Analytical protocol for investigation of zinc speciation in plant tissue

A specific procedure is proposed for investigating the chemical speciation of zinc (Zn) in plant tissues, viz., the extraction of Zn compounds from Plantago lanceolata L. followed by the chromatographic separation and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) identification of these compounds. In order to separate the Zn compounds, both size-exclusion (SEC) and ionexchange liquid chromatography (IC) were used in direct sequential and reverse sequential modes. In the direct sequential mode, the entire extract undergoes SEC separation and then the individual fractions are injected onto the ion-exchange column. The molecular size distribution is evaluated by SEC coupled on-line to the UV detector. In the reverse sequential mode, the entire extract undergoes the ion-exchange chromatographic separation and then the individual fractions are injected onto the size-exclusion column. The identification of Zn incorporated into the compounds is further performed using ICP-MS. This procedure is particularly useful in speciation studies when identification of the individual components of the element is problematic due to the lack of suitable standard substances, as is the case for Zn compounds. The proposed procedure facilitates assignment of the signals to the individual components of the fractions for both types of chromatography, thus rendering the chemical speciation of Zn possible when the lack of suitable standard substances impedes the identification of individual components.     

Thermal Oxidation Kinetics of Ni100–xPx Powders

The oxidation of Ni_100–xP_x(7.3 at%<x<25.0 at%) powders in air in the temperature range 350–450°C was determined by kinetics and X-ray diffraction. The isothermal kinetics was modeled using theGinstling–Brounstein equations. The oxidation process was found to be thermally activated with activation energy 127.8 kJ mol^–1 for x=7.3 at% to 157.7 kJ mol^–1 for x=25.0 at%. It was found that the rate constants for x=7.3 at% were approximately 100 times lower than those for x=25.0 at%. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Formation of Carcinogens in Processed Meat and Its Measurement with the Usage of Artificial Digestion—A Review

Meat is a rich source of various nutrients. However, it needs processing before consumption, what in turn generates formation of carcinogenic compounds, i.a., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), nitrosamines (NOCs), and the most mutagenic heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs). It was widely found that many factors affect the content of carcinogens in processed meat. However, it has recently been discovered that after digestion free HAAs are released, which are not detectable before enzymatic treatment. It was established that the highest percentage of carcinogens is released in the small intestine and that its amount can be increased up to 6.6-fold. The change in free HAAs content in analyzed samples was dependent on many factors such as meat type, doneness, particle size of meat, and the enzyme concentration used for digestion. In turn, introduction of bacteria naturally occurring in the human digestive tract into the model significantly decreases total amount of HAAs. Contrary, the addition of food ingredients rich in polyphenols, fiber, and water (pepper powder, onions, apples) increases free HAAs’ release up to 56.06%. Results suggests that in vitro digestion should be an integral step of sample preparation. Artificial digestion introduced before chromatographic analysis will allow to estimate accurately the content of carcinogens in processed meat.     

Determination of radiation power of the solar-simulated light source

Calorimetric method for the determination of radiation power of the solar-simulated light sources has been proposed. The application of the differential scanning calorimetry guarantees very high sensitivity (1 mW) of the measuring property, independent of the wavelength (within 300-1200 nm). The applied method yields reliable calibration curves of the radiation power vs. wavelength with good accuracy. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Quantitative Bestimmung heterocyclischer Verbindungen mittels Ionenaustauscherpapier

Zusammenfassung Es wird darauf hingewiesen, daß einfache heterocyclische Verbindungen ähnlich wie Alkaloide mittels Ionenaustauscherpapier quantitativ bestimmt werden können. Kleine Mengen (im Bereich von Mikrogrammen) dieser Verbindungen werden als Lösungen in die Streifen des Austauscherpapiers eingesogen. Die entstehenden Zonen werden mit Dragendorffs Reagens sichtbar gemacht und planimetriert. Der Vergleich mit Standardzonen ermöglicht eine quantitative Auswertung des Zonenflächen.     

Physical Characteristics and Microbial Quality of Ostrich Meat in Relation to the Type of Packaging and Refrigerator Storage Time

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the packaging system type on the physical characteristics and microbial changes in ostrich meat during refrigerated storage. The applied packaging systems were vacuum packaging (VP) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) using two combinations of gases: MAP1 (40% O₂/40% CO₂/20% N₂) and MAP2 (60% O₂/30% CO₂/10% N₂). Eight meat samples were obtained in three replicates for all parameters, except for pH, for which six replicates were obtained from the M. ilifibularis (IF) muscle, and were stored in a refrigerator at 2 °C and analyzed at 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 days for the effect of packaging methods on physical meat quality. The initial pH (5.99) decreased at the end of the storage time for MAP1 to 5.81, whereas VP was stable from day 0 to 12 and increased up to 6.08 on day 16. Regarding meat color, the L* value increased during storage for MAP1 and MAP2 from 36.99 to 40.75 and 41.60, respectively, whereas it declined for VP to 34.22. The same tendencies were reported for redness (a*) and yellowness (b*). Drip loss was the lowest in MAP1 and highest in VP. The lowest total viable bacteria counts were identified in VP, as compared to MAP1 and MAP2.     

Spatially resolved X‐ray diffraction as a tool for strain analysis in laterally modulated epitaxial structures

Spatially resolved X‐ray diffraction (SRXRD) is applied for micro‐imaging of strain in laterally modulated epitaxial structures. In GaAs layers grown by liquid phase epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO) on SiO₂‐masked GaAs substrates a downward tilt of ELO wings caused by their interaction with the mask is observed. The distribution of the tilt magnitude across the wings width is determined with μm‐scale spatial resolution. This allows measuring of the shape of the lattice planes in individual ELO stripes. If a large area of the sample is studied the X‐ray imaging provides precise information on the tilt of an individual wing and its distribution. In heteroepitaxial GaSb/GaAs ELO layers local mosaicity in the wing area is found. By the SRXRD the size of microblocks and their relative misorientation were analyzed. Finally, the SRXRD technique was applied to study distribution of localized strain in AlGaN epilayers grown by MOVPE on bulk GaN substrates with AlN mask. X‐ray mapping proves that by mask patterning strain in AlGaN layer can be easily engineered, which opens a way to produce thicker, crack‐free AlGaN layers with a higher Al content needed in GaN‐based laser diodes. All these examples show that high spatial and angular resolutions offered by SRXRD makes the technique a powerful tool to study local lattice distortions in semiconductor microstructures. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The problem of satellites of spectral lines in the Jabłoński theory

This paper presents a calculation of the intensity distribution of a spectral line perturbed by interactions with foreign atoms. The calculation is based on the statistical version of the Jab?oński theory developed for the Lennard-Jones interaction potential.The calculated line profile shows a distinct satellite on the red wing, at a frequency b and a trace of another band at about 2b, where b is the depth of the difference potential. The positions of these bands are in good agreement with previously reported experimental data for the Hg 2537 Å resonance line broadened by krypton. It is shown that the present method describes both the core of the broadened line and its far red wing with the satellite structure.     

Biological and chemical investigation of Allium cepa L. response to selenium inorganic compounds

The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological and chemical response of Allium cepa L. exposed to inorganic selenium compounds. Besides the investigation of the total content of selenium as well as its chemical speciation, the Allium test was used to evaluate the growth of onion roots and mitotic activity in the roots’ meristem. The total content of selenium was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), coupled to ICP MS, was used for the selenium chemical speciation. Results indicated that A. cepa plants are able to biotransform inorganic selenium compounds into their organic derivatives, e.g., Se-methylselenocysteine from the Se(IV) inorganic precursor. Although the differences in the biotransformation of selenium are due mainly to the oxidation state of selenium, the experiment has also shown a fine effect of counter ions (H⁺, Na⁺, NH₄ ⁺) on the response of plants and on the specific metabolism of selenium.

Ba2Gd2(Si4O13): a silicate with finite Si4O13 chains

The title compound, dibarium digadolinium(III) tetrasilicate, crystallized from a molybdate‐based flux. It represents a new structure type and contains finite zigzag‐shaped C₂‐symmetric Si₄O₁₃ chains and Gd₂O₁₂ dimers built of edge‐sharing GdO₇ polyhedra. The [9+1]‐coordinated Ba atoms are located in voids in the atomic arrangement. All atoms are in general positions except for one O atom, which lies on a twofold axis. The structure is compared with those of the few other known tetrasilicates.