Addressing "Wicked Problems" through Governance for Sustainable Development - A Comparative Analysis of National Mineral Policy Approaches in the European Union

The achievement of sustainable development (SD) in the supply of minerals poses significant challenges for governments and public administrations on all levels, because ensuring a sustainable supply constitutes a "wicked" problem that has no clear set of alternative solutions due to its social, institutional and scientific complexities. This paper explores how this problem is addressed through "governance for SD" principles (horizontal policy integration and participation; long-term vision/short-term action; and reflexivity and learning) in the design and delivery of national mineral policy strategies (NMS) in five EU Member States (Austria, Finland, Greece, Portugal and Sweden). Following a grounded theory approach on data collected through document analysis and complementary qualitative interviews, the author identified several analytical categories for the selected governance for SD' principles. Although no "one-size-fits-all" recipe for best practice on governance for SD exists in the five NMS, Finland, Portugal and Sweden meet high standards: These NMS display practical examples of governance for SD integration and, thus, lay the foundations for achieving policy outcomes in the sectoral policy strategies of the mineral supply

Bridging Policy Streams of Minerals and Land Use Planning: a Conceptualisation and Comparative Analysis of Instruments for Policy Integration in 11 European Member States

Minerals play an important role for the European economy, hence the secure and sustainable supply of minerals is of political importance for the EU and its Member States (MS). Despite the fact that Europe has a potential for minerals development, access to minerals is, however, influenced by different stakeholder interests, often reflected in competing forms of land-use and institutional complexity of two policy streams of minerals and land use planning. Recent public sector responses in EU MS introduce new instruments such as safeguarding or protection of minerals deposits or valorisation schemes for minerals development, both aiming to bridge the two policy streams. However, there are significant challenges for governments andpublic administrations on all levels to achieve the effective integration of the two policy streams: Institutional and administrative fragmentation, unclear roles and duties, coordination deficiencies between levels of governance (departmentalism) or lack of willingness or ability to collaborate (Endl, 2017; Gugerell, 2019). Thus, our research identifies different approaches to policy integration of minerals and land use planning policy based on a qualitative analysis of 12 case studies from 11 different EU MS. Against this background, the article conceptualises and analyses policy integration with regards to: 1) instruments for horizontal and vertical integration; 2) degree of integration - full versus partial integration (e.g. for horizontal integration: considering integration ex-ante/in the design versus ex-post/during implementation); 3) which aspects of horizontal or vertical policy integration are outlined (e.g. protection of deposits or design of land use plans); and 4) the capacity and willingness for policy integration by different actors. The results indicate two central characteristics for policy integration: (i) the mix of different types of instruments for horizontal and vertical integration and (ii) capacity of the involved actors. Across the 12 case studies we identified a mix of regulatory, economic or informative instruments, national strategies/ policy guidelines across horizontal as well as vertical policy integration. However, we recognised a trend across all 11 countries: instruments that signify full integration of minerals and land use planning on both horizontal and vertical levels; the application of soft rather than coercive instruments; and a prevalence for instruments in the form of planning tools and/or maps with the objective of enhancing knowledge of potential land use, mitigate land use conflicts and/or integrating minerals into land use planning processes. Our research shows that across 11 countries policy instruments are assembled to policy mixes for integrating minerals and land use planning policy combining regulatory, economic (fiscal) tools, (national) strategies and guidelines and information-based instruments. In the specific context of instruments for minerals planning (e.g. multi-criteria assessment, safeguarding) the results indicate that in order to support the integration of land-use and mineral policy, instruments should be adapted to the land-use planning system and a good fit with the actual processes on the lower level of implementation (local and regional). Moreover, the results illustrated that willingness and capacity of actors play a crucial role for policy integration and implementation. Against this backdrop, more centralised public administration can more readily supportlower levels to manage policy challenges: they can support lower levels by providing expertise, capacity building activities and create platforms where the different policy sectors can meet. Conversely, in decentralised systems and systems where policy design and implementation are dispersed among differentlevels of government the willingness to collaborate between higher and lower levels of government is important to support later policy implementation

The CRIRES Search for Planets Around the Lowest-Mass Stars. I. High-Precision Near-Infrared Radial Velocities with an Ammonia Gas Cell

Radial velocities measured from near-infrared spectra are a potentially powerful tool to search for planets around cool stars and sub-stellar objects. However, no technique currently exists that yields near-infrared radial velocity precision comparable to that routinely obtained in the visible. We describe a method for measuring high-precision relative radial velocities of these stars from K-band spectra. The method makes use of a glass cell filled with ammonia gas to calibrate the spectrograph response similar to the "iodine cell" technique that has been used very successfully in the visible. Stellar spectra are obtained through the ammonia cell and modeled as the product of a Doppler-shifted template spectrum of the object and a spectrum of the cell, convolved with a variable instrumental profile model. A complicating factor is that a significant number of telluric absorption lines are present in the spectral regions containing useful stellar and ammonia lines. The telluric lines are modeled simultaneously as well using spectrum synthesis with a time-resolved model of the atmosphere over the observatory. The free parameters in the complete model are the wavelength scale of the spectrum, the instrumental profile, adjustments to the water and methane abundances in the atmospheric model, telluric spectrum Doppler shift, and stellar Doppler shift. Tests of the method based on the analysis of hundreds of spectra obtained for late M dwarfs over six months demonstrate that precisions of ~5 m/s are obtainable over long timescales, and precisions of better than 3 m/s can be obtained over timescales up to a week. The obtained precision is comparable to the predicted photon-limited errors, but primarily limited over long timescales by the imperfect modeling of the telluric lines.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

Energy consumption patterns for mobility in Austrian households

Einflussparametern auf den Energieverbrauch österreichischer Haushalte im Bereich Verkehr. Das Ziel dieser Studie ist daher den Energieverbrauch der Haushalte mit sozio-ökonomischen Parametern in Beziehung zu setzen. Was wiederum zu einem differenzierteren und aufschlussreichem Bild bezüglich des Energieverbauchs für Verkehr führen würde. Die Studie basiert auf Daten über den Jahresenergieverbrauch von Haushalten in kWh in den Bereichen PKW, öffentlicher Verkehr und Flugverkehr. Die Haushalte wurden durch sozio-ökonomische Parameter wie Einkommen, Urbanität, Anzahl der Kinder etc. definiert. Die Analysen wurden anhand von Varianz- und Diskriminanzanalysen durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass Einkommen, Urbanität und Haushaltsgröße die wichtigsten Einflussparameter auf den Energieverbrauch für Verkehr darstellen. Das Fehlen jeglicher Interaktionseffekte innerhalb der sozio-ökonomischen Parameter ermöglichte eine individuelle Analyse dieser Einflussfaktoren, was wiederum zu genaueren und expliziten Aussagen über die Ergebnisse führte. Durch eine detailreichere Aufschlüsselung der Parameter konnten Charakteristika identifiziert werden, die auf einen hohen Energieverbrauch im Bereich des Individualverkehrs hindeuteten: Haushalte mit zumindest einem Kind, einem hohen Grad an Urbanität, Bildung und Einkommen sowie der Altersgruppe zwischen 19 und 59. Allerdings zeigte die Analyse, dass der Einfluss sozio-ökonomischer Parameter quer über die verschiedenen Bereiche des Verkehrs – PKW, öffentlicher Verkehr und Flugverkehr – im statistischen Sinne wesentlich gering ist. Dies führt zur Annahme, dass die Einflussfaktoren auf den Energieverbrauch der Haushalte im Bereich Verkehr vielfältig sind und deren Einfluss stark variiert. Daher sind in der Forschung ganzheitlichere Ansätze gefordert, um dieser Problemstellung Rechnung zu tragen.There is growing concern that the environmental impacts originating from transport have increased over the last decade. Therefore this study investigates mobility energy consumption patterns of Austrian households and its associated socio-economic drivers. To this end the aim is to establish the link between household mobility consumption patterns and socioeconomic variables in order to come up with a more differentiated and detailed picture of mobility energy consumption. The empirical basis of the study is data on energy consumption patterns in kWh per year in the area of passenger car and public transport as well as air travel. Households are characterized by socio-economic variables like income, degree of urbanity, number of children etc. By means of analysis of variance and discriminant function analysis socio-economic factors have been differentiated. Results showed that the most important driving factors for household mobility energy consumption were household size, income and urbanity. The absence of any interaction effects among socio-economic factors facilitated separate and independent analysis leading to a more targeted and explicit interpretation of results. Furthermore, by breaking down the variables into factor levels the study identified household characteristics related to a high degree of mobility energy consumption. These were households with at least one child, a high degree of urbanity and higher levels of education and income and within the age-group of 19 to 59. However, the analysis revealed that the impact of socio-economic drivers was substantially low throughout the different modes of household mobility. This suggests that the determinants of mobility energy consumption are manifold and vary in their influence and hence a more holistic approach has to be elaborated

Differential polarization and activation dynamics of systemic T helper cell subsets after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and during post-SAH complications

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Devastating post-SAH complications, such as cerebral vasospasm (CVS), delayed cerebral ischemia or seizures to mention a few, are mainly responsible for the poor clinical outcome. Inflammation plays an indispensable role during early brain injury (EBI) and delayed brain injury (DBI) phases over which these complications arise. T helper cells are the major cytokine secreting cells of adaptive immunity that can polarize to multiple functionally unique sub-populations. Here, we investigate different CD4+T cell subsets during EBI and DBI phases after SAH, and their dynamics during post-SAH complications. Peripheral venous blood from 15 SAH patients during EBI and DBI phases, was analyzed by multicolour flowcytometry. Different subsets of CD3+CD4+T cells were characterized by differential cell surface expression of CXCR3 and CCR6 into Th1, Th2, Th17, whereas Tregs were defined by CD25(hi)CD127(lo). The analysis of activation states was done by the expression of stable activation markers CD38 and HLA-DR. Interestingly, compared to healthy controls, Tregs were significantly increased during both EBI and DBI phases. Different activation states of Tregs showed differential significant increase during EBI and DBI phases compared to controls. HLA-DR-CD38+Tregs were significantly increased during DBI phase compared to EBI phase in SAH patients developing CVS, seizures and infections. However, HLA-DR-CD38-Tregs were significantly reduced during EBI phase in patients with cerebral ischemia (CI) compared to those without CI. HLA-DR-CD38-Th2 cells were significantly increased during EBI phase compared to controls. A significant reduction in Th17/Tregs and HLA-DR-CD38+Th17/Tregs ratios was observed during both EBI and DBI phases compared to controls. While HLA-DR-CD38-Th17/Tregs and HLA-DR-CD38-Th1/Th2 ratios were impaired only during EBI phase compared to controls. In conclusion, CD4+T cell subsets display dynamic and unique activation patterns after SAH and during the course of the manifestation of post-SAH complications, which may be helpful for the development of precision neurovascular care. However, to claim this, confirmatory studies with larger patient cohorts, ideally from different ethnic backgrounds, are required. Moreover, our descriptive study may be the grounds for subsequent lab endeavors to explore the underlying mechanisms of our observations.Peer reviewe

Vascular endothelial microparticles-incorporated microRNAs are altered in patients with diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: Circulating microRNAs (miRs) are differentially regulated and selectively packaged into microparticles (MPs). We evaluated whether diabetes mellitus alters circulating vascular and endothelial MP-incorporated miRs expression levels. METHODS AND RESULTS: Circulating MPs were isolated from 135 patients with or without diabetes mellitus type II and characterized using flow cytometer and electron microscope. Nine miRs involved in the regulation of vascular performance—miR-126, miR-222, miR-let7d, miR-21, miR-30, miR-92a, miR-139, miR-199a and miR-26a—were quantified in circulating MPs by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Among those, miR-126 and miR-26a were significantly reduced in diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic patients. Patients with low miR-26a and miR-126 levels were at higher risk for a concomitant coronary artery disease. MP-sorting experiments showed that endothelial cells were the major cell sources of MPs containing miR-126 and miR-26a, respectively. Finally, in accordance with our clinical results, in vitro experiments revealed that hyperglycemia reduces the packaging of miR-126 and miR-26a into EMPs. CONCLUSION: Diabetes mellitus significantly alters the expression of vascular endothelial miRs in circulating endothelial MPs with potential implications on vascular heath. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12933-016-0367-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

In vivo Expansion of Naïve CD4+CD25high FOXP3+ Regulatory T Cells in Patients with Colorectal Carcinoma after IL-2 Administration

Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are increased in context of malignancies and their expansion can be correlated with higher disease burden and decreased survival. Initially, interleukin 2 (IL-2) has been used as T-cell growth factor in clinical vaccination trials. In murine models, however, a role of IL-2 in development, differentiation, homeostasis, and function of Treg cells was established. In IL-2 treated cancer patients a further Treg-cell expansion was described, yet, the mechanism of expansion is still elusive. Here we report that functional Treg cells of a naïve phenotype - as determined by CCR7 and CD45RA expression - are significantly expanded in colorectal cancer patients. Treatment of 15 UICC stage IV colorectal cancer patients with IL-2 in a phase I/II peptide vaccination trial further enlarges the already increased naïve Treg-cell pool. Higher frequencies of T-cell receptor excision circles in naïve Treg cells indicate IL-2 dependent thymic generation of naïve Treg cells as a mechanism leading to increased frequencies of Treg cells post IL-2 treatment in cancer patients. This finding could be confirmed in naïve murine Treg cells after IL-2 administration. These results point to a more complex regulation of Treg cells in context of IL-2 administration. Future strategies therefore might aim at combining IL-2 therapy with novel strategies to circumvent expansion and differentiation of naïve Treg cells

Repression of the genome organizer SATB1 in regulatory T cells is required for suppressive function and inhibition of effector differentiation

Regulatory T cells (T(reg) cells) are essential for self-tolerance and immune homeostasis. Lack of effector T cell (T(eff) cell) function and gain of suppressive activity by T(reg) cells are dependent on the transcriptional program induced by Foxp3. Here we report that repression of SATB1, a genome organizer that regulates chromatin structure and gene expression, was crucial for the phenotype and function of T(reg) cells. Foxp3, acting as a transcriptional repressor, directly suppressed the SATB1 locus and indirectly suppressed it through the induction of microRNAs that bound the SATB1 3' untranslated region. Release of SATB1 from the control of Foxp3 in T(reg) cells caused loss of suppressive function, establishment of transcriptional T(eff) cell programs and induction of T(eff) cell cytokines. Our data support the proposal that inhibition of SATB1-mediated modulation of global chromatin remodeling is pivotal for maintaining T(reg) cell functionality.Marc Beyer... Timothy Sadlon...Simon C Barry... et al

Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) will search for planets transiting bright and nearby stars. TESS has been selected by NASA for launch in 2017 as an Astrophysics Explorer mission. The spacecraft will be placed into a highly elliptical 13.7-day orbit around the Earth. During its 2-year mission, TESS will employ four wide-field optical charge-coupled device cameras to monitor at least 200,000 main-sequence dwarf stars with IC≈4−13IC≈4−13 for temporary drops in brightness caused by planetary transits. Each star will be observed for an interval ranging from 1 month to 1 year, depending mainly on the star’s ecliptic latitude. The longest observing intervals will be for stars near the ecliptic poles, which are the optimal locations for follow-up observations with the James Webb Space Telescope. Brightness measurements of preselected target stars will be recorded every 2 min, and full frame images will be recorded every 30 min. TESS stars will be 10 to 100 times brighter than those surveyed by the pioneering Kepler mission. This will make TESS planets easier to characterize with follow-up observations. TESS is expected to find more than a thousand planets smaller than Neptune, including dozens that are comparable in size to the Earth. Public data releases will occur every 4 months, inviting immediate community-wide efforts to study the new planets. The TESS legacy will be a catalog of the nearest and brightest stars hosting transiting planets, which will endure as highly favorable targets for detailed investigations.Astronom

Life cycle sustainability management in policy frameworks – responsible sourcing

The concept of responsible sourcing (RS) refers to companies’ accountability for impacts occurring in their upstream supply chain and in the provision of materials sourced in a socially and environmentally responsible way. Due to rising concerns about the supply security of raw materials and the lack of responsible sourcing practices, both public and private actors increasingly implement due diligence procedures and policies. The Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) includes three methodologies at different stages of development, which allow assessing environmental, economic and social implications of the whole supply chain of products: namely Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA). This chapter aims at exploring the links between RS and LCSA and the authors argue that LCSA has the potential to provide a first macro-scale screening of important risks while further and more detailed analysis and prioritisation needs to be conducted via corporate due diligence procedures.JRC.D.3 - Land Resources and Supply Chain Assessment