Agriculture is the major contributor of nitrogen to ecosystems, both by organic and inorganic fertilizers. Percolation of nitrate to groundwater and further transport to surface waters is assumed to be one of the major pathways in the fate of this nitrogen. The quantification of groundwater and associated nitrate flux to streams is still challenging. In particular because we lack understanding of the spatial distribution and temporal variability of groundwater and associated NO3- fluxes. In this preliminary study we will focus on the identification and quantification of groundwater and associated nitrate fluxes by combining high resolution distributed fiber-optic temperature sensing (DTS) with in situ UV photometry (ProPS). DTS is a new technique that is capable to measure temperature over distances of km with a spatial resolution of ca1 m and an accuracy of 0.01 K. It has been applied successfully to identify and quantify sources of groundwater discharge to streams. ProPS is a submersible UV process photometer, which uses high precision spectral analyses to provide single substance concentrations, in our case NO3-, at minute intervals and a detection limit of less than 0.05 mg l-1 (ca.0.01 mg NO3--Nl-1). We will conduct field experiments using artificial point sources of lateral inflow to test DTS and ProPS based quantification approaches and estimate their uncertainty. The selected study area is the Schwingbach catchment in Hessen, Germany, which has a good monitoring infrastructure. Preliminary research on hydrological fluxes and field observations indicate that the catchment favors the intended study.
The sorption of anions in geotechnical multibarrier systems of planned high level waste repositories (HLWR) and of non-ionic and organic pollutants in conventional waste disposals are in the center of recent research. In aquatic systems, persistent radionuclides such as 79Se, 99Tc, 129I exist in a form of anions. There is strongly increasing need to find materials with high sorption capacities for such pollutants. Specific requirements on barrier materials are long-term stability of adsorbent under various conditions such as T > 100 C, varying hydrostatic pressure, and the presence of competing ions. Organo-clays are capable to sorb high amounts of cations, anions and non-polar molecules simultaneously having selectivity for certain ions. This project is proposed to improve the understanding of sorption and desorption processes in organo-clays. Additionally, the modification of material properties under varying chemical and thermal conditions will be determined by performing diffusion and advection experiments. Changes by sorption and diffusion will be analyzed by determining surface charge and contact angles. Molecular simulations on models of organo-clays will be conducted in an accord with experiments with aim to understand and analyze experimental results. The computational part of the project will profit from the collaboration of German partner with the group in Vienna, which has a long standing experience in a modeling of clay minerals.
Shallow groundwater of the huge deltaic systems of Asia like the Red River Delta in Vietnam is often enriched in inorganic arsenic (As), threatening the health of millions of residents. The massive abstraction of groundwater in these areas locally causes an irreversible mixing of arsenic-free groundwater resources with arsenic-rich groundwater. Increased concentrations of competitive anions, especially phosphate (PO43-), decrease the immobilization capacity of the sediments. During transport, the mobility of dissolved As in local aquifers is strongly influenced by adsorption to sedimentary and ubiquitously occurring iron(oxyhydr)oxides. Additionally, arsenic-rich groundwater is often enriched in reduced iron (Fe2+) as well, which is capable to react with iron(oxyhydr)oxides, thereby inducing mineral transformations. Such transformations permanently affect the arsenic adsorption and immobilization capacity of the sediments.Within the scope of this research project, the underlying mechanisms related to As transport and the resulting threat to arsenic-free groundwater resources will be characterized in cooperation with the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag). The research concept aims at assessing the complex interactions within the arsenic-iron-phosphate-system under field conditions at a study site next to the Red River. First, filtration experiments using local groundwater enriched in As and PO43- will be used to determine the As adsorption capacity of different and previously geochemically characterized iron(oxyhydr)oxides. In a second step, sample carrier containing As loaded iron(oxyhydr)oxides will be introduced into surface near aquifer parts of the study site (via existing groundwater monitoring wells). These samples will be exposed to local groundwater characterized by increased As, Fe2+ and PO43- concentrations for the following nine months. Using the in situ exposition of predefined iron(oxyhydr)oxides, it will be possible to distinguish potential mineral transformations and their influences on the As immobilization capacity of the respective iron(oxyhydr)oxides. By combining the results and outcomes of the field experiments, new and important conclusions regarding the mobility of As can be drawn. The data can be used to create a hydrochemical transport model describing reactive As transport within the investigation area. In addition, the results of the in situ exposition experiments will allow to draw conclusions in respective to the long term As immobilization capacity of different iron(oxyhydr)oxides, which is an essential information regarding in situ decontamination techniques.
The development of new pharmaceutical compounds will be more efficient if human relevant toxicology information early in the selection process is available. While acute toxicity can be reasonably detected during the early preclinical stages of drug development, long-term toxicity is more difficult to predict, relying almost exclusively on animal experiments Animal experimentation of this kind is expensive and time consuming, raises ethical issues and do not necessarily represent a toxicological relevance to man. This project address the urgent need to develop in vitro based systems which are capable of predicting long term toxicity in humans. The major objectives of this project are:1)To develop advanced cell culture systems which as best possible represents the human liver and kidney in vivo. This will be achieved using combined strategies namely:co-cultures of resident cell types,targeted cell transformation,stem cell technology and new developments in organotypic cell culture (i.e. perfusion cultures and 3D cultures).2)To identify specific early mechanistic markers of toxin induced cell alterations by using integrated genomic,proteomic and cytomic analysis.3)To establish and prevalidate a screening platform (cell systems together with analysis tools) which is unambiguously predictive of toxin induced chronic renal and hepatic disease.This proposal is unique in it's mechanistic integration of the three levels of cellular dynamics (genome, proteome and cytome) together with advanced cell culture technology to detect early events of cellular injury. Only with such an integrated approach will in vitro techniques ever be applicable to predicting chronic toxicity in man. This project,if successful will(1) contribute to the replacement of animal testing in drug development, (2) increase ... Prime Contractor: Fundacion Hospital Universitario 'La Fe', Experimental Hepatology Unit, Research Center; Valencia; Espana.
NANOINSULATE will develop durable, robust, cost-effective opaque and transparent vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) incorporating new nanotechnology-based core materials (nanofoams, aerogels, aerogel composites) and high-barrier films that are up to four times more energy efficient than current solutions. These new systems will provide product lifetimes in excess of 50 years suitable for a variety of new-build and retrofit building applications. Initial building simulations based on the anticipated final properties of the VIPs indicate reductions in heating demand of up to 74Prozent and CO2 emissions of up to 46Prozent for Madrid, Spain and up to 61Prozent and 55Prozent respectively for Stuttgart, Germany for a building renovation which reduces the U-value of the walls and roof from 2.0 W m-2 K-1 to 0.2 W m-2 K-1. This reduction could be achieved with NANOINSULATE products that are only 25 mm thick, giving a cost-effective renovation without the need of changing all the reveals and ledges. Similarly, significant reductions in U-values of transparent VIPs (3 W m-2 K-1 to 0.5 W m-2 K-1) are shown by substituting double glazed units in existing building stock. Six industrial & four research based partners from seven EU countries will come together to engineer novel solutions capable of being mass produced. Target final manufacturing costs for insulation board (production rates above 5 million m2/year) are less than 7 m-2 for a U-value of 0.2 W m-2 K-1. NANOINSULATE will demonstrate its developments at construction sites across Europe. A Lifecycle Assessment, together with a safety and service-life costing analysis, will be undertaken to prove economic viability. NANOINSULATE demonstrates strong relevance to the objectives and expected impacts of both the specific call text of the Public-Private Partnership Energy-efficient Buildings topic New nanotechnology-based high performance insulation systems for energy efficiency within the 2010 NMP Work Programme and the wider NMP & Energy Thematic Priorities. Prime Contractor: Kingsplan Research and Developments Ltd.; Kingscourt; Irland.
Objective: Metal oxide and metal NPs are particularly dangerous for two reasons: their special catalytic activity coming from the properties of their nanointerface may interfere with numerous intracellular biochemical processes and the decomposition of NPs and the ion leakage could heavily interfere with the intracellular free metal ion homeostasis, which is essential for cell metabolism. A very specific problem is the difficulty of localizing and quantifying them in cells. Obtaining dose effect relationships is not simple, because of the unknown amount of material present in affected cells. The following main points will be addressed in this proposal: - Design and synthesis of metal oxide and metal NPs, which can be traced by SPECT, PET, and fluorescence techniques and the appropriate characterization of these NPs. - Application of label-free techniques, such as IBM and EM to ensure that the radioactive and fluorescent constituents do not modify the cytological and organismic response by themselves. - Characterization of the uptake, distribution kinetics and NP release at the level of the organism. - Study of the interaction of NPs with plasma components forming complexes with NPs and the assessment of their possible impact on the uptake compared with that of bare or capped particles. - Quantification and localization of metallic NPs in immune competent cells is a key task for the establishment of proper dose-response correlations. A technique applicable with living cells as ultimate control will be IBM, capable of detecting single metal NPs in cells at different depths. - Development of sophisticated cell physiological approaches focusing on the determination of oxidative activity, cytokine production and adaptive processes concerning signalling pathways beyond standard vitality tests. The research project will indicate toxic levels of various NPs and sub-toxic effects will be investigated by analysing the signalling response of immune cells.
Do genetically modified strawberries pose a threat to wild varieties? Do genetically modified strawberries pose a threat to wild varieties? Strawberries are an important niche product in Switzerland. Breeders are experimenting with genetic engineering methods to enhance the marketability of this product. There are risks inherent in this approach since the transfer of modified genes to wild strawberries could endanger the continued existence of the wild varieties. Background Transgenic varieties of strawberry with higher yields and enhanced root development already exist. The first release trials have already begun in Italy. However, if transgenic varieties of strawberry cross-breed with wild ones, there may be negative effects. The hybrids produced in this way are often sterile, yet by back-crossing with wild types or by producing prolific numbers of offshoots they can penetrate the native flora and displace it. Objectives This project has two basic goals. First, it seeks to assess the extent to which transgenic strawberries are capable of cross-breeding with their wild relatives. Second, it seeks to investigate the possible ecological impact of such crossbreeding under various environmental conditions in order to assess the risks associated with cultivating transgenic strawberries in the open. Methods Greenhouse experiments with honey bees, the most important pollinators of strawberries, will be carried out to show whether and how efficiently natural pollination occurs between transgenic and wild strawberries. Genetic methods will be used to determine how frequently foreign pollination between cultivated and wild strawberries has already occurred in the open in the past. The possible ecological implications of this will be quantified using life history data such as growth and competitive pressure. In these experiments, transgenic and artificially cross-bred strawberries from the laboratory will be planted in various soils. Significance The cultivation of transgenic plants is associated with potential risks for their wild relatives. Scientists have warned that the latter could become extinct as a result of undesirable cross-breeding. However, to date the true extent of these risks has barely been investigated. This project aims to close this gap by generating basic data with transgenic and wild strawberries as model organisms. These data could ultimately be relevant for other related crop plants such as apple trees or cherry trees.
Recent reports have shown that a number of xenobiotics in the environment are able of interfering with the normal endocrine function in animals and also in humans. Suspected effects of such compounds, often referred to as endocrine disruptors (EDs) or endocrine active chemicals (EACs), in humans include decreased sperm counts, increased cases of breast, testicular and other forms of reproductive cancers, genital abnormalities (e.g. hypospadia, cryptorchidism), premature puberty in females, and increased cases of endometriosis. In contrast to these suspicious cases in humans there is convincing evidence for chemically-induced endocrine disruption from wildlife studies. However, the overwhelming majority of investigations on effects of EACs is laboratory based and focuses on vertebrates while much less has been done in the field to address potential population-level effects. More detailed information about the effects on and mechanisms of action in invertebrates has only been obtained from a few cases although invertebrates represent more than 95Prozent of the known species in the animal kingdom. The limited number of examples for endocrine disruption in invertebrates is partially due to the fact that their hormonal systems are rather poorly understood in comparison with vertebrates. Deleterious endocrine changes following an exposure to certain compounds may therefore easily be missed or simply be unmeasurable at present, even though a number of field investigations and laboratory studies show that endocrine disruption has probably occurred. The example of tributyltin (TBT) compounds and their masculinising effects in more than 150 species of prosobranch molluscs shows that apparently trivial biochemical changes can have drastic effects up to the community level by a final sterilisation of affected females with a consequent demise and local extinction of populations. However, with the exception of TBT in marine prosobranchs, it has never been convincingly shown that EACs are capable to exert such far-reaching effects in field populations and pose a risk for their survival at environmentally relevant concentrations. The objective of the proposed project is: (1) to analyse the degree to which aquatic wildlife in central Europe is exposed to EACs in its natural habitat by assessing the well-defined effects in the test with Potamopyrgus antipodarum and (2) to evaluate the potential role of EACs for population declines of sensitive aquatic wildlife species with the example of prosobranch snails by correlating effect data with results from analyses of the macrozoobenthic community.
Objective: The FELICITAS consortium proposes an Integrated Project to develop fuel cell (FC) drive trains fuelled with both hydrocarbons and hydrogen. The proposed development work focuses on producing FC systems capable of meeting the exacting demands of heavy-dut y transport for road, rail and marine applications. These systems will be: - Highly efficient, above 60Prozent - Power dense, - Powerful units of 200kW plus, - Durable, robust and reliable. Two of the FC technologies most suitable for heavy-duty transport applic ations are Polymer Electrolyte FuelCells (PEFC) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC). Currently neither technology is capable of meeting the wideranging needs of heavy-duty transport either because of low efficiencies, PEFC, or poor transient performance,SO FC. FELICITAS proposes the development of high power Fuel Cell Clusters (FCC) that group FC systems with other technologies, including batteries, thermal energy and energy recuperation.The FELICITAS consortium will first undertake the definition of the requirements on FC power trains for the different heavy-duty transport modes. This will lead to the development of FC power train concepts, which through the use of advanced multiple simulations, will undertake evaluations of technical parameters, reliab ility and life cycle costs. Alongside the development of appropriate FC power trains the consortium will undertake fundamental research to adapt and improve existing FC and other technologies, including gas turbines, diesel reforming and sensor systems f or their successful deployment in the demanding heavy-duty transport modes. This research work will combine with the FC power trains design and simulation work to provide improved components and systems, together with prototypes and field testing where ap propriate.The FELICITAS consortium approach will substantially improve European FC and associated technology knowledae and know-how in the field of heavv-duty transport.
Objective: The European Union has adopted the potential of Concentrating Solar Thermal Power (CSP) to contribute significantly to the achievement of a truly sustainable energy system in the medium-to-long term in Europe. Thus, the EC currently supports the implementation of three pilot solar thermal power plants. Besides continuous implementation of this technology, cost targeted innovation approaches are needed to achieve cost-competitiveness of this technology in the medium-to-long term. Up to now a variety of different and competing approaches have been promoted by the fragmented research base in Europe. The major objectives of the ECOSTAR co-ordinating action are: - to identify the European innovation potential with the highest impact on CSP-cost reduction, - to focus the European research activities and the national research programs of the partners involved onto common goals and priorities, - and to broaden its basis of industrial and research excellence, capable to solve the multidisciplinary CSP specific problems. High level commitment of six large research centres from Germany (DLR), Israel (WIS), France (CNRS-IMP),Spain (CIEMAT), Switzerland (ETH) and Russia (IVTAN) each with long-year experience in the subject and most of them conducting a significant program on concentrating solar technologies and operating their own facilities express the readiness to combine their national expertise to achieve these goals. This group has teamed-up with the international association of power and heat generation (VGB Powerless),which includes many of the European players in the power sector, to ensure by an independent industry assessment, that the identified innovation pathways are feasible from an industry perspective, to disseminate them to the power sector, and to support the identification of further expertise needed.
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