Z. Abdel-Salam

Laser spectrochemical characterization of semen

The overall objective of this paper is to use a fast, more sensitive and less costly spectrochemical analysis laser techniques for estimation of seasonal variation of elements present in seminal plasma as well as for semen sperm count. For these two tasks we used Laser Induced-Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) as an elemental analysis technique and Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) as a molecular analysis technique for sperm count estimation. The samples investigated via both techniques were buffalo semen from the artificial insemination center at the faculty of agriculture. The obtained LIBS data helped to assess indirectly the semen quality, sperm motility and spermatozoa count, relevant to the studied elements in different seasons. In addition it has been demonstrated that LIF can be adopted directly in centers of artificial insemination as a simple and fast method for the essential step of semen counting instead of the lengthy and inaccurate conventional techniques.

Green laser irradiation effects on buffalo semen

The overall objective of this paper is to develop a more sensitive and less costly technique of laser irradiation of spermatozoa at certain wavelengths and exposure times suitable for improvement of buffalo semen quality. A 532 nm continuous wave (CW) DPSS laser light has been used to irradiate buffalo semen for different time intervals. Three semen pools from three different bulls (Bubalus bubalis) were used in the experiment, each pool was divided into six groups : control (not irradiated), and the other five were exposed to laser light for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 minutes with fluencies of 0.076, 0.15, 0.23, 0.31, and 0.38 Joule/cm² respectively at an output power 1mW. The results show that the semen quality parameters increase under the effect of laser irradiation. Maximum improvement in the semen quality has been reached after 4 minutes of exposure. Such results indicate the possibility of adopting laser irradiation as an easy and straightforward technique for in situ improvement of the semen quality to optimize the artificial insemination conditions.

Application of Laser Spectrochemical Analytical Techniques to Follow Up Spoilage of White Meat in Chicken

The overall objective of this paper is to evaluate the potential of laser spectrochemical analytical techniques as rapid, cost-effective, and accurate techniques to detect the onset of spoilage in fresh chicken breast fillets in three consecutive days directly following slaughter day. Samples were periodically examined via laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). In the case of LIBS, the cyanide (CN) and carbon (C2) molecular spectral emission bands in the LIBS spectra of meat have been taken as indicators of protein content in the chicken breast samples. The ratio of ionic to atomic spectral lines of both magnesium and iron is found to be proportional to the chicken meat tenderness which decreases with storage time. LIF has been also exploited as a simple and fast technique for white meat spoilage detection. There was a clear inverse proportionality between the intensity of the samples’ fluorescence band and the storage period. The obtained spectrochemical results have been validated by measuring the total proteins in the investigated samples using a conventional meat analyzer. This work demonstrates the feasibility of adopting LIBS and LIF techniques in characterization of both fresh and spoiled chicken meat samples.

Laser researches on livestock semen and oocytes: A brief review.

Graphical abstract

Evaluation of immunoglobulins in bovine colostrum using laser induced fluorescence.

The objective of the present study was to exploit laser induced fluorescence (LIF) as a spectrochemical analytical technique for evaluation of immunoglobulin (IgG) in bovine colostrum. Colostrum samples were collected from different American Holstein cows at different times after calving. Four samples were gathered from each cow; the first three samples were obtained from the first three milkings (colostrum) and the fourth sample (milk) was obtained a week after calving. It has been demonstrated that LIF can be used as a simple, fast, sensitive and less costly spectrochemical analytical technique for qualitative estimation of IgG in colostrum. LIF results have been confirmed via the quantitative evaluation of IgG in the same samples adopting the single radial immunodiffusion conventional technique and a very good agreement has been obtained. Through LIF it was possible to evaluate bovine colostrum after different milking times and to differentiate qualitatively between colostrum from different animals which may reflect their general health status. A fluorescence linear calibration curve for IgG concentrations from 0 up to 120 g L(-1) has been obtained. In addition, it is feasible to adopt this technique for in situ measurements, i.e. in dairy cattle farms as a simple and fast method for evaluation of IgG in bovine colostrum instead of using lengthy and complicated conventional techniques in laboratories.

Characterization of Milk from Mastitis-Infected Cows Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectrometry as a Molecular Analytical Technique

The present work focuses on the possibility of using the evolution of the spectral molecular bands of cyanide (CN) and carbon (C2) in the laser-induced breakdown spectra of cow’s milk for mastitis characterization. It has been found that the intensities of these molecular bands are directly proportional to the mastitis symptoms and consequently to the somatic cells count (SCC). The results obtained using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique in the present measurements proved that it is a direct, straightforward, and easy method for discrimination between mastitis milk and normal milk. A linear relation between the CN and C2 spectral line intensities and the corresponding average of the SCC has been obtained. Such linear relationship can be easily exploited in the identification and characterization of mastitic milk samples.

Evaluation of proteins in sheep colostrum via laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and multivariate analysis

Graphical abstract

Comparative LIBS Analysis Of Calcified Tissues

Signal enhancement, limits of detection, and relevance to environmental concentration for element in calcified tissues using LIBS with single and double laser pulses will be presented. These measurements were performed on three calcified tissues representing different matrices, namely enamel of human teeth, shells and eggshells. This method depends on the role of the laser induced shock wave on the ionization rate of the ablated target material atoms. The effect of the laser single and double pulse on the ionic to atomic ratio of calcium and magnesium spectral emission lines, CaII/CaI and MgII/MgI, will be presented and compared with the previous results and its relevance to the target material hardness. The results show that in case of single pulse the intensity ratios in calcium are higher than the double pulse while there is no appreciable difference between both in case of magnesium.