Blood lead monitoring in Italy: Assessment of the quality of results obtained between 1992 and 1994

Between 1992 and 1994, a new screening campaign for blood Pb monitoring in the Italian general population was carried out. Since the first campaign (started in 1978, in accomplishment of the European Community Directive 77/312/EEC) a working group of the Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry at the Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità), as the Reference Centre (RC), has coordinated the activity of various laboratories spread over the national territory. Appropriate quality assurance procedures, including an external quality assessment scheme (EQAS), were elaborated. Within the EQAS, three or four trials were carried out every year. Each laboratory participating in the trial analyzed eight control samples prepared from cow blood at different Pb concentrations. The results obtained by each peripheral laboratory and the RC between 1992 and 1994 have been compared by regression analysis. The same statistical method was adopted to compare the results obtained by each peripheral laboratory and the RC in the duplicate analysis of about 10 per cent of the human samples collected during the 1992–1994 monitoring campaign. There was no evidence of systematic differences between the regression lines obtained on control and human samples. In spite of the lower Pb concentration in the control samples analyzed during the 1992–1994 campaign, the analytical performance of the laboratories was better than that obtained in the previous screening campaign (1985–1986). Blood Pb levels observed in human samples collected between 1992 and 1994, confirm the downward time trend observed in the campaigns carried out in 1978–1979, 1980–1981 and 1985–1986. This study confirms that the results obtained in an EQAS are representative of the actual performance in the analysis of real (human) samples.     

Synthesis, Structure and Geometrical Calculation of a Novel Co-crystal of {[4-Bromo-2-(benzimidazol-2-yl)phenolato][2- (1-butylbenzimidazol-2-yl)phenolato]zinc(Ⅱ)] and Bis[μ-2- (1- butylbenzimidazol-2-yl)phenolato]- 1κN3: 2κO; 1κO:2κN3-bis{[2-(1-butylbenzimidazol-2-yl)phenolato-κ2N3,O]zinc(Ⅱ)}

The title compound has been synthesized and characterized crystallographically. It is a co-crystal consisting of two different neutral zinc(Ⅱ) complexes with Hbpbm (Hbpbm = 4-bromo-2-(benzimidazol-2-yl)phenol) and Hnpbm (Hnpbm = 2-(1-butylbenzimidazol-2-yl)phenol).One is a monomeric mixed-ligand complex of [Zn(bpbm)(npbm)] 1 and the other a dimer of[Zn2(npbm)4] 2 with their ratio of 2:1. Thus the overall formula for the title compound is 21·2.Adjacent 1 and 2 are connected to each other by intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions in the lattice. The crystal data: monoclinic, space group P21/c, a= 15.0141(12), b = 20.9941(17), c =18.4686(15) (A), β = 97.445(2)°, V= 5772.4(8) (A)3, Mr= 2429.68, Z = 2, Dc = 1.398 g/cm3,μ = 1.579mm-1, F(000) = 2504, R = 0.0637 and wR = 0.1771 for 6464 observed reflections (I＞ 2σ(Ⅰ)). The geometrical structure for 1 has also been theoretically optimized and compared with the experimental one.     

Operating characteristics and energy distribution in transferred plasma arc systems

A specially designed plasma chamber was constructed to study the operating characteristics of a dc plasma-transferred arc of argon, struck between a fluid convective cathode and a water-cooled anode. The arc voltage increased markedly with arc length and with an increase in the inlet velocity of the argon flow past the cathode tip, and much less with an increase in current. Radiation from the plasma column to the chamber walls and transfer of energy to the anode were the two principal modes of transfer of the arc energy. The former was dominant in the case of long arcs and at high inlet argon velocities. At the anode, the major contribution was from electron transfer, which occurred on a very small area of the anode (～5 mm in diameter). Convective heat transfer from the plasma was somewhat less. In all cases, the arc energy contributions to cathode cooling and to the exit gas enthalpy were small. From total heat flux and radiative heat transfer measurements, it was estimated that the plasma temperature just above the anode was in the range 10,000–12,000 K. Preliminary experiments with an anode consisting of molten copper showed that the arc root was no longer fixed but moved around continuously. The arc was othwewise quite stable, and its operating characteristics differed little from those reported for solid anodes, in spite of the greater extent of metal vaporization.     

基于聚类分析的初三化学学业质量发展研究

以2013-2016年广州市各区（县级市）中考化学成绩的4种数据为指标，运用聚类分析研究广州市区域初三化学学业质量的发展状况。研究发现各区（县级市）主要分为3大类，部分区在不同年份的类别中移动，倾向于建立一个包括越来越多区域的第1大类。广州市区域初三化学学业质量逐步向优质均衡发展。系统的中学生化学探究活动和化学教师研训活动是实现这一发展的重要原因。     

Explorative data analysis of two-dimensional electrophoresis gels

Methods for classification of two-dimensional (2-DE) electrophoresis gels based on multivariate data analysis are demonstrated. Two-dimensional gels of ten wheat varieties are analyzed and it is demonstrated how to classify the wheat varieties in two qualities and a method for initial screening of gels is presented. First, an approach is demonstrated in which no prior knowledge of the separated proteins is used. Alignment of the gels followed by a simple transformation of data makes it possible to analyze the gels in an automated explorative manner by principal component analysis, to determine if the gels should be further analyzed. A more detailed approach is done by analyzing spot volume lists by principal components analysis and partial least square regression. The use of spot volume data offers a mean to investigate the spot pattern and link the classified protein patterns to distinct spots on the gels for further investigation. The explorative approach in analysis of 2-D gels makes it possible, in a fast and convenient way, to screen many gels in order to determine the protein patterns that form clusters and could be selected for further examination.     

The American (USA) perspective six years after implementation of CLIA'88 (Federal) regulations

 On September 1, 1992 all testing sites in the United States were required to comply with the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA'88). These regulations, based on both total quality management (TQM) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) principles, reshaped the environment for more than 90% of laboratories. CLIA'88 represented a revolutionary change by imposing universal, uniform regulations based on test complexity for all sites examining materials derived from the human body for the purpose of providing information for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of disease. CLIA'88 specifies minimum requirements for personnel, quality control, and proficiency testing (PT). In addition, laboratories are required to follow manufacturers' directions and comply with other specified good laboratory practices. PT is mandated for most of the frequently run analyses and quality assurance requirements integrate the principles of CQI as well as TQM into the regulatory process. Biannual inspection is integral to CLIA'88, however, laboratories can choose other federally approved ("deemed") professional organizations, such as the Commission on Office Laboratory Accreditation, the College of American Pathologists, or the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization, having standards that meet or exceed those of CLIA'88. CLIA'88 has still not been finalized. This article discusses the impact and changes since CLIA's implementation in 1992. Received: 5 October 1998 · Accepted: 20 October 1998     

RATE OF INTRA-MOLECULAR CONTACT FORMATION IN SHORT TWO-DIMENSIONAL COMPACT POLYMERS CHAINS

It is important to know the rate of intra-molecular contact formation in proteins in order to understand how proteins fold clearly. Here we investigate the rate of intra-molecular contact formation in short two-dimensional compact polymer chains by calculating the probability distribution p(r) of end-to-end distance r using the enumeration calculation method and HP model on two-dimensional square lattice. The probability distribution of end-to-end distance p(r) of short two-dimensional compact polymers chains may consist of two parts, i.e. p(r) = p1(r) p2(r), where p1(r) and p2(r) are different for small r. The rate of contact formation decreases monotonically with the number of bonds N, and the rate approximately conforms to the scaling relation of k(N) ∝ N-α. Here the value of α increases with the contact radius a and it also depends on the percentage of H (hydrophobic) residues in the sequences of compact chains and the energy parameters of εHH, εHP and εPP . Some comparisons of theoretical predictions with experimental results are also made. This investigation may help us to understand the protein folding.     

Analysis of Petroleum Distillates from Fire Debris Using Supercritical Fluid Extraction with a Two‐Level Orthogonal Array Experimental Design

A supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) method was developed in the present study as an effective sample pretreatment technique of petroleum distillates from fire debris. Three petroleum distillates were used as target analytes, including 95 unleaded gasoline, kerosene, and premium diesel. An orthogonal array (L16) experimental design was adopted to separately evaluate primary SFE experimental factors. The SFE efficiencies of petroleum distillates at various extraction conditions were examined and the optimized SFE conditions were identified. Experimental results demonstrated that the optimized SFE method not only provided an effective extraction method for the spiked sample, but also successfully recovered residues of petroleum distillates from fire debris.     

Anaerobic reduction of a sulfonated azo dye, Congo Red, by sulfate-reducing bacteria

The capacity for anaerobic decolorization of a sulfonated azo dye, Congo Red, by a strain of a sulfate-reducing bacterium was evaluated. After optimizing the growth rate of the bacteria on a simple carbon source and terminal electron acceptor pair, lactate and sulfate, respectively, the effect of the dye concentration on their growth rate was analyzed. The decolorization rate was affected by the dye concentration in the growth medium. The azo-bond cleavage mechanism of reductive decolorization with the formation of benzidine was consistent with the results, as this metabolite was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Several fractions of the culture medium, including lysed cell extracts, were examined for the capacity to reduce the azo dye. This reduction capacity was found in the culture medium in which the cells had previously grown. The results showed that the mechanism of reductive decolorization of this sulfonated azo dye was extracellular and nonenzymatic, consistent with the production of sulfide anion by the microorganisms while growing on lactate and sulfate. The sulfide anions were the cause of the reduction leading to the disappearance of color in the medium. To increase the rate of decolorization, the presence of ferrous ion was also necessary together with the lactate and sulfate substrates.     

Preparation of VPS and PVD coatings for metallographic and TEM investigations

The aim of the first part of the paper is to give some advice for the faultless metallographic preparation of vacuum plasma sprayed coatings. Several coating/substrate combinations using metals, alloys and ceramics were investigated to derive some general rules. The second part deals with a preparation technique for cross-sections- of physical vapour deposition coatings. This technique was optimized for TiN and Ti(C, N) coatings on hardmetals which were examined in an analytical transmission electron microscope.