Local acceptance of wind energy: Factors of success identified in French and German case studies

The objective of this paper is to identify and analyse factors that are important for winning acceptance of wind-energy parks on the local level. The developers of wind-energy parks need to know how to manage “social acceptance” at the different stages of planning, realisation and operation. Five case studies in France and Germany focused on factors of success in developing a wind-energy project on a given site and illuminated how policy frameworks influence local acceptance. Our hypothesis is that these factors fall into two categories: institutional conditions, such as economic incentives and regulations; and site-specific conditions (territorial factors), such as the local economy, the local geography, local actors, and the actual on-site planning process (project management).     

Which is the most unfavourable crack orientation?

The most unfavourable orientation of a straight crack of given length is investigated, assuming mode I growth. It is shown that this orientation is not always the one perpendicular to the largest principal stress. If the smallest in-plane principal stress is compressive and its magnitude more than about one third of the largest (tensile) in-plane stress, then some other orientations are more unfavourable. Crack growth then takes place after kinking.     

Use of the selective agar medium CREAD for monitoring the level of airborne spoilage moulds in cheese production

It was investigated if a selective medium for common cheese spoiling moulds (CREAD) could give more relevant information than a general mould medium in hygienic air-sampling in cheese factories. A total of 126 air-samples were taken in six Nordic cheese factories using the general mould medium DG18 and CREAD. The level and genera of air-borne mould was determined. Identification to species-level was performed for a selection of samples. In five cheese factories the mycobiota was dominated by Penicillium spp. and in one cheese factory by Cladosporium spp. The concentration of air-borne moulds varied between the cheese factories ranging from 1 to 270 cfu/m3 on DG18 with a median value of 17. The number of mould colonies was in general lower at CREAD. Identification indicated that CREAD supported growth of common spoilage moulds for cheese, such as Penicillium palitans and P. commune. The mycobiota on DG18 also consisted of moulds not commonly associated with spoilage of cheese, such as Cladosporium spp., P. brevicompactum and P. chrysogenum. Contamination of cheese with mould is periodically a problem in production of semi-hard cheese and the level of air-borne mould is therefore routinely monitored in cheese factories. A clear correlation between the total number of moulds in air and mould growth on products is not always found. The conclusion from the investigation is that it is recommended to use a selective medium for cheese spoilage moulds, such as CREAD in hygienic monitoring.     

„Die kommen alle her und gaffen.“ Hohes Körpergewicht als medizinische,ethische und gesellschaftliche Herausforderung

Ethik in der Medizin -     

Diseases of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa)

Downy mildew caused by Peronospora farinosais the most damaging disease of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), an ancient Andean grain crop. The disease has been reported from all areas of quinoa cultivation. In the Andean highlands, it is considered endemic. Despite the disease's wide dissemination and significant effect on quinoa crop production, little is known about its epidemiology, host specialization, population structure, and host plant resistance. There is a similar knowledge gap regarding other quinoa diseases, such as Rhizoctoniadamping off, Fusariumwilt, leaf spot (Ascochyta hyalospora), seed rot and damping off (Sclerotium rolfsii, Pythium zingiberum), and brown stalk rot (Phoma exiguavar. foveata). These diseases are less widespread than downy mildew but are still considered potential production constraints, particularly when the crop is introduced in areas outside its traditional growing regions. This article provides an overview of current knowledge on downy mildew and other diseases affecting quinoa production.     

Fracture from a straight crack subjected to mixed mode loading

Fracture from a straight crack under mixed mode loading conditions and small scale of yielding is studied. It is assumed that crack growth occurs in either mode I or mode II. Comparison of theoretically obtained values of the mode I stress intensity factor at incipient kinking with experimental results indicates that mode I is preferred to mode II when the loading is such that the crack surfaces are traction-free, i.e. in the absence of a confining pressure. Mode II would be preferred only if the ratio K _{II c}/K _{I c} between the stress intensity factors is very low, between 0.38–0.81, depending on the load situation. Since there are reasons to believe that most materials are characterized by higher values of K _{II c}/K _{I c}, the conclusion is that mode II hardly occurs in the absence of a high confining pressure.

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Résumé On etudie la rupture entraînée par une fissure droite sujette à des sollicitations selon un mode mixte et comportant une plastification sur une petite échelle. On suppose que la croissance de la fissure se produit sous un mode I ou un mode II.En comparant les valeurs théoriques du facteur d'intensité de contraintes selon le mode I correspondant à l'évasement initial et les résultats expérimentaux, il s'indique que le mode I est privilégié par rapport au mode II lorsque la sollicitation est telle que les surfaces de la fissure sont libres de toutes contraintes, c'est-à-dire en l'absence de toute pression de confinement.Le mode II ne serait privilégié que si le rapport K _{II c}/K _{I c} des facteurs d'intensité de contraintes est très faible, à savoir entre 0,38 et 0,81, selon les conditions de sollicitation.Comme il y a de bonnes raisons de croire que la plupart des matériaux sont caractérisés par des rapports K _{II c}/K _{I c} plus élevés, on en conclut que, en l'absence de hautes pressions de confinement, le mode II a peu de chances de se manifester.

     

Recombination fraction estimate of zero in the presence of apparent recombinants: effects of incomplete penetrance and sporadic cases

The purpose of this study was to assess the potential role of MR imaging with polylysine-Gd-DTPA enhancement in the early detection of acute occlusive intestinal ischemia in a rat model. After devascularization of the distal ileum in 12 rats, T2-weighted fast spin-echo MR images were acquired, followed by T1-weighted images before and after IV administration of 0.1 mmol/kg polylysine-Gd-DTPA. The signal intensity of the ischemic intestine did not differ significantly from that of the normal intestine before the administration of the contrast material. No mucosal or submucosal edema or hemorrhage was found in the ischemic intestine at histologic examination. After the administration of polylysine-Gd-DTPA, the ischemic intestine lacked enhancement and its signal intensity was significantly lower than that of the normal intestine. MR imaging with polylysine-Gd-DTPA enhancement can detect acute occlusive ischemia of the rat intestine at an early stage.