Solid phase extraction for analysis of biogenic carbonates by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ETV-ICP-MS): an investigation of rare earth element signatures in otolith microchemistry

Uptake of trace elements into fish otoliths is governed by several factors such as life histories and environment in addition to stock and species differences. In an attempt to elucidate the elemental signatures of rare earth elements (REEs) in otoliths, a solid phase extraction (SPE) protocol was used in combination with electrothermal vaporization (ETV) as a sample introduction procedure for the determinations by inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Effects of various parameters, such as carrier gas flow rate, atomization temperature and chemical modification, were examined for optimization of the conditions by ETV-ICP-MS. Atomization was achieved at 2800 °C. Lower temperatures (i.e. 2600 °C) resulted in severe memory problems due to incomplete atomization. Palladium was used as a chemical modifier. It was found that an increase in Pd concentration up to 0.5 μg in the injection volume (70 μl) led up to four-fold enhancement in the integrated signals. This phenomenon is attributed to the carrier effect of Pd rather than the stabilization since no significant losses were observed for high temperature drying around 700 °C even in the absence of Pd. Preconcentration was performed on-line at pH 5 by using a mini-column of Toyopearl AF-Chelate 650M chelating resin, which also eliminated the calcium matrix of otolith solutions. After preconcentration of 6.4 ml of solution, the concentrate was collected in 0.65 ml of 0.5% (v/v) HNO₃ in autosampler cups, and then analyzed by ETV-ICP-MS. The method was validated with the analysis of a fish otolith certified reference material (CRM) of emperor snapper, and then applied to samples. Results obtained from otoliths of fish captured in the same habitat indicated that otolith rare earth element concentrations are more dependent on environmental conditions of the habitat than on species differences.     

A new polar nephelometer for measurement of atmospheric aerosols

The angular dependence of light scattered by aerosol particles in the atmosphere—the aerosol phase function—is one of the key properties of every radiative transfer and climate model. Side-scattering in the atmosphere is currently believed to be underestimated by most of the radiative transfer models in certain cases. The aerosol phase function can be measured with polar nephelometers.An innovative polar nephelometer able to measure the phase function of ambient aerosol directly is presented in this publication. The performance of the device was simulated completely using ray-tracing techniques. The results of these simulations are used to interpret the measurement data precisely. The measurements with the new polar nephelometer are fully automated. The quality of the measurement results was verified using different approaches. The values of the statistical and systematic error in measuring atmospheric aerosol are about 4% each. Scattering angles from 10° to 160° were measured and it is shown that with the same design this range can be extended to 3-177° in steps of 0.16° with an aperture of less than 1.8°.Measurements of the aerosol phase function are presented and compared with data taken with an integrating nephelometer and measurements of the particulate matter concentration. All data correlate very well. The described polar nephelometer can measure the phase function and the scattering coefficient of atmospheric aerosol with high accuracy and can be used for continuous monitoring measurements as well as in field campaigns.     

A hybrid active noise controller for finite ducts

A hybrid active noise controller (ANC) is proposed to solve some existing problems, which are related to the non-minimum phase (NMP) path models between uncollocated sensors and actuators in many ANC systems. For hybrid ANC schemes, the NMP path causes design difficulties to both feedforward and feedback control. These problems can be solved effectively by adding an extra actuator in the ANC system. A new design procedure is presented to take the greatest advantage of the extra actuator. Theoretical analysis and experimental results are presented to show the improved performance of the proposed ANC.     

Surface profile measurement of low-frequency vibrating objects using temporal analysis of fringe pattern

A simple and accurate algorithm (phase scanning method) is proposed for 3D surface contouring and dynamic response determination of a vibrating object. A sinusoidal fringe pattern is projected onto a low-frequency vibrating object by a programmable liquid crystal display projector. The fringe patterns are captured by a high-speed CCD camera with a telecentric gauging lens. Phase values are evaluated point by point using phase scanning method. From the phase values of each point on the object, the contour of the specimen at different instants of vibration can be retrieved. In this paper, a small vibrating coin is used to demonstrate the validity of the method and the experimental results are compared with test results on a stationary coin using four-step phase shifting and fast Fourier transform methods. The technique is especially useful in applications where the vibrating object has a complicated shape.     

On Covariant Phase Space and the Variational Bicomplex

The notion of a phase space in classical mechanics is well known. The extension of this concept to field theory however, is a challenging endeavor, and over the years numerous proposals for such a generalization have appeared in the literature. In this paper We review a Hamiltonian formulation of Lagrangian field theory based on an extension to infinite dimensions of J.-M. Souriau's symplectic approach to mechanics. Following G. Zuckerman, we state our results in terms of the modern geometric theory of differential equations and the variational bicomplex. As an elementary example, we construct a phase space for the Monge–Ampere equation.     

斐索型光学合成孔径系统近轴成像条件研究

从几何光学理论出发，详细推导了斐索型光学合成孔径成像系统的近轴非相干成像条件，即子望远系统的角放大率等于系统的线性缩放因子。对于焦平面上的像点而言，合成孔径成像系统可等效为一个带有特殊形状孔径光阑的望远系统，这要求该孔径光栏的开口形状和位置分布与合成孔径成像系统各子系统孔径大小和位置分布相一致。我们由此得到了斐索型合成孔径成像系统的主要约束条件。     

高功率固体激光放大系统相位自校正方法研究

就光学元件间低频相位误差叠加提出用相关系数作为叠加相位结果的估计参量，并通过模拟计算和验证实验证明了相关系数能有效地对低频相位叠加结果进行比较估计，在此基础上就高功率固体激光放大系统中放大片的选取和安装提出了自校正方法并实现了自校正过程。     

用反射法自动测量大尺寸样品的折射率分布

针对大尺寸样品的折射率分布测量,引入自动扫描装置和适时数据处理系统,研究出一种高灵敏度的智能化反射法折射率分布测量仪,可进行快速、自动、准确的折射率分布测量.经理论分析和实验研究提出了一套合理的实验数据处理方法.并具体介绍和详尽分析了实验装置,讨论了有关理论和实验误差,给出了消除各种误差的有效方法,最终得出较为理想的实验结果.     

利用弧形光栅尺测量大型转轴扭矩的原理研究

利用弧形光栅尺的旋转微位移测量功能,组建一组测量体系,用于测量巨型转轴的扭矩。采用四组相同的弧形光栅尺同时测量两截面的相对转角,通过多点测量实现误差均化,得出了消除转轴直径对测量影响的公式,使仪器的环境适应能力得到了极大地提高。根据不同的工作情况,提出了相应的动态测量扭矩的计算方程。实现了大型机械设备主传动的动力监测,为设备自动化、智能化奠定了基础。     

短脉冲强激光在稀薄等离子体中传播时的电磁类孤立子

 采用二维粒子模拟方法，研究了短脉冲强激光在稀薄等离子体中传播时电磁类孤立子的产生和时空演化过程。通过分析电磁场与等离子体波的非线性能量交换和激光场的频率谱结构等，给出了电磁类孤立子形成的基本物理图像，讨论了等离子体参数对电磁类孤立子形成的影响。模拟结果表明：类孤立子的形成是由于局部电磁波振荡频率减小至等离子体频率引起的，初始等离子体密度越高越容易形成空间局域结构。