Electrochemical behaviour of epinephrine and uric acid at a Sonogel-Carbon l-Cysteine modified electrode

The Sonogel-Carbon electrode is a special class of sol-gel electrode that exhibits favourable mechanic and electric properties to be used as electrochemical sensor. In this study, Sonogel-Carbon modified with l-Cysteine was used to prepare a novel electrochemical sensor. The objective of this novel electrode modification was to seek new electrochemical performances for detection of epinephrine in the presence of uric acid. The response of catalytic current with epinephrine concentration shows a linear relation in the range from 1 × 10⁻⁷ to 5 × 10⁻⁴ M with a correlation coefficient of 0.998, and a detection limit of 8.7 × 10⁻⁸ M. The modified electrode had also been applied to the determination of epinephrine and uric acid in biological samples with satisfactory results. A surface characterisation of this modified electrode was carried out helped by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS).     

Computational approaches to estimation in the principal component analysis of a stochastic process

After performing a review of the classical procedures for estimation in the principal component analysis (PCA) of a second order stochastic process, two alternative procedures have been developed to approach such estimates. The first is based on the orthogonal projection method and uses cubic interpolating splines when the data are discrete. The second is based on the trapezoidal method. The accuracy of both procedures is tested by simulating approximated sample-functions of the Brownian motion and the Brownian bridge. The real principal factors of these stochastic processes, which can be evaluated directly, are compared with those estimated by means of the two mentioned algorithms. An application for estimation in the PCA of tourism evolution in Spain from real data is also included.     

Collective and transfer modes in the sub-barrier fusion of several A CN ∼ 100 systems

By using some simple model assumptions, the relative contribution of collective and transfer degrees of freedom to the sub-barrier fusion of several systems is investigated. Previously measured data for ³²S + ^58,64Ni, ³⁷Cl + ^58,60,62,64Ni, ³⁷Cl + ^{70,72,73,74,76}Ge, and ²⁷Al + ^{70,72,73,74,76}Ge are analyzed. Even though the effects of collective degrees of freedom are dominant, transfer effects are shown to be important for many systems in order to account for the trend of the lower energy points. Under simplified assumptions for the transfer strength, a distance for transfer is estimated for some systems. An apparent inconsistency found in previous analysis of the Cl + Ge data is solved.     

Effect of light quality on the accumulation of photosynthetic pigments, proteins and mycosporine-like amino acids in the red alga Porphyra leucosticta (Bangiales, Rhodophyta)

The effect of different light qualities (white, blue, green, yellow and red light) on photosynthesis, measured as chlorophyll fluorescence, and the accumulation of photosynthetic pigments, proteins and the UV-absorbing mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) was studied in the red alga Porphyra leucosticta. Blue light promoted the highest accumulation of nitrogen metabolism derived compounds i.e., MAAs, phycoerythrin and proteins in previously N-starved algae after seven days culture in ammonium enriched medium. Similar results were observed in the culture under white light. In contrast, the lowest photosynthetic capacity i.e., lowest electron transport rate and lowest photosynthetic efficiency as well as the growth rate were found under blue light, while higher values were found in red and white lights. Blue light favored the accumulation of the MAAs porphyra-334, palythine and asterina-330 in P. leucosticta. However, white, green, yellow and red lights favored the accumulation of shinorine. The increase of porphyra-334, palythine and asterina-330 occurred in blue light simultaneous to a decrease in shinorine. The accumulation of MAAs and other nitrogenous compounds in P. leucosticta under blue light could not be attributed to photosynthesis and the action of a non-photosynthetic blue light photoreceptor is suggested. A non-photosynthetic photoreceptor could be also involved in the MAAs interconversion pathways in P. leucosticta.     

Application of solid-phase microextraction to the analysis of volatile compounds in virgin olive oils

Solid-phase microextraction was used as a technique for headspace sampling of extra virgin olive oil and virgin olive oil samples with different off-flavours. A 100 microm coated polydimethylsiloxane fiber was used to extract volatile aldehydes, the sampling temperature was 45 degrees C and the fiber has been exposed to the headspace for 15 min. Nonanal and 2-decenal were present in all the olive oils with extraction off-flavours but were not in extra virgin olive oil sample.     

Characterization of laser-induced plasmas by emission spectroscopy with curve-of-growth measurements. Part II: Effect of the focusing distance and the pulse energy

Laser-induced plasmas generated with different focusing distances and pulse energies have been characterized by a method based in emission spectroscopy that includes the measurement and calculation of curves of growth. An infrared Nd:YAG laser is used to generated the plasmas from Fe–Ni samples placed in air at atmospheric pressure. The characterization method provides a reduced set of plasma parameters (N_e, T, N′l, αA) that describe the line emission in optically thin and optically thick conditions. For a pulse energy of 100 mJ, the plasma parameters for varying focusing distances are obtained. The apparent (population averaged) temperatures for neutral atoms and ions are shown to be different in the plasmas generated with all the focusing distances. For each pulse energy (in the range 20–100 mJ), the plasmas generated with the optimum focusing distance, which corresponds to a constant value of irradiance, have been investigated. In these conditions, simple laws have been obtained for the variation of the plasma parameters with the pulse energy E: the electron density N_e and the apparent temperature T are independent of E while linear relations with E are obtained for the parameters N′l, αA. These simple laws lead to a quadratic dependence on E of the line intensities in the optically thin limit and to a variation of the intersection concentration C_int that characterizes self-absorption as E^− 1.     

电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法测定钛酸钡纳米粉体中7种杂质元素

钛酸钡纳米粉体样品用盐酸溶解,在所得样品溶液中用电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法测定了以氧化物存在于样品中的7种杂质元素(包括镁、锶、钾、钠、铝、硅及铁),对测定的光谱条件进行了试验并优化达到上述各元素的测定上限为0.1%(质量分数).测得方法的检出限(3S/b)为(单位μg·L-1):2.0(铝),1.0(铁),20.0(钾),0.2(镁),4.0(钠),3.0(硅)及0.5(锶).应用此方法分析了两件实样,所得结果的相对标准偏差(n=6)小于等于2.0%,对其中4种杂质元素(镁、钾、钠和锶)同时用HG/T 3587-1999标准中的方法作分析校核,所得结果与此方法结果一致.     

A rapid screening assay for measuring urinary androsterone and etiocholanolone delta(13)C ( per thousand) values by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry

A gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) method is described and validated for measurement of delta(13)C values of the acetate derivatives of urinary etiocholanolone and androsterone. The analysis was performed with only 2 mL of urine. The sample preparation consisted of deconjugation with beta-glucuronidase, solid phase extraction, and derivatization with acetic anhydride and pyridine. The within-assay precision of two quality control (QC) urine samples ranged from 0.5 to 2.1 CV%. The between-assay precision in the same QC urines ranged from 1.7 to 3.4 CV%. Administration of testosterone enanthate to a subject resulted in a 6 per thousand decrease in delta(13)C values from -25 per thousand (baseline) to -31 per thousand. Two weeks after testosterone administration was discontinued, the delta(13)C values remained abnormally low while the urine testosterone/epitestosterone (T/E) ratio returned to less than 6. This relatively simple method is useful for rapidly screening a large number of urine samples, including those with T/E <6.