Interpretation of CALUX results in view of the EU maximal TEQ level in milk

Analyses of dioxins in food have become increasingly important since the European Commission has enforced maximal toxic equivalent concentration (TEQ) levels in various food and feed products. Screening methodologies are usually used to exempt those samples that are below the maximum permitted limit and that can, therefore, be released to the market. In addition, one needs to select those samples that require confirmation of their dioxin TEQ level. When bioassays are used as screening tools, the interpretation of the obtained results should consider the higher variability and uncertainty associated with them. This paper explores the use of CALUX data as quantitative screening results. The validation of the method for the polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD)/F TEQ determination in milk samples is described with emphasis on the decision limit (CC) and the precision of the method. The decision limit amounts to 4.53 pg TEQ/g fat. Repeatability and within-lab reproducibility coefficients of variation are below 30%. The newly introduced parameter CC^* of 1.47 pg TEQ/g fat delimits with CC a range of suspicious results. These data are not significantly different from the maximum limit of 3 pg TEQ/g fat and should be confirmed by a confirmatory analytical method such as HRGC–HRMS.     

Inclusion of dynamic σ-π polarization in π-electronab initio calculations

Summary A method is presented, whereby dynamic - polarization, i.e. the correlation effect expressed by simultaneous (-*, -*) excitations, can be approximately included in a multi-reference configuration interaction (MRCI) or multi-configurational self-consistent field (MC-SCF) calculation, without need to explicitly correlate the sigma orbitals. The method, which we call the capacitance matrix method, is based on the use of conventional one-electron integrals, from which a polarization potential (SPP) contribution is computed and added to the one- and two-electron Hamiltonian. In the present form, the method requires one parameter for each type of atom, and one for each type of bond. These parameters were adjusted to reproduce the dynamic - polarization energy, computed by restricted multi-reference CI calculations, of a number of states of different hydrocarbons, and the agreement was within a few percent. Using the same parameters in CAS (Complete Active Space) SCF calculations of various states of benzene gives excitation energies, when SPP is included, which is comparable to those obtained by much more elaborate MRCI calculations.     

A theoretical determination of the electronic spectrum of formaldehyde

Summary The electronically excited states of formaldehyde are examined by means of multiconfigurational second-order perturbation (CASPT2) theory with extended ANO-type basis sets. The calculations comprised five valence excited states plus all singlet 3s, 3p, and 3d members of the Rydberg series converging on the first ionization. The computed vertical excitation energies were found to be within 0.2 eV of the available experimental energies. Full geometry optimization has been performed for five valence excited states. Assuming a planar geometry, the 0-0 transition for the valence¹A₁( *) state is calculated to appear near 7.9 eV, close to the (n _y 3p) region. This state is, however, not planar and the true adiabatic energy is 7.4 eV, which is 2.3 eV below the corresponding vertical transition.     

Determination of C1−C4 fatty acids as p-bromophenacyl esters using glass-capillary gas chromatography and electron-capture detection

Summary A method for the determination of low relative molecular mass carboxylic acids (C₁–C₄) in water is reported. The acids are converted to p-bromophenacyl esters prior to a glass-capillary gas chromatographic separation. By utilizing electron-caputre detection the detectability is substantially improved compared to flame-ionization detection. A comparison of three different ways to treat the water samples and to produce the derivatives is made. It is shown that the , p-dibromoacetophenone reagent decomposes to a small extent which limits the utility of the reagent. Nevertheless a detection limit for formic acid of approximately 2.5 mgl^–1 is obtained. The method is applied to the determination of formic and acetic acids in a paper kraft water sample.     

On the existence of interior solutions in general relativity

The existence problem of matter sources for given stationary axisymmetric solutions of Einstein's vacuum field equations is investigated. The existence of sources of a differentially or rigidly rotating perfect fluid can be proved at least in the neighborhood of boundary surfaces if these can be chosen suitably (theorem). In particular, there exist such half-local perfect fluid sources for the Kerr metric. Hence the existence of a global regular Kerr-interior solution cannot be excluded by local considerations in an arbitrarily small neighborhood of a possible boundary.Work supported in part by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Inter-laboratory exercise with an aim to compare methods for 90Sr and 239,240Pu determination in environmental soil samples

In order to deliver reliable results for a multitude of different scenarios, e.g. emergency preparedness, environmental monitoring, nuclear decommissioning and waste management, there is a constant process of method development in the field of radioanalytical chemistry. This work presents the results of a method comparison exercise aimed at quantifying ⁹⁰Sr and ^239,240Pu in environmental soil samples, with the intention of evaluating the performance and applicability of different methods. From the methods examined in this work, recommendations are given in order to find a radioanalytical measurement procedure, for ⁹⁰Sr and ^239,240Pu analysis, which is fit-for-purpose for a particular scenario.

     

NMR Characterization of Substituted Aromatic Poly (Ether Sulofone)s

Abstract

The synthesis of a variety of substituted bisphenol A polysulfones, including nitro, amino, aminomethyl, ethyl, and methyl derivatives, is described. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (both proton and carbon, and several 2-D experiments) data confirm conclusions on the substitution site based on arguments on inductive effects in the phenyl rings. The proton ortho to the oxygen in the bisphenol A (BPA) residue is replaced in electrophilic substitution reactions. The degree of substitution was also calculated from the NMR results. The ethyl and methyl derivatives were expected, from the starting reactants, to each have a BPA ring substituted. The NMR data showed that, on the average, this is true. The nitro derivative also has substitution in every BPA ring, while the amino and aminomethyl derivatives have only intermittent BPA rings substituted. Measured degrees of substitution (DS) varied from 0.11 to 2.25.     

2-Substituted 2-Propenoic Acid Esters via Reaction of a Masked Acrylate Ester with Carbonyl Compounds

β-Amino ester enolate reacts readily with selected aldehydes and ketones. Deprotection via the N-oxide provides good yields of the 2-substituted acrylate ester.     

Preparation of Nitriles by Dehydration of Primary Carboxawides with a Supported phosphorus pentoxide reagent

The use of a supported phosphorus pentoxide reagent in the synthesis of selected nitriles is discussed.     

Optimal control for lithium-ion batteries

Modelling, simulation and optimal control for a lithium-ion battery cell is discussed. The model involves ionic concentrations, currents and potentials in the electrodes and the separator together with the battery temperature as state variables. The resulting system is a nonlinear PDAE system with 10 partial, 1 ordinary differential and 4 algebraic equations involving the Butler-Volmer kinetics for describing the interaction of ionic currents and potentials. Time-optimal charging of the battery subject to age-preventing leads to a state-constrained optimal control problem which is solved in two ways. A first-discretize-then-optimize approach leads to a high-dimensional nonlinear optimization problem which is solved by an efficient solver. As an alternative, a feedback control law along an active arc of the state constraint of order 1 is derived to formulate and solve the corresponding so-called induced optimization problem. (© 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)