This work describes the intricacies of the determination of the trimethylselenonium ion (TMSe) in human urine via high-performance liquid chromatography–hydride generation–atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HPLC-HG-AFS). By definition, this technique requires that the separated TMSe can be online converted into a volatile compound. Literature data for the determination of TMSe via the hydride gener

Arsenic methylating enzyme (AS3MT) genetic variations and their role in variability of As metabolism were evaluated in population of pregnant/non-pregnant women exposed to low levels of As. We have tested the associations between genotypes/haplotype of seven AS3MT SNPs and As metabolites in urine (methylation efficiency). Significant associations of individual SNPs and protective haplotype with ar

As one of the core elements of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) a human biomonitoring (HBM) survey was conducted in 23 countries to generate EU-wide comparable HBM data. This survey has built on existing HBM capacity in Europe by aligning national or regional HBM studies, referred to as the HBM4EU Aligned Studies. The HBM4EU Aligned Studies included a total of 10,795 participan

The first national human biomonitoring in Slovenia surveyed cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in a childbearing population (18–49 years) selected from lactating primiparous women and men (N = 1084). The overall aim was to estimate trace elements' levels and geographical variations in order to identify sources of possible e

The impacts of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ALAD and VDR genes on Pb health effects and/or kinetics are inconclusive at low exposure levels, while studies including APOE SNPs are rare. In this study, we examined the associations of ALAD, VDR and APOE SNPs with exposure biomarkers of Pb and other trace elements (TEs) in Italian pregnant women (N = 873, aged 18–44 years) and their newbo

We investigated the relationship between lipid binding glycoprotein apolipoprotein E (apoE; gene APOE) polymorphisms (ε4 allele carriers versus no carriers = ε4+/ε4−) and trace elements (TEs) (e.g., (methyl)mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, selenium, manganese, copper, and zinc) in mothers (N = 223) and their new-borns (N = 213) exposed to potentially toxic metal(loid)s from seafood consumption. Th

Background Urine cadmium (Cd) and renal function biomarkers, mostly analysed in urine spot samples, are well established biomarkers of occupational exposure. Their use and associations at low environmental level are common, but have recently been questioned, particularly in terms of physiological variability and normalisation bias in the case of urine spot samples. Aim To determine the appropriate

The relationships between inorganic arsenic (iAs) metabolism, selenium (Se) status, and genetic polymorphisms of various genes, commonly studied in populations exposed to high levels of iAs from drinking water, were studied in a Croatian-Slovenian population from the wider PHIME-CROME project. Population consisted of 136 pregnant women in the 3rd trimester and 176 non-pregnant women with their chi

Group A Streptococcus (GAS)causes infections ranging from mild sore throats to severe invasive disease; however, no licensed vaccine is currently available. In this thesis, the author leverages streptolysin O (SLO), an important GAS protein and therapeutic/vaccine target, as a model system to develop a multimodal protein mass spectrometry(MS) strategy. Through an integrated approach of MS-based pr

This chapter explores the interaction between competition law and especially Article 101(3) TFEU and environmental and climate change goals in the context of the EU’s Green Deal and the aim of energy transition. First, it reviews the evolution of the Commission’s and national authorities’ approaches to environmental and climate benefits in their general assessment of horizontal and vertical agreem

Using data from the Swedish municipality of Botkyrka, this paper quantifies the trade-off between non-wastefulness and truthfulness in sequential admission systems for public and private schools. The results show that minimizing seat waste while preserving truthfulness is possible by restricting first-round applications to either private or public schools, depending on which type of school that is

Background: Multimorbidity, i.e. two or more non-communicable diseases (NCDs), has been associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE), but whether multimorbidity is a predictor for incident VTE is unknown. Aims: To examine the associations between multimorbidity and its severity with risk of incident VTE, and examine the association between nine different disease clusters and incident VTE. Methods:

In recent years, studies of surfaces at more realistic conditions has advanced significantly, leading to an increased understanding of surface dynamics under reaction conditions. The development has mainly been due to the development of new experimental techniques or new experimental approaches. Techniques such as High Pressure Scanning Tunneling/Force Microscopy, Ambient Pressure x-ray Photo emis

Background Large, international cohort studies generate high-level evidence, but are resource intense. In end-of-life care such studies are scarce. Hence, planning for future studies in terms of data on screening, recruitment, retention and survival remains a challenge. Objectives The aim was to describe recruitment, follow-up and survival in a multinational study of patients’ and relatives’ expec

The circular economy (CE) transformative model depends on policy design and implementation in multiple socio-economic contexts. Temporal priorities based on security concerns can stimulate risk-averse circular policies that compromise achieving Sustainable Development Goal 12 for responsible consumption and production. However, the CE literature lacks empirical evidence on how these concerns affec