Lichtallergien und andere Lichtempfindlichkeitsreaktionen

Adverse reactions of the skin to light comprise a number of different dermatologic conditions. In light-‘allergies’ in the narrower sense non-ionised electromagnetic radiation (ultraviolet (UV)-A/-B radiation or visible light) provokes an immunologic or allergic skin reaction. These include solar urticaria, an, immunoglobulin E-mediated, immediate-type allergic photoreaction, photoallergic contact dermatitis and photoallergic (drug) exanthema, which are cell-mediated, delayed-type allergic photoreactions due to photosensitization, chronic actinic dermatitis and polymorphic light eruption. Beyond it there are nonimmunologic photosensitive and photoaggravated skin diseases, like exogenous and endogenous phototoxicity, xeroderma pigmentosum, which is based on a genetic defect, or the autoimmune disease lupus erythematosus.     

Effect of competing solutes on arsenic（Ⅴ） adsorption using iron and aluminum oxides

The study focused on the effect of several typical competing solutes on removal of arsenic with Fe_2O_3 and AL_2O_3.The test results indicate that chloride,nitrate and sulfate did not have detectable effects,and that selenium(Ⅳ)(Se(Ⅳ))and vanadium(Ⅴ)(V(Ⅴ)) showed slight effects on the adsorption of As(Ⅴ)with Fe_2O_3.The results also showed that adsorption of As(Ⅴ)on AL_2O_3 was not affected by chloride and nitrate anions,but slightly by Se(Ⅳ)and V(Ⅴ)ions.Unlike the adsorption of As(Ⅴ)with Fe_2O_3,that with Fe_2O_3 was affected by the presence of sulfate in water solutions.Both phosphate and silica have significant adverse effects on the adsorption of As(Ⅴ)adsorption with Fe_2O_3 and Al_2O_3.Compared to the other tested anions,phosphate anion was found to be the most prominent solute affecting the As(Ⅴ)adsorption with Fe_2O_3 and Al_2O_3.In general,Fe_2O_3 has a better performance than Al_2O_3 in removal of As(Ⅴ)within a water environment where multi competing solutes are present.     

Report on EU guidance on groundwater monitoring developed under the common implementation strategy of the water framework directive

The establishment of high quality long-term monitoring programmes is essential if the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) is to be effective. It is recognised that monitoring can be very expensive and so guidance is needed to establish cost-effective, risk-based and targeted groundwater monitoring across Europe that enables WFD objectives to be met. In this context, the Groundwater Working Group (WGC) of the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) of the WFD has developed recommendations aiming to implement consistent groundwater monitoring across Europe. This has been published on the internet in the form of a non-legally binding guidance document, which provides useful elements for the development and maintenance of networks at high standards and thereby provide the necessary information to assess (ground)water status, identify trends in pollutant concentrations, support establishment and assessment of programmes of measures and the effective targeting of economic resources. This paper presents this guidance document.     

Effective monitoring of agriculture: a response

The development of effective agricultural monitoring networks is essential to track, anticipate and manage changes in the social, economic and environmental aspects of agriculture. We welcome the perspective of Lindenmayer and Likens (J. Environ. Monit., 2011, 13, 1559) as published in the Journal of Environmental Monitoring on our earlier paper, "Monitoring the World's Agriculture" (Sachs et al., Nature, 2010, 466, 558-560). In this response, we address their three main critiques labeled as 'the passive approach', 'the problem with uniform metrics' and 'the problem with composite metrics'. We expand on specific research questions at the core of the network design, on the distinction between key universal and site-specific metrics to detect change over time and across scales, and on the need for composite metrics in decision-making. We believe that simultaneously measuring indicators of the three pillars of sustainability (environmentally sound, social responsible and economically viable) in an effectively integrated monitoring system will ultimately allow scientists and land managers alike to find solutions to the most pressing problems facing global food security.     

Combining modelling tools to evaluate a goose management scheme

Many goose species feed on agricultural land, and with growing goose numbers, conflicts with agriculture are increasing. One possible solution is to designate refuge areas where farmers are paid to leave geese undisturbed. Here, we present a generic modelling tool that can be used to designate the best locations for refuges and to gauge the area needed to accommodate the geese. With a species distribution model, locations are ranked according to goose suitability. The size of the area to be designated as refuge can be chosen by including more or less suitable locations. A resource depletion model is then used to estimate whether enough resources are available within the designated refuge to accommodate all geese, taking into account the dynamics of food resources, including depletion by geese. We illustrate this with the management scheme for pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus implemented in Norway. Here, all geese can be accommodated, but damage levels appear to depend on weather, land use and refuge size.     

An In Situ Bioreactor for the Treatment of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Groundwater

Two pilot tests of an aerobic in situ bioreactor (ISBR) have been conducted at field sites contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. The two sites differed with respect to hydrocarbon concentrations. At one site, concentrations were low but persistent, and at the other site concentrations were high enough to be inhibitory to biodegradation. The ISBR unit is designed to enhance biodegradation of hydrocarbons by stimulating indigenous microorganisms. This approach builds on existing Bio‐Sep^® bead technology, which provides a matrix that can be rapidly colonized by the active members of the microbial community and serves to concentrate indigenous degraders. Oxygen and nutrients are delivered to the bioreactor to maintain conditions favorable for growth and reproduction, and contaminated groundwater is treated as it is circulated through the bed of Bio‐Sep^® beads. Groundwater moving through the system also transports degraders released from Bio‐Sep^® beads away from the bioreactor, potentially increasing biodegradation rates throughout the aquifer. Groundwater sampling, Bio‐Traps, and molecular biological tools were used to assess ISBR performance during the two pilot tests. Groundwater monitoring indicated that contaminant concentrations decreased at both sites, and the microbial data suggested that these decreases were due to degradation by indigenous microorganisms rather than dilution or dispersion mechanisms. Taken together, these lines of evidence showed that the ISBR system effectively increased the number and activity of indigenous microbial degraders and enhanced bioremediation at the test sites. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Challenges and opportunities of power systems from smart homes to super-grids

The world’s power systems are facing a structural change including liberalization of markets and integration of renewable energy sources. This paper describes the challenges that lie ahead in this process and points out avenues for overcoming different problems at different scopes, ranging from individual homes to international super-grids. We apply energy system models at those different scopes and find a trade-off between technical and social complexity. Small-scale systems would require technological breakthroughs, especially for storage, but individual agents can and do already start to build and operate such systems. In contrast, large-scale systems could potentially be more efficient from a techno-economic point of view. However, new political frameworks are required that enable long-term cooperation among sovereign entities through mutual trust. Which scope first achieves its breakthrough is not clear yet.