Fentanyl analogs are a class of designer drugs that are particularly challenging to unambiguously identify due to the mass spectral and retention time similarities of unique compounds. In this paper, we use agglomerative hierarchical clustering to explore the measurement diversity of fentanyl analogs and better understand the challenge of unambiguous identifications using analytical techniques traditionally available to drug chemists. We consider four measurements in particular: gas chromatography retention indices, electron ionization mass spectra, electrospray ionization tandem mass spectra, and direct analysis in real time mass spectra. Our analysis demonstrates how simultaneously considering data from multiple measurement techniques increases the observable measurement diversity of fentanyl analogs, which can reduce identification ambiguity. This paper further supports the use of multiple analytical techniques to identify fentanyl analogs (among other substances), as is recommended by the Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs (SWGDRUG).

Fentanyl analogs are a class of designer drugs that are particularly challenging to unambiguously identify due to the mass spectral and retention time similarities of unique compounds. In this paper, we use agglomerative hierarchical clustering to explore the measurement diversity of fentanyl analogs and better understand the challenge of unambiguous identifications using analytical techniques traditionally available to drug chemists. We consider four measurements in particular: gas chromatography retention indices, electron ionization mass spectra, electrospray ionization tandem mass spectra and direct analysis in real time mass spectra. Our analysis demonstrates how simultaneously considering data from multiple measurement techniques increases the observable measurement diversity of fentanyl analogs, which can reduce identification ambiguity. This paper further supports the use of multiple analytical techniques to identify fentanyl analogs (among other substances), as is recommended by the Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs (SWGDRUG).

High performance in intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells requires improvements especially in the microstructure of the cathode layer. New cobaltfree cathode materials are used because cobalt-containing cathodes have higher thermal expansion coefficients, poor long-term chemical stability, and lower mechanical stability. Recently cobalt-free cathodes have been proposed to solve these issues by using deposition methods other than electrospray deposition (ESD). In this study, ESD method is used to develop a cobalt-free cathode layer. The electrolyte layer is gadolinium-doped ceria that is deposited with La 0.3 Sr 0.7 Fe 0.7 Cr 0.3 O 3−δ (LSFCr) prepared by 2-butoxyethanol and ethylene glycol solvents as opposed to conventional solvents. Experimental ESD parameters are tested at different levels and combinations by applying statistical experimental design methods to optimize the microstructure. Coating deposited as such demonstrated higher electrochemical performance than similar electrodes fabricated by other methods.