza za siliranje, zrelost usjeva kukuruza za siliranje, visinu košnje, prinos, duljinu sjeckanja, primjenu aditiva za siliranje, zatvaranje silosa te fermentaciju u silosu. Proizvodnja kukuruzne silaže se može potpuno mehanizirati, a usjev se kosi jedan puta godišnje, pa su niži troškovi radne snage i mehanizacije u usporedbi s npr. proizvodnjom travne silaže/sjenaže gdje se kosi i silira nekoliko otkosa krme tijekom vegetacijske sezone. Biljka kukuruza se silira nekoliko tjedana prije žetve kukuruza za zrno, pa se prema potrebi, određene površine pod kukuruzom za siliranje mogu žeti kasnije za proizvodnju zrna. Razvoj hibrida kukuruza je ključan u globalnim trendovima proizvodnje kukuruzne silaže, a izbor hibrida za sjetvu je najvažniji čimbenik profitabilne proizvodnje kukuruzne silaže. Prinos i hranidbena vrijednost kukuruzne silaže su ovisni o mikroklimatskim uvjetima uzgoja, svim agrotehničkim zahvatima uzgoja usjeva kukuruza te pravovremenoj i usklađenoj provedbi tehnoloških postupaka siliranja biljke kukuruza od košnje, punjenja i zatvaranja silosa do završetka fermentacije u silosuThe ensiled whole maize plant is commonly used for feeding ruminants primarily for the high suitability of maize plant for ensiling, high energy content, and high dry matter yield (ST) per unit area. The aim of this paper is to present the basic aspects of maize silage production related to the selection of maize hybrids for sowing, density of corn crop for ensiling, maturity of maize for ensiling, mowing height, yield, cutting length, application of silage additives, and closure of fermentation in a silo. Maize silage production can be fully mechanized and the crop is mowed once a year, so labor and mechanization costs are lower compared to, for example, grass silage/haylage production where several forage cuts are obtained over the vegetation season. The corn for ensiling is harvested a few weeks before the full maturity, and if necessary, certain areas under silage corn can be used for grain production. The development of maize hybrids is crucial in global trends in maize silage production, and the choice of hybrids is the most important factor in profitable maize silage production. Yield and nutritional value of corn silage depend on microclimatic growing conditions, all the agro-technology applied for crop growing and timely ensiling from harvesting, filling and closing the silo to the end of fermentation in the silo

FOTOTOXICKÝ VLIV PORFYRINOVÝCH SENSITIZERŮ A VIDITELNÉHO ZÁŘENÍ NA GRAM-POZITIVNÍ METHICILIN-REZISTENTNÍ KMEN S. AUREUS

The use of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) as a therapeutic modality for the treatment of localized microbial infections represents an developing new field. The emergence of strains resistant to antibiotics has provided the necessary impulse for new drug or technology discoveries to combat these resistant compounds. Although the aPDT is still in infancy, its need is still growing. Like PDT, main components of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy are appropriate light, dye called photosensitizer and created reactive oxygen species. In this article photosensitizers TMPyP and ZnTPPS4 are investigated for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy. We tested these porphyrins on bacterial methicilin – resistant strain MRSA alone and bound in complex created with hp-β-cyclodextrin. The light emitting diodes (414 nm) were used at the doses 0 and 150 J/cm2. Tested concentrations were from 0.78 to 100 μM. This experimental work predicated that TMPyP is very successful compound in aPDT. In contrary to ZnTPPS4 which was efficient for eradication of tested gram-positive bacteria only in higher concentrations

Retrofit LED lamps: Photometric flicker analysis

International audienc

Extra low voltage DC grid LED lighting systems: photometric flicker analysis

International audienc

Rare Middle Triassic coleoids from the Alpine-Carpathian system: new records from Slovakia and their signifcance

Two stratigraphically well constrained (by ammonites and conodonts) coleoid remains have been recorded from the Triassic (Anisian) dark-grey organodetritic limestones (Ráztoka Limestone) of Western Carpathians (Hronic Nappe). The limestones deposited at the periphery of a former carbonate platform. It yields a highly diverse cephalopod fauna including nautiloids (2 taxa), ammonoids (7 taxa) and indetermined aulacoceratids. Two unusual coleoid specimens are referred to genus Mojsisovicsteuthis (M. boeckhi) and probably to a new taxon (described as Breviconoteuthis aff. breviconus herein) possessing similar morphological features of genus Breviconoteuthis (Phragmoteuthida) and/or Zugmontites. Based on index ammonites and conodonts, both records are of the uppermost Trinodosus through the lowermost Reitzi zones (Anisian—lower Illyrian). While the genus Mojsisovicsteuthis has been widely dispersed (however its records are rare), the occurrence of Breviconoteuthis and Zugmontites is strictly limited to the Alpine-Carpathian region. Comparing with the holotype and additional specimens stored in the Hungarian Natural History Museum, the overal shell of Mojsisovicsteuthis and its size has been reconstructed. Its relationship to aulacoceratids and phragmoteuthids is briefly discussed. Geochemical record (n-alkanes from the bulk rock) provided a relevant signal of the existence of algal meadows

The Percentage of Free PSA and Urinary Markers Distinguish Prostate Cancer from Benign Hyperplasia and Contribute to a More Accurate Indication for Prostate Biopsy

The main advantage of urinary biomarkers is their noninvasive character and the ability to detect multifocal prostate cancer (CaP). We have previously implemented a quadruplex assay of urinary markers into clinical practice (PCA3, AMACR, TRPM8 and MSMB with KLK3 normalization). In this study, we aimed to validate it in a larger cohort with serum PSA 2.5–10 ng/mL and test other selected transcripts and clinical parameters, including the percentage of free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (% free PSA) and inflammation. In the main cohort of 299 men, we tested the quadruplex transcripts. In a subset of 146 men, we analyzed additional transcripts (CD45, EPCAM, EZH2, Ki67, PA2G4, PSGR, RHOA and TBP). After a prostate massage, the urine was collected, RNA isolated from a cell sediment and qRT-PCR performed. Ct values of KLK3 (i.e., PSA) were strongly correlated with Ct values of other genes which play a role in CaP (i.e., PCA3, AMACR, TRPM8, MSMB and PSGR). AMACR, PCA3, TRPM8 and EZH2 mRNA expression, as well as % free PSA, were significantly different for BPH and CaP. The best combined model (% free PSA plus PCA3 and AMACR) achieved an AUC of 0.728 in the main cohort. In the subset of patients, the best AUC 0.753 was achieved for the combination of PCA3, % free PSA, EPCAM and PSGR. PCA3 mRNA was increased in patients with inflammation, however, this did not affect the stratification of patients indicated for prostate biopsy. In conclusion, the percentage of free PSA and urinary markers contribute to a more accurate indication for prostate biopsy