Adaptation of selected diagnostic techniques to magnetic confinement fusion experiments

The paper concerns several diagnostic techniques, which have been used in pulsed-power plasma experiments, i.e. Plasma-Focus and Z-Pinch devices, and which can be adapted to studies of Magnetic Confinement Fusion (MCF) facilities, e.g. Stellarators and Tokamaks. The application of Nuclear Track Detectors (NTDs) for time-integrated ion measurements in MCF experiments is described and the use of such detectors for time-resolved ion measurements is discussed. The application of special ?erenkov-type detectors for time resolved measurements of fast runaway electrons is considered. Also discussed is the use of selected nuclear reactions for measurements of fusion products, e.g. fast neutrons.     

Long time behaviour of a flow in infinite pipe conforming to slip boundary conditions

The paper analyses long time behaviour of solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations in a two‐dimensional pipe‐like domain. The system is studied with perfect slip boundary conditions with arbitrary inflow conditions at infinity. The main results show the existence of global in time solutions and of an attractor for the dynamical system generated by the model. The paper also establishes an upper bound for the Hausdorff dimension of the attractor. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The group of local biholomorphisms of ℂ1 and conformal field theory in the operator formalism

Motivated by the operator formulation of conformal field theory on Riemann surfaces, we study the properties of the infinite dimensional group of local biholomorphic transformations (conformal reparametrizations) of ¹ and develop elements of its representation theory.     

Nitrate ion association with Nd3+

The overall stability constantsK ₁ andK ₂ of NdNO ₃ ²⁺ and Nd(NO₃) ₂ ⁺ complexes were determined (K ₁=1.77;K ₂=1.28) using an extraction method with tri-n-butyl phosphate as the extractant. The ratio ₁/₂ of the stepwise stability constants is discussed. It was established that the Nd(NO₃) ₂ ⁺ complex was an outer-sphere ion pair.

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Die Assoziation von Nitrat-Ion mit Nd³⁺

Zusammenfassung Mittels einer Extraktionsmethode wurden die StabilitätskonstantenK ₁ undK ₂ von NdNO ₃ ²⁺ - und Nd(NO₃)⁺-Komplexen bestimmt (K ₁=1.77;K ₂=1.28; Tri-n-butylphosphat als Extraktionsmittel). Das Verhältnis ₁/₂ der stufenweisen Stabilitätskonstanten wird diskutiert. Es stellte sich heraus, daß der Nd(NO₃)⁺-Komplex als ein Outer-Shere-Ionenpaar vorliegt.

     

A liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method for quantification of specific organophosphorus pesticide biomarkers in human urine

Organophosphorus pesticides are commonly used in both agricultural and residential settings. The widespread use of these chemicals makes it almost impossible for humans to avoid exposure. In order to determine background human exposure, there is a need for fast, reliable, and sensitive analytical methods. We have developed a sensitive method to quantify specific biomarkers of the organophosphorus pesticides acephate, azinphos, chlorpyrifos, coumaphos, diazinon, isazofos, malathion, methamidophos, parathion and pirimiphos or their O,O-dimethyl analogues in human urine, as their selective metabolites or as the intact pesticide. Isotopically labeled internal standards were used for eight of the analytes. The use of labeled internal standards in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry provided a high degree of specificity. Repeated analysis of urine samples fortified with high and low concentrations of the analytes gave relative standard deviations (RSD) of less than 10% for the analytes with an isotopically labeled standard. Analytes without isotopically labeled standards had higher RSD. For all compounds except methamidophos and acephate, the recoveries were greater than 70%. The limits of quantification for most of the analytes were in the range of 0.1 to 1 ng/mL. We detected concentrations of most of these pesticides and/or their metabolites in urine samples from non-occupationally exposed persons using our method. Our frequencies of detection for the analytes measured ranged from 1% to 98%.     

Spectroscopic investigation of lanthanide nitrates

Summary The stability constants _n of nitrato complexes of Pr, Nd, Sm, Ho, and Er were determined by UV/Vis spectroscopy. It was found that ₁=0.87, 1.24, 1.94, 0.24, 0.11 forM (NO₃)²⁺ (M=Pr, Nd, Sm, Ho, Er) and ₂=0.06, 0.04 forM (NO₃) ₂ ⁺ (M=Pr, Nd) at 25 °C. Detailed inspection of the lanthanide spectra shows that increasing nitrate concentration in the solution results in a bathochromic shift of the f-f bands for Nd and Sm which provides evidence for the formation of inner sphere nitrato complexes.

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Spektroskopische Untersuchung von Lanthanidennitraten

Zusammenfassung Die Stabilitätskonstanten _n der Nitratokomplexe von Pr, Nd, Sm, Ho und Er wurden UV/Vis-spektroskopisch bestimmt. Es ergaben sich Werte von 0.87, 1.24, 1.94, 0.24 und 0.11 für ₁ (M(NO₃)²⁺,M=Pr, Nd, Sm, Ho, Er) und 0.06 und 0.04 für ₂ (M(NO₃) ₂ ⁺ ,M=Pr, Nd). Eine detaillierte Analyse der Lanthanidenspektren zeigt, daß steigende Nitratkonzentration in Lösung eine bathochrome Verschiebung der f-f-Banden von Nd und Sm bewirkt. Das weist auf die Bildung voninner sphere — Nitratokomplexen hin.

     

Synthesis and properties of water-soluble gold colloids covalently derivatized with neutral polymer monolayers

Citrate-capped gold nanoparticles as well as planar gold surfaces can be efficiently grafted with a covalently attached polymer monolayer a few nanometers thick, by simple contact of the metal surface with dilute aqueous solutions of hydrophilic polymers that are end-capped with disulfide moieties, as shown by UV/vis absorption, dynamic light scattering, and surface plasmon resonance studies. The hydrophilic polymer-coated gold colloids can be freeze-dried and stored as powders that can be subsequently dissolved to yield stable aqueous dispersions, even at very large concentrations. They allow for applying filtrations, gel permeation chromatography, or centrifugation. They do not suffer from undesirable nonspecific adsorption of proteins while allowing the diffusion of small species within the hydrogel surface coating. In addition, specific properties of the original hydrophilic polymers are retained such as a lower critical solution temperature. The latter feature could be useful to enhance optical responses of functionalized gold surfaces toward interaction with various substrates.     

‘You caught me off guard’: Probing the futures of complex engineered nanomaterials

This paper applies principles and methods from the framework of anticipatory governance to the case of what the National Research Council calls “complex engineered nanomaterials” (CENM). This framework does not aim to generate crystal ball visions or definitive answers, but rather provides guidance for uncovering, understanding, and addressing social, ethical, environmental, and policy issues that stem from emerging technologies. Thus, in anticipation of increased CENM research, CENM products, and their different governance challenges, we aim to lay the groundwork for the anticipatory governance of CENMs by mapping out what—according to the engineers and scientists, we interviewed who are working at the research level of these CENMs—will be the main issues and themes that we need to pay attention to in the near future. The structured interviews focused on three groups of questions: (1) potential and/or actual applications and/or products from the participant’s research; (2) environmental health and safety issues pertaining to both the participant’s research and CENMs generally; and (3) the future of CENMs. Without a foundational understanding to build on, social scientists, policymakers, and regulatory agencies will be at a loss about how to govern CENMs before they are widely implemented in society.     

Isolation and determination of estrogens in water samples by solid‐phase extraction using molecularly imprinted polymers and HPLC

Advanced SPE with molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) was used in this study. A noncovalent imprinting approach was applied to separate 17β‐estradiol, estriol, and estrone from water samples. Polymer material was prepared by bulk polymerization with methacrylic acid as a functional monomer, divinylbenzene and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate as crosslinkers, and acetonitrile, acetonitrile/toluene (3:1, v/v) or isooctane/toluene (1:99, v/v) as a porogen. We also prepared an MIP film on a silica gel surface with methacrylic acid and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate as monomers and acetonitrile as a solvent. Qualitative and quantitative hormone analyses were carried out by HPLC with various detection techniques, including UV/visible spectroscopic detection (diode array detection) and electrochemical detection (CoulArray). The results of the study indicate that MIP technology is an excellent method for the quality control of estrogens in environmental analyses with a low quantification limit for 17β‐estradiol of around 26 (diode array detection) and 0.25 ng/mL (electrochemical detection). The proposed method was found to be suitable for routine determinations of the analyzed compound in environmental laboratories.