Essential terminology and considerations for validation of non-targeted methods

Through their suggestive name, non-targeted methods (NTMs) do not aim at a predefined “needle in the haystack.” Instead, they exploit all the constituents of the haystack. This new type of analytical method is increasingly finding applications in food and feed testing. However, the concepts, terms, and considerations related to this burgeoning field of analytical testing need to be propagated for the benefit of those associated with academic research, commercial development, or official control. This paper addresses frequently asked questions regarding terminology in connection with NTMs. The widespread development and adoption of these methods also necessitate the need to develop innovative approaches for NTM validation, i.e., evaluating the performance characteristics of a method to determine if it is fit-for-purpose. This work aims to provide a roadmap for approaching NTM validation. In doing so, the paper deliberates on the different considerations that influence the approach to validation and provides suggestions therefor

Wild als Bioindikator auf dem Gebiet der neuen Bundeslaender

The report gives a survey of the samples (muscle, liver and kidney) of one year old roe and red deer investigated between 1992 and 1994. A total of 179 animals from the areas Hochharz, Duebener Heide and Ostufer Mueritz was investigated for environmental chemicals (Pb, Cd, Hg, 6 PCB, 21 pesticides). Beside differences in the concentrations of Cd in kidneys and livers of fawns and roebucks dependent on age there are differences in the concentrations of Cd in kidneys and livers between roe deer and red deer. The concentrations of Cd of young red deer are lower wherea young red deer possibly reacts stronger to Pb exposition. There are differences in the concentration of Cd and Pb in livers and kidneys between the areas where the samples had been taken. Partially the concentrations of b-HCH, a-HCH, PCB 138, PCB 153 and PCB 180 in liver exceeded the maximum permissible value. Despite significantly higher concentrations of b-HCH (partially also g- and a-HCH) with roebucks from the Duebener Heide area in 1994 tendentious differences between the areas are hardy noticeable. Tendentious differences between the areas could not be detected in the course of the three years of investigation. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: RN 8908(99-015) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekUmweltbundesamt, Berlin (Germany); Bundesministerium fuer Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

Landschaftsrahmenplan fuer die Region Westerwald Planungsvorschlaege zur Fortschreibung des regionalen Raumordnungsplanes

SIGLETechnische Informationsbibliothek Hannover: AC 6023. / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

Nitrogen form influences the response of Deschampsia antarctica to dark septate root endophytes

Fungi with dematiaceous septate hyphae, termed dark septate endophytes (DSE), are common in plant roots, particularly in cold-stressed habitats, but their effects on their host plants remain obscure. Here, we report a study that assessed the effects of six DSE on the growth and nutrient balance of Deschampsia antarctica when plants were supplied with the same amount of nitrogen in organic (casein hydrolysate) or inorganic (ammonium sulphate) form under controlled conditions. After 60 days, the DSE, that had each been isolated from D. antarctica and which analyses of internal transcribed spacer and large subunit regions indicated were similar to members of the Helotiales (Oculimacula yallundae, Mollisia and Tapesia spp.) and unassigned anamorphic ascomycetes, typically had no effect on, or reduced by 33-71%, shoot and root dry weights relative to uninoculated controls when plants had been supplied with nitrogen in inorganic form. In contrast, the DSE usually enhanced shoot and root dry weights by 51-247% when plants had been supplied with organic nitrogen. In the presence of inorganic nitrogen, only sporadic effects of DSE were recorded on shoot and root nitrogen or phosphorus concentrations, whereas in the presence of organic nitrogen, three to six of the DSE isolates increased shoot and root nitrogen and phosphorus contents. Most of the isolates decreased the phosphorus concentrations of shoots and roots when plants had been supplied with nitrogen in organic form. Our data suggest that DSE are able to mineralise peptides and amino acids in the rhizosphere, making nitrogen more freely available to roots