Search

This study emphasizes the importance of a sustainable energy supply with regard to climate change. A way is shown how a de‐centralized heat supply in urban areas with renewable energies can be combined with algae production. The decentrally generated CO2 emissions are made usable for biomass production by means of membrane separation technology. The operating behavior of the CO2‐selective membrane materials was observed over an operating period of almost 10 years. This provides solid evidence of the operability of the polymer membrane and membrane module technology. It enables further optimization of the separation process for future applications, also in a wider range of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Load‐bearing capacity and applications of concrete components with reinforcement made of basalt fiber‐reinforced polymers To improve the durability of some components, it is advisable to replace conventional reinforcing steel with reinforcement elements made of fiber‐reinforced plastic (FRP). In the past, reinforcement elements with glass or carbon fibers were mainly used for this purpose. At Kiel UAS, the load‐bearing behavior of concrete components with basalt fiber reinforcement has been investigated and specific applications have been developed over the past two years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations of the CO2 Storage Potential of Recycled Concrete Aggregates and Cement Samples under Forced Carbonation The production of concrete, in particular the cement contained as a binder, causes a high proportion of human induced climate‐impacting gas emissions. Studies show that the decarbonization of limestone causes at least 8 % of global CO2 emissions, which underlines the acute need for action and research. Due to the current building and infrastructure stock and its increasing obsolescence or replacement, the amount of available demolition material is constantly increasing. In many cases, this material consists of high‐quality concrete that could be reused as recycled aggregate in the production process to conserve primary raw material sources. Most of this crushed concrete is not carbonized. This means that this potential could be used as a CO2 sink in the course of a recycling process. The recycled and carbonized material can be used as a substitute for natural grains. Due to the admixture as aggregate in the course of the concrete production, the degree of carbonation is irrelevant for steel corrosion or related problems. The main objective of this work was to investigate the CO2 absorption capacity of concrete waste in order to quantify its use as a potential carbon sink. The test series show that the ecological footprint of concrete can be significantly reduced by exploiting its carbonation potential by storing more than 1.3 % CO2 of the original mass after 24 hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major challenges in the field of electrochemical conversion of CO2 to CO in zero‐gap‐electrolyzers is the scale‐up to industrial relevant sizes. Despite the remarkable results achieved at laboratory scale in recent years, little progress has been made scaling up this technology. In this work, we show how controlling the water content at the cathode can help minimize flooding processes and enable the transfer of promising experimental results to larger electrolyzers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New methods have been proposed for calculating CO2 equivalents for short-lived climate gases such as methane. These take into account the fact that the warming effect of such gases depends on previous changes in emissions, rather than on their total atmospheric concentration, as it is the case for carbon dioxide. For methane from rumination, it should also be taken into account that there is a constant recycling of carbon emitted in the form of methane through agricultural forage production. In contrast to methane from fossil sources, an equilibrium between emission and degradation of methane can thus be established, without a further warming effect. As a conclusion, the prioritization of measures to reduce fossil methane emissions should be even stronger than already indicated for cost reasons. Furthermore, it becomes clear that in an equilibrium situation a CO2 pricing of methane from rumen digestion does not make sense from a climate policy point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "A History of the Federal Republic of Germany" by Knut Bergmann examines the significance of state banquets and the selection of food and drinks during diplomatic visits. Bergmann argues that these aspects can provide insight into the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. The decisions regarding the selection of food and drinks depended on international products, local products, and the preferences of the guests. German winemakers also took advantage of these occasions to promote their grape varieties. The article focuses on the state visits of foreign guests to Germany and the associated culinary aspects. It is noted that in the first decades after 1945, even dictators were given a platform and efforts were made to accommodate their wishes. Nowadays, however, politics has become more cautious and avoids meetings with undemocratic visitors. The author embeds the visits in the historical context and describes the interstate problems and expectations. It also points out the changing optics of state visits, while the culinary aspects have not yet been fully captured. It is speculated that in the future, information on allergens, regional origin, and CO2 balance could also be included on the menus. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the Institute for Mathematics at the Brandenburg University of Technology in Germany. I state that the institute focuses on interdisciplinary research collaborations and provides mathematical education for various Science Technology Engineering Mathematics programs at the university. It mentions that the BTU plays a significant role in the structural transformation of the Lausitz region, particularly in transitioning to a Carbon Dioxide-neutral and sustainable economy.

The German Library Association (dbv), together with the federal government, states, and municipalities, has adopted a climate accounting standard for the cultural sector. With a CO2 calculator, cultural institutions such as libraries can now record their CO2 emissions and develop strategies for reduction. The dbv will advocate for the approximately 9,000 libraries to use the CO2 calculator. Libraries throughout Germany are already actively engaged in sustainability and have been involved in various projects. The dbv represents almost 9,000 libraries nationwide and advocates for free access to information. [Extracted from the article]

Während das Thema Nachhaltigkeit im Privatleben vieler Menschen bereits eine Rolle spielt, gewinnt die Thematik in der Labormedizin nur langsam an Bedeutung. Doch auch hier muss dringend gehandelt werden, da jeder Mensch und jeder Sektor der Industrie mit verantwortlich dafür ist, dass zukünftige Generationen eine lebenswerte Umwelt vorfinden. Dieser Beitrag soll in knapper übersichtlicher Form Anregungen für eine nachhaltige Labormedizin geben. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Das Bestreben, aus CO2 mittels katalytischer Reduktion Wertstoffe zu gewinnen und damit einen Beitrag zur Bekämpfung der Treibhausgasemissionen zu leisten, führt zu enormen Anstrengungen in der chemischen Forschung. Die Dimensionen von Energiesystemen auf der einen Seite und der notwendige Transport und Handel mit global gewonnenen erneuerbaren Energien auf der anderen Seite werden den Einsatz von chemischen Batterien neben der lokalen Gewinnung von erneuerbarer Energie als elektrischem Strom erfordern. Die Synthese von Methanol ist eine wesentliche Option für chemische Batterien und wird daher detailliert beschrieben. Es zeigt sich, dass ein notwendiges, gesichertes, fundamentales Verständnis der Prozesse und Katalysatoren für die Hydrierung von CO2 immer noch nicht existiert. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "When, if not now?: The problem with NATO" critically examines the current state of NATO. NATO is described as a nuclear-armed military alliance whose actions generate war, global injustice, inequality, and brutality. In particular, the article focuses on NATO's activities in Europe and other parts of the world that have led to international tensions. It emphasizes that NATO plays a negative role and should be dissolved, as it is a waste of values and a major emitter of CO2. [Extracted from the article]

The article describes the deoiling of lecithin using CO2 as an alternative to conventional deoiling with acetone. By removing the oil, lecithin becomes a powdered solid that is easier to handle and suitable for oil-free and reduced-fat formulations. Deoiling with CO2 offers advantages such as the possibility of offering the finished product in organic quality, the use of a natural product as an auxiliary substance, and the avoidance of reaction products with acetone and other organic solvents. The planning of a CO2 deoiling plant requires consideration of size and capacity, with gradual expansion being possible. It is noted that the patent rights for the deoiling of lecithin with CO2 have expired. [Extracted from the article]

The article reports on the advantages of cold production compared to traditional hot production of products. Cold production can reduce energy costs, reduce CO2 emissions, and meet consumer demands. In addition, the possibility of CO2 recycling is demonstrated through an innovative biotechnological process, in which CO2 from the air can be captured and converted into valuable products. This technology enables sustainable use of CO2 and opens up new perspectives for a resource-efficient economy. The article also includes an obituary for Werner Siegrist, who was a loyal supporter of SEPAWA Switzerland and actively involved in the association. [Extracted from the article]

Magnesium (Mg) is an essential mineral without a specific hormonal regulation system. Mg-homeostasis and blood Mg-concentration depends on a continuous and sufficient absorption from the rumen. Ruminal absorption is essential for Mg-homeostasis. The apparent Mg-digestibility exhibits large variations and is influenced by the K content of the diet, the Na-status and the fermentation products short chain fatty acids (SCFA), CO2, NH4+ and pH. A meta-analysis of Mg-digestibility in dairy cows has shown that only the K-content reduces Mg-digestibility under practical feeding conditions of dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capnography as the graphical representation of the expiratory carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, is an essential component of monitoring of every ventilated patient, in addition to pulse oximetry. Capnography demonstrates the kinetics of CO2 in a noninvasive way and in real time. In the daily routine anesthesia, it mainly serves for identification of the correct intubation and adaptation of the respiratory minute volume to be applied; however, capnography can also provide much more far-reaching and clinically particularly valuable information, especially in the form of volumetric capnography (VCap) that is not yet so widely clinically available. These include monitoring and optimization of ventilation and assessment of gas exchange. This article presents parameters for making decisions at the bedside, which could previously only be obtained by extensive, more invasive, nonautomated procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capnography is the graphical representation of the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in expired air. Using this monitoring procedure, the kinetics of CO2 of mechanically ventilated patients can be assessed in a noninvasive way and in real time. This article highlights the importance, particularly of volumetric capnography (VCap), for clinical monitoring of mechanically ventilated patients. The procedure provides important information on the breathing, ventilation, metabolism and hemodynamics of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiari malformation type I (CM I) shows a high prevalence of sleep-related breathing disturbances (SRBDs). These can be of obstructive origin or due to impaired respiratory control. Pathophysiological causes are insufficiently evaluated. Randomized controlled studies for SRBD therapy in CM I do not exist. We describe a case of severe, predominantly central sleep apnea due to increased carbon dioxide chemosensitivity, which was treated successfully with adaptive servoventilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability is a term which has taken an inflationary trend. This article discusses the question, how the supply of carbon- based raw materials can be ensured in the future without additional impact on nature. It is shown that a sustainability bridge structure should be based naturally on both pillars solar energy and CO2. Natural photosynthesis delivers biomass which could be raw material for the production of higher valued chemicals, while artificial photosynthesis delivers hydrocarbons and/or oxigenates from which fuels and basic chemicals can be produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In various fields of medicine the transcutaneous measurement (pCO) of carbon dioxide pressure (pCO) has been accepted as a reliable measuring method while for other disciplines the method has been doubted. Nevertheless, some minor therapeutic interventions, such as electroconvulsive therapy and breathing biofeedback used in psychiatry could benefit considerably from transcutaneous monitoring. The study presented here investigated the accuracy of transcutaneous measurement as compared to end-tidal (pCO) and capillary (pCO) measurements in hyperventilation. Methods: In this study 22 healthy volunteers underwent a hyperventilation procedure with assessment of pCO, pCO, pCO, breathing and pulse rates. The three measurement methods of pCO were compared pairwise by Bland-Altman diagrams before and at the end of hyperventilation. The time delay between pCO and pCO was determined for each individual participant by a stepwise shifting the time course of pCO until an optimal congruence with pCO was reached. Results: The study group consisted of 10 men and 12 women with a mean age of 30.5 ± 9.4 years. The experimental procedure lasted an average of 27.7 min including 1.9 min for the baseline measurement and 11.6 min for the actual hyperventilation procedure. The course of pCO from baseline to the end of the hyperventilation phase and back to normal baseline followed a U-curve in all individuals. The pCO could be reduced by a mean of approximately 45 % for the 3 measurement methods from the individual baseline of 35 mmHg. The breathing and pulse frequencies increased by 26.8 % and 17.3 %, respectively. A total of 91 pCO values (mean 4 values per person) and 1,218 pairs of pCO and pCO values (mean 55 values per person) could be evaluated. The difference of the pCO values for two measurement methods revealed similar standard deviations in the Bland-Altman diagrams of about 2.5 mmHg for the 3 pairwise comparisons. The absolute measurement differences between pCO and pCO, pCO and pCO as well as pCO and pCO were averaged for each single participant and afterwards across all individuals resulting in values of 2.0, 2.5 and 2.3 mmHg, respectively. When the baseline and hyperventilation periods were examined separately in this analysis they did not show any relevant differences. The individually determined delays of pCO in regard to pCO averaged 53 s. The time delay exceeded 1 min in only two study participants. Conclusions: In the presented hyperventilation experiment the agreement between the pCO values and the pCO and pCO measurements were comparable to the agreement between the latter two. Altogether, the comparability of the measurement methods seemed satisfactory. The delay between the time courses of pCO and pCO of <1 min for most participants was short and is acceptable for clinical practice. Because only healthy subjects were tested these results might not be the same in children and critically ill patients and could differ from the presented results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In healthy subjects, respiratory regulation adapts alveolar ventilation to metabolic carbon dioxide production. A dysproportional decrease in alveolar ventilation after sleep onset with a consecutive rise in arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure is called sleep-related hypoventilation, which usually coincides with longer lasting arterial oxygen desaturation. Limits of normal pCO values during sleep in the literature are inconsistent. The International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-2) distinguishes five types of sleep-related hypoventilation. As pathophysiological mechanisms, 'central' mechanisms, caused by impairment of central nervous regulation of respiration are differentiated from 'peripheral' mechanisms, caused by medical or neurological conditions. The diagnosis is based on the detection of hypercapnia. Taking into account the methodological limitations, this can be done using transcutaneous or end-tidal pCO measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breathing is part of a transport system that serves gas exchange of the body. Rhythmic breathing movements are controlled by the neuronal respiratory network in the medulla oblongata, which is dependent on tonic afferents. These are partly closed feedback loops to guarantee the homeostasis of blood gases and acid-base balance, and partly non-feedback stimuli as the so-called 'wakefulness drives.' Orexinergic neurons in the hypothalamus seem to play an important role in the tonic drive of respiration during wakefulness. Sleep onset markedly reduces tonic afferents, decreases the sensitivity to hypoxia and hypercapnia, and elevates arousal thresholds. Sleep unmasks the apnea threshold. If the arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure drops below this threshold due to short hyperpneic episodes, the respiratory rhythm arrests. Restless sleep with frequent changes in sleep states destabilizes the breathing pattern. The muscle atonia especially during REM sleep also affects the upper airway muscles and the intercostal muscles. Consequently, there is an increase in airway resistance. The diaphragm has to compensate these challenges by increased work. Nevertheless, in healthy subjects the blood gases only slightly change from wakefulness to sleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the assistance of digital pen and paper technology in the field of prehospital data reporting, it seems to be possible to fulfill the requirements of „documentation“ as well as the requirements of „quality management“. The aim of this study was to determine the „primary documentation quality“ (PDQ) of a data reporting system based on digital pen and paper technology (so-called DINO) within a helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) over a 6-month period. The PDQ is defined as the proportion of prehospital documented data, which is primarily recorded correctly by the data reporting system. For the national uniform core dataset (so-called MIND2) the PDQ was 96.7%, for „checkbox“ and „numeric data fields“ the PDQ was 99.8% and 93.6%, respectively and for „vital data“ the PDQ was 96.7% [heart rate (HF), measurement of blood pressure] and 84.1% [peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), end tidal carbon dioxide concentration (etCO2), oxygen administration (O2)]. For „measurements“ the PDQ was 96.9% (time stamps) and 86.9% (time frames), for „drugs“ the PDQ was 43.6% (drug name) and 69.8% (drug dosage) and for“placement of infusion” 42% (infusion name) and 85.3% (infusion time), respectively. The average time for the „verification process“ after mission completion was 1.5±0.4 min/mission. The „primary documentation quality“ of prehospital mission data reporting with the assistance of a digital pen and paper based documentation system (DINO) has been shown to completely fulfill the requirements of rapid and safe data documentation in actual missions, even at this early stage of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods of mathematical modelling and simulation are being used to an increasing degree in estimating the effects of rising atmospheric CO2 concentration and changing climatic conditions on agricultural ecosystems. In this context, detailed knowledge is required about the possible effects on crop growth and physiological processes. To this aim, the influence of an elevated CO2 concentration and of drought stress on dry matter production, CO2 exchange, and on carbohydrate and nitrogen content was studied in two winter wheat varieties from shooting to milk ripeness. Elevated CO2 concentration leads to a compensation of drought stress and at optimal water supply to an increase of vegetative dry matter and of yield to the fourfold value. This effects were caused by enhanced growth of secondary tillers which were reduced in plants cultivated at atmospheric CO2 concentration. Analogous effects in the development of ear organs were influenced additionally by competitive interactions between the developing organs. The content and the mass of ethanol soluble carbohydrates in leaves and stems were increased after the CO2 treatment and exhausted more completely during the grain filling period after drought stress. Plants cultivated from shooting to milk ripeness at elevated CO2 concentration showed a reduced response of net photosynthesis rate to increasing CO2 concentration by comparison with untreated plants. The rate of dark respiration was increased in this plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the case presented problems with mechanical and manual ventilation of a patient occurred during the operation. Prior to this endotracheal intubation had been performed without difficulty and the respirator had passed all system checks. A leakage in the recently changed carbon dioxide absorber could be detected which had been accidentally dropped and damaged internally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]