Applications of polydimethylsiloxane in analytical chemistry: A review

Silicones have innumerable applications in many areas of life. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which belongs to the class of silicones, has been extensively used in the field of analytical chemistry owing to its favourable physicochemical properties. The use of PDMS in analytical chemistry gained importance with its application as a stationary phase in gas chromatographic separations. Since then it has been used in many sample preparation techniques such as solid phase microextraction (SPME), stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), thin-film extraction, permeation passive sampling, etc. Further, it is gaining importance in the manufacturing of lab-on-a-chip devices, which have revolutionized bio-analysis. Applications of devices containing PDMS and used in the field of analytical chemistry are reviewed in this paper.     

Development of a liquid–chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry method for the quantitative determination of zearalenone and its major metabolites in chicken and pig plasma

A sensitive and specific method for the quantitative determination of zearalenone (ZEN) and its major metabolites (α-zearalenol (α-ZEL), β-zearalenol (β-ZEL), α-zearalanol (α-ZAL), β-zearalanol (β-ZAL) and zearalanone (ZAN)) in animal plasma using liquid chromatography combined with heated electrospray ionization (h-ESI) tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) and high-resolution Orbitrap^® mass spectrometry ((U)HPLC–HR–MS) is presented. The sample preparation was straightforward, and consisted of a deproteinization step using acetonitrile. Chromatography was performed on a Hypersil Gold column (50 mm × 2.1 mm i.d., dp: 1.9 μm, run-time: 10 min) using 0.01% acetic acid in water (A) and acetonitrile (B) as mobile phases.     

A genetic algorithm for a single product network design model with lead time and safety stock considerations

We consider a two-stage supply chain with a production facility that replenishes a single product at retailers. The objective is to locate distribution centers in the network such that the sum of facility location, pipeline inventory, and safety stock costs is minimized. We explicitly model the relationship between the flows in the network, lead times, and safety stock levels. We use genetic algorithms to solve the model and compare their performance to that of a Lagrangian heuristic developed in earlier work. A novel chromosome representation that combines binary vectors with random keys provides solutions of similar quality to those from the Lagrangian heuristic. The model is then extended to incorporate arbitrary demand variance at the retailers. This modification destroys the structure upon which the Lagrangian heuristic is based, but is easily incorporated into the genetic algorithm. The genetic algorithm yields significantly better solutions than a greedy heuristic for this modification and has reasonable computational requirements.     

Effect of headway and velocity on safety-collision transition induced by lane changing in traffic flow

We study the traffic behavior when a vehicle changes from the first lane to the second lane on a two-lane highway. The incoming vehicle decelerates or accelerates by interacting with the vehicle ahead or behind on the second lane. We apply the extended optimal velocity model to the vehicular motion to take into account the velocity difference. We investigate whether or not the incoming vehicle collides with the vehicles ahead or behind. We derive such conditions that the incoming vehicle comes into collision with the vehicles ahead or behind. The safety-collision transition occurs by changing the lane. The dynamic transition depends highly on the headway, the vehicular speed, the sensitivity, and the velocity difference. We present the phase diagram (or region map) for the safety-collision transition.     

氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法测定大米与圆白菜中痕量铅

建立了氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法(HG-AFS)测定经HNO3-HClO4-H2O2湿法消解的大米与圆白菜等样品中痕量铅的方法,系统地优化了灯电流等仪器参数条件,探讨了载流、还原剂、样品酸度、氧化剂的最佳浓度,考察了掩蔽剂去干扰的情况。实验表明:在选定载流浓度HCl 2%(V/V)、还原剂KBH4浓度2%(m/V)[KOH恒为0.5%(m/V)]、样品酸度HCl 1%(V/V)、氧化剂K3Fe(CN)60.4%(m/V)、掩蔽剂H2C2O40.2%(m/V)及优化设置灯电流等参数的最佳实验条件下,测定铅的检出限为0.07μg/L,在0.00—50.00μg/L范围呈良好的线性关系,样品测定变异系数小于等于6.22%。该方法简便、干扰少、灵敏度高,应用于大米、圆白菜等样品中Pb的测定,结果与参考值相符,是一种切实可行的方法。     

短波近红外光谱在现场安检中的应用研究

快速、准确、高效的现场检测方法对于控制液态危险物的非法输运、使用,进而保证公共安全具有重要的意义。文章利用短波段近红外光对包装物和液体的很强穿透能力,测量了无水乙醇、无水甲醇、氨水、松节油、汽油、柴油、煤油等易燃液态危险物和部分白酒、饮料在近红外短波段范围内（667～1 000 nm）的吸收光谱;对测得的原始光谱数据进行标准化和压缩预处理后,采用SPSS统计软件进行判别分析寻求特征点波长,并以选定的特征波长建立了预测模型。基于该模型采用3个波长（881,935和981 nm）就可以对易燃液体准确判别,据此可以构建廉价光谱装置实现对易燃液体的无损、快速现场安全检查。     

Lessons Learned from the Grouping of Chemicals to Assess Risks to Human Health

In analogy to the periodic system that groups elements by their similarity in structure and chemical properties, the hazard of chemicals can be assessed in groups having similar structures and similar toxicological properties. Here we review case studies of chemical grouping strategies that supported the assessment of hazard, exposure, and risk to human health. By the EU-REACH and the US-TSCA New Chemicals Program, structural similarity is commonly used as the basis for grouping, but that criterion is not always adequate and sufficient. Based on the lessons learned, we derive ten principles for grouping, including: transparency of the purpose, criteria, and boundaries of the group; adequacy of methods used to justify the group; and inclusion or exclusion of substances in the group by toxicological properties. These principles apply to initial grouping to prioritize further actions as well as to definitive grouping to generate data for risk assessment. Both can expedite effective risk management.