Determination of phthalates in plum spirit and their occurrence during plum spirit production

Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that, due to their lipophilicity, migrate more readily into beverages with higher ethanol content. The aim of this work was to study the occurrence of phthalates in samples during the plum spirit production and in the final product, plum spirit manufactured by registered producers from five European countries, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A decreasing trend of mean values was observed for diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-iso-butyl phthalate (DiBP), and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) as the distillation process went on. Levels of benzyl-butyl phthalate (BBP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) increased in the distillation phase compared to concentrations in the preceding phases. In commercial plum spirits, DEHP and DiBP were detected in the highest concentrations. Results also indicated that a moderate daily consumption of plum spirit does not pose a health risk regarding the Tolerable Daily Intake of BBP, DEHP, and DB

Pranje domaće vune u Hrvatskoj i utjecaj na okoliš

Wool and wastewaters from scouring can be a mixed blessing - a useful technological raw material or an environmental problem. If wool is scoured with no control, as the case most often is in Croatia, the wastewater released could endanger the environmental stability of the existing water systems. Since the interest has been growing recently for processing domestic wool, which also presents a considerable hazard of polluting water because of unskilled scouring and uncontrolled wastewater release into the natural water flows, we have organized investigations aimed at determining potentially dangerous ecological loads on the Croatian water systems, caused by scouring domestic wool. The results obtained indicate that improper disposal of the wool and/or uncontrolled release of wastewater from scouring present a considerable environmental hazard. We have concluded that impacts on the environment of scouring domestic wool in Croatia are the same as impacts on the environment obtained by normal functioning of a town of 1700_2000 inhabitants.Vuna i otpadne vode od pranja vune mogu biti korisna tehnološka sirovina ili su pak ekološki problem. Ukoliko se vuna nekontrolirano pere, kao što je to najčešće slučaj u Hrvatskoj, ispuštene otpadne vode mogu ugroziti prirodnu ekološku stabilnost postojećih vodenih sustava. S obzirom da je u posljednje vrijeme povećano zanimanje za preradu domaće vune, a time i opasnost od onečišćenja voda zbog nestručnog pranja vune i nekontroliranog ispuštanja otpadne vode od pranja vune u prirodne vodotokove svrha ovog rada bila je odrediti potencijalno moguće ekološko opterećenje vodenih sustava Hrvatske uzrokovano pranjem domaće vune. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da nekontrolirano odlaganje vune i/ili otpadne vode od pranja domaće vune u Hrvatskoj predstavlja značajnu opasnost za okoliš, koja je ekvivalentna onečišćenju koje nastaje normalnim funkcioniranjem grada s 1700 do 2000 stanovnika

Comparison of experimental and analytically predicted out-of-plane behavior of framed-masonry walls containing openings

During an earthquake, structures are loaded in both in-plane and out-of-plane direction. This paper investigates the behaviour of load-bearing frames with infill walls that contain openings. As when they are subjected to out-of-plane, inertial loads. In the experimental campaigns of like structures, it was found that even with openings, the beneficial arching-action was able to develop. However, its effectiveness was limited. Namely, the deformation capabilities in all cases were significantly lowered. Same can not be stated for the load-bearing capacities, as some researches found no reduction while others did. Additionally, this paper analyses the existing equations that can calculate the load-bearing capacity of such structures. Low correlations were found between the experimental and analytical capacities. Hence, further research endeavours should be addressed in order to gain a reliable analytical model

Characteristics and drivers of forest cover change in the post-socialist era in Croatia: evidence from a mixed-methods approach

© 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.Extensive forests in Croatia represent an important biological and economic resource in Europe. They are characterised by heterogeneity in forest management practices dating back to the socialist planned economy of the pre-1991 era. In this study we investigated the difference in rates of deforestation and reforestation in private- and state-owned forests during the post-socialist period and the causal drivers of change. The selected region of Northern Croatia is characterised by a high percentage of privately owned forests with minimal national monitoring and control. We used a mixed-methods approach which combines remote sensing, statistical modelling and a household-based questionnaire survey to assess the rates of forest cover change and factors influencing those changes. The results show that predominantly privately owned forests in Northern Croatia have recorded a net forest loss of 1.8 % during the 1991–2011 period, while Croatia overall is characterised by a 10 % forest cover increase in predominantly state-owned forests. Main factors influencing forest cover changes in private forests are slope, altitude, education structure, population age and population density. The results also show that the deforestation in private forests is weakening overall, mostly due to the continuation of the de-agrarisation and de-ruralisation processes which began during socialism

Influence of the Type of Occlusion on the Occurrence of Noncarious Cervical Lesion

INTRODUCTION: The term \u27noncarious cervical lesions’ (NCCL) stands to indicate the loss of hard tissue at the tooth cervix. This loss can be caused by different physical and/or chemical agents. One of the causes of NCCL can be occlusal stress, which lead to toothflexure and loss of enamel at the cervical area. In different types of occlusion there are numerous lateral eccentric movements that can cause NCCL. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in the frequency of NCCLs between patients with different occlusal conception. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study involved 815 persons over the age of 10 years, chosen at random. The cervical third of the vestibular surface of the upper and lower teeth was clinically examined. NCCLs were measured with plus and minus. The type of occlusal conception was established by clinical examination and classified as canine guidance, group function and combined occlusion. The results showed that the NCCLs were equally participate in both sexes, and in all three types of occlusion (Chi-square values were 1.96, df=2, p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that there is no statistically significant difference in the frequency of NCCLs between patients with different occlusal

A review of experimental and analytical studies on the out-of-plane behaviour of masonry infilled frames

This paper presents a literature review of research undertaken on the out-of-plane behaviour of masonry infilled frames. This paper also discusses the effects of bidirectional loads, openings, slenderness, boundary conditions etc. As numerous researchers have reported, these effects play a crucial role in achieving arching action cause, as they can bypass or limit its effectiveness. Namely, arching action leads to additional compressive forces which resist traversal ones. This is confirmed by inertial force methods of testing, while the same cannot be claimed for inter-storey drift or dynamical methods. It is to be acknowledged that most experimental tests were carried out using inertial force methods, mostly with the use of airbags. In contrast, only a few were undertaken with dynamical methods and just two with inter-storey drift methods. It was found that inertial force and inter-storey drift methods differ widely. In particular, inertial force methods damage the infill, leaving the frame more or less intact. Conversely, drift heavily damages the frame, while infill only slightly. Openings were investigated, albeit with contrasting results. Namely, in all cases, it was found that openings do lower the deformational but not all load-bearing capacities. Furthermore, analytical models have shown contrasting results between themselves and with experimental data. Models’ stabilities were checked with single- and multi-variable parametric analysis from which governing factors, influences of frame and other parameters were identified

Development and Calibration of a 3D Micromodel for Evaluation of Masonry Infilled RC Frame Structural Vulnerability to Earthquakes

Within the scope of literature, the influence of openings within the infill walls that are bounded by a reinforced concrete frame and excited by seismic drift forces in both in- and out-of-plane direction is still uncharted. Therefore, a 3D micromodel was developed and calibrated thereafter, to gain more insight in the topic. The micromodels were calibrated against their equivalent physical test specimens of in-plane, out-of-plane drift driven tests on frames with and without infill walls and openings, as well as out-of-plane bend test of masonry walls. Micromodels were rectified based on their behavior and damage states. As a result of the calibration process, it was found that micromodels were sensitive and insensitive to various parameters, regarding the model’s behavior and computational stability. It was found that, even within the same material model, some parameters had more effects when attributed to concrete rather than on masonry. Generally, the in-plane behavior of infilled frames was found to be largely governed by the interface material model. The out-of-plane masonry wall simulations were governed by the tensile strength of both the interface and masonry material model. Yet, the out-of-plane drift driven test was governed by the concrete material properties

Kinetics of the Bray-Liebhafsky oscillatory reaction perturbed by polymer supported cobalt catalyst

The Bray-Liebhafsky (BL) oscillatory reaction generated in the batch reactor at 62- 68 oC was perturbed by cobalt(II)-nitrate, supported on the macroreticular copolymer of poly-4-vinylpyridine with divinylbenzene (Co-PVPDVB). The kinetic data was analyzed of the complex pathways of the hydrogen peroxide decomposition in the examined BL reaction. The obtained results confirm that the kinetics of the BL reaction in the presence Co-PVPDVB comes partially from the Co-catalyst and partially from the macroreticular copolymer support.Oscilatorna reakcija Bray-Liebhafsky (BL) realizovana u zatvorenom reaktoru na temperaturi 62-68 oC je perturbovana sa kobalt(II)nitratom ugrađenim na makroretikularnom kopolimeru poli-4-vinilpiridina sa divinilbenzenom (Co- PVPDVB). Analizirani su kinetički podaci kompleksnih reakcionih puteva razlaganja vodonikperoksida u ispitivanoj BL reakciji. Dobijeni rezultati potvrđuju da je u prisustvu Co-PVPDVB kinetika BL reakcije delimično određena Co-katalizatorom, a delimično makromolekularnim kopolimernim nosačem katalizatora