Injective spaces of real-valued functions with the baire property

Generalizing the technique used by S.A. Argyros in [3], we give a lemma from which certain Banach spaces are shown to be non-injective. This is applied mainly to study the injectivity of spaces of real-valued Borel functions and functions with the Baire property on a topological space. The results obtained in this way do not follow from previous works about this matter.     

Analysis of pesticides in fruits by pressurized liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-ion trap-triple stage mass spectrometry

A multi-residue method using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and liquid chromatography-quadrupole ion trap-triple stage mass spectrometry (LC-IT-MS(3)) has been developed for determining trace levels of pesticides in fruits. The selected pesticides can be distinguished in: benzimidazoles and azoles, organophosphorus, carbamates, neonicotinoids, and acaricides. PLE has been optimized to extract these pesticide residues from oranges and peaches by studying the effect of experimental variables on PLE efficiency. Samples were extracted at high temperature and pressure (75 degrees C and 1500psi) using ethyl acetate as extraction solvent and acidic alumina as drying agent. The recoveries obtained by PLE ranged from 58% to 97% and the relative standard deviation (RSDs) from 5% to 19%. The limits of quantification (LOQs) of the compounds were from 0.025 to 0.25mgkg(-1), which are well-below the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by the European Union (EU) and the Spanish legislations.     

Screening and evaluation of fruit samples for four pesticide residues

The occurrence of 4 pesticide residues, imidacloprid, carbendazim, methiocarb, and hexythiazox, was assessed in several fruits (oranges, tangerines, watermelons, and date plums) from the Valencian Community (Spain). A total of 227 samples--56 oranges, 134 tangerines, 13 watermelons, and 24 date plums--were taken from an agricultural cooperative representative of the area studied during 2001. The pesticides were determined by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry after sample extraction with ethyl acetate and anhydrous sodium sulfate. Recoveries of 4 pesticides at 2 fortification levels (0.02 and 0.2 mg/kg), the lower of which was the quantification limit, ranged from 60 to 108%. Concentrations of imidacloprid, carbendazim, methiocarb, and hexythiazox ranged from 0.02 to 0.75 mg/kg in 184 samples (54 oranges, 119 tangerines, 3 watermelons, and 8 date plums). Nineteen samples contained methiocarb or hexythiazox residues that exceeded the maximum residue limits. Calculation of the estimated daily intakes of the 4 pesticides studied and their comparison with the Acceptable Daily Intakes established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the World Health Organization demonstrated the safety of fruit consumption and showed the importance of monitoring for pesticide residues.     

Creatinine determination in urine samples by batchwise kinetic procedure and flow injection analysis using the Jaffé reaction: chemometric study

The classical Jaffé reaction for the determination of creatinine in urine samples is tested. A comparative study of the main analytical characteristics focussed to minimize the bias error and improve the precision, for the batchwise and flow injection (FI) methods is realized. Also, the effect of the albumin concentration in the determination of creatinine has been studied. Different analytical signals were studied. Absorbance increments at different times permit to estimate the creatinine concentration free from bias error in urine by the batchwise method using the calibration graph obtained with creatinine standards and no measurement of the blank solution is needed. The lineal interval was 0.92-50 mg l(-1) and seven samples can be processed per hour by an operator. No previous treatment of the urine sample is necessary. The FI method provides also good results. The lineal interval was 30-100 mg l(-1) and the sample rate was around 20 samples per hour. If increased albumin levels are detected in the urine, standard addition method or the calibration graphs with standards in presence of albumin are needed in order to obtain accurate results when FI method is employed. The obtained accuracy of the both methods allows its application as diagnostic tool to establish the urinary creatinine levels.     

Hardy Classes of Banach-Space-Valued Distributions

It is shown that for 0<p ≥ 1, the trigonometric polynomials are dense in H, the space of B-valued harmonic functions with non-tangential maximal function in L_p, if and only if the Banach space B has the Radon-Nikodym property (R.N.P.). This extends known results for 1 <p < ∞. We also show that H coincides with the corresponding atomic space if and only if B has the R.N.P.     

Multi-class determination of antimicrobials in meat by pressurized liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A multi-residue method using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been developed for determining trace levels of 31 antimicrobials, including beta-lactams, lincosamides, macrolides, quinolones, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, nitroimidazoles and trimethoprim. The extraction method required pre-homogeneization of the meat with EDTA-washed sand and subsequent one-static-cycle extraction for 10 min with 40 ml of water at 1500 psi and 70 degrees C. The effect of operation temperature, pressure, flush volume, and static cycles on PLE performance was studied. Average recoveries ranged from 75 to 99% with relative standard deviations <18%. The method was validated according to the European Union requirements (2002/657/EC). In addition to the quality parameters included in that decision, the limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) were determined. The use of LC-MS/MS provided LODs (between 3 and 15 microg kg(-1)) and LOQs (between 10 and 50 microg kg(-1)), by far lower than half of their maximum residue limits (MRLs) (between 50 and 1200 microg kg(-1)). Confirmation of the presence of any of the studied compounds was accomplished in 1h after sample receipt. This methodology has been successfully applied to the analysis of cattle and pig tissue samples from local markets and slaughterhouses of the Valencian Community (Spain). The results showed the presence of some antimicrobials at different concentrations. Quinolones and tetracyclines were the antimicrobials most detected in cattle and pig samples, respectively. Sulfonamides were also frequently detected in both types of samples.     

Modeling cluster jets as targets for high-power ultrashort laser pulses

A hydrodynamic model is formulated that describes the formation of clusters in atomic gas jets expanding into vacuum, which are used as laser plasma targets. Detailed model calculations performed for an argon gas jet describe spatial distributions of the density of gas and cluster phases formed in the Laval nozzle at room temperature in a broad range of entrance gas pressures. The cluster density distribution is significantly inhomogeneous. The cluster distribution features revealed by the model calculations were qualitatively confirmed by the X-ray spectroscopic measurements of the spatial distribution of emission from the plasma created in the jet tar-gets by high-power ultrashort laser pulses.     

Combined use of liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry in systematic screening of pesticides and other contaminants in water samples

As a suitable way for routine screening of pesticides and control of other organic contaminants in water, the combination of liquid chromatography triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (LC–QqQ-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography–hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC–QTOF-MS) has been applied to the analysis of 63 surface and waste water samples after conventional solid-phase extraction (SPE). The extracts were screened for 43 pesticides or degradation products by LC–QqQ-MS/MS achieving limits of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.04 to 2 ng L⁻¹. Of the 43 selected pesticides, 33 were detected in water samples. The ESI–QTOF MS instrument was run using two simultaneous acquisition functions with low and high collision energy (MS^E approach) and acquiring the full mass spectra. A home-made database containing more than 1100 organic pollutants was used for substance identification. Around 250 of these compounds were available at the laboratory as reference standards. Five pesticides and 3 of their degradation products, different to those selected in the QqQ method, were detected by QqTOF-MS. Thirteen pharmaceuticals and two drugs of abuse were also identified in the samples. In practice, the sample preparation proved to be suitable for both techniques and for a wide variety of substances with different polarity. Mutual confirmation and evidence of co-occurrence of several other organic contaminants were the main advantages of the combination of both techniques.