Need for further inelastic scattering measurements at X-ray energies

With recent improvements in both theory and experiment for scattering of X-rays from atoms, it is possible now to make a more quantitative comparison, and see whether agreement is being obtained within the much more stringent limits set by the present calculations and measurements. Comparing with present theory, measured whole atom Compton scattering cross sections in the photon energy range 11–40 keV using synchrotron X-ray sources demonstrate that a dramatic improvement in the precision of scattering measurements has been achieved. However, circumstances are also identified in which further experimental data is needed in order to test the adequacy of present theoretical approaches.     

Comparison and validation of calibration methods for in vivo SPME determinations using an artificial vein system

The success of in vivo solid phase microextraction (SPME) depends significantly on the selection of calibration method. Three kinetic in vivo SPME calibration methods are evaluated in this paper: (1) on-fibre standardization (OFS), (2) dominant pre-equilibrium desorption (DPED), and (3) the diffusion-based interface (DBI) model. These are compared in terms of precision, accuracy, and ease of experimental use by employing a flow device simulating an animal circulatory system. In addition, the kinetic calibration methods were validated against established SPME equilibrium extraction (EE) external calibration and a conventional sample preparation method involving protein precipitation. The comparison was performed using a hydrophilic drug fenoterol as the analyte of interest. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used for the determinations. All three kinetic methods compared well with both EE extraction and the conventional method in terms of accuracy (93-119%). In terms of precision, the DBI model had the best precision in whole blood and buffered phosphate saline solution with %RSD similar to the standard techniques (9-15%). DPED had the poorest precision of %RSD (20-30%) possibly due to errors associated with uncertainty in the amount of standard loaded on-fibre and remaining on the fibre after desorption. In addition, incurred errors could result due to the greater number of fibres used in comparison to the other two calibration methods. The precision of the OFS procedure was better than for DPED primarily because the use of multiple fibres is eliminated. In terms of the ease of use for calibration, the DBI model was the simplest and most convenient as it did not require standards once it had been calibrated or the uptake constant was calculated. This research suggests the potential use of DBI model as the best kinetic calibration method for future in-vein blood SPME investigations.     

Automation of the information content analysis of kinetic parameters

The aim of this work has been to automate the analysis of kinetic measurements in solving inverse problems in order to recognize the number and form of the independent combinations of reaction rate constants. Software for determining the basis of nonlinear parametric functions of the kinetic parameters of a mathematical model for the mechanism of a complex chemical reaction has been developed and described. The main stages of program construction with the use of a search algorithm for the independent combinations of the rate constants of elementary steps in the mechanism of a complex chemical reaction based on experimental data on the concentrations of reactants are considered.     

Intercomparison study on accurate mass measurement of small molecules in mass spectrometry

The results from an intercomparison of accurate mass measurement of a small molecule (molecular weight 475 Da) across a broad range of mass spectrometers are reported. The intercomparison was designed to evaluate the relative capabilities and the optimum methodology of the diverse range of mass spectrometers currently used to record accurate mass measurements. The data will be used as a basis for developing guidance on accurate mass measurement. The need for guidance has resulted from the continued growth in the use of accurate mass measurements for assignment of elemental formula in the chemical and biochemical industries. This has been fuelled by a number of factors and includes the rapid pace of instrument development, which has enabled accurate mass measurements to be made in a less costly, yet robust fashion. The data from the intercomparison will allow us to compare those protocols that produced excellent accuracy and precision with those that produced poorer accuracy and/or precision for each type of mass spectrometer. The key points for best practice will then be established from this comparison for each type of mass spectrometer and accurate mass measurement technique. A compound was sent to the participating laboratories (in the UK, Europe, and USA), the identity of which was not revealed. Each laboratory was asked to record a minimum of five repeat mass measurements of the molecular species using their local protocols and their preferred ionization technique or techniques. To the best of our knowledge there were no interfering (unresolved) ions that originated from the sample. A questionnaire was also completed with the experimental work. The information from the questionnaires was used to evaluate the protocols used to record the measurements. Forty-five laboratories have reported their results. To summarize the performance of mass spectrometers in the intercomparison, magnetic sector field mass spectrometers used in peak matching mode and FTMS reported the highest mean mass measurement accuracy (88 and 83%, respectively, achieved < or =1 ppm). Magnetic sector field mass spectrometers used in voltage scanning produced 60% of the mean mass measurements with accuracy < or =1 ppm. Magnetic sector field mass spectrometers used in magnet scanning modes, quadrupole-TOF and TOF instruments generally achieved mean mass measurement accuracy between 5 and 10 ppm. The two low resolution triple quadrupoles used in the inter-comparison produced mean mass measurement accuracy of <2 ppm. The precision of the data from each instrument and experiment type is an important consideration when evaluating their relative capabilities. Using both the precision and accuracy, it will be possible to define the uncertainty associated with the elemental formulae derived from accurate mass measurements. Therefore, a thorough statistical evaluation of the data is underway and will be presented in a subsequent publication.     

Rational experimental design for bioanalytical methods validation illustration using an assay method for total captopril in plasma

Generally, bioanalytical chromatographic methods are validated according to a predefined programme and distinguish a pre-validation phase, a main validation phase and a follow-up validation phase. In this paper, a rational, total performance evaluation programme for chromatographic methods is presented. The design was developed in particular for the pre-validation and main validation phases. The entire experimental design can be performed within six analytical runs. The first run (pre-validation phase) is used to assess the validity of the expected concentration-response relationship (lack of fit, goodness of fit), to assess the specificity of the method and to assess the stability of processed samples in the autosampler for 30 h (benchtop stability). The latter experiment is performed to justify overnight analyses. Following approval of the method after the pre-validation phase, the next five runs (main validation phase) are performed to evaluate method precision and accuracy, recovery, freezing and thawing stability and over-curve control /dilution. The design is nested, i.e., many experimental results are used for the evaluation of several performance characteristics. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is used for the evaluation of lack of fit and goodness of fit, precision and accuracy, freezing and thawing stability and over-curve control/ dilution. Regression analysis is used to evaluate benchtop stability. For over-curve control/ dilution, additional to ANOVA, also a paired comparison is applied. As a consequence, the recommended design combines the performance of as few independent validation experiments as possible with modern statistical methods, resulting in optimum use of information. A demonstration of the entire validation programme is given for an HPLC method for the determination of total captopril in human plasma.     

Modelling of micro-electrochemical machining parameters used for machining of holes on copper plate

The electrochemical machining is a non-conventional machining process based on the electrolysis principle. It is used to machine various features on conducting engineering materials with the required accuracy and precision. So an attempt has been made to machine micro-holes on a 300 μm thick copper plate as an anode and a hollow stainless steel tool electrode of 250 μm diameter as the cathode. The machining operation is performed on the in-house developed micro-ECM experimental setup with controlled machining parameters voltage, concentration, and duty factor varied in three levels. A full factorial experimental plan is used to study the output responses material removal rate (MRR), radial overcut (ROC), circularity, and taper angle (TA). Later an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) model has been developed and shown the effectiveness of the developed model in the paper. The Sugeno fuzzy model has been used in ANFIS to generate the fuzzy rules required for the model. Out of 27 experiments, 22 machining data are used for training the model, and the remaining 5 machining data are used for testing the developed model. The average error observed between the ANFIS predicted values and experimental values of MRR is 12.56%, circularity is 43.09%, ROC is 13%, and TA is 27.53%, respectively.     

Communication between calorimetric experiment and continuous data evaluation during the incomplete reaction run

The kinetic control of exothermic reactions plays an important role in chemical safety technology. Predictions of thermal explosions by runaway, e.g. redox reactions, poly reactions, and decompositions, are required in case of simple as well as of complex reactions. Activation parameters of chemical reactions are often stressed by systematic errors which are caused by failures in accuracy of measurement and calibration. The influence of systematic errors for some selected reactions has been investigated by the software package TA-kin. The coupling between continuous data evaluation software and the precision calorimeter ACTRON 5.0, including a safety scenario equipment, was established to test the validity of calculated runaway predictions under practical conditions. Measured data are applied for kinetic evaluations by nonlinear optimization methods in real time. In this way, the experimental investigations of reaction systems become possible beyond the point of no return without any danger for the laboratory.     

Global dynamic optimization for parameter estimation in chemical kinetics

We present the first method guaranteed to find the best possible least-squares (chi2) fit of experimental data by a nonlinear kinetic model. Several important advantages of knowing with certainty the best possible fit rather than a locally optimum fit are discussed and demonstrated using data from the recent literature. This is particularly important when the model and the data appear to be inconsistent. With the new method, one can rigorously demonstrate that a nonlinear kinetic model with several adjustable rate parameters is inconsistent with measured experimental data. The numerical method presented is a valuable tool in evaluating the validity of a complex kinetics model.     

Closed form numerical approach for a kinetic interpretation of high-cis polybutadiene rubber vulcanization with sulphur

A novel mathematical approach to predict the vulcanization degree of high-cis polybutadiene rubber vulcanized with sulphur is presented. The model has kinetic base, it is constituted by four reactions occurring in series and parallel and takes contemporarily into consideration, within a simplified but reliable scheme, the actual reactions occurring during polybutadiene sulphur curing, namely primary crosslinking and possible de-vulcanization. The first order differential equation system obtained is suitably rearranged and a closed form expression for the vulcanization degree is derived, depending the four kinetic constants characterizing the chemistry describing reactions. Instead of using classic least-squares optimization routines to characterize kinetic constants on experimental data, a simplified but reliable approach is proposed, where a system of four non-linear equations is solved with a recursive strategy, allowing estimating kinetic constants that proved to fit well normalized experimental data. The procedure is fast and its reliability is tested on a number of experimental data available, relying into a high-cis polybutadiene rubber cured under different temperatures and accelerators concentrations. Very good approximations of experimental data are obtained, also in comparison with a heuristic numerical approach where optimization is obtained interactively.     

Radiation-induced catalytic polymerization. I. Theory

The kinetics of radiation polymerization on a solid catalyst is discussed, under the condition that only linear termination of the chain takes place. All the kinetic equations are balance equations of particles of each type adsorbed by unit mass of the catalyst, and this makes it possible to account for the effect on the kinetics of the time dependence of the magnitude of the part of its surface on which the reactions we are considering may take place. Integro-differential equations are used for calculating the molecular weight distribution of the resulting polymer; this ensures higher accuracy of the formulas obtained than when differential equations are used and makes it possible to eliminate a number of limitations generally involved in the transition to differential equations. An expression has been found for the molecular weight distribution of the polymer product which allows for the possibility of radiation-induced catalytic polymerization on the resulting adsorbed polymer. Expressions have been derived for the average molecular weight and yield (weight and molecular) of the polymer formed. Asymptotic formulas have been obtained (for large irradiation times) for all the above values. The conclusions that can be drawn concerning the mechanism of the process based on a comparison of the formulas obtained with kinetic curves plotted from experimental data are given. It is shown how such a comparison can be utilized for calculating the rate constants for polymerization and chain termination reactions.     

Kinetic analysis of DSC and thermogravimetric data on combustion of lignite

Thermal analysis increasingly being used to obtain kinetic data relating to sample decomposition. This work involves a comparative study of several methods used to analyse DSC and TG/DTG data obtained on the oxidation of Beypazari lignite. A general computer program was developed and the methods are compared with regard to their accuracy and the ease of interpretation of the kinetics of thermal decomposition. For this study, the ratio method was regarded as the preferred method, because it permits the estimation of reaction order, activation energy and Arrhenius constant simultaneously from a single experiment.The experimental part of this research was supported in part by NATO-SFS Project TU-Energy II. The authors express their appreciation to the NATO-SFS program for providing financial support for this project.     

Kinetics of dehydroxylation and evaluation of the crystallinity of kaolinite

This study presents results on the kinetics of kaolinite dehydroxylation. The accuracy of various methods of determining the values for the kinetic parameters and their sensitivity in detecting the mechanism of reaction is investigated. In particular, the differential order of reaction method of Baker, the general method of Achar et al., the integral method of Boy and Bohme, and the method of Coats and Redfern as modified by Fong and Chen are considered.

Kaolinites from well-known sources are used to study the influence of crystallinity on the values of kinetic parameters. The statistical significance of the various mathematical methods for the assessment of the data obtained from non-isothermal thermogravimetry is determined by comparison with experimental and theoretical data using a computer programme developed for this purpose. The study demonstrates that the kinetic parameters can be used to quantify the degree of crystallinity of kaolinite and also confirms other findings that the dehydroxylation of kaolinite is a second-order reaction.     

Molecular dynamic simulations of a new family of synthetic biodegradable amino acid-based poly(ester amide) biomaterials: Glass transition temperature and adhesion behavior

In this study, a member of a newly developed biodegradable amino acid-based poly(ester amide)s family (i.e.,phenylalanine-based PEA, or 8-Phe-4) was chosen as a model biomaterial for such an MD simulation study, and its glass transition temperature (T_g) and adhesion behavior on the magnesium (Mg) metal surface were examined and compared with the reported experimental data for assessing the accuracy and validity of this new tool in biomaterial research. For comparison, the adhesive behavior of a commercially available absorbable aliphatic polyester biomaterial, poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) on the same Mg metal surface was studied. The MD simulation results indicate that the calculated T_g of 8-Phe-4 is 325–326 K, which agrees well with the experimental value 320 K within the normal ±5% experimental error. The simulated adhesion data show that both 8-Phe-4 and PLGA can be coated on the Mg surface very well and the work of adhesion calculations show that, in 180–450 K temperature range,8-Phe-4 on Mg (0001) surface has a much stronger adhesion than PLGA on Mg surface. The results suggest that MD simulation is a powerful tool to aid or even guide biomaterial scientists and engineers in their search for better and efficient experimental designs for the desirable and efficient outcomes.     

快速傅立叶变换用于色谱噪声平滑及微弱信号的检测

应用快速傅立叶变换法（ＦＦＴ）对色谱噪声进行平滑处理及微弱信号检测,同时,也与其他数字滤波法进行了比较。结果表明,利用ＦＦＴ法可以很好地对噪声进行平滑处理,使信噪比提高１８倍,为更好地进行痕量组分的色谱微弱信号检测打下了基础。     

Homogeneous nucleation of n-nonane and n-propanol mixtures: a comparison of classical nucleation theory and experiments

The homogeneous nucleation rates for n-nonane-n-propanol vapor mixtures have been calculated as a function of vapor-phase activities at 230 K using the classical nucleation theory (CNT) with both rigorous and approximate kinetic prefactors and compared to previously reported experimental data. The predicted nucleation rates resemble qualitatively the experimental results for low n-nonane gas phase activity. On the high nonane activity side the theoretical nucleation rates are about three orders of magnitude lower than the experimental data when using the CNT with the approximate kinetics. The accurate kinetics improves the situation by reducing the difference between theory and experiments to two orders of magnitude. Besides the nucleation rate comparison and the experimental and predicted onset activities, the critical cluster composition is presented. The total number of molecules is approximated by CNT with reasonable accuracy. Overall, the classical nucleation theory with rigorous kinetic prefactor seems to perform better. The thermodynamic parameters needed to calculate the nucleation rates are revised extensively. Up-to-date estimates of liquid phase activities using universal functional activity coefficient Dortmund method are presented together with the experimental values of surface tensions obtained in the present study.     

热动力学的滴定量热法研究2: 单底物酶促反应的热动力学

用滴定量热法分别建立了滴定期和停滴反应期单底物酶促反应热动力学的数学模型。根据这两种模型,可由一次实验的滴定量热曲线同时解析出单底物酶促反应的热力学参数(Δ~rH~m)和动力学参数(K~m和k~2)。用滴定量热法研究了一个经典的单底物酶促反应---过氧化氢酶催化分解过氧化氢反应的热动力学,由滴定期和停滴反应期热动力学模型解析出在298.15K和pH=7.0时该反应的米氏常数K~m分别为(5.41±0.24)×10^-^3和(5.43±0.21)×10^-^3mol.L^-^1,酶转换数k~2分别为(3.58±0.33)×10^3和(3.60±0.41)×10^3s^-^1,摩尔反应焓为(-86.75±0.88)kJ.mol^-^1,实验结果验证了上述热动力学模型的正确性。     

Combining artificial neural networks and experimental design to prediction of kinetic rate constants

A “soft-modelling” computational approach of artificial neural networks (ANNs) combined with experimental design (ED) has been applied successfully in Chemical Kinetics for the prediction of kinetic rate constants. The system studied comprises two consecutive first-order reactions and the kinetic data were computed determining the values of both rate constants. The kinetic curves were distributed according to an ED, and the central star composite experimental design (CSCED) was chosen as the most appropriate. Computational treatments were performed on synthetic data endowed with noise, after which they were applied to the data measured in an experimental reaction between carbonyl cyanide 3-clorophenylhydrazone with 2-mercaptoethanol, computing the experimental kinetic data of absorbance acquired at 3 wavelengths. The combined ANN and ED approach applied in chemical kinetics proved to be robust and of general applicability and has the advantage of being a “soft-modelling” method such that it was not necessary to solve the system of ordinary differential equations to determine the explicit mathematical function between the data and the kinetic rate constants. Additionally, upon using the CSCED experimental design, it was possible to substantially reduce the number of experiments.     

A novel multipurpose Excel tool for equilibrium speciation based on Newton-Raphson method and on a hybrid genetic algorithm

A new algorithm for simulation of chemical equilibria is developed, based on classical Newton-Raphson method applied to mass balance. This tool, named EST (Equilibrium Speciation Tool), is improved by using a robust Genetic Algorithm. In addition, EST works by using Excel spreadsheets and therefore offers the innovation of a great simplicity and versatility. In fact, it allows the users to simulate, or to obtain from experimental data, desired chemical-physical parameters as well as to interact with other available or freely created Excel tools. The reliability of this utility is here proved by comparison with some published data by other authors, concerning both complicated homogeneous and heterogeneous equilibria. In addiction its flexibility is tested computing thermodynamic parameters by using experimental calorimetric data referred to the complex formation of cobalt(II) with a macrocyclic ligand. A brief review and comparison of the relative robustness and quickness of main numerical methods are also reported.