FASTact Laboratory Unit

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The FASTact system and FASTpro GUI bring the FASTtracka II and now the newly launched FASTocean sensor into a laboratory setting and provide real-time data analysis.  In combination, FASTpro, FASTact and the FASTtracka II or FASTocean sensors provide an amazingly versatile Fast Repetition Rate fluorimeter (FRRf) system, which can be used in the laboratory, on the deck of a ship or underwater, taking measurements from discrete samples or open water.

 

FASTpro provides a GUI-based solution for all aspects of the FASTtracka II and FASTocean operation, including real-time data acquisition, analysis and presentation, plus data archiving and export to other analysis programs.

Key features
Key features of the FASTact system:
  • Single USB lead connects both FASTact & FASTtracka II or FASTocean to the controlling PC
  • FASTact base unit also provides power to the FASTtracka II or FASTocean
  • Full RLC automation through FASTpro
  • Very effective regulation of sample temperature
  • LED output between 0 and 1200 µmol photons m-2 s-1 (PAR) in 129 steps
  • Two 8-speed peristaltic pumps for the water jacket and sample mixing
  • Works with all versions of the FASTtracka II and FASTocean sensors
FASTact  sample chamber:
  • Three filtered LEDs, oriented to provide even illumination throughout the sample
  • Optical arrangement provides maximum signal from minimum sample size (down to 1 cm3)
  • Water jacket provides stable sample temperature, even at high PAR levels
  • Chamber head insert provides sample mixing capability and / or the facility to change the sample
FASTact base unit:
  • Provides power and bi-directional communication with the attached FASTtracka II or FASTocean sensor
  • Two peristaltic pumps provide flow through the sample chamber water jacket and the sample tube
  • All electrical connectors, including the USB connector, are highly water resistant (IP67 or better)
  • Illuminated, water resistant on/off switch
  • Options for securing the unit to a worktop
 
FASTpro GUI features
The FASTpro GUI has been developed as a complete software solution for use with the FASTtracka II sensor, with or without the FASTact laboratory accessory.

Key features of the FASTpro GUI include:

 

  • Multi-threaded GUI application, running under Windows XP or Windows 7.
  • Full, synchronised control of FASTtracka II sensor and FASTact laboratory accessory
  • Real time curve fitting of Single Turnover (ST) data – both saturation phase and relaxation phase
  • Real time calculation of ST and MT fluorescence parameters
  • Extensive range of options for data archiving, presentation, analysis and export
  • A range of clipboard functions for data transfer to other applications, including Excel and Matlab

 

The FASTpro GUI has been developed as a complete software solution for use with the FASTtracka II sensor, with or without the FASTact laboratory accessory.

This screen shot illustrates some features of FASTpro. The file showing contains 5 ST acquisitions from a simple experiment, testing the impact of KCN on chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters. The data plot window is showing how four key ST parameters change with increasing concentration of KCN. By moving the mouse within this window (with the left button pressed), the fluorescence data from which these parameters were calculated is selected within the Trace plot (scroll) window. The relevant acquisition is also selected within the file window. The FRR sensor and FASTact system dialogs show that an RLC is running in the background, acquiring data to a different file.

 

The FRR sensor and the FASTact system dialogs show that an RLC is running in the background, acquiring data to a different file.
 
Rapid Light Curve
The RLC settings dialog allows for up to 20 steps to be set, plus pre- and post-RLC dark measurements. Dark measurements can also be made after selected RLC steps.

 

There are 128 PAR values available at each RLC step. The required value is selected using the mouse wheel or Up and Down keys, for fine control, and wheel mouse plus Ctrl key or Page Up and Page Down keys for coarse control.		  1
The RLC data window (with PAR as the x-axis) is generated in real time, as the RLC is running. Solid lines indicate increasing PAR and dashed lines decreasing PAR. This makes it very easy to visualise hysteresis (or lack thereof).

Up to 8 parameters from a list of 19 can be plotted simultaneously, within the RLC data window.

 
The data plot window
The Data plot window provides a way of visualising all data within a file with time or acquisition index as the x-axis. Data are updated in real time, as new acquisitions are made. The data shown within this window are from the RLC shown on the 'Rapid Light Curve' tab.
There are 22 parameters available for plotting within the Data plot window. Up to 8 parameters can be plotted simultaneously.
FastAct5
Selecting a data point within the Data plot window automatically selects the data trace from which the parameter data at that point were generated.

The blue line shows the 'Quick fit' to this trace.

 



 
Examples

Reservoir water - Rapid Light Curve


Example data from an RLC of water taken from a reservoir in Hampshire, UK in May last year. Top left of the four traces shown below is after 1 h dark-adaptation. Top right is after a few minutes at a PAR of 361 µmol photons m-2 s-1, bottom left at a PAR of 546 µmol photons m-2 s-1 and bottom right at a PAR of 902 µmol photons m-2 s-1. The RLC plot indicates that saturation is reached at 902 µmol photonsm-2 s-1. There is little hysteresis within these data, with the high-to-low curves showing similar kinetics for all plotted parameters.
Further examples can be found on the Product Datasheet under the Download tab.
 
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