CERTIFICATION REPORT The certification of the mass fraction of pesticides in cucumber: ERM-BC403

This report describes the production of ERM®-BC403, which is a cucumber material certified for the mass fraction of selected pesticides. This material was produced following ISO Guide 34:2009 and is certified in accordance with ISO Guide 35:2006. Cucumbers from a biodynamic farm were used as base material. The cucumbers were transformed into slurry, freeze-dried and cryogenically milled. The obtained product was partially reconstituted with water and a separate portion was spiked with a pesticide mixture. The contaminated portion was then mixed with the rest of the material, homogenised and accurately dispensed into 100-ml vials. A second freeze-drying cycle was applied with the vials placed directly in the freeze-dryer. Prior to analysis the resulting sponge of dry cucumber must be reconstituted with a specific volume of water. Between-unit homogeneity was quantified and stability during dispatch and storage were assessed in accordance with ISO Guide 35:2006 [ ]. The material was characterised by an interlaboratory comparison of laboratories of demonstrated competence and adhering to ISO/IEC 17025. Technically invalid results were removed but no outliers were eliminated on statistical grounds only. Uncertainties of the certified values were calculated in accordance with the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) [ ] and include uncertainties related to possible inhomogeneity, instability and characterisation. The material is intended for the quality control / assessment of method performance. As with any reference material, it can be used for establishing control charts or used for validation of analytical methods. The CRM is available in sets of two glass vials containing each approximately 3.2 g of dried material. The vials were sealed under an atmosphere of argon. The minimum amount of sample to be used is 2.5 g of the reconstituted material.JRC.F.6-Reference Material

An approximation algorithm for the solution of the nonlinear Lane-Emden type equations arising in astrophysics using Hermite functions collocation method

In this paper we propose a collocation method for solving some well-known classes of Lane-Emden type equations which are nonlinear ordinary differential equations on the semi-infinite domain. They are categorized as singular initial value problems. The proposed approach is based on a Hermite function collocation (HFC) method. To illustrate the reliability of the method, some special cases of the equations are solved as test examples. The new method reduces the solution of a problem to the solution of a system of algebraic equations. Hermite functions have prefect properties that make them useful to achieve this goal. We compare the present work with some well-known results and show that the new method is efficient and applicable.Comment: 34 pages, 13 figures, Published in "Computer Physics Communications

Genome-wide inhibition of pro-atherogenic gene expression by multi-STAT targeting compounds as a novel treatment strategy of CVDs

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including atherosclerosis, are globally the leading cause of death. Key factors contributing to onset and progression of atherosclerosis include the pro-inflammatory cytokines Interferon (IFN)a and IFN? and the Pattern Recognition Receptor (PRR) Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Together, they trigger activation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT)s. Searches for compounds targeting the pTyr-SH2 interaction area of STAT3, yielded many small molecules, including STATTIC and STX-0119. However, many of these inhibitors do not seem STAT3-specific. We hypothesized that multi-STAT-inhibitors that simultaneously block STAT1, STAT2, and STAT3 activity and pro-inflammatory target gene expression may be a promising strategy to treat CVDs. Using comparative in silico docking of multiple STAT-SH2 models on multi-million compound libraries, we identified the novel multi-STAT inhibitor, C01L-F03. This compound targets the SH2 domain of STAT1, STAT2, and STAT3 with the same affinity and simultaneously blocks their activity and expression of multiple STAT-target genes in HMECs in response to IFNa. The same in silico and in vitro multi-STAT inhibiting capacity was shown for STATTIC and STX-0119. Moreover, C01L-F03, STATTIC and STX-0119 were also able to affect genome-wide interactions between IFN? and TLR4 by commonly inhibiting pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic gene expression directed by cooperative involvement of STATs with IRFs and/or NF-κB. Moreover, we observed that multi-STAT inhibitors could be used to inhibit IFN?+LPS-induced HMECs migration, leukocyte adhesion to ECs as well as impairment of mesenteric artery contractility. Together, this implicates that application of a multi-STAT inhibitory strategy could provide great promise for the treatment of CVDsThis publication was supported by grants UMO-2015/17/B/NZ2/00967 (HB) and UMO-2015/16/T/NZ2/00055 (MS) from National Science Centre Poland. This work was supported by the KNOW RNA Research Centre in Poznan (No. 01/KNOW2/2014) and in part by PL-Grid Infrastructure (MS

Nucleation of Al3Zr and Al3Sc in aluminum alloys: from kinetic Monte Carlo simulations to classical theory

Zr and Sc precipitate in aluminum alloys to form the compounds Al3Zr and Al3Sc which for low supersaturations of the solid solution have the L12 structure. The aim of the present study is to model at an atomic scale this kinetics of precipitation and to build a mesoscopic model based on classical nucleation theory so as to extend the field of supersaturations and annealing times that can be simulated. We use some ab-initio calculations and experimental data to fit an Ising model describing thermodynamics of the Al-Zr and Al-Sc systems. Kinetic behavior is described by means of an atom-vacancy exchange mechanism. This allows us to simulate with a kinetic Monte Carlo algorithm kinetics of precipitation of Al3Zr and Al3Sc. These kinetics are then used to test the classical nucleation theory. In this purpose, we deduce from our atomic model an isotropic interface free energy which is consistent with the one deduced from experimental kinetics and a nucleation free energy. We test di erent mean-field approximations (Bragg-Williams approximation as well as Cluster Variation Method) for these parameters. The classical nucleation theory is coherent with the kinetic Monte Carlo simulations only when CVM is used: it manages to reproduce the cluster size distribution in the metastable solid solution and its evolution as well as the steady-state nucleation rate. We also find that the capillary approximation used in the classical nucleation theory works surprisingly well when compared to a direct calculation of the free energy of formation for small L12 clusters.Comment: submitted to Physical Review B (2004

Screening reservoir candidates for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in Angolan offshore projects.

The neuro-fuzzy (NF) approach presented in this work is based on five (5) layered feedforward backpropagation algorithm applied for technical screening of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods. Associated reservoir rock-fluid oilfield data from successful EOR projects were used as input and predicted output in the training and validation processes, respectively. The developed model was then tested by using data set from Block B of an Angolan oilfield. The results of the sensitivity analysis between the Mamdani and the Takagi-Sugeno-Kang (TSK) approach incorporated in the algorithm has shown the robustness of the TSK ANFIS (Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System) approach in comparison to the other approach for the prediction of a suitable EOR technique. The simulation test results showed that the model presented in this study can be used for technical selection of suitable EOR techniques. Within the area investigated (Block B, Angola) polymer, hydrocarbon gas, and combustion were identified as the suitable techniques for EOR

Al2o3 Coated With 3-n-propyl-1-azonia-4-azabicyclo[2. 2.2]octane Silsesquioxane Chloride And Its Use For Immobilization Of Cobalt(ii) Tetrasulfonated Phthalocyanine In Oxalic Acid Electrooxidation

A water-soluble polymer prepared by sol-gel process, 3-n-propyl-1-azonia-4- azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane silsesquioxane chloride, was adsorbed on alumina surface. This polymer-coated alumina was able to effectively immobilize cobalt(II) tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine complexes as counter ions. Cobalt phthalocyanine immobilized in this way is well and tightly adsorbed on Al 2O3/3-n-propyl-1-azonia-4-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane silsesquioxane chloride surface. Furthermore, when incorporated to a carbon paste electrode showed a good electrocatalytic response toward the acid oxalic oxidation, making it a suitable electrode material. A linear relationship (r = 0.998) between the current responses obtained by chronoamperometric measurements and the oxalic acid concentration in the range of 7.4 × 10-5 - 9.1 × 10-4 mol L-1 was observed. A detection limit of 18 μmol L-1 was also determined. ©2008 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.194755761Templin, M., Franck, A., Du Chesne, A., Leist, H., Zhang, Y., Ulrich, R., Schädler, V., Wiesner, U., (1997) Science, 278, p. 1795Lee, K., Itharaju, R.R., Puleo, D.A., (2007) Acta Biomaterialia, 3, p. 515Yuan, J., Zhou, S., You, B., Wu, L., (2005) Chem. Mater, 17, p. 3587Fujiwara, M., Nishiyama, M., Yamamura, I., Ohtsuki, S., Nomura, R., (2004) Anal. Chem, 76, p. 2374Sayari, A., Hamoudi, S., (2001) Chem. Mater, 13, p. 3151Tien, P., Chau, L.K., Shieh, Y.Y., Lin, W.C., Wei, G.T., (2001) Chem. Mater, 13, p. 1124Gushikem, Y., Alfaya, R.V.S., Alfaya, A.A.S., (1998) Br PI, , 9.803.053-AArenas, L.T., Langaro, A., Gushikem, Y., (2003) J. Sol-Gel Sc. Tech, 28, p. 51Tundo, P., Venturello, P., Angeletti, E., (1982) J. Am. Chem. Soc, 104, p. 6547Wotring, V.J., Johnson, D.M., Bachas, L.G., (1990) Anal. Chem, 62, p. 1506Scindia, Y.M., Pandey, A.K., Reddy, A.V.R., (2005) J. Membr. Sci, 249, p. 143Arenas, L.T., Vaghetti, J.C.P., Moro, C.C., Lima, E.C., Benvenutti, E.V., Costa, T.M.H., (2004) Mater. Lett, 58, p. 895Kobayasbit, J., Anson, F.C., (1991) J. Phys. Chem, 95, p. 2595Ribeiro, E.S., Gushikem, Y., (1999) Electroanalysis, 11, p. 1280Lucho, A.M.S., Pissetti, F.L., Gushikem, Y., (2004) J. Sol-Gel Sc. Tech, 275, p. 251Arenas, L.T., Aguirre, T.A.S., Langaro, A., Gushikem, Y., Benvenutti, E.V., Costa, T.M.H., (2003) Polymer, 44, p. 5521Castellani, A.M., Gonçalves, J.E., Gushikem, Y., (2002) J. New Mat. Electrochem. Syst, 5, p. 169Arenas, L.T., Dias, S.L.P., Moro, C.C., Costa, T.M.H., Benvenutti, E.V., Lucho, A.M.S., Gushikem, Y., (2006) J. Colloid Interface Sci, 297, p. 244Min Jin, Z., Jiang Pan, Y., Feng Li, X., Lin Hu, M., Shen, L., (2003) J. Mol. Struct, 660, p. 67Marzocchi, M.P., Sbrana, G., Zerbi, G., (1965) J. Am. Chem. Soc, 87, p. 1429Fidalgo, A., Ilharco, L.M., (2004) Chem. Eur. J, 10, p. 392Ray, S., Vasudevan, S., (2003) Inorg. Chem, 42, p. 1711Tackley, D.R., Dent, G., Smith, W.E., (2001) Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys, 3, p. 1419Anson, F.C., (1966) Anal. Chem, 38, p. 54Xuan, G.S., Jang, S., Kwag, G., Kim, S., (2005) Bull. Korean Chem. Soc, 26, p. 671Lucho, A.M.S., Oliveira, E.C., Pastore, H.O., Gushikem, Y., (2004) J. Electroanal. Chem, 73, p. 55Bard, A.J., Faulkner, L.R., (2001) Electrochemical Methods. Fundamentals and Applications, , 2nd ed, Wiley: New York, ch. 9Yamazaki, S., Yamada, Y., Fujiwara, N., Ioroi, T., Siroma, Z., Senoh, H., Yasuda, K., (2007) J. Electroanal. Chem, 602, p. 96Casella, I.G., (1999) Electrochim. Acta, 44, p. 3353Mandanas, M.M., Shaffer, W., Adair, J.H., (2002) J. Am. Ceram. Soc, 85, p. 2156Shaidarova, L.G., Chelnokova, I.A., Gedmina, A.V., Budnikov, G.K., Ziganshina, S.A., Mozhanova, A.A., Bukharaev, A.A., (2006) J. Anal. Chem, 61, p. 37

Three-body structure of low-lying 18Ne states

We investigate to what extent 18Ne can be descibed as a three-body system made of an inert 16O-core and two protons. We compare to experimental data and occasionally to shell model results. We obtain three-body wave functions with the hyperspherical adiabatic expansion method. We study the spectrum of 18Ne, the structure of the different states and the predominant transition strengths. Two 0+, two 2+, and one 4+ bound states are found where they are all known experimentally. Also one 3+ close to threshold is found and several negative parity states, 1-, 3-, 0-, 2-, most of them bound with respect to the 16O excited 3- state. The structures are extracted as partial wave components, as spatial sizes of matter and charge, and as probability distributions. Electromagnetic decay rates are calculated for these states. The dominating decay mode for the bound states is E2 and occasionally also M1.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures (version to appear in EPJA

Natural and human-induced coastal dynamics at a back-barrier beach

This study contributes to the understanding of very low-energy fetch-limited environments by reporting the evolution of a back-barrier beach (Ancão Peninsula, southern Portugal). It considers two timescales: a large-scale evolution for the past 60 years based on aerial photograph analysis, and a small-scale beach evolution based on monthly topographic surveys performed during three years of monitoring. Each timescale revealed a different rate of evolution, the first reporting a modified beach response-type (from human activities), and the second reporting a natural beach response-type. Human activities caused significant changes in the back-barrier shore, whereas changes under natural forcing were much smaller, were less influential on the area's evolution, and were not sufficient to counteract or mask the consequences of human activities. The findings of the study should contribute to a better understanding about the large- and small- scale changes in other back-barriers characterised by similar very low-energy conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Search for direct production of charginos and neutralinos in events with three leptons and missing transverse momentum in √s = 7 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for the direct production of charginos and neutralinos in final states with three electrons or muons and missing transverse momentum is presented. The analysis is based on 4.7 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data delivered by the Large Hadron Collider and recorded with the ATLAS detector. Observations are consistent with Standard Model expectations in three signal regions that are either depleted or enriched in Z-boson decays. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set in R-parity conserving phenomenological minimal supersymmetric models and in simplified models, significantly extending previous results