Analysis of mercury in sequential micrometer segments of single hair strands of fish-eaters

Although it has been established that mercury (Hg) can be detected in single hair strands using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), calibration remains a challenge due to the lack of well-characterized matrix-matched standards. We concurrently evaluated two strategies for quantifying Hg signals in single hair strands using LA-ICP-MS. The main objective was to obtain time-resolved Hg concentrations in single hair strands of fish-eaters that would correspond to the changes of their body burden over time. Experiments were conducted using hair samples collected from 10 individuals. The first experiment involved the construction of a calibration curve with four powdered hair standard reference materials (SRMs) with a range of Hg concentrations (0.573-23.2 mg/kg). An internal standard, sulfur, as 34S, was applied to correct for ablation efficiency for both the hair strands and the SRMs. Results showed a linear relationship (R2 = 0.899) between the ratio of 202Hg to 34S obtained by LA-ICP-MS and the certified total Hg concentration in the SRMs. Using this calibration curve, average Hg concentrations of 10 shots within a 1-cm segment of a hair strand were calculated and then compared to the total Hg concentrations in the matched 1-cm segment as measured by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS). A significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed. The difference could be attributed to the highly variable ablation/sampling process caused by the use of the laser on the hair powder SRM pellets and the difference in the physical properties of the SRMs. An alternative approach was adopted to quantify consecutive 202Hg to 34S ratios by calibrating the signals against the average Hg concentration of the matched hair segment as measured by CV-AAS. Consecutive daily Hg deposition in single hairs of fish eaters was determined. Results showed that apparent daily changes in Hg concentrations within a hair segment that corresponds to 1 month of hair growth. In addition, a significant decreasing or increasing time-trend was observed. The difference between the minimum and maximum Hg concentration within each individual corresponded to a change of 26-40%. Our results showed that LA-ICP-MS can be used to reconstruct time-resolved Hg exposure in micrometer segments of a single hair strand.     

Effects of dietary energy allowance and decline in dry matter intake during the dry period on responses to glucose and insulin in transition dairy cows

We assessed whether high energy intake during the early dry period [144% of metabolizable energy (ME) requirements/d] followed by a gradual restriction of energy intake in the close-up dry period (119% of ME/d; HEI) impaired whole-body insulin sensitivity compared with a controlled energy intake (100% of ME/d; CEI) throughout the 6-wk dry period. Multiparous Ayrshire dairy cows (n = 16) were blocked by body weight, body condition score, and expected date of parturition and were used in a randomized complete block design until 10 d after parturition. Cows were fed either HEI or CEI diets based on grass silage during the first 3 wk of the dry period and grass silage supplemented with a commercial concentrate (30% of ME intake) during the final 3 wk of gestation. After calving, all cows were fed grass silage ad libitum and an increasing amount of commercial concentrate (maximum 9 kg at d 10 postpartum). Intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTT) and intravenous insulin challenges were performed ?10 ± 5 d (n = 15) and +10 ± 1 d (n = 14) relative to parturition. Following glucose injection, we did not find any treatment effects on glucose and insulin responses. The prepartal nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) response of the HEI group was blunted, basal NEFA and the decrement of NEFA were smaller, and the area under the response curve (AUC) of NEFA was less negative in HEI cows than in CEI cows. The NEFA response reversed after parturition; the NEFA AUC of the HEI group was more negative than that of the CEI group. We did not find similar responses after insulin injection. Across the treatments, NEFA AUC correlated strongly with the basal NEFA concentration during the IVGTT pre- and postpartum. Calculated and model-based indices characterizing the overall glucose tolerance and β-cell function and the insulin sensitivity were higher after parturition than during the dry period. Consistent with the lower basal insulin, the acute insulin release after the glucose infusion was smaller in postpartal IVGTT than in prepartal IVGTT. The results suggest that whole-body insulin sensitivity of the cows increased after parturition. However, the role of peripheral insulin sensitivity in the regulation of glucose partitioning seems to be minor relative to the major change in insulin secretion and clearance during the periparturient period.     

Micromegas in a bulk

In this paper, we present a novel way to manufacture the bulk Micromegas detector. A simple process based on the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) technology is employed to produce the entire sensitive detector. Such a fabrication process could be extended to very large area detectors made by the industry. The low cost fabrication together with the robustness of the electrode materials will make it attractive for several applications ranging from particle physics and astrophysics to medicine.     

Drying of Liquid Water in Wood as Influenced by the Capillary Fiber Network

A stochastic three-dimensional model for the behavior of liquid water in the capillary network formed by the fibers in solid wood has been developed and adapted to simulate drying of sapwood of softwood. In a cluster of interconnected, water-filled fibers, the free water menisci will retract during drying but stop at the tiny openings of bordered pits between fibers. As the drying process continues, the meniscus in the widest opening cannot withstand the capillary suction any more and retracts into the corresponding fiber, which is gradually emptied and the process is repeated. This introduces a stochastic element into the process and the behavior is studied using a Monte Carlo approach.

This new approach explains several observed features of wood drying that cannot be explained by traditional diffusion models. In addition, the relative permeability of both the gaseous and liquid phases is calculated as functions of water saturation. The model is finally extended by inclusion of film and corner flow.     

Direct measurement of the modified equation of state of thin helium films

Using a technique involving the mechanical resonance of a film at 18 and 9.1 GHz, we have experimentally studied the equation of state of unsaturated helium films nearT . We show the necessity of modifying the equation and we fit our data with a derivation based on the Ginzburg—Pitaevskii model. Then we deduce the phase diagram of helium films.Associated with the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.     

Parametric amplification and self-compression of ultrashort tunablepulses

Using a 40-fs Ti:sapphire pump laser, we produced 20-fs infrared pulses in a β-barium borate (BaB₂O₄) optical parametric amplifier without any external dispersion compensation. These results are in good agreement with a novel semi-analytical computer simulation. We also demonstrate that cascading of second-order nonlinear effects yields simultaneous production of ultrashort visible pulses from a near-infrared (NIR) pump     

New non-destructive laser ablation based backside sample preparation method

A new ultra-short pulse laser ablation based backside sample preparation method has been developed. This technique is contact-less, non-thermal, precise, repetitive and adapted to each type of material present in IC packages. Backside preparation examples are presented on a conventional DIL plastic package, a TSOP plastic package with an oversized silicon die and on a DIL ceramic package.