Nachhaltigkeitskriterien als essentieller Bestandteil einer novellierten EU-Öko-Basisverordnung

The main goal of this study was to develop sustainability criteria for the advancement of the EU-Eco-Regulations. To achieve this, the authors analyzed 8 international certification schemes for sustainable aspects which could be transferred to existing regulations. By doing so it was possible to abstract 10 sustainability criteria and in the prozess evaluate their value for future developments of the EU-Eco-Regulations. Sustainability of agricultural systems is of the utmost importance for future development of mankind itself. Since ecological agriculture is the most sustainable System we have that works on a large scale (cf. Pick 2009), it is reasonable to suggest that the outline we use for this kind of agriculture – producing best quality with fewest external inputs – is true for sustainable agriculture itself. This work proofed this conjecture to be true. So although the here found sustainability criteria are only partly adopted in the ad-vancement of the EU-Eco-Regulations it can be said that sustainable agriculture of any kind should involve the criteria found in this work

Gemcitabine/cisplatin versus 5-fluorouracil/mitomycin C chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced pancreatic cancer: a retrospective analysis of 93 patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite of a growing number of gemcitabine based chemoradiotherapy studies in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), 5-fluorouracil based regimens are still regarded to be standard and the debate of superiority between the two drugs is going on. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the effect of two concurrent chemoradiotherapy regimens using 5-fluorouracil or gemcitabine to compare their effect and tolerance.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We have performed a single centre retrospective analysis of 93 patients treated with conventionally fractionated radiotherapy of 55.8 Gray using either concurrent 5-fluorouracil, 1 g/m² on days 1-5 and 29-33 of radiotherapy and 10 mg/m² of mitomycin C on day 1, 29 of radiotherapy (FM group, 35 patients) versus gemcitabine (300 mg/m²) and cisplatin, (30 mg/m²) on days 1, 8, 22, and 29 (GC group, 58 patients). Primary endpoint was the median overall survival (OS) rate.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median OS rate was 12.7 months in the GC group and 9.7 months in the FM group. The 1-year OS rate was 53% versus 40%, respectively (p = 0.009). GC led to more grade 3 leukocytopenia and thrombocytopenia than FM, but not to more grade 4 myelosuppression. Thrombocytopenia was the most frequently observed grade 4 toxicity in both groups (11% after FM versus 12% after GC). No grade 3/4 febrile neutropenia was observed. Grade 3 nausea was more common in the FM group (20% versus 9%) and grade 4 nausea was observed in one patient per group only.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>GC was superior to FM for overall survival and both regimens were similar in terms of tolerance. We conclude that GC leads to encouraging results and that the use of FM for chemoradiotherapy in LAPC cannot be recommended without concerns.</p

Contribution of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi to Cadmium Uptake of Poplars and Willows from a Heavily Polluted Soil

Phytoextraction has been proposed in recent years as an environmentally and cost-efficient treatment technique for the remediation of heavy-metal contaminated sites. In particular, plants that are fast growing, metal accumulating, and economically interesting, such as sunflowers or trees, recently became more important in research on phytoextraction. Heavy metal uptake of trees can be strongly influenced by ectomycorrhizal fungi. We investigated the possibility of enhancing phytoextraction of Cd by willows (Salix viminalis) and poplars (Populus canadensis) in association with three well known ectomycorrhizal fungi (Hebeloma crustuliniforme, Paxillus involutus and Pisolithus tinctorius). A pot experiment was conducted using Cd polluted soil from a contaminated site. Four replicates of each combination of fungus and tree species, and controls without fungal inoculum, were set up. After a growth period of 11weeks, yields and Cd concentrations in roots, stems, and leaves were measured. In addition, the total Cd uptake, the transfer to roots, and the translocation to stems and leaves were calculated. The association of P. canadensis with P. involutus led to a highly significant increase of Cd concentrations, in particular in the leaves, which contained 2.74 ± 0.34mg Cd per kg dry matter. Compared to the control this is an enhancement of nearly 100%. The fungi also significantly enhanced the translocation from the roots to the leaves, leading to a concentration ratio (leaves/roots) of 0.32 ± 0.06 compared to 0.20 ± 0.02 of the control plants. Additionally, P. involutus significantly enhanced the total Cd extraction by P. canadensis. Similar effects were not observed by other fungi or in association with S. viminali

Multiple attainment in schools: the example of the Bielefeld Laboratory School. An evaluation with instruments from studies on educational achievement

Reform-Schulen verfolgen eine Vielfalt von Zielen, von denen häufig vermutet wird, dass sie nicht in gleicher Weise verwirklicht werden können. Die Laborschule Bielefeld hat sich einer externen Überprüfung gestellt, in der neben Leistungskennwerten [auf der Basis der Tests und Fragebögen von PISA 2000] auch Aspekte der politischen Sozialisation und der Qualität des Unterrichts erfasst wurden. Es zeigt sich, dass die verschiedenen Zielbereiche durchaus kompatibel sind - auch wenn nicht alle Ziele optimal erreicht werden. (DIPF/Orig.)Reform-oriented schools pursue multiple aims which are frequently taken to be unrealistic. The Bielefeld Laboratory School has encouraged an external evaluation that included aspects of political socialization as well as aspects of the quality of instruction. It could be shown that the different areas of attainment are quite compatible even if not all aims can be achieved to a fully satisfactory extent. (DIPF/Orig.

Highly resolved observations of trace gases in the lowermost stratosphere and upper troposphere from the Spurt project: an overview

During SPURT (Spurenstofftransport in der Tropopausenregion, trace gas transport in the tropopause region) we performed measurements of a wide range of trace gases with different lifetimes and sink/source characteristics in the northern hemispheric upper troposphere (UT) and lowermost stratosphere (LMS). A large number of in-situ instruments were deployed on board a Learjet 35A, flying at altitudes up to 13.7 km, at times reaching to nearly 380 K potential temperature. Eight measurement campaigns (consisting of a total of 36 flights), distributed over all seasons and typically covering latitudes between 35° N and 75° N in the European longitude sector (10° W–20° E), were performed. Here we present an overview of the project, describing the instrumentation, the encountered meteorological situations during the campaigns and the data set available from SPURT. Measurements were obtained for N2O, CH4, CO, CO2, CFC12, H2, SF6, NO, NOy, O3 and H2O. We illustrate the strength of this new data set by showing mean distributions of the mixing ratios of selected trace gases, using a potential temperature – equivalent latitude coordinate system. The observations reveal that the LMS is most stratospheric in character during spring, with the highest mixing ratios of O3 and NOy and the lowest mixing ratios of N2O and SF6. The lowest mixing ratios of NOy and O3 are observed during autumn, together with the highest mixing ratios of N2O and SF6 indicating a strong tropospheric influence. For H2O, however, the maximum concentrations in the LMS are found during summer, suggesting unique (temperature- and convection-controlled) conditions for this molecule during transport across the tropopause. The SPURT data set is presently the most accurate and complete data set for many trace species in the LMS, and its main value is the simultaneous measurement of a suite of trace gases having different lifetimes and physical-chemical histories. It is thus very well suited for studies of atmospheric transport, for model validation, and for investigations of seasonal changes in the UT/LMS, as demonstrated in accompanying and elsewhere published studies