Weiterentwicklung des Analyseinstruments Renewbility: Renewbility II - Szenario für einen anspruchsvollen Klimaschutzbeitrag des Verkehrs

Das Projekt Renewbility II hatte zum Ziel den bestehenden Renewbility-Modellverbund weiterzuentwickeln und im Rahmen von Szenariobetrachtungen den möglichen Klimaschutzbeitrag des Verkehrssektors bis zum Jahr 2030 unter Mitwirkung unterschiedlichster gesellschaftlicher Akteure zu quantifizieren. Im Basisszenario werden bestehende Regulierungen im Verkehr berücksichtigt und bestehende Entwicklungen fortgeschrieben. Im Ergebnis können im Basisszenario bei deutlichen Effizienzsteigerungen, dem zunehmenden Einsatz alternativer Kraftstoffe im Verkehr und einer weiter zunehmenden Verkehrsnachfrage die Treibhausgasemissionen bis zum Jahr 2030 um 12 % gegenüber 2005 gesenkt werden. Im Klimaschutzszenario können mit deutlich ambitionierteren Maßnahmen die Treibhausgasemissionen im selben Zeitraum um 37 % reduziert werden bei gleichzeitiger Stärkung der deutschen Wirtschaftskraft und Stabilisierung des Staatshaushaltes. Neben einer weiteren Effizienzsteigerung und dem Einsatz von alternativen Antrieben und Kraftstoffen, trägt insbesondere die Verlagerung, aber auch die Vermeidung von Verkehren zur Emissionsminderung bei

Hibiscus sabdariffa L. - A phytochemical and pharmacological review

Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Hs, roselle; Malvaceae) has been used traditionally as a food, in herbal drinks, in hot and cold beverages, as a flavouring agent in the food industry and as a herbal medicine. In vitro and in vivo studies as well as some clinical trials provide some evidence mostly for phytochemically poorly characterised Hs extracts. Extracts showed antibacterial, anti-oxidant, nephro- and hepato-protective, renal/diuretic effect, effects on lipid metabolism (anti-cholesterol), anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive effects among others. This might be linked to strong antioxidant activities, inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase, inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzymes (ACE), and direct vaso-relaxant effect or calcium channel modulation. Phenolic acids (esp. protocatechuic acid), organic acid (hydroxycitric acid and hibiscus acid) and anthocyanins (delphinidin-3-sambubioside and cyanidin-3-sambubioside) are likely to contribute to the reported effects. More well designed controlled clinical trials are needed which use phytochemically characterised preparations. Hs has an excellent safety and tolerability record. © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

Additive insulinogenic action of Opuntia ficus-indica cladode and fruit skin extract and leucine after exercise in healthy males

Oral intake of a specific extract of Opuntia ficus-indica cladode and fruit skin (OpunDia™) (OFI) has been shown to increase serum insulin concentration while reducing blood glucose level for a given amount of glucose ingestion after an endurance exercise bout in healthy young volunteers. However, it is unknown whether OFI-induced insulin stimulation after exercise is of the same magnitude than the stimulation by other insulinogenic agents like leucine as well as whether OFI can interact with those agents. Therefore, the aims of the present study were: 1) to compare the degree of insulin stimulation by OFI with the effect of leucine administration; 2) to determine whether OFI and leucine have an additive action on insulin stimulation post-exercise

Additive insulinogenic action of Opuntia ficus-indica cladode and fruit skin extract and leucine after exercise in healthy males

BACKGROUND: Oral intake of a specific extract of Opuntia ficus-indica cladode and fruit skin (OpunDia™) (OFI) has been shown to increase serum insulin concentration while reducing blood glucose level for a given amount of glucose ingestion after an endurance exercise bout in healthy young volunteers. However, it is unknown whether OFI-induced insulin stimulation after exercise is of the same magnitude than the stimulation by other insulinogenic agents like leucine as well as whether OFI can interact with those agents. Therefore, the aims of the present study were: 1) to compare the degree of insulin stimulation by OFI with the effect of leucine administration; 2) to determine whether OFI and leucine have an additive action on insulin stimulation post-exercise. METHODS: Eleven subjects participated in a randomized double-blind cross-over study involving four experimental sessions. In each session the subjects successively underwent a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) after a 30-min cycling bout at ~70% VO2max. At t0 and t60 during the OGTT, subjects ingested 75 g glucose and capsules containing either 1) a placebo; 2) 1000 mg OFI; 3) 3 g leucine; 4) 1000 mg OFI + 3 g leucine. Blood samples were collected before and at 30-min intervals during the OGTT for determination of blood glucose and serum insulin. RESULTS: Whereas no effect of leucine was measured, OFI reduced blood glucose at t90 by ~7% and the area under the glucose curve by ~15% and increased serum insulin concentration at t90 by ~35% compared to placebo (P<0.05). From t60 to the end of the OGTT, serum insulin concentration was higher in OFI+leucine than in placebo which resulted in a higher area under the insulin curve (+40%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Carbohydrate-induced insulin stimulation post-exercise can be further increased by the combination of OFI with leucine. OFI and leucine could be interesting ingredients to include together in recovery drinks to resynthesize muscle glycogen faster post-exercise. Still, it needs to be confirmed that such nutritional strategy effectively stimulates post-exercise muscle glycogen resynthesis.status: publishe

Detection of the acute phase of abdominal angiostrongyliasis with a parasite-specific IgG enzyme linked immunosorbent assay

Angiostrongylus costaricensis may cause intestinal lesions of varied severity when it accidentally infects man in Central and South America. First-stage larvae have never been detected in stools. Therefore, a parasite-specific IgG ELISA was evaluated for the determination of the acute phase of infection. The specificity and the sensitivity of the immunoassay was shown to be 76.2% and 91.1%, respectively. Eight serum samples taken from patients with histopathological diagnosis, at different time points (3 to 15 months) after surgical treatment, showed a sharp and early decline in antibody reactivity. The titration of anti-A. costaricensis antibodies has proved to be a useful method for the diagnosis of acute abdominal angiostrongyliasis

Detection of the acute phase of abdominal angiostrongyliasis with a parasite-specific IgG enzyme linked immunosorbent assay

Angiostrongylus costaricensis may cause intestinal lesions of varied severity when it accidentally infects man in Central and South America. First-stage larvae have never been detected in stools. Therefore, a parasite-specific IgG ELISA was evaluated for the determination of the acute phase of infection. The specificity and the sensitivity of the immunoassay was shown to be 76.2% and 91.1%, respectively. Eight serum samples taken from patients with histopathological diagnosis, at different time points (3 to 15 months) after surgical treatment, showed a sharp and early decline in antibody reactivity. The titration of anti-A. costaricensis antibodies has proved to be a useful method for the diagnosis of acute abdominal angiostrongyliasis

How can Germany reach its 2030 sectoral emissions targets? Energy efficiency, renewable energy or reduction of energy consumption? An impact assessment of different pathways

Germany’s Klimaschutzplan 2050 provides a long strategy to decarbonize Germany but also contains sectoral interim emissions targets for 2030 to ensure consistency and to avoid structural breaks. A comprehensive ex-ante evaluation (impact assessment) of these interim targets has been commissioned to serve two main purposes: i) to provide information and create a dialogue with affected and concerned stakeholders (e.g. social partners, parties, unions etc.). ii) to derive recommendations for the development and implementation of comprehensively sound policies and measures. In a first step, we develop two sets of possible pathways for each sector with which the sector targets set for 2030 can be achieved. While set A is mainly focused on energy efficiency, electric mobility and demand reduction, set B is less efficiency oriented but primarily targets renewable energy and alternative fuels (PtX). In a second step, we assess the environmental, economic and social effects including external costs for each set of pathways (or combination of sets from each sector). We also assess the interaction of different policy targets (within Germany and the EU). The assessment is based on sectoral, macroeconomic and microsimulation modelling and shows that set A with its focus on efficiency is preferable from an economic perspective. However, it requires substantial investment and innovation which need to be stimulated early on and also well scheduled to make optimal use of investment cycles and avoid lock-in effects. The transition towards a decarbonized economy requires new technologies, structural changes, changes in employment as well as adjustment of consumer behavior. All these provide substantial challenges, a particular one for Germany relates to managing the lignite coal phase out which will help to achieve climate targets while at the same time putting a burden on regions which are economically weak and politically challenging