Life cycle sustainability assessment approaches for manufacturing

Sustainability assessments considering the three dimensions environment, economy, and society are needed to evaluate manufacturing processes and products with regard to their sustainability performance. This chapter focuses on Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA), which considers all three sustainability dimensions by combining the three methods life cycle assessmentLCA, life cycle costingLCC, and Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA). Existing LCSA approaches as well as selected ongoing work are introduced, both regarding the individual approaches as well as the combined LCSA approach. This includes, for instance, the Tiered Approach. This approach facilitates the implementation of LCSA, for instance, within the manufacturing sector, by providing a category hierarchy and guiding practitioners through the various impact and cost categories proposed for the three methods. Furthermore, ongoing developments in LCC and SLCA are presented, such as the definition of first economic and social impact pathways (linking fair wage and level of education to social damage levels) for addressing the current challenges of missing impact pathways for economic and social aspects. In addition, the Sustainability Safeguard Star suggests a new scheme for addressing the inter-linkages between the three sustainability dimensions. These approaches foster the application and implementation of LCSA and thus contribute to developing sustainable processes and products

Hand and foot pressures in the aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) reveal novel biomechanical trade-offs required for walking on gracile digits

Arboreal animals with prehensile hands must balance the complex demands of bone strength, grasping and manipulation. An informative example of this problem is that of the aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis), a rare lemuriform primate that is unusual in having exceptionally long, gracile fingers specialized for foraging. In addition, they are among the largest primates to engage in head-first descent on arboreal supports, a posture that should increase loads on their gracile digits. We test the hypothesis that aye-ayes will reduce pressure on their digits during locomotion by curling their fingers off the substrate. This hypothesis was tested using simultaneous videographic and pressure analysis of the hand, foot and digits for five adult aye-ayes during horizontal locomotion and during ascent and descent on a 30 degrees instrumented runway. Aye-ayes consistently curled their fingers during locomotion on all slopes. When the digits were in contact with the substrate, pressures were negligible and significantly less than those experienced by the palm or pedal digits. In addition, aye-ayes lifted their hands vertically off the substrate instead of 'toeing-off' and descended head-first at significantly slower speeds than on other slopes. Pressure on the hand increased during head-first descent relative to horizontal locomotion but not as much as the pressure increased on the foot during ascent. This distribution of pressure suggests that aye-ayes shift their weight posteriorly during head-first descent to reduce loads on their gracile fingers. This research demonstrates several novel biomechanical trade-offs to deal with complex functional demands on the mammalian skeleton

LHPP, the light-harvesting NADPH:protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) oxido¬reductase:Pchlide complex of etiolated plants, is developmentally expressed across the barley leaf gradient

NADPH:protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase is a key enzyme for the light-induced greening of etiolated angiosperm plants. In barley, two POR proteins exist termed PORA and PORB that have previously been proposed to structurally and functionally cooperate in terms of a higher molecular mass light-harvesting complex named LHPP, in the prolamellar body of etioplasts [Nature 397 (1999) 80]. In this study we examined the expression pattern of LHPP during seedling etiolation and de-etiolation under different experimental conditions. Our results show that LHPP is developmentally expressed across the barley leaf gradient. We further provide evidence that LHPP operates both in plants that etiolate completely before being exposed to white light and in plants that etiolate only partially and begin light-harvesting as soon as traces of light become available in the uppermost parts of the soil. As a result of light absorption, in either case LHPP converts Pchlide a to chlorophyllide (Chlide) a and in turn disintegrates. The released Chlide a, as well as Chlide b produced upon LHPP’s light-dependent dissociation, which leads to the activation of the PORA as a Pchlide b-reducing enzyme, then bind to homologs of water-soluble chlorophyll proteins of Brassicaceae. We propose that these proteins transfer Chlide a and Chlide b to the thylakoids, where their esterification with phytol and assembly into the photosynthetic membrane complexes ultimately takes place. Presumably due to the tight coupling of LHPP synthesis and degradation, as well as WSCP formation and photosynthetic membrane assembly, efficient photo-protection is conferred onto the plant

Regional energy trading: a new avenue for resolving a regional water dispute?

The Coruh/Chorokhi river system is of great economic importance to both Turkey and Georgiabecause of its largely undeveloped but economically exploitable potential for hydropower. Onboth sides of the border a large number of hydropower projects are being implemented unilaterally in which private investors play the key role, following liberalisation of the energy sectors inTurkey and Georgia. This has been promoted in both countries, despite the resulting social andenvironmental costs, particularly in Turkey.Negative effects – i.e., the changes in sedimentation and the river flow regimes – moving fromupstream interventions in Turkey to downstream Georgia – have still not been resolved, and theywill put electricity generation in Georgia at risk when the hydroelectricity plants start operating.This article explores regional disputes and the degree of cooperation that exists, and analyses theeffect that the efforts of relevant actors to establish regional electricity trading are having on thecurrent problems. The creation of a regional electricity market seems to be opening up a newavenue for cooperation also on water

Surgical Approach of Synchronous Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma and Pheochromocytoma in MEN 2 Syndrome

In cases with concurrent medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and pheochromocytoma, discussion regarding a one-stage versus two-stage treatment strategy approach remains open. From 1975 to 1990, 11 of 25 multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) patients presented with biendocrinopathies or triendocrinopathies synchronously. All patients were treated surgically and followed subsequently in our hospital. Of the group of nine patients with concurrent MTC and pheochromocytoma, five were treated in one-stage and four in two-stage procedures. No patient had major complications intraoperatively. For the two-stage group, the total hospital stay (preoperatively and postoperatively) averaged 35 days. For the one-stage group, the total hospital stay averaged 25 days. In patients with increased operative risks (patients with higher age and impaired physical condition or if neck surgery includes transstemal cervicomediastinal lymphadenectomy), two-stage procedures should be selected. However, in young patients with the MEN 2 syndrome or syndromes with small tumors detected by family screening, thyroidectomy, cervical lymphadenectomy, and adrenalectomy may be performed in a one-stage procedure without increasing surgically related morbidity

Parodontale Erkrankungen bei Schwangeren und ihr Einfluss auf Frühgeburt und fetale Wachstumsrestriktion - State of the Art: eine Literaturauswertung

Die Reduktion perinataler Morbidität und Mortalität ist ein wichtiges medizinisches Ziel. Als wesentlicher Faktor, der für die perinatale Morbidität und Mortalität verantwortlich gemacht wird, ist die Frühgeburtlichkeit zu nennen. Durch die Unreife der Organsysteme Frühgeborener kann es zu zahlreichen akuten Erkrankungen, wie Atemnotsyndrom, intrazerebralen Blutungen und septischen Krankheitsbildern aufgrund der erhöhten Infektdisposition, kommen. Infolge dessen treten chronische, insbesondere pulmonale und neurologische, Folgeschäden auf, die nicht nur für das Frühgeborene und dessen Familie eine Belastungssituation darstellen, sondern auch vom Gesundheits- und Sozialsystem enorme Leistungen erfordern, die mit hohen Kosten verbunden sind. Schätzungen zufolge waren im Jahr 2006 ca. 12,8 % der Geburten Frühgeburten. Ca. 70 % der Frühgeburten ereignen sich spontan, wovon 45 % auf eine vorzeitige Wehentätigkeit und 25 % auf einen vorzeitigen Blasensprung zurückzuführen sind. Zur Reduktion der Frühgeburtsraten ist es entscheidend, insbesondere die Genese der spontanen Frühgeburten besser zu kennen, um sinnvolle Präventionsmaßnahmen ergreifen zu können. Schätzungen zufolge sind 25 % - 50 % der spontanen Frühgeburten auf eine Infektion zurückzuführen. Seit Offenbacher et al. 1996 ihre Arbeit zum möglichen Zusammenhang einer Parodontitis mit Frühgeburt und niedrigem Geburtsgewicht veröffentlichten, wird ein verstärkter Fokus auf die Untersuchung dieser Theorie gelegt. Offenbacher et al. postulierten, dass eine Parodontitis einen unabhängigen Risikofaktor für die Entbindung untergewichtiger Frühgeborener darstellt. Die pathophysiologischen Überlegungen umfassen verschiedene Wege, wie eine Parodontitis eine Frühgeburt auslösen könnte: entweder kann es durch hämatogene Streuung der oralen pathogenen Keime in die Plazenta oder Amnionflüssigkeit zu einer intrauterinen Infektion kommen, oder die chronische parodontale Entzündung selbst führt zu einer systemischen Infektion, die letztlich über erhöhte Zytokin- und Prostaglandinspiegel eine Frühgeburt auslösen kann. Da die Erkrankung mit Scaling und Root planning gut behandelbar ist, wäre es wichtig, sie als Risikofaktor für eine Frühgeburt zu identifizieren und somit zur Senkung der Frühgeburtsraten beizutragen. Die seit 1996 durchgeführten klinischen Studien variieren sehr in ihren Ergebnissen. So können einige Studien einen positiven Zusammenhag zwischen einer mütterlichen Parodontitis und einer Frühgeburt und einem niedrigen Geburtsgewicht nachweisen, andere wiederum können diese These nicht unterstützen. Bis 2007 kann kein einheitlicher Trend definiert werden. Die in dieser Arbeit betrachteten 37 Veröffentlichungen seit 2008 liefern weiterhin unterschiedliche Ergebnisse. Bei den untersuchten Studien handelt es sich um Beobachtungs- und Interventionsstudien. Zusätzlich wurden die Metaanalysen und Reviews seit 2008 berücksichtigt. Ein großes Problem in der Interpretation der Resultate stellen u.a. die verschiedenen Studiendesigns, die unterschiedlichen Probengrößen, die Populationsheterogenität und das Fehlen einer einheitlichen Parodontitisdefinition dar. Die Studien sind daher nur begrenzt miteinander vergleichbar. Zusammenfassend kann zum aktuellen Zeitpunkt keine definitive Aussage getroffen werden, ob eine Parodontitis einen unabhängigen Risikofaktor für eine Frühgeburt und ein niedriges Geburtsgewicht darstellt oder nicht. Es werden weitere randomisierte kontrollierte Studien, eine einheitliche Parodontitisdefinition, definierte Therapiestrategien und deren Erfolgskontrolle sowie weitere Investitionen in die Grundlagenforschung benötigt. Zum jetzigen Stand der Forschung sollte die Untersuchung des Parodontalstatus in die pränatale Routinevorsorge integriert werden und bei entsprechender Erkrankung auch eine Behandlung stattfinden

Surface and depth profile analysis of insulating samples by TOF-SIMS

The functionahty of modern products made of glass, glass-ceramics, organics or other special materials is mainly dominated by the surface quality. Α well defined lateral homogeneity of the surface stoichiometry is an important requirement for following addedvalue procedures, e.g. optical, mechanical or organic functional coatings. As a characterization tool the time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) provides analytical information about the chemical matrix in the surface near region with a lateral and depth resolution on the nanometer scale. Corrosion, contamination, interaction with the environment or diffusion of material components are typical phenomena, which can be studied in detail. The results lead to a deeper knowledge of the microscopic material behavior which is one of the basics for the understanding of complex processes in the field of development and production. Typical applications demonstrate the variety of operating a TOF-SIMS analytic tool, which is optimized for the investigation of electrically high insulating sample Systems with various geometric appearance

Salient characteristics of non-traditional students: Implications for college student personnel services

This population is not an easy one to identify. The search for a meaningful profile is complicated by the heterogeneity of the group 2 and the multiplicity of sub-groups. Yet, it is obvious that we have seen a dramatic increase in this student population which has received too little attention from professionals in higher education. Currently, student services tend to focus on the college student 17 through 25 years of age, single, male, unemployed, and full-time (Cross, 1974). Student services that have been implemented for the non-traditional student are mainly in the academic areas, with such programs as evening/weekend classes, credit for prior learning, extended office hours and elderhostel (Thon, 1983). If we are to meet the needs of this population, then student development educators need to examine the characteristics of non-traditional students and to develop student services approaches that will meet students\u27 needs and maximize their total educational experience