Do proficiency tests always verify laboratories’ performance? The case of FAPAS PT 0270

In this paper, the case of FAPAS PT 0270 “Doramectin and Oxfendazole in Sheep Liver” is discussed. During evaluation of the data received from participants (determination of total, oxidised oxfendazole residue and calculation of the sum of oxfendazole and oxfendazole sulfone residues), significant differences were observed between the results obtained by use of two analytical approaches. This phenomenon can be explained by the route of oxfendazole metabolism, which results in the presence of fenbendazole in the sample. This was not predicted by the provider; consequently, not all the necessary tests on the material were conducted. Due to the high uncertainty of the z-scores in this test, the results of the PT cannot be used for purposes of evaluation, and the benefits of participation in PT 0270 are questionable.     

Studies of surface properties of Na- and La-montmorillonites

This paper presents possible applications of thermal analysis, sorptometry and porosimetry to study physico-chemical properties of Na- and La-montmorillonite samples, especially for determination of total surface heterogeneity. The quasi-isothermal thermogravimetric (Q-TG) mass loss and its first derivative (Q-DTG) curves with respect to temperature and time obtained during programmed liquid thermodesorption under quasi-isothermal conditions have been used to study adsorbed layers and heterogeneous properties of the Na- and La-montmorillonites. Calculations of the desorption energy distribution functions by analytical procedure using mass loss Q-TG and differential mass loss Q-DTG curves of thermodesorption under quasi-isothermal conditions of polar and non-polar liquid vapours preadsorbed on a material surface are presented. Parameters relating to porosity of samples were determined by sorptometry, mercury porosimetry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). From nitrogen sorption isotherms from sorptometry and porosimetry methods, the fractal dimensions of montmorillonites have been calculated. Moreover, a new approach is proposed to calculate fractal dimensions of materials obtained from Q-TG curve; this is compared with values obtained by the above methods. The total heterogeneous properties (energy distribution function and pore-size distribution functions) of samples studied were estimated. The radius and pore volume of the tested samples calculated on the basis of thermogravimetry, sorptometry and porosimetry techniques were compared and good correlations obtained.     

Anisotropic dipole polarizability of transition metal atoms: Sc(2D), Ti(3F,3P), V(4F,4P,6D), Ni(3F) and ions: Sc2+(2D), Ti2+(3F,3P)

Dipole polarizability tensor components and quadrupole moments of transition-metal atoms Sc, Ti, V, Ni, and Cu and ions Sc2+ and Ti2+ are computed using finite field complete active space self-consistent field and multireference configuration interaction ab initio methods. Perpendicular components of the dipole polarizability tensor are calculated from equations involving only parallel components of the polarizability tensor and its average value. Mean polarizability and polarizability anisotropy decrease in the Sc-Ni series. Relativistic effects are accounted for with the Douglas-Kroll Hamiltonian. The consequences of the anisotropic properties of these atoms to their interactions with spherically symmetric rare gases are also discussed.     

Exchange interactions in copper(II) complexes with tridentate Schiff bases: EPR and magnetic studies

The influence of the nature of ligands upon the magnetic and EPR properties was investigated for the series of polynuclear Cu(II) complexes with tridentate Schiff bases. A similar tendency of changes in the |J| and D parameters was found for binuclear Cu(II) complexes with ligands derived from condensation of 3-amino-1-propanol with 2-hydroxyaldehydes and acetylacetone as well as for Cu(II) complexes with condensation products of o-aminophenol and β-diketones. The Cu(II) complex with Schiff base of 1-amino-2-propanol and acetylacetone exhibits ferromagnetic behaviour suggesting tetrameric structure.     

Studies of physico-chemical properties of mixed adsorbent in the zeolite/SiO2 system

The paper presents physico-chemical properties of mixed adsorbents in the clinoptylolite (mordenite)/SiO₂ system containing 30, 50, 80 mass% zeolite. Adsorption capacity towards polar (water, butanol) and non-polar (n-octane) substances as well as total surface heterogeneity (energetic and geometrical) were determined. Desorption energy distribution functions as well as fractal dimensions were also determined and compared with the low-temperature nitrogen adsorption data. Irregular shapes of the curves q=f(E _d) as well as large values of volumetric fractal dimensions (D _f~2.6) revealed heterogeneous properties of the zeolite/SiO2 system surfaces. Addition of zeolite increases total heterogeneity of the material.     

Uniqueness and the global Markov property for Euclidean fields: The case of general exponential interaction

The uniqueness and the global Markov property for the regular Gibbs measure corresponding to the interaction $$U_\Lambda (\varphi ): = \lambda \int\limits_\Lambda {d_2 x\int {d\varrho (\alpha ):e^{\alpha \varphi } :_0 (x)} } $$ [forλ>0,d?(α) a probability measure with support in \(( - 2\sqrt {\pi ,} 2\sqrt \pi )\) ] is proved.