Laboratory evaluation of the COBAS MIRA S random access analyser

The random access analyser COBAS MIRA S (Roche Diagnostics) was evaluated for two months. The instrument is a computer-controlled discrete analyser which can be run in a combination profile and single test mode. This instrument has special features, including an automatic cuvette segment changer, a reagent rack cooling system, an external keyboard and monitor, as well as a bar-code facility for the entry of test parameters, worklists and sample identification numbers. Study of within-run and between-run precision gave values of % CV 0.54-3.37 and 0.61-3.65, respectively, for a variety of assays. Linearity testing to the upper limit of each test was also studied and were found to cover the necessary pathological range. Within the two-month period, no major problems were encountered. The instrument required minimum operator attention during operation. Correlation studies with the Hitachi 705 using six clinical chemistry tests (glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, ALP, AST, ALT) gave correlation coefficients ranging from 0.95-0.99 and slopes of 0.91-1.17.     

Investigating the performance of dry textile electrodes for wearable end-uses

Textile electrodes have become popular in recent years for their good skin sensorial comfort and their good integration with clothing, which offers great potential for sensing of signals for wearable end uses. However, in comparison with wet electrodes, dry textile electrodes have much higher and unstable skin-electrode impedance, which could introduce differential noise in signals and cause difficulties in results and diagnosis. To solve this problem, this paper is focused on determining the reasons for this phenomenon and optimizing the performance of textile electrode. Several factors have been examined and the results indicate that the skin-electrode impedance performance is very sensitive to changes of electrode position, size and holding pressure. The fabrication of textile electrode and its optimum holding pressure and size are also described in this paper. Through the implementation of electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements, it was demonstrated that when the electrode size and holding pressure are optimized, the textile electrodes can achieve similar signal performance as wet electrodes.     

Identification of hemocyanin as a novel non-cross-reactive allergen from the giant freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Scope : Sensitization to giant freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Mr) was recently reported. However, the allergens have yet to be identified. This study aimed to identify and characterize a novel allergen of Mr shrimp. Methods and results: Extracted proteins were separated and purified by anion and in some experiments, size‐exclusion chromatography. Serum IgE from shrimp allergic donors identified a candidate protein, which was characterized by LC‐MS/MS. The specificity of IgE binding was tested using immunoblotting and inhibition ELISA. The IgE‐binding profiles from 12 of 13 Mr allergic subjects that were pre‐incubated with an extract of Penaeus monodon showed residual binding to ～60–80 kDa proteins. The 60–80 kDa IgE‐bound proteins were fractionated in the flow‐through of anion chromatography showing a high IgE reactivity. Peptides identified by LC‐MS/MS showed the proteins closely match subunits of hemocyanin (Hcs). Purified Hcs from hemolymph markedly inhibited binding of IgE from sera of Mr allergic subjects to solid‐phased Mr proteins in inhibition ELISA. Conclusion: Hcs were identified as heat‐stable, non‐cross‐reactive, high‐molecular‐weight (MW) allergens from Mr shrimp. Since circulatory organs are not always removed during food preparation, high concentrations of Hcs may be present along with shrimp meat, which contains the known cross‐reactive tropomyosin protein.     

Characterization and encapsulation efficiency of rhamnolipid vesicles with cholesterol addition

The effect of cholesterol on the vesicle formation of a rhamnolipid biosurfactant extracted from the liquid culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa SP4 was investigated. The rhamnolipid vesicles were prepared in a phosphate-buffer saline (PBS) solution (pH 7.4) at a biosurfactant concentration of 2.6mM, or 6.5 times the critical micelle concentration (CMC), with various amounts of cholesterol. The biosurfactant solution was characterized using turbidity, zeta potential, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. The morphology of the rhamnolipid vesicles formed at different cholesterol concentrations was examined with the use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the rhamnolipid biosurfactant formed spherical vesicles both in the absence and presence of cholesterol, but the incorporation of the cholesterol into the bilayer membrane reduced the vesicle size. Sudan III, a water-insoluble dye, was used as a model hydrophobic compound in the encapsulation experiment. The encapsulation efficiency (E%) of the rhamnolipid vesicles was affected by the cholesterol concentration and the initial Sudan III concentration. The maximum E% of nearly 90% was achieved at the cholesterol concentration of 100μM and the initial Sudan III concentration of 8.8μM.     

The First Year Nursing Students’ Achievement and Critical Thinking in Local Wisdom Course Using Problem Based Learning Process

The purpose of this one group—pre test post test design classroom research was to examine learning achievement, critical thinking and satisfaction of first year nurse students at school of nursing during academic year 2011. In the research activity, 94 students participated in three weeks for each scenario in Local Wisdom and Health Care which composed of 4 scenarios. Problem based learning process were included the preparation of facilitators, preparation of learners, and problem/scenario based assignments. The instruments composed of 1) 135 items, 4 multiple choices test which were covered behavioral objectives and blue print of test and validated by course lecturers 2) opinion evaluation form, open ended questionnaire and 3) the critical thinking questionnaire, 80 items in five domains which are Inference, Recognition of Assumption, Deduction, Interpretation, and Evaluation of Argument with internal consistency of .73. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, percentile, t test and $\chi ^{2}$ test. It was found that the highest score of learning achievement was 88.79 % while the lowest score was 70.33 %, average learning achievement score was 80.60 $(\pm 3.47)\%$ . The highest grade levels were B+ and B equally (41.49 %). Students demonstrated higher overall critical thinking $(49.62 \pm 5.78)$ after undergone problem based learning process than before the problem based learning process $(46.69 \pm 6.00)$ statistically significance $(\text{ t}\,=\,4.443, p\,<\,.05)$ . Inference and Recognition of Assumption domain after PBL process were better than their own thoughts before PBL process significantly (t = 2.288, $p\,<\,.05$ ; t = 6.287, $p\,<\,.05$ , respectively). The ability of critical thinking was found that the high, moderate and low level (percentile $>75, 25-75$ and $<25$ ) after PBL were difference from the ability before the process significantly $(\chi ^{2}=12.219, p\,<\,.05)$ .