Determination of pesticides in soy-based infant formula using liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive method using liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) was developed and validated to quantify and confirm 13 pesticides, including aldicarb sulfoxide, aldicarb sulfone, oxamyl, methomyl, formetanate, 3-hydroxycarbofuran, carbendazim, thiabendazole, aldicarb, propoxur, carbofuran, carbaryl, and methiocarb, in soy-based infant formula. Data acquisition under MS/MS was achieved by applying multiple reaction monitoring of 2 fragment ion transitions to provide a high degree of sensitivity and selectivity for both quantitation and confirmation. Different approaches to constructing calibration curves were compared and discussed to address issues of the extraction efficiency or recovery, and matrix effects. Matrix-matched standard calibration curves with the use of isoprocarb as an internal standard were finally used to achieve the best accuracy of the method. Under most circumstances, recoveries of 13 pesticides, spiked at 5.0, 25.0, and 45.0 microg/kg, were close to 100%. The method detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio > or =3:1; microg/kg) of 13 pesticides were 0.2 for thiabendazole and methiocarb, 0.6 for aldicarb, and 0.1 for the others.     

Diagnosis of suspicious breast lesions using an empirical mathematical model for dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI

The purpose of this study was to test whether an empirical mathematical model (EMM) of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) can distinguish between benign and malignant breast lesions. A modified clinical protocol was used to improve the sampling of contrast medium uptake and washout. T(1)-weighted DCE magnetic resonance images were acquired at 1.5 T for 22 patients before and after injection of Gd-DTPA. Contrast medium concentration as a function of time was calculated over a small region of interest containing the most rapidly enhancing pixels. Then the curves were fitted with the EMM, which accurately described contrast agent uptake and washout. Results demonstrate that benign lesions had uptake (P<2.0 x 10(-5)) and washout (P<.01) rates of contrast agent significantly slower than those of malignant lesions. In addition, secondary diagnostic parameters, such as time to peak of enhancement, enhancement slope at the peak and curvature at the peak of enhancement, were derived mathematically from the EMM and expressed in terms of primary parameters. These diagnostic parameters also effectively differentiated benign from malignant lesions (P<.03). Conventional analysis of contrast medium dynamics, using a subjective classification of contrast medium kinetics in lesions as "washout," "plateau" or "persistent" (sensitivity=83%, specificity=50% and diagnostic accuracy=72%), was less effective than the EMM (sensitivity=100%, specificity=83% and diagnostic accuracy=94%) for the separation of benign and malignant lesions. In summary, the present research suggests that the EMM is a promising alternative method for evaluating DCE-MRI data with improved diagnostic accuracy.     

Convex sets of some doubly stochastic matrices

Let Ω denote the set of all n by n doubly stochastic matrices. Let t be a real number such that $\text{1}\text{t}\text{?}\text{1}\text{n}$ and let m be a real number such that $\text{1}\text{m}\text{? 1 ?}\text{1}\text{t}$. The set $\text{Ω}{}_{\mathrm{s}}\text{= {A ? Ω :}\text{1}\text{m}\text{? a}{}_{\mathrm{ij}}\text{?}\text{1}\text{t}\text{, 1 ? i, j ? n}}$ is the convex hull of the matrices in $\text{Ω}{}_{\mathrm{s}}$ having as many largest entries, namely, $\text{1}\text{t}$, as possible in each row and column while filling out the remaining entries with the value $\text{1}\text{m}$ and if necessary at most one entry in each row and column which has a value between $\text{1}\text{m}$ and $\text{1}\text{t}$.     

Tableau method for residuated logic

Residuated logic is a generalization of intuitionistic logic, which does not assume the idempotence of the conjunction operator. Such generalized conjunction operators have proved important in expert systems (in the area of Approximate Reasoning) and in some areas of Theoretical Computer Science. Here we generalize the intuitionistic tableau procedure and prove that this generalized tableau method is sound for the semantics (the class of residuated algebras) of residuated propositional calculus (RPC). Since the axioms of RPC are complete for the semantics we may conclude that whenever a formula 0 is tableau provable, it is deducible in RPC. We present two different approaches for constructing residuated algebras which give us countermodels for some formulas φ which are not tableau provable. The first uses the fact that the theory of residuated algebras is equational, to construct quotients of free algebras. The second uses finite algebras. We end by discussing a number of open questions.     

Analysis of ochres from Clearwell Caves: the role of particle size in determining colour

Three ochre samples (A (orange-red in colour), B (red) and C (purple)) from Clearwell Caves, (Gloucestershire, UK) have been examined using an integrated analytical methodology based on the techniques of IR and diffuse reflectance UV-visible-NIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis by ICP-AES and particle size analysis. It is shown that the chromophore in each case is haematite. The differences in colour may be accounted for by (i) different mineralogical and chemical composition in the case of the orange ochre, where higher levels of dolomite and copper are seen and (ii) an unusual particle size distribution in the case of the purple ochre. When the purple ochre was ground to give the same particle size distribution as the red ochre then the colours of the two samples became indistinguishable. An analysis has now been completed of a range of ochre samples with colours from yellow to purple from the important site of Clearwell Caves.     

Rotating ring-disk electrode studies of the reaction of stable radical cations with styrene and isobutyl vinyl ether

An electroanalytical technique has been utilized in a new method for the study of reactive intermediates in polymerization reactions. A ring-disk electrode system generated persistent carbocation radicals whose stability decreased in the order: 1,3,6,8-tetraphenylpyrene (TPP), rubrene (Ru), 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA), and 9,10-dimethylanthracene (DMA). Radical cations from these parent compounds flowed to a collecting ring which was controlled potentiostatically to reduce unreacted cations. When styrene or isobytyl vinyl ether was added to the solution, the concentration of carbocation radicals reaching the electrode was reduced. Current collection efficiencies N were determined as a function of rotation speed ω for each monomer concentration. Plots of N^?1 as ω^?1 in the absence of monomer show no dependence on ω (indicative of stable intermediates), but a linear dependence is found with each concentration of monomer. This indicates a first-order dependence on radical cation concentration. The rate constants show a trend in cation reactivities which is in agreement with that obtained by other methods. This technique, however, extends the range of investigation to a much shorter time scale.