Finite sample size effect on minimum variance beamformers: optimum diagonal loading factor for large arrays

Minimum variance beamformers are usually complemented with diagonal loading techniques in order to provide robustness against several impairments such as imprecise knowledge of the steering vector or finite sample size effects. This paper concentrates on this last application of diagonal loading techniques, i.e., it is assumed that the steering vector is perfectly known and that diagonal loading is used to alleviate the finite sample size impairments. The analysis herein is asymptotic in the sense that it is assumed that both the number of antennas and the number of samples are high but have the same order of magnitude. Borrowing some results of random matrix theory, the authors first derive a deterministic expression that describes the asymptotic signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio (SINR) at the output of the diagonally loaded beamformer. Then, making use of the statistical theory of large observations (also known as general statistical analysis or G-analysis), the authors derive an estimator of the optimum loading factor that is consistent when both the number of antennas and the sample size increase without bound at the same rate. Because of that, the estimator has an excellent performance even in situations where the quotient between the number of observations is low relative to the number of elements of the array.     

Determination of phenylephrine hydrochloride by flow injection analysis with chemiluminescence detection

A new method is proposed for the determination of phenylephrine hydrochloride by flow injection analysis with direct chemiluminescence detection. The method is based on the oxidation of the drug by potassium permanganate in sulfuric acid medium at 80 degrees C. The calibration graph is linear over the range 0.03-8 ppm phenylephrine hydrochloride, with a relative standard deviation (n = 51, 0.5 ppm) of 1.1% and sample throughput of 134/h. The influence of 38 different foreign compounds was tested, and the method was applied to the determination of phenylephrine hydrochloride in 8 different pharmaceutical formulations.     

Corps euclidiens,unités exceptionnelles et courbes elliptiques

Lenstra [Invent. Math.36 (1977), 237–254] has proved that a number field possessing sequences of integers whose differences are units, having a big enough length with respect to the discriminant of the field, is Euclidean. In this paper, we use this result to construct some new Euclidean fields; suitable sequences are obtained by using points of finite order on some elliptic curves.     

Orbispaces as differentiable stratified spaces

We present some features of the smooth structure and of the canonical stratification on the orbit space of a proper Lie groupoid. One of the main features is that of Morita invariance of these structures—it allows us to talk about the canonical structure of differentiable stratified space on the orbispace (an object analogous to a separated stack in algebraic geometry) presented by the proper Lie groupoid. The canonical smooth structure on an orbispace is studied mainly via Spallek’s framework of differentiable spaces, and two alternative frameworks are then presented. For the canonical stratification on an orbispace, we extend the similar theory coming from proper Lie group actions. We make no claim to originality. The goal of these notes is simply to give a complementary exposition to those available and to clarify some subtle points where the literature can sometimes be confusing, even in the classical case of proper Lie group actions.     

Laser stabilization to an atomic transition using an optically generated dispersive line shape

We report a simple and robust technique to generate a dispersive signal which serves as an error signal to electronically stabilize a monomode continuous-wave laser emitting around an atomic resonance. We explore nonlinear effects in the laser beam propagation through a resonant vapor by way of spatial filtering. The performance of this technique is validated by locking semiconductor lasers to the cesium and rubidium D₂ lines and observing long-term reduction of the emission frequency drifts, making the lasers well adapted for many atomic physics applications.     

Effect of tin concentration on the electrical properties of ceramic membranes used as separators in electrochemical reactors

This paper deals with the study of different microporous ceramic membranes used as separators in electrochemical reactors to treat the activating solutions coming from the electroless plating of polymers. The main component of these solutions is Sn(IV) in HCl as diluting agent, then, the effect of the complex species formed between Sn⁴⁺ and Cl⁻ ions on the electrical properties of the membranes has been studied.     

Powdered activated carbons as effective phases for bar adsorptive micro-extraction (BAμE) to monitor levels of triazinic herbicides in environmental water matrices

Bar adsorptive micro-extraction using three powdered activated carbons (ACs) as adsorbent phases followed by liquid desorption and high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (BAμE(ACs)-LD/HPLC-DAD), was developed to monitor triazinic herbicides (atrazine, simazine and terbutylazine) in environmental water matrices. ACs used present apparent surface areas around 1000 m² g⁻¹ with an important mesoporous volume and distinct surface chemistry characteristics (pH_PZC ranging from 6.5 to 10.4). The textural and surface chemistry properties of the ACs adsorbent phases were correlated with the analytical data for a better understanding of the overall enrichment process. Assays performed on 10 mL water samples spiked at the 10.0 μg L⁻¹ levels under optimized experimental conditions yielded recoveries around 100% for the three herbicides under study. The analytical performance showed good precision (RSD < 15.0%), convenient detection limits (≈0.1 μg L⁻¹) and suitable linearity (1.0-12.0 μg L⁻¹) with good correlation coefficients (r² > 0.9914). By using the standard addition method, the application of the present method on real water matrices, such as surface water and wastewater, allowed very good performances at the trace level. The proposed methodology proved to be a suitable sorptive extraction alternative for the analysis of priority pollutants with polar characteristics, showing to be easy to implement, reliable, sensitive and requiring a low sample volume to monitor triazinic compounds in water matrices.     

Cork-based activated carbons as supported adsorbent materials for trace level analysis of ibuprofen and clofibric acid in environmental and biological matrices

In this contribution, powdered activated carbons (ACs) from cork waste were supported for bar adsorptive micro-extraction (BAμE), as novel adsorbent phases for the analysis of polar compounds. By combining this approach with liquid desorption followed by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (BAμE(AC)-LD/HPLC-DAD), good analytical performance was achieved using clofibric acid (CLOF) and ibuprofen (IBU) model compounds in environmental and biological matrices. Assays performed on 30 mL water samples spiked at the 25.0 μg L(-1) level yielded recoveries around 80% for CLOF and 95% for IBU, under optimized experimental conditions. The ACs textural and surface chemistry properties were correlated with the results obtained. The analytical performance showed good precision (<15%), suitable detection limits (0.24 and 0.78 μg L(-1) for CLOF and IBU, respectively) and good linear dynamic ranges (r(2)>0.9922) from 1.0 to 600.0 μg L(-1). By using the standard addition methodology, the application of the present approach to environmental water and urine matrices allowed remarkable performance at the trace level. The proposed methodology proved to be a viable alternative for acidic pharmaceuticals analysis, showing to be easy to implement, reliable, sensitive and requiring low sample volume to monitor these priority compounds in environmental and biological matrices.     

Surface heterogeneity effects of activated carbons on the kinetics of paracetamol removal from aqueous solution

The removal of a compound with therapeutic activity (paracetamol) from aqueous solutions using chemically modified activated carbons has been investigated. The chemical nature of the activated carbon material was modified by wet oxidation, so as to study the effect of the carbon surface chemistry and composition on the removal of paracetamol. The surface heterogeneity of the carbon created upon oxidation was found to be a determinant in the adsorption capability of the modified adsorbents, as well as in the rate of paracetamol removal. The experimental kinetic data were fitted to the pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion models. The parameters obtained were linked to the textural and chemical features of the activated carbons. After oxidation the wettability of the carbon is enhanced, which favors the transfer of paracetamol molecules to the carbon pores (smaller boundary layer thickness). At the same time the overall adsorption rate and removal efficiency are reduced in the oxidized carbon due to the competitive effect of water molecules.