Single-run separation of closely related cationic and anionic compounds by CE-ESI-MS: application to the simultaneous analysis of melamine and its analogs in milk

In recent years, two adulteration incidents concerning the addition of melamine, a nitrogen-rich industrial small polar compound, to pet food and infant formula products have occurred in China. These issues prompted laboratories to develop methods for the analysis of melamine and related compounds in a wide variety of food products and ingredients. In this context, a CE-ESI-MS method was developed to simultaneously analyze melamine and its related products (ammeline, ammelide and cyanuric acid) that possess close physico-chemical properties. This method allows the simultaneous analysis of both cations and anions in a single run, using CE to divide the run into two time segments in normal polarity mode. For this purpose, ESI polarity was switched once during the run, increasing sensitivity and data quality. The method was applied to spiked powdered milk and melamine-contaminated powdered milk, with two sample preparation procedures

Single-run separation of closely related cationic and anionic compounds by CE-ESI-MS: application to the simultaneous analysis of melamine and its analogs in milk

In recent years, two adulteration incidents concerning the addition of melamine, a nitrogen-rich industrial small polar compound, to pet food and infant formula products have occurred in China. These issues prompted laboratories to develop methods for the analysis of melamine and related compounds in a wide variety of food products and ingredients. In this context, a CE-ESI-MS method was developed to simultaneously analyze melamine and its related products (ammeline, ammelide and cyanuric acid) that possess close physico-chemical properties. This method allows the simultaneous analysis of both cations and anions in a single run, using CE to divide the run into two time segments in normal polarity mode. For this purpose, ESI polarity was switched once during the run, increasing sensitivity and data quality. The method was applied to spiked powdered milk and melamine-contaminated powdered milk, with two sample preparation procedures

Sialic acid linkage differentiation of glycopeptides using capillary electrophoresis - electrospray ionization - mass spectrometry

Proteomic

Nursing diagnoses related to skin: operational definitions

OBJECTIVE: to validate the operational definitions of the defining characteristics and risk factors of the three NANDA International (NANDA-I) nursing diagnoses and to revise these diagnoses' definitions. METHOD: content validation of nursing diagnosis. 146 defining characteristics and risk factors were identified in the literature in Brazilian and international databases. This was followed by content validation of the definitions of these diagnoses (presented by NANDA-I) and of the operational definitions (developed by the researchers) of the defining characteristics and risk factors, carried out by six expert nurses, regarding relevance, clarity and comprehensiveness. RESULT: of the 146 defining characteristics and risk factors, 22 were considered redundant and were excluded. The experts proposed changing the definitions of the diagnoses of Impaired Tissue Integrity and Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity. It was possible to identify various defining characteristics and risk factors which are not present in the NANDA-I taxonomy but which are indicated in the literature. CONCLUSION: the process attained its objective of producing valid operational definitions for defining characteristics and risk factors, which will permit the undertaking of validation studies for these diagnoses. The study's contribution to advancing scientific knowledge consists in its presenting clearer operational definitions for these diagnoses and a higher number of defining characteristics and risk factors, which will assist the nurses in the identification and use of the same with greater accuracy in clinical practice.OBJETIVO: validar las definiciones operacionales de las características definidoras y factores de riesgo de los tres diagnósticos de enfermería relacionados a la piel de la NANDA International (NANDA-I) y revisar las definiciones de eses diagnósticos. MÉTODO: validación de contenido de diagnóstico de enfermería. Se identificaron 146 características definidoras y factores de riesgo en la literatura en las bases de datos nacionales e internacionales. Enseguida, se realizó la validación de contenido de las definiciones de estos diagnósticos, presentadas por la NANDA-I y de las definiciones operacionales, elaboradas por las investigadoras, de las características definidoras y factores de riesgo, por seis enfermeras expertas, en cuanto a la pertinencia, clareza y abarcamiento. RESULTADO: de las 146 características definidoras y factores de riesgo, 22 fueron considerados redundantes y excluidos. Los peritos propusieron alterar la definición de los diagnósticos de Integridad Tisular Dañada y Riesgo de Integridad de la Piel Dañada. Fue posible identificar varias características definidoras y factores de riesgo que no están presentes en la taxonomía de la NANDA-I, pero, que fueron apuntados por la literatura. CONCLUSIÓN: el proceso alcanzó el objetivo de producir definiciones operacionales válidas para características definidoras y factores de riesgo, lo que permitirá realizar estudios de validación de estos diagnósticos. La contribución del estudio para el avance del conocimiento científico consiste en presentar definiciones operacionales más claras de estos diagnósticos y un número mayor de características definidoras y factores de riesgo que podrá aportar con los enfermeros en la identificación y utilización de los mismos con mayor precisión en la práctica clínica.OBJETIVO: validar as definições operacionais das características definidoras e fatores de risco dos três diagnósticos de enfermagem, relacionados à pele, da NANDA International (NANDA-I), e revisar as definições desses diagnósticos. MÉTODO: validação de conteúdo de diagnóstico de enfermagem. Identificaram-se 146 características definidoras e fatores de risco na literatura, nas bases de dados nacionais e internacionais. Em seguida, realizou-se a validação de conteúdo das definições desses diagnósticos, apresentadas pela NANDA-I e das definições operacionais, elaboradas pelas pesquisadoras, das características definidoras e fatores de risco, por seis enfermeiras peritas, quanto à pertinência, clareza e abrangência. RESULTADOS: das 146 características definidoras e fatores de risco, 22 foram considerados redundantes e excluídos. Os peritos propuseram mudar a definição dos diagnósticos de Integridade Tissular Prejudicada e Risco de Integridade da Pele Prejudicada. Foi possível identificar várias características definidoras e fatores de risco que não estão presentes na taxonomia da NANDA-I, mas que foram apontados pela literatura. CONCLUSÃO: o processo atingiu o objetivo de produzir definições operacionais válidas para características definidoras e fatores de risco, o que permitirá realizar estudos de validação desses diagnósticos. A contribuição do estudo para o avanço do conhecimento científico consiste em apresentar definições operacionais mais claras desses diagnósticos e número maior de características definidoras e fatores de risco que poderão contribuir para que os enfermeiros identifiquem e se utilizem dos mesmos com maior acurácia na prática clínica

Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Demands of Immigration Scale

The Demands of Immigration Scale (DI) measures demands associated with immigration, including loss, novelty, occupational adjustment, language accommodation, discrimination, and not feeling at home in the resettlement country. The DI scale was evaluated in a sample of 1,647 immigrants from the former Soviet Union who had resided in the United States from a few months to 20 years. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the proposed factor model. The DI subscales were internally consistent and had good test-retest reliability. Support for concurrent validity was demonstrated by correlations in the expected direction between the DI total and subscale scores and measures of depression and somatization. Support for discriminant validity was demonstrated by mean group differences in some or all of the DI dimensions according to age and years in the United States

Analysis of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers by CE-UV/Vis and CE-ESI-TOF/MS.

Blood doping involves the use of products that enhance the uptake, transport, or delivery of oxygen to the blood. One approach uses artificial oxygen carriers, known as hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs). This study describes an analytical strategy based on CE for detecting intact HBOCs in plasma samples collected for doping control. On-capillary detection was performed by UV/Vis at 415 nm, which offered detection selectivity for hemoproteins (such as hemoglobin and HBOCs). On-line ESI-MS detection with a TOF analyzer was further used to provide accurate masses on CE peaks and to confirm the presence of HBOCs. An immunodepletion sample preparation step was mandatory prior to analysis, in order to remove most abundant proteins that interfered with CE separation and altered the ESI process. This analytical method was successfully applied to plasma samples enriched with Oxyglobin, a commercially available HBOC used for veterinary purposes. Detection limits of 0.20 and 0.45 g/dL were achieved in plasma for CE-UV/Vis at 415 nm and CE-ESI-TOF/MS, respectively

Modeling, identification and joint impedance control of the Atlas arms

Compliant manipulation has become central to robots that are sought to safely act in and interact with unstructured as well as only partially known environments. In this paper we equip the hydraulically actuated, position controlled arms of the Atlas robot with model-based joint impedance control, including suitable damping design, and experimentally verify the proposed algorithm. Our approach, which originates from the advances in soft-robotics control, relies on high-performance low-level joint torque control. This makes it independent from the actual technology being hydraulic or electromechanical. This paper describes the approach to accurately model the dynamics, and design the optimal excitation trajectory for system identification to enable the specification of model-based feed-forward controls. In conclusion, the implemented controller enables the robot arm to execute significantly smoother motions, be compliant against external forces, and have similar tracking performance as compared to the existing position control scheme. Finally, unknown modeling inaccuracies and contact forces are accurately estimated by a suitable disturbance observer, which will be used in the future to further enhance our controller’s performance

CE-ESI-TOF/MS for human growth hormone analysis.

CE is a powerful analytical tool used to separate intact biomolecules such as proteins. The coupling of CE with TOF/MS produces a very promising method that can be used to detect and identify proteins in different matrices. This paper describes an efficient, rapid, and simple CE-ESI-TOF/MS procedure for the analysis of endogenous human growth hormone and recombinant human growth hormone without sample preparation. Operational factors were optimized using an experimental design, and the method was successfully applied to distinguish human growth hormone and recombinant human growth hormone in unknown samples