Robust estimates of the theoretical standard deviation to be used in interlaboratory precision experiments

Interlaboratory experiments often contain results that strongly deviate from other results obtained in the same laboratory under repeatability conditions, or laboratory means that strongly deviate from other laboratory means. In ISO 5725-2 [1] and IUPAC [2], the basic standards for the organisation and analysis of interlaboratory experiments for the determination of precision of a measurement method, outlier tests are performed in order to detect such situations and to finally decide whether these values are retained in the analysis or discarded as outliers. This outlier treatment, which always has a subjective aspect, becomes unnecessary by using robust estimates of the repeatability and reproducibility standard deviation. This paper proposes to use Rousseeuw’s Q _n as an extremely robust and efficient estimate of the standard deviation. Two examples show the performance of the new method.     

Evaluation of measurement uncertainty for analytical procedures using a linear calibration function

In the EURACHEM/CITAC draft ”Quantifying uncertainty in analytical measurement” estimations of measurement uncertainty in analytical results for linear calibration are given. In this work these estimations are compared, i.e. the uncertainty deduced from repeated observations of the sample vs. the uncertainty deduced from the standard residual deviation of the regression. As a result of this study it is shown that an uncertainty estimation based on repeated observations can give more realistic values if the condition of variance homogeneity is not correctly fulfilled in the calibration range. The complete calculation of measurement uncertainty including assessment of trueness is represented by an example concerning the determination of zinc in sediment samples using ICP-atomic emission spectrometry. Received: 9 February 2002 Accepted: 17 April 2002     

Measurement uncertainty and the use of reference materials

The use of (certified) reference materials and quality control materials can form a suitable basis for evaluating measurement uncertainty of routine measurements. In particular when these materials are used for quality control purposes, it is not always evident how the quality control data can be used in the uncertainty budget of a routine measurement. Current guidance documents on the evaluation of measurement uncertainty and the use of reference materials treat this subject only in part, or in very generic terms. ISO/REMCO has established a new working group that will provide practical guidance and examples on how to use quality control data in the evaluation of measurement uncertainty. A short introduction to the subject is given.

Solutions of alkali soaps and water in fatty acids IX. The location of theL 2-phase in three-component systems of sodium soap — fatty acid — water,in view of the occurrence of acid soaps

Previous studies of the occurrence of acid soaps in systems containing a longchain sodium soap and the corresponding fatty acid, and the study of phase equilibria in the system sodium octanoate — octanoic acid — water, performed by our group at the beginning of the 1960s, show that the isotropic liquidL ₂-phase of the last mentioned system in its whole region of existence is situated in that part in which acid soaps occur. This provides an explanation for the fact that theL ₂-phase itself contains acid sodium octanoates in all regions. TheL ₂-phase has its origin in the water-free melt of fatty acid and neutral soap in which these components react with each other under the formation of an acid soap. When water is added to the system, this water-free acid soap is transformed into different hydrated acid soaps. In a large region of concentration, there is an extremely close relation between theL ₂-phase and the liquid-crystalline lamellarD-phase, which itself consists of hydrated acid soaps. At its outermost water-rich tip, theL ₂-phase is in equilibrium with theL ₁-phase of the system, just above the+LAC, that is, with the most dilute aqueous soap solution in which acid soap still may be formed in aqueous environment. Formation of acid soap is a fundamental requirement for the existence of this isotropic liquidL ₂-phase.     

Evaluation of the use of consensus values in proficiency testing programmes

Proficiency testing (PT) is an essential tool used by laboratory accreditation bodies to assess the competency of laboratories. Because of limited resources of PT providers or for other reasons, the assigned reference value used in the calculation of z-score values has usually been derived from some sort of consensus value obtained by central tendency estimators such as the arithmetic mean or robust mean. However, if the assigned reference value deviates significantly from the ‘true value’ of the analyte in the test material, laboratories’ performance will be evaluated incorrectly. This paper evaluates the use of consensus values in proficiency testing programmes using the Monte Carlo simulation technique. The results indicated that the deviation of the assigned value from the true value could be as large as 40%, depending on the parameters of the proficiency testing programmes under investigation such as sample homogeneity, number of participant laboratories, concentration level, method precision and laboratory bias. To study how these parameters affect the degree of discrepancy between the consensus value and the true value, a fractional factorial design was also applied. The findings indicate that the number of participating laboratories and the distribution of laboratory bias were the prime two factors affecting the deviation of the consensus value from the true value.     

Towards a new edition of the “Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement”

The “Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement” (GUM) is an extremely important document. It unifies methods for calculating measurement uncertainty and enables the consistent interpretation and comparison of measurement results, regardless of who obtained these measurements and where they were obtained. Since the document was published in 1995, it has been realised that its recommendations do not properly address an important class of measurements, namely, non-linear indirect measurements. This drawback prompted the initiation of the revision of the GUM in the Working Group 1 of the Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology, which commenced in October 2006. The upcoming revision of the GUM provides the metrological community with an opportunity to improve this important document, in particular, to reflect developments in metrology that have occurred since the first GUM publication in 1995. Thus, a discussion of the directions for this revision is important and timely. By identifying several shortcomings of the GUM and proposing directions for its improvement, we hope this article will contribute to this discussion. Papers published in this section do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editors, the Editorial Board and the Publisher.     

On the stabilizer subgroup of a fair of matrices

Let (F,G) be a pair of matrices defined over an arbitrary field, Fn × n, Gn × m. Consider the natural action of GL_n x GL_m on this pair given by (F,G) ? (gFg^-1,gGh^-1), where (g,h) ∈ GL_n × GL_m. This action is of interest in system theory as well as the representation theory of quivers. In this paper we study the stabilizer subgroup of this action stab(F,G), i.e.

$\text{{(g,h) ∈ GL}{}_{\mathrm{n}}\text{x GL}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{|gFg}{}^{-1}\text{= F,gGh}{}^{-1}\text{= G}}$

.     

Li2Br(NH2): Das erste ternäre Alkalimetallamidhalogenid

Li₂Br(NH₂): The First Ternary Alkali Metal Amide Halide The pseudobinary system LiNH₂/LiBr was investigated by X-ray methods. The crystal structure of the compound Li₂Br(NH₂) was solved by single crystal data: Li₂Br(NH₂): Pnma, Z = 8, a = 12.484(2) Å, b = 7.959(1) Å, c = 6.385(1) Å, Z(F_o) with (F_o)² ≧ 3σ(F_o)² = 348, Z (parameter) = 51, R/R_w = 0.019/0.021 Li₂Br(NH₂) crystallizes in a new type of structure. To one another isolated chains of [Li₂Li_4/2(NH₂)₂²⁺] show the motif of closest rod packing. They are connected via bromide ions in a distorted cubic primitive arrangement.     

Practical aspects of the uncertainty and traceability of spectrochemical measurement results by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The determination of trace elements concentration in water by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) is a common and well established technique in many chemical testing laboratories. However, the evaluation of measurement uncertainty results is not systematically implemented. The paper presents an easy step-by-step example leading to the evaluation of the combined standard uncertainty of copper determination in water using ETAAS. The major contributors to the overall measurement uncertainty are identified due to amount of copper in water sample that mainly depends on the absorbance measurements, due to certified reference material and due to auto-sampler volume measurements. The practical aspects how the traceability of copper concentration in water can be established and demonstrated are also pointed out.