71. Determination of Iron in Environmental Water Samples by FIA-TLSMiha Tomšič, Leja Goljat, Hanna Budasheva, Dorota Korte, Arne Bratkič, Mladen Franko, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: The determination of low concentration of iron in natural waters can be difficult due to the complexity of natural water, but primarily because it requires preconcentration of the sample with solvent extraction. In this work we report on results of thermal lens spectrometry (TLS) coupled to flow injection analysis (FIA) as a highly sensitive FIA-TLS method of iron detection. The concentration of iron redox species was determined using 1,10-phenanthroline (PHN), that forms stable complexes with Fe(II) ions which are characterized by an absorption maximum at 508 nm. The TLS system using a 633 nm probe laser and 530 nm pump laser beam was exploited for on-line detection in flow injection analysis, where a PHN solution was used as the carrier solution for FIA. The concentration of the complexing agent affects the quality of the TLS signal, and the optimal concentration was found at 1 mM PHN. The achieved limits of detection (LODs) for Fe(II) and total iron were 33 nM for Fe(II) and 21 nM for total iron concentration. The method was further validated by determining the linear concentration range, specificity in terms of analytical yield and by determining concentration of iron in a water sample from a local water stream.
Keywords: Flow injection analysis, iron concentration, thermal lens spectroscopy
Published in RUNG: 18.12.2019; Views: 4166; Downloads: 111
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72. A cellular network database for fingerprint positioning systemsDonatella Gubiani, Paolo Gallo, Andrea Viel, Andrea Dalla Torre, Angelo Montanari, 2019, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: Besides being a fundamental infrastructure for communication, cellular networks are increasingly exploited for positioning via signal fingerprinting.
Here, we focus on cellular signal fingerprinting, where an accurate and comprehensive knowledge of the network is fundamental.
We propose an original multilevel database for cellular networks, which can be automatically updated with new fingerprint measurements and makes it possible to execute a number of meaningful analyses. In particular, it allows one to monitor the distribution of cellular networks over countries, to determine the density of cells in different areas, and to detect inconsistencies in fingerprint observations.
Keywords: Cellular network, Signal fingerprinting, Multilevel database, Data analysis
Published in RUNG: 17.09.2019; Views: 4226; Downloads: 0
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73. HOLISTIC GEOMORPHOLOGICAL SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF KARST ON KRK ISLANDEla Šegina, 2019, doctoral dissertation Abstract: The intriguing spatial variability of surface features on Krk Island has stimulated the research of this karst area located in the coastal zone of the Dinaric karst in Croatia. Field inspection, ortho-rectified aerial photos (0.5m resolution) and a topographic map (1:5,000) were used for the detection and delineation of detectable karst surface features appearing on the island with the area of 405.5 km². This method resulted in the identification of several yet undefined types of surface features occurring on karst, requiring the revision of the existing classification and re-establishment of a new classification system compatible with the particular field reality. Several morphologic and distributive parameters that had been calculated for each re-classified type of surface feature provided insight into the surface features elementary characteristics, their spatial variability and the correlation to the other types of surface features and to the recent karst relief. This analysis based on a large, accurate dataset, contributed to the general knowledge on karstic surface features, the conditions of surface features in Dinaric karst and to the understanding of the karst surface evolution on Krk Island.
Keywords: karst geomorphology, GIS, spatial analysis, Krk Island, Dinaric karst, Adriatic Sea
Published in RUNG: 13.09.2019; Views: 6023; Downloads: 228
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74. Capturing and Storing Exhaled Breath for Offline AnalysisIain R. White, Stephen J. Fowler, 2019, independent scientific component part or a chapter in a monograph Abstract: In this chapter we will summarize and discuss methods for the capture and storage of exhaled breath, prior to offline (and indirect online) analysis. We will detail and compare methods currently in use, including their applications, key strengths, and limitations. In synthesizing the best features of each technique, we will propose an ideal standardized breath sampling solution, and give a personal vision on the next steps to be taken in this exciting area of breath research.
Keywords: Breath analysis, Breath sampling, Offline analysis, Thermal desorption, Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Published in RUNG: 22.07.2019; Views: 4440; Downloads: 0
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75. Exhaled breath metabolomics reveals a pathogen-specific response in a rat pneumonia model for two human pathogenic bacteria: a proof-of-concept studyPouline M van Oort, Iain R. White, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: Volatile organic compounds in breath can reflect host and pathogen metabolism and might be used to diagnose pneumonia. We hypothesized that rats with Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) or Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) pneumonia can be discriminated from uninfected controls by thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass-spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) and selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) of exhaled breath. Male adult rats (n = 50) received an intratracheal inoculation of 1) 200 µl saline, or 2) 1 × 107 colony-forming units of SP or 3) 1 × 107 CFU of PA. Twenty-four hours later the rats were anaesthetized, tracheotomized, and mechanically ventilated. Exhaled breath was analyzed via TD-GC-MS and SIFT-MS. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCCs) and correct classification rate (CCRs) were calculated after leave-one-out cross-validation of sparse partial least squares-discriminant analysis. Analysis of GC-MS data showed an AUROCC (95% confidence interval) of 0.85 (0.73-0.96) and CCR of 94.6% for infected versus noninfected animals, AUROCC of 0.98 (0.94-1) and CCR of 99.9% for SP versus PA, 0.92 (0.83-1.00), CCR of 98.1% for SP versus controls and 0.97 (0.92-1.00), and CCR of 99.9% for PA versus controls. For these comparisons the SIFT-MS data showed AUROCCs of 0.54, 0.89, 0.63, and 0.79, respectively. Exhaled breath analysis discriminated between respiratory infection and no infection but with even better accuracy between specific pathogens. Future clinical studies should not only focus on the presence of respiratory infection but also on the discrimination between specific pathogens.
Keywords: biomarkers, exhaled breath analysis, infection, pneumonia
Published in RUNG: 22.07.2019; Views: 3982; Downloads: 0
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76. Mass composition of ultra-high energy cosmic rays at the Pierre Auger ObservatoryGašper Kukec Mezek, 2019, doctoral dissertation Abstract: Cosmic rays with energies above 10^18 eV, usually referred to as ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR), have been a mystery from the moment they have been discovered. Although we have now more information on their extragalactic origin, their direct sources still remain hidden due to deviations caused by galactic magnetic fields. Another mystery, apart from their production sites, is their nature. Their mass composition, still uncertain at these energies, would give us a better understanding on their production, acceleration, propagation and capacity to produce extensive air showers in the Earth's atmosphere. Mass composition studies of UHECR try to determine their nature from the difference in development of their extensive air showers.
In this work, observational parameters from the hybrid detection system of the Pierre Auger Observatory are used in a multivariate analysis to obtain the mass composition of UHECR. The multivariate analysis (MVA) approach combines a number of mass composition sensitive variables and tries to improve the separation between different UHECR particle masses. Simulated distributions of different primary particles are fitted to measured observable distributions in order to determine individual elemental fractions of the composition. When including observables from the surface detector, we find a discrepancy in the estimated mass composition between a mixed simulation sample and the Pierre Auger data. Our analysis results from the Pierre Auger data are to a great degree independent on hadronic interaction models. Although they differ at higher primary masses, the different models are more consistent, when combining fractions of oxygen and iron. Compared to previously published results, the systematic uncertainty from hadronic interaction models is roughly four times smaller. Our analysis reports a predominantly heavy composition of UHECR, with more than a 50% fraction of oxygen and iron at low energies. The composition is then becoming heavier with increasing energy, with a fraction of oxygen and iron above 80% at the highest energies.
Keywords: astroparticle physics, ultra-high energy cosmic rays, extensive air showers, mass composition, Pierre Auger Observatory, machine learning, multivariate analysis
Published in RUNG: 03.04.2019; Views: 6137; Downloads: 194
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77. Cu and Zr surface sites in photocatalytic activity of TiO [sub] 2 nanoparticles : the effect of Zr distributionOlena Pliekhova, O. L. Pliekhov, Mattia Fanetti, Iztok Arčon, Nataša Novak Tušar, Urška Lavrenčič Štangar, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: The present work is focused on the role of ZrO2 modification in the performance of CuO modified TiO2. Zirconia
loading leads to formation of more resistant photocatalytic layers compared to samples modified with only
copper containing species. Surface modification of mixed phase TiO2 with CuO/ZrO2 improves the degradation
of Reactive blue 19 dye under simulated solar irradiation. An in-depth investigation of the catalysts showed that
in case of CuO/ZrO2 modification, the covering of the TiO2 surface with zirconium containing species prevents
morphological and harmful energetic changes induced by copper species formed on the rutile TiO2 phase at a
higher copper loading.
Keywords: titanium dioxide, surface modification, XAS analysis, surface acidity, Hammett indicators
Published in RUNG: 26.03.2019; Views: 4003; Downloads: 0
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