Cui bono? — Ziele und Inhalte eines Datenschutz-Zertifikats

Um ein Datenschutz-Zertifikat zur Best?tigung eines hohen Datenschutz-Niveaus erfolgreich zu etablieren, müssen die Randbedingungen stimmen. Ausgehend vom Informationsbedarf m?glicher Zielgruppen an ein solches Zertifikat begründet der Beitrag die Datenschutzorganisation als Prüfgegenstand und stellt die aus der Sicht der Autoren wichtigsten Inhalte der Prüfung vor.     

Gradientenbetontechnologie

The technology of graded concrete – From the development of concrete mixtures and the conceptual design to the automatized manufacturing In accordance with the principle form follows force, the DFG Priority Programme (SPP) 1542 – Leicht Bauen mit Beton – focuses on energy efficient building elements which are designed specifically for desired operational demands. This concept is a specific adaption of the component's inner structure and works in parallel to the optimization of its outer shape which is often limited due to the outer geometry of slabs, walls and supporting pillars. The technology of graded concrete provides an innovative possibility to adapt the inner structure of a concrete component in order to meet defined static and structural‐physical requirements. The challenging demands imposed by the technology of graded concrete require a holistic approach including the development of the concrete mixtures, the design of the building components and finally the automatized manufacturing. In collaboration between the departments ILEK, IWB and ISYS of the University of Stuttgart a complete process chain for the manufacturing of functionally graded concrete components was realized. This approach for concrete results in fully recyclable building elements with significant savings in mass and energy.     

Density effects on activated sludge zone settling velocities

A recently developed method to manipulate biomass density based on the addition of synthetic microspheres was used to isolate density effects on zone (hindered) settling velocities in samples from full-scale activated sludge plants over a range biomass densities and concentrations. Settling velocities increased by as much as a factor of five as density was increased by microsphere addition. The effects of density on the Vesilind sedimentation model parameters (V=V(o)e(-kX) , where V is the settling velocity, X is the biomass concentration, and V(o) and k are constants) were evaluated. The parameter V(o) was positively correlated with density for values greater than approximately 1.02 g/mL, while k values were approximately constant in this range. New models were developed for settling velocity as a function of both density and biomass concentration, and these may be useful for future incorporation with clarifier models to improve predictions of system performance, particularly when biomass characteristics known to affect density are variable, such as polyphosphate and nonvolatile suspended solids content.     

Filament content threshold for activated sludge bulking: artifact or reality?

An often-noted feature of activated sludge settleability is the existence of a threshold content of filamentous bacteria, below which filaments have a relatively small effect on settleability, and above which settleability is much more sensitive to filament content. This concept has historically been based on an apparent inflection point in settleability/filament content curves. However, this was demonstrated to be an artifact of data presentation on semi-logarithmic scales. Analyses of several published data sets indicated that there was little or no evidence of a threshold effect when data were presented on linear scales, particularly around the 150 mL/g sludge volume index (SVI) "threshold". Rather, there appears to be a generally continuous (and often nearly linear) relationship between filament content and SVI, suggesting that the threshold effect, as commonly perceived, is not accurate. A modified empirical model of filament content and settleability was also presented.     

TEM investigation on zirconate formation and chromium poisoning in LSM/YSZ cathode

Cell durability is a crucial technological issue for SOFC commercialization, and considerable progress has been made in recent years. A number of degradation pathways have been established, amongst which microstructural changes, poisoning effects and formation of less conductive phases. In this study, transmission electron microscopy was used to observe submicron-scale effects on selected cathode zones of an anode supported cell tested in SOFC stack repeat element configuration. The test has been performed with a dedicated segmented test bench, at 800 °C for 1900 h, which allowed to spatially resolve degradation processes, and therefore to improve their correlation with localized post-test analysis. Evidence is presented of reaction products (mainly SrZrO₃) at the LSM/YSZ interfaces as well as of contaminants, in particular Cr, but also Si. A polarized cell segment is compared to an unpolarized one, to assess any influence of cathode polarization.     

Developmental Outcome of Drug-Exposed Children Through 30 Months: A Comparison of Bayley and Bayley-II.

This study examined the effects of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) version on developmental outcomes among drug-exposed children, some of whom received an intervention. Developmental outcome was evaluated with the BSID at 12 and 18 months and with the BSID-II at 24 and 30 months. In the repeated measures analyses, children scored higher on the BSID Mental Developmental Index (MDI; p     

A critical evaluation of centromeric labeling to distinguish micronuclei induced by chromosomal loss and breakage in vitro

The in vitro micronucleus assay in conjunction with CREST-staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with centromere-specific DNA probes is being increasingly utilized for the detection of clastogenic and aneuploidy-inducing agents. Although potentially powerful techniques, both methods have unique characteristics that can influence sample processing and the interpretation of results. In this article, the use of the CREST and the FISH modifications of the in vitro micronucleus assay have been used to characterize the origin of the micronuclei induced by cyclophosphamide, 4,4'-methylene-bis(2-chloroaniline), 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide and ionizing radiation in metabolically competent MCL-5 cells or a derived cell line lacking metabolic activation. Using these results and our previous experiences with these techniques, a detailed comparison including the strengths and limitations of each technique as well as potential problems in performing each assay and in analyzing the data is discussed. In spite of their limitations, our results to date indicate that CREST-staining as well as FISH with centromere-specific DNA probes can be used to accurately distinguish micronuclei formed from chromosome loss from those originating from chromosome breakage and that these techniques can be valuable complements to the in vitro micronucleus assay.     

Experimental and theoretical examination of surface energy and adhesion of nitrifying and heterotrophic bacteria using self-assembled monolayers

Biofilm-based systems, including integrated fixed-film activated sludge and moving bed bioreactors, are becoming increasingly popular for wastewater treatment, often with the goal of improving nitrification through the enrichment of ammonia and nitrite oxidizing bacteria. We have previously demonstrated the utility of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as tools for studying the initial attachment of bacteria to substrata systematically varying in physicochemical properties. In this work, we expanded these studies to bacteria of importance in wastewater treatment systems and we demonstrated attachment rates were better correlated with surface energy than with wettability (water contact angle). Toward the long-term goal of improving wastewater treatment performance through the strategic design of attachment substrata, the attachment rates of two autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrosospira multiformis) and a heterotroph (Escherichia coli) were evaluated using SAMs with a range of wettabilities, surface energies, and functional properties (methyl, hydroxyl, carboxyl, trimethylamine, and amine terminated). Cell attachment rates were somewhat correlated with the water contact angles of the SAMs with polar terminal groups (hydroxyl, carboxyl, trimethylamine, and amine). Including all SAM surfaces, a better correlation was found for all bacteria between attachment rates and surface free energy, as determined using the Lewis Acid-Base approach. The ammonia-oxidizers had higher adhesion rates on the SAMs with higher surface energies than did the heterotroph. This work demonstrated the successful application of SAMs to determine the attachment surface preferences of bacteria important to wastewater treatment, and it provides guidance for a new area of research aimed at improving treatment performance through rational attachment surface design.