Solid Sampling Method Research Articles

Lexical pragmatic indicators of conflictogenicity in the information field of migration: Mexico - USA (based on Mexican social media)

The purpose of this study is to systematize the lexical pragmatic indicators of conflictogenicity (LPICs) used in Mexican user-generated content in the context of migration. The growth of anti-American attitudes caused by the speeches of D. Trump and his followers, as well as the socio-economic consequences of the influx of relocants from the USA to Mexico and their arrogant behavior contribute to the further formation of the image of the “Alien” in the Mexican linguistic picture of the world by the linguistic means of the conflictogenicity category. The study is based on user comments posted on the Mexican segment of Reddit, a popular online platform that combines the features of a social network and a forum where people can discuss various issues. About 3,000 comments posted over the past six years have been analyzed. The succession of two U.S. presidents during this period has had a great impact on the U.S. migration policy and its relations with Mexico. The LPICs were selected by the solid sampling method. Contextual method, method of communicative analysis, methods of component and pragmasemantic analysis were used too. As a result of the analysis, for the first time, the LPICs involved in the linguistic objectification of the image of the “Alien” in Mexican user-generated content – an English-speaking light-skinned foreigner – were identified and systematized. Both LPICs that initially have a negative connotation (invective and non-invective words of negative-evaluation): arrogant, greedy, invader, racist, disrespects Mexico, and LPICs that acquire it in ethno-cultural, socio-economic and personality-oriented contexts: Americans, English, English speakers, Mexico is a cheap country, etc. The increase in the density of LPICs used when discussing certain topics indicates the growing level of social tension in this sphere of public life.

Some Peculiarities of Translation of Medical Texts (on the Example of Cardiological Material)

Medicine is one of the most dynamically developing fields, requiring from translators not only specialised skills, but also basic knowledge of medicine. The present study is devoted to the study of specific features of medical texts and ways of their translation from English into Russian. The aim of the study is to identify the most overlooked problems that may be encountered when translating medical texts and to provide solutions to them. The subject of the study was the peculiarities encountered during the translation from English into Russian of the original practical manual on electrocardiography. The methodological basis of this study was formed by the solid sampling method, descriptive method and method of linguocultural analysis of linguistic material. As a result of the study, a number of features is identified that require increased attention when working with medical texts: borrowing words from Latin and Greek, the use of complex abbreviations and acronyms, the transition to gender-neutral pronouns, the translation of mnemonics, differences in classifications and health care systems. The ways of their translation are also analysed, and appropriate equivalents are selected. The methods of their translation are also analyzed and the appropriate equivalents are selected. General recommendations for overcoming the highlighted translation difficulties are given. Knowledge of morphemes of Greek and Latin origin, the ability to adapt the translation to the realities of another country, continuous professional development will help to overcome difficulties in translation. The skills of working with dictionaries and handbooks play an important role in the translation of a professionally-oriented vocabulary layer and the choice of expressions suitable for the meaning. In conclusion, the competencies that a translator in the medical field should possess in order to perform a high-quality adequate translation of medical texts are given.

A Critical Study on the Potential of Solid-Phase Fluorescence Spectroscopy (SPFS) in Quantitative Analysis: Effect of Solid Diluent and Sampling Method on Signal Quality.

Solid-phase fluorescence spectroscopy (SPFS) is a very useful non-destructive technique for directly analyzing samples in solid form without the use of solvents. However, due to the so-called inner-filter effect, it is sometimes necessary to dilute solid samples using non-fluorescent solids as diluents. This study aimed to explore the potential of SPFS in the quantitative analysis of fluorescent species based on: (1) the type of solid diluent; and (2) the sampling method used in the SPFS analysis. Four different solids were used as solid diluents in the preparation of standard mixtures having different concentrations of rhodamine b and fluorescein as model compounds. Standard mixtures of model compounds were sampled by two different methods called: (1) the powder-cell method; and (2) the adhesive tape method. LOQ and calibration sensitivity calculated from the calibration graphs were used to assess the measurement performance. The usability of SPFS in real-sample analyses was also evaluated in detail. Among the solid diluents studied, the best results were obtained with sodium carbonate. The powder-cell method yielded a significant advantage over the adhesive tape method. The lowest LOQs for rhodamine b and fluorescein were obtained by sodium carbonate and the powder-cell method as 0.06 and 0.11 mg/kg, respectively. The results of real-sample analyses were verified using conventional liquid-phase fluorescence spectroscopy (LPFS). Solid-diluent type and sampling method were found to affect the performance of the SPFS technique. A combination of sodium carbonate and the powder-cell method gave the best results. According to the t-test, no difference was observed between the means obtained by SPFS and LPFS techniques in real-sample analyses. In SPFS, toxic organic solvents and difficult sample preparation steps are not required. This makes the method advantageous over conventional fluorescence analyses performed in the liquid phase.

Опыт проектирования электронного учебного словаря фразеологизмов делового английского языка

Importance. Presented the main results of creating an educational dictionary taking into account modern linguodidactic requirements to the process of designing reference aids. The main content of the research is related to the presentation of the process of creating an electronic training dictionary of phraseologisms related to business and economics. The novelty of the research lies in the rapid development of computer lexicography, which makes it necessary to use training dictionaries in teaching a foreign language for professional purposes. Materials and Methods. The study dictionaries of business English, textbooks on teaching English of business and economics sphere, as well as scientific literature and Internet sources are presented. Theoretical analysis of scientific literature on the research topic, the method of solid sampling, modeling and design methods, as well as elements of statistical analysis and pedagogical experiment are used as the main methods. Results and Discussion. During the experiment, the indicators improved more than twice, which suggests that the training dictionary helps students to memorize phraseological units better. Results obtained in the research seem to make a certain contribution to the solution of an important problem of formation of terminological competence of students of economic specialties, to the development of digital educational lexicography. Conclusion. The practical significance of the research lies in the possibility of using the developed lexicographic resource in the process of teaching students English in the sphere of business communication, as well as in the possibility of using the developed approaches to dictionary design in the practical activity of compiling electronic dictionaries of English for special (professional) purposes.

Plant and Animal Names in the Flamenco Poetry

The song is capable of telling a lot about the spiritual life, traditions, feelings, aspirations of the people; it presents to the listener (or to the reader if it is a written text) the facts and events that left their mark on the social conscience of a certain country at a given stage of its historical evolution. Flamenco songs, belonging to the culture of dance and song cultivated in southern Spain with their variable content, often contain description of landscapes, names of plants and animals. Flamenco culture is precious and original, but despite its popularity beyond Spain, the texts of its verses published in numerous collections in Spanish have not yet attracted due attention of Russian researchers. Except for some verses translated into Russian at the beginning of the 20th century by Konstantín Balmont, our compatriots don´t know these poems. So it is essential and timely to focus on poetic texts in order to understand the role and functions of zoonyms and phytonyms in the creation of the linguistic picture of the world that is reflected in the verses. To achieve this objective, we applied the methods of cultural analysis, descriptive, comparative and solid sampling methods and also synchronic and diachronic approaches to the study. As an analytical basis for our investigation, we use Manuel Balmaseda’s verses from the book Primer cancionero de coplas flamencas populares según el estilo de Andalucía and popular songs compiled by Antonio Machado y Álvarez Cantes flamencos recogidos y anotados por Antonio Machado y Álvarez (Demófilo). The research allows us to draw the following conclusions: the metaphorical value of phytonyms endows the verses with an allegorical meaning, which allows us to discover several narrative layers in the same text. Certain species of plants are loaded with centuries-old symbolism, especially in the field of love. Zoonyms are not numerous and are often part of proverbs and set phrases. In some cases, the relationship with events described in the hagiographic compositions has been detected.

Direct solid sampling of biological species for the rapid determination of selenium by high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A direct solid sampling method based on high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS GFAAS) for the determination of selenium (Se) in biological tissues was optimized. The main analytical line of Se at 196.0267 nm was used to carry out all HR-CS AAS measurements. Different chemical modifiers were evaluated to prevent the loss of Se during the application of the GFAAS temperature program and avoid the interferences due to the presence of phosphorus compounds in sample matrix. The best results were achieved using ruthenium coated platforms and a palladium nanoparticle suspension (Pd NP) as co-injected modifier. Calibration was performed using aqueous standard solutions of Se(IV). For solid sampling, the optimal range of sample mass was between 0.2 and 0.8 mg. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.06 ng (0.075 μg g−1 using a sample mass of 0.8 mg). The developed solid sampling HR-CS GFAAS method was used for Se determination in two certified reference materials of dogfish tissues and lyophilized and powdered real samples of fish tissues and chicken liver. The precision obtained in these analyses, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD), was between 5.5 and 8.6% (n = 6). For validation purposes, the results obtained by the solid sampling HR-CS GFAAS method were compared with those found performing the analysis by HR-CS hydride generation AAS (HR-CS HGAAS) after microwave acid digestion of the samples. The Se concentrations obtained for both methods agreed at a 95% confidence level (Student's t-test), indicating the suitability of the proposed solid sampling HR-CS GFAAS method to determine Se in biological samples.

Determination of Four Priority Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Food Samples by Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) after Vortex Assisted Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction (DLLME)

Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) is a useful preconcentration technique but its direct application is limited to aqueous samples. Two pretreatment methods for solid samples, QuEChERS (quick easy cheap efficient rugged and safe) and a standard method, were used to isolate four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the sample matrix. However, since these methods result in analyte dilution, DLLME was used to augment them by concentrating the analytes from 8.0 mL of sample into 150 µL of 1,2-dichloroethane. Under the optimum conditions, the instrumental detection limit was enhanced by approximately 100-fold for chrysene, benzo[a]pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, and benzo[k]fluoranthene with corresponding detection limits of 29, 29, 30, and 28 ng/L, respectively. The precision of the method based on inter-analyst and inter-day analysis yielded relative standard deviations less than 9.0 and 4.0%, respectively. The optimized method was applied to snail samples spiked at 5.0, 10, 20, and 50 ng/g and the recoveries were nearly 100%. Matrix matched standards were also used to determine the recoveries; the results did not vary significantly from the direct calibration recoveries.

Preparation of ashless cellulose paper standards for rapid determination of multi-element concentrations in airborne fine particulate matter using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

In this study, we developed ashless cellulose filter papers as calibration standards in laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to rapidly determine multi-element concentrations in airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5). To achieve this, the papers were treated by immersion in standard solutions, followed by evaporation of the solutions. The homogeneity of the paper standards was studied, and the results demonstrated that the elements were homogeneously distributed at the paper centers with slight fluctuations (i.e., relative standard derivation ≦ 8%). The instrument signal drift and instability were compensated using a pseudo internal standard (197Au). The limits of detection established for LA-ICP-MS were obtained by the ablation of 11 lines on the procedural blank filter paper containing 0.5% HNO3, with values ranging from 0.01 (Sr) to 0.49 μg g−1 (Fe). The accuracy of the LA-ICP-MS determinations was validated using certified reference materials (CRMs) and analyzed using six line scans. The results showed acceptable analytical errors (<13%). Thus, our method was applied to analyze actual PM2.5 samples. Moreover, the sources of PM2.5 in Hangzhou were also investigated. Additionally, this method has considerable potential for multi-element analysis in other airborne dusts.

Novel solid sampling electrothermal vaporization atomic absorption spectrometry for fast detection of cadmium in grain samples

In this work, a novel and green solid sampling method of Cd in grain samples was established based on electrothermal vaporization atomic absorption spectrometry (ETV-AAS).

A fast and robust direct solid sampling method for the determination of 27 trace, main and minor elements in soda-lime glass based on ETV-ICP OES and using a gaseous halogenating modifier

ETV-ICP OES was successfully developed for elemental determination in glasses and validated by participation in certification for a glass standard.

Fast-sequential determination of cadmium and copper in milk powder and infant formula by direct solid sampling high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A sequential and direct solid sampling (SS) method to determine cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) in milk powders and infant formulas was developed using a high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption (HR-CS GFAA) spectrometer. The analysis was performed using a unique sample aliquot and in one measurement run. Absorbance measurements were carried out at the main analytical lines for Cd (228.802 nm) and Cu (324.754 nm). Experimental conditions were optimized using aqueous standards and a skimmed milk powder certified reference material (ERM®–BD150). Palladium was added as chemical modifier in standards and samples. For Cd determination, a pyrolysis temperature of 900 °C and an atomization temperature of 1400 °C were used. Afterwards, the wavelength was automatically changed, and Cu was determined from the same aliquot of sample using an atomization temperature of 2200 °C. Calibration was performed using aqueous standards. Using three pixels (CP ± 1) for the quantification of both elements and a sample mass of 0.9 mg, the limits of quantification (LOQs) and the upper limits of the linear range (ULLRs) were 2.1 µg kg−1 and 56 µg kg−1 for Cd (1.9 to 50 pg), and 0.021 mg kg−1 and 1.7 mg kg−1 for Cu (0.019 to 1.5 ng), respectively. The linear response of Cu was expanded up to 4.7 mg kg−1 (4.2 ng) by using the approach of measuring at the wings of the absorption line. The developed methodology was applied to analyse different commercial milk powder and infant formula samples with successful results.

Simultaneous determination of Fe and Ni in guarana (Paullinia cupana Kunth) by HR-CS GF AAS: Comparison of direct solid analysis and wet acid digestion procedures

Direct solid sampling method was compared with the conventional wet acid digestion method to simultaneously assay iron and nickel in guarana by high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Measurements were done with the secondary lines of Fe and Ni. Four digestion procedures using mixtures of HNO3 and H2O2 (procedure A), HNO3 and HCl (procedure B), HNO3, HCl and H2O2 (procedure C) and HNO3, H2SO4 and H2O2 (procedure D) were evaluated. All tested procedures provided quantitative recoveries for Ni, whereas a good recovery for Fe was obtained only with procedure D. Procedure D was chosen for the digestion of all guarana samples. The limit of detection for the direct solid sampling method was 1.004 μg g−1 for Fe and 0.022 μg g−1 for Ni, and the precision ranged from 3.5–20.0% and 2.8–8.0% for Fe and Ni, respectively. Method accuracy was evaluated by statistical comparison between analyte concentrations, obtained by measurements in the solid samples by the proposed method and after the digestion of the samples by procedure D. The validation of the analytical results obtained for the solid and the digested sample was performed by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence.

Quantitative trace elemental analysis by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy with dried droplet pretreatment

A dried droplet pre-treatment method for small solid samples containing trace elements, involving acid digestion of the sample followed by drying of a droplet on filter paper free of the analytes and quantitative elemental analysis by LIBS.

Laser based analysis of transition metal boride thin films using liquid standards

In this work the use of two laser assisted direct solid sampling methods, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for the determination of the stoichiometry of novel diboride based materials is reported. To overcome the need for certified reference materials or matrix matched standards, which were usually required for quantitative investigations with LA-ICP-MS or LIBS, in this work liquid standards are employed. For LA-ICP-MS the concept of self-aliquoting micro-grooves and for LIBS conventional dried droplets were used. As a model for application of the developed analytical procedures the ternary system W1-xTaxB2-z was used. Fabrication of W1-xTaxB2-z thin films with varying stoichiometry was performed via magnetron sputtering. Reference compositions were obtained by liquid digestion of the samples and subsequent ICP-OES measurement. Both laser-assisted methods enabled fast and spatially resolved measurements, although the LA-ICP-MS method generally yielded more accurate results. It was shown that the method can easily be adapted for the stoichiometry determination of systems with different elemental composition.

Development of a robust HS-SPME-GC-MS method for the analysis of solid food samples. Analysis of volatile compounds in fresh raw beef of differing lipid oxidation degrees

This work presents a headspace-solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) method for the analysis of solid food samples in extended experiments. The final procedure was used to quantify 30 volatile compounds in fresh beef. The strategy adds robustness to the classic SPME methods for solid samples, by including a control solution that solves several challenges. The control solution contained one representative compound for each studied family of beef, and two internal standards. Response factors were calculated for each family, and were subsequently applied to every compound belonging to the same family. This strategy allowed control of the quantification procedure even when the fibre, column or control solution changed. Repeatability and reproducibility had relative standard deviation values below 17%, except for phenylacetaldehyde, (E)-2-nonenal and (E,Z)-2,4-decadienal. Although the method described here was applied to animal products, it has also been successfully used to distinguish between samples from different lipid oxidation stabilities.

A Review on the Recent Progress in Matrix Solid Phase Dispersion

Matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) has proven to be an efficient sample preparation method for solid, semi-solid, and viscous samples. Applications of MSPD have covered biological, food, and environmental samples, including both organic and inorganic analytes. This review presents an update on the development of MSPD in the period 2015~June 2018. In the first part of this review, we focus on the latest development in MSPD sorbent, including molecularly imprinted polymers, and carbon-based nanomaterials etc. The second part presents the miniaturization of MSPD, discussing the progress in both micro-MSPD and mini-MSPD. The on-line/in-line techniques for improving the automation and sample throughput are also discussed. The final part summarizes the success in the modification of original MSPD procedures.

ETV-ICP-OES: a useful technique for homogeneity study of trace element in metals—application to the homogeneity study of 23 elements in electrolytic copper

Solid sampling techniques can perform multi-elemental determination on large number of samples in repeatable conditions without sample preparation, making them valuable tools for the homogeneity testing of reference materials. Even if techniques like glow discharge mass spectrometry are often used for large samples, the application to small chips was not well documented due to the small sample mass. This study compares two analytical methods for homogeneity studies of Ag, Al, As, Au, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, In, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Se, Si, Sn, Te, Ti, Zn and Zr in two electrolytic copper materials in the format of chips (ERM-EB074C and ERM-EB075C): (a) digestion methods: acid dissolution followed by ICP-MS or ICP-OES and (b) solid sampling method using electrothermal vaporization coupled with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ETV-ICP-OES). The same 10 units were analysed in 3–5 replicates by the different methods. ETV-ICP-OES was more precise than digestion methods with relative standard deviations of less than 8 % for most elements. The between-unit uncertainties determined by ETV-ICP-OES were lower than the values reported by the digestion methods. ETV-ICP-OES is a very interesting alternative to the digestion methods for large homogeneity study involving large number of trace elements. Also, the intrinsic sample inhomogeneity (minimum sample intake) was re-evaluated using the results of ETV-ICP-OES (sample intake: 3 mg) for the two materials. The minimum sample intake of several elements (e.g. Au Pb, Se and Te) was evaluated to be lower than the 10 mg reported for the two materials.

Direct Determination of Lead in Foods by Solid Sampling Electrothermal Vaporization Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry.

A solid sampling method for the determination of lead in foods (including grains, vegetables and seafoods) using electrothermal vaporization atomic fluorescence spectrometry was established. The method introduced samples using electrothermal vaporization by quartz furnace and used on-line ashing and vaporization to remove matrix interferences for the specific trap of lead. It was proven by the certified reference material (CRM) and the recovery rate of the standards that the electrothermal vaporization was stable and there was no effect for sampling difference. The best operating program and parameters for the new method included ashing (850°C, 160 s), vaporization and trap (1050°C, 80 s; 800°C, 10 s), release (800°C, 10 s), and mixed Ar + H2 (85:15%, v/v) as carrier gas with flow rate of 500 mL/min. The relative standard deviations of repeated Pb measurements in CRMs were all below 5.0%, and the recovery rate ranged from 90.0 - 110.0%. The limit of detection (LOD) for the new method was 3.0 pg and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 10.0 pg. The total time of analysis was less than 6 min. No significant differences existed between the results measured by the new method and microwave ICP-MS.

Combination of acoustic levitation with small angle scattering techniques and synchrotron radiation circular dichroism. Application to the study of protein solutions

BackgroundThe acoustic levitation technique is a useful sample handling method for small solid and liquids samples, suspended in air by means of an ultrasonic field. This method was previously used at synchrotron sources for studying pharmaceutical liquids and protein solutions using x-ray diffraction and small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). MethodsIn this work we combined for the first time this containerless method with small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and synchrotron radiation circular dichroism (SRCD) to study the structural behavior of proteins in solutions during the water evaporation. SANS results are also compared with SAXS experiments. ResultsThe aggregation behavior of 45μl droplets of lysozyme protein diluted in water was followed during the continuous increase of the sample concentration by evaporating the solvent. The evaporation kinetics was followed at different drying stage by SANS and SAXS with a good data quality. In a prospective work using SRCD, we also studied the evolution of the secondary structure of the myoglobin protein in water solution in the same evaporation conditions. ConclusionsAcoustic levitation was applied for the first time with SANS and the high performances of the used neutron instruments made it possible to monitor fast container-less reactions in situ. A preliminary work using SRCD shows the potentiality of its combination with acoustic levitation for studying the evolution of the protein structure with time. General significanceThis multi-techniques approach could give novel insights into crystallization and self-assembly phenomena of biological compound with promising potential applications in pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics industry. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “Science for Life” Guest Editor: Dr. Austen Angell, Dr. Salvatore Magazù and Dr. Federica Migliardo.

Solid-Sampling Electrothermal Vaporization Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry for Direct Determination of Total Oxygen in Coal.

A new analytical method for direct determination of total oxygen contents in eight coal samples of the Argonne Premium Coal (APC) series and in the NIST SRM 1632d is presented. The development of a suitable calibration procedure, optimization of measurement conditions, and the application of a tailored data processing for handling of plasma effects and high blanks enable the quantification of oxygen simultaneously with other trace, minor, or major elements in whole coal samples by means of electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ETV-ICP OES). For comparison, the oxygen contents were determined by a direct oxygen analyzer. The obtained oxygen values of the APC and the reference material NIST SRM 1632d were compared to data in the literature. The precision of the ETV-ICP OES was within ±3.5%, and the recovery better than 92%. With this good accuracy, the developed direct solid sampling method ETV-ICP OES is well suited for the fast determination of oxygen in coals, varying in rank from lignite to semianthracite, in a content range of about 100 ppm up to 27% using 1.5 mg sample weight. This direct analysis method represents an accurate, advantageous alternative to currently used methods for estimation of total oxygen contents in coals.