Stability Studies of Agrifood Reference Materials Under Different Conditions of Storage by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

Reference materials (RM) play an increasingly important role for laboratories. The aim of this work is to compare different conditions of storage and assess the stability of agrifood external reference materials (ERM). These materials could be used as tools by laboratories notably for their quality control procedure. However, as the other RM, their stability must be assessed during stability studies. The determination of the limiting date of stability (LDS), defined as the period during which analytes called marker of stability are still considered as stable, is used on this purpose. The influences of the environmental factor were tested by the application of full experimental designs with two tested environmental factors: the temperature (storage at +4 °C or +20 ± 10 °C) and the composition of the atmosphere (absence or presence of gases in the packaging). Thus, the setting under vacuum increases clearly the stability for the studied analyte. Almost all ERM stored in the best conditions have a determined LDS higher than those stored in current condition of storage. Indeed, the bread wheat ERM LDS is higher than the current storage of 24 months     

质谱模拟软件的设计和实现

本文介绍质谱模拟(SMS)软件的设计思想和实现方法。SMS 是在 AppleⅡ机上开发的,采用浮点 BASIC 语言实现。系统由三个部分组成:基本原理,仪器结构和操作模拟。具有较强的交互功能,操作方便,灵活。SMS 采用了计算机图形学技术,特别是动画技术,以及数据文件组织技术。     

Mapping of heavy metal pollution in stream sediments using combined geochemistry, field spectroscopy, and hyperspectral remote sensing: A case study of the Rodalquilar mining area, SE Spain

The aim of this study is to derive parameters from spectral variations associated with heavy metals in soil and to explore the possibility of extending the use of these parameters to hyperspectral images and to map the distribution of areas affected by heavy metals on HyMAP data. Variations in the spectral absorption features of lattice OH and oxygen on the mineral surface due to the combination of different heavy metals were linked to actual concentrations of heavy metals. The ratio of 610 to 500 nm (R_610,500 nm) in the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) range, absorption area at 2200 nm (Area_2200 nm), and asymmetry of the absorption feature at 2200 nm (Asym_2200 nm) showed significant correlations with concentrations of Pb, Zn, and As, respectively. The resulting spectral gradient maps showed similar spatial patterns to geochemical gradient maps. The ground-derived spectral parameters showed a reliable quantitative relationship with heavy metal levels based on multiple linear regression. To examine the feasibility to applying these parameters to a HyMAP image, image-derived spectral parameters were compared with ground-derived parameters in terms of R², one-way ANOVA, and spatial patterns in the gradient map. The R_1344,778 nm and Area_2200 nm parameters showed a weak relationship between the two datasets (R² > 0.5), and populations of spectral parameter values, Depth_500 nm, R_1344,778 nm, and Area_2200 nm derived from the image pixels were comparable with those of ground-derived spectral parameters along a section of the stream channel. The pixels classified in the rule image of Depth_500 nm, R_1344,778 nm, and Area_2200 nm derived from a HyMAP image showed similar spatial patterns to the gradient maps of ground-derived spectral parameters. The results indicate the potential applicability of the parameters derived from spectral absorption features in screening and mapping the distribution of heavy metals. Correcting for differences in spectral and spatial resolution between ground and image spectra should be considered for quantitative mapping and the retrieval of heavy metal concentrations from HyMAP images.     

Machining performance of TiN coatings incorporating indium as a solid lubricant

The machining and wear performance of TiN-coated and patterned carbide inserts incorporating indium as a solid lubricant are reported in this study. Cutting tests were conducted by turning hardened 4340 steel in both lubricated and dry conditions. During turning, periodic flank wear measurements were made. The chips formed during cutting were examined by scanning electron microscopy, as the condition of the chip reflects the conditions obtained during machining. Inserts subject to dry machining were also examined using optical microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to determine the extent of damage on the rake surface as well as the degree of material transfer. The results showed indium to be effective in reducing flank wear during lubricated machining, but little additional benefit of patterning was observed. For dry machining, some degree of improvement was noted in the patterned sample, but the degree of lubricity brought about by the indium coating was not sufficient and the overall flank wear was higher than the lubricated tests. However, the wear and damage on the rake surface along the path of the chip was reduced by the presence of the In-containing microreservoirs. An additional test was conducted using an instrument that simulates temperature effects during machining, and it was found that the lubricity achieved by In coatings is lost above 450 °C. These results suggest that the use of indium is limited to below this temperature, and above this temperature transforms to a less lubricious indium oxide.     

The development of low-temperature hardening silicone ceramer coatings for the corrosion protection of metals

The process parameters for the formulation of two different hybrid ceramic-polymer (ceramer), barrier-type coatings for the corrosion protection of metals are discussed. The coating formulations were characterized in the liquid, gel, and solid phases using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS), respectively. The coatings were applied to 6061-T6 aluminum alloy, hardened in ambient conditions, and analyzed with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Thermal stability of the coatings was analyzed in inert and oxidative atmosphere using thermogravimertic analysis. The final surface morphology was studied using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The nanoindentation technique supported by SEM revealed the nanomechanical properties of the coatings. The effectiveness as a barrier-type coating was studied using electrochemical polarization experiments and immersion experiments in saline solution.     

反射式THz‒TDS用于轨道交通典型液体安检的实验

太赫兹时域光谱(THz-TDS)技术用于轨道交通易燃易爆危险液体的安全检测,需要兼顾速度和准确率。一般在大流量人群中,因为检测速度限制,不适合直接采用实验室常用的测试指纹谱之后再与样品数据库的吸收峰位置比对的方法来精确确定样品成分信息。针对轨道交通中典型液体样品,在常温常压和正常大气湿度(25 ℃、60%空气湿度)条件下,测试反射式THz-TDS的脉冲回波数据。建立非易燃易爆危险品、易燃易爆类、强酸类等分类数据库,结合样品光谱数据库特征,归纳了4种典型的时域脉冲谱线,即含有显著次级反射峰、微小次级反射峰、无反射峰和向下反转的次反射峰。依据太赫兹时域谱线次级反射峰的特征,结合分类识别决策模型,快速实现了综合分类判别,准确率达80%以上。     

Study of natural mango juice spoilage and microbial contamination with Penicillium expansum by high resolution H NMR spectroscopy

High resolution ¹H NMR has been applied to monitor the changes in the composition of natural mango juice subjected to spoilage and to microbial contamination with Penicillium expansum. A vast number of compounds undergoing changes upon these processes have been identified and their variations followed throughout time (132 h). Besides the formation of typical fermentation products (e.g. acetate, lactic acid, acetoin and isopropanol/2,3-butanediol) and the utilization of the major sugars (sucrose, glucose and fructose), there were changes in organic acids (e.g. decreases of quinic and shikimic acids with formation of 3,4,5-trihydroxycyclohexane acid in spoiled juice, and decreases of citric and malic acids in contaminated juice), amino acids (decreases of alanine, leucine, isoleucine and valine), and less abundant components such as oligosaccharides and aromatic compounds. The possibility of using these changes as early indicators of natural spoilage or P. expansum contamination is discussed.     

基于近红外漫反射光谱技术判别柿子品种和 贮藏期的研究

目的 通过近红外漫反射光谱技术建立了柿子不同品种和贮藏期的快速判别方法。方法 实验对置于冷库(0±0.5℃)贮藏20d、40d、60d的磨盘柿和阳丰甜柿的近红外光谱(400～2500nm)进行平滑处理、一阶倒数和标准正常化处理(SNV)处理,采用主成分分析法(PCA)建立判别模型。结果 在全波长范围内,不同品种定标模型的正确分类率达到100%;阳丰甜柿不同贮藏期的正确分类率达到97.78%;磨盘柿不同贮藏期的正确分类率达到98.89%。3个预测模型的累积准确率达到96.67%。结论 通过近红外漫反射光谱技术,判别不同品种的柿子并预测其贮藏期具有应用价值。     

Cathodic disbonding of a thick polyurethane coating from steel in sodium chloride solution

The cathodic disbonding of a thick, pigmented polyurethane coating from steel in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution was studied by using an electrochemical AC impedance technique. Double-cylinder electrolyte cells were designed to separate the measurements of cathodic disbonding process from the influence of the impedance of an artificial defect. It was found that for a thick, pigmented polyurethane coating, the more important transport pathway of the reactive species is along the coating/steel interface rather than through the coating. There existed a delay time for the cathodic disbonding process, and cathodic polarization was not a predominant factor in determining the cathodic disbonding behavior in the early stages. The thick polyurethane coating, which was applied on a well sand-blasted steel surface, had excellent resistance to cathodic disbonding.