Standardization of BSE rapid test performances and experiences gathered during the implementation of large-scale testing

The accumulation of pathological prion protein is used as a diagnostic marker for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. According to European Union (EU) regulations cattle older than 30 months of age (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain by national law >24 months) and slaughtered for human consumption must be tested by using rapid tests for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Likewise fallen stock and clinically affected animals must be tested. This article gives a short overview of the incidence of BSE in Europe. The diagnostic hierarchy, i.e., the officially approved methodology for the confirmation of suspect rapid test cases, and the organization of the numerous laboratories involved in this large-scale testing for BSE are described. Special emphasis is given to necessary quality control measures currently in place for BSE rapid testing laboratories and to measures intended to assure a consistent performance of the commercially available rapid test kits.Presented at BERM-9—Ninth International Symposium on Biological and Environmental Reference Materials, 15–19 June 2003, Berlin, Germany.     

Standardization of Methods for Characterizing the Surface Geometry of Solids

Since a comprehensive survey published in 1999 [1] much work was done in standardizing measuring methods to characterize the surface geometry of dispersed and/or porous solids and to certify reference materials. The present paper is an extension of a short communication [2]. It gives a survey on existing standards and reports on new drafts and proposals.     

Measurement uncertainty of selenium determination in the reference material Seronorm Trace Elements Serum by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry

 An analytical result is not considered to be complete without a statement of the measurement uncertainty associated with it. Evaluation of measurement uncertainty is therefore an essential part of every determination. In the present study the measurement uncertainty of the result of determination of selenium in the reference material Seronorm Trace Elements Serum was studied. The combination of a digestion procedure using sulfuric acid, V₂O₅ in H₂SO₄ and hydrogen peroxide and the continuous flow approach of hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS) detection was used for selenium determination. The total uncertainty budget was calculated with the help of the GUM Workbench program, in which computations follow the rules of the ’ISO guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement’. The major sources of uncertainty were found to be due to the recovery of the procedure, measurement of peak heights and the purity of Na₂SeO₃. A selenium mass fraction of 77.1±4.8 ng/g (with a coverage factor of 2.1, 95% probability) was determined, which is comparable with the recommended value of 80 ng/g. Received: 13 September 2002 Accepted: 23 December 2002 Acknowledgements We would like to thank Tinkara Buˇcar, B.Sc. for useful discussions and the IAEA Vienna, for financial support of the project 11553/RO. Presented at CERMM-3, Central European Reference Materials and Measurements Conference: The function of reference materials in the measurement process, May 30–June 1, 2002, Rogaška Slatina, Slovenia Correspondence to V. Stibilj     

非线性光学材料──水草酸铵

一水草酸铵（简称ＡＯＭ）是一种优良的电光晶体￣［１］。文献￣［１，２］报道了该晶体的晶体结构，化学式为（ＮＨ＿４）＿２Ｃ＿２Ｏ＿２·Ｈ＿２Ｏ，属正交晶系，Ｐ２２２空间群，晶胞参数ａ＝０．８０３５ｎｍ，ｂ＝１。０３１ｎｍ，ｃ＝０．３８０１ｎｍ，ｚ＝２。本文拟报道ＡＯＭ单晶生长，热化学分析，透过波段以及非线性光学性质的初步研究。     

二芳基乙烯类光致变色材料的合成概述

由于具有多种潜在的应用价值, 光致变色化合物作为高级功能材料的研究在国内外广受关注. 在众多的有机光致变色化合物中, 二芳基乙烯特别是二噻吩乙烯, 由于其具有良好的热稳定性和优良的耐疲劳度而成为这类化合物的杰出代表. 近年来, 有关二芳基乙烯类光致变色化合物的各种合成及性能方面的报道已涉及到信息存储、分子开关、逻辑电路、液晶显示、磁性材料等众多领域. 主要是从有机合成的角度, 对这类材料的合成进行了较为全面的概括, 对各种合成方法分别加以介绍和分析, 对其发展趋势予以探索和展望.     

电化学合成铜配合物的研究

采用金属铜为"牺牲"阳极,首次在无隔膜电解槽中,电化学溶解金属铜一步制备了纳米CuO前体Cu(OEt)2, Cu(OBu)2, Cu(acac)2, Cu(OEt)(acac), Cu(OBu)(acac) (acac为乙酰丙酮基).产物通过红外光谱(FT-IR)、拉曼光谱(Raman spectrum)进行表征.同时讨论了影响电合成铜醇盐及其配合物的关键因素.实验表明,防止阳极钝化,温度控制在30～50 ℃,采用有机胺溴化物为导电盐, 电极电位控制在0.8～1.2 V之间,可以提高电合成效率.实验同时表明Cu(acac)2, Cu(OEt)(acac), Cu(OBu)(acac)可作为制备含铜纳米材料前驱体.     

Carbon anode materials from polysiloxanes for lithium ion batteries

Three kinds of silicon-containing disordered carbons have been prepared by pyrolysis of polysiloxanes with different amounts of phenyl side groups. X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical capacity measurements were performed to study their behaviors. Graphite crystallites, micropores, and silicon species affect their electrochemical performances. All of them present high reversible capacities, >372 mAh/g. Since the graphite crystallites are very small, they contribute very little to reversible capacity. The number of micropores produced by gas emission during the heat-treatment process decides whether they exhibit reversible capacity. Si mainly exists in the form C–Si–O and influences the irreversible capacity. There is no evident capacity fading in the first ten cycles, indicating promising properties for these disordered carbons.     

Structure and magnetic properties of Ca14MnP11

The compound Ca₁₄MnP₁₁ crystallizes in the Ca₁₄AlSb₁₁ structure type with the tetragonal space group I4₁/acd (Z=8) and lattice parameters of , c=20.7565(9) at 90 K. The structure consists of MnP₄⁹⁻ tetrahedron, P₃⁷⁻ trimer, 4 P³⁻ isolated anions and 14 Ca²⁺ cations. Similar to other compounds of this structure type containing phosphorous, the P₃⁷⁻ trimer has a central P atom that is best modeled in the structure as being equally split between two sites. In addition, there is no additional distortion of the manganese-containing tetrahedron compared with the main group analog, Ca₁₄GaP₁₁, suggesting that the Mn oxidation state is Mn²⁺. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility shows that the compound is paramagnetic over the entire temperature range measured (2-300 K). The data can be fit with a modified Curie-Weiss law and provide an effective magnetic moment of 5.80 (2) B.M. with a Weiss constant of −2.13(2) K and . This moment is significantly higher than those measured for any of the Mn-containing analogs and is consistent with Mn²⁺. This result will be discussed in light of the electron counting scheme for Mn compounds of the Ca₁₄AlSb₁₁ structure-type.     

Perfluoro-1,3,5-tris(p-oligophenyl)benzenes: Amorphous Electron-Transport Materials with High-Glass-Transition Temperature and High Electron Mobility

Perfluoro-1,3,5-tris(p-quaterphenyl)benzene (PF-13Y) and perfluoro-1,3,5-tris(p-quinquephenyl)benzene (PF-16Y) have been synthesized and characterized. They showed higher glass transition temperatures compared with perfluoro-1,3,5-tris(p-terphenyl)benzene (PF-10Y). Organic light-emitting diodes were fabricated using these materials as the electron-transport layers. PF-13Y and -16Y are better electron transporters than PF-10Y. The electron mobilities of PF-10Y and Alq₃ were measured by the time-of-flight technique. PF-10Y showed higher electron mobilities (10⁻⁴ cm²/V s) and weaker electric field dependence compared with Alq₃.     

Kinetics parameters in Mg2SiO4:Tb thermoluminescent material

This paper reports a first approach on the kinetics parameters of terbium-activated magnesium orthosilicate using various methods. A deconvolution has also used for taking into account a more complex glow-curve structure.

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Zusammenfassung Mittels verschiedener Methoden werden in erster Näherung die kinetischen Parameter von terbiumaktiviertem Magnesiumorthosilikat ermittelt Zur Berücksichtigung einer komplexeren Thermolumineszenzkurve wurde auch eine Dekonvolution angewendet.