Von Konkurrenz, Bestäubungssicherheit und Biodiversität in der Bienenwelt

Die Vielfalt an Insekten ist enorm. Dabei ist nicht nur ihr taxonomischer Reichtum bemerkenswert, sondern auch ihre Funktionalität für zahlreiche, unersetzliche Ökosystem Leistungen

Enhanced performance based on hybrid cathode backing layer using a biomass derived activated carbon framework for methanol fuel cells

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) suffer from performance reduction due to mass transport losses incurred at high current regions. In this work, we report the use of activated carbon (AC), prepared from factory waste-tea, as cathode microporous layer in the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of a DMFC, alleviating this mass transport effect. This biomass based AC framework, when tested under fuel cell operating conditions provided 0.25 V @ 300 mA cm−2, enhancing cell performance by 33% over standard electrodes at 70 °C. During uninterrupted durability testing, this electrode displayed exceptional stability in mass transport dominated region, with loss of 15 mV day−1, compared to 25 mV day−1 loss for the standard. Sample and electrode characterization measurements reveal that pore size distribution/particle size characteristics coupled with hydrophobic nature of the synthesized activated carbon, contributed to the performance improvement

‘What are you going to do, confiscate their passports?’ Professional perspectives on cross-border reproductive travel

Objective: This article reports findings from a UK-based study which explored the phenomenon of overseas travel for fertility treatment. The first phase of this project aimed to explore how infertility clinicians and others professionally involved in fertility treatment understand the nature and consequences of cross-border reproductive travel. Background: There are indications that, for a variety of reasons, people from the UK are increasingly travelling across national borders to access assisted reproductive technologies. While research with patients is growing, little is known about how ‘fertility tourism’ is perceived by health professionals and others with a close association with infertility patients. Methods: Using an interpretivist approach, this exploratory research included focussed discussions with 20 people professionally knowledgeable about patients who had either been abroad or were considering having treatment outside the UK. Semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and subjected to a thematic analysis. Results: Three conceptual categories are developed from the data: ‘the autonomous patient’; ‘cross-border travel as risk’, and ‘professional responsibilities in harm minimisation’. Professionals construct nuanced, complex and sometimes contradictory narratives of the ‘fertility traveller’, as vulnerable and knowledgeable; as engaged in risky behaviour and in its active minimisation. Conclusions: There is little support for the suggestion that states should seek to prevent cross-border treatment. Rather, an argument is made for less direct strategies to safeguard patient interests. Further research is required to assess the impact of professional views and actions on patient choices and patient experiences of treatment, before, during and after travelling abroad

Surface and porous characterisation of activated carbons made from a novelbiomass precursor, the esparto grass

In the work now reported the production of activated carbons from a novel precursor, esparto grass, by activation with carbon dioxide is presented. The results show that the materials produced have interesting properties, namely BET apparent surface area and pore volume up to 1122 m(2) g(-1) and 0.46 cm(3) g(-1), respectively. The activated carbons have basic characteristics with point of zero charge between 9.25 and 10.27 and show a very fascinating structure, as shown by the SEM images. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.The authors are grateful to the Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (Portugal) and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors (COMPETE) and QREN for financial support through Project PTDC/CTM/66552/2006 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-007142) and under the Strategic Project PEst-OE/QUI/UI0619/2011 (CQE/UE).Valente Nabais, J.; Laginhas, C.; Ribeiro Carrott, MML.; Carrott, PJM.; Crespo Amorós, JE.; Nadal Gisbert, AV. (2013). Surface and porous characterisation of activated carbons made from a novelbiomass precursor, the esparto grass. Applied Surface Science. 265:919-924. doi:10.1016/j.apsusc.2012.11.164S91992426

Bee extinction: Why we're saving the wrong bees

Think honey bees are disappearing? Or that the more hives we have the better? Think again. Here's why they're the bad boys of the bee world, and what we should be focusing on instead. We're destroying our environment at an alarming rate. But it doesn't need to be this way. Our new channel Planet A explores the shift towards an eco-friendly world — and challenges our ideas about what dealing with climate change means. We look at the big and the small: What we can do and how the system needs to change. Every Friday we'll take a truly global look at how to get us out of this mess

Wie Bienen die Welt sehen - Blüte ist nicht gleich Blüte (Schwarzlicht-Fotografie)

In diesem Video nimmt FiBL-Mitarbeiterin Sabrina Gurten Sie mit in die farbenfrohe Welt der Bienen. Mit Hilfe der Schwarzlicht-Fotografie zeigt sie, wie Bienen die Welt sehen. Sie erklärt, mit welchen unterschiedlichen Strategien Nutz- und Wildpflanzen Bienen anlocken. Erfahren Sie zudem, wie Sie selber die Bestäubergemeinschaft fördern können

Interactions of some Schiff base compounds with mild steel surface in hydrochloric acid solution

WOS: 000261022200059The inhibition effect of the Schiff bases N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-1,2-etliylenedianiine (Salen), N,N'-bis(5-methoxysalicylidene)-1,2-ethylenediamine (MeO-Salen) and N,N'-bis(5-nitrosalicylidene)-1,2ethylenediamine (NO(2)-Salen) on the corrosion of the mild steel in 1.0M HCl has been studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), linear polarisation resistance (LPR) and Tafel polarisation measurements. Maximum inhibition for MeO-Salen was obtained. Results showed that the inhibition efficiency have increased when the concentration of the Schiff bases have increased. Polarisation curves revealed that the Schiff bases acted as anodic inhibitors. The surface adsorption of the Schiff bases has lead to a decrease in the double layer capacitance and to an increase in polarisation resistance. The inhibitor performance depended strongly on the type of functional groups on benzene ring. The adsorption process is spontaneous one and follows Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been applied to identify the surface morphology of the mild steel both in the absence and presence of the Schiff base molecules. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey [TBAG-104T417]The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, TBAG-104T417)