Techno‐economic assessment and comparison of different plastic recycling pathways: A German case study

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions need to be reduced to limit global warming. Plastic production requires carbon raw materials and energy that are associated today with predominantly fossil raw materials and fossil GHG emissions. Worldwide, the plastic demand is increasing annually by 4%. Recycling technologies can help save or reduce GHG emissions, but they require comparative assessment. Thus, we assess mechanical recycling, chemical recycling by means of pyrolysis and a consecutive, complementary combination of both concerning Global Warming Potential (GWP) [CO2e], Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) [MJ/kg], carbon efficiency [%], and product costs [€] in a process‐oriented approach and within defined system boundaries. The developed techno‐economic and environmental assessment approach is demonstrated in a case study on recycling of separately collected mixed lightweight packaging (LWP) waste in Germany. In the recycling paths, the bulk materials polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), and polystyrene (PS) are assessed. The combined mechanical and chemical recycling (pyrolysis) of LWP waste shows considerable saving potentials in GWP (0.48 kg CO2e/kg input), CED (13.32 MJ/kg input), and cost (0.14 €/kg input) and a 16% higher carbon efficiency compared to the baseline scenario with state‐of‐the‐art mechanical recycling in Germany. This leads to a combined recycling potential between 2.5 and 2.8 million metric tons/year that could keep between 0.8 and 2 million metric tons/year additionally in the (circular) economy instead of incinerating them. This would be sufficient to reach both EU and German recycling rate targets (EC 2018). This article met the requirements for a gold‐silver JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges

The (im?)possibility of a biological substrate for mental disorders

ACHTERGROND Er bestaat een tegenstelling tussen de ‘medische’ kijk op een psychiatrische aandoening (als gegevenheid van de natuur in de zin van een biologisch substraat) en de constructivistische visie. DOEL Onderzoeken hoe de constructivistische positie zich verhoudt tot deze medische kijk op psychiatrische aandoeningen. METHODE Een beschouwing gebaseerd op een conceptuele analyse, met name van het boek The social construction of what? (1999) van de Canadese wetenschapsfilosoof Ian Hacking. RESULTATEN Er blijken verschillende objecten van constructivistische analyses een rol te spelen bij psychiatrische aandoeningen, de aandoening zelf en het idee of concept van de aandoening. Deze verschillende objecten interacteren daarbij ook nog met elkaar. Deze interacties kunnen expliciet gemaakt worden door indifferente soorten te onderscheiden van interactieve soorten. Zo wordt duidelijk dat als een aandoening niet gedetermineerd wordt door een biologisch substraat, dit niet automatisch betekent dat zo’n aandoening geheel losstaat van een mensonafhankelijke natuur. CONCLUSIE Hackings filosofie biedt de mogelijkheid om voorbij te gaan aan de tegenstelling tussen de constructivistische positie en de medische kijk op psychiatrische ziekten. BACKGROUND: The constructivist position is often used for psychiatric diseases, in contrast with the general medical view. In the medical view a biological substrate is decisive for a classification as 'disease', which is not the case in the constructivist position. AIM: We investigate how both positions relate to each other in psychiatric diseases. METHOD: Analysis based on a conceptual analysis of Ian Hacking's book The Social Construction of What? (1999). RESULTS: Different objects ought to be distinguished in a constructivist analysis of psychiatric diseases; the disease itself and the idea or concept of that disease. These different objects interact with each other. These interactions can be made explicit by distinguishing interactive kinds from indifferent kinds. Doing so makes it clear that even if a disease is not determined by a biological substrate, this does not imply that a biological substrate is something completely separate from that disease. CONCLUSION: Hacking's philosophy makes it possible to move beyond the opposition between the medical and the constructivist account of psychiatric diseases by combining both accounts

Stromal SPOCK1 supports invasive pancreatic cancer growth

This research was supported by a KWF Dutch Cancer Society Research Project Grant to MFB and HWL (UVA 2012-5607 and UVA 2013- 5932), and continuous AMC Foundation support

Test des neuen PARIO-Gerätes zur automatisierten Schlämmkornanalyse auf Basis der ISP-Methode

Die Partikelgrößenverteilung ("particle size distribution", PSD) kennzeichnet eine der wichtigsten physikalischen Eigenschaften von Böden. Das Referenzverfahren zur Bestimmung des PSD beruht auf der durch Gravitation bedingten Sedimentation von Partikeln in einer anfänglich homogenen Suspension. Herkömmliche Methoden messen manuell (i) den Auftrieb eines schwimmenden Körpers in der Suspension zu verschiedenen Zeiten (Aräometer-Methode) oder (ii) die Feststoffmasse in extrahierten Suspensionsvolumina zu vorgegebenen Zeiten (Pipett-Methode). Beide Verfahren führen zu einer Störung des Sedimentationsprozesses und liefern nur wenige diskrete Daten der PSD. Durner et al. (2017) haben kürzlich eine neue automatisierte Methode zur Bestimmung der Partikelgrößenverteilung von Böden und Sedimenten aus Gravitationssedimentation enwickelt. Das "Integrale Suspensiondruckverfahren" (ISP) schätzt kontinuierliche Partikelgrößenverteilungen aus Sedimentationsexperimenten, indem die zeitliche Entwicklung des Suspensionsdrucks bei einer bestimmten Meßtiefe in einem Sedimentationszylinder aufgezeichnet wird. Das Verfahren erfordert keine manuelle Interaktion nach dem Start und somit keine spezialisierte Ausbildung des Laborpersonals und vermeidet jegliche Störung des Sedimentationsprozesses. Die Technik zur Durchführung dieser Experimente wurde von der Firma UMS AG, München, entwickelt und steht als Instrument mit der Bezeichnung PARIO zur Verfügung, das von der METER Group AG gehandelt wird. In diesem Vortrag wird die grundlegende Funktionsweise von PARIO aufgezeigt und Schlüsselkomponenten und Parameter der Technologie erläutert

Forests as Commons – Changing Traditions and Governance in Europe

Commons are complex institutions and exist across the world in a wide range of situations regarding locally developed governance and management systems of many different natural resources. For many people commons remain associated with Hardin’s theory concerning the “Tragedy of the Commons” (1968), in which he assumed that local users of a natural resource are unable to formulate governance and management structures concerning their own choices that took into account the long-term sustainability of the resource itself. As a result, Hardin articulated that the tragedy was that the resource would inevitably become degraded in such situations and that the solution was private or public ownership. However, across Europe many forests have for a very long period of time successfully been managed as commons, just as they have in many other parts of the world. This chapter has three main aims: It will provide an introduction to the various types of commons before going on to link the issue of commons to the traditional forest landscapes of Europe, and it will look at how the role of forests and forest landscapes has changed and how it may change further in the future

Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer with intensity-modulated radiation therapy in combination with cetuximab: the NEAR protocol (NCT00115518)

BACKGROUND: Even today, treatment of Stage III NSCLC still poses a serious challenge. So far, surgical resection is the treatment of choice. Patients whose tumour is not resectable or who are unfit to undergo surgery are usually referred to a combined radio-chemotherapy. However, combined radio-chemotherapeutic treatment is also associated with sometimes marked side effects but has been shown to be more efficient than radiation therapy alone. Nevertheless, there is a significant subset of patients whose overall condition does not permit administration of chemotherapy in a combined-modality treatment. It could be demonstrated though, that NSCLCs often exhibit over-expression of EGF-receptors hence providing an excellent target for the monoclonal EGFR-antagonist cetuximab (Erbitux(®)) which has already been shown to be effective in colorectal as well as head-and-neck tumours with comparatively mild side-effects. METHODS/DESIGN: The NEAR trial is a prospective phase II feasibility study combining a monoclonal EGF-receptor antibody with loco-regional irradiation in patients with stage III NSCLC. This trial aims at testing the combination's efficacy and rate of development of distant metastases with an accrual of 30 patients. Patients receive weekly infusions of cetuximab (Erbitux(®)) plus loco-regional radiation therapy as intensity-modulated radiation therapy. After conclusion of radiation treatment patients continue to receive weekly cetuximab for 13 more cycles. DISCUSSION: The primary objective of the NEAR trial is to evaluate toxicities and feasibility of the combined treatment with cetuximab (Erbitux(®)) and IMRT loco-regional irradiation. Secondary objectives are remission rates, 3-year-survival and local/systemic progression-free survival

The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of strength and balance Exergames to reduce falls risk for people aged 55 years and older in UK assisted living facilities: A multi-centre, cluster randomised controlled trial

Background: Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal unintentional injuries in older people. The use of Exergames (active, gamified video-based exercises) is a possible innovative, community-based approach. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a tailored OTAGO/FaME based strength and balance Exergame programme for improving balance, maintaining function and reducing falls risk in older people. Methods: A two-arm cluster randomised controlled trial recruiting adults aged 55 years and older living in 18 assisted-living (sheltered housing) facilities (clusters) in the UK. Standard care (physiotherapy advice and leaflet) was compared to a tailored 12-week strength and balance Exergame programme, supported by physiotherapists or trained assistants. Complete-case analysis (intention to treat) was used to compare Berg Balance Scale (BBS) at baseline and at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes included: fear of falling, mobility, falls risk, pain, mood, fatigue, cognition, healthcare utilisation and health-related quality of life; self-reported physical activity and falls. Results: Eighteen clusters were randomised (9 to each arm) with 56 participants allocated to the intervention and 50 to the control (78% female, mean age 78 years). Fourteen participants withdrew over the 12 weeks (both arms), mainly for ill health. There was an adjusted mean improvement in balance (BBS) of 6.2 (95% CI 2.4 to 10.0), reduced fear of falling (p=0.007) and pain (p=0.02) in Exergame group. Mean attendance at sessions was 69% (mean exercising time of 33 minutes/week). 24% of control group and 20% of Exergame group fell over trial period. The change in falls rates significantly favoured the intervention (incident rate ratio 0.31 (95% CI 0.16 to 0.62, p=0.001)). The point estimate of the incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) was £15,209.80 per QALY. Using 10,000 bootstrap replications, at the lower bound of the NICE threshold of £20,000 per QALY, there was a 61% probability of Exergames being cost-effective, rising to 73% at the upper bound of £30,000 per QALY. Conclusions: Exergames, as delivered in this trial, improve balance, pain and fear of falling and are a cost-effective fall prevention strategy in assisted living facilities for people aged 55 years or older