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

Probir na oštećenje sluha u predškolskoj/školskoj dobi

Komunikativne vještine u ranoj dječjoj dobi presudne su za zdravlje, edukaciju, odabir zanimanja i kvalitetu života. Pretpostavka za njihov razvoj je uredan sluh. Rana detekcija oštećenja sluha, putem probira, dovodi do povoljnih ishoda liječenja i rehabilitacije. U Europskoj uniji je u tijeku EUscreen vision&hearing projekt, u kojem sudjeluje i Hrvatska. Cilj studije je usporediti probir na oštećenje vida i sluha u svim zemljama Europske unije i izraditi priručnik, u kojem će se predložiti učinkoviti model, poštujući specifičnosti svake zemlje. U Hrvatskoj je, među prvima u Europi, 2002. godine započeo sveobuhvatni probir novorođenčadi na oštećenje sluha (SPNOS), koji se od 2005. godine provodi u svim rodilištima po istom protokolu, a koji nam omogućuje rano otkrivanje prirođenih i perinatalnih oštećenja. Prevalencija oštećenja sluha kod djece raste s dobi, te djeca s progresivnim, stečenim i oštećenjima s kasnijim početkom, ako nisu prepoznata, ulaze u obrazovni sustav s ozbiljnim deficitom. On se može manifestirati u jezičnim poremećajima, otežanom usvajanju čitanja i pisanja, poremećajima socio-emocionalnog razvoja, problemima u pažnji i ponašanju. Za sada u Hrvatskoj nije na nacionalnoj razini organiziran sveobuhvatni probir u predškolskoj dobi, već se provodi u 6. ili 7. razredu osnovne škole, prije opredjeljenja za odabir profesije. Preporučuje se poboljšanje postojećeg modela uvođenjem probira na oštećenje sluha prije početka obrazovanja, neposredno prije upisa u školu ili tijekom prvog razreda, “screening” tonskom audiometrijom od strane timova školske medicine. Predlaže se način izrade postupnika za provođenje probira, koji će uključiti i stvaranje baze podataka i način praćenja rezultata

Genetic Differentiation of the Western Capercaillie Highlights the Importance of South-Eastern Europe for Understanding the Species Phylogeography

The Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus L.) is a grouse species of open boreal or high altitude forests of Eurasia. It is endangered throughout most mountain range habitat areas in Europe. Two major genetically identifiable lineages of Western Capercaillie have been described to date: the southern lineage at the species' southernmost range of distribution in Europe, and the boreal lineage. We address the question of genetic differentiation of capercaillie populations from the Rhodope and Rila Mountains in Bulgaria, across the Dinaric Mountains to the Slovenian Alps. The two lineages' contact zone and resulting conservation strategies in this so-far understudied area of distribution have not been previously determined. The results of analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences of 319 samples from the studied populations show that Alpine populations were composed exclusively of boreal lineage; Dinaric populations of both, but predominantly (96%) of boreal lineage; and Rhodope-Rila populations predominantly (>90%) of southern lineage individuals. The Bulgarian mountains were identified as the core area of the southern lineage, and the Dinaric Mountains as the western contact zone between both lineages in the Balkans. Bulgarian populations appeared genetically distinct from Alpine and Dinaric populations and exhibited characteristics of a long-term stationary population, suggesting that they should be considered as a glacial relict and probably a distinct subspecies. Although all of the studied populations suffered a decline in the past, the significantly lower level of genetic diversity when compared with the neighbouring Alpine and Bulgarian populations suggests that the isolated Dinaric capercaillie is particularly vulnerable to continuing population decline. The results are discussed in the context of conservation of the species in the Balkans, its principal threats and legal protection status. Potential conservation strategies should consider the existence of the two lineages and their vulnerable Dinaric contact zone and support the specificities of the populations

Humanities for the Future: a new European Agenda

FGW – Publications not associated with a particular research are

Razlaganje N2O na katalizatoru Cu-ZSM-5 - analiza modela reakcije

The model of mechanism of the nitrous oxide (N2O) decomposition over the catalyst Cu-ZSM-5 proposed in 1999 in the article of Ochs and Turek, is adapted for mentioned process in open reactor and analyzed by the stoichiometric network analysis. Under these conditions five reaction pathways that all contribute to same overall process with defined but different contributions are found. Analyzing stoichiometric reactions of all obtained reaction pathways, in only one of them the nitric oxide (NO) as a product of reaction is found. Controlling the contribution of this reaction pathway to overall process, the control of production of NO as pollutant is makes possible.Model mehanizma reakcije razlaganja azotsuboksida (N2O) na zeolitnom katalizatoru CuZSM-5 predložen 1999. godine u radu Ochsa i Tureka, podešen je za pomenuti proces u otvorenom reaktoru i analiziran stehiometrijskom mrežnom analizom. Pokazano je da pod tim uslovima model predviđa pet reakcionih puteva. Svi oni doprinose ukupnom procesu sa definisanim, ali različitim udelima. Analizom stehiometrijskih jednačina reakcionih puteva nađeno je da se samo u jednom od njih pojavljuje azotmonoksid (NO) kao proizvod. Kontrolom doprinosa ovog reakcionog puta celokupnom procesu otvara se mogućnost kontrole proizvodnje zagađivača azotmonoksida (NO)