Randomized on-line scheduling on three processors

We consider a randomized on-line scheduling problem where each job has to be scheduled on any of m identical processors. The objective is to minimize the expected makespan. We show that the competitive ratio of any randomized algorithm for m=3 processors must be strictly greater than .     

Use of modified rice husks as a natural solid adsorbent of trace metals: characterisation and development of an on-line preconcentration system for cadmium and lead determination by FAAS

The use of rice husks as an alternative adsorbent in an on-line preconcentration system for Cd (II) and Pb (II) determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) is described. The potential of rice husks as a natural adsorbent was evaluated as a material modified with 0.75 mol l⁻¹ NaOH solution and in the unmodified form. For this task, several techniques such as spectroscopy and thermogravimetry were used for elucidation of possible functional groups responsible for the uptake of Cd (II) and Pb (II). Furthermore, based on adsorption studies and adsorption isotherms applied to the Langmüir model, it was possible to verify that modified rice husks present a higher adsorption capacity for both metals. After establishing this material as a promising natural adsorbent, it was used for on-line preconcentration of Cd (II) and Pb (II) metals. The multivariate optimisation of chemical and flow variables was performed by using a full factorial design (2⁴) including the following factors: preconcentration time, preconcentration flow rate, concentration and volume of eluent. The optimum pH values used for on-line preconcentration were taken from prior univariate experiments. Under optimised conditions for Cd (II) determination (4 min of preconcentration at a 6 ml min⁻¹ preconcentration flow rate, in which comprises 24 ml of preconcentration volume, 200 μl elution volume and 1.0 mol l⁻¹ HNO₃ solution as eluent), the system achieved a detection limit of 1.14 μg l⁻¹ and an enrichment factor of 72.4. Similar conditions were used for Pb (II) determination (4 min of preconcentration, 6 ml min⁻¹ preconcentration flow rate, 300 μl elution volume and 1.0 mol l⁻¹ HNO₃ solution as eluent) from which a detection limit of 14.1 μg l⁻¹ and enrichment factor of 46.0 were achieved. Also, rice husks have been shown to be a homogeneous and stable adsorbent in which more than 100 preconcentration/elution cycles provide a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 6.0% on the analytical signal. The satisfactory accuracy of the method developed was obtained by using spiked water samples (mineral water and lake water) and spiked red wine samples. These values were confirmed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The certified reference material [pig kidney (CRM 186)] and the reference material [beech leaves (CRM 100)] were also used.     

A fully automated system with on-line micro solid-phase extraction combined with capillary liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for high throughput analysis of microcystins and nodularin-R in tap water and lake water

Microcystins and nodularins are cyclic peptide hepatotoxins and tumour promoters from cyanobacteria. The present study describes the development, validation and practical application of a fully automated analytical method based on on-line micro solid-phase extraction-capillary liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the simultaneous determination of seven microcystins and nodularin-R in tap water and lake water. Aliquots of just 100 μL of water samples are sufficient for the detection and quantification of all eight toxins. Selected reaction monitoring was used to obtain the highest sensitivity. Good linear calibrations were obtained for microcystins (50-2000ng/L) and nodularin-R (25-1000 ng/L) in spiked tap water and lake water samples. Excellent interday and intraday repeatability were achieved for eight toxins with relative standard deviation less than 15.7% in three different concentrations. Acceptable recoveries were achieved in the three concentrations with both tap water matrix and lake water matrix and no significant matrix effect was found in tap water and lake water except for microcystin-RR. The limits of detection (signal to noise ratio=3) of toxins were lower than 56.6 ng/L which is far below the 1 μg/L defined by the World Health Organization provisional guideline for microcystin-LR. Finally, this method was successfully applied to lake water samples from Tai lake and proved to be useful for water quality monitoring.     

The use of combined LC-GC for the analysis of fuel products: A review

A review of the analysis of petroleum fuels, oils, tars and engine exhaust particulate extracts by on-line coupled LC-GC is presented.     

Partially concurrent eluent evaporation with an early vapor exit; detection of food irradiation through coupled LC-GC analysis of the fat

This paper reports two subjects. It describes LC-GC transfer by partially concurrent eluent evaporation at a greatly accelerated rate, as required for optimal compatibility with 2–3 mm i.d. LC columns and LC flow rates up to some 500 μl/min. Evaporation rates around 200 μl/min were obtained using a 0.53 mm. i.d. uncoated pre-column and an early vapor exit. A stationary-phasecoated “retaining” pre-column was used for preventing escape of volatile solutes through the vapor exit. The technique was used for the detection of food irradiation by analyzing selected radiolysis products of triglycerides, namely alkanes/alkanes and aldehydes. Extracted fat of chicken, hazel-nuts, and soup mixes was injected in LO and the relevant fractions were transferred on-line to GC. For chicken and nuts, detection of irradiation was possible down to doses below 0.5 kGy. Detection limits were higher for soup mixes due to interfering peaks.     

On-line solvent evaporator for coupled LC systems

The mobile phase of a fraction eluted from a first LC column is removed by an on-line evaporator in order to reconcentrate the solute material or to exchange the eluent before performing a subsequent LC separation. Evaporation essentially occurs by concurrent evaporation, i.e. the solvent evaporates at a rate equal to the flow rate of the incoming eluent, and is driven by the overflow principle, i.e. vapors leave the tube as a result of the expansion resulting from evaporation. The liquid is introduced into a small tube (e.g., 4 cm × 1.3 mm i.d.) which is packed, e.g., with a coarse silica gel. The outlet of the evaporator is connected to vacuum in order to enable evaporation at reduced temperature and to increase retention of the volatile components. With normal phase eluents, evaporation rates may approach 1 ml/min; n-dodecane was the most volatile n-alkane fully retained by the evaporator.     

清开灵注射液生产过程中金银花提取液的在线质量控制方法研究

为建立清开灵注射液生产过程中的中间体金银花提取液快速准确的在线质量控制方法, 通过对金银花提取液的UV原始光谱、一阶导数光谱进行波长点的数据筛选,选择与HPLC法测得的绿原酸含量相关性最好的光谱类型和波长点进行建模,建立绿原酸含量的UV预测方程。另取10批金银花提取液检验预测结果的可靠性。UV原始光谱中最佳波长为294 nm(r=0.991 9,n=28);一阶导数光谱中最佳波长为316 nm(r=0.995 9,n=28)。绿原酸含量的预测方程为：c(mg·mL-1)＝506.254 3×A_{316 nm}＋0.177 1。经检验,预测方程准确、可靠(r=0.997 1,n=10),可直接应用于在线检测。绿原酸含量的预测结果为：约90％的金银花提取液中绿原酸含量分布为0.4～4.0 mg·mL-1。此法简单、快速、准确,可作为清开灵注射液生产过程中金银花提取液的在线质量控制方法。     

Measurement of elastin hydrolysis by reverse-phase HPLC with on-line post-colum derivatization

Summary Excessive breakdown of elastin, a structural protein, may be related to aortic disease and emphysema. Since L-valyl-L-proline occurs in high concentrations in elastin, a rapid and sensitive method using HPLC with post-column on-line derivatization was used to measure the dipeptide from swine aortic tissue, and the amount of elastin present was determined. Elastin was extracted by alkaline hydrolysis. After neutralization and filtration, the sample was injected onto a ODS-2 gel column, and the dipeptide was eluted by a linear gradient of 0 to 10% of 1-propanol in 50 mM heptafluorobutyrate, pH 3, at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. The eluent was reacted with fluorescamine at pH 8.6, and fluorescence was detected at an excitation wavelength of 395 nm and a 455 nm cutoff emission filter.Presented at the 17th International Symposium on Chromatography, September 25–30, 1988, Vienna, Austria.     

Preconcentration and speciation of chromium in drinking water samples by coupling of on-line sorption on activated carbon to ETAAS determination

An on-line flow injection (FI) preconcentration-electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) method is developed for trace determination of chromium in drinking water samples by sorption on a conical minicolumn packed with activated carbon (AC) at pH 5.0. The chromium was removed from the minicolumn with 1.0% (v/v) nitric acid. An enrichment factor (EF) of 35-fold for a sample volume of 10 ml was obtained. The detection limit (DL) value for the preconcentration method proposed was 3.0 ng l⁻¹. The precision for 10 replicate determinations at the 0.5 μg l⁻¹ Cr level was 4.0% relative standard deviation (R.S.D.), calculate with the peak heights obtained. The calibration graph using the preconcentration system for chromium was linear with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992 at levels near the detection limits up to at least 50 μg l⁻¹. The method was successfully applied to the determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in drinking water samples.     

一种新型毛细管电泳—电感耦合等离子体光谱法接口装置

毛细管电泳是一种高效、简便的分离方法，已被用于生物、环境及临床等试样的分离及分析[1]．检测技术在毛细管电泳中占有重要的地位，目前，在柱紫外可见及荧光检测是两种广为接受的检测方法，但其检测灵敏度仅为10－5～10－6mol／L[2]．电感耦合等离子体光谱（ICP－AES／MS）是一种灵敏的元素选择性的分析方法，已被广泛地用于各种试样中元素分析．近年来，该方法作为色谱及毛细管电泳的检测器，被用于元素的形态分析[3]．在毛细管电泳（CE）与ICP光谱连用技术中，挑战性的工作是设计一种能把CE与ICP相连的接口．目前已有几种接口…