Combined photon transmission tomography and PIXE analysis for representative sampling and testing matrix homogeneity

Samples of lyophilised porcine kidney were scanned by photon transmission tomography. The tomographs were used in the selection of sub-samples for subsequent trace element determination by 2MeV PIXE analysis. Major and trace element concentrations for Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Cd and Pb for whole kidney, cortex and medulla are derived. These are discussed, accompanied by sampling factors, to emphasise the need for rigorously enforcing sampling protocols.     

Fluorescent cell-based sensing approaches for toxicity testing

Fluorimetric cell-based sensing methods have attracted increasing interest in toxicity testing of pharmaceuticals, pathogens, environmental pollutants, and other chemicals. The objective of this review is to summarise the variety of approaches reported up to now and to present recent developments in this area. The different approaches are described in relation to their underlying mechanism and, especially, to the role of the fluorophore involved. The methods discussed include the use of fluorescent or fluorogenic indicators, fluorescence-based testing for membrane integrity, approaches based on fluorescence labelling, inducible fluorescent protein expression, and analysis of cellular autofluorescence. Several of these approaches have been shown to be advantageous in comparison with non-fluorescence methods and have potential in high-throughput screening, for example in drug discovery and safety pharmacology.     

Whole-cell luminescence-based flow-through biodetector for toxicity testing

A new type of biodetector was designed based on a bioluminescence test with the bacterium Vibrio fischeri performed in a liquid continuous flow-through system. Here we describe the modification of a commercial tube luminescence detector to work in the flow mode by building a new flow cell holder and a new case including “top cover” to connect the flow cell with the waste and the incubation capillary in a light-proof manner. As different samples were injected successively it was necessary to keep the individual peaks separated. This was done using an air-segmented flow in the reaction coil. To afford fast screening, the incubation time of the sample and the Vibrio fischeri, which equaled the dead time of the detection system, was set at 5.6 min. Rapid monitoring of toxic substances is achieved by using 20 μL of sample and flow-rates of 110–150 μL min⁻¹. As a proof-of-principle, we show results for the detection of five selected di-, tri- and tetrachlorophenols at different concentrations varying from 1 to 200 mg L⁻¹. Calculation of inhibition rates and EC₅₀ values were performed and compared with corresponding values from the DIN EN ISO 11348-2 microplate format. Compared with the latter, the inhibition rates obtained with our flow-through biodetector for the compounds tested were generally about twofold lower, but importantly, a much faster detection is possible. Figure Flow scheme of the biodetector setup     

Addition of thiol-ended polystyrene to acrylates

Polystyrene containing end thiol groups has been prepared via the aminolysis or alcoholysis of its trithioester under conditions established previously for the model reaction of bis(1-phenylethyl) trithiocarbonate. The aminolysis of polystyrene with M _n = 8.2 × 10³ by n-hexylamine at 100°C in toluene led to the formation of a polymer with M _n = 4 × 10³ and a polydispersity coefficient of 1.13. The unimodal molecular-mass distribution of the polymer and its narrow polydispersity that is nearly equal to the initial polydispersity suggest that all trithiocarbonate groups of the starting polystyrene are involved in hydrolysis. The addition of 1-phenylethylthiol and thiol-ended polystyrene to methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate via the Michael hydrolysis has been studied, and it has been demonstrated that the addition proceeds quantitatively at room temperature. The addition may be directly implemented with the use of dithioesters in the presence of the catalytic amount of a base; therefore, the stage of thiol synthesis can be eliminated. For the quantitative addition to acrylates, the preliminary hydrolysis of the polymer is however preferable.     

Correction to: Combined uncertainty factor for sampling and analysis

Accreditation and Quality Assurance - In the penultimate paragraph of the original publication, a confidence interval of 93 mg/kg to 971 mg/kg was reported. These values should be...     

Cluster analysis of periodic distributions; application to conformational analysis

A method is described to analyze observed conformations for molecular fragments with more than three torsional degrees of freedom. The method is an adaption of statistical cluster analysis to multidimensional, symmetric, periodic distributions of data points. Application to the molecular fragment M(PPh₃)₂ with eight torsional degrees of freedom reveals a model of conformational interconversion. The model implies gearing motion of the two PC₃ fragments alternating with stepwise inversions of the helicities of the PPh₃-propellers.     

New approaches to geochemical analysis and sampling

Methods are now being devised for the design of sampling schemes and for data evaluation promise to increase the certainty with which large, inhomogeneous, and segregated masses of material (mountains) may be analysed for interesting constituents. These methods are directed toward the integration of work originating within several disciplines, and utilize different kinds of sampling constant to control error.     

Sampling and sampling strategies for environmental analysis

Sampling errors are generally believed to dominate the errors of analytical measurement during the entire environmental data acquisition process. Unfortunately, environmental sampling errors are hardly quantified and documented even though analytical errors are frequently yet improperly reported to the third decimal point in environmental analysis. There is a significant discrepancy in directly applying traditional sampling theories (such as those developed for the binary particle systems) to trace levels of contaminants in complex environmental matrices with various spatial and temporal heterogeneities. The purpose of this critical review is to address several key issues in the development of an optimal sampling strategy with a primary goal of sample representativeness while minimizing the total number of samples and sampling frequencies, hence the cost for sampling and analysis. Several biased and statistically based sampling approaches commonly employed in environmental sampling (e.g. judgmental sampling and haphazard sampling vs. statistically based approaches such as simple random, systematic random, and stratified random sampling) are examined with respect to their pros and cons for the acquisition of scientifically reliable and legally defensible data. The effects of sample size, sample frequency and the use of compositing are addressed to illustrate the strategies for a cost reduction as well as an improved representativeness of sampling from spatially and temporally varied environmental systems. The discussions are accompanied with some recent advances and examples in the formulation of sampling strategies for the chemical or biological analysis of air, surface water, drinking water, groundwater, soil, and hazardous waste sites.     

Combined uncertainty factor for sampling and analysis

Accreditation and Quality Assurance - Measurement uncertainty that arises from primary sampling can be expressed as an uncertainty factor, which recognises its sometimes approximately log-normal...     

天然气组成分析取样装置的研制

研制了一种天然气组成分析的取样装置.该装置主要由注水部分、取样部分、固定部分组成.注水与取样的分离设计,实现一次性全密封取样,可解决普通针筒注射器抽取样品易混入空气,造成气体不纯,针筒内残余水分对组分结果产生误差等问题.通过进行21次天然气组成分析比对试验,比较使用普通针筒注射器与新型取样装置的天然气组成分析结果,证明...     

Improved evaluation of measurement uncertainty from sampling by inclusion of between-sampler bias using sampling proficiency testing

A realistic estimate of the uncertainty of a measurement result is essential for its reliable interpretation. Recent methods for such estimation include the contribution to uncertainty from the sampling process, but they only include the random and not the systematic effects. Sampling Proficiency Tests (SPTs) have been used previously to assess the performance of samplers, but the results can also be used to evaluate measurement uncertainty, including the systematic effects. A new SPT conducted on the determination of moisture in fresh butter is used to exemplify how SPT results can be used not only to score samplers but also to estimate uncertainty. The comparison between uncertainty evaluated within- and between-samplers is used to demonstrate that sampling bias is causing the estimates of expanded relative uncertainty to rise by over a factor of two (from 0.39% to 0.87%) in this case. General criteria are given for the experimental design and the sampling target that are required to apply this approach to measurements on any material.     

Neurotransmitter sampling and storage for capillary electrophoresis analysis

Quantitative analysis of signaling molecules from single cells and cellular materials requires careful validation of the analytical methods. Strategies have been investigated that enable single neurons and neuronal tissues to be stored before being assayed for many low-weight, biologically active molecules, such as serotonin, dopamine, and citrulline. Both metacerebral cell and pedal ganglia homogenates isolated from Pleiuohbrain-Chae californica have been studied by capillary electrophoresis with two complimentary laser-induced fluorescence detection methods. For homogenized ganglia samples, several cellular analytes (such as arginine and citrulline) are unaffected by standing at room temperature for days. Many other analytes in the biological matrix, including the catecholamines and indolamines, degrade by 20% within 10 h at room temperature. Rapidly freezing samples or preserving them with ascorbic acid preserves more than 80% of the dopamine and about 70% of the serotonin even after five days. In addition, serotonin and dopamine remain completely stable for at least five days by combining the ascorbic acid preservation and freezing at -20 degrees C. The timing of preservation is critical in maintaining the original composition of the biological samples. Using our optimum storage protocol of freezing the sample within 2 h after isolation, we can store frozen homogenate ganglia samples for more than four weeks before assay while still obtaining losses less than 10% of the original serotonin and dopamine. The nanoliter-volume single cell samples, however, must be analyzed within 4 h to obtain losses of less than 10% for serotonin related metabolites.     

Direct sampling time-of-flight mass spectrometers for technological analysis

The practicability of direct sampling time-of-flight mass spectrometers for routine technological analysis is considered. The discussed set incorporates two TOF instruments together covering analysis of solid, liquid, and gas samples without the need for time consuming sample preparation. Both an electron ionization reflectron TOF mass analyzer designed for the analysis of gas and liquid samples and a laser ionization axial electrostatic TOF mass analyzer designed for analysis of solid and powder samples use a single system for data acquisition, collection and processing. These instruments achieve ng/g range sensitivity and mass resolution exceeding 1000. Because of its compact design the system also can be realized as a mobile laboratory for on-site analysis. Prospects for applying the instruments to different technological applications are discussed. Received: 17 July 1997 / Revised: 28 November 1997 / Accepted: 22 December 1997     

Neurotransmitter sampling and storage for capillary electrophoresis analysis

Quantitative analysis of signaling molecules from single cells and cellular materials requires careful validation of the analytical methods. Strategies have been investigated that enable single neurons and neuronal tissues to be stored before being assayed for many low-weight, biologically active molecules, such as serotonin, dopamine, and citrulline. Both metacerebral cell and pedal ganglia homogenates isolated from Pleurobranchaea californica have been studied by capillary electrophoresis with two complimentary laser-induced fluorescence detection methods. For homogenized ganglia samples, several cellular analytes (such as arginine and citrulline) are unaffected by standing at room temperature for days. Many other analytes in the biological matrix, including the catecholamines and indolamines, degrade by 20% within 10 h at room temperature. Rapidly freezing samples or preserving them with ascorbic acid preserves more than 80% of the dopamine and about 70% of the serotonin even after five days. In addition, serotonin and dopamine remain completely stable for at least five days by combining the ascorbic acid preservation and freezing at –20 °C. The timing of preservation is critical in maintaining the original composition of the biological samples. Using our optimum storage protocol of freezing the sample within 2 h after isolation, we can store frozen homogenate ganglia samples for more than four weeks before assay while still obtaining losses less than 10% of the original serotonin and dopamine. The nanoliter-volume single cell samples, however, must be analyzed within 4 h to obtain losses of less than 10% for serotonin related metabolites. Received: 23 August 2000 / Revised: 2 November 2000 / Accepted: 7 November 2000     

Method for fractional solid-waste sampling and chemical analysis

Chemical characterization of solid waste is a demanding task due to the heterogeneity of the waste. This article describes how 45 material fractions hand-sorted from Danish household waste were subsampled and prepared for chemical analysis of 61 substances. All material fractions were subject to repeated particle-size reduction, mixing, and mass reduction until a sufficiently small but representative sample was obtained for digestion prior to chemical analysis. The waste-fraction samples were digested according to their properties for maximum recognition of all the studied substances. By combining four subsampling methods and five digestion methods, paying attention to the heterogeneity and the material characteristics of the waste fractions, it was possible to determine 61 substances with low detection limits, reasonable variance, and high accuracy. For most of the substances of environmental concern, the waste-sample concentrations were above the detection limit (e.g. Cd?>?0.001?mg?kg^?1, Cr?>?0.01?mg?kg^?1, Hg?>?0.002?mg?kg^?1, Pb?>?0.005?mg?kg^?1). The variance was in the range of 5–100%, depending on material fraction and substance as documented by repeated sampling of two highly different material fractions (‘Vegetable food’ and ‘Shoes, leather, etc.’). Statistical analysis showed for the ‘Vegetable food’ that the variance could not be attributed to a single step in the procedure, whereas in the case of ‘Shoes, leather, etc.’, the first coarse shredding was the main source of variance (20–85% of the overall variation). Only by increasing the sample size significantly can this variance be reduced. The accuracy and short-term reproducibility of the chemical characterization were good, as determined by the analysis of several relevant certified reference materials. Typically, six to eight different certified reference materials representing a range of concentrations levels and matrix characteristics were included. Based on the documentation provided, the methods introduced were considered satisfactory for characterization of the chemical composition of waste-material fractions.     

Redox initiator systems for emulsion polymerization of acrylates

The performance of different redox initiator couples to initiate the emulsion polymerization of butyl acrylate at low temperature (40–50 °C) was investigated in both batch and seeded semibatch polymerizations. Polymerizations were carried out mimicking industrial conditions, that is, technical grade monomer and no N₂ purging was used during the polymerizations. The redox systems used contained as oxidants persulfates or hydroperoxides and as reducing agents ascorbic acid, formaldehyde sulfoxilate (SFS), tetramethyl ethylene diamine (TMEDA), Bruggolit 6 and 7 (FF6 and FF7), and sodium metabisulfites. Batch experiments showed that for systems using persulfates, the ammonium persulfate (APS)/TMEDA system provided the lower induction period and higher conversion, whereas for the systems with hydroperoxide oxidants, tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)/FF7, TBHP/SFS, and H₂O₂/FF7 were the best alternatives. When these selected systems were used in seeded semibatch experiments of BA with allyl methacrylate, it was found that to obtain similar kinetics and microstructure (gel content and crosslinking density) than in case of using a thermal initiator at 80 °C, the polymerization could be run at 40 °C if the reactor was purged with N₂. Alternatively, in absence of N₂ polymerization, temperature should be increased to 50 °C and initiator concentration increased. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2917–2927, 2009     

Direct sampling time-of-flight mass spectrometers for technological analysis

The practicability of direct sampling time-of-flight mass spectrometers for routine technological analysis is considered. The discussed set incorporates two TOF instruments together covering analysis of solid, liquid, and gas samples without the need for time consuming sample preparation. Both an electron ionization reflectron TOF mass analyzer designed for the analysis of gas and liquid samples and a laser ionization axial electrostatic TOF mass analyzer designed for analysis of solid and powder samples use a single system for data acquisition, collection and processing. These instruments achieve ng/g range sensitivity and mass resolution exceeding 1000. Because of its compact design the system also can be realized as a mobile laboratory for on-site analysis. Prospects for applying the instruments to different technological applications are discussed. Received: 17 July 1997 / Revised: 28 November 1997 / Accepted: 22 December 1997     

Method for the sampling and analysis of sulphur dioxide

A sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of SO₂ after fixing in a new trapping solution of NaOH-citrate is described. The method is based on the redox reaction of SO₂ with bromate in acid medium to liberate bromine which brominates 2,7-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) and subsequent measurement of the brominated product at 535 nm in an organic phase. Absorption characteristics of the developed trapping solution and application studies are also described. The relative standard deviation was 3.8% (10 g SO₂). Interferences by NO₂ and H₂S were eliminated.