Testing endocrine disruption in biota samples: a method to remove interfering lipids and natural hormones

A cleanup method was developed to remove coextracted lipids and natural hormones from biota samples in order to test the endocrine-disrupting (ED) capacity of their extracts in in vitro bioassays. Unspiked and spiked fish tissues were cleaned with a combination of dialysis, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and normal-phase liquid chromatography (NP-HPLC). The spiking mixture consisted of a broad range of environmental pollutants (endocrine disruptors and genotoxic compounds). Chemical recoveries of each test compound, and thyroid-hormone-like and (anti)androgenic activities of the cleaned extracts were investigated. Despite the chemical and toxicological complexity of the spiking mixture and the sequential sample treatment, chemical analysis revealed acceptable recoveries on average: 89 ± 8% after each cleanup step separately and 75 ± 3% after the whole extraction and cleanup procedure in the extracts. In addition, recovered activities in the bioassays were in good agreement with the spiking levels. The developed cleanup method proved to be capable of lipid and natural hormone removal from fish extracts, enabling the measurement of selected endocrine-hormone-like activities in T(4)*-TTR and AR-CALUX bioassays. The method can be used as a sample preparation method of biota samples for toxicity profiling and effect-directed analysis (EDA).     

Generation of urban road dust from anti-skid and asphalt concrete aggregates

Road dust forms an important component of airborne particulate matter in urban areas. In many winter cities the use of anti-skid aggregates and studded tires enhance the generation of mineral particles. The abrasion particles dominate the PM10 during springtime when the material deposited in snow is resuspended. This paper summarizes the results from three test series performed in a test facility to assess the factors that affect the generation of abrasion components of road dust. Concentrations, mass size distribution and composition of the particles were studied. Over 90% of the particles were aluminosilicates from either anti-skid or asphalt concrete aggregates. Mineral particles were observed mainly in the PM10 fraction, the fine fraction being 12% and submicron size being 6% of PM10 mass. The PM10 concentrations increased as a function of the amount of anti-skid aggregate dispersed. The use of anti-skid aggregate increased substantially the amount of PM10 originated from the asphalt concrete. It was concluded that anti-skid aggregate grains contribute to pavement wear. The particle size distribution of the anti-skid aggregates had great impact on PM10 emissions which were additionally enhanced by studded tires, modal composition, and texture of anti-skid aggregates. The results emphasize the interaction of tires, anti-skid aggregate, and asphalt concrete pavement in the production of dust emissions. They all must be taken into account when measures to reduce road dust are considered. The winter maintenance and springtime cleaning must be performed properly with methods which are efficient in reducing PM10 dust.     

Determination of the sources of indoor PM2.5 in Amsterdam and Helsinki

Daily PM2.5 samples were repeatedly collected (1-8 times) in the homes of elderly nonsmoking individuals with coronary heart disease in Amsterdam, The Netherlands (33 individuals) and Helsinki, Finland (44 individuals). Sources of indoor PM2.5 were evaluated using a two-way multilinear engine model. Because the indoor elemental data lacked a traffic marker, separation of traffic related PM was attempted by combining the indoor data with fixed site outdoor data that also contained NO. Six outdoor sources, including long-range transport (LRT), urban mixture, oil combustion, traffic, sea-salt, and soil were identified, and three indoor sources were resolved: resuspension, potassium-rich and copper-rich sources. The average contribution of the indoor factors was 6% (1.1 microg m(-3)) and 22% (2.4 microg m(-3)) in Amsterdam and Helsinki, respectively. The highest longitudinal correlations between source-specific outdoor and indoor PM2.5 concentrations were found for LRT and urban mixture; the median R was above 0.6 for most sources. The longitudinal correlations were lower in Helsinki than in Amsterdam. Indoor-generated PM2.5 was not related to ambient concentrations. We conclude that using outdoor and indoor data together improved the source apportionment of indoor PM2.5. The results support the use of fixed site outdoor measurements in epidemiological time-series studies on outdoor air pollution.     

Method for determining liquid water flow in wood during drying using a fluorescent dye tracer

A novel procedure for the evaluation of liquid water flow during the drying of wood is described. The method is based on the movement of a fluorescent dye solution in liquid water. The addition of the dye solution produced a clear trace inside the wood, the length and direction of which were directly related to the flow of liquid water. A comparison of the results obtained with image analysis using UV illumination and measurement of the reflectance spectrum of wood showed that image analysis is appropriate and accurate enough for the determination of the trace of the dye solution. The trace of the dye solution can be determined from the images of the cross sectional samples of wood in all three main directions.     

Use of advanced composite curves for assessing cost-effective HEN retrofit I: Theory and concepts

This paper presents the theory and concepts of a graphical method for heat exchanger network (HEN) retrofit that gives new insights about the complexity and possible solutions of different retrofit alternatives. The method uses knowledge about the placement of heaters/coolers in the existing HEN to evaluate the potential for cost-effective retrofit. One general result this method predicts is that the closer to the pinch the existing heaters/coolers are located, the higher the potential for cost-effective retrofit. Networks that are badly engineered from a grass-root perspective, prove to be a good basis for cost-effective retrofits.     

Use of advanced composite curves for assessing cost-effective HEN retrofit II. Case studies

In this paper a graphical method for cost-effective heat exchanger network (HEN) retrofit is applied in two cases. The method uses information about the placement of heaters/coolers in the existing HEN to identify the potential for cost-effective retrofit. In Case 1 detailed matrix calculations are compared with the results from the graphical method, and in Case 2 the graphical method is compared with earlier published results.In Case 1, the retrofit investment cost for a certain heat recovery was more than doubled for a HEN with heaters placed at high temperature, in comparison to a HEN with heaters placed at low temperature, although both HENs have the same stream data and utility requirements. In a HEN with heaters placed at both low and high temperatures, the heaters placed low could be detached as cheaply as the case with all heaters at low temperatures. The heaters at high temperatures were cheaper to detach than in the case with all heaters at high temperatures, since the initial changes to heaters at low temperatures keep the total investment cost down.Case 2 demonstrates how the graphical method is used to identify potential heat recovery. The conclusions from this method were compared with detailed calculations. Results showed that the PBP increased by a factor of four, when heat saving increased from the level suggested by the advanced curves to the maximum possible heat recovery.     

Total hordatine content in different types of beers

Hordatines are phenolic secondary metabolites typical of barley. Hordatines withstand at least moderate processing, and thus they are also found in barley malts and beer. So far, no published data on the hordatine content has been available in beers or different styles of beer. The aim of this study was to produce information on the total hordatine content in beers and statistically compare the hordatine content of different beer types. In the current study, hordatines were analysed in 208 beers by high‐performance liquid chromatography equipped with a diode array detector (HPLC‐DAD). The average total hordatine content of all beer samples was 5.6 ± 3.1 mg L^?1 as p‐coumaric acid equivalents (PCAE), with a minimum values 0 to a maximum value 18.7 mg L^?1 PCAE. The total hordatine content correlated positively to the alcohol content in lagers, ales, stouts and porters, but not in wheat beers. There was no statistically significant difference in hordatine content in different types of beer, excluding the non‐alcoholic group of beers. It is noteworthy that non‐alcoholic beers also contained hordatines. More research would be needed to understand how parameters, such as mashing, should be chosen in order to achieve maximum recovery of hordatines in wort and beer.     

搭载人类自体干细胞的纤维支架及其在软组织再生中的应用

文章介绍了搭载人类自体干细胞的纤维支架技术及其在软组织再生中的应用优势。选用藻酸盐材料结合人体干细胞搭载关键技术制成的纤维支架,同时具有促进血管再生和触发成脂分化的能力。     

Polyphenol and vitamin C contents in European commercial blackcurrant juice products

Vitamin C and polyphenol contents (anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, phenolic acids and flavonols) were analysed in commercial blackcurrant juice products purchased from various European countries (Finland, Poland, Germany, United Kingdom) using HPLC methods. The aim was to study variation between countries, as well as evaluate the intake of polyphenols from commercial juices. There was significant variation in the contents of polyphenols and vitamin C between countries. Expressed as the ready-to-drink beverages, German, Polish, Finnish and British products averaged anthocyanin contents of 38, 32, 12 and 7.5 mg/2.5 dl, proanthocyanidin contents of 27, 24, 10 and 1.2 mg/2.5 dl, flavonol contents of 16, 15, 5.2 & 1.9 mg/2.5 dl and phenolic acid contents of 12, 8.9, 3.7 and 1.5 mg/2.5 dl, respectively. The mean vitamin C content was highest in British (70 mg/2.5 dl) and lowest in Finnish products (15 mg/2.5 dl). The intake of polyphenols from German and Polish ready-to-drink beverages was clearly higher than that from Finnish, and especially, British beverages.