Intake of saccharin and cyclamate from Finnish foods between 1979 and 1985

Summary The dietary intake of saccharin and cyclamate was investigated during the period 1979–1985 in order to find out about the use as sweeteners in the food industry and hospitals and to obtain intake data for the toxicological evaluation of sweeteners in the Finnisch diet. Eighty-nine samples of desserts served in 85 hospitals were analysed in 1983. Other samples investigated were artificially sweetened commercial foods available in Finland, such as soft drinks, sweets and jellies. The intake evaluation was carried out with reference to the acceptable daily intake (ADI), with commercial portions for a child being 20 kg and for an adult 60 kg. The most important foods with regard to the intake of saccharin and cyclamate were soft drinks. In 1979, 1982 and 1985, soft drinks contributed 128%, 93%, and 51%, respectively, of the ADI of artificial sweeteners for children and 42%, 31%, and 17% for adults. Artificially sweetened desserts served in hospitals contributed to 35% of the ADI for children and 11% for adults.

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Die finnischen Lebensmittel als Saccharin-und Cyclamatspender von 1979–1985

Zusammenfassung In den Jahren 1979–1985 wurden finnische Lebensmittel als Saccharin- und Cyclamatspender mit dem Ziel untersucht, den Einsatz von Süßungsmitteln in der Lebensmittelindustrie und in Krankenhäusern zu verfolgen und damit Erkenntnisse über deren toxikologische Wertung in der finnischen Nahrung zu erhalten. Es wurden 89 Proben künstlich gesüßter Nachspeisen aus 85 Krankenhäusern analysiert. Bei den übrigen Proben handelte es sich um in Finnland im Handel befindliche künstlich gesüßte Lebensmittel wie Erfrischungsgetränke, Süßwaren und Konfitüren. Die Schätzung der Zufuhr erfolgte durch Vergleich der täglich zulässigen Menge (ADI), die man aus handelsüblichen Dosen für Kinder von 20 kg Gewicht und Erwachsene von 60 kg Gewicht erhielt. Die wichtigsten Lebensmittel in der Saccharin- und Cyclamat-Zufuhr waren die Erfrischungsgetränke. In den Jahren 1979, 1982 und 1985 entfielen auf Erfrischungsgetränke 128%, 93% bzw. 51% des für Kinder berechneten ADI-Wertes an künstlichen Süßstoffen und entsprechend 42%, 31 % bzw. 17% des für Erwachsene berechneten ADI-Wertes. Die in Krankenhäusern gebotenen künstlich gesüßten Nachspeisen deckten bei Kindern 35% und bei Erwachsenen 11% des ADI-Wertes.

     

Vortex dimples at charged helium interfaces

We have investigated theoretically the profile of electrically charged helium interfaces in the presence of a superfluid vortex line perpendicular to the interface. The free surface of superfluid³He-B as well as the interface between phase-separated³He and⁴He mixtures have been considered. The superflow-induced dimple profile around the vortex line was calculated within the linear theory assuming a weak curvature of the interface. Our results show that the depth of the dimple increases strongly with an external electric field as the critical value of the electrohydrodynamic surface instability is approached. The chances of observing these charge-enhanced dimples are also discussed.     

The ORF YNL274c (GOR1) codes for glyoxylate reductase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The enzyme glyoxylate reductase reversibly reduces glyoxylate to glycolate, or alternatively hydroxypyruvate to D-glycerate, using either NADPH or NADH as a co-factor. The enzyme has multiple metabolic roles in different organisms. In this paper we show that GOR1 (ORF YNL274c) encodes a glyoxylate reductase and not a hydroxyisocaproate dehydrogenase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, even though it also has minor activity on alpha-ketoisocaproate. In addition, we show that deletion of the glyoxylate reductase-encoding gene leads to higher biomass concentration after diauxic shift.     

Estimates on the intake of food additives in Finland

Summary An estimation of the intakes of 30 food additives in Finland was conducted combining analytical data, food balance sheets, import and export statistics. The results indicated that most calculated average food additive intakes were well below the ADI values and internationally at an acceptable level. The intakes of nitrates, nitrites, saccharin and cyclamates were above or close to the respective ADI values. More studies are planned on these substances in order to establish possible special risk groups.

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Bestimmung über die Aufnahme von Zusatzstoffen in Finnland

Zusammenfassung Der Tagesverbrauch von 30 Lebensmittelzusatzstoffen wurde aus analytischen Ergebnissen der Bilanzwerte und den Import- und Export-Werten ermittelt. Die Resultate zeigten, daß die meisten mittleren Tagesverbrauchswerte noch unter den ADI-Werten liegen. Der Verbrauch von Nitrat und Nitrit, Saccharin und Cyclamat befand sich in der Nähe oder über den ADI-Werten. Weitere Studien sind mit diesen Zusatzstoffen vorgesehen, um spezielle Risikogruppen zu finden.

     

Radio frequency technology for automated manufacturing and logistics control. Part 2: RFID antenna utilisation in industrial applications

The trend in industrial automation is to move towards fast and real-time identification, further improving the high-level of accuracy that is needed to enable continuous identification and monitoring. The interest in adopting radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for use in automation systems with minimal manual involvement is increasing rapidly. RFID systems are capable of providing real-time object visibility with high accuracy enabling continuous identification and location of all items and thereby providing accurate real-time data management instead of simple snapshots. In this paper, the use of multiple reader antennas is examined against collision and interference avoidance. Also, antenna operation is studied in typical industrial environments containing metallic objects or other conducting surfaces. In addition, this paper reviews different tag antennas and their characteristics for particular item identification cases. These cases include items made of specific materials that obstruct or prevent radio wave propagation by either absorbing or reflecting them. The results given in this paper are fully applicable with practical RFID solutions.     

Building Product Modelling Using Relational Databases,Hypermedia Software and CAD Systems*

Abstract: A framework for a national building product data model standard, the RA TAS-model, was proposed in an industry-wide cooperation project in Finland in 1987. The model structures the information describing a building using an object-oriented semantic data model. In follow-up projects a number of prototypes have been developed using different software tools. These prototypes have aimed at illustrating the potential of the product data model approach for facilitating data exchange between heterogeneous computing applications in construction, as well as at testing the implementation of the data structures (attributes, object classes, relationships between objects) of the product data models. The prototypes have been based on relational databases, hypermedia software, CAD-systems and combinations of these.     

Phase diagrams of nanometer-sized particles in binary systems

A study on alloy phase formation in nanometer-sized particles by insitu transmission-electron microscopy revealed that the phase equilibrium of these particles is significantly different from that of the corresponding bulk materials. A theoretical study was conducted based on thermodynamics modified so that Gibbs free energies for bulk materials available in the CALPHAD database were modified by taking into consideration factors affecting the phase equilibrium of nanometer-sized alloy particles. The study proved useful to evaluate the results obtained from experiments. For more information, contact Junggoo Lee, Research Center for Ultra-High Voltage Electron Microscopy, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 2-1, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; +81-6-6879-7941; fax +81-6-6879-7942; e-mail; jg-lee@uhvem.osakau.ac.jp.