Targets and methods for the detection of processed animal proteins in animal feedstuffs

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or ‘mad cow disease’, is one of several transmissable spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) known to affect certain mammals and is spread through the ingestion of infected animal tissue. It is believed that the inadvertent contamination of meat and bone meal (MBM) with infected animal tissue and the subsequent use of this material as a feed supplement contributed to the spread of the disease in cattle. As a result, the use of processed animal proteins (PAPs) in animal feeds is regulated in many parts of the world. Although feed testing is the only definitive means to certify compliance, regulatory compliance often relies solely on paper certification. Recently, rapid methods have become available that can be used by regulators to determine compliance during routine inspections. We describe a rapid, immunochromatographic strip test that can detect 0.1% MBM in animal feed. The test takes 15 min to perform and large numbers of samples can be screened for PAPs simultaneously.     

Design of thermophoretic probe for precise particle sampling

We proposed a design methodology for improved thermophoretic probes that can sample particles with high spatial resolution. A bending vibration analysis for the instantaneous motion of a probe has been done together with direct observation of the probe motion and flow disturbance for systematic study of the effect of different designs on particle sampling. Direct observation of the motion of thermophoretic sampling probes revealed that the probe with a low stiffness would result in inaccurate particle sampling. Based on these, the thermophoretic sampling probe was modified to minimize probe vibration and flow disturbance and this modified design was confirmed to sample particles with higher spatial resolution than the original one by examining transmission electron microscope (TEM) images of particles collected in a flame.     

Effects of different cooking methods on the formation of food mutagens in meat

Hamburgers and chicken fillets were cooked in convection ovens, deep‐fried or contact fried and analysed for mutagenic activity using the Ames test. For the three different convection ovens, the cooking parameters studied included the presence of steam, air velocity, air temperature and holding time. For deep‐frying and contact frying, the cooking parameters included cooking temperature and cooking time. In cooked hamburgers, mutagenic activity was only detected in those that had been deep‐fried. In chicken fillets, mutagenic activity was detected in samples prepared with all cooking methods, being highest in the deep‐fried samples. Factorial analysis indicated that heat transfer was the most important factor affecting mutagenic activity. High temperature and high air velocity in the convection ovens enhanced mutagenic activity. The presence of steam reduced the mutagenic activity, except when high temperature was used in combination with high air velocity. In chicken fillets, high mutagenic activity correlated to high weight loss during cooking. Pan‐fried chicken fillets were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the mutagenic/carcinogenic heterocyclic amines 2‐amino‐3,8‐dimethylimidazo[4,5‐f ]‐quinoxaline (MeIQx), 2‐amino‐1‐methyl‐6‐phenylimidazo‐[4,5‐b]‐pyridine (PhIP) and the co‐mutagenic heterocyclic amine Norharman (9H‐pyrido[3,4‐b]‐indole) were identified. The HPLC fractions were tested for mutagenic activity and, apart from the mutagenic fractions corresponding to MeIQx and PhIP, several mutagenic fractions were detected that did not correspond to known heterocyclic amines.     

Self-controlled case series analyses: Small-sample performance

Second-order expressions for the asymptotic bias and variance of the log relative incidence estimator are derived for the self-controlled case series model in a simplified scenario. The dependence of the bias and variance on factors such as the relative incidence and ratio of risk to observation period are studied. Small-sample performance of the estimator in realistic scenarios is investigated using simulations. It is found that, in scenarios likely to arise in practice, asymptotic methods are valid for numbers of cases in excess of 20-50 depending on the ratio of the risk period to the observation period and on the relative incidence. The application of Monte Carlo methods to self-controlled case series analyses is also discussed.     

广播电视发射台技术指标集中自动测试系统

本文介绍了利用计算机技术、网络技术、三遥技术对广播电视发射技术指标进行实时自动测试的系统，以便进一步为安全优质播出提供技术保证。     

SW233 PIN驱动器自动测试系统的研制

介绍了一种集成电路自动测试系统，该系统采用计算机并口作通信接口，用VB6编程，实现了对外围测试电路的控制，用IEEE-488接口卡控制测试仪器，可对SW233电路的36个参数进行自动测试，并将测试结果自动保存在数据库中。该测试系统具有自动化程度高、操作方便、测试结果精确等特点。     

交流变频钻井泵试验台的研制

针对大功率、超高压（52MPa）钻井泵的试验问题，设计了采用交流变频控制技术，提高试验能力的试验台架。该试验台架体现了实用性、可操作性、高效节能、环保性；电气传动部分采用具有国际先进水平、成熟技术的交流变频调速系统，实现无级调速；机械传动部分采用单级双速变速箱，试验范围广；电控系统可完成对钻井泵各种参数在线监控和测定。     

秦山300MW核电机组全范围仿真机测试验收

介绍了秦山３００ＭＷ核电机组全范围仿真机的测试验收的整个过程，包括：验收测试规程的形成，工厂内部预测试和工厂用户测试。并分析了测试验收过程中存在的重大问题及解决的办法。     

用仪器中子活化分析法检验环境土壤标样的均匀度

近年来,国际上标准参考物质的种类与数量急剧增加,一些重要的领域,象地球化学、环境科学、生物学等都有了相应的SRM。国内研制SRM的工作也十分活跃。 标准样品必须均匀,故在分析定值和样品发行前,需要先作均匀性检验。由于均匀性是一个相对的概念,它与各个元素在SRM中的分布紧密相关。取样量直接影响均匀性的好坏。因此,当给出SRM中某元素的均匀性数值时,必须注明相应的取样量。由于仪器中子活化分析法(INAA)具有灵敏度高、不破坏试样、且可同时测定多种元素等特点,因此可在较小的取样量情况下,实现对SRM中多种痕量元素的均匀性检验。