Economic saving by analysis of combined samples when determining pesticide residues in vegetable foodstuffs

Zusammenfassung Es werden Methoden zur Bestimmung von Rückständen von Pesticiden in Lebensmitteln durch Untersuchung kombinierter Proben vorgestellt. Gleichungen zur Berechnung der höchsten, der niedrigsten and der statistisch zu erwartenden Einsparung in der Zahl von Analysen bei Anwendung dieser Methoden werden angegeben. 1980 wurden 258 Proben von Obst und Gemüse auf Rückstände an Carbendazim jeweils in Kombinaten zweier Proben untersucht. Wenn eines dieser Kombinate einen Carbendazimspiegel von 0,20 mg/kg oder höher zeigte, wurden auch die Ausgangsproben des betreffenden Kombinats analysiert. Ruckstdnde ab 0,50 mg/kg wurden wiederholt. Die bei diesem Vorgehen erzielte Einsparung in der Zahl von Analysen betrug 42,2%.

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Economic saving by analysis of combined samples when determining pesticide residues in vegetable foodstuffs

Summary Methods for determining pesticide residue levels in foodstuffs by analyzing pooled samples are presented. Equations for calculation of the highest, the lowest and the statistically expected saving in the number of analyses when using these methods, are given. In 1980, 258 samples of fruit, vegetables and roots were analyzed for residues of carbendazim in combinations of two samples. If a pooled sample showed a carbendazim level equal to or higher than 0.20 mg/kg, both of its mother homogenates were also analyzed. The saving in the number of analyzes was 42.2%, when using a limit of report of 0.50 mg/kg.

     

Parameters Affecting the Cross-Flow Filtration of Dissolved LignoBoost Kraft Lignin

In the kraft pulping process, the lignin-containing by-product kraft black liquor is currently combusted as an energy source. LignoBoost is a technique that extracts lignin from kraft black liquor, resulting in a lignin-lean black liquor, which is returned to the process, and an extracted kraft lignin. To facilitate the use of the extracted kraft lignin in high-value applications, it can be refined via fractionation to produce a more homogeneous starting raw material. Hence, the aim of this study is to investigate the behavior of dissolved softwood kraft lignin during cross-flow filtration. The effects of the lignin concentration, pH, and ionic strength on the fractionation of the dissolved lignin during cross-flow filtration are investigated. The results indicate that large amounts of low-molecular-weight kraft lignin can be produced from solutions having a low lignin concentration. Furthermore, the effects of pH and ionic strength on the fractionation of low-molecular-weight lignin are identified within the studied ranges.     

European Minor Constituent Radiometer: A New Millimeter Wave Receiver for Atmospheric Research

EMCOR is a heterodyne receiver for the frequency range of 201 to 210 GHz. It has been designed for ground-based measurements of various minor constituents of the stratosphere involved in ozone chemistry. Since the aim was the detection of faint spectral lines, a superconducting tunnel junction has been chosen as mixer element and special care has been taken in developing the calibration unit of the system. The front-end is completed by a quasi-optical system, a solid state local oscillator with electronic tuning and a HEMT pre-amplifier. In the back-end an acousto-optical spectrometer is employed to analyse the signal. A PC controls the whole system. The instrument has been installed at a high mountain site in the Swiss Alps.     

电信行业能否拯救地球？

近年来，有关全球变暖的原因开始显得越发明显，特别是对温室效应来说。四大商业因素——建筑，履行，交通，以及食物（肉制品极其重要）——占据了全球能源消耗以及二氧化碳排放的四分之三。通讯技术无力独自改变现状，但ICT却是未来低碳世界的一个关键。就中短期而言，我们相信ICT可以提供5％-20％的削减量。最近的研究表明，在全球变暖中，ICT的直接二氧化碳排放量大概占据2％的份额。其中移动通讯占了0．2％，而固定电话（包括宽带）则是0．3％。就全球变暖而言，ICT领域中，电脑以及互联网（特别是数据中心）才是最大最重要的肇事者。     

Experimental evaluation of radiator control based on primary supply temperature for district heating substations

In this paper, we evaluate whether the primary supply temperature in district heating networks can be used to control radiator systems in buildings connected to district heating; with the purpose of increasing the ΔT. The primary supply temperature in district heating systems can mostly be described as a function of outdoor temperature; similarly, the radiator supply temperature in houses, offices and industries can also be described as a function of outdoor temperature. To calibrate the radiator control system to produce an ideally optimal radiator supply temperature that produces a maximized ΔT across the substation, the relationship between the primary supply temperature and outdoor temperature must be known. However, even if the relation is known there is always a deviation between the expected primary supply temperature and the actual temperature of the received distribution media. This deviation makes the radiator control system incapable of controlling the radiator supply temperature to a point that would generate a maximized ΔT.     

Sorption to black carbon of organic compounds with varying polarity and planarity

It is becoming increasingly clear that the products of incomplete combustion (soot and charcoal, collectively termed black carbon or BC) can be responsible for as much as 80 - 90% of the total sorption to sediments of aromatic, planar, and hydrophobic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or planar polychlorinated biphenyls. In the present study, it was investigated whether a nonpolar aliphatic compound (hexachloroethane) and three nonplanar bipolar compounds with different functional groups [free electron pairs but no aromatic ring (butylate) or free electron pairs and an aromatic ring (diuron, atrazine)] would also show strong and nonlinear sorption to a BC-enriched sediment. At a concentration of 1 ng/L, the extent of elevated BC sorption compared to total organic carbon (TOC) sorption increased in the order atrazine < hexachloroethane < butylate < diuron. Rationalization of the differences between the sorbates was attempted in terms of dispersive and steric effects. This study shows that the effects of strong BC sorption apply to a broader range of organic contaminants than previously thought, and the results will aid in a better understanding of BC sorption mechanisms and improved fate modeling of contaminants in the environment.     

Biapenem versus imipenem/cilastatin in the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections: report from a Swedish Study Group

The objective of this study is to describe usual medical management and costs associated with recurrent respiratory infections in subjects with chronic obstructive bronchitis in France. A prospective survey was performed in Autumn 1994 on a national sample of private practice pulmonologists (N = 71). Two hundred forty-four patients, presenting at least one infection of the lower respiratory tract, were included. Bronchitis was the most frequent acute exacerbation observed (94%). Pneumonia concerned 9% of the patients. Biological tests, X-rays and pulmonary function tests were prescribed for, respectively, 59, 65 and 45% of the patients. Following the visit, 15 patients were hospitalized (6%). The direct medical cost per acute exacerbation was estimated 3,289 francs (1994 value) of which 60% were hospital-related. An average 10.4 day sick-leave was prescribed to 21% of patients in employment. For those patients, this sick-leave was associated to an extra-cost of 1,264-1,876 francs for Social Security and of 0-2,553 francs out of pocket per episode varying according to their Benefit Regimen.     

Suppression of MHC class II expression by human class II trans-activator constructs lacking the N-terminal domain

The class II trans-activator (CIITA) is a bi- or multi-functional domain protein which plays a critical role in the expression of MHC class II genes. We report that removal of the N-terminal 151 amino acids, encompassing all of the acidic domain but leaving intact the proline/serine/threonine-rich domain, results in a mutant protein with potent suppressive properties for MHC class II expression. HeLa cells stably or transiently transfected with mutant CIITA constructs showed up to 99% suppression of MHC class II antigen induction by IFN-gamma and marked suppression of HLA-DRA mRNA expression. Transient transfection of a B lymphoma line resulted in up to 89% reduction of constitutive MHC class II expression within 5 days and suppression of HLA-DRA mRNA synthesis.