Nature conservation and integrated coastal zone management in Europe: present and future

The present and future of integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) in Europe is discussed with an emphasis on nature conservation. The position of nature conservation in physical planning and in legislation is discussed within the historical perspective of the Netherlands. With regard to the present position of nature conservation in planning and legislation, differences in Europe between the northwest, the south and the east are discussed. The roles of various organisations (such as NGOs, GOs, Universities and the European Union) in ICZM is briefly mentioned. The paper advocates a strong position for nature conservation in integrated coastal zone management if it is to be developed on a sustainable basis.     

Absch?tzung der Pyritoxidation in einem Braunkohletagebau mithilfe numerischer Modellrechnungen

Beim Abbau von Braunkohle kann die Oxidation von im Sediment vorhandenen Pyriten zu einer Versauerung des Sickerwassers führen und damit zu einer Mobilisierung von Schwermetallen. Um den Oxidationsgrad der Pyrite in der unbehandelten Abraumkippe eines Braunkohletagebaus abzuschätzen, wurden am Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Geologie der Ruhr-Universität Bochum neben umfangreichen Felduntersuchungen und Laborversuchen auch numerische Simulationsrechnungen durchgeführt. Um die in einem Tagebau oxidierten Pyritmengen zu berechnen, wurde mithilfe des numerischen Modells gw-chem.f sowohl die Oxidation auf der Abbauseite als auch die Oxidation auf der Kippenseite berechnet. Die genaue Kenntnis der umgesetzten Pyritmenge ist notwendig, um die Kalkmenge zu ermitteln, die benötigt wird, um die bei der Pyritoxidation entstehende Schwefelsäure zu neutralisieren. Dadurch soll das Grundwasser geschützt werden, wenn der Tagebau wieder geflutet wird.     

Carbon nanotubes and mesenchymal stem cells: biocompatibility, proliferation and differentiation

The synergy of the unique properties of carbon nanotubes (CNT) with the remarkable potential of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) provides an exciting opportunity for novel therapeutic modalities. However, little is known about the impact of CNT on hMSC behavior. We report the effect of CNT on hMSC renewal, metabolic activity, and differentiation. Furthermore, we tracked the intracellular movement of CNT through the cytoplasm to a nuclear location and assessed effects on cellular ultra structure.     

Nano‐Explosions of Nanoparticles for Sudden Release of Substances by Embedded Azo‐Components as Obtained via the Miniemulsion Process

The solid and thermally instable azoinitiators V‐65 and VR‐110 were embedded within a polymer particle by using the miniemulsion process and afterwards quickly decomposed by thermal treatment below the glass temperature of the polymer. The resulting nitrogen gas overpressure inside the particles leads to a disruption of the polymer particle and a possible sudden release of encapsulated substances. It is shown, by electron microscopic measurements, that the number of burst particles correlates with the applied temperatures as well as the heating time. The surface deformation could be verified by scanning electron microscope analyses.

     

Role of vitamin A elimination or supplementation diets during postnatal development on the allergic sensitisation in mice

Vitamin A (VA) and its derivatives, the retinoids, are important factors for the development of the immune system. It has been shown in adult animals that proliferation of lymphocyte populations and antibody secretion are retinoid dependent, while little is known about the effects of retinoids during postnatal development. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of VA on allergic sensitisation during lactation and after weaning using an in vivo system for postnatal allergic sensitisation in mice. Different VA diets (basal/VA elimination/VA (as retinyl palmitate) supplemented) were fed to the dams throughout lactation and directly to the pups after weaning. Allergic sensitisation was induced with a single peritoneal ovalbumin (OVA) injection at day 28 after weaning. The phenotype of lymphocytes was analysed by flow cytometry and functional data were obtained by analysis of (IL-4/IFN-gamma) cytokine production and antibody production (OVA-specific IgG1 and IgE) in the offspring. VA/retinyl palmitate supplementation during lactation and after weaning decreased CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and B220+ populations in splenic lymphocytes but also significantly enhanced IL-4 production and OVA-specific IgE after sensitisation. In contrast, mice fed VA-elimination diet displayed no significant alteration of lymphocyte numbers and a slightly increased IL-4 production. Our results showed that a single allergen injection during postnatal development induces allergic sensitisation whose degree is modified by the VA content of the maternal diet during lactation and the diet of the pups after weaning, indicating an important role of VA on the severity of the allergic sensitisation.     

Application of infrared ATR spectroscopy to in situ reaction monitoring

The infrared horizontal ATR technique was adapted to be applied for in situ reaction monitoring even at high pressure and high temperature. Different types of reactors and flow cells were built which can be used for recording IR ATR spectra at pressures up to 200 bar and temperatures up to 300°C.

The use of the horizontal ATR technique is shown by the following application examples:

• addition reaction of n-butyl isocyanate with butyric alcohol;

• investigation of the equilibrium of isocyanate, HCl and carbamic acid chloride at elevated pressure and temperature;

• monitoring the polycondensation of bifunctional alcohols and carbonic acids;

• recording spectra of polymer melts at 280°C.

Aus Luftschiffhalle wird Tropischer Regenwald ndash; Brandschutzkonzepte für die größte Halle der Welt

From an airship dockyard to a tropical rainforest ndash; fire protection concept for the the largest hall construction of the world. Tropical Islands is a project with enormous dimensions and very specific utilizations. It is used as a dockyard for large cargo airships as well as for recreational and event presentation purposes with a tropical rainforest in it. This article does not show the complete fire protection concept but has represented certain aspects and focal points that transcend the project and could be of general interest. The results of smoke tests and their specific implementation concerning the particular conditions of the dockyard were shown to point out the very special question of smoke exhaust venting. For the intended new usage of the building the effectiveness of the measures was tested systematically under various conditions and trough successive mathematical approximation. In this case it was pointed out that it was more important to see the superior context than to simulate single scenarios. This cognition may also be useful for projects which are less spectacular. This project is an ideal example to show how largely fire protection measures must and can be adapted to the specific usage of the building. This aspect becomes more important especially in times where buildings were used in other ways as they were intended originally because of economical decisions or simply to conserve resources.     

Synergism in the wetting properties of ternary surfactant mixtures

It has been shown that ternary surfactant synergism can be predicted on the basis of nonideality parameters of binary subsystems derived from advancing contact angles. Studies with appropriate surfactant mixtures of glucamides, ether sulfates, secondary alkane sulfonates, and alkylamidopropyl betaines were performed on substrates of different polarity.     

Das Scaling‐Down‐Problem bei der Zweistoff‐Gaszerstäubung von Metallschmelzen

The production capacities of plants for metal pulverisation are frequently rated according to the minimum throughput of melt flowing from the distributor crucible to pulverisation. Especially in the case of high‐melting point metals and their alloys deficiencies occur in the thermal balance of the crucible in the exit section as a result of gas expansion at the pulverisation gas jets, which act as heat sinks. Minimum throughputs and associated limiting values of the convective heat transfer of the melt are stipulated in order to prevent "freezing" (solidification of the melt) in the crucible. The pertinent situation is illustrated for copper and steel melts and technical possibilities for compensating for heat deficiencies by inductive heating of the distributor exit are presented. In addition, the demand for minimum throughputs can be abandoned, and there result possibilities of scaling‐down and energy conservation as well as improvement of powder discharge.