Meer groei dan vergroening : mogelijke gevolgen GLB 2014-2020 voor melkveehouders en akkerbouwers = More growth than greening : possible impact of CAP 2014-2020 for dairy farmers and arable farmers

Voor 35 melkveehouders en 12 akkerbouwers zijn de mogelijke gevolgen van de herziening 2014 van het Gemeenschappelijk Landbouwbeleid van de EU verkend. Gekeken is naar de resultaten voor strategie, inkomen en de belangstelling voor groenblauwe diensten en subsidies voor investeringen in duurzaamheid

Levels of hexabromocyclododecane in harbor porpoises and common dolphins from Western European seas, with evidence for stereoisomer-specific biotransformation by cytochrome P450

Commercial hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a high-production-volume flame-retardant applied in polystyrene foams. It contains three stereoisomers, of which γ-HBCD always dominates. Here we report on the levels of HBCD in blubber of harbor porpoise and common dolphin from different European seas. The highest total (Σ)-HBCD levels were measured in harbor porpoises stranded on the Irish and Scottish coasts of the Irish Sea (median concentration 2.9 μg (g of lipid

Neurophysiological changes in the central and peripheral nervous system of streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Course of development and effects of insulin treatment

Diabetes mellitus can affect both the peripheral and the central nervous system. However, central deficits are documented less well than peripheral deficits. We therefore compared the course of development of neurophysiological changes in the central and peripheral nervous systems in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Sciatic nerve conduction velocities and auditory and visual evoked potentials were measured prior to diabetes induction, and then monthly after diabetes induction for 6 months. In addition, the effect of insulin treatment was examined. Treatment was initiated after a diabetes duration of 6 months and was continued for 3 months. During treatment, evoked potentials and nerve conduction were measured monthly. In a third experiment, conduction velocities in ascending and descending pathways of the spinal cord were examined after 3 and 6 months of diabetes. Impairments of sciatic nerve conduction velocities developed fully during the first 2-3 months of diabetes. In contrast, increased latencies of auditory and visual evoked potentials developed only after 3-4 months of diabetes, and progressed gradually thereafter. Insulin treatment, initiated 6 months after induction of diabetes, improved both nerve conduction velocities and evoked potential latencies. Conduction velocities in the spinal cord tended to be reduced after 3 months of diabetes and were significantly reduced after 6 months of diabetes. The present study demonstrates that in streptozotocin-diabetic rats the course of development of peripheral and central neurophysiological changes differs. Peripheral impairments develop within weeks after diabetes induction, whereas central impairments take months to develop. Insulin can reverse both peripheral and central neurophysiological alterations

Neuronal Ca2+ disregulation in diabetes mellitus

The Ca2+ hypothesis of brain ageing and dementia may account for part of the available data on the pathogenesis of dementia and certain neurodegenerative disorders. The hypothesis proposes that disturbances in the homeostasis of neuronal cytosolic free Ca2+ are part of a final common pathway, ultimately leading to neuronal dysfunction and cell death. The hypothesis also proposes that a small change in cytosolic free Ca2+ sustained over a long period of time will result in similar damage as a large change over a short period. Diabetes mellitus is associated with neurological complications in the peripheral and central nervous system, as reflected in peripheral neuropathy, modest cognitive impairments and an increased risk of dementia. In animal models of diabetes, learning impairments are associated with alterations in Ca2+ -dependent forms of hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Disturbances in the homeostasis of cytosolic free Ca2+ may present a final common pathway in the multifactorial pathogenesis of neurological complications of diabetes, which involves vascular changes, oxidative stress, and non-enzymatic protein glycation. In line with the Ca2+ hypothesis of neurodegenerative disorders, a prolonged, small increase in basal cytosolic Ca2+ levels indeed exists in sensory neurones of diabetic animals. In addition, Ca2+ dynamics are affected. Ca2+ channel blockers, such as nimodipine, have been shown to improve experimental peripheral neuropathy, through a vascular mechanism, possibly in combination with direct neuronal effects. Preliminary studies indicate that nimodipine may also improve Ca2+-dependent forms of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus of diabetic rats

Thin film silicon modules on plastic superstrates

The aim of this research is to fabricate high efficiency a-Si/μc-Si tandem solar cell modules on flexible (polymer) superstrates using the Helianthos concept. As a first step we began by depositing the top cell which contains an amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) i-layer of 350 nm made by VHF PECVD at 50 MHz in a high vacuum multichamber system called ASTER, with hydrogen to silane gas flow ratio of 1:1. Such amorphous cells on-foil showed an initial active area (0.912 cm2) efficiency of 7.69% (Voc = 0.834 V, FF = 0.71). These cells were light soaked with white light at a controlled temperature of 50 °C. The efficiency degradation was predominantly due to degradation of FF that amounted to only 11% after 1000 h of light soaking. The cell-on-foil data prove that thin film silicon modules of high stability on cheap plastics can be made at a reasonable efficiency within 30 min of deposition time. A minimodule of 8 × 7.5 cm2 area (consisting of 8 cells interconnected in series) with the same single junction a-Si:H p–i–n structure had an initial efficiency of 6.7% (Voc = 6.32 V, FF = 0.65)

Flexible amorphous and microcrystalline silicon tandem solar modules in the temporary superstrate concept

van den Donker MN, Gordijn A, Stiebig H, et al. Flexible amorphous and microcrystalline silicon tandem solar modules in the temporary superstrate concept. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. 2007;91(7):572-580

Subfertile men with constitutive chromosome abnormalities do not necessarily refrain from ICSI treatment: a follow-up study on 75 Dutch patients

Item does not contain fulltex