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The effective width is a relevant parameter for the design of bridge overhang slabs under concentrated loads. Experimental tests have been used to assess expressions for its calculation. However, the load capacity increases with the width until a transition area is reached. Test specimens may have lacked enough width to reach full shear capacity, affecting thus the evaluation of the results. On the other hand, within the transition area, a threshold value has been hypothesized to match the effective width. This paper aims to provide recommendations for minimal widths that guarantee the full capacity of overhang slabs and to assess the calculation of the effective width by means of the threshold value and other formulations. The effect of the edge beam is also considered. A campaign of validated non-linear FE-simulations based on experiments on range of width-span ratios was performed. The results suggest using a width-span ratio of at least 4.0 for slabs without an edge beam and 5.3 for slabs with an edge beam for the experimental practice. The efficiency of the formulation for the effective widths is diffuse and the use of threshold value leads to unsafe predictions. Instead, linear-elastic FE-analyses are recommended for the design practice.

Presentación: La protesta social ha sido una herramienta de expresión de inconformidades y deseos reformistas a la cual acuden personas y colectivos en busca de un cambio político dentro de su sistema de gobierno. Si bien la protesta ha probado ser un medio eficaz en diferentes contextos y momentos históricos, surge en el presente la pregunta por su vigencia, es decir, si la protesta sigue siendo efectiva en un contexto social determinado o si es ya una herramienta obsoleta para la manifestación de inconformidades. En consonancia con lo anterior, el presente estudio provee un acercamiento a la visión que un grupo de jóvenes y adultos-jóvenes zacatecanos han desarrollado sobre las protestas sociales a partir de su experiencia o el contacto que han tenido con las mismas. Lo anterior a través de un análisis de sus representaciones sociales por Propósito: Esta investigación tiene por objetivo explorar las representaciones sociales que tienen jóvenes y adultos-jóvenes mexicanos zacatecanos acerca de la protesta social. Para ello, empleamos la técnica de grupos focales con un análisis de categorías a parir la teoría fundamentada. Dicha teoría nos permitió determinar los principales conceptos relacionados con las representaciones de la protesta, a saber: violencia; medios de comunicación; política como algo obsoleto para el cambio social; y creatividad en la protesta. En el análisis se consideran factores macroculturales con el fin de proponer una explicación al carácter individualista de las representaciones. Resultados: Los resultados ponen en evidencia una actitud negativa hacia la manifestación social a través de la protesta.

La concentración de actividades humanas en territorios con urbanización intensa y carentes de planificación territorial, conduce a una alteración acumulativa de los procesos e interacciones en los ecosistemas naturales. Ante esto, se hace necesaria la adecuada planificación del crecimiento urbano en concordancia con el uso potencial y sustentable de los territorios. Esto es relevante en las regiones urbanas con valores ambientales naturales y patrimoniales, que eviten la degradación, la fragmentación espacial de lo agrícola y natural y la segregación socio-ambiental, entre otros. El objetivo del trabajo fue la identificación de las principales, divergencias, convergencias e incoherencias en materia de ordenamiento territorial, entre las normativas que regulan los usos del suelo asignados en los instrumentos de planificación territorial (IPTs) (Plan Regulador Intercomunal Satélite La Campana y PREMVAL) y los criterios de sustentabilidad que guían a las áreas naturales y patrimoniales propuestas en la Zonificación de la Reserva de la Biosfera la Campana –Peñuelas (RB), analizando la coherencia de la política urbanística y ambiental nacional. A través del estudio del Plan Regional Intercomunal Satélite La Campana y su contraste temático y cartográfico de la regulación espacial de los usos asignados, con el modelo de zonificación propuesto en la RB La Campana-Peñuelas, se analizaron los diferentes espacios de imbricación entre áreas de expansión y protección. Los resultados de las observaciones y recomendaciones en cada zona RB (núcleo, amortiguación y Transición), indican la coexistencia de zonas de conflictos territoriales, y en otras áreas de valor natural y agrícola. Se observa la inexistencia de una concordancia entre los IPTs que velen por la protección de las áreas de valor ambiental. La normativa presenta numerosas incoherencias y divergencias desajustadas de los criterios del desarrollo sustentable y de una figura de protección como una RB, particularmente en áreas asignadas con usos agrícolas. Se recomienda, actualizar las herramientas de participación y sensibilización ciudadana y modificar los criterios de sustentabilidad con los que son realizados los Instrumentos de Planificación Territorial.

La donación efectiva de órganos en Chile se encuentra en un preocupante estancamiento. La tasa de donantes efectivos no sólo no se ha incrementado en el periodo 1998–2008, sino que por el contrario en los últimos años ha disminuido. Cualquier análisis en estas circunstancias debe interpelar a los principios o a priori que fundamentan el actual sistema de donación y trasplante. Un modelo de donación de órganos para trasplante y todas aquellas etapas que permiten el éxito de esta técnica deben fundamentarse en el respeto a un principio ético central que es la equidad y en el resguardo con celo, la eficiencia, transparencia y credibilidad del mismo.

The aim of the present study was to describe socioeconomic inequalities in low birth weight (LBW), premature birth (PM) and small size for gestational age at birth (SGA) between 2000 and 2005 in Barcelona, Spain, jointly evaluating the effect of mother's country of origin, and neighborhood of residence socioeconomic level measured using unemployment and educational level. We performed a cross-sectional study of births to mothers aged 12-49 years who were residents in the city of Barcelona in 2000-2005, analyzing adverse pregnancy outcomes (n = 61,676). Weighted multilevel logistic regression models were fitted with individual data on level 1 and neighborhood data on level 2, to obtain adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals and residual variance. Individually, pregnancy outcomes are more favorable in births to older mothers and to mothers from Maghrib and Central and South America than from developed countries (including Spain) or from other developing countries. After adjusting for individual variables, poor pregnancy outcomes were associated with poor neighborhoods (more unemployment was associated to LBW: aOR = 1.56; PM aOR = 1.51; SGA aOR = 1.66). The same trend was observed for associations with illiteracy rate. The present study shows that there are socioeconomic inequalities in adverse pregnancy outcomes in the city of Barcelona. One of the main challenges in perinatal health continues to be the reduction of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To assess the association between alcohol use and victimization by homicide in individuals autopsied at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Excessive consumption of alcohol is a serious public health issue and a major factor in triggering violent situations, which suggests a strong association between alcohol ingestion and becoming a victim of homicide. Participants Data from 2042 victims of homicides in 2005 were obtained from medical examiner reports. Measurements The victim's gender, age, ethnicity and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) were collected. The method of death and homicide circumstances, as well as the date, time and place of death were also studied. Findings Alcohol was detected in blood samples of 43% of the victims, and mean BAC levels were 1.55 ± 0.86 g/l. The prevalence of positive BAC levels was higher among men (44.1%) than women (26.6%), P < 0.01. Firearms caused most of the deaths (78.6%), and alcohol consumption was greater among victims of homicide by sharp weapons ( P < 0.01). A greater proportion of victims with positive BAC were killed at weekends compared to weekdays (56.4 and 38.5%, respectively; P < 0.01), and the correlation between homicide rates and the average BAC for the central area of the city was positive ( rs = 0.90; P < 0.01). Conclusions These results highlight alcohol as a contributing factor for homicide victimization in the greatest urban center in South America, supporting public strategies and future research aiming to prevent homicides and violence related to alcohol consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the relationship between the doctrinaire position of a judge in terms of the civil liability objective and subjective theories and the results of their decisions in terms of "acquittal/against judgments". A system of classification of matter of fact results is proposed and the influence on the result of the decision of each category is also tested. The material consists of 71 records of judicial procedures from São Paulo State Court of Justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A methodological approach based on rare earth elements analysis was developed to observe human activities in the stratigraphic sequence of Alagankulam. The site was one of the main ancient ports in south-eastern India and one of the transoceanic connecting points between East and West during the Classical Period. The sampled sediments where collected from vertical profiles, areas with traces of firing activities and filled deposits. Major, minor and trace element concentrations were measured by the means of spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques. Data from multielemental analysis were then cross-referenced together with archaeological evidence to map the variability within the site and its association with the detected anthropic activities. The matching of the interpretation of the archaeological record and the analytical data has allowed a combined mapping of visible and invisible traces of human activities in the site, giving a deeper insight of the Alagankulam occupational history., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

A comprehensive study assessed indoor air quality parameters, focusing on relevant air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5 ), gaseous compounds (CO, CO 2 , formaldehyde, NO 2 ) and volatile/semi-volatile organic chemicals, as well as respiratory viruses (including SARS-CoV-2), fungi and bacteria in Spanish university classrooms. Non-target screening strategies evaluated the presence of organic pollutants inside and outside the classrooms. Saliva samples from teachers and students were collected to explore correlations between respiratory viruses in the air and biological samples. Indoor results revealed the punctual exceedance of recommended guidelines for CO 2 , formaldehyde (HCHO), volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and PM in the least naturally ventilated classrooms. Significant differences occurred between the classes, with the least ventilated one showing higher average concentrations of CO 2 , HCHO, NO 2 , PM 10 and PM 2.5 . A respiratory virus (rhinovirus/enterovirus) was detected in the medium naturally ventilated classroom, although saliva samples tested negative. Suspect screening tentatively identified 65 substances indoors and over 200 outdoors, with approximately half reporting a high toxicological risk based on the Cramer rules. The study provides a comprehensive overview of indoor air quality, respiratory viruses and organic pollutants in university classrooms, highlighting the variations and potential health risks associated with ventilation differences.

In the past 20 years, sports injuries in pediatric and adolescent athletes have increased dramatically, with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries accounting for more than 25% of all knee injuries at this age. Diagnosis is based on detailed clinical history, physical examination, and imaging assessment, where magnetic resonance imaging plays a central role. The growing immature skeleton presents specific characteristics, which require unique methods for surgical reconstruction, ideally avoiding the physes or minimizing the risk of damaging them. Specific rehabilitation protocols are needed, and these patients face a higher risk of recurrent and contralateral ACL injury. Nonsurgical treatment or delayed reconstruction has been associated with persistent instability, activity modifications, worst functional outcomes, and increased risk of irreparable injuries to menisci and articular cartilage. Consequently, surgical stabilization is the preferred treatment for most patients, despite the eventual risk of angular deformities or limb-length discrepancies due to iatrogenic physeal injury. A variety of surgical techniques have been described, depending on the skeletal maturity and growth remaining. Targeted prevention programs play a key role in reducing the risk of ACL injury, are easy to implement, and require no additional equipment. High-quality evidence supports its use in all pediatric athletes., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.)

A fast and automated strategy has been developed for identifying unknown substances in the atmosphere (concretely, in the particulate matter, PM 10 ) using LC-HRMS (MS 3 ). A total of 15 samples were collected in three different areas (rural, urban and industrial). A sampling flow rate of 30 m 3 h -1 was applied for 24 h, sampling a total volume of around 720 m 3 . A total of 49 compounds were tentatively identified using very restrictive criteria regarding exact mass, retention time, isotopic profile and both MS 2 and MS 3 spectra. Pesticides, pharmaceutical active compounds, drugs, plasticizers and metabolites were the most identified compounds. To verify whether the developed methodology was suitable, 11 substances were checked with their analytical standards and all of them were confirmed. Different profiles for industrial, rural and urban areas were examined. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) model allowed us to separate the obtained data of the three assessed area. When the profiles obtained in the three evaluated areas were compared using a Volcano plot (the rural area was taken as reference), 11 compounds were confirmed as being discriminant: three of them (3-hydroxy-2-methylpyridine, 3-methyladenine and nicotine) were more likely to be found in industrial sites; ten compounds (3-hydroxy-2-methylpyridine, 3-methyladenine, azoxystrobin, cocaine, cotinine, ethoprophos, imidacloprid, metalaxyl-M, nicotine and pyrimethanil) were more probable in the case of urban sites; finally, triisopropanolamine was more likely to be detected in rural locations.

Complex diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders and cancer constitute a growing public health problem due to the rising incidence and lack in effective therapies. Since pharmacotherapy based on a single target has been insufficient for drug development in complex diseases, the emerging multi-target approach is a promising strategy for the search of new drug candidates. Plant-derived isoquinoline alkaloids comprise a vast source of multimodal agents with unique structural diversity, and variated range of pharmacological activities. This review offers an exhaustive compilation of the pharmacological relevance and multi-target potential of natural isoquinolines, emphasizing their features and promising activity in complex diseases such as Alzheimer, Parkinson, and Cancer. Selected examples were discussed in depth to illustrate the most relevant structural motifs and their possible relationship with the multimodal activity offering a comprehensive baseline in the search and optimization of isoquinoline scaffolds with polypharmacological potential for complex diseases., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Alcohol and illicit drugs impair cognitive and psychomotor skills and may thereby increase the risk of involvement in a road traffic crash and other types of injuries. However, the knowledge on the use of psychoactive substances among injured patients presenting to emergency departments in low and middle-income countries remains limited., Aims: To estimate the prevalence of alcohol and illicit drug use among patients with traumatic injuries admitted to an emergency department in Sao Paulo, Brazil., Methods: Blood samples from injured patients requiring hospitalization for more than 24 h due to road traffic crashes, falls, or violence, were collected from July 2018 to June 2019. The samples were analyzed for alcohol and illicit drugs., Results: A total of 376 patients were included in this study; the median age was 36 years and 80% of patients were male. The majority (56%) of injuries resulted from road traffic crashes, with approximately half of them being motorcyclists. Alcohol, drugs, or both were detected in 32% of samples. The proportion that tested positive was highest for males (35%), for the age group 18-39 years (41%), for singles (43%), and for patients injured at nighttime (44%). Patients injured due to violence had the highest prevalence of alcohol or drugs in their blood samples (44%). Alcohol was most prevalent (23%), followed by cocaine (12%) and cannabis (5%)., Conclusion: The use of alcohol and illicit drugs was common among injured patients in Sao Paulo; it was likely a contributing factor in a third of the injurious accidents. Alcohol was the most prevalent substance followed by cocaine and cannabis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This case study investigates the exposure of 119 Spanish women of reproductive age to 5 essential (Co, Cu, Mn, V, Zn) and 10 toxic (Ba, Be, Cs, Ni, Pb, Pt, Sb, Th, Al, U) elements and assesses their risk. The essential elements (Co, Cu, Mn, V, and Zn) showed average concentrations (GM: geometric mean) of 0.8, 35, 0.5, 0.2, and 347 μg/L, respectively. Five of the toxic elements (Ba, Cs, Ni, Al, U) exhibited detection frequencies of 100%. The GM concentrations of the novel toxic elements were 12 μg/L (Al), 0.01 μg/L (Pt), 0.02 μg/L (U), 0.12 μg/L (Th), 0.009 μg/L (Be) and 4 μg/L (Cs). The urine analysis was combined with a survey to assess any variations between subgroups and potential predictors of exposure to elements in the female population. Significant differences were obtained between the rural and urban areas studied for the toxic element Cs, with higher levels found in mothers living in urban areas. In relation to diet, statistically significantly higher levels of essential (Cu) and toxic (Ba) elements were detected in women with a high consumption of fish, while mothers who consumed a large quantity of legumes presented higher levels of the toxic element Ni ( p = 0.0134). In a risk-assessment context, hazard quotients (HQs) greater than 1 were only observed for the essential elements Zn and Cu in P95. No deficiency was found regarding the only essential element for which a biomonitoring equivalent for nutritional deficit is available (Zn). For the less-studied toxic elements (Al, Pt, U, Th, Be, and Cs), HQs were lower than 1, and thus, the health risk due to exposure to these elements is expected to be low for the female population under study.

The detection of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor environments is a cause of increasing concern. In this study, three sampling methodologies have been used in order to collect SARS-CoV-2 and 17 other respiratory viruses in indoor air, combined with a new analytical process to analyze respiratory viruses. Different areas of an ophthalmological hospital were investigated for the presence of these airborne viruses. Moreover, indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters (carbon dioxide, CO 2 ; carbon monoxide, CO; nitrogen dioxide, NO 2 ; volatile organic compounds, VOCs; formaldehyde, HCHO; and particulate matter, PM) have been examined to study the relationship between IAQ and airborne viruses. All indoor air and surface samples assessed were found to be negative for SARS-CoV-2. Nevertheless, another airborne respiratory virus (HRV/ENV) was detected, illustrating that the methodology set out here is a suitable one. Regarding the results for the IAQ, chemical parameters studied in the hall and waiting room of the hospital presented acceptable values. However, in the doctor's consultation room VOCs and HCHO show some instantaneous levels higher than the recommended guide values. The methodological approach described in this paper, integrating conventional IAQ and the assessment of bioaerosols, can be used in research and control programs aimed at promoting a healthy indoor environment.

Exposure to emerging contaminants, such as phthalates, bisphenols and parabens in children has been associated with possible neurodevelopment and endocrine alterations. In the present study, the biomonitoring of biomarkers in children (5-12 years old) from the Valencia Region (Spain) have been implemented using urines from the BIOVAL program. More than 75% of the children studied ( n = 562) were internally exposed (>LOQ) to bisphenols and parabens, and the whole population assessed ( n = 557) were exposed to at least one phthalate. The geometric means (GM) of the concentrations of bisphenol A, methyl paraben and propyl paraben were 0.9, 1.4 and 0.39 ng/mL, respectively. Regarding phthalates, monoethyl phthalate GM was 55.0 ng/mL and diethyl hexyl phthalate (as the sum of five metabolites) GM was 60.6 ng/mL. Despite the studied population being widely exposed, the detection frequencies and concentrations were in general lower than in previous studies involving children in Spain and in other countries in recent years. Furthermore, the risk assessment study concluded that the internal exposure to phthalates, bisphenols and parabens is lower than the guidance values established, and, therefore, a health risk derived from the exposure to these compounds in the studied population is not expected.

An understanding of biological mechanisms that could be involved in the stress response of animal cattle prior to slaughter is critical to create effective strategies aiming at the production of high-quality meat. The sarcoplasmic proteome of directly extracted samples from normal and high ultimate pH (pHu) meat groups was studied through a straightforward gel-free strategy supported by liquid chromatography hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) analysis. A stepped proteomic pipeline combining rapid biomarker hunting supported by qualitative protein Mascot scores followed by targeted label-free peptide quantification revealed 26 descriptors that characterized meat groups assayed. The functional study of the proposed biomarkers suggested their relevant role in metabolic, chaperone/stress-related, muscle contractility/fiber organization, and transport activities. The efficiency, flexibility, rapidity, and easiness of the methodology proposed can positively contribute to the creation of innovative proteomic alternatives addressing meat quality assessment.

In this study, we assessed the presence of 14 phthalate metabolites in the urine of 104 lactating mothers from Valencia (Spain) who took part in the human biomonitoring project BETTERMILK. Nine of the metabolites studied showed detection frequencies >80%, whereas the rest of the metabolites presented low detection frequencies (<5%). The concentrations ranged from

Dietary exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) of the population in the Region of Valencia, Spain, was assessed. A group of 320 composite samples of different fatty foods was collected and analyzed, including the following: vegetable oils, and foods of animal origin such as (a) fish and seafood, (b) eggs, (c) milk and dairy products, and (d) meat and meat products. Two scenarios were assumed for left-censored results: lower-bound (LB) and upper-bound (UB). Vegetable oils, and fish and seafood presented the highest content of PBDEs [mean values of 503 and 464 pg g -1 wet weight (ww) for total PBDEs, respectively, in the UB]. The dominating congeners were BDE47 in the food categories of fish and seafood, meat and meat products, and vegetable oils, and BDE99 in the categories of eggs, and milk and dairy products. The dietary exposure to PBDEs through consumption of the studied foods by the population in the Region of Valencia was estimated for adults (>15 years of age) and young people (6-15 years of age). Average intake levels (UB scenario) were 1.443 and 3.456 ng kg bw -1 day -1 for adults and young people, respectively. In a risk-assessment context, the margin of exposure (MOE) for congener BDE47, -99, -153, and -209 (ranged: 30-3E6) indicate that the current dietary exposure to these substances does not pose a risk to human health., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In the present study we used human biomonitoring to assess the internal exposure and the risk to four parabens and three bisphenols in 103 Spanish breastfeeding mothers participating in the BETTERMIILK project. Urinary methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP) and butylparaben (BP) presented detection frequencies ranging from 12% (BP) to 92% (MP), while bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) were detected in 76% (BPA) and 20% (BPF, BPS) of the mothers. Average paraben concentrations (geometric mean) ranged from 0.021 ng mL -1 (BP) to 17.7 ng mL -1 (MP), whereas bisphenols had geometric means concentrations from 0.042 ng mL -1 (BPF) to 0.927 ng mL -1 (BPA). Except for BPA, the estimated daily intakes (EDI) were calculated in order to interpret urinary levels in a risk assessment context. The obtained EDIs ranged from 0.00042 mg/kg/day for PP to 0.0434 mg/kg/day for MP and EP. A hazard quotient (HQ) was calculated for BPA (0.0049) and parabens (0.001-0.004), showing no risk in the studied population. Sociodemographic characteristics, food consumption, and usage patterns of personal care products (PCPs) were investigated as possible determinants of exposure. Use of makeup and skincare products were associated with higher concentrations of MP and PP, respectively. Regarding dietary habits, MP was also associated with the consumption of packaged and bakery products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Here, we present a fully validated method using a hollow-fibre liquid-phase microextraction technique for the determination by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of amphetamine (AMP), methamphetamine (MET), fenproporex (FEN), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA) in whole blood. The validation parameters presented successful values within those recommended by the Scientific Working Group for Forensic Toxicology (SWGTox) in the Standard Practices for Method Validation in Forensic Toxicology. The limits of detection ranged from 1 to 3 ng/mL, and the limits of quantification ranged from 2 to 5 ng/mL. The determination coefficients (r 2 ) ranged from 0.990 to 0.997, and the method presented good intraday and interday accuracy (from 90.4% to 97.2%) and satisfactory recovery (from 68% to 110%). No carryover was observed. The heteroscedasticity was tested, and only AMP presented homoscedasticity. Weighting factors were applied to correct the linearity of MET (1/x 2 ), MDA (1/x), FEN (1/x 1/2 ), MDMA (1/x 2 ) and MDEA (1/y). Dilution integrity was tested at ratios of 1:2, 1:5 and 1:10, and all maintained intraday precision (from 94.9% to 99.3%) and interday precision (from 89.4% to 94.9%). The validated method was applied to six real whole blood samples from individuals suspected of consuming ecstasy, and MDMA, MDA and amphetamine were successfully identified and quantified., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this study, we assessed the presence of four parabens in human milk of 120 mothers from Valencia (Spain) which took part in a human biomonitoring project (BETTERMILK). The detection frequency ranges of parabens were 41-60% and 61-89% for unconjugated- and total (unconjugated + conjugated)-parabens, respectively. The concentrations ranged from

A new strategy for the analysis of 4 parabens (methylparaben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben and butyl paraben) and 3 bisphenols (A, F and S) in human urine has been developed. Dilute and shoot and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) determination was employed. Procedural matched calibration, certified materials and spiked samples were used for validation. The obtained recoveries varied between 85 and 104% with a precision lower than 20% for all analytes. The LOQ was 0.20 ng mL for all analytes. Negative atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in the selected reaction monitoring mode was used for MS detection. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of these compounds in 15 human urine samples from lactating women from the Valencian region (Spain). Methyl paraben (MP) and Bisphenol A (BPA) presented high detection frequency (93% for MP and 80% for BPA), BPS and BPF presented a detection frequency of 33 and 26% respectively. Methyl paraben was detected in a concentration range of 0.2-2952 ng mL -1 , 0.2-12 ng mL -1 for bisphenol A, 0.5-39 ng mL -1 for BPF and 0.5-8.5 ng mL -1 for BPS., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The present study addresses the presence of bisphenols A (BPA) and its analogs bisphenol F (BPF) and S (BPS) in milk of 120 mothers living in Valencia (Spain) and participating in the BETTERMILK project (year 2015). We also studied the factors that could influence the BPA levels and estimated the exposure and the risk for breast fed infants. The frequency of detection of total (conjugated + unconjugated) and unconjugated-BPA were 83% and 77%, with a geometric mean of 0.29 ng/mL and 0.15 ng/mL, respectively. The frequency of detection was much lower for total-BPF (22%) and total-BPS (1.1%). The place of residence of the mother and the use of personal care products showed significant association with BPA concentrations. The estimated daily intake of total-BPA for breastfed infants amounted to a geometric mean of 0.04 μg/kg bw and a 95th percentile of 1.0 μg/kg bw, below the tolerable daily intake of 4 μg/kg bw-day established by EFSA. To our knowledge, this is the largest biomonitoring study of bisphenols in human milk in Europe., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Mass spectrometer parameters such as Resolving Power, type of fragmentation, and mass calibration mode were optimized in the analysis of 24 pesticide metabolites in human urine using Ultra-High Pressure Liquid Chromatography coupled to Orbitrap High-Resolution Mass Spectrometer (UHPLC-HRMS). The best results were achieved with a Resolving Power of 25,000 FWHM and by applying Collision Induced Dissociation fragmentation mode (40 eV).

A comprehensive strategy for the analysis of UV-ink photoinitiators and primary aromatic amines (PAAS) in food-packaging materials such as, juice tetrabricks, pouches and bags has been developed using liquid chromatography coupled to Orbitrap High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-Orbitrap-HRMS). The methodology includes both quantitative target analysis and post-run target screening analysis. The quantitative method was validated after a previous optimisation of the single-stage Orbitrap fragmentation through the Higher-Energy Collisional Dissociation (HCD) Cell. Overall, the quantitative method presented recoveries ranging from 78% to 119%, with a precision (RSD) lower than 20%, for the 18 substances in the scope of the target method. Limit of quantification (LOQ) for UV-inks photoinitiators ranged from 0.5 µg/kg -1 for Isopropyl Thioxanthone (ITX) and 2-Ethylhexyl 4-(dimethylamino) benzoate (EHDAB) to 5 µg/kg -1 for the rest of photoinitiators. LOQ for PAAs were 2 µg/kg -1 except for aniline (ANL) and 3,3' dimethylbenzidine (3,3'-DMB) which was 2.5 µg/kg -1 in the two studied simulants (acetic acid 3% and ethanol 50%). For post-run target screening a customized theoretical database, that included Bisphenols, Polyfluorinated compounds (PFCs), Phosphorus Flame Retardants (PFRs) and other substances was built. For identification purposes, a mass accuracy lower than 5 ppm, and some diagnostic ions including isotopes and/or fragments were used. The strategy was applied to 18 samples collected in the Valencian region (Spain). No compounds were detected when the standardised migration test was applied. However, in the destructive test, benzophenone and EHDAB were determined from tetrabrick and pouch materials. In the post-run target analysis two PFCs (Perfluorooctanoic acid and Perfluoro-1-butanesulfonate) and four PFRs (2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate, tris(2-choloroisopropyl) phosphate, triphenyl phosphate and 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate) were identified., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Truck drivers represent a group that is susceptible to the use of stimulant substances to reduce the symptoms of fatigue, which may be caused by a stressful and exhausting work environment. The use of psychoactive substances may increase the risk for involvement in road traffic crashes. Previous studies have demonstrated that amphetamine, cocaine, and cannabis are the 3 main drugs used by Brazilian truck drivers. We studied the prevalence of amphetamine, benzoylecgonine (indicating use of cocaine), and Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH; indicating use of cannabis) in urine samples from truck drivers in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, using the same methodology during 8 years (2009-2016)., Methods: Samples were collected during a health program supported by the Federal Highway Police. Toxicological analyses were performed using immunoassays and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry., Results: The total prevalence of illicit drugs was 7.8%. Benzoylecgonine was the most prevalent substance (3.6%), followed by amphetamine (3.4%) and THC-COOH (1.6%). We found the highest drug prevalence in 2010 (11.3%) and the lowest in 2011 (6.1%). We could detect a slight change in the pattern of stimulant use: until 2010, amphetamine was the most prevalent substance; however, in 2011 benzoylecgonine became the most frequently detected substance. This lasted until 2015, probably due to changes in Brazilian legislation regarding appetite suppressants; the most common one is metabolized to amphetamine., Conclusion: These data show that the use of psychoactive substances by truck drivers in Brazil did not decrease during the study period. This reinforces the need for further preventive measures to reduce drug use among drivers, which could lead to a decrease in traffic crashes in Brazil.

A new strategy for sampling, using a low-volume sampler, and determination of airborne pesticides by liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) has been developed. The trapping efficiency of three adsorbents (sandwich PUF-XAD2-PUF; XAD-2 and XAD-4) was tested for 33 currently used pesticides and the first adsorbent (PUF-XAD2-PUF) was selected because it presented the highest retention capacity without breakthrough. Selected PUF-XAD2-PUF had the following design: 5 g of Amberlite XAD-2 sandwiched between two cylinders of PUF (6.87 cm 3 , height: 1.4 cm, diameter: 2.5 cm). A validation of the analytical methodology that includes microwave extraction with ethyl acetate, and determination by UHPLC-HRMS was employed. The method showed recoveries ranging from 75% to 120% with quantification limits in the range of 32.2-129.0 pg m -3 when 155 m 3 were sampled. This analytical strategy was applied to 15 air samples collected in a rural area of Valencia Region (Spain). Ten polar pesticides, namely acetamiprid, carbendazim, carbofuran, imidacloprid, iprovalicarb, metalaxyl, myclobutanil, pirimicarb, pyrimethanil and terbuthylazine were detected in air samples with concentrations ranging from 411.16 pg m -3 (imidacloprid) to 11011.45 pg m -3 (pyrimethanil)., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)