Evaluation of the multi-element capabilities of collision/reaction cell inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry in wine analysis

This work explores the multi-element capabilities of inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry with collision/reaction cell technology (CCT-ICP-MS) for the simultaneous determination of both spectrally interfered and non-interfered nuclides in wine samples using a single set of experimental conditions. The influence of the cell gas type (i.e. He, He+H2 and He+NH3), cell gas flow rate and sample pre-treatment (i.e. water dilution or acid digestion) on the background-equivalent concentration (BEC) of several nuclides covering the mass range from 7 to 238 u has been studied. Results obtained in this work show that, operating the collision/reaction cell with a compromise cell gas flow rate (i.e. 4 mL min−1) improves BEC values for interfered nuclides without a significant effect on the BECs for non-interfered nuclides, with the exception of the light elements Li and Be. Among the different cell gas mixtures tested, the use of He or He+H2 is preferred over He+NH3 because NH3 generates new spectral interferences. No significant influence of the sample pre-treatment methodology (i.e. dilution or digestion) on the multi-element capabilities of CCT-ICP-MS in the context of simultaneous analysis of interfered and non-interfered nuclides was observed. Nonetheless, sample dilution should be kept at minimum to ensure that light nuclides (e.g. Li and Be) could be quantified in wine. Finally, a direct 5-fold aqueous dilution is recommended for the simultaneous trace and ultra-trace determination of spectrally interfered and non-interfered elements in wine by means of CCT-ICP-MS. The use of the CCT is mandatory for interference-free ultra-trace determination of Ti and Cr. Only Be could not be determined when using the CCT due to a deteriorated limit of detection when compared to conventional ICP-MS.

The Re-emergence of Russia and its Collision Course with Europe. Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series Vol. 14 No. 4, March 2014

From the Introduction. In order to understand the historical roots of the current geopolitical confrontation between the EU and Russia, we have to go back to the end of the Cold War and to the catastrophic decade that it was followed by in Russian history. The dissolution of the USSR imposed serious economic hardship for Russia and for all the ex-communist East-European states. Russia was the hardest hit amongst them, as the center of the USSR's economic system it suffered most from the dissolution of regional economic ties. This crisis was just deepened by the IMF's privatization and reform campaign, which imposed austerity measures and state-asset privatization as a “shock-therapy” answer to the country's economic problems. This policy package did nothing to save Russia from economic collapse (which eventually happened in 1998), the only thing it achieved was an even stronger social and economic crisis and the enrichment of the rent-seeking ex-communist top bureaucrats by state-assets, which were sold out under-priced through diverse channels of corruption

The Politics of Budget Consolidation in Britain and Germany: the Impact of Blame-Avoidance Opportunities. CES Germany & Europe Working Papers, No. 05.2, 2005

According to parts of the literature, blame avoidance opportunities, i.e. the necessity and applicability of blame avoidance strategies, may differ among countries according to the respective institutional set-ups and between governing parties according to their programmatic orientation. In countries with many veto actors, a strategy of "Institutional Cooperation" among these actors is expected to diffuse blame sufficiently to render other blame avoidance strategies obsolete. In contrast, governments in Westminster democracies should resort to the more unilateral strategies of presentation, policy design and timing. At the same time, parties of the left are expected to have an easier time implementing spending cuts while right parties are less vulnerable when proposing tax increases. Evidence from the politics of budget consolidation in Britain and Germany does not corroborate these hypotheses. Instead, it seems that party competition conditions the effects institutions and the partisan complexion of governments have on the politics of blame avoidance.

Results of Minicars RSV crash avoidance tests conducted in West Germany.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Collision deformation classification training program: intermediate level - training/reference module.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Research input for computer simulation of automobile collisions. Volume IV: staged collision reconstructions. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Tri-level study: modification. Task 5: an examination of driver characteristics and collision producing errors of accident and traffic violation repeaters. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

UCLA motor vehicle safety project. Vehicle collision report - task 1.

National Highway Safety Bureau, Washington, D.C.

Volume one (1) - staged collision and damage data report for accident reconstruction of twenty five (25) test vehicles (1980 model year). Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Accident Investigation Division, Washington, D.C.

Volume two (2) - staged collision and damage data report for accident reconstruction of twenty five (25) test vehicles (1980 model year). Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Accident Investigation Division, Washington, D.C.

Test and evaluation of head restraints, seat backs, and anchorages in vehicles subjected to rear impact collision. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Volume one (1) - staged collision and damage data report for accident reconstruction of thirty (30) test vehicles. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.