A comparative study on phyllosilicate and tectosilicate mineral structural properties

Natural minerals are widely used in numerous environmental applications, mainly as sorbents in ion exchange and sorption processes. Minerals, such as zeolites and clays, can be found all over the world, but they are mined containing a variety of different impurities; this prevents their accurate characterization. The present study examines various methods used for the characterization of three common natural silicate minerals, one zeolite (clinoptilolite) and two clays (montmorillonite and vermiculite). Their characterization was performed through a series of analytical measurements so as to gather all the information needed regarding their structural properties. Therefore, “similar” minerals such as clinoptilolite vs. heulandite and vermiculite vs. hydrobiotite can be distinguished; revealing important properties when comes to their practical application. The methods used in the present study are X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, TG/DTG/DTA and N2-porosimetry (BET). An extensive literature review of the natural silicate minerals has been conducted and the relevant results and methods are comparatively reported. The analytical results enabled the distinguish of the examined minerals. XRD, FTIR, TG/DTG/DTA showed that all three minerals have characteristic bands that can be used to easily distinguish from others

Application of ion mobility spectrometry for the detection of human urine

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the suitability of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) for the detection of human urine as an indication of human presence during urban search and rescue operations in collapsed buildings. To this end, IMS with a radioactive ionization source and a multicapillary column was used to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from human urine. A study involving a group of 30 healthy volunteers resulted in the selection of seven volatile species, namely acetone, propanal, 3-methyl-2-butanone, 2-methylpropanal, 4-heptanone, 2-heptanone and octanal, which were detected in all samples. Additionally, a preliminary study on the permeation of urine volatiles through the materials surrounding the voids of collapsed buildings was performed. In this study, quartz sand was used as a representative imitating material. Four compounds, namely 3-methyl-2-butanone, octanal, acetone and 2-heptanone, were found to permeate through the sand layers during all experiments. Moreover, their permeation times were the shortest. Although IMS can be considered as a potential technique suitable for the detection, localization and monitoring of VOCs evolved from human urine, further investigation is necessary prior to selecting field chemical methods for the early location of trapped victims

A Compendium of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Released By Human Cell Lines

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) offer unique insights into ongoing biochemical processes in healthy and diseased humans. Yet, their diagnostic use is hampered by the limited understanding of their biochemical or cellular origin and their frequently unclear link to the underlying diseases. Major advancements are expected from the analyses of human primary cells, cell lines and cultures of microorganisms. In this review, a database of 125 reliably identified VOCs previously reported for human healthy and diseased cells was assembled and their potential origin is discussed. The majority of them have also been observed in studies with other human matrices (breath, urine, saliva, feces, blood, skin emanations). Moreover, continuing improvements of qualitative and quantitative analyses, based on the recommendations of the ISO-11843 guidelines, are suggested for the necessary standardization of analytical procedures and better comparability of results. The data provided contribute to arriving at a more complete human volatilome and suggest potential volatile biomarkers for future validation. Dedication:This review is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Dr. Anton Amann, who sadly passed away on January 6, 2015. He was motivator and motor for the field of breath research

Monitoring of selected skin- and breath-borne volatile organic compounds emitted from the human body using gas chromatography ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS)

ISSN:1873-376XISSN:1570-0232ISSN:1572-6495ISSN:1387-227

Design of a non standar 4 storey office building metal

113 σ.Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία έχει ως αντικείμενο το σχεδιασμό και την μελέτη ενός μεταλλικού κτιρίου γραφείων με κατακόρυφους συνδέσμους δυσκαμψίας, με τη χρήση των προγραμμάτων SOFISTIK και INSTANT 2000. Πιο συγκεκριμένα μέσω του SOFISTIK έγινε η εύρεση των εντατικών μεγεθών σχεδιασμού και με το INSTANT 2000 η μόρφωση και ο έλεγχος των συνδέσεων. Στο ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΟ 1 γίνεται μια σύντομη ιστορική αναδρομή στις μεταλλικές κατασκευές και στην χρήση του χάλυβα. Στο ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΟ 2 γίνεται η παρουσίαση του έργου μέσω του προγράμματος SOFISTIK όπως είναι η γεωμετρία του φορέα, τα είδη των διατομών, τα υλικά και ο σχεδιασμός. Ακόμη αναφέρεται στα φορτία που καταπονούν την κατασκευή και στους διάφορους συνδυασμούς φορτίσεων με τους οποίους έγινε η επίλυση. Στο ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΟ 3 πραγματοποιούνται όλοι οι έλεγχοι των μελών του φορέα σύμφωνα με τον Ευρωκώδικα 3, λαμβάνοντας τα αποτελέσματα της στατικής και δυναμικής ανάλυσης μέσω του SOFISTIK. Στο ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΟ 4 περιγράφονται οι συνδέσεις των μελών του φορέα και τα αποτελέσματα των ελέγχων τους, όπως αυτά προέκυψαν μέσω του προγράμματος INSTANT 2000.The present diploma thesis is concerned with the design and research of a metal office building with vertical joints stiffness, using the programs SOFISTIK and INSTANT2000. Most notably through the SOFISTIK was finding the internal forces and design, with INSTANT 2000 the configuration and control connections. Chapter 1 gives a brief history on the steel structures and the use of steel. In Chapter 2 of the presentation of the project through the program SOFISTIK such as the geometry of the body, the types of sections, materials and design. Even states the loads to strain construction and the various load combinations with which they were solved. In Chapter 3 we made all the checks membership organization in accordance with Eurocode 3, taking the results of static and dynamic analysis through SOFISTIK. Chapter 4 describes the connections of the members of the body and the results of their audits, such as those obtained through the INSTANT 2000.Αγάπιος Ι. Αγαπίο

Use of FTIR spectroscopy and chemometrics for the classification of carobs origin

Carob samples from seven different Mediterranean countries (Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Jordan and Palestine) were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Seed and flesh samples of indigenous and foreign cultivars, both authentic and commercial, were examined. The spectra were recorded in transmittance mode from KBr pellets. The data were compressed and further processed statistically using multivariate chemometric techniques, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Cluster Analysis (CA), Partial Least Squares (PLS) and Orthogonal Partial Least Square-Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA). Specifically, unsupervised PCA framed the importance of the variety of carobs, while supervised analysis highlighted the contribution of the geographical origin. Best classification models were achieved with PLS regression on first derivative spectra, giving an overall correct classification. Thus, the applied methodology enabled the differentiation of carobs flesh and seed per their origin. Our results appear to suggest that this method is a rapid and powerful tool for the successful discrimination of carobs origin and type