Gripping adhesive principles in the design of effectors.

This article presents a basic study of knowledge in the research and development of specific gripping elements based on the principle of adhesion. It summarizes the use of materials with a high degree of surface adhesion in the design of gripping elements usable in industry to provide stable gripping of objects during automatic manipulation. The principle of a combined element proposed by the authors, where the gripping force is derived through both vacuum and adhesion, is presented. The conditions of operation in an active or completely passive mode without the need to connect an energy source are discussed in detail. In the active mode, a significant increase in gripping forces is demonstrated compared to standard vacuum elements, which has a positive effect on the amounts of compressed air consumed and the level of grip safety in production processes. To ensure the optimal function of the adhesive gripping elements, the design of a specifically designed fluid position compensator and an active system for disturbing the adhesive gripping forces is presented. The functionality of the designed element is demonstrated through several laboratory tests under various conditions, and the results clearly confirm an increase in gripping forces in the axial and in particular the radial direction of the load. The research includes the design of a computer model of deformation-adhesive contact, respecting the time dependence of the deformation of the adhesive layer and the gradual loss of contact with the object. Article highlights:oExperimental study presents use of PU materials in adhesive and combined gripping elements.oAdhesive contact theory is applied for a numerical simulation and prepared computer model is subsequently verified.oAuthors present new proprietary solution of gripping element applicable in industrial robotics.

Molecular identification and genotyping of Microsporidia in selected hosts.

The work is described by microscopic analysis, the serological analysis (IFAT) and the molecular analysis of isolates from clinical samples (blood, faeces and urine) from ten domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), breed Malický, four New Zealand domestic rabbits, 11 sows of breed Slo0076akian Improved White and 15 clinically healthy laboratory BALB/c mice. The aim of the study was to validate the suitability of species-unspecific primer pairs 530F and 580R for genotype determination of the Microsporidia strain and species-specific primer pairs ECUNF and ECUNR, SINTF and SINTR and EBIER1 and EBIEF1 for the determination of E ncephalitozoon cuniculi, Encephalitozoon intestinalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi species for diagnostic purposes. Sequences of animals were compared with those from the GenBank database. In rabbits, two murine genotypes II and four canine genotypes III were identified. Genotype II was identified in mice. The Encephalitozoon intestinalis identified in the sample from swine showed no genetic heterogeneity.

First detection and genotyping of Encephalitozoon cuniculi in a new host species, gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus).

Recently, the pathogenic species of microsporidia of the genus Encephalitozoon have been detected increasingly, also in representatives of the Aves class. Our study presents laboratory proof of Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi) genotype II in a new host, gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), with suspect microsporidiosis. E. cuniculi is an obligate intracellular microsporidian parasite that infects a wide range of mammalian hosts, including humans. Characterization of the internal transcribed spacer of the rRNA gene has identified three genotypes of E. cuniculi based on the number of 5'-GTTT-3' repeats present: a genotype I from rabbits and mice, containing three repeats; a genotype II from mice and dogs, containing two repeats; and a genotype III from dogs and fox, containing four repeats. Samples of faeces from 30 gyrfalcons were examined for the presence of microsporidia spores, using microscopical, molecular methods and sequencing. Microscopic analysis showed presence of brightly fluorescing oval shapes of size 1.5 × 3 µm, characteristic of the strain Microsporidia in five samples. The PCR method, using species non-specific (530F/580R) and species-specific (ECUNR/ECUNF) primers, proved the presence of E. cuniculi spores in two samples. After sequencing were confirmed, E. cuniculi genotype II which implies new host species for this parasite.

Application of specific primers in the diagnosis of Encephalitozoon spp.

In our experiment, 3 species-specific primer pairs cultivated in cell lines were used: Encephalitozoon cuniculi -specific primer pairs (ECUNF and ECUNR), Encephalitozoon hellem -specific primer pairs (EHELF and EHELR), and Encephalitozoon intestinalis -specific primer pairs (SINTF and SINTR). The PCR products were estimated to be 550 bp in E. cuniculi , 547 bp in E. hellem and 545 bp in E. intestinalis respectively, which can prove the precision and reliability of this method in the species identification of the genus Encephalitozoon. All 3 primer pairs were species-specific and none of them amplified gene sequences from other Encephalitozoon spp.