Auswertung der Pestizidgehalte von Lebensmitteln ökologischer und nichtökologischer Herkunft des deutschen Marktes im Zeitraum 1994 – 2002

In der vorliegenden Studie wurden die Pestizidgehalte von Lebensmitteln ökologischer und konventioneller Herkunft des deutschen Marktes der Jahre 1994 bis 2002 ausgewertet. Die Proben waren im Auftrag des Lebensmittelhandels untersucht worden. Zur Gewährleistung einer repräsentativen Probenauswahl wurde nach einem auch von der EU-Kommission angewandten Verfahren vorgegangen. Nach diesen Kriterien wurde eine Auswertung von 3521 Proben mit 4013 Ergebnissen durchgeführt. Von den erfassten 3521 Obst- und Gemüseproben überschritten 1,3 % nichtökologischer bzw. 0,2 % ökologischer Herkunft die jeweilige Höchstmenge nach RHmV. 33,7 % der Proben nichtökologischer Herkunft gegenüber 2,9 % der Proben ökologischer Herkunft wiesen Gehalte bis zur Höchstmenge auf. Ohne Rückstände waren 96,9 % der Proben ökologischer Herkunft gegenüber 65,0% nichtökologischer Herkunft. Die mittlere Belastung der Proben mit Deklaration aus ökologischer Herkunft betrug 0,0023 mg/kg, diejenige der Proben nichtökologischer Herkunft betrug 0,0554 mg/kg. Die mittlere Rückstandsbelastung liegt damit bei Produkten ökologischer Herkunft um den Faktor von ca. 24 unterhalb derjenigen aus konventioneller Herkunft. Die angeführten Untersuchungen der amtlichen Lebensmittelüberwachung 2002 und 2003, sowie weitere europäische und US-amerikanische Studien zeigen hinsichtlich der Unterschiede von Proben ökologischer bzw. konventioneller Herkunft vergleichbare Ergebnisse. Die Belastung einer Probe mit mehreren Rückständen verschiedener Wirkstoffe, die sogenannte Mehrfachbelastung, wird bislang im Lebensmittelrecht nicht berücksichtigt. Die ausgewerteten Obst- und Gemüseproben zeigten auch hier deutliche Unterschiede. 0,48 % der als ökologisch deklarierten Proben, sowie 13,59 % der nicht als ökologische deklarierten Proben, wiesen Mehrfachrückstände auf. Der Anteil mehrfachbelasteter Proben liegt somit bei Proben ökologischer Herkunft um den Faktor von ca. 28 unterhalb derjenigen aus konventioneller Herkunft

Energy-Efficient-Homes : Designing energy-efficient architecture in an urban context

Zugl. erschienen in: Energy Efficient Housing for Iran : Pilot Buildings in Hashtgerd New Town. - Berlin: Universitätsverlag der TU Berlin, 2013 (Young Cities Research Paper Series ; 4) http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:83-opus-39369 Zugleich gedruckt veröffentlicht im Universitätsverlag der TU Berlin unter der ISBN 978-3-7983-2565-4.The concept for the Energy- Efficient- Homes is part of a holistic approach to develop urban structures with energy-saving features, high quality, low carbon emissions and affordable costs for middle and lower income classes. The process of developing this concept includes a design for energy-efficient housing in an Iranian new town project with potential for mitigation in the region and climate adaptation. The method of developing a spatial concept according to the energy-relevant aspects of urban and architectural morphology and integrating it into the socio-cultural context of the “Shahre Javan Community”, the pilot settlement in Hashtgerd New Town, is designed to provide an economic strategy for a practical basic energy standard that has been adapted to the region. The courtyard housing scheme of the Energy- Efficient- Homes shows a new development derived from the vernacular approach of spatial hierarchy considering the major morphological aspects of orientation and compactness. With the use of new technologies for energy efficiency, this basic standard of spatial organisation and design can also be upgraded to meet higher standards. The chosen research methodology for the Energy-Efficient-Homes is performed for a residential pilot project in the “Shahre Javan Community”. To ensure the appropriateness to the pilot project, the methods of research are integrated in a planning process. The method suitable for combining scientific and planning results is the research-by-design process. In a systematic work process, the findings of a general approach and specific design allow for the evaluation and definition of further steps. By applying this scenario-specific methodology for architectural and urban design supposition, that have been obtained from a general approach, to real planning situations, the assessment can be performed on different scales. Finally, the results gathered in the design process are used to revise the formulation of the initial approach. The findings of the design and research process for the Energy-Efficient-Homes are transferred to a final design proposal for an urban unit in the pilot area. By transforming the design and adaptation measures from the typological approach into a specific design scenario, the challenges for the practical application of such a general approach can be weighted and evaluated. Furthermore, the realistic scenario serves as a basis for cost estimations, energy simulations and constructional detailing. Architectural models and drawings are used to define a standard for materials and energy objectives. The definition of adaptive design measures out of the research and planning process and the identification of urban, architectural and technical elements for developing the Energy-Efficient-Homes led to a distinction between a Basic Principle and possible Upgrades. This categorisation helps to define different standards as well as a scientific basis for the planning process of energy-efficient housing in the region. The Basic Principle is the design strategy for energy-efficient architecture and urban design from a spatial approach without any additional technical demands. It contains all planning and design measures to increase energy efficiency through the spatial configuration, such as building orientation and compactness, site suitability and cultural context. It can be seen as a low-cost approach and defines a minimum standard for energy efficiency in the Middle East. The upgrading measures include possibilities to raise the standard of the basic principle. Supplementary technologies can be integrated into the spatial approach. Possible Upgrades include simple mechanical elements for light and energy guidance, such as sun-shutters, furthermore the use of the ground temperature by means of earth tubes and a concept of heat exchangers, and finally the application of higher technological materials, such as photovoltaic fabrics to generate supplementary energy. The measures are characterized by a planning dimension as well as a technological and economic dimension. The choice of upgrading measure is dependent on the economic and technological context. The upgrade defines the standard for maximum energy efficiency in the region

Umweltfreundliches Reinigungs- und Hygienemanagement in Lebensmittelbetrieben

Ziel des Projektes ist es, für Lebensmittel herstellende Unternehmen und vor- und nachgelagerte Unternehmen (Landwirtschaft, Handel) Handlungsanweisungen für – unter Umweltgesichtspunkten – optimierte Strategien zum Reinigungs- und Hygienemanagement zu entwickeln. Dazu wurde eine quantitative Befragung von Lebensmittel herstellenden Unternehmen sowie eine qualitative Befragung von Reinigungs- und Desinfektionsmittelherstellern durchgeführt. Außerdem wurden bei Lebensmittelherstellern Betriebsbesuche und Interviews durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse wurden dokumentiert und für weitere Arbeiten im Projekt berücksichtigt. In Lebensmittel verarbeitenden Betrieben wurden mikrobiologische Hygienekontrollen und Rückstandsuntersuchungen auf Reinigungs- und Desinfektionsmittel vorgenommen. Von fünf besuchten Beispielbetrieben wurden drei für die Darstellung im Leitfaden ausgewählt. Als Grundlage für die Bewertung von kommerziellen Reinigungs- und Desinfektionsmitteln wurde ein Kriterienkatalog mit einem Bewertungsschema für Wirkstoffe erstellt. Dabei wurden auch Substanzbeschreibungen von nicht als konform eingestuften und deshalb unerwünschten Stoffen erarbeitet. Anhand der auch im Bundesverband Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft (BÖLW) abgestimmten Kriterien wurden Handelsprodukte bewertet und eine erste FiBL-Liste „Betriebsmittel für die Ökoverarbeitung“ mit konformen Reinigungs- und Desinfektionsmitteln zusammengestellt. Ein Leitfaden mit Merkblatt für „Umweltfreundliches Reinigungs- und Hygienemanagement in Lebensmittelbetrieben“ wurde erarbeitet

Dioscorea orangeana (Dioscoreaceae), a new and threatened species of edible yam from northern Madagascar

International audienceA new species of yam (Dioscorea orangeana Wilkin) is described and illustrated. It differs from D. comorensis R.Knuth by having undulate leaf margins and a broader torus and tepals in both the male and female flowers. In female flowers of D. orangeana the floral stipe between the ovary and the torus is shorter than in D. comorensis. The tuber morphology of the species is atypical among Malagasy species in that there are several digitate lobes rather than a single tuber per growing season, although more research is needed on tuber morphology. D. orangeana is reported to be edible. It is endemic to the Forêt d'Orangea near Diego Suarez (Antsiranana) in Antsiranana Préfecture. Its conservation and sustainable use are thus matters of concern

Biomaterial-induced sarcomagenesis is not associated with microsatellite instability

Sarcomagenesis, in contrast to carcinogenesis, is poorly understood. Microsatellite instability has been implicated in the development of many cancers, in particular those associated with chronic inflammatory conditions. In an experimental animal model, rats developed not only a peri-implantational chronic inflammatory reaction, but also malignant mesenchymal tumors in response to different biomaterials. Therefore, it was the aim of our study to test if the development of biomaterial-induced sarcomas is characterized by a mutator phenotype. A multiplex-PCR approach was designed to screen biomaterial-induced sarcomas for the presence of microsatellite instability. Seven different microsatellite loci were tested in ten tumors for microsatellite instability using a fluorochrome-labelled multiplex-PCR and subsequent fragment analysis. All tumors provided a microsatellite-stable phenotype at all loci tested. Our data suggest that microsatellite instability is rarely or not at all a feature of malignant transformation of biomaterial-induced soft tissue tumors. Thus, there is no evidence that a mutator phenotype is a hallmark of biomaterial-induced sarcomagenesi

Fine-scale thermal adaptation in a green turtle nesting population

Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tCopyright © 2011 The Royal SocietyElectronic supplementary material is available at http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1098/rspb.2011.1238 or via http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org.The effect of climate warming on the reproductive success of ectothermic animals is currently a subject of major conservation concern. However, for many threatened species, we still know surprisingly little about the extent of naturally occurring adaptive variation in heat-tolerance. Here, we show that the thermal tolerances of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) embryos in a single, island-breeding population have diverged in response to the contrasting incubation temperatures of nesting beaches just a few kilometres apart. In natural nests and in a common-garden rearing experiment, the offspring of females nesting on a naturally hot (black sand) beach survived better and grew larger at hot incubation temperatures compared with the offspring of females nesting on a cooler (pale sand) beach nearby. These differences were owing to shallower thermal reaction norms in the hot beach population, rather than shifts in thermal optima, and could not be explained by egg-mediated maternal effects. Our results suggest that marine turtle nesting behaviour can drive adaptive differentiation at remarkably fine spatial scales, and have important implications for how we define conservation units for protection. In particular, previous studies may have underestimated the extent of adaptive structuring in marine turtle populations that may significantly affect their capacity to respond to environmental change.NERCThe Royal SocietyThe Darwin InitiativeEuropean Social FundOverseas Territories Environment Programm

Abiy Superstar - reformer or revolutionary? Hope for transformation in Ethiopia

It really is quite amazing. In the few weeks since Abiy Ahmed was elected Prime Minister of Ethiopia, nearly all the established facts that underpin Ethiopian politics have started to unravel. The new Prime Minister has apologized to the population for the mistakes of the past, ended the border war with Eritrea without making any demands and dismissed key officials from the old regime. At the same time, he has lifted the state of emergency and liberalized the economy - all this was previously considered unthinkable in Ethiopia. Control, internal security and a close-knit collective of former liberation fighters were the defining elements of a style of politics that provided stability and economic growth for a long time, but neglected the country’s rapidly growing young population and its concerns. (Autorenreferat

Covid-19 in the Horn of Africa: gaining trust in a crisis

On reaching the Horn of Africa, the corona virus will have encountered countries already facing a multitude of challenges. Prolonged armed conflict, drought and insecurity have turned more than eight million people into refugees in their own countries, and a further 3.5 million have fled to neighbouring countries where they live in overcrowded refugee camps. All the countries in this region are in a fragile state of political transformation or have been severely weakened by war and govern­ment failures. They possess neither the capacity to contain the Covid pandemic nor to mitigate the resulting unemployment, poverty and hunger. In order to guard against jeopardising the process of democratisation in Sudan and Ethiopia, special emphasis should be placed on social security systems and gaining the trust of the popu­lation. This requires an emergency aid package from abroad that will ensure the economic survival of all countries in the region. However, long-term support should be con­ditional on guaranteeing that most of the investment goes into developing state capacities for critical infrastructure and social security. (Autorenreferat

Red Sea: connecter and divider: disruption waves from the Arabian Gulf to the Horn of Africa

The Red Sea is a vital pathway for goods, people, arms, and livestock. European trade with Asia passes through here as well as oil from the Gulf to the Mediterranean, and a sizeable amount of global marine cargo is hauled through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea into the Indian Ocean. In addition to its significance as a trade route, the Red Sea is a lane for migration between the Gulf and the Horn of Africa and a bridge for roving terrorists. Its water connects the Horn of Africa with the Gulf countries, although it also separates African and Arab political and social cultures. Moreover, many issues are contested in the Red Sea region, ranging from military control to political Islam. In order to avoid further rifts between the Horn of Africa countries as a consequence of the disruptive politics of the Gulf, the Horn needs to perceive itself as a region and find common interests rather than becoming fragmented and weakened. The stability of the Horn of Africa as well as the security of its trade routes are of vital interest to European countries and economies. (Autorenreferat

Review: Sandra Calkins, Enrico Ille, and Richard Rottenburg (eds), Emerging Orders in the Sudans (2015)

Review of the edited volume: Sandra Calkins, Enrico Ille, and Richard Rottenburg (eds), Emerging Orders in the Sudans, Bamenda and Buea: Langaa RPCIG, 2015, ISBN 9956792160, 294 pp