This investigation examines the effects of load, speed, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) level and hydrogen addition level on the exhaust gas emissions, particulate matter size distribution and chemical composition. The experiments were performed on a 2.0 litre, 4 cylinder, direct injection engine. EGR levels were then varied from 0% to 40%. Hydrogen induction was varied between 0 and 10% vol. of the inlet charge. In the case of using hydrogen and EGR, the hydrogen replaced air. The load was varied from 0 to 5.4 bar BMEP at two engine speeds, 1500 rpm and 2500 rpm. For this investigation the carbon monoxide (CO), total unburnt hydrocarbons (THC), nitrogen oxides (NOX) and the filter smoke number (FSN) were all measured. The in-cylinder pressure was also captured to allow the heat release rate to be calculated and, therefore, the combustion to be analysed. A gravimetric analysis of the particulate matter size distribution was conducted using a nano-MOUDI. Finally, a GC-MS was used to determine the chemical composition of the THC emissions. The experimental data showed that although CO, FSN and THC increase with EGR, NOX emissions decrease. Inversely, CO, FSN and THC emissions decrease with hydrogen, but NOX increases. When hydrogen was introduced the peak cylinder pressure was increased, as was the maximum rate of in-cylinder pressure rise. The position of the peak cylinder pressure was delayed as hydrogen addition increased. This together with the obtained heat release patterns shows an increase in ignition delay, and a higher proportion of premixed combustion. The experimental work showed that the particulate matter size distribution was not dramatically altered by the addition of EGR, but the main peak was slightly shifted towards the nucleation mode with the addition of hydrogen. Hydrogen addition does not appear to have a large effect on the chemical composition of the THC, but does dramatically decrease the emissions.

Gasoline is produced by distilling petroleum oil. This is done at a refinery, where a lot of other products are produced as well. With increasing interest in bio-fuels the fuel companies started to produce substances such as biodiesel as well as the petroleum-based fuels. These products are then transported to where they are going to be used or sold, there included both gasoline, which is a petroleum-based fuel, and biodiesel (FAME), which in Sweden is based on rapeseed oil. If the vessel for transporting gasoline, or pipeline/connections filling and emptying the tanks, has previously been used for biodiesel, there is a risk of contaminating the gasoline with biodiesel. This contamination can have a lot of different effects such as either clogging filters or injectors in both gasoline- and ethanol-based engines, or even change the properties and therefore quality of the fuel.  To ensure that the results from tests and research involving gasoline can be used and compared with each other, the quality of the fuel must have the same properties throughout all tests. This is controlled by taking samples on a regular basis and analyzing the quality and level of impurities in the fuel used in that specific test. Screening for FAME is therefore necessary which is where this thesis becomes relevant.  This thesis was carried out with the purpose to develop a new or verify an already developed method to quantify FAME in gasoline. To determine the FAME content, a standard gas chromatography method, IP 585, was used. It was changed to fit in this application, since it was originally made to determine FAME content in diesel, not gasoline. It was concluded that it was possible to determine the FAME content in gasoline when IP 585 was used as is. There were some possible alternatives to IP 585 and they will be discussed in the literature study. / Bensin framställs genom destillation av råolja. Detta görs på ett raffinaderi där ett flertal andra produkter också utvinns. På senare tid har ögonen öppnats för "biobränslen", bland annat biodiesel. Det händer därför att detta också framställs på samma plats som bensinen. Dessa produkter säljs sedan och brukar fraktas i stora tankar till företagen som köpt dem. Ifall tankarna vid transport eller rören bränslet går igenom till tankarna först använts till biodiesel och sedan används till bensin finns det stor risk att en del biodiesel hamnar i bensinen. Detta kan leda till en rad olika problem. Ett exempel är att biodieseln kan sätta igen och förstöra injektorer i bensin- och etanolmotorer. Det kan även påverka testresultat i olika testriggar, vilket är ett av fallen på Volvo. Ifall bränslet inte bibehåller samma kvalitet för varje test det används i leder det till svårigheter vid jämförelser och resultatens riktighet. Det blir därför nödvändigt att kontrollera bensinens innehåll, där inräknat screening av FAME. Detta arbete utfördes med syftet att utveckla en ny eller verifiera en redan beprövad metod för att bestämma koncentrationen FAME i bensin. För att mäta koncentrationen FAME användes en standardmetod till GC-MS, IP 585. Den modifierades något för att passa in i denna applikation då den från början var gjord för kvantifiering i diesel och inte bensin. Slutsatsen drogs att det är möjligt att mäta koncentrationen FAME i bensin med IP 585 använd som den är. Det fanns möjliga alternativ till metoden, dessa bemöts i litteraturstudien.

by Lai Wai Kai. / Thesis (M.Sc.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-74). / Acknowledgement --- p.iv / Abstract --- p.v / Figures and Tables --- p.vii / Abbreviations used in this study --- p.ix / Contents / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Biochemistry of cobalamin --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Biological functions of cobalamin --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Causes of cobalamin deficiency --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Significances of cobalamin deficiency --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Assessment of cobalamin deficiency --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2 --- Biochemistry of Methylmalonic acid (MMA) --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Elevation of MMA in biological fluids --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Significances of measurement of MMA --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Methods of measurement of urinary MMA --- p.13 / Chapter 2. --- Objectives of this project --- p.16 / Chapter 3. --- Materials and Methods / Chapter 3.1 --- Study subjects --- p.18 / Chapter 3.2 --- Sample collection --- p.18 / Chapter 3.3 --- Biochemical and haematological analysis --- p.18 / Chapter 3.4 --- Measurement of urinary creatinine concentration --- p.19 / Chapter 3.5 --- Measurement of serum cobalamin concentration --- p.20. / Chapter 3.6 --- GC-MS determination of urinary MMA --- p.21 / Chapter 3.7 --- Statistical analysis --- p.24 / Chapter 4. --- Results / Chapter 4.1 --- Clinical features of subjects --- p.28 / Chapter 4.2 --- General blood analysis --- p.28 / Chapter 4.3 --- Serum cobalamin analysis --- p.30 / Chapter 4.4 --- Urinary MMA analysis --- p.33 / Chapter 4.5 --- Relationship between urinary MMA excretion and age --- p.53 / Chapter 4.6 --- Relationship between urinary MMA excretion and serum cobalamin concentrations --- p.53 / Chapter 5. --- Discussions / Chapter 5.1 --- Serum cobalamin analysis --- p.62 / Chapter 5.2 --- Urinary MMA analysis --- p.62 / Chapter 5.3 --- Relationship between urinary MMA excretion and age --- p.66 / Chapter 5.4 --- Relationship between urinary MMA excretion and serum cobalamin concentration --- p.66 / Chapter 5.5 --- Relationship between urinary MMA excretion and diet --- p.68 / Chapter 6. --- Conclusions --- p.69 / Chapter 7. --- References --- p.70

<p>U okviru doktorske disertacije optimizovani su uslovi određivanja<br />metilestara masnih kiselina, uključujući i trans izomere, primenom<br />kapilarne gasne hromatografije&ndash;masene spektrometrije, na<br />kapilarnoj koloni SP-2560 (dužina x unutra&scaron;nji prečnik: 100 m x<br />0,25 mm, debljina sloja stacionarne likvidne faze 0,20 &mu;m,<br />biscijanopropil polisiloksan). Kori&scaron;ćenjem standarnih rastvora<br />metilestara masnih kiselina optimizovani su temperaturni program,<br />odnos razdeljivanja i uslovi akvizicije podataka SCAN tehnikom.<br />Razvijena je metoda za pripremu uzoraka u cilju određivanja sastava<br />masnih kiselina u prehrambenim proizvodima gasnom<br />hromatografijom&ndash;masenom spektrometrijom zasnovana na<br />istovremenoj mikrotalasnoj ekstrakciji i esterifikaciji (SMEE).<br />Validacija metode je izvedena poređenjem sa rezultatima dobijenim<br />gasnom hromatografijom&ndash;masenom spektrometrijom nakon<br />ekstracije po Soxhlet-u i derivatizacije masnih kiselina u metilestre<br />masnih kiselina. Rezultati dobijeni primenom razvijene i referentne<br />metode bili su statistički isti, kako u pogledu sastava masnih<br />kiselina, tako i efikasnosti ekstrakcije. Rezultati su pokazali da su<br />prednosti SMEE u odnosu na konvencionalnu metodu: kratko vreme<br />pripreme uzoraka i samim tim manja potro&scaron;nja energije, kao i<br />upotreba malih količina skupih organskih rastvarača. Dobro slaganje<br />rezultata dobijenih primenom referentne i metode zasnovane na<br />istovremenoj mikrotalasnoj ekstrakciji i esterifikaciji pokazuje da bi<br />se SMEE mogla primeniti kao rutinska metoda za pripremu uzoraka<br />prehrambenih proizvoda u cilju određivanja trans masnih kiselina<br />(TFA). Određen je sastav masnih kiselina, sa posebnim akcentom na<br />trans masne kiseline, u 273 uzoraka prikupljenih sa na&scaron;eg trži&scaron;ta u<br />periodu od juna 2006. do juna 2009. godine. Sadržaj trans masnih<br />kiselina u analiziranim uzorcima prehrambenih proizvoda, sirovina i<br />međuproizvoda koji se koriste u pekarskoj i konditorskoj industriji,<br />kretao se u veoma &scaron;irokom intervalu, od 0,0% do čak 48,7%.<br />Prosečan sadržaj trans masnih kiselina iznosio je 0,2% u uljima,<br />6,5% u jestivim margarinima, 19,9% u margarinima za domaćinstvo,<br />9,8% u industrijskim margarinima, 24,3% u namenskim mastima,<br />10,8% u masnim punjenjima, 1,6% u mlečnim proizvodima, 10,9%<br />u slanom trajnom pecivu, 10,2% u čajnom pecivu, 6,3% u tvrdom<br />keksu, 11,0% u vafel proizvodima, 10,6% u čokoladnim<br />proizvodima i 9,2% u karamelama. Od ukupno 124 analizirana<br />uzorka, koja se ne koriste za direktnu upotrebu u ishrani (namenske<br />masti, masna punjenja, industrijski i margarini za domaćinstvo) 86<br />uzoraka (69,3%) sadrži vi&scaron;e od 5% trans masnih kiselina, 25<br />(20,2%) sadrži manje od 5% TFA, dok u 13 uzoraka (10,5%) nije<br />detektovano prisustvo trans izomera. Od ukupno 140 analiziranih<br />uzoraka, koji se koriste za direktnu upotrebu u ishrani 74 uzoraka<br />(52,8%) sadrži vi&scaron;e od 2% trans masnih kiselina, 20 (14,3%) sadrži<br />manje od 2% TFA, dok u 46 uzoraka (32,9%) nije detektovano<br />prisustvo trans izomera.</p> / <p>In this thesis, operating conditions for fatty acids determination,<br />including trans isomers, by capillary gas chromatography&ndash;mass<br />spectrometry, on capillary column SP-2560 (100 m x 0.25 mm, with<br />a 0.20 &mu;m film thickness of biscyanopropyl polysiloxane liquid<br />phase) were optimized. Temperature program, split ratio and<br />condition of data acquisition by SCAN technique were optimized<br />using standard solutions of fatty acid methyl esters. A sample<br />preparation method based on simultaneous microwave assisted<br />extraction&ndash;esterification (SMEE) was developed for the<br />determination of the fatty acid composition of foodstuffs by gas<br />chromatography&ndash;mass spectrometry. The proposed sample<br />preparation method was validated by comparison with the reference<br />Soxhlet extraction method followed by derivatisation by methyl<br />ester formation and the same determination step. The fatty acid<br />compositions, as well as extraction efficiencies obtained by the use<br />of the proposed SMEE method and reference method were<br />statistically similar. The results showed that compared to the<br />conventional method, SMEE method offer the advantages of short<br />sample preparation time, low consumption of expensive organic<br />solvents and less energy consumption. This good agreement between<br />results provided, both by the SMEE and reference method,<br />demonstrates the usefulness of the former as the routine method for<br />the treatment of food samples prior to trans fatty acid analysis. The<br />fatty acid composition, and trans fatty acid content of 273 samples<br />collected from June 2006 to June 2009 year were determined. Trans<br />fatty acid content in the analysed samples of food products, raw<br />materials and intermediate products used in bakery and<br />confectionery industry was ranged in a very wide interval, from<br />0.0% to 48.7%. The average contents of trans fatty acids were 0.2%<br />in oils, 6.5% in the edible margarines, 19.9% in cooking margarines,<br />9.8% in industrial margarines, 24.3% in shortenings, 10.8 % in fat<br />fillings, 1.6% in dairy products, 10.9% in crackers, 10.2% in tea<br />cookies, 6.3% in biscuits, 11.0% in wafer products, 10.6% in<br />chocolate products and 9.2% in the caramels. From the total of 124<br />analysed samples, which are not used for direct human consumption<br />(shortenings, fat fillings, industrial and cooking margarines) 86<br />samples (69.3%) contained more than 5% trans fatty acids, 25 (20.2<br />%) contained less than 5% TFA, while 13 samples (10.5%) had an<br />undetectable levels of trans isomers. From a total of 140 analysed<br />samples, which are used for direct human consumption 74 food<br />samples (52.8%) contained more than 2% trans fatty acids, 20<br />(14.3%) contained less than 2% TFA, while 46 samples (32.9%) had<br />an undetectable levels of trans isomers.</p>

Issue d’un partenariat de recherche entre le CEA et les laboratoires Servier, cette thèse avait pour objectif d’évaluer l’approche métabolomique par chromatographie liquide couplée à la spectrométrie de masse (LC-MS) pour l'identification de marqueurs indirects de l'induction dans les espèces de toxicologie. Le travail de thèse a débuté par l’optimisation de la méthode d’acquisition des empreintes métaboliques tant sur le plan analytique que dans le domaine du traitement des données brutes. Un outil reposant sur les matrices d’auto corrélation a alors été développé afin de s’affranchir d’une partie de la redondance du signal obtenu par spectrométrie de masse. Dans un troisième temps, les indices de Kendrick couplés à la sélectivité méthylène ont été appliqués à l’étude de composés biologiques en spectrométrie de masse haute résolution afin de proposer une méthode alternative de visualisation des données offrant une aide à l’identification des variables. Enfin, dans une dernière partie, les efforts se sont portés sur l’identification des composés endogènes modifiés au cours du protocole d’induction. / This work is the result of a research partnership between the CEA and Les laboratories Servier. It deals with the characterization of biomarkers of metabolic enzyme induction in rat biofluids using MSbased metabolomics. The first part of this work included methodological developments regarding theacquisition and the processing of metabolic fingerprints. A tool based on autocorrelation matrices wasthen implemented to reduce the redundancy of data generated with mass spectrometry and subsequently accelerate the isolation of discriminating variables. The next step consisted in the evaluation of the combined use of Kendrick mass defects and methylene selectivity as an alternative visualization tool for large data set, which would rely on compound chemical structures. Finally, the last part of the work was dedicated to the identification of discriminating signals raised up by ametabolomic global approach from rat biofluids collected before and after an induction assay.

The work presented is a substantial addition to the established methods of analysing the data generated by gas chromatography and low-resolution mass spectrometry. It has applications where these techniques are used on a large scale for screening complex mixtures, including urine samples for sports drug surveillance. The analysis of such data is usually automated to detect peaks in the chromatograms and to search a library of mass spectra of banned or unwanted substances. The mass spectra are usually not exactly the same as those in the library, so to avoid false negatives the search must report many doubtful matches. Nearly all the samples in this type of screening are actually negative, so the process of checking the results is tedious and time-consuming. A novel method, called scaled subtraction, takes each scan from the test sample and subtracts a mass spectrum taken from a second similar sample. The aim is that the signal from any substance common to the two samples will be eliminated. Provided that the second sample does not contain the specified substances, any which are present in the first sample can be more easily detected in the subtracted data. The spectrum being subtracted is automatically scaled to allow for compounds that are common to both samples but with different concentrations. Scaled subtraction is implemented as part of a systematic approach to preprocessing the data. This includes a new spectrum-based alignment method that is able to precisely adjust the retention times so that corresponding scans of the second sample can be chosen for the subtraction. This approach includes the selection of samples based on their chromatograms. For this, new measures of similarity or dissimilarity are defined. The thesis presents the theoretical foundation for such measures based on mass spectral similarity. A new type of difference plot can highlight significant differences. The approach has been tested, with the encouraging result that there are less than half as many false matches compared with when the library search is applied to the original data. True matches of compounds of interest are still reported by the library search of the subtracted data.

The goal of this thesis was to characterize and quantify changes to Canadian Arctic organic matter (OM) induced by a physical disruption to the permafrost active layer by employing molecular-level techniques such as biomarker extraction and NMR to help elucidate its contribution to carbon turnover and global climate change. The initial biomarker characterization study determined that the extractable plant lipids were unaltered originating from the deposition of new vascular material or permafrost melt where a high alteration of lignin-derived OM was observed suggesting a long residence time in the ecosystem. Analysis of samples where there was a new and historical physical disruption to the permafrost landscape showed an initial increase in bacterial biomass biomarkers, and was corroborated with increased bacterial protein contributions and peptidoglycan signals in the NMR spectra. It is hypothesized that this increase in bacterial biomass resulted in a faster rate of degradation, possibly leading to OM priming.

The goal of this thesis was to characterize and quantify changes to Canadian Arctic organic matter (OM) induced by a physical disruption to the permafrost active layer by employing molecular-level techniques such as biomarker extraction and NMR to help elucidate its contribution to carbon turnover and global climate change. The initial biomarker characterization study determined that the extractable plant lipids were unaltered originating from the deposition of new vascular material or permafrost melt where a high alteration of lignin-derived OM was observed suggesting a long residence time in the ecosystem. Analysis of samples where there was a new and historical physical disruption to the permafrost landscape showed an initial increase in bacterial biomass biomarkers, and was corroborated with increased bacterial protein contributions and peptidoglycan signals in the NMR spectra. It is hypothesized that this increase in bacterial biomass resulted in a faster rate of degradation, possibly leading to OM priming.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 2006 / Typescript (photocopy)

Thesis (MSc (Plant Biotechnology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / Includes bibliography. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study of plants on a sub-cellular level is an important, yet challenging area and its application allows for novel insight into the understanding of metabolism and its regulation. In this study I describe the development of a reverse phase liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (RPLC-MS) technique in which 29 phosphorylated and nucleotide sugars could be detected and quantified. The method was validated with the use of authentic standards and the system displayed very good linearity (Rª > 0.95), while the recovery of the standards added to the plant material before extraction was between 65 and 125%. Further, Arabidopsis thaliana wild type (Col-0) and adenylate kinase (adk1) mutant leaf discs were fed 13C labeled glucose over a period of 24 hours and harvested at defined time intervals. Non aqueous fractionation, and metabolite profiling via the above mentioned rpLC-MS method in conjunction with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) allowed for the detection and quantification of primary metabolites on a sub-cellular level as well as the determination of their relative isotopic label enrichments through primary carbon metabolism. Finally, a yeast complementation system was designed for the identification of tonoplast bound sucrose import proteins. The screening system identified 22 unique sequences from an Arabidopsis thaliana cDNA library. Four unknown sequences were identified, one of which displayed tonoplast membrane association upon in silico analysis. Three ATP-binding proteins were also identified as well as a sub-unit from the exocyst gene family. Further studies will include the functional characterization of the latter, as well as the development of additional cDNA libraries more suited for screening of sequences that encode sucrose importer proteins. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie van plante op a sub-sellulere vlak is ‘n belangrike maar uitdagende navorsingsarea en die toepassing daarvan dra by tot unieke insig tot ‘n beter begrip van metabolise regulasie. In die studie bespreek ek die ontwikkeling van ‘n teenoorgestelde fase vloeistof kromatografie massa spektrometrie (RPLC-MS) tegniek waarin 29 gefosforileerde en nukleotied suikers gevind en gekwantifiseer kon word. Geldigverklaring van die metode is bewerkstelling met die gebruik van oorspronklike standaarde and die systeem het baie goeie liniariteit (Rª > 0.95) getoon, terwyl die herstelbaarheid van standaarde wat bygevoeg is by die plant material voor ekstraksie tussen 65% en 125% was. Arabidopsis thaliana wilde type (Col-O) en die adenaliet kinase (adk1) mutant blaar dele is met 13C gemerkte glukose gevoed oor ‘n tydperk van 24 uur en geoes by spesifieke tydstippe. Nie-vloeibare fraksionering en metaboliet uitleg is vermag vanaf die genoemde RPLC-MS metode met behulp van gas kromotografie massa spektrometrie (GC-MS) wat die bepaling en kwantifikasie van primere metaboliete op n sub-sellulere vlak sowel as die bepaling van hul relatiewe isotropiese merker verrykers deur primere metabolisme toelaat. Verder is n gis komplementere systeem ontwerp vir die identifikasie van tonoplas gebinde sukrose invoer proteine. Die verkenningsysteem het 22 unieke volgordes opgelewer vanaf ‘n Arabidopsis thaliana kDNA biblioteek. Vier onbekende volgordes is geidentifiseer, een wat tonoplas membraan assosiasie toon met in silico analise. Drie ATP-bindings proteine is ook geidentifiseer asook ‘n sub-eenheid van die eksosyst geen familie. Verdere studies sal die funksionele karakterisering van die laaste protein insluit, asook die ontwikkeling van additionele kDNA biblioteke meer gepas vir verkenning sodiende identifiseer van volgordes wat sukrose invoer proteine vertaal.