Chemically Functionalized Arrays Comprising Micro and Nano-Electro-Mechanizal Systems for Reliable and Selective Characterization of Tank Waste

Innovative technology of sensory and selective chemical monitoring of hazardous wastes present in storage tanks are of continued importance to the environment. This multifaceted research program exploits the unique characteristics of micro and nano-fabricated cantilever-based, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMES) and nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS) in chemical sensing

Fiber-optic chemical sensors for competitive binding fluoroimmunoassay

This paper describes the development of a fiber-optic chemical sensor based on the principle of competitive-binding fluorescence immunoassay. Rabbit immunoglobln G (IgG) is covalently Immobilized on the distal sensing tip of a quartz optical fiber. The sensor is exposed to fluorescein Isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled and unlabeled anti-rabbit IgG. The 488-nm line of an argon-ion laser provides excitation of sensor-bound analyte. This results in fluorescence emission at the optical fiber‧s sensing tip. Sensor response is inversely proportional to the amount of unlabeled anti-IgG In the sample. Limits of detection (LOD) vary with Incubation time, sample size, and measurement conditions. For 10-μL samples, typical LOD are 25 fmol of unlabeled antibody In a 20-min Incubation period. These results Indicate that each fiber-optic fluoroimmunosensor can be constructed to perform a single sensitive, rapid, low-volume immunoassay, in in situ or benchtop applications. © 1987, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved

Capillary electrokinetic separations: Influence of mobile phase composition on performance

The composition of the mobile phase employed in capillary zone electrophoresis and the related technique, micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography, is an important factor in determining separation performance. The influences of ionic salt, surfactant, and organic solvent mobile phase additives on separation efficiency, retention, and elution range are discussed and demonstrated. 23 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs

Smoking‐induced genetic and epigenetic alterations in infertile men

Male fertility rates have shown a progressive decrease in both developing and industrialised countries in the past 50 years. Clinical and epidemiological studies have demonstrated controversial results about the harmful effects of cigarette smoking on seminal parameters. Some studies could not establish a negative effect by tobacco smoking on sperm quality and function, whereas others have found a significant reduction in sperm quality and function. This study reviews the components in cigarette smoke and discusses the effects of smoking on male fertility by focusing extensively on smoking‐induced genetic and epigenetic alterations in infertile men. Chromosomal aneuploidies, sperm DNA fragmentation and gene mutations are discussed in the first section, while changes in DNA methylation, chromatin remodelling and noncoding RNAs are discussed in the second section as part of epigenetic alterations