The role of bioenergy and biochemicals in CO2 mitigation through the energy system - a scenario analysis for the Netherlands

Bioenergy as well as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage are key options to embark on cost-efficient trajectories that realize climate targets. Most studies have not yet assessed the influence on these trajectories of emerging bioeconomy sectors such as biochemicals and renewable jet fuels (RJFs). To support a systems transition, there is also need to demonstrate the impact on the energy system of technology development, biomass and fossil fuel prices. We aim to close this gap by assessing least-cost pathways to 2030 for a number of scenarios applied to the energy system of the Netherlands, using a cost-minimization model. The type and magnitude of biomass deployment are highly influenced by technology development, fossil fuel prices and ambitions to mitigate climate change. Across all scenarios, biomass consumption ranges between 180 and 760 PJ and national emissions between 82 and 178 Mt CO2. High technology development leads to additional 100-270 PJ of biomass consumption and 8-20 Mt CO2 emission reduction compared to low technology development counterparts. In high technology development scenarios, additional emission reduction is primarily achieved by bioenergy and carbon capture and storage. Traditional sectors, namely industrial biomass heat and biofuels, supply 61-87% of bioenergy, while wind turbines are the main supplier of renewable electricity. Low technology pathways show lower biochemical output by 50-75%, do not supply RJFs and do not utilize additional biomass compared to high technology development. In most scenarios the emission reduction targets for the Netherlands are not met, as additional reduction of 10-45 Mt CO2 is needed. Stronger climate policy is required, especially in view of fluctuating fossil fuel prices, which are shown to be a key determinant of bioeconomy development. Nonetheless, high technology development is a no-regrets option to realize deep emission reduction as it also ensures stable growth for the bioeconomy even under unfavourable conditions.</p

An international comparison of the outcomes of environmental regulation

Whilst there is much discussion about the stringency of environmental regulations and the variability of industrial environmental performance in different countries, there are very few robust evaluations that allow meaningful comparisons to be made. This is partly because data scarcity restricts the ability to make 'like for like' comparisons across countries and over time. This paper combines data on benzene emissions from Pollution Release and Transfer Registers with data on industrial production from oil refineries to generate normalized measures of industrial environmental performance across eight Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries and the EU-15. We find that normalized emissions levels are improving in nearly all countries, and that there is some convergence in emissions performance between countries, but that there are still very significant variations across countries. We find that average emissions levels are lower in Japan and Germany than in the USA and Australia, which in turn are lower than in Canada and the EU-15, but we note that average emissions in the EU-15 are significantly affected by particularly high emissions in the UK. These findings have significant implications for wider debates on the stringency of environmental regulations and the variability of industrial environmental performance in different countries

Long vowels in Proto-Japanese

The goal of this article is to provide internal and partial external evidence that Proto-Japanese had both vowel length and pitch accent. The author examines the evidence from Ryukyuan dialects of Japanese and from prehistoric Japanese loanwords in the Ainu language. This combined evidence demonstrates that the majority of Pre-Proto-Japanese words with initial vowel length may be associated with an initial low pitch. However, there are also certain words which combine initial high pitch and initial vowel length. Comparative data from Tungusic and Korean are also used.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42999/1/10831_2005_Article_BF01732501.pd

A review of the environmental impacts of biobased materials

Concerns over climate change and the security of industrial feedstock supplies have been opening a growing market for biobased materials. This development, however, also presents a challenge to scientists, policy makers, and industry because the production of biobased materials requires land and is typically associated with adverse environmental effects. This article addresses the environmental impacts of biobased materials in a meta-analysis of 44 life cycle assessment (LCA) studies. The reviewed literature suggests that one metric ton (t) of biobased materials saves, relative to conventional materials, 55 ± 34 gigajoules of primary energy and 3 ± 1 t carbon dioxide equivalents of greenhouse gases. However, biobased materials may increase eutrophication by 5 ± 7 kilograms (kg) phosphate equivalents/t and stratospheric ozone depletion by 1.9 ± 1.8 kg nitrous oxide equivalents/t. Our findings are inconclusive with regard to acidification (savings of 2 ± 20 kg sulfur dioxide equivalents/t) and photochemical ozone formation (savings of 0.3 ± 2.4 kg ethene equivalents/t). The variability in the results of life cycle assessment studies highlights the difficulties in drawing general conclusions. Still, common to most biobased materials are impacts caused by the application of fertilizers and pesticides during industrial biomass cultivation. Additional land use impacts, such as the potential loss of biodiversity, soil carbon depletion, soil erosion, deforestation, as well as greenhouse gas emissions from indirect land use change are not quantified in this review. Clearly these impacts should be considered when evaluating the environmental performance of biobased materials

Individualized recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone dosing using the CONSORT calculator in assisted reproductive technology: a large, multicenter, observational study of routine clinical practice

Olaf GJ Naether,1 Andreas Tandler-Schneider,2 Wilma Bilger3 1Reproductive Endocrinology, MVZ Fertility Center Hamburg, Hamburg, 2Center for Reproductive Medicine, Fertility Center Berlin, Berlin, 3Medical Affairs, Fertility, Endocrinology and General Medicine, Merck Serono GmbH, a subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Purpose: This postmarketing surveillance survey was conducted to investigate the utility of the CONsistency in r-FSH Starting dOses for individualized tReatmenT (CONSORT) calculator for individualizing recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (r-hFSH) starting doses for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in routine clinical practice. Methods: This was a 3-year, open-label, observational study evaluating data from women undergoing COS for assisted reproductive technology at 31 German fertility centers. Physicians stated their recommended r-hFSH starting dose, then generated a CONSORT-recommended r-hFSH starting dose. Physicians could prescribe any r-hFSH starting dose. The primary objective was to compare the r-hFSH starting dose recommended by the physician with the CONSORT-calculated dose and that prescribed. Statistical analyses were conducted post hoc. Results: Data were collected from 2,579 patients; the mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 30.5 (2.93) years (range: 19&ndash;40 years). The mean (SD) CONSORT-calculated r-hFSH starting dose was significantly lower than the physician-recommended dose (134.5 [38.0] IU versus 164.6 [47.1] IU; P&lt;0.0001); the mean (SD) starting dose prescribed was 162.2 (48.4) IU. CONSORT-calculated doses were prescribed for 27.3% (number [n] =677) of patients, and non-CONSORT-calculated doses prescribed for 72.7% (n=1,800). The mean (SD) number of oocytes retrieved per patient was 10.6 (6.15) and 11.4 (6.66) in the CONSORT and non-CONSORT groups, respectively; the mean (SD) number of embryos transferred per patient was 1.98 (0.41) and 2.03 (0.45), respectively. Clinical pregnancy rates per COS cycle were 38.8% (CONSORT) and 34.8% (non-CONSORT) (P=0.142); clinical pregnancy rates per embryos transferred were 45.0% and 39.5%, respectively (P=0.049). Miscarriage occurred in 14.8% of all clinical pregnancies (CONSORT: 12.5%; non-CONSORT: 15.3%). The rate of grade 3 ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) was 0.3% (n=2) in the CONSORT group and 0.6% (n=11) in the non-CONSORT group. OHSS led to hospitalization in 0.81% (n=21) of cases (CONSORT group: 0.74% [n=5]; non-CONSORT group: 0.83% [n=15]). Conclusion: Physician-recommended r-hFSH starting doses were generally higher than those calculated by CONSORT; most patients were prescribed a higher starting dose than that recommended by CONSORT. Keywords: controlled ovarian stimulation, dose algorithm, follitropin alfa, postmarketing product surveillanc