Zur Bestimmung der Konzentrationen linearer Alkylbenzolsulfonate (LAS) und Alkylethersulfate (AES) in Kläranlagenabläufen wurden 7-Tagesmischproben (n=33) an Abläufe von 33 konventionellen Kläranlagen in Deutschland genommen. Zudem wurden an vier der untersuchten Kläranlagen die Zuläufe beprobt und ebenfalls auf LAS und AES untersucht, um Rückschlüsse auf die Entfernung dieser Tenside in konventionellen Kläranlagen ziehen zu können. Insgesamt umfasste die Studie die Analyse von vier LAS-Homologen (C10-C13) sowie von jeweils 10 Ethoxymeren zweier Homologe von AES (C12 und C14, jeweils mit 0-9 Ethoxygruppen). Die Probenvorbereitung bestand aus der Entfernung der wässrigen Phase mit Hilfe eines Rotations-Vakuum-Konzentrators und anschließender Resolvatisierung des Trockenrückstandes in einer definierten Menge Reinstwasser und Acetonitril. Die Identifikation und Quantifizierung der Zielanalyten erfolgte mittels Hochleistungsflüssigkeitschromatographie mit Tandem-Massenspektrometrie-Kopplung (HPLC-MS/MS). Die Leistungsfähigkeit der analytischen Methoden wurde in Leitungswasser und Kläranlagenablauf evaluiert. Die Analysemethoden zeigten für beide Matrices eine allgemein gute Richtigkeit sowie Präzision. Basierend auf den geschätzten mittleren Konzentrationen einzelner LAS-Homologe wurde eine mittlere Gesamtkonzentration von 14,4 Mikro g/L in Kläranlagenabläufen ermittelt. Verglichen mit LAS, wurden für AES stets geringere Gesamtkonzentrationen im Ablauf gemessen: Die mittlere AES-Gesamtkonzentration in den Abläufen betrug 0,57 Mikro g/L. Zwischen den Gesamtkonzentrationen von AES und LAS bestand keine Korrelation. In den Zuläufen beprobter Kläranlagen wurden im Mittel 3.200 Mikro g/L LAS detektiert. Damit betrug die mittlere Entfernung für LAS 99,6 %. Die mittlere AES-Konzentration im Kläranlagenzulauf belief sich auf 680 Mikro g/L, was einer mittleren AES-Entfernung von größer als 99.9% entspricht. Retrospektives Screening von 1.564 Tensiden und deren Transformationsprodukte (TPs) erfolgte durch ein zweites Labor unter Anwendung der Ultrahochleistungsflüssigkeitschromatographie mit Flugzeitmassenspektrometer-Kopplung (UHPLC-QTOF-MS). In vielen Fällen wurde die Konzentration von LAS von der Summe der Konzentrationen der Neben- und Transformationsprodukte von LAS überstiegen. Für die LAS-Nebenprodukte Dialkyltetralinsulfonate (DATS) lag die maximale Summenkonzentration bei 19 Mikro g/L, für die Sulfophenylalkylcarbonsäuren (SPACs) bei 17 Mikro g/L und für die Sulfotetralinalkylcarbonsäuren (STACs) bei 5,3 Mikro g/L. Hohe Konzentrationen von bis zu 7,4 Ìg/L wurden für Polyethylenoglycole in den Abwasserproben bestimmt. Die Gesamtkonzentration aller quantifizierten Tenside, TPs und Nebenprodukte in einer einzelnen Probe betrug bis zu 82 Mikro g/L.
Forest structure is altered by humans for long times (Bramanti et al. 2009). The long lasting modification of forests pursuant to human demands modified the living conditions for birds as well as for many other animals. This included changes in resource availability (e.g., food, foraging, nesting sites) and changes of interspecific interactions, e.g., parasitism and predation (Knoke et al. 2009; Ellis et al. 2012). Also species compositions and the survivability of populations and even species are affected. The loss of foraging sites and suitable places for reproduction, the limitation of mobility due to fragmented habitats and the disturbances by humans itself may lead to more stressed individuals and less optimal living conditions. In certain cases species are not able to deal with the modified requirements and their populations will shrink and even vanish. Depending on the intensity of management and the remaining forest structure, biodiversity is more or less endangered. Especially in systems of two or more strongly connected taxa changing conditions that affect at least one part may subsequently affect the other, too. One system of interspecific communities that recently attracted the attention of biologists includes birds, blood parasites (haemosporidians) and their transmitting vectors. For instance, avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) represents the reason for extreme declines in the avifauna of Hawaii since the introduction of respective vectors (e.g. Culicidae) during the 20th century (van Riper et al. 1986, Woodworth et al. 2005). With the current knowledge of this topic we are not able to predict if such incidences could also occur in Germany. All in all, different management strategies and intensity of forest management may influence the network of birds, vectors and blood parasites and change biodiversity. To elucidate this ecological complex, and to understand the interactions of the triad of songbirds as vertebrate hosts, dipteran vectors and haemosporidians within changing local conditions, I intend to collect data on the three taxa in differently managed forest areas, the given forest structure and the climatic conditions. I will try to explain the role of abiotic factors on infection dynamics, in detail the role of forest management intensity. Data acquisition takes place at three spatially divided locations: inside the Biodiversity Exploratory Schwäbische Alb, at the Mooswald in Freiburg, and inside the Schwarzwald.
Die Karte gibt einen Überblick über bestehende und geplante Flüchtlingsunterkünfte in Hamburg.
The aim of BioBuild is to use biocomposites to reduce the embodied energy in building facade, supporting structure and internal partition systems by at least 50Prozent over current materials with no increase in cost. This will lead to a step change in the use of sustainable, low carbon construction materials, by replacing aluminium, steel, FRP, brick and concrete in buildings. Facades are widely used in construction, primarily to protect and insulate the internal structure. Internal partitions are used to divide space, carry utilities and provide thermal and acoustic insulation. The current materials used such as aluminium, steel, brick and concrete are energy intensive to produce and have high embodied energy. FRP is an alternative construction material, benefitting from low weight, formability and simple manufacturing, allowing low material content structures and innovative design. However, typical resin and glass fibre are non-renewable, energy intensive to synthesise. Biocomposites overcome these drawbacks, whilst maintaining the benefits, being based on natural fibres and bioresins which have low embodied energy and cost. Biocomposites are renewable and sustainable resin and reinforcement structures. The resins in this project are furan and cashew nut oil based with reinforcing fibres of flax and jute. Bast fibres have lower environmental impacts than glass, concerning climate change and energy but have similar properties. Biocomposites are used commercially in automotive interior parts, but for outdoor applications they can degrade due to moisture absorption and bio-degradation. BioBuild will develop biocomposites and construction products with a life span of 40 years, by protecting the fibres with novel treatments and coatings. The result of the project will be a low cost, lightweight, durable and sustainable biocomposite building system, with full technical and environmental validation, offering low embodied energy construction materials.
Objective: The main objective of the proposed Network of Excellence (NoE) DER-Lab is to support the sustainable integration of renewable energy sources (RES) and distributed energy resources (DER) in the electricity supply by developing common requirements, quality criteria, as well as proposing test and certification procedures concerning connection, safety, operation and communication of DER-components and systems. DER-Lab intends to strengthen the EC domestic market and to protect European interests on the international standardisation level. A major objective is to establish a durable European DER-Lab Network that will be a world player in this field. The NoE will bring together a group of organisations for the development of certification procedures for DER- components for electricity grids. The NoE will act as a platform to exchange the current state of knowledge between the different European institutes and other groups. The scattered, but high quality research and test facilities will be combined with great benefit for the European research infrastructure DER-Lab will contribute by developing new concepts for control and supervision of electricity supply and distribution and will bundle at European level specific aspects concerning the integration of RES technologies. The absence of European and international standards for the quality and certification of components and systems for DER is a hindrance to the growth of the European market and for European penetration of the world market. It is within the aims of the proposed NoE to reduce these barriers and to work towards common certification procedures for DER components that will be accepted throughout Europe and the world. Obviously this work cannot be done on a national basis. The results of the project and afterwards the output of the network will be a significant contribution to the European standardisation activities and will contribute to the harmonisation of the different national standards.
Can wheat be genetically engineered to become durably resistant to mildew? Individual resistance genes to mildew protect wheat plants against some, but not all, variants of this pathogen. A series of field trials will be carried out to test various means of genetically engineering wheat to enhance its resistance. The combination of several genes will play a central role in this project. Background Wheat has various genes that are responsible for resistance to mildew. One of these genes has seven variants, known as alleles. Individually, these alleles make wheat resistant to some, but not all, variants of the mildew fungus. There are in fact varieties of conventional wheat that have a certain degree of resistance to mildew. However, this resistance is often lost within a short time-frame. To overcome this shortcoming, genetic engineering will be used to combine the alleles. Field trials are the only way to find out whether long-term resistance can be achieved by this means. Objectives Various transgenic wheat lines will undergo comprehensive testing in a field trial (cf. Keller project I). The aim is first to establish whether the individual lines do indeed have better resistance to mildew. The second aim is to investigate how the additional gene affects the performance of the plant - in terms of yield, for example. The project also aims to analyse the effect of the environment on the plants' resistance properties. Methods Transgenic wheat lines - each containing one of the seven resistance alleles - will be developed and tested over three years for properties including seed maturation, yield and resistance following artificial and natural infection with mildew. Some of these lines will also be cultivated as a seed mixture. At the same time, wheat lines will be produced which combine the different alleles in the same plant. Both trials will test whether and to what extent mildew develops less frequently. Significance This is the first time that a field trial of this size will be carried out with transgenic plants in Switzerland. The project will not only elicit a major response from the general public, it will also provide new facts about the possible benefits of genetically modified plants.
In situ studies lasting several years are essential for predicting how plant growth and ecosystem function will change under rising levels of atmospheric CO2 and the associated changes in climate. High-latitude and high-elevation ecosystems are predicted to be particularly sensitive to environmental change, but relatively few manipulation experiments have been conducted in these regions. This doctoral thesis describes responses of two co-occurring tree species, Larix decidua and Pinus uncinata, and understorey dwarf shrub heath vegetation to 9 years of CO2 enrichment (+200 ppm; 2001-2009) and 3 years of soil warming (+4 K; 2007-ongoing) at treeline in the Swiss Alps (Stillberg, Davos). We tested if elevated CO2 stimulates tree growth in an environment where there is strong evidence that low temperature limits growth despite an adequate carbon supply. For this investigation, we pooled across soil warming treatments in order to focus on long-term responses to elevated CO2. Larix ring width was stimulated by CO2 enrichment throughout the treatment period, with a significant stimulation in years 3-7, while Pinus ring width showed no CO2 effect. After 9 years of treatment, leaf canopy cover, stem basal area, and total new shoot production were greater in Larix trees growing under elevated CO2, whereas Pinus showed no cumulative growth response. Larix ring width was stimulated more by elevated CO2 in years with relatively high spring temperatures and an early snowmelt date, suggesting that temperatures were less limiting in these years and greater benefit was gained from extra carbon assimilated under elevated CO2. The CO2 effect size was also larger after relatively high temperatures and high solar radiation in the preceding growing season, perhaps reflecting gains due to larger carbon reserves. Contrasting responsiveness of these two species suggests that under future CO2 concentrations, especially in combination with warmer and sunnier conditions, Larix will have a competitive advantage over less responsive species such as Pinus. Dwarf shrubs are a major component of alpine plant communities, and changes in the growth, abundance and distribution of these species are likely to have important ecological consequences. We studied growth responses of three dominant dwarf shrub species, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium gaultherioides and Empetrum hermaphroditum, to CO2 enrichment and soil warming and how the treatments influenced understorey community composition. V. myrtillus growth was stimulated by elevated CO2, with no decline over time in the annual shoot growth response, and to an even greater extent by soil warming. V. gaultherioides growth showed a slight positive effect of elevated CO2, though only in experimental plots with Pinus, and no response to warming. E. hermaphroditum growth was not influenced by either treatment.
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.
The overall goal of this project is to provide a systematic assessment of the feasibility of applying the virtual water concept to improve water productivity in individual provinces and for the whole country in Iran, taking into account various natural, socio-economic and resources constraints. Specific objectives relating to the overall goal include: 1 To assess the water resources availability and reliability in different regions/provinces taking into consideration the fluctuation within a year and between years. 2 To estimate the water requirement of different crops in different regions/provinces with improved spatial resolution. 3 To estimate crop water productivities with respect to quantity and value of product on irrigated and rain-fed land concerning consumptive water use and water supply in different regions/provinces. 4 To assess the water use intensity in different regions/provinces based on the water resources availability and water demand in the industrial, domestic and agricultural sectors at present and in the next 10-20 years. 5 To provide scenarios for improving regional/provincial and national water productivity through regional crop structural adjustment and inter-provincial food trade, taking into account natural, socio-economic and resources constraints at different levels and other regional and national objectives. Water resources endowment in Iran is generally poor and the spatial distribution is uneven. Some regions are enduring severe water stress. Producing more food with increasing water scarcity is a daunting challenge to the country. In this project, water resources availability and crop water requirement across provinces/regions in Iran will be estimated to lay the basis for the assessment. Water productivity across regions will be evaluated with respect to physical yield and value of products and different expressions of water input. Scenarios for improving water productivity through regional crop structural adjustment and virtual water trade are proposed for individual regions and then aggregated to the whole country, taking into consideration constraints concerning natural and socio-economic conditions and other regional and national objectives. The SWAT model (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) will be used for the assessment of water resources availability and crop water requirement in different provinces/regions. The SWAT model is currently used in several other projects at Eawag. The regional socio-economic data and farmers' water use behavior will be sought from both secondary data and field surveys and interviews. Scenarios for regional crop structural adjustment and virtual water trade will be proposed based on optimizing water productivity subject to various constraints.