Multikulturalität und Mehrsprachigkeit im \u27realen\u27 Europa und im \u27virtuellen\u27 Raum

While in the post World War II era autochthonous European ethnic groups were of main interest, since the 1960\u27s new, often socially- defined minorities like migrants, guest workers, emigrants returning from former colonies, refugees, evacuees and resettlers have moved into the focus. The European policy of the 1980\u27s and \u2790\u27s clearly votes for the protection of the cultural identity of all societal groups and in this context supports the evolution of a "European added value". But this process could be interrupted in the new millennium, where majority as well as minority groups are in danger of loosing their cultural autonomy. One indicator for this is the pressure to use standardized languages in a world marked by increased globalization - especially via the new media. This article looks at the chances and risks of the new media - mainly the Internet - for the pluricentric European society. (DIPF/orig.

Sedimentary processes in the Thau Lagoon (France): From seasonal to century time scales

As a part of the MICROBENT programme, an investigation of the sedimentation framework was carried out at the water-sediment interface in the Thau Lagoon (French Mediterranean coast). Two main sites, C4 in the middle of the lagoon and C5 near oyster farms, were visited six times between December 2001 and May 2003. Interface sediments were studied using classical sedimentology parameters (radiography RX, grain size distribution) and analysis of selected radionuclides (234Th, 7Be, 210Pb, 226Ra). On a century time scale, excess 210Pb (210Pbxs) presents classical profiles with an upper mixed layer, followed by an exponential decrease of activities to undetectable levels below 20 – 30 cm. At the central site, C4, cores seem to register episodic changes in mean grain size, presenting recurrently peaks. The upper 10 cm of 210Pbxs profiles at site C5 exhibit a mixed layer associated with coarser sediments: this could be related to biological activity. Sedimentation rates derived from 210Pbxs varied from 0.15 cm y−1 at the edge of the basin, to 0.25 cm y−1 at the central site. On a seasonal time scale, 234Th and 7Be both show significant variations in activities and in penetration within the sediment. Bioturbation rates derived from both radionuclides agree well and range between 1–10 cm2 y−1 at site C4 and 1–31 cm2 y−1 at site C5. 234Th and 7Be fluxes at the water-sediment interface show too seasonal variations, more pronounced for site C5. This latter site presents especially a higher variability that is well marked with season, probably in relation with its position near oyster farms

The role of antibodies in multiple sclerosis

AbstractB cells, plasma cells, and antibodies are commonly found in active central nervous system (CNS) lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). B cells isolated from CNS lesions as well as from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) show signs of clonal expansion and hypermutation, suggesting their local activation. Plasma blasts and plasma cells maturating from these B cells were recently identified to contribute to the development of oligoclonal antibodies produced within the CSF, which remain a diagnostic hallmark finding in MS. Within the CNS, antibody deposition is associated with complement activation and demyelination, indicating antigen recognition-associated effector function. While some studies indeed implied a disease-intrinsic and possibly pathogenic role of antibodies directed against components of the myelin sheath, no unequivocal results on a decisive target antigen within the CNS persisted to date. The notion of a pathogenic role for antibodies in MS is nevertheless empirically supported by the clinical benefit of plasma exchange in patients with histologic signs of antibody deposition within the CNS. Further, such evidence derives from the animal model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In transgenic mice endogenously producing myelin-specific antibodies, EAE severity was substantially increased accompanied by enhanced CNS demyelination. Further, genetic engineering in mice adding T cells that recognize the same myelin antigen resulted in spontaneous EAE development, indicating that the coexistence of myelin-specific B cells, T cells, and antibodies was sufficient to trigger CNS autoimmune disease. In conclusion, various pathological, clinical, immunological, and experimental findings collectively indicate a pathogenic role of antibodies in MS, whereas several conceptual challenges, above all uncovering potential target antigens of the antibody response within the CNS, remain to be overcome

Influence of spray drying parameters on the formation of β-phase poly(vinylidene fluoride)

A simple one-step spraying method to produce poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) in the desired conformation is presented. The content of the piezoelectric β-phase is measured at different spray drying conditions and during electrospray. The influence of a strong electrical field and charges on the droplet are investigated separately from the electrospray setup with a pneumatic atomizer. For this purpose, the electric field is integrated into a pneumatic atomization process by a plate capacitor and the charge of the droplets by corona discharge. To investigate the drying properties, the drying temperature and the flow rate of dry air are examined. The presented process offers the possibility to deposit PVDF films or to produce PVDF powders, in their piezoelectric β- and γ-phases or in the nonpolar α-phase

How Consumers Manage Textile Waste

Past studies have considered the impact of fashion on consumer textile disposal behaviour, but have focused mainly on drivers of clothing waste. There is a paucity of studies that have sought to model consumer attitudes and behaviours regarding fashion interest, shopping frequency, and disposal methods. The main goal of this thesis was to collect information regarding the largely unexamined topic of textile waste management in Canada and to link consumer waste disposal behaviour with an individual’s level of fashion interest. This study conducted an electronic survey to ask 410 people in Ontario with varying demographic characteristics how they currently manage their textile waste including personal reuse, resell, swap, take-back, donation and disposal. A 5-point Likert scale was used to ask participants sixteen questions about their fashion interest and shopping frequency to develop a fashion scale and assign each participant a fashion index value. Statistical analysis was used to establish whether there is a link between textile waste behaviour and fashion index. The results indicate that an individual’s fashion index is dependent on gender and age and that there are significant differences in the way consumers with high fashion index (fashion consumers) and consumers with low fashion index (non-fashion consumers) manage their textile waste. While the majority of participants donate and dispose of unwanted clothes, fashion consumers are more interested in, and more likely to participate in, alternative methods to removing unwanted textiles. Although fashion and especially fast-fashion consumers acquire the most garments, and this inevitably leads to more unwanted garments kept for a shorter time period than non-fashion consumers, fashion consumers were found have a lower disposal rate than non-fashion consumers (38 percent to 50 percent, respectively). Results also show that while personal reuse and donation are widely practiced, so too is disposal. Many consumers demonstrated a lack of awareness about alternative channels, including take-back, reselling and swapping. However, the interest and willingness of fashion consumers to participate in these channels suggests opportunities to shift textile disposal behaviour so that the amount of waste going to landfill can be reduced. The results establish the influence of a fashion scale on consumer textile waste management practices in Ontario, Canada, which can be applied to other regions as well. Since there is usually a discrepancy between self-reported behaviour and actual behaviour, these results can only be seen as a tendency, but they nonetheless show that further research is needed into how alternative channels for textile removal can be fostered as well as the effect that alternative channels for extending the use of a garment will have on its condition and therefore its final disposal