Topological properties of stock market networks: The case of Brazil

This paper investigates the topological properties of the Brazilian stock market networks. We build the minimum spanning tree, which is based on the concept of ultrametricity, using the correlation matrix for a variety of stocks of different sectors. Our results suggest that stocks tend to cluster by sector. We employ a dynamic approach using complex network measures and find that the relative importance of different sectors within the network varies. The financial, energy and material sectors are the most important within the network.     

Drying agents for water-free introduction of desorption solvent into a GC after on-line SPE of aqueous samples

Summary A small cartridge containing a drying agent is inserted between a solid phase extraction (SPE) column and a gas chromatograph (GC) to enable the introduction of water-free desorption solvent into the GC in on-line liquid chromatography (LC)-type enrichment of trace-level analytes from water samples. Some characteristics of the drying agents, such as their capacity to retain water and their re-usability after heating, have been tested. Possible interactions of the drying agent with the analytes, e.g., irreversible adsorption or catalyzed degradation, have been checked for a wide range of alkanes, alkylbenzenes chlorobenzenes, chlorophenols and phthalate esters. Using the on-line SPE-GC system with flame ionization detection (FID) and spiked samples containing different levels of the test compounds, the repeatability was shown to be satisfactory (6–17%). For 10 mL samples, the detection limits were lower than 0.1 g/L. The on-line SPE-GC-FID system here presented can be used for the repeated analysis of water samples without exchange of the dyring cartridge. The technique is applied to the analysis of tap water.     

Optimization of an electrolytic conductivity detector for determination of toxic nitrogen-containing food contaminants separated by open tubular column gas chromatography

The combination of open tubular column gas chromatography with electrolytic conductivity detection has been evaluated for the determination of nitrogen-containing pesticide residues in food extracts. Optimization of the column position at the column-detector interface was crucial to the successful operation of the detector. The signal-to-noise ratio and response stability of the detector are greatly influenced by the composition of the electrolyte solvent. Large volume splitless injections using retention gaps and optimized detector operating conditions enabled pesticide residues in food extracts to be determined at sub parts-per-million levels. Although the electrolytic conductivity detector is less sensitive than the thermionic ionization detector, its greater nitrogen selectivity can he crucial to the determination of nitrogen-containing contaminants in food extracts, particularly in complex mixtures where phosphorus-containing contaminants or matrix compounds are also present.     

体内和体外生物测定在环境监测中的应用

生物测定在环境毒物学研究中普遍用于检测人为污染物对个别生物体和生态系统的影响.这些测定适用于个别化学品或复杂的混合物(如废水)对有代表性的生物系统或整个生物体所引起的影响,并普遍应用于环境监测项目.生物测定可在生物体外或生物体内进行,前者是在实验室内利用细胞培养技术,后者除可在实验室内进行还可应用在真实的环境中.体外生物测定往往是用来研究环境样品中的污染物对生物机制的具体影响,如受体结合特性.而体内活性生物测定则提供了一个更加具体化的综合生物反应.然而,这两种类型的生物测定法可以测量许多不同的生物指标,如对生物生长及发育的影响、内分泌功能和DNA损伤.无论是在体内和体外生物测定都分别有其特有的优点和缺点,其中一些测定法可以使用于毒性鉴定和评价程序.本文简要介绍了体内和体外生物测定方法的基本特点及其在环境监测中的应用实例,指出化学物质如何影响有机体及生态系统的结构和功能,认为广泛发展更能充分反映生态系统生物多样性的生物测定方法,将有助于更准确地了解环境污染物对环境的潜在影响.     

新型污染物的环境质谱技术研究进展

随着科学技术的飞速发展,质谱检测及其联用技术方法正以前所未有的速度、广度和深度全面渗透到环境分析化学中,其在环境监测中的使用已经或正在日常化.近年来,一些高分辨质谱及其与色谱等的联用技术在目标污染物和非目标污染物的同时甄别鉴定和分析中发挥了重要作用,其对于阐明污染物在环境的归趋具有重要意义.本文对质谱技术及其与气相色谱和液相色谱的联用技术在污染物尤其是新型污染物分析中的进展进行了总结,并对高分辨质谱技术的环境应用研究给于关注,对环境质谱技术的发展方向进行了展望.     

Sampling and analytical framework for routine environmental monitoring of organic pollutants

Dubious data would lead to incorrect interpretations and consequently faulty conclusions. Environmental monitoring results therefore have to be unambiguous to avoid misunderstanding the problems under investigation. Representative sampling and appropriate laboratory procedures are keys to acquiring quality data in order to draw unbiased conclusions.Although a large number of studies on organic pollutants have been published, few efforts have been directed towards instituting a systematic framework from sampling design to instrumental analysis. Generally, the main components in such a framework should include sampling design, sample preparation, sample extraction, extract purification and fractionation, and quantification (including qualitative and quantitative analyses).This review outlines the sampling and analytical framework appropriate for routine monitoring of organic pollutants, particularly persistent organic pollutants widely occurring in the environment. We emphasize statistically-based sampling schemes and quality-assurance and quality-control measures desirable for environmental monitoring programs.By way of demonstrating their importance, we especially review procedures for collecting unconventional environmental samples (e.g., human blood, breast milk, human hair, fish and bird tissues, and ice and snow) and analytical methods for typical emerging organic chemicals.     

Rapid automated screening, identification and quantification of organic micro-contaminants and their main transformation products in wastewater and river waters using liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry with an accurate-mass database

In this study we have developed and evaluated an analytical method for a rapid automated screening and confirmation of a large number of organic micro-contaminants (almost 400) and also the quantification of the positive findings in water samples of different types (surface and wastewaters) using liquid chromatography-electrospray quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOFMS) based on the use of an accurate-mass database. The created database includes data not only on the accurate masses of the target ions but also on the characteristic in-source fragment ions, isotopic pattern and retention time data. This customized database was linked to commercially available software which extracted all the potential compounds of interest from the LC-QTOFMS raw data of each sample and matched them against the database to search for targeted compounds in the sample. The detailed fragmentation information has also been used as a powerful tool for the automatic identification of unknown compounds and/or transformation products with similar structures to those of known organic contaminants included in the database. The database can be continually enlarged. To confirm identification of compounds which have no fragment ions (or fragments with low intensity/relative abundance) from in-source CID fragmentation or isomers which are not distinguished within full single mass spectra, a "Targeted MS/MS" method is developed. Thereafter, these compounds can be further analyzed using the collision energy (CE) in QTOF-MS/MS mode. Linearity and limits of detection were studied. Method detection limits (MDLs) in effluent wastewater and river waters were, in most cases, lowers or equal to 5 and 2 ng/L, respectively. Only 15 compounds had MDLs between 5 and 50 ng/L in effluent wastewater matrix. We obtained a linearity of the calibration curves over two orders of magnitude. The method has been applied to real samples and the results obtained reveal that most of the pharmaceutically active compounds contained in the created database were present in the water samples with concentrations in the range of ng/L and μg/L levels and in most of the samples between 2 and 15 pesticides of the 300 contained in the database were also detected. In addition to the compounds included in the database, some degradation products were found, thus revealing the method as a useful tool for the analysis of organic micro-contaminants in waters.     

Applications of stripping voltammetric techniques in food analysis

Stripping voltammetric techniques are powerful analytical tools that are becoming widely used in various chemical analysis fields. Hence, the objective of this survey is to give a general overview on the scope of the applicability of stripping voltammetric methods in food industries. The applications discussed include recent studies on the utilization of these electroanalytical methods in determination of food contaminants (toxic metals, pesticide, fertilizers and veterinary drugs residuals), trace essential elements, food additive dyes and other organic compounds of biological significance. Tables that give method summaries referenced to the original work are provided.     

The expectation hypothesis of interest rates and network theory: The case of Brazil

This paper investigates the topological properties of the Brazilian term structure of interest rates network. We build the minimum spanning tree (MST), which is based on the concept of ultrametricity, using the correlation matrix for interest rates of different maturities. We show that the short-term interest rate is the most important within the interest rates network, which is in line with the Expectation Hypothesis of interest rates. Furthermore, we find that the Brazilian interest rates network forms clusters by maturity.