Effects of sample preservation and storage on mercury speciation in natural stream water

Despite an increasing focus on low level methods for determination of mercury species in water over the last decades, few studies have paid attention to direct effects of different sample preparation methods (i.e. preservation techniques) on natural freshwater samples. In this study we show how different preservation techniques give significantly different concentrations of total and methylmercury in freshwaters (9 and 14% on average, respectively). Natural stream samples from a forested lake catchment were studied. Mean stream sample concentrations of total (3.6 ng/L) and methylmercury (0.06 ng/L) reflect levels typical for pristine humic boreal catchments. The main reason for the observed average differences in total and methylmercury concentrations is the use of one instead of two sample bottles and timing of sample acidification, respectively.     

On the generalized Ball bases

The Ball basis was introduced for cubic polynomials by Ball, and two different generalizations for higher degree m polynomials have been called the Said–Ball and the Wang–Ball basis, respectively. In this paper, we analyze some shape preserving and stability properties of these bases. We prove that the Wang–Ball basis is strictly monotonicity preserving for all m. However, it is not geometrically convexity preserving and is not totally positive for m>3, in contrast with the Said–Ball basis. We prove that the Said–Ball basis is better conditioned than the Wang–Ball basis and we include a stable conversion between both generalized Ball bases. The Wang–Ball basis has an evaluation algorithm with linear complexity. We perform an error analysis of the evaluation algorithms of both bases and compare them with other algorithms for polynomial evaluation.     

简析利用氟化物进行木材防腐工艺中的几个问题

对用氟化钠进行木材防腐处理工艺中的几个问题进行探讨，得出几个经济易行的结论。     

Bis(tributyltin) oxide as a wood preservative: Its chemical nature in timber

Tributyltin compounds have been used for many years as wood preservatives. This study has provided, for the first time, an explanation for the previously reported dealkylation and/or volatilization of the tributyltin species in, and from, timber. Thus ¹¹⁹Sn NMR studies have shown that, on impregnation into timber, bis(tributyltin) oxide, (Bu₃Sn)₂O, is rapidly converted to other tributyltin species, Bu₃SnOX, and that these subsequently undergo disproportionation to Bu₄Sn and Bu₂Sn(OX)₂ compounds. We have additionally demonstrated that Bu₄Sn, so produced, is not persistent in timber and is lost by volatilization. Since the rate of disproportionation of the Bu₃SnOX species should be dependent upon the nature of the X group, it should be possible to affect significantly, if not to stop, this process by the use of alternative tributyltin fungicides, e.g. tributyltin methanesulphonate. However, tributyltin fungicides have been used successfully in wood preservation for at least 25 years. Therefore, it must be concluded that, even after disproportionation in timber, in service, sufficient preservative action is retained to prevent decay of wood under the conditions of natural exposure.     

纳米晶钛膜中氦注入的保持剂量

在从室温到500℃的温度范围内，用卢瑟福质子背散射技术分别测量了不同能量、不同剂量注入的纳米晶钛膜中氦的浓度分布，不同温度时的保持剂量及其释放浓度.发现氦在这种纳米晶粒膜中其氦-钛原子浓度比达到41%—52%时能在室温到100℃的温度下长期稳定保持，若其原子浓度达52%—74%时也能在室温环境有效保持.文中对这种具有大的界面体积比的膜能有效保持氦这种惰性元素的可能机理从能量观点进行了初步探讨. 关键词： 离子注入 纳米晶粒钛膜 氦 保持剂量     

Food irradiation—past, present and future

A review is presented of historical developments, the present situation, and expected future developments in the field of food irradiation. Acceptance of the process in different parts of the world is not uniform. In the USA and in some other countries where health authorities actively encourage the use of this technology, commercial application has greatly advanced in recent years. In contrast, progress in the European Union is still slow.     

Restricted Systems

Restricted systems are introduced and characterized. They are related with usual properties of spline spaces with relevant consequences in geometric modelling. It is a weaker property than local linear independence but it is preserved under a wide range of transformations.     

Gamma radiation, cold and four different wrappings to preserve ginger rhizomes, Zingiber officinallis Roscoe

After irradiating with a single dose of 50 Gy, ginger rhizomes were dipped into paraffin for coating, wrapped in a plastic film of low-density polyethylene, on perforated or non-perforated polivinyl chloride film, and compared with non-wrapping and non-irradiation as the controls. After treatments the rhizomes were maintained refrigerated at 13°C and 80% relative humidity. As a main result it could be observed that dipping into paraffin and wrapping with plastics resulted in smaller weight loss of the rhizomes.     

Preservation of fresh noodles by irradiation

At the present paper, it is studied to preserve fresh noodles by irradiation. The noodles which were irradiated by 10 kGy of ⁶⁰Co-γ rays and stored at room temperature (18–24°C). The appearance of the noodles was observed, the bacteria in the noodles were examines, and the acidity of the noodles was measured during 10 days after irradiation. The results showed that the number of bacteria and the extent of acidification of the noodles were in inverse proportion to radiation dose. When the absorbed dose was less than 8 kGy, the residual bacteria in the noodles could proliferate massively in several days and acidified the noodles. The pH of these noodles decreased from 6.2 to 5.0 or less and the noodles turned into sticky during storage. When the absorbed dose reached 8–10 kGy, most of bacteria were killed and the acidity of the noodles kept about pH 6.0. The appearance of the noodles looks fresh within 10 days after irradiation. They smelled as good as fresh ones.     

不确定型AHP中单一准则下增加一组元素的保序性条件

本对区间数集定义了两种合理的偏序关系，给出了不确定型AHP中单一准则下增加一组元素弱保序的一个充分条件和强保序的一个充要条件。