Characterisation of humic substances using atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry combined with size-exclusion chromatography

Humic substances were analysed by atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) and electrospray ionisation (ESI) mass spectrometry in positive and negative modes. Using APCI the average m/z range of humic substances was reduced 5-fold compared to ESI. High-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry revealed the formation of multiply charged molecules in the ESI mode. Moreover, it was possible to obtain daughter ion mass spectra of humic substances by nanospray tandem mass spectrometry. The size-exclusion chromatography elution profile of humic substances was highly influenced by the pH of the analyte solution. By contrast, the pH had no significant influence on the observed mass spectra of humic substances.     

Dispersive micro-solid phase extraction of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from water by using thermally treated clinoptilolite,and their quantification by GC-MS

The authors report on a novel sorbent (thermally treated natural zeolite; clinoptilolite) for use in dispersive micro-solid phase extraction (D-μ-SPE) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from water samples. The method was applied to the D-μ-SPE of 16 priority PAHs which then were quantified by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS). The method was validated in terms of specificity and selectivity, linearity and linear range, accuracy, precision, uncertainty, limits of detection and quantification. Figures of merit include (a) linear analytical ranges between 2.08 and 208 ppb, and (b) detection limits in the range from 0.01 to 0.92 ppb. The method was successfully applied to the determination of PAHs in river waters.

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Graphical abstract Schematic representation of dispersive micro-solid phase extraction (D-μ-SPE) of trace levels of PAHs in water samples by using thermally treated clinoptilolite as sorbent prior to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS).

     

On a relationship between Uspensky's theorem and poisson approximations

In this paper we show that Uspensky's expansion theorem for the Poisson approximation of the distribution of sums of independent Bernoulli random variables can be rewritten in terms of the Poisson convolution semigroup. This gives rise to exact evaluations and simple remainder term estimations for the deviations of the distributions in study with respect to various probability metrics, generalizing results of Shorgin (1977, Theory Probab. Appl., 22, 846–850). Finally, we compare the sharpness of Poisson versus normal approximations.     

Stochastically perturbed vector-borne disease models with direct transmission

In this paper we study a stochastic epidemic model of vector-borne diseases with direct mode of transmission and its delay modification. More precisely, we extend the deterministic epidemic models by introducing random perturbations around the endemic equilibrium state. By using suitable Lyapunov functions and functionals, we obtain stability conditions for the considered models and study the effect of the delay on the stability of the endemic equilibrium. Finally, numerical simulations for the stochastic model of malaria disease transmission are presented to illustrate our mathematical findings.     

On geodesic mappings of equidistant generalized Riemannian spaces

In this paper geodesic mappings of equidistant generalized Riemannian spaces are discussed. It is proved that each equidistant generalized Riemannian space of basic type admits non-trivial geodesic mapping with preserved equidistant congruence. Especially, there exists non-trivial geodesic mapping of equidistant generalized Riemannian space onto equidistant Riemannian space. An example of geodesic mapping of an equidistant generalized Riemannian spaces is presented.     

An application of Taylor series in the approximation of solutions to stochastic differential equations with time-dependent delay

The subject of this paper is the analytic approximation method for solving stochastic differential equations with time-dependent delay. Approximate equations are defined on equidistant partitions of the time interval, and their coefficients are Taylor approximations of the coefficients of the initial equation. It will be shown, without making any restrictive assumption for the delay function, that the approximate solutions converge in L^p-norm and with probability 1 to the solution of the initial equation. Also, the rate of the L^p convergence increases when the degrees in the Taylor approximations increase, analogously to what is found in real analysis. At the end, a procedure will be presented which allows the application of this method, with the assumption of continuity of the delay function.     

On the total mean curvature of piecewise smooth surfaces under infinitesimal bending

Variation of the total mean curvature of piecewise smooth surfaces in Euclidean 3-spaces under infinitesimal bending is discussed and reduced to a sum of line integrals of a rotation vector field.     

Rheological studies of concentrated guar gum

Polymers and surfactants are essential ingredients of the printing paste. Polysaccharides are used commercially to thicken, suspend or stabilise aqueous systems. Also they are used to produce gels and to act as flocculates, binders, lubricants, to serve as modifiers of film properties, and have a function as adjusters of rheological parameters. Surfactants, on the other hand, perform numerous functions acting as dispersants, wetting agents, emulsifiers and antifoaming agents. The rheological properties of polysaccharide thickeners (guar gums with different substitution levels and different producers) at different concentrations and temperatures and, second, the effects produced by the addition of nonionic surfactants (polyoxyethylene stearyl alcohols with different numbers of EO groups) have been studied under linear and nonlinear shear conditions. Experimental data have been correlated with the different models: flow curves with the Cross, Carreau and Meter-Bird model, and mechanical spectra with the generalized Maxwell model and Friedrich-Braun model. The surface tensions of aqueous systems containing polysaccharide and/or surfactants have been determined over extended concentration ranges in order to detect the CMC conditions and to provide a better understanding about the polysaccharide-surfactant interactions.     

Modelling locational price spreads in competitive electricity markets; applications for transmission rights valuation and replication

The restructuring of the electric utilities industry has forcedindustry participants to rethink their approach to a numberof decision processes. To manage risk and plan investment ingeneration assets, as well as to examine the efficient expansionof the current transmission grid, one needs to have a clearunderstanding of the interaction between the grid propertiesand the behaviour of the regional power markets. In this paperwe discuss a fundamental modelling approach which extracts thestochastic properties of electricity prices by modelling theimpact of physical and economic drivers affecting the production,delivery, and consumption of electricity. If the fundamentalinputs are directly observable, we can use historical data tocalibrate the model parameters. In the case of electricity,this simple and abundant set of training data can make a crucialdifference. We present the bid-based stochastic model (BSM) and look intoits application to valuing of financial derivatives, especiallyoptions based on the locational spread in electricity pricebetween two markets. The advantage of the bid-based model isthat one is able to link the capacity of the transmission line,in megawatts, directly to the correlation between electricityprices at the end nodes. This leads us to a valuation methodfor a locational spread option, the financial equivalent ofa physical transmission right. The model represents an improvementover standard spread option formulation in that it accountsfor the effect of the nonlinear flows in the transmission networkon the correlation and distribution of locational prices. Wealso address the question of whether financial transmissionrights can be replicated with a dynamic portfolio of forwardcontracts at the end nodes. This poses the possibility of model-based arbitrage betweenexisting forward markets and the emerging transmission rightsmarkets. Furthermore, it allows users to simulate the effectof transmission outages or expansion. For example, a for-profittransmission provider who is contemplating addition of a newtransmission line between two markets needs to know whetherhe will be able to recover the fixed cost of investing in theline by selling transmission rights to market participants.By calibrating the bid-based model according to current pricelevels and adding the capacity of the new transmission line,the transmission owner can simulate future cash flows and estimatethe profitability of the investment.