The new approach to a pattern recognition of volatile compounds: the inflammation markers in nasal mucus swabs from calves using the gas sensor array

This paper discusses the application of two approaches (direct and inverse) to the identification of volatile substances by means of a gas sensor array in a headspace over nasal mucus swab samples taken from calves with differing degrees of respiratory damage. We propose a unique method to visualize sensor array data for quality analysis, based on the spectra of cross mass sensitivity parameters. The traditional method, which requires an initial sensor array trained on the vapors of the individual substances (database accumulation)-with their further identification in the analyzed bio-samples through the comparison of the analysis results to the database-has shown unsatisfactory performance. The proposed inverse approach is more informative for the pattern recognition of volatile substances in the headspace of mucus samples. The projection of the calculated parameters of the sensor array for individual substances in the principal component space, acquired while processing the sensor array output from nasal swab samples, has allowed us to divide animals into groups according to the clinical diagnosis of their lung condition (healthy respiratory system, bronchitis, or bronchopneumonia). The substances detected in the gas phase of the nasal swab samples (cyclohexanone, butanone-2,4-methyl-2-pentanone) were correlated with the clinical state of the animals, and were consistent with the reference data on disease markers in exhaled air established for destructive organism processes

ИНФОРМАТИВНОСТЬ ВЫХОДНЫХ СИГНАЛОВ «ЭЛЕКТРОННОГО НОСА» НА ПЬЕЗОСЕНСОРАХ

The purpose of this research was assessing the influence of the various factors on the output signals of the static "electronic nose" based on the piezoelectric sensors, and determining the informative nature of these signals for the identification and determination of the marker-substances related to the pathogenic processes in the equilibrium gas phase over the aqueous solutions. Individual substances contained in bio samples in the presence of pathogenic and neoplastic processes, such as ammonia, amines, carboxylic acids, ethanol, 1-butanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, phenol, hydrogen sulfide and water were selected as the marker-substances. The selective coating of sensors was chosen based on the results of the numerous studies for the living systems of different nature in order to determine the deviations from the norm, which included standard chromatographic phases and specific sorbents (indicators, crown ethers). It was shown that the analytical information of the electronic nose based on the piezoelectric sensors no more dependent on the experimental conditions than other popular, widely used methods of analysis. The informative value of the sensors array’ output signals which were used to identify the substances was described. The array set of piezoelectric sensors identification parameters was established in order to detect amines, organic acids, alcohols, ethyl acetate, acetone in the equilibrium gas phase over the aqueous solutions. The influence of the sensors order in the array on the values of three-element identification parameters has been demonstrated. The scheme of the identification parameters application, including nonselective ones, has been proposed for detecting the organic substances coincidentally at least two parameters. The possibility of an application of these parameters to identify amines, acids, alcohols, ketones in the equilibrium gas phase over the aqueous solutions of mixtures from these substances has been proven. This approach was characterized by high sensitivity and specificity, and may be used for the identification of substances in equilibrium gas phase over the samples with high water content (blood, urine, lymph, perspiration, juices, beverages).Key words: piezoelectric sensors, electronic nose, analytical signals, marker-substances, identification parameters, informativenessDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15826/analitika.2017.21.2.001T.A. Kuchmenko and A.A. Shuba* Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, faculty of ecology and chemical technology, Revolution Avenue, 19, Voronezh, 394036, Russian Federation Обсуждается влияние температуры, влажности, режимов измерения, собственных характеристик пьезорезонаторов, природы и массы сорбента, природы и содержания аналита, типа проб на выходные данные массива пьезосенсоров, в том числе на параметры, используемые для идентификации веществ в смесях, и пути устранения или минимизации этого влияния. Показано, что аналитическая информация «электронного носа» на пьезосенсорах не более зависима от условий эксперимента, чем популярные, широко распространенные методы анализа. Описана информативность выходных сигналов массива сенсоров, используемых для идентификации веществ. Установлены идентификационные параметры массива пьезосенсоров для обнаружения аминов, органических кислот, спиртов, этилацетата, ацетона в равновесной газовой фазе над водными растворами. Продемонстрировано влияние порядка расположения сенсоров в массиве на значения трехэлементных идентификационных параметров. Предложена схема применения идентификационных параметров, в том числе неселективных, для обнаружения органических веществ по совпадению не менее двух параметров. Доказана возможность применения данных параметров для идентификации аминов, кислот, спиртов, кетонов в равновесной газовой фазе над водными растворами их смесей. Данный подход характеризуется высокой чувствительностью и специфичностью и может быть использован для идентификации веществ в равновесной газовой фазе над пробами с большим содержанием воды (кровь,  моча, лимфа, пот, соки, напитки).Ключевые слова: пьезосенсоры, электронный нос, вещества-маркеры, аналитический сигнал, идентификационные параметры, информативность.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15826/analitika.2017.21.2.001

Experimental Appropriateness Verification of K. Gorodetsky`s Mathematical Model for Losses Determinination in Hydrostatic Transmissions for Modern Hydrolic Machines

There were experimentally obtained dependences of efficiency coefficients for two hydrostatic transmissions of various sizes and performance on the basis of axial-piston hydraulic machines under various loading conditions. The experimental data is compared with the calculated one obtained using the mathematical model of K. Gorodetsky. The object of study was the hydrostatic monoblock transmission manufactured in 1999 and the hydrostatic transmission made in 2012 with a spaced hydraulic pump and hydraulic motor

Influence of nanotube length and density on the plasmonic terahertz response of single-walled carbon nanotubes

We measure the conductivity spectra of thin films comprising bundled single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) of different average lengths in the frequency range 0.3-1000 THz and temperature interval 10-530 K. The observed temperature-induced changes in the terahertz conductivity spectra are shown to depend strongly on the average CNT length, with a conductivity around 1 THz that increases/decreases as the temperature increases for short/long tubes. This behaviour originates from the temperature dependence of the electron scattering rate, which we obtain from Drude fits of the measured conductivity in the range 0.3-2 THz for 10 $\mu$m length CNTs. This increasing scattering rate with temperature results in a subsequent broadening of the observed THz conductivity peak at higher temperatures and a shift to lower frequencies for increasing CNT length. Finally, we show that the change in conductivity with temperature depends not only on tube length, but also varies with tube density. We record the effective conductivities of composite films comprising mixtures of WS$_2$ nanotubes and CNTs vs CNT density for frequencies in the range 0.3-1 THz, finding that the conductivity increases/decreases for low/high density films as the temperature increases. This effect arises due to the density dependence of the effective length of conducting pathways in the composite films, which again leads to a shift and temperature dependent broadening of the THz conductivity peak.Comment: Submitted to Journal of Physics D. Main manuscript: 9 pages, 8 figures. Supplementary material: 5 pages, 6 figure

A functional update of the Escherichia coli K-12 genome

Author Posting. © 2001 Serres et al. The definitive version was published in Genome Biology 2 (2001): research0035.1–0035.7, doi:10.1186/gb-2001-2-9-research0035.Background: Since the genome of Escherichia coli K-12 was initially annotated in 1997, additional functional information based on biological characterization and functions of sequence-similar proteins has become available. On the basis of this new information, an updated version of the annotated chromosome has been generated. Results: The E. coli K-12 chromosome is currently represented by 4,401 genes encoding 116 RNAs and 4,285 proteins. The boundaries of the genes identified in the GenBank Accession U00096 were used. Some protein-coding sequences are compound and encode multimodular proteins. The coding sequences (CDSs) are represented by modules (protein elements of at least 100 amino acids with biological activity and independent evolutionary history). There are 4,616 identified modules in the 4,285 proteins. Of these, 48.9% have been characterized, 29.5% have an imputed function, 2.1% have a phenotype and 19.5% have no function assignment. Only 7% of the modules appear unique to E. coli, and this number is expected to be reduced as more genome data becomes available. The imputed functions were assigned on the basis of manual evaluation of functions predicted by BLAST and DARWIN analyses and by the MAGPIE genome annotation system. Conclusions: Much knowledge has been gained about functions encoded by the E. coli K-12 genome since the 1997 annotation was published. The data presented here should be useful for analysis of E. coli gene products as well as gene products encoded by other genomes.This work was supported by NIH grant RO1 RR07861, the NASA Astrobiology Institute grant NCC2-1054, grants from the Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr Foundation and the Sinsheimer Foundation, and NSF grants NSF DBI - 9984882 and NSF IIS - 9996304

TTX-sensitive Na+ and nifedipine-sensitive Ca2+ channels in rat vas deferens smooth muscle cells

The inward currents in single smooth muscle cells (SMC) isolated from epididymal part of rat vas deferens have been studied using whole-cell patch-clamp method. Depolarising steps from holding potential -90 mV evoked inward current with fast and slow components. the component with slow activation possessed voltage-dependent and pharmacological properties characteristic for Ca2+ current carried through L-type calcium channels (I-Ca). the fast component of inward current was activated at around -40 mV, reached its peak at 0 mV, and disappeared upon removal of Na ions from bath solution. This current was blocked in dose-dependent manner by tetrodotoxin (TTX) with an apparent dissociation constant of 6.7 nM. On the basis of voltage-dependent characteristics, TTX sensitivity of fast component of inward current and its disappearance in Na-free solution it is suggested that this current is TTX-sensitive depolarisation activated sodium current (I-Na) Cell dialysis with a pipette solution containing no macroergic compounds resulted in significant inhibition of I-Ca (depression of peak I-Ca by about 81% was observed by 13 min of dialysis), while I-Na remained unaffected during 50 min of dialysis. These data draw first evidence for the existence of TTX-sensitive Na+ current in single SMC isolated from rat vas deferens. These Na+ channels do not appear to be regulated by a phosphorylation process under resting conditions. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.Natl Acad Sci Ukraine, Bogomoletz Inst Physiol, Nerve Muscle Physiol Dept, UA-24 Kiev, UkraineUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Pharmacol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Pharmacol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Effects of a mixed exercise program on physical and cognitive condition: Differences between older adults with and without dementia

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of a training protocol on physical and cognitive condition in a sample of individuals dwelling in a health care center for older persons. Material: A 12 weeks mixed motor cognitive training with 8 weeks follow up was performed by 20 individuals with dementia and 20 individuals with intact cognitive state (mean age= 76 ± 7). Main outcome measures included body mass index, performance-oriented balance, frailty, performance in daily activities and mental abilities. Results: At post intervention tests performance-oriented balance improved in both group. There was also a reduction in BMI in the normal group. These changes lasted after 8 weeks of no training. Analysis over time and between groups after the intervention showed a significant change in FR test (p=0.001). Performance-oriented balance was improved in both groups regardless to initial cognitive state and somehow it was affected more in cognitively intact individuals. Conclusion: Although these findings support the dominant effect of our training protocol on physical aspects, the benefits of training on cognition is not decisive

Hyperthermic effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes stimulated with near infrared irradiation for anticancer therapy: in vitro studies

It is proposed to use the novel paradigm of treating cancer with hyperthermic therapy using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) stimulated with near infrared (NIR) irradiation. Aim: To establish the capacity of MWCNT stimulated with NIR irradiation to destroy Erlich ascitic carcinoma (EAC) cells. Materials and Methods: EAC cells suspension was irradiated with NIR heating lamp with a wavelength of 0.78–1.40 mm and power density of 3.5 W/cm2 over 1.5 min in the presence of MWCNT (0.1 mg/ml). The changes in the temperature of suspension with the NIR exposure time was measured using the differential cooper-constantan thermocouple. The viability of EAC cells was evaluated by trypan blue staining. Results: The death of 95.2% of EAC cells in the presence of MWCNT was observed after 1.5 min of NIR light irradiation: thermal ablation temperature was ~50 °C. Conclusions: It was demonstrated that addition of MWCNT to EAC cell suspension results in the photo-ablative destruction of cells exposed to short time NIR irradiation

Some aspects of teaching medical informatics at medical universities

В статті розглядаються питання сучасного викладання медичної інформатики студентам медичних університетів. В роботі описано основну мету дисципліни, пропонуються шляхи вдосконалення її. Актуальність даної тематики підтверджує те, що наукові методи та інструментальні засоби все більш широко проникають в будь-які галузі життєдіяльності людини, і медицина не є виключенням, Саме це надає медичній інформатиці характер міждисциплінарної галузі, яка набуває все більш важливе загальнонаукове і загальноосвітнє значення. Розкрито важливе питання забезпечення формування у сучасного лікаря цілісного системного наукового світогляду на проблеми інформатизації охорони здоров'я. Дана стаття буде цікава викладачам закладів вищої медичної освіти.The article discusses the issues of up-to-date teaching medical informatics to students of medical universities. The paper describes the main goal of the discipline, suggests ways to improve it. The relevance of this topic lies in the fact that scientific methods and tools are increasingly penetrating into any branch of human life, and medicine is not an exception. That is why Medical Informatics belongs to interdisciplinary field, and acquires important scientific and educational value. Authors disclosed the important issue of the formation of a holistic and scientific worldview in modern doctors on the problems of health care informatization. This article would be interesting to teachers of higher educational institutions of a medical profile