Instrumental modification intended to save time,and volumes of sample and reagent solutions,in the atomic fluorescence spectrometric determination of mercury

Use of small membrane pumps, instead of peristaltic pumps, to introduce sample and reagent solutions into the spectrometer has several advantages in atomic fluorescence spectrometric determination of mercury. This simple modification results in a substantial saving in the time required for the measurements and so 90% of reagent solution volumes and 95% of sample solution volumes are saved, with a consequent decrease in the volume of waste generated. The sampling frequency is almost tripled, with no deterioration in sensitivity, which is similar to that obtained by use of peristaltic pumps. The relative standard deviation for ten consecutive measurements of a 1 μg L⁻¹ mercury solution was approximately 2%. Figure Small membrane pumps for the atomic fluorescene spectro metric determination of mercury     

Asymptotics for Stieltjes polynomials,padé-type approximants,and Gauss-Kronrod quadrature

We study the asymptotic properties of Stieltjes polynomials outside the support of the measure as well as the asymptotic behaviour of their zeros. These properties are used to estimate the rate of convergence of sequences of rational functions, whose poles are partially fixed, which approximate Markovtype functions. An estimate for the speed of convergence of the Gauss-Kronrod quadrature formula in the case of analytic functions is also given.     

A novel cacalolide from Psacalium decompositum

A new cacalolide sesquiterpenoid, named as Romo-A, was isolated from the roots of Psacalium decompositum, Asteraceae, a Mexican medicinal shrub with antidiabetic properties. Its structure was elucidated by NMR, MS, IR, UV, and confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Gamma spectrometry of 234Th (238U) in environmental samples

Environmental samples from a wide-range of aquatic and soil deposits, mainly of Scandinavian origin, were analysed for 234Th (238U) using low-level gamma-spectrometry. The diversity of the samples, in terms of composition and ages, allowed a detailed evaluation of the analytical problems associated with gamma-ray spectrometry with focus on the reliability of the 234Th peaks for absolute determination of the 234Th activities. The X-ray contributions in the 93 keV peak were compared with the corresponding self-absorption corrected activities of the 63 keV peak. These X-ray contributions were, also, correlated with the 238U, 232Th, 235U, 40K and 137Cs activities of the samples. Despite the difficulties imposed by the self-absorption corrections, the 63 keV peak is still the best option. Large variability in the 93 keV peak interferences, due to X-rays from Th, exists in sediment and soil samples. Only in the case of young ombrotrophic peat samples was it possible to conclude that the 93 keV peak is free from X-ray contributions and can be as good as the 63 keV Monte-Carlo self-absorption corrected peak. X-ray contributions in the samples correlated with the 238U and 232Th activities, only, in closed environmental systems where a secular equilibrium with the daughters of the U/Th series can occur.     

Estimation and correction of matrix effects in gas chromatographic pesticide multiresidue analytical methods with a nitrogen-phosphorus detector

The assessment of matrix effects in the quantification of organophosphorus pesticides in fruit and vegetables by GC-NPD, were studied applying ANCOVA. Calibration curves prepared in solvent were compared with calibration curves prepared in a blank matrix extract for eight different commodities, establishing whether the matrix induces systematic or proportional errors in the quantification of the pesticides. In such cases correction functions were obtained and validated by quantifying spiked samples using solvent calibrations and applying the correction functions to the data obtained. The results were compared with those obtained by quantification using matrix-matching calibrations and with those from 100% recovery experiments. It was found that the matrix effects can be avoided using the correction functions. Finally the contribution of the correction functions to the uncertainty of the results was estimated as well as their stability during a four month period.     

New localized Superluminal solutions to the wave equations with finite total energies and arbitrary frequencies

By a generalized bidirectional decomposition method, we obtain new Superluminal localized solutions to the wave equation (for the electromagnetic case, in particular) which are suitable for arbitrary frequency bands; several of them being endowed with finite total energy. We construct, among the others, an infinite family of generalizations of the so-called “X-shaped" waves. Results of this kind may find application in the other fields in which an essential role is played by a wave-equation (like acoustics, seismology, geophysics, gravitation, elementary particle physics, etc.). Received 23 June 2002 Published online 24 September 2002 RID="a" ID="a"Work partially supported by MIUR and INFN (Italy), and by FAPESP (Brazil). This paper did first appear as e-print physics/0109062 [and as preprint INFN/FM-01/02 (I.N.F.N.; Frascati, 2001)]. RID="b" ID="b"e-mail: recami@mi.infn.it