We consider how ecosystem services can be incorporated into water infrastructureplanning by studying the projected deepening of the Lower Weser river channel inGermany. We recalculate the project’s benefitcost ratio by integrating the monetaryvalue of changes in different ecosystem services, as follows: (1) the restoration costsof a mitigation measure for a loss in fresh water supply for agricultu

While recent experimental frameworks for national ecosystem service accounting have shown substantial progress, in our view some crucial methodological issues remain that deserve further consideration before setting final standards. In response to the landmark work of Obst et al. (Environ Resour Econ 64:1–23, 2016. doi: 10.1007/s10640-015-9921-1), we provide arguments with regard to the suitabilit

Ecological fiscal transfers in Brazil, the so‐called ICMS‐Ecológico or ICMS‐E, redistribute part of the state‐level value‐added tax revenues on the basis of ecological indicators to local governments. We analyze whether the introduction of this economic instrument in a state offers incentives to municipal responses in terms of further protected area (PA) designation. We provide a microeconomic mod

The Green Economy is a strategic development concept of the United Nations incorporating a broad array of potential meanings and implications. It is subject to academic conceptualisation, operationalisation, reflection and criticism. The aim of our paper is to conceptualise a subset of the multi-faceted and at times polarised debate around the implications and applications of the Green Economy con

Despite their evidently different assumptions and operationalization strategies, the concepts of Circular Economy, Green Economy and Bioeconomy are joined by the common ideal to reconcile economic, environmental and social goals. The three concepts are currently mainstreamed in academia and policy making as key sustainability avenues, but a comparative analysis of such concepts is missing. The aim

Ecological Fiscal Transfers (EFT) have recently gained attention as a promising instrument addressing public authorities to provide incentives for nature conservation. In parallel, both the EU and various European countries are exploring new mechanisms to mobilise funding to support biodiversity conservation. We develop a proposal for an EFT design within the supranational context of the EU and as

Portugal has a unitary system in which the central government transfers funds to lower government levels for their public functions. In 2007, Portugal introduced Ecological Fiscal Transfers (EFT), where municipalities receive transfers for hosting protected areas (PA). We study whether introducing EFT in Portugal incentivized municipalities to designate PA and has led to a decentralization of cons

The continuous emergence of new ideas and terms simultaneously enables and impedes the advancement of sustainability, because of an increasingly complex conceptual landscape. This study aims at highlighting combinations of sustainability concepts (circular, green and bioeconomy) and of development models (growth, steady-state, degrowth) which selected researchers have considered priorities for pur

Atmospheric concentrations of molecular hydrogen are commonly measured with the aid of commercial reduction gas analysers (RGA). An alternative technique of H2 detection has been proposed and tested. It is based on commercial automated gas chromatograph equipped with a μ-ECD detector doped with N2O. The main advantage of the presented method is its suitability for high-precision monitoring of atmo

Cell polarity is an ubiquitous and important phenomenon relevant for a plethora of cellular functions. One type of cell polarity is polar growth, where an organism only synthesizes cell envelope at designated locations in the cell. This requires highly organized localization of cellular activities. Understanding the ways in which polarity and polar growth are organized is critical for understandinCell polarity is an ubiquitous and important phenomenon relevant for a plethora of cellular functions. One type of cell polarity is polar growth, where an organism only synthesizes cell envelope at designated locations in the cell. This requires highly organized localization of cellular activities. Understanding the ways in which polarity and polar growth are organized is critical for understandin

Bone area is one measure of bone size that is easily derived from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. In a GWA study of DXA bone area of the hip and lumbar spine (N ≥ 28,954), we find thirteen independent association signals at twelve loci that replicate in samples of European and East Asian descent (N = 13,608 – 21,277). Eight DXA area loci associate with osteoarthritis, including rs14

The formation of a hybrid composite material consisted of polymer brushes and phenylboronic acid ligands on a macroporous cryogel is reported here for the first time for effective adsorption of glycoprotein and yeast cells. The surface area of the cryogel was increased by covalent immobilization of silica nanoparticles. Random copolymer brushes composed of N-isopropylacrylamide and glycidyl methac

Scientific Poster titled “Low-energy daylit dwellings in the dense city - Benchmarks, metrics and tools securing good daylighting, low energy use and user acceptance”, Velux Academic Forum, Berlin, 2 May 2017. This dissemination illustrates the research questions and key aspects of a PhD research project regarding daylight utilization in Swedish apartment blocks, which was initiated in February 20

Variable compression ratio (VCR)and variable valve timing (VVT)are two effective strategies to adjust the effective compression ratio, which is beneficial for controlling the combustion process of advanced combustion modes. In this study, systematic evaluation of the two strategies was conducted based on reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI)engine in terms of combustion process contro

This work presented the working scheme developed and used in order to conduct multiple daylight simulations for distinct rooms in a wide range of apartment buildings within the urban grid. The objective was to generate 3D models of the rooms under study and their urban surroundings, and to obtain the corresponding illuminance files and geometry information in a time-efficient, automated manner. Th

We present new in-situ measurements of particle rotations and energy dissipation during compression of 3D packings of stiff, frictional particles. Two confined, uniaxial compression tests with different degrees of lateral confinement are discussed. X-ray computed tomography and 3D X-ray diffraction were combined to provide inter-particle forces, slip and roll distances, twist angles, and energy di

This work presented and optimization scheme for daylighting, heating and thermal comfort objectives in a highly insulated apartment, while varying different geometrical aspects of external windows (number, shape, size, position). To satisfy all objectives simultaneously, a large number of design iterations was evaluated by the use of the SPEA2 genetic algorithm as it is implemented on the Octopus

Renovating and improving the current building stock is a matter of both need and importance. In order to know if the implemented renovation measure has had an impact on the building as a system it is important to verify the impact through measurements. The aim of this project is to isolate the impact of a measure on the energy efficiency of a building as well as the indoor environmental quality. T

The Sommerodde-1 core from Bornholm, Denmark, provides a nearly continuous sedimentary archive from the Upper Ordovician through to the Wenlock Series (lower Silurian), as constrained by graptolite biostratigraphy. The cored mudstones represent a deep marine depositional setting in the foreland basin fringing Baltica and we present high-resolution data on the isotopic composition of the section's

An expanded record (~14 m)of the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), a transient period of extreme global warming that occurred ~56 million years ago, has been found based on calcareous nannofossil and foraminifera stratigraphy in the deep marine Río Gor section, Subbetic Zone, SE Spain. During the early Palaeogene the Subbetic Zone was situated at a mid-palaeolatitude (~32° N), in the NW ma