54 ANALYTICAL DIVISION DIARY Anal. PYOC. Ana lyt ica I Division Diary JANUARY Wednesday, 20th, 4 p.m. : Belfast Northern Ireland Region, jointly with the Northern Ireland Branch of the Insti- tute of Water Pollution Control. Analytical Quality Control in Water An a I ys i s. Speaker: M. J. Gardner. Room LG25, Chemistry Department, Queen's University, Belfast. Contact: Mr. W. J. Swindall, Depart- ment of Chemistry, David Keir Building, Queen's University, Belfast, BT9 5AG. (Tel. 0232-661 11 1, Ex. 4428). Thursday, 21st, 12 noon: London Annual General Meeting. Joint Pharmaceutical Analysis Group: Aspects of the European Pharma- copoeia. Speaker: H. S. Grainger. Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, 1 Lambeth High Street, London, SEI. Contact; Miss I. Ladden, British Pharma- copoeia Commission, Room 1706, Market Towers, 1 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW8 5NQ.(Tel. 01-720- 9844, Ex. 31 05). Thursday, 21 st, 6.30 p.m. : Glasgow Atomic Spectroscopy Group: Annual General Meeting, followed by a joint meeting with the Scottish Region. Has Plasma Emission Made Atomic Absorption Redundant? Atomic absorption spectroscopy has become a routine technique in most laboratories for rapid and precise determination of a wide range of elements in solution. The recent emergence of plasma emission spectroscopy into the routine laboratory has forced many users and potential users of both techniques to question the advantages of each. With increasing sophistication, not to mention cost, involved in instrumental purchase, failure to assess all parameters can be disastrous in today's economic climate.This in- formal discussion, led by a panel of eminent speakers, offers the opportunity for everyone to air their opinions, voice their grievances, and contribute to a lively and interesting discussion. Discussion to be led by E. J. Newman and A. M. Music Room, Staff Centre, University of Strat hc I yde, G lasg ow. Registration is requested but there is no registration fee. Contact: Mr. A. F. Fell, Department of Pharmacy, Heriot-Watt University, 79 Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EHI 2HJ. (Tel. 031 -225-8432, Ex. 225). Ure. FEBRUARY Friday, 5th, 7 p.m. : Moreton North West Region. Quality Control as Applied to the Pharmaceutical Industry. Speaker: S. Williams. E. R. Squibb B Sons Laboratories, Reeds Lane, Moreton, Wirral. Contact: Mr.T. Hanley, 5 Old Hall Court, Ashton, Chester. (Tel. 0829- 51 609). Wednesday, loth, 2 p.m.: Birmingham Analytical Division. Pattern Recognition : Algorithms and Applications. The increasing use of automated instruments with their large data outputs, and the many complex problems that now have to be con- sidered by chemists, have lead to great interest in the application of automated methods for the reduction and inter- pretation of large data sets. Various approaches have been investigated to achieve reliable computer-assisted inter- pretations of chemical data, involving statistics, information theory, etc. Pattern recognition met hods seem particular I y useful for the classification of objects (e.g., substances, materials) into discrete classes on the basis of measured features.A set of characteristic features (e.g., a spectrum) of an object is considered as an abstract pattern containing informa- tion about a property of the object (e.g., molecular structure or biological activity) that is not itself directly measureable. Pattern recognition methods attempt to establish relationships between the pattern and the property, without involve- ment of chemical prejudices. The [continued on p. 55January, 1982 ANALYTICAL DIVISION DIARY 55 Analytical Division Diary, continued February, continued meeting is intended to introduce the general concepts of pattern recognition and to indicate, without excessive stress on mathematical techniques, how these concepts can be applied in situations of general interest to analytical chemists."Basic Philosophy of Pattern Recognition in Chemistry," by Olav H. J. Christie. "Applications of Pattern Recognition in the Life Sciences," by Professor D. L. Massart. "Pattern Recognition in Practice: Rapid Identi- fication of Micro-organisms by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography," by H. J. H. MacFie. "Data Enhancement and Pattern Recognition Applied to Thermal Wave Imaging," by Professor M. S. Beck. Haworth Lecture Theatre 101, The Uni- versity, B irm i ng ham. Registration is necessary. Cost f4 to members of RSC, f 6 to non-members and no charge to students. Contact: Miss P. E. Hutchinson, Analytical Division, Royal Society of Chemistry, Burlington House, London, WIV OBN. (Tel. 01 -734-9971 ). Wednesday, loth, 10 a.m.: London Hectroanalytical Group, jointly with the Electrochemistry Group of the Faraday Division.Electrochemical Measurement of Dissolved Oxygen. "Fundamental Aspects and Design of Electro- chemical Oxygen Sensors," by M. L. Hitch- man. "Dissolved Oxygen Measurement in Natural and Waste Waters," by A. E. Hey. "Dissolved Oxygen Measurement in Power Station Waters," by J. Gyllenspetz. "Measurement of Dissolved Oxygen in Liquid Metals," by B. C. H. Steele. "ln-situ Oxygen Measurement in Deep Seas," by J. M. Saunders. "Design and Operation of an Oxygen Sensor for Incorporation in a Geophysical Probe," by J. V. Dobson. "Gas Sensors for Clinical Medicine," by Pro- fessor J. Albery. "Dissolved Gas Measurements in Medicine," by D. Parker. Imperial College, London, SW7. Registration is necessary.Cost f 20 (including lunch) ; f 1 2 for students accompanied by supervisor. Contact: Mr. A. E. Bottom, Kent Industrial Measurements Ltd., EIL Analytical I nstru ments, H an wort h Lane, C h ertsey, Surrey, KT16 9LF. (Tel. 093-28- 62671 ). Friday, 12th, 5 p.m.: Exeter sula Section of RSC. Western Region, jointly with the Penin- Analytical Techniques in Forensic Science. Speaker: D. G. Sanger. Newman Building, The University, Stocker Road, Exeter. Contact: Mr. F. W. Sweeting, Wessex Water Authority, P.O. Box 95, The Ambury, Bath, BAI 2YP. (Tel. 0225- 31 3500). Tuesday and Wednesday, 16th and 17th, Edinburgh Scottish Region and Chromatography and Advances in Chromatography: In- dustrial and Petrochemical Applica- tions. Tuesday, 16th: 2 p.m.- Plenary Lecture: "Sample Pre-concentration and Detection Techniques in Environmental Analysis by HPLC," by Professor R.W. Frei. "Monitoring of the Factory Environment by Diffusive Samplers and GLC," by R. H. Brown. Wednesday, 17th: 9.1 5 a.m.- Plenary Lecture: "Strategy for Method Develop- ment in Petrochemical Analysis by GLC," by H. Poppe. "Algorithms for Oil Fingerprinting by GC - MS," by N. J. Haskins. "Role of CGC - MS in Hydrocarbon Base Line Studies," by S. J. W. Grigson. "Standardisation of H PLC Columns and Reten- tion Index Systems: Relevance to Official Methods," by R. M. Smith. Plenary Lecture: "The Application of Chromato- graphy to Industrial Pollution Problems," by D. Simpson. "Chromatographic Combinations for Drug Evalu- ation in Industry," by B. Scales. "Automated Chromatography Systems for Industrial Control," by K.E. Lieper. The meeting will include two sessions of parallel Discussion Seminars. Each Seminar will be presented by an acknowledged expert in the field, and will deal with a contemporary topic in depth. Participants are encouraged to submit problems beforehand, so that each problem can be discussed in workshop style in the relevant Seminar. The Seminars are as follows: "Automated Sample Handling," by R. H. Brown. [continued on p. 56 Electrophoresis Group.56 ANALYTICAL DIVISION DIARY Anal. Proc. Analytical Division Diary, continued Micro-organisms Using Pyrolysis - MS," by f ebruary, continued "Post-column Reaction Detectors," by Pro- fessor R. w. Frei. "Environmental Base Line Monitoring Tech- niques," by S.J. W. Grigson. "Capillary GC," by N. G. Haskins. "Automation in Process Control," by K. E. "Pre-scale HPLC," by H. Poppe. "Chromatographic Techniques in Drug Develop- ment," by B. Scales. "A Consultant's Approach to Chromatography," by D. Simpson. "On-column Derivative Techniques (With Special Reference to Metal Ions)," by R. M. Smith. Department of Chemistry, The University, King's Buildings Campus, West Mains Road, Edinburgh. Cost f25 to RSC members; f35 to non-members; f 12 to students. Contact; Dr. D. Simpson, Analysis For Industry, Factories 2/3, Bosworth House, High Street, Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex, C016 OEA. (Tel. 0255- 861 71 4). Lie per. Registration is necessary. Wednesday, 17th, 6.30 p.m. : London South East Region and Microchemical Plasma Emission Spectrometry.The speaker will show why plasma emission spectrometry is gaining in popularity for the determination of metals. Discussion to be introduced by E. J. Newman. Savoy Tavern, Savoy Street, London, w.c.2. Contact: Dr. A. H. Andrews, Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Clarendon Road, Worthing, Sussex, BN14 8QH. (Tel. Methods Group. 0903-39900, EX. 428). Thursday, 18th, 10.30 a.m. : Bristol Western Region and Automatic Methods Automated Combination Techniques with Mass Spectrometry. "The Application of Automatic Techniques for Laboratory and Process Control," by T. Long. "An Automated GC - MS Assay for Salbutamol in Plasma," by R. Tanner. "On-line Process Control of Reactors in Chemical Plants Using MS," by J. H. Scrivens. "Prospects for Automated Identification of Group.C. Gutteridge. by D. Games. Wills in the morning. 30. "Automated Methods in Combined LC - MS," There will be a Laboratory Tour of W. 0. & H. 0. Number restricted to W. D. & H. 0. Wills, Hartcliffe, Bristol. Registration is necessary. Cost f 7 to members of RSC; f 12 to non-members; f 4 to students; f3.50 extra for lunch. Contact: Dr. C. J. Jackson, Health and Safety Executive, Occupational Hygiene Laboratory, 403 Edgware Road, London, NW2 6LN. (Tel. 01- 450-891 1, EX. 227). 0 Tuesday, 23rd, 4.15 p.m.: Lough- borough Midlands Region, jointly with Lough- borough University Students Chemical Society. Fluorescence in Forensic Analysis. Fluorescence effects have been applied in forensic science for many years, e.g., for the visualisation of contact traces from scenes of crime, in the characterisa- tion of materials and in qualitative "spot" tests.Examples of such applications will be presented. However, very much more information and evidential signifi- cance can now be derived by the use of fluorescence spectrometry both in the earlier applications and in others. Examples of the techniques used and the results obtained will be described. Speaker: J. 8. F. Lloyd. Lecture Theatre JOOl, Edward Herbert Building, University of Technology, Loughborough. Contact: Mr. H. E. Brookes, 35 Dunster Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 6JE. (Tel. 0602-231769). Wednesday, 24th. 10.15 a.m.: Billing- ham North East Region and Automatic Some Aspects of the Use of Micro- processors in Automatic Analysis. Methods Group. "Interfacing Microprocessors to Analytical Systems," by B.J. Millard. [continued on p. 57January, 1982 ANALYTICAL DIVISION DIARY 57 Analytical Division Diary, continued February, continued "A Versatile Interface for Automatic Analysis," by R. Broadridge. "The Use of Microprocessors in Continuous Flow Analysis," by G. W. Moody. "An Automated System for Monitoring Non- volatile Alkalinity in Boiler Water," by H. M. Webber. "A Microprocessor Controlled Automatic Analyser for the Determination of Quinizarin in Hydrocarbon Oils," by A. Honeybone. "Automatic Analysis System Linked to Micro- reactors," by G. B. Fish. "Minicomputers in Atomic Spectroscopy," by P. Goddard. The meeting will include a demonstration of microprocessor controlled analytical equip- ment. Registration is necessary; cost f 5 in- cluding buffet lunch. Contact; Mr. C. L. Denton, 20 Bedford Road, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS7 OBZ. (Tel. 0642- 31 5721 ). Thursday, 25th, 4.1 5 p.m. : Aberdeen Scottish Region, jointly with the Aberdeen and North of Scotland Section of the RSC and Aberdeen University Student Chemical Society. Quantitative Analysis of Environ- mental Samples by Gas Chromato- graphy - Mass Spectrometry. The term "quantitative" often needs to be re-defined when gas chromatography - mass spectrometry with a data system is applied to the separation and measure- ment of organic contaminants and pollutants in complex biological extracts. Examples of the use of fused silica GC - MS - DS will be given to support this argument. Speaker: D. E. Wells. Chemistry Department, University of Aberdeen, Old Aberdeen. Contact: Mr. A. F. Fell, Heriot-Watt Uni- versity, Department of Pharmacy, 79 Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EHI 2HJ. (Tel. 031 -225-8432, Ex. 225).