The ETACS European project for testing the comparability of sensors and analysers

ETACS is the official acronym for the European project "European Testing and Assessment of Comparability of On-line Sensors/Analysers". This project has three main objectives to achieve the comparability of performance data for sensors and analysers in the environmental field. First, to develop a test protocol for validation and comparison of the performance of on-line sensors/analysers. The test protocol is intended to be generic, that is independent of the specific sensors/analysers and the specific parameters to be monitored. Second, the practical testing of this test protocol to assess its applicability and to develop the techniques used. Finally, to achieve widespread acceptance of the test protocol by producer/suppliers, users and relevant authorities to assist its early adoption as an agreed European standard. Laboratory tests for producing the test protocol have been carried out and completed to check the applicability of such a protocol.     

Can the highest occupied molecular orbital of the uranyl ion be essentially 5f?

Recent relativistic calculations on the uranyl ion suggest that the low wave numbers of the first electron transfer bands are due to a bonding 5f-like orbital containing the two loosest bound electrons. Comparison with UF₆ makes it more likely that if indeed σ_u (and not π_u) is the highest occupied MO, it is rather due to “pushing from below” by U 6p (like N 2s in N₂).     

Theoretical analysis of the electronic structure and molecular properties of thioborine,HSB and comparison with related compounds. An ab initio mo-cal

Ab initio calculations on the thioborine molecule have been performed. Ionization potentials, force constants and geometry parameters are calculated in fair agreement with experimental values. A preliminary investigation of the sensitivity by nucleophilic attack has also been performed, indicating a rather strong tendency to undergo that type of reaction.     

Magnetic field dependence of the spin—spin relaxation time of ferric ions in Fe(NO3)3·9H2O and in frozen aqueous solutions

The electronic relaxation of ferric ions in Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O and in frozen aqueous solutions has been investigated by use of Mössbauer spectroscopy. The application of an external magnetic field causes a pronounced increase of the spin—spin relaxation time, an effect which is contrary to that normally found in ferric compounds. An explanation is given based on a difference in the ionic state energies of the neighbouring ions induced by the applied magnetic field.     

Photoelectron spectra of uranium(V) in mixed oxides showing characteristic satellite signals

Whereas uranyl compounds at most show electron transfer satellites at 3 eV higher I in the U4f region, mixed oxides containing uranium(V) show a characteristic satellite at 7.9 eV higher I. Uranium-cerium blue and certain U(IV) compounds are also discussed.     

Photoelectron and Auger spectra of xenon (VIII) in solid perxenates

The chemical shift of core shell ionization energies in various perxenates relative to gaseous xenon is strongly compensated by interatomic relaxation. This effect is even more clear-cut on the Auger signals moving in the opposite direction of a (Hartree + Madelung) potential model.     

Selective Halogen-Lithium Exchange Reaction of Bromine-Substituted 25,26,27,28-Tetrapropoxycalix[4]arene

Methods are described for the selective bromine-lithium exchange reaction of bromine-substituted calix[4]arenes with either n-BuLi or t-BuLi in THF. Quenching of the lithiated calix[4]arenes with MeOH, D(2)O, CH(3)SSCH(3), B(OCH(3))(3), DMF, or CO(2) as electrophiles resulted in 5-monosubstituted, 5,17-disubstituted, or 5,11,17,23-tetrasubstituted calix[4]arenes with H, D, SCH(3), B(OH)(2), CHO, or COOH functionalities.     

Charged particle evaporation from compound nuclei formed by bombardment of58Ni with 70 MeV16O ions II

The experimental data have been compared with the result of extensive compound nucleus calculations based on the statistical theory. The shapes and the absolute cross sections for the high energy parts of the proton- and -spectra are reproduced with a level density parametera 0·11 A MeV^–1 and a moment of inertiaJ1·3J _rig. The same parameters fairly well reproduce the angular distributions corresponding to the high energy parts of the spectra whereas deviations between theory and experiment are observed for the lower energies where particles emitted by higher order processes contribute. The observed total cross section for emission of an -particle is 500 mb or 1·7 times calculated value. For protons the corresponding numbers are 2313 mb and 3·0. The increase in cross section is ascribed to the process in which several particles are evaporated. Various methods are discussed for determination of the average orbital angular momentum of the emitted particle or the average spin of the daughter nucleus.On leave fromFaculty of Matematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague, Czechoslovakia.     

Teaching Operational Research Technique

Good technique, i.e. competence in carrying out operational research, is as vital for the practitioner to acquire as competence in the traditional ‘techniques’. It is suggested that universities should teach students how to conduct simple projects prior to alerting them to more sophisticated methodological issues.As an aid to this task, the traditional five or six parts of an operational research project are broken down and extended into 39 steps, and regrouped into three phases. Also, five skills are identified as being conceptually essential to "good" operational research, which students can develop through tackling suitable case studies.     

Structure and Thermodynamics of NaF-AlF(3) Melts with Addition of CaF(2) and MgF(2)

The NaF-AlF(3) system with additions of CaF(2) and MgF(2) has been studied with Raman and vapor pressure measurements for 3 >/= CR (NaF/AlF(3) molar ratio) >/= 1 and up to 50 mol % additive. The results show that the binary melt can be described using the two equilibria AlF(6)(3)(-) = AlF(6)(2)(-) + F(-) and AlF(5)(2)(-) = AlF(4)(-) + F(-) with equilibrium constants 0.25 and 0.05, respectively, at 1293 K. Both reactions have positive reaction enthalpies. The first equilibrium is strongly shifted to the right resulting in a melt mixture with very low AlF(6)(3)(-) concentrations even at the Na(3)AlF(6) composition. Evidence for nonideal mixing of anions was found. For the ternaries, models based on Raman data are presented and compared with vapor pressure measurements. Good agreement is observed when association between the additives, CaF(2) or MgF(2), with the AlF(5)(2)(-) ions in the melt was considered. This association could be experimentally observed through a band broadening and a slight shift in the AlF(5)(2)(-) band frequency. Our vapor pressures and Raman data both indicate that MgF(2) clearly acts as an acid when added to NaF-AlF(3) melts of any composition. When CaF(2) is added, a slight decrease of vapor pressure occurs. Raman data indicate a decrease of AlF(4)(-) concentration, corresponding to a dissociation of CaF(2) with liberation of F(-) ions. All these results are, however, very much dependent on the initial melt composition. These data are explained in terms of acid-base, dilution, and association reactions of the solute with the solvent.