Occurrence of Aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A in Baby Foods in Portugal

Infants have a more restricted diet and they generally consume more food on a body weight basis than adults. Therefore, the significance and potential health risk of any contaminant in foods consumed by infants is increased and diligent attention must be paid to this particular area. The present study aims to determine the occurrence of aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁), aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in processed cereal-based foods (flours) and infant formulae (milk powder) available in the Portuguese market, both sold as conventional and organic origin. Mycotoxin determination was carried out using a method previously applied to duplicate diet samples. This method employed chloroform extraction, liquid–liquid extraction, immunoaffinity column (IAC) cleanup and HPLC analysis with fluorescence detection after post-column derivatisation. Quantification limits were 0.014, 0.004 and 0.028 μg kg⁻¹ for AFM₁, AFB₁ and OTA, respectively. These toxins could only be quantified in 12 of 27 analysed samples (15 positive results): two samples with AFM₁, two samples with AFM₁ and OTA, one sample with AFB₁ and OTA and seven samples with OTA. Positive results concerned four for AFM₁ (26%), one for AFB₁ (7%) and ten for OTA (67%). For these samples, contents ranged between 0.017–0.041 μg AFM₁ kg⁻¹, 0.034–0.212 μg OTA kg⁻¹, and one sample had a value of 0.009 μg AFB₁ kg⁻¹. Considering the presented results, we could provisionally conclude that the presence of these mycotoxins in baby foods does not constitute a public health problem. These are the first results concerning the occurrence of mycotoxins in marketed baby foods in Portugal and this is the first study using the HPLC method, proposed for duplicate diets, in baby food sample analysis.     

Modelle für die Berechnung der Ausziehtragfähigkeit von selbstbohrenden Holzschrauben

Equations to calculate the withdrawal capacity of self-tapping screws, arranged in softwood, were determined. Based on results of 1850 withdrawal tests and by means of a regression analysis one equation for the withdrawal resistance and two further equations for the withdrawal parameter (resistance over nominal screw diameter and penetration depth) were derived. Nominal screw diameter, penetration depth and characteristic density of the softwood used are the independent variables in the equations, which are valid for an angle in the range of 45° to 90° between the screw axis and the grain. The equation for the withdrawal resistance delivers, also in comparison with code rules, the most favourable values. It enables now a more accurate estimation of the withdrawal resistance for wood screws with geometrical properties similar to those of the screws used for the tests. Hence, the benefit of this study is the reduction in testing, which is currently necessary for technical approvals.     

Evaluation and simulation of the peel behavior of polyethylene/polybutene‐1 peel systems

The peel characteristics of sealed low‐density polyethylene/isotactic polybutene‐1 (PE‐LD/iPB‐1) films, with different contents of iPB‐1 up to 20 m.‐% (mass percentage), were evaluated and simulated in dependence on the iPB‐1 content, and in dependence on the peel rate. Sealing involves close contact and localized melting of two films for a few seconds. The required force, to separate the local adhered films, is the peel force, which is influenced, among others, by the content of iPB‐1. The peel force decreases exponentially with increasing iPB‐1 content. Transmission electron microscopy studies reveal a favorable dispersion of the iPB‐1 particles within the seal area, for iPB‐1 concentrations ≥6 m.‐%. Here, the iPB‐1 particles form continuous belt‐like structures, which lead to a stable and reproducible peel process. The investigation of the peel rate‐dependency on the peel characteristics is of important interest for practical applications. The peel force increases with increasing peel rate by an exponential law. A numerical simulation of the present material system proves to be useful to comprehend the peel process, and to understand the peel behavior in further detail. Peel tests of different peel samples were simulated, using a two‐dimensional finite element model, including cohesive zone elements. The established finite element model of the peel process was used to simulate the influence of the modulus of elasticity on the peel behavior. The peel force is independent of the modulus of elasticity, however, the peel initiation value increases with increasing modulus of elasticity. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Adsorption of antifouling booster biocides on metal oxide nanoparticles: Effect of different metal oxides and solvents

Controlling the release rate of biocides (antifouling agents) from a paint coating is a key issue for the development of multi-season antifouling marine coatings. One promising approach is the use of nanoparticles onto which biocides are adsorbed to prevent premature depletion of the biocide. Adsorption of one novel (Medetomidine) and six commercially available and widely used antifouling biocides (Chlorothalonile, Dichlofluanid, Diuron, Irgarol, Seanine, Tolylfluanid) onto oxide nanoparticles (Al₂O₃, CuO, MgO, SiO₂, TiO₂, ZnO) was investigated by HPLC and NMR in different organic solvents. Large differences in adsorption strength depending on the type of nanoparticle and solvent employed were observed. It was shown that nanoparticles coordinate preferentially with the imidazole moiety of Medetomidine. Independent of the type of particle this interaction was considerably stronger in comparison to the other biocides. However, the interaction strength was strongly dependant on the type of solvent, where the largest strongest interaction was achieved in o-xylene. In addition field tests were performed where a considerable decrease in release rate was displayed from coatings containing Medetomidine adsorbed to nanoparticles compared to coatings containing Medetomidine as single additive.     

基于转角位移法对正交各向异性桥面板内力的分析计算

由于大量的焊接连接件、高度集中荷载作用和它们导致的大量应力循环,正交各向异性桥面板对疲劳破坏非常敏感。在公路桥中,焊接在桥面板的加劲腹板通常易于遭受疲劳破坏。开发了一个分析模型,可以运用转角-位移法计算应力。它构建了一个桥面板的横截面模型,但是其中考虑了整个正交板的水平和竖向刚度以及纵向加劲肋的扭转刚度。这种方法可以计算桥面板横截面上的所有内力。     

Ionic double layer of atomically flat gold formed on mica templates

Electrical impedance spectroscopy characterisations of gold surfaces formed on mica templates in contact with potassium chloride electrolytes were performed at the electric potential of zero charge over a frequency range of 6 × 10⁻³ to 100 × 10³ Hz. They revealed constant-phase-angle (CPA) behaviour with a frequency exponent value of 0.96 for surfaces that were also characterised as atomically flat using atomic force microscopy (AFM). As the frequency exponent value was only marginally less than unity, the CPA behaviour yielded a realistic estimate for the capacitance of the ionic double layer. The retention of the CPA behaviour was attributed to specific adsorption of chloride ions which was detected as an adsorption conductance element in parallel with the CPA impedance element. Significant variations in the ionic double layer capacitance as well as the adsorption conductance were observed for electrolyte concentrations ranging from 33 μM to 100 mM, but neither of these variations correlated with concentration. This is consistent with the electrical properties of the interface deriving principally from the inner or Stern region of the double layer.     

Zur sinnvollen Anwendung ganzheitlicher Gebäudemodelle in der Tragwerksplanung von Hochbauten

Ausgehend von den kritischen Randbedingungen der Berechnung mit ganzheitlichen Gebäudemodellen werden typische und häufig anzutreffende Konstruktionsfälle diskutiert, bei denen Gesamtmodelle Vorteile für den Entwurf aufzeigen. Hier sind räumliche Tragwirkungen zu nennen, die Erfassung von Zwangsbeanspruchungen bei komplexen Grundrissen mit vielfältigen Festhaltungen sowie die Beanspruchung schlanker Gebäudestrukturen aus Windlasten und seismischen Einwirkungen. Für die genannten sinnvollen Anwendungsfälle werden die notwendigen Randbedingungen diskutiert. Die jeweiligen Anwendungsfälle werden anhand konkreter Gebäudebeispiele vorgestellt. On the reasonable use of total building models in the design of building structures Coming from the critical boundary conditions of the calculation with total building models, typical and prevalent constructions, where total models show advantages for the design, will be discussed. Here, spatial load‐bearing impact, the registration of unforced interactions of complex ground plans with various supports as well as the stressing of slender building structures resulting from wind loads and seismic impacts have to be mentioned. For the stated reasonable use cases the necessary boundary conditions will be discussed. The respective use cases will be presented by means of concrete building examples.     

Tourists’ landscape perceptions and preferences in a Scandinavian coastal region

European cultural landscapes have been subject to change since the middle of the twentieth century, and among the most significant alterations are general re-growth, reforestation, and overgrowth. Such changes might lead to landscape loss for locals and deterioration of vistas for sightseeing holidaymakers. This article responds to a lack of academic research on landscape perceptions among tourists. The main objective is to explore international tourists’ landscape perceptions in a coastal area in northern Scandinavia, focusing on three different concepts thought to be important for tourists’ landscape preferences: typicality, vegetation lushness, and degree of human influence. A combination of free and directed sorting procedures was employed. Quantitative and categorical data derived from the multiple sorting methods were subjected to multidimensional scaling analysis. The results indicate that foreign tourists might have an understanding of re-growth in the case area. Preference ratings gave mixed results in relation to vegetation and human influence as important features for landscape preferences, as found in previous studies. The findings emphasise the need for taking into consideration typicality of setting in future landscape research.     

Dynamische Steifigkeit und Dämpfung von Pfahlgruppen

Dynamic stiffness and damping properties of pile groups. The dynamic stiffness and damping properties of pile‐groups have been investigated in this paper. Also, the substantial influence of these properties on an economic structure and foundation design is demonstrated. The analysis has been carried out using the “Thin‐Layer‐Method”, which is a very efficient and powerful analysis procedure in frequency domain.