An automated HPLC determination of meticlorpindol in eggs with UV absorbance detection, using on-line dialysis and pre-concentration as sample clean-up; occurrence in and carry over to eggs

Summary A fully automated HPLC determination of the coccidiostat meticlorpindol in whole egg, egg white and yolk is described. The sample homogenate is dialysed online against water. The dialysate is concentrated on-line on a short reversed-phase (RP) column. The contents of this column are transferred to the reversed-phase analytical column by means of the mobile phase. Meticlorpindol is detected using an absorbance detector at 270 nm. Linear calibration graphs are obtained in the range 40–900 ng/g in whole egg and egg white (detection limit 10 ng/g) and 80–1800 ng/g in yolk (detection limit 20 ng/g). Out of 111 commercially obtained egg samples 12 contained meticlorpindol with levels varying from 10 to 433 ng/g. A group of laying hens, kept in cages, received 10 mg/kg of Lerbek (meticlorpindol and methylbenzoquate; Dow Chemical) in the feed for 10 days. Meticlorpindol residues in the eggs rose to a level of 622 ng/g. Meticlorpindol was found in the eggs until 6 days after withdrawal of the medicated feed. Another group received 110 mg/kg in the feed. Meticlorpindol residues rose to levels of 4480 ng/g in the eggs, 5880 ng/g in the egg white and 2660 ng/g in the yolk. Meticlorpindol was found in the eggs and the egg white until 14 days and in the yolk until 8 days after withdrawal of the medicated feed.

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Eine automatisierte HPLC-Methode zur Bestimmung von Meticlorpindol in Eiern mit UV-Detektion und Probenaufarbeitung mit direkter Dialyse und direkter Vorkonzentrierung; Übertragung (Carry-over) und Vorkommen in Eiern

Zusammenfassung Mit dem beschriebenen Verfahren können Rückstände von Meticlorpindol in Eiern, Eiklar und Dotter automatisch bestimmt werden. Homogenisierte Proben werden gegen Wasser dialysiert. Das Dialysat wird an einer Vorkonzentrierungssäule konzentriert. Mit der mobilen Phase wird das Konzentrat auf die analytische Säule gebracht. Der Nachweis wird mit einem UV-Absorption-Detektor ausgeführt (Wellenlänge 270 nm). Der Zusammenhang zwischen Meßwert und Meticlorpindolgehalt ist linear in dem Bereich von 40 bis 900 ng/g Meticlorpindol in Vollei und Eiklar (Nachweisgrenze etwa 10 ng/g) und von 80 bis 1800 ng/g in Dotter (Nachweisgrenze etwa 20 ng/g). Bei der Untersuchung von 111 Handelsproben wurden in 12 Proben Rückstände von Meticlorpindol nachgewiesen mit Konzentrationen zwischen 10 und 433 ng/g. Eine Gruppe von Legehennen erhielt 10 mg/kg Lerbek (Meticlorpindol und Methylbenzoquate; Dow Chemical) im Futter während 10 Tagen. Die Eier wiesen bis zum 6. Tag nach dem Absetzen des Futterzusatzes nachweisbare Meticlorpindol-Rückstände auf (Höchstgehalt 622 ng/g in Vollei). Eine zweite Gruppe erhielt 110 mg/kg im Futter. In den Volleiproben und Eiklarproben dieser Gruppe konnten bis zum 14. Tag nach dem Absetzen Rückstände von Meticlorpindol nachgewiesen werden (Höchstgehalte 4480 und 5880 ng/g), in den Dotterproben bis zum 8. Tag (Höchstgehalt 2660 ng/g).

     

PLC-RF diversity: channel outage analysis

Telecommunication Systems - Signals from indoor access points in a wireless fidelity suffer from high attenuation as a result of the thick walls and metal structures in the multilevel-storey...     

A modelling language for cooperative plans in highly dynamic domains

Cooperative behaviour is one of the challenges most pronounced in the RoboCup Middle Size League. Especially the dynamic nature of the domain, which calls for swift adaptation by each robot and the team as a whole, is a distinctive property of the league. The ability to establish highly responsive teamwork while facing unreliable communication and sensory noise is a key to successful soccer teams. Moreover, modelling such responsive, cooperative behaviour is difficult. In this work, we specify a novel model for cooperative behaviour geared towards highly dynamic domains, focussing on the language syntax and semantics. In our approach, agents estimate each other’s decision and correct these estimations once they receive contradictory information. We provide a comprehensive approach for agent teamwork featuring intuitive modelling capabilities for multi-agent activities, abstractions over activities and agents, and a clear operational semantics. Moreover, we briefly present a graphical modeling tool for cooperative strategies, which is based directly on the theory laid out, together with a practical framework for executing said strategies. We show experimentally the responsiveness and coherence of the resulting team play.     

An improved algorithm for cutset evaluation from paths

In this paper an algorithm is given to obtain cuts from paths of a 2-state reliability system. The new algorithm is based on set theoretic considerations. It improves the algorithm of Elias, Mokhles and Ibrahim. An example is given to demonstrate the algorithm.     

An FFT-based signal identification approach for obtaining the propagation constants of the leaky modes in layered media

We propose to find the propagation constants of modes in layered media by means of signal identification methods. To this effect we employ Cauchy's theorem, conformal mapping and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) techniques to generate relevant Hankel moments, afterwards to be processed with selected signal identification algorithms. The method, terminated by a few Newton steps, provides a batch of highly accurate roots in appropriate disks or half-disks.     

Integrated structure and control design for mechatronic systems with configuration-dependent dynamics

This paper considers the optimal design of mechatronic systems with configuration-dependent dynamics. An optimal mechatronic design requires that, among the structural and control parameters, an optimal choice has to be made with respect to design specifications in the different domains. Two main challenges are treated in this paper: the non-convex nature of the optimization problem and the difficulty in modeling serial machines with flexible components and their embedded controllers. The optimization problem is treated using the direct design strategy which considers simultaneously structural and control parameters as variables and adopts non-convex optimization algorithms. Linear time-invariant and gain-scheduling PID controllers are addressed. This methodology is exploited for the multi-objective optimization of a pick-and-place assembly robot with a gripper carried by a variable-length flexible beam. The resulting design tradeoffs between system accuracy and control efforts demonstrate the advantage of an integrated design approach for mechatronic systems with configuration-dependent dynamics.     

Lithium-Ion Desolvation Induced by Nitrate Additives Reveals New Insights into High Performance Lithium Batteries

Electrolyte additives have been widely used to address critical issues in current metal (ion) battery technologies. While their functions as solid electrolyte interface forming agents are reasonably well-understood, their interactions in the liquid electrolyte environment remain rather elusive. This lack of knowledge represents a significant bottleneck that hinders the development of improved electrolyte systems. Here, the key role of additives in promoting cation (e.g., Li⁺) desolvation is unraveled. In particular, nitrate anions (NO₃⁻) are found to incorporate into the solvation shells, change the local environment of cations (e.g., Li⁺) as well as their coordination in the electrolytes. The combination of these effects leads to effective Li⁺ desolvation and enhanced battery performance. Remarkably, the inexpensive NaNO₃ can successfully substitute the widely used LiNO₃ offering superior long-term stability of Li⁺ (de-)intercalation at the graphite anode and suppressed polysulfide shuttle effect at the sulfur cathode, while enhancing the performance of lithium–sulfur full batteries (initial capacity of 1153 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.25C) with Coulombic efficiency of ≈100% over 300 cycles. This work provides important new insights into the unexplored effects of additives and paves the way to developing improved electrolytes for electrochemical energy storage applications.     

A flexible,reliable, and adaptive timeslot‐based advance bandwidth‐reservation mechanism for media delivery services

Media‐centric networks deal with exchanging large media files between geographical distributed locations with strict deadlines. In such networks, resources need to be available at predetermined timeslots in the future and thus need to be reserved in advance, based on either flexible or fixed timeslot sizes. Reliability of the transfers is also important and can be attained by advance provisioning of redundant reservations. This, however, imposes additional costs, because redundant reservations are rarely in use, causing network resources to be wasted. Further adaptation and network utilization can be achieved at runtime by reutilizing unused reservations for transferring extra data as long as no failure has been detected. In this article, we design, implement, and evaluate a resilient advance bandwidth‐reservation approach based on flexible timeslots, in combination with a runtime adaptation approach. We take into account the specific characteristics of media transfers. Quality and complexity of the proposed approach have been extensively compared with that of a fixed timeslot algorithm. Our simulation results reveal that the highest admittance ratio and percentage of fully transferred requests in case of failures are almost always achieved by flexible timeslots, while the execution time of this approach is up to 17.5 times lower, compared with the approaches with fixed timeslot sizes.     

Evidence for Glass–glass Interfaces in a Columnar Cu–Zr Nanoglass

Comprehensive analyses of the atomic structure using advanced analytical transmission electron microscopy-based methods combined with atom probe tomography confirm the presence of distinct glass–glass interfaces in a columnar Cu-Zr nanoglass synthesized by magnetron sputtering. These analyses provide first-time in-depth characterization of sputtered film nanoglasses and indicate that glass–glass interfaces indeed present an amorphous phase with reduced mass density as compared to the neighboring amorphous regions. Moreover, dedicated analyses of the diffusion kinetics by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (ToF SIMS) prove significantly enhanced diffusivity, suggesting fast transport along the low density glass–glass interfaces. The present results further indicate that sputter deposition is a feasible technique for reliable production of nanoglasses and that some of the concepts proposed for this new class of glassy materials are applicable.