Theory and Practice of Human Security concerns in EU-Japan relations: the EU perspective

The European Union, its member states and Japan differ somewhat in their approaches to human security. Most European states tend to emphasize ‘freedom from fear’. Some prefer ‘freedom to take action on one’s own behalf’ while Japan stresses ‘freedom from want’. Realists posit that these differences arise from power (a-)symmetries between the United States and its partners and/or the relative positioning of the EU and Japan vis-à-vis other powers. Liberals tend to emphasis ideational or commercial preferences in respective aid policies when explaining the commonalities and divergence between the two. Social constructivists, in turn, argue that pacifist and humanitarian self-identifications are crucial when accounting for the prominent role of Japan, the EU, its member states in this field. Drawing on this work, this paper first describes and explains the emergence of the EU institutions’ positioning on the issue. It then extends this research to EU member states. A brief comparative analysis of trends of convergence and divergence with the Japanese position is conducted. It concludes by finding significant potential for a reinvigorated human security policy by EU institutions with support from some and tolerance from most of its member states

Characterisation and predictability of a strong and a weak forcing severe convective event – a multi-data approach

Two severe summer-time convective events in Germany are investigated which can be classified by the prevailing synoptic conditions into a strong and a weak forcing case. The strong forcing case exhibits a larger scale precipitation pattern caused by frontal ascent whereas scattered convection is dominating the convective activity in the weak forcing case. Other distinguished differences between the cases are faster movement of convective cells and larger regions with significant loss mainly due to severe gusts in the strong forcing case. A comprehensive set of various observations is used to characterise the two different events. The observations include measurements from a lightning detection network, precipitation radar, geostationary satellite and weather stations, as well as information from an automated cell detection algorithm based on radar reflectivity which is combined with severe weather reports, and damage data from insurances. Forecast performance at various time scales is analysed ranging from nowcasting and warning to short- range forecasting. Various methods and models are examined, including human warnings, observation-based nowcasting algorithms and high-resolution ensemble prediction systems. The analysis shows the advantages of a multi-sensor and multi-source approach in characterising convective events and their impacts. Using data from various sources allows to combine the different strengths of observational data sets, especially in terms of spatial coverage or data accuracy, e.g. damage data from insurances provide good spatial coverage with little meteorological information while measurements at weather stations provide accurate but pointwise observations. Furthermore, using data from multiple sources allow for a better understanding of the convective life cycle. Several parameters from different instruments are shown to have a predictive skill for convective development, these include satellite-based cloud-top cooling rates as measure for intensive convective growth, 3D-radar reflectivity, mesocyclone detection from doppler radar, overshooting top detection or lightning jumps to evaluate storm intensification and formation of severe weather. This synergetic approach can help to improve nowcasting algorihtms and thus the warning process. The predictability of the analysed severe convective events differs with different types of forcing which is reflected in both, convective-scale ensemble prediction system forecasts and human weather warnings. Human warnings show larger false alarm rates in the weak forcing case. Ensemble predictions are able to capture the characteristics of the convective precipitation. The forecast skill is connected strongly to the synoptic situation and the presence of large-scale forcing increases the forecast skill. This has to be considered for potential future warn-on-forecast strategies

Reactors for microbial electrobiotechnology

From the first electromicrobial experiment to a sophisticated microbial electrochemical process - it all takes place in a reactor. Whereas the reactor design and materials used strongly influence the obtained results, there are no common platforms for MES reactors. This is a critical convention gap, as cross-comparison and benchmarking among MES as well as MES vs. conventional biotechnological processes is needed. Only knowledge driven engineering of MES reactors will pave the way to application and commercialization. In this chapter we first assess the requirements on reactors to be used for bioelectrochemical systems as well as potential losses caused by the reactor design. Subsequently, we compile the main types and designs of reactors used for MES so far, starting from simple H-cells to stirred tank reactors. We conclude with a discussion on the weaknesses and strengths of the existing types of reactors for bioelectrochemical systems that are scored on design criteria and draw conclusions for the future engineering of MES reactors. [GRAPHICS]

L’Iris des prés (Iris spuria) en Hesse

Die Wiesen-Schwertlilie (Iris spuria) war in Deutschland seit jeher nur in der nördlichen Oberrheinebene und Rheinhessen verbreitet. In Hessen reichte das bekannte Areal östlich des Rheins von den Bruderlöchern im Süden bis zur Mainspitze im Norden. Bekannter war vor allem der reiche Bestand im Naturschutzgebiet „Riedloch von Trebur“, über die übrigen Vorkommen gab es jedoch bislang keine umfassende Übersicht. Die vorliegenden Erhebungen zeigen, dass es auch außerhalb des Riedloches noch immer individuenstarke Restvorkommen gibt und durch Hilfsmaßnahmen in der Gemeinde Riedstadt konnten sogar neue Populationen begründet werden.The Blue Iris (Iris spuria) occurs in Germany only in the northern part of the upper Rhine valley and in Rhine-Hesse. The range in Hesse extends from the Kuehkopf area (Bruderloecher) in the south to the confluence of the Rhine and Main rivers in the north. The extensive population in the “Trebur Riedloch” nature conservation area is well known, but the distribution in other areas is less well understood. A survey conducted in 2006 revealed a surprisingly high number of sites where this species occurs, some of which had large populations. In Riedstadt, a reconstruction project for valley meadows was successful in establishing new populations.L’Iris des prés (Iris spuria) n’était en Allemagne répandue que dans la partie nord de la Plaine rhénane supérieure et en Hesse rhénane. En Hesse, à l’est du Rhin, l’aire qui était déjà connue s’étendait depuis les Bruderlöcher au sud jusqu’à la Pointe du Main (Mainspitze) au nord. En particulier la population la plus connue et la plus étendue se trouvait dans la réserve naturelle du Riedloch von Trebur, alors que, pour les autres, il n’existait pas de répertoire permettant une vue complète. Les relevés actuels montrent qu’il subsiste également en dehors du site du Riedloch des populations aux nombreux spécimens. Grâce à l’aide de la commune de Riedstadt, de nouvelles populations ont pu même être installées. Au nord de l’aire, aucun spécimen n’a pu être constaté

Enhancing methane production from food waste fermentate using biochar. The added value of electrochemical testing in pre-selecting the most effective type of biochar

Background: Recent studies have suggested that addition of electrically conductive biochar particles is an effective strategy to improve the methanogenic conversion of waste organic substrates, by promoting syntrophic associations between acetogenic and methanogenic organisms based on interspecies electron transfer processes. However, the underlying fundamentals of the process are still largely speculative and, therefore, a priori identification, screening, and even design of suitable biochar materials for a given biotechnological process are not yet possible. Results: Here, three charcoal-like products (i.e., biochars) obtained from the pyrolysis of different lignocellulosic materials, (i.e., wheat bran pellets, coppiced woodlands, and orchard pruning) were tested for their capacity to enhance methane production from a food waste fermentate. In all biochar-supplemented (25 g/L) batch experiments, the complete methanogenic conversion of fermentate volatile fatty acids proceeded at a rate that was up to 5 times higher than that observed in the unamended (or sand-supplemented) controls. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis coupled with confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed an intimate association between archaea and bacteria around the biochar particles and provided a clear indication that biochar also shaped the composition of the microbial consortium. Based on the application of a suite of physico-chemical and electrochemical characterization techniques, we demonstrated that the positive effect of biochar is directly related to the electron-donating capacity (EDC) of the material, but is independent of its bulk electrical conductivity and specific surface area. The latter properties were all previously hypothesized to play a major role in the biochar-mediated interspecies electron transfer process in methanogenic consortia. Conclusions: Collectively, these results of this study suggest that for biochar addition in anaerobic digester operation, the screening and identification of the most suitable biochar material should be based on EDC determination, via simple electrochemical tests. © 2017 The Author(s)

Enhancing methane production from food waste fermentate using biochar. The added value of electrochemical testing in pre-selecting the most effective type of biochar

Background: Recent studies have suggested that addition of electrically conductive biochar particles is an effective strategy to improve the methanogenic conversion of waste organic substrates, by promoting syntrophic associations between acetogenic and methanogenic organisms based on interspecies electron transfer processes. However, the underlying fundamentals of the process are still largely speculative and, therefore, a priori identification, screening, and even design of suitable biochar materials for a given biotechnological process are not yet possible. Results: Here, three charcoal-like products (i.e., biochars) obtained from the pyrolysis of different lignocellulosic materials, (i.e., wheat bran pellets, coppiced woodlands, and orchard pruning) were tested for their capacity to enhance methane production from a food waste fermentate. In all biochar-supplemented (25 g/L) batch experiments, the complete methanogenic conversion of fermentate volatile fatty acids proceeded at a rate that was up to 5 times higher than that observed in the unamended (or sand-supplemented) controls. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis coupled with confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed an intimate association between archaea and bacteria around the biochar particles and provided a clear indication that biochar also shaped the composition of the microbial consortium. Based on the application of a suite of physico-chemical and electrochemical characterization techniques, we demonstrated that the positive effect of biochar is directly related to the electron-donating capacity (EDC) of the material, but is independent of its bulk electrical conductivity and specific surface area. The latter properties were all previously hypothesized to play a major role in the biochar-mediated interspecies electron transfer process in methanogenic consortia. Conclusions: Collectively, these results of this study suggest that for biochar addition in anaerobic digester operation, the screening and identification of the most suitable biochar material should be based on EDC determination, via simple electrochemical tests. © 2017 The Author(s)

Combining phosphate species and stainless steel cathode to enhance hydrogen evolution in microbial electrolysis cell (MEC)

Microbial electrolysis cells (MEC) must work around neutral pH because of microbial catalysis at the anode. To develop a hydrogen evolution cathode that can work at neutral pH remains a major challenge in MEC technology. Voltammetry performed at pH 8.0 on rotating disk electrodes showed that the presence of phosphate species straightforwardly multiplied the current density of hydrogen evolution, through the so-called cathodic deprotonation reaction. The mechanism was stable on stainless steel cathodes whereas it rapidly vanished on platinum. The phosphate/stainless steel system implemented in a 25 L MEC with a marine microbial anode led to hydrogen evolution rates of up to 4.9 L/h/m2 under 0.8 V voltage, which were of the same order than the best performance values reported so far. Keywords: Hydrogen; Microbial electrolysis cell (MEC); Stainless steel; Phosphat