Multiplicity Study of Exoplanet Host Stars

We present recent results of our ongoing multiplicity study of exoplanet host stars.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure

Efficient Intralogistics Planning Based on an Innovative Intralogistics Tool using the Example of a Flexible Battery Cell Factory

In the course of increasingly volatile markets, globalization as well as shorter product life cycles, factories and thus also the logistics system as a central component of a factory have to be designed in a more flexible way. Battery cell production faces a special challenge in this aspect. Due to the trend towards a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy supply and mobility, the demand is expected to increase significantly. New battery cell factories have to manage rising product volumes and simultaneously react versatile regarding new research findings. Thus, the market for battery cells, the product itself, and the corresponding manufacturing processes are constantly changing. New materials, manufacturing methods, variations of cell formats as well as the possibility of scalability and the associated changes in the requirements for the factory must be taken into account as early as possible in the planning stage. The logistics system as one of the core elements of a factory is always affected by changes in the product, manufacturing processes or input materials. If, for instance, other materials are used, the storage and transport of these goods with different dimensions, weight or even environmental requirements must still be guaranteed. In order to consider the required flexibility already in the planning process, simulation can provide a decisive benefit. It enables the planner to analyse the production and iteratively adapt logistics planning. Since there are many possibilities and combinations, especially in the design of warehouse and transport systems, a reduction of these should take place at an early stage. However, the preselection of suitable logistics systems that provide the necessary flexibility is currently often based on empirical knowledge and extensive market research. Therefore, this paper presents an efficient, holistic approach to logistics planning and an intralogistics tool in detail, which is based on established data. As a result, an optimal logistics system can be defined through an iterative optimization of the flexibility corridor, taking into account the factory goals

Adaption of the Level of Development to the Factory Layout Planning and Introduction of a Quality Assurance Process

Current developments and trends are causing an increasingly turbulent environment for manufacturing companies. In order to respond to these dynamic market conditions, products and thus also production systems have to be adapted more frequently and much faster. However, time and cost targets are often missed by classic factory planning approaches due to poor communication, inadequate tools, and lack of interfaces. Therefore, new ways have to be found in factory planning to overcome these problems. Building Information Modeling, which is already used in the construction industry, provides a promising method for the collaboration of stakeholders based on digital models. This would allow communication to be structured, new tools to be used, and interfaces to be stabilized to improve the target achievement in factory planning projects. However, which information should be provided in which level of detail in which phase of a factory planning project and how the quality of this information can be ensured has not yet been answered. A possible solution to these questions is addressed in this article. First, the concept of the so-called Level of Development, i.e. the geometric and non-geometric definition of the model contents, is transferred to factory layout planning. Then, based on two use cases, the process of quality assurance is defined

Neutron stars from young nearby associations the origin of RXJ1605.3+3249

Many neutron stars (NSs) and runaway stars apparently come from the same regions on the sky. This suggests that they share the same birth places, namely associations and clusters of young massive stars. To identify NS birth places, we attempt to and NS-runaway pairs that could be former companions that were disrupted in a supernova (SN). The remains of recent (<few Myr) nearby (< 150 pc) SNe should still be identifiable by observing the emission of rare radioisotopes such as 26Al and 60Fe that can also be used as additional indicators to confirm a possible SN event. We investigated the origin of the isolated NS RXJ1605.3+3249 and found that it was probably born ~100 pc far from Earth 0.45 Myr ago in the extended Corona-Australis or Octans associations, or in Sco OB4 ~1 kpc 3.5 Myr ago. A SN in Octans is supported by the identification of one to two possible former companions the runaway stars HIP 68228 and HIP 89394, as well as the appearance of a feature in the gamma ray emission from 26Al decay at the predicted SN place. Both, the progenitor masses estimated by comparison with theoretical 26Al yields as well as derived from the life time of the progenitor star, are found to be ~11MSun.Comment: accepted for publication in PASA, special volume Astronomy with Radioactivities; 10 pages, 4 figures, 5 table

Rotational modulation of the photospheric and chromospheric activity in the young, single K2-dwarf PW And

High resolution echelle spectra of PW And (HD~1405) have been taken during eight observing runs from 1999 to 2002. The detailed analysis of the spectra allow us to determine its spectral type (K2V), mean heliocentric radial velocity (V_hel = -11.15 km/s) rotational velocity (vsin{i} = 22.6 km/s), and equivalent width of the lithium line 6707.8 AA (EW(LiI) = 273 mAA). The kinematic (Galactic Velocity (U, V, W)) confirms its membership of the Local Association moving group, in agreement with the age (30 to 80 Myrs) inferred from the color magnitude diagram and the lithium equivalent width. Photospheric activity (presence of cool spots that disturb the profiles of the photospheric lines) has been detected as changes in the the bisectors of the cross correlation function (CCF) resulting of cross-correlate the spectra of PW And with the spectrum of a non active star of similar spectral type. These variations of the CCF bisectors are related to the variations in the measured radial velocities and are modulated with a period similar to the photometric period of the star. At the same time, chromospheric activity has been analyzed, using the spectral subtraction technique and simultaneous spectroscopic observations of the H_alpha, H_beta, NaI D_1 and D_2$, HeI D_3, MgI b triplet, CaII H&K, and CaII infrared triplet lines. A flare was observed during the last observing run of 2001, showing an enhancement in the observed chromospheric lines. A less powerful flare was observed on 2002 August 23. The variations of the chromospheric activity indicators seem to be related to the photospheric activity. A correlation between radial velocity, changes in the CCF bisectors and equivalent width of different chromospheric lines is observed with a different behaviour between epochs 1999, 2001 and 2002.Comment: Latex file with 20 pages, 21 figures tar'ed gzip'ed. Full postscript (text, figures and tables) available at http://www.ucm.es/info/Astrof/users/dmg/pub_dmg.html Accepted for publication in: Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A

Safety of dried coffee husk (cascara) from Coffea arabica L. as a Novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283

[EN] Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on dried coffee husk (cascara) from Coffea arabica L. as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The NF comprises the skin (exocarp), pulp (mesocarp), mucilage (pectin), parchment (endocarp) and a portion of the silver skin of the coffee fruit, and consists mainly of digestible carbohydrates, dietary fibre and water. The Panel considers that there are no safety concerns regarding the stability of the NF if the NF complies with the proposed specification limits during its entire shelf-life. The NF as such will not be consumed, instead, beverages produced with the infusion of the NF in water will be available to consumers. Considering an 100% extraction of caffeine from the NF to the beverage, the specification limit set for caffeine and the proposed use levels, the maximum concentration of caffeine in infusions produced using the NF could be up to 600 mg/L of drink, a concentration comparable to those in coffee beverages. The Panel notes that consumption of beverages produced using the NF will add significantly to the total dietary intake of caffeine of the general population. The consumption of beverages containing caffeine is not recommended for children, pregnant or breast-feeding women if the caffeine content exceeds 150 mg/L. Taking into account the nature of the NF, the history of use of the NF as food and the proposed uses and use levels, the Panel considers that no toxicological studies are required on the NF. The risk of allergic reactions to the NF is considered low. The Panel concludes that the NF, dried husk of the fruit of Coffea arabica L., is safe under the proposed conditions of useSIThe Panel wishes to thank Panagiota Zakidou and Gabriela Precup who, as trainees, provided support to the preparation of this scientific outpu

Safety of dried fruits of Synsepalum dulcificum as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel&nbsp;on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on dried fruits of Synsepalum dulcificum as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The NF is pitted and dried (by lyophilisation) fruits of S.&nbsp;dulcificum. The NF contains the glycoprotein miraculin (≤ 2.5%) which causes sour and acidic foods to taste sweet. The fruits have a documented history of consumption in Africa and products thereof can be found in different markets worldwide. Information on the production process and the composition of the NF is sufficient and does not raise safety concerns. The applicant proposes to use the NF as or in food supplements for the adult population, excluding pregnant and lactating women, at a maximum daily amount of 0.9 g. Taking into account these conditions of use, the Panel&nbsp;considers that the consumption of the NF is not nutritionally disadvantageous. The provided genotoxicity studies do not raise concerns for genotoxicity of the NF. The Panel&nbsp;concludes that the only dose tested in a 90-day oral toxicity study of 2,000 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day was not associated with adverse effects. By applying an uncertainty factor of 200, the Panel&nbsp;concludes that the NF is safe at an intake level of 10 mg/kg bw per day, corresponding to a maximum daily intake of 0.7 g of the NF for the target population, rather than 0.9 g/day as proposed by the applicant

Safety of cellobiose as a novel food pursuant to regulation (EU) 2015/2283

[EN] Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on cellobiose as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The NF consists of two glucose monomers linked by a β-(1–4) glucosidic bond. The applicant intends to add the NF to a variety of foods, and to food supplements aimed at the general population 3 years and older. The information provided on the manufacturing process, composition and specifications of the NF is sufficient and does not raise safety concerns. The applicant provided a subchronic toxicological study which did not raise safety concerns. The applicant provided a human dose-escalation study from which the Panel concludes that the consumption of 20 g per day of cellobiose (equivalent to 290 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day in a 70-kg adult) does not raise concern regarding gastrointestinal tolerability. The maximum anticipated daily intake of cellobiose from the proposed uses is below 290 mg/kg bw per day in the target population. Considering the nature, source, compositional characterisation, and production process of the NF, as well as the toxicological data provided, the Panel considers that the NF does not raise safety concerns under the proposed conditions of useS

Safety of extended uses of UV-treated baker's yeast as a Novel Food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283

In 2014, the EFSA NDA Panel&nbsp;concluded that UV-treated baker's yeast containing up to 3.5 Mio IU of vitamin D/100 g, is safe under the proposed conditions of use for yeast-leavened breads, rolls and fine bakery wares, and food supplements. Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel&nbsp;on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on an application for an extension of the use of UV-treated baker's yeast as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. In this extension of use, the applicant proposed a broad range of food categories to which the NF can be added. On the basis of the proposed uses and maximum use levels, the Panel&nbsp;estimated the potential exposure to vitamin D from the NF and the potential combined exposure to vitamin D including also exposure from the background diet and food supplements. The Panel&nbsp;notes that the upper level (UL) for one age group, i.e. children aged 4-10 years, is exceeded by 4%, when summing up the highest P95 estimate for the background diet (including food supplements) and the highest P95 estimate for vitamin D from the NF under the proposed uses and maximum use levels. The Panel&nbsp;notes, however, the highly conservative approach for estimating the potential intake of vitamin D from the NF, given that the applicant has proposed 34 FoodEx2 level 2 food categories. Thus, the Panel&nbsp;considers that the UL for children aged between 4 and 10 years is highly unlikely to be exceeded. The Panel&nbsp;concludes that the NF is safe under the proposed conditions of use