This thesis deals with the reliability of methods for the speciation of mercury in environmental and biological samples. Problems with speciation methods that couple chromatography to atomic spectrometric detection and how to overcome the problems are discussed. Analytical techniques primarily studied and evaluated are high performance liquid chromatography-cold vapour-atomic absorption spectrometry (HPLC-CV-AAS), HPLC-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS), capillary electrophoresis-ICP-MS (CE-ICP-MS) and gas chromatography-ICP-MS (GC-ICP-MS). Applying a multi-capillary approach increased the analyte amount injected into a CE-ICP-MS system and improved the overall sensitivity. A microconcentric nebulizer with a cyclone spray chamber was shown to improve the detection limits for mercury species 3-13 times in HPLC-ICP-MS and 11-19 times in CE-ICP-MS compared to a cross-flow nebulizer with a Scott spray chamber. To decrease the interference of water vapour in HPLC-CV-AAS a Nafion dryer tube was inserted between the CV-generation and the detector. Methyl mercury was however lost in the Nafion unless it was reduced to elemental mercury prior transport through the dryer tube. During sample pre-treatment, incomplete extraction, losses and transformation (alkylation, dealkylation, oxidation and reduction) of mercury species can lead to significant errors (underestimation and overestimation) in the determination of the concentrations. Methods to detect and determine the degree of transformation as well as correct for errors caused by transformation are presented in the thesis. The preferable method use species-specific enriched stable isotope standards in combination with MS detection and a matrix based calculation scheme. This approach is very powerful as both the concentrations of the species as well as the degrees of transformation can be determined within each individual sample.

La tesis, tiene su punto de partida en la idea de que la imagen y la comunicación corporativa, correctamente gestionadas, son activos estratégicos al servicio de cualquier organización. Además, considera que alcanzar una imagen corporativa positiva, que con el tiempo y la coherencia en su gestión se convierta en buena reputación, es fundamental para la competitividad empresarial. Es más, defiende que la creación de marcas fuertes, contribuye no sólo al desarrollo de las propias empresas sino que también dota de valor a un territorio. Concretamente los protagonistas de la investigación son los clusters de la agroalimentación, calzado, cerámica, iluminación, juguete, mueble y textil, sectores estratégicos de alto valor socioeconómico para la Com. Valenciana. Se analiza primero cómo gestionan dicho activo, a través de las Asoc. Empresariales, la Dir. General de empresas y también, con la consideración de los profesionales de la comunicación valencianos. Y finaliza, planteando en una fase prospectiva las claves para la integración y desarrollo de políticas de comunicación en estos sectores.

The aim of this work was to find a correlation between the electrical, optical and microstructural properties of thin SiO2 layers containing group IV nanostructures produced by ion beam synthesis. The investigations were focused on two main topics: The electrical properties of Ge- and Si-rich oxide layers were studied in order to check their suitability for non-volatile memory applications. Secondly, photo- and electroluminescence (PL and EL) results of Ge-, Si/C- and Sn-rich SiO2 layers were compared to electrical properties to get a better understanding of the luminescence mechanism.

<p>The main hypothesis in this study is the development of a nanocomposite mediated amperometric biosensor for detection of hydrogen peroxide. The aim is to combine the electrochemical properties of both polyaniline and ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate into highly conductive nano composites capable of exhibiting electrochemistry in non acidic media / shuttling electrons between HRP and GCE for biosensor applications.</p>

A novel cyclopentadienylruthenium(II) thiolato Schiff base, [Ru(SC6H4NC(H)C6H4OCH2CH2SMe)(&eta / 5-C2H5]2 was synthesized and deposited as a selfassembled monolayer (SAM) on a gold electrode. Effective electronic communication between the Ru(II) centers and the gold electrode was established by electrostatically cycling the Shiff base-doped gold electrode in 0.1 M NaOH from -200 mV to +600 mV. The SAMmodified gold electrode (Au/SAM) exhibited quasi-reversible electrochemistry. The integrity of this electro-catalytic SAM, with respect to its ability to block and electro-catalyze certain Faradaic processes, was interrogated using Cyclic and Osteryoung Square Wave voltammetric experiments. The formal potential, E0', varied with pH to give a slope of about - 34 mV pH-1. The surface concentration, &Gamma / , of the ruthenium redox centers was found to be 1.591 x 10-11 mol cm-2. By electrostatically doping the Au/SAM/Horseradish peroxidase at an applied potential of +700 mV vs Ag/AgCl, a biosensor was produced for the amperometric analysis of hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide and tert-butylhydroperoxide. The electrocatalytic-type biosensors displayed typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics with their limits of detection of 6.45 &mu / M, 6.92 &mu / M and 7.01 &mu / M for hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide and tert-butylhydroperoxide respectively.

A novel cyclopentadienylruthenium(II) thiolato Schiff base,[Ru(SC6H4NC(H)C6H4OCH2CH2SMe)(η5-C2H5]2 was synthesized and deposited as a selfassembled monolayer (SAM) on a gold electrode. Effective electronic communication between the Ru(II) centers and the gold electrode was established by electrostatically cycling the Shiff base-doped gold electrode in 0.1 M NaOH from -200 mV to +600 mV. The SAMmodified gold electrode (Au/SAM) exhibited quasi-reversible electrochemistry. The integrity of this electro-catalytic SAM, with respect to its ability to block and electro-catalyze certain Faradaic processes, was interrogated using Cyclic and Osteryoung Square Wave voltammetric experiments. The formal potential, E0', varied with pH to give a slope of about - 34 mV pH-1. The surface concentration, Γ, of the ruthenium redox centers was found to be 1.591 x 10-11 mol cm-2. By electrostatically doping the Au/SAM/Horseradish peroxidase at an applied potential of +700 mV vs Ag/AgCl, a biosensor was produced for the amperometric analysis of hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide and tert-butylhydroperoxide. The electrocatalytic-type biosensors displayed typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics with their limits of detection of 6.45 μM, 6.92 μM and 7.01 μM for hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide and tert-butylhydroperoxide respectively / Magister Scientiae - MSc

The thesis aims to investigate the relationship Comenius to Scripture and how to work with him when he wrote his work The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart.

Magister Scientiae - MSc / A novel cyclopentadienylruthenium(II) thiolato Schiff base, [Ru(SC6H4NC(H)C6H4OCH2CH2SMe)(η5-C2H5]2 was synthesized and deposited as a selfassembled monolayer (SAM) on a gold electrode. Effective electronic communication between the Ru(II) centers and the gold electrode was established by electrostatically cycling the Shiff base-doped gold electrode in 0.1 M NaOH from -200 mV to +600 mV. The SAMmodified gold electrode (Au/SAM) exhibited quasi-reversible electrochemistry. The integrity of this electro-catalytic SAM, with respect to its ability to block and electro-catalyze certain Faradaic processes, was interrogated using Cyclic and Osteryoung Square Wave voltammetric experiments. The formal potential, E0', varied with pH to give a slope of about - 34 mV pH-1. The surface concentration, &Gamma;, of the ruthenium redox centers was found to be 1.591 x 10-11 mol cm-2. By electrostatically doping the Au/SAM/Horseradish peroxidase at an applied potential of +700 mV vs Ag/AgCl, a biosensor was produced for the amperometric analysis of hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide and tert-butylhydroperoxide. The electrocatalytic-type biosensors displayed typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics with their limits of detection of 6.45 M, 6.92 M and 7.01 M for hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide and tert-butylhydroperoxide respectively. / South Africa

This thesis aims to assess the possibility of the usage of various biological fixatives for fish cell and tissues samples in order to extend its storage for later flow cytometric measurement of DNA content. The model species chosen were sterlet and tench, from which three types of samples were obtained: blood and fin tissue of subadult / adult individuals and tail tissue of hatched larvae. Altogether 13 fixation methods were tested for each type of sample of both model species. Methods were chosen based upon their easy feasibility and low time-consumption. The samples were measured on flow cytometer in native state immediately after sampling and placing in physiological saline and after 1, 5 and 10 days of fixation during which they were stored in a fridge or in a freezer at -80 ?C. Their analysis was carried out simultaneously with standards native cells from tench fin tissue when investigating sterlet samples, and commercially available fixed trout erythrocytes for tench samples. A fluorochrome used was 4',6-diamidine-2'-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI; with excitation/emission maxima 358 / 461 nm). Based on the evaluation of coefficients of variation (CV) of fixed samples and the changes in their fluorescence levels in comparison with native state, optimal procedures for extended storage of all types of samples from both model species are suggested.

Submitted by Ana Hilda Fonseca (anahilda@ufba.br) on 2014-12-18T15:35:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Doutorado Douglas Gonçalves da Silva.pdf: 2348008 bytes, checksum: 01d5eb52cbdd6aa3d019b03a07db5771 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Fatima Cleômenis Botelho Maria (botelho@ufba.br) on 2015-01-14T12:18:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Doutorado Douglas Gonçalves da Silva.pdf: 2348008 bytes, checksum: 01d5eb52cbdd6aa3d019b03a07db5771 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-01-14T12:18:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Doutorado Douglas Gonçalves da Silva.pdf: 2348008 bytes, checksum: 01d5eb52cbdd6aa3d019b03a07db5771 (MD5) / CNPq / Neste trabalho foram desenvolvidas estratégias analíticas visando a determinação de espécies metálicas em amostras de arroz utilizando procedimento de digestão ácida em micro-ondas e em bloco digestor para o preparo das amostras. Na primeira parte deste trabalho desenvolveu-se um sistema automático para determinação de mercúrio em amostras de arroz empregando injeção em fluxo com multiseringa (MSFIA) e detecção por fluorescência atômica com vapor frio (CV-AFS). Inicialmente, empregou-se o planejamento fatorial completo para avaliação preliminar das variáveis que afetavam o sistema. Em seguida, o planejamento Doehlert foi utilizado com o objetivo de se obter condições ótimas (SnCl2 3% (m/v) em HCl 2%; vazão da amostra 3 mL min-1 e HNO3 8% (v/v)). O LD e LQ foram iguais a 0,48 e 1,61ng g -1, respectivamente. O desvio padrão relativo foi menor que 2% para uma amostra com concentração de mercúrio igual a 3,63 ng g-1. As concentrações de mercúrio encontradas nas amostras de arroz variaram na faixa de 2,15 a 7,25 ng g-1. Na segunda parte deste trabalho foi proposto um procedimento simples, eficiente e reprodutível para a determinação de cádmio em amostras de arroz por espectrometria de absorção atômica com forno de grafite empregando modificação química permanente com 400 μg de alumínio. Os experimentos foram realizados utilizando-se tubo de grafite com plataforma integrada e aquecimento transversal. Para avaliação da modificação permanente, foram realizados experimentos na ausência e na presença de modificação química convencional com paládio e fosfato de amônio. O programa de temperatura do forno de grafite para a determinação de cádmio foi otimizado para cada tipo de modificador permanente a fim de avaliar a sensibilidade por meio das curvas de pirólise e atomização. A temperatura ótima de pirólise e atomização obtidas foram de 400 e 1800 ºC uma vez que nestas temperaturas os níveis de fundo apresentaram-se baixo, não sendo observada perda de sensibilidade. A massa característica (mo) e o LD do método foram 1,32 pg e 1,8 ng g-1, respectivamente, e a vida útil do tubo de grafite foi de 1080 queimas. O desvio padrão relativo foi igual a 1,67 %, demonstrando uma boa precisão do método. As características analíticas foram comparadas com os métodos recomendados na literatura. No terceiro trabalho avaliou-se a composição mineral de Ca, K, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, Sr e Zn em arroz integral, parboilizado e amostras de arroz branco usando ICP OES. O efeito do cozimento no conteúdo mineral também foi investigado. Todos os dados obtidos foram avaliados utilizando as técnicas de análise multivariada PCA e HCA. O procedimento avaliado apresentou uma boa exatidão, evidenciada pela análise de material certificado. Foram alcançados baixos limites de detecção e quantificação e coeficientes de correlação maiores que 0,999. / In this work, strategies analytical were developed aiming determination of metallic species in rice samples using acid digestion procedure in microwave and block digestor for preparation of the samples. In the first part of this work we developed an automated system for determination of mercury in rice samples using flow injection with multiseringa (MSFIA) and detection by cold vapor atomic fluorescence (CVAFS). Initially, we used a full factorial design for preliminary evaluation of the variables affecting the system. Then, the planning Doehlert was used in order to obtain optimal conditions (SnCl2 3% (w / v) in 2% HCl, sample flow 3 mL min-1 and HNO3 8% (v / v)). The LD and LQ were equal to 0.48 and 1.61 ng g -1, respectively. The relative standard deviation was less than 2% for a sample with a mercury concentration of 3.63 ng g-1. The mercury concentrations found in samples of rice in a range from 2.15 to 7.25 ng g-1. In the second part of this work we propose a simple, efficient and reproducible for the determination of cadmium in rice samples by atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace employing permanent chemical modification with 400 mg of aluminum. The experiments were performed using graphite tube with integrated platform and cross warming. For evaluation of permanent modification, experiments were performed in the absence and presence of conventional chemical modification with palladium and ammonium phosphate. The temperature program graphite furnace for the determination of cadmium was optimized for each type of permanent modifier to assess the sensitivity curves by means of pyrolysis and atomization. The optimum temperature pyrolysis and atomization obtained were 400 and 1800 °C temperatu res since these background levels are presented below, with no observed loss of sensitivity. The characteristic mass (mo) and LD method were 1.32 pg and 1.8 ng g-1 respectively and lifetime of the graphite tube was 1080 firings. The relative standard deviation was equal to 1.67%, showing a good accuracy of the method. The analytical characteristics were compared with the methods recommended in the literature. In the third study evaluated the mineral composition of Ca, K, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, Sr and Zn in brown rice, parboiled and white rice samples using ICP OES. The effect of cooking on the mineral content was also investigated. All data were evaluated using multivariate analysis PCA and HCA. The procedure evaluated showed good accuracy, as evidenced by the analysis of certified material. Were achieved low limits of detection and quantification and correlation coefficients greater than 0.999.