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The winter package to reform EU’s energy system Diritto dell'energia

The Philippines, and in particular its urban agglomerations (Manila, but not only), is characterized by innumerable social and environmental problems. These are largely due to recent history, from colonization onwards, to a socio-political system that has never found stability, but also to environmental impacts of the country's development, such as pronounced deforestation, massive urbanization and growth linked to the use of fossil fuels. In this framework, the role of climate is really important. The Philippines is located in a region of the globe strongly influenced by monsoons, which bring dry seasons (with frequent heat waves) alternating with wet ones with heavy rainfall. In addition, the region is often hit by typhoons, some of them very intense (super-typhoons), and the sea-level rise and storm surges associated with intense events cause severe flooding on the coasts of this archipelago. During recent decades, anthropogenic climate change has generally intensified all these phenomena, with even very serious consequences on territories that can often be considered fragile and on a very exposed population, in the countryside and on the coasts, but especially in urban centres. The environmental and social degradation we are witnessing in the Philippines certainly calls for systemic thinking like that of Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato si' (Pope Francis 2015). It is a matter of adapting to a changed climate that will not return to the pre-industrial conditions, while at the same time strongly mitigating with a drastic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. But here, as in the world's other fragile states, more than anything else there is a need for the developed countries, and the ones that created the problems related to climate change, to reach out to the Philippines with support of international cooperation to make the whole world a fair, more prosperous, safe and happy place to live. In this paper, I will attempt to describe the Philippines' climate and its recent changes, the impacts of these on the territories, the consequences on Philippine society, and the challenges of ecological conversion in this situation of environmental degradation.

Die Metropolregion Santiago (MRS) verzeichnete in den letzten Jahren ein großes Bevölkerungswachstum und einen Anstieg des Lebensstandards. Als Folge davon hat sich das Aufkommen von Siedlungsabfällen fast innerhalb von 10 Jahren verdoppelt. Die Daten für den aktuellen Zustand des Abfallmanagements wurden durch Feldforschungen, Fragebögen, Feldbesuche und durch eine systematische Auswertung von bereits vorliegender Literatur erhoben. Das integrative Nachhaltigkeitskonzept der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft diente als konzeptioneller Rahmen für die Studie. Zur Bewertung des aktuellen Zustands des Abfallmanagements wurden Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren identifiziert, deren aktuelle Werte bestimmt und Zielwerte festgelegt. Die Nachhaltigkeitsanalyse zeigt, dass die größten Defizite darin liegen, dass nahezu die gesamte Abfallmenge ohne jegliche Vorbehandlung deponiert wird. Damit verbunden sind lang andauernde Emissionen von Treibhausgasen. Um herauszufinden, wie der informelle Sektor im Abfallmanagement zur Nachhaltigkeit beiträgt, wurden veröffentlichten Erfahrungen mit informellen Müllsammlern in Lateinamerika analysiert. Dabei wurden die entsprechenden Akteure sowie etablierte Allianzen zwischen diesen Akteuren identifiziert. Schlüsselfaktoren für ein nachhaltiges Abfallmanagement unter Einbeziehung des informellen Sektors sind die Legalisierung der Schattenwirtschaft und feste Verträge mit Partnerunternehmen. Relevante Akteure für die Gestaltung der Arbeitsbedingungen des informellen Sektors sind Vertreter privater und öffentlicher Unternehmen, einzelne gesellschaftliche Gruppen sowie Vertreter von Nichtregierungsorganisationen. Schließlich wurden drei explorative Szenarien für das Bezugsjahr 2030 entwickelt: Business as Usual (BAU), Collective Responsibility (CR) und Market Individualism (MI). Das BAU-Szenario enthält eine getrennte Sammlung von Bioabfall und von Wertstoffen; hervorgerufen durch einen verstärkten Organisationsgrad der informellen Müllsammler und den Ausbau von Bring-Systemen. Die Errichtung mechanischer Sortierungsanlagen trägt zur Verwertung der Materialien und zum Recycling bei. Das entstehende Deponiegas und Biogas wird als erneuerbare Energiequelle genutzt. Das CR-Szenario enthält eine getrennte Sammlung von Bioabfall und Wertstoffen. Dies wird erreicht durch eine verstärkte Zusammenarbeit mit den jetzt organisierten Müllsammlern und durch den Ausbau von Bring-Systemen. Mechanische Sortierungsanlagen tragen zur Verwertung von Materialien und zum Recycling bei. Durch Abtrennung einer heizwertreichen Fraktion in mechanisch biologischen Anlagen werden Sekundärbrennstoffe produziert. Darüber hinaus werden, das entstehende Deponiegas sowie das in Vergärungsanlagen erzeugte Biogas energetisch genutzt. Im MI-Szenario sind Wiederverwertungsstrategien von untergeordneter Bedeutung. Es gibt kein Interesse an einer Zusammenarbeit mit den informellen Müllsammlern und keine Anreize für einen verstärkten Organisationsgrad in diesem Bereich. Deshalb bleibt die Branche weitgehend informell. Technologische Entwicklungen in diesem Szenario enthalten die mechanische Sortierung von gemischtem Abfall und die energetische Verwertung von Deponiegas. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass das Pro-Kopf-Aufkommen an Siedlungsabfällen im Jahr 2030 in allen Szenarien deutlich höher als im Jahr 2007 ist und der festgelegte Zielwert von 1,6 kg/Kopf/Tag nicht erreicht wurde. Den höchsten Wert (2,0 kg/Kopf/Tag) weist das MI-Szenario auf, der niedrigste Wert (1,8 kg/Kopf/Tag) wurde im CR-Szenario gefunden. Eine Vorbehandlung der gesammelten gemischten Siedlungsabfälle findet nur im CR-Szenario statt, der entsprechende Wert beträgt 18 %, der Zielwert wird damit nicht erreicht. Die höchsten Treibhausgasemissionen treten im MI-Szenario (295 kg CO2-eq/Kopf/Jahr) auf, den niedrigsten Wert (155 kg CO2-eq/Kopf/Jahr) findet man im CR-Szenario. All diese Werte sind, verglichen mit dem festgelegten Zielwert von 71 kg/Kopf/Jahr, deutlich zu hoch. Der Zielwert für die Wiederverwertungsquote wurde im CR-Szenario erreicht (43 %), den niedrigsten Wert zeigt das MI-Szenario (20 %). Die Zielwerte für das Einkommen der Müllsammler wurden im CR-Szenario erreicht (128 %). Im MI-Szenario beträgt dieser Wert lediglich 51 %. Die Kosten für das Abfallmanagement im Verhältnis zum Bruttoinlandsprodukt sinken in den drei Szenarien. Aus den Ergebnissen lässt sich ableiten, dass ein Einbeziehen von mehreren Faktoren erforderlich ist, um die Nachhaltigkeit des Abfallmanagementsystems in den drei Szenarien zu steigern und dass es von wesentlicher Bedeutung ist, schon vorhandene und gut funktionierende Subsysteme, wie das der informellen Müllsammler, zu nutzen und zu stärken. Ebenso ist die Umsetzung robuster Behandlungstechnologien, die einen Beitrag zur Reduktion negativer Umweltauswirkungen leisten, zu forcieren. Diese Technologien sollten preiswert sein, um ihren Einsatz auch unter wirtschaftlich vertretbaren Gesichtspunkten zu ermöglichen. The Metropolitan Region of Santiago (MRS) has experienced a large growth in population in recent years and a rise in the standard of living. Therefore, its municipal solid waste (MSW) has almost doubled in 10 years. Data about the current situation of MSW management in MRS were collected during field research, interviews, field visits and by a systematic evaluation of existing documentary literature. The Integrative Sustainability Concept of the Helmholtz Association provided a conceptual framework for the study. The sustainability analysis showed that the largest deficits are in the current amount of MSW deposited at sanitary landfills without any pre-treatment, and the emission values of greenhouse gases associated with waste treatment and final disposal. To find out if and how the informal waste sector contributes to sustainability, experiences of organization of informal primary collectors in Latin America were analyzed. The key factors which have an influence on their working conditions were identified. These factors include the existence of a legal framework for the informal waste sector; the existence of alliances with production companies guaranteeing a reliable industrial market for secondary raw materials and expansion of activities beyond collection of recyclables. Key stakeholders included people from the public and the private sector, from the civil society and from NGOs. Three explorative scenarios were developed for the year 2030: Business as Usual (BAU), Collective Responsibility (CR), and Market Individualism (MI). Waste generation, waste composition and different practices of waste collection, recovery and treatment were taken into account for the scenarios formulation. The BAU scenario incorporated separate collection of biowaste, recyclable materials with some participation of organized primary collectors and an expansion of drop-off systems. The mechanical sorting of mixed waste was introduced. The utilization of landfill gas as an energy source was promoted and the production of biogas in anaerobic digestion plants was implemented. The CR scenario incorporated separate collection of biowaste, commitment to work together with the primary waste collectors and an expansion of drop-off systems. The mechanical and mechanical biological treatment of mixed waste was introduced. The utilization of landfill gas as an energy source is promoted and the production of biogas in anaerobic digestion plants was implemented. In the MI separate collection of biowaste and recyclable materials was irrelevant. An organization of the informal primary collectors did not take place. Mechanical sorting of mixed waste was introduced. Utilization of landfill gas as an energy source was promoted. The results showed that the generation flux of MSW is at least 50% larger in all scenarios in 2030 compared to the year 2007, exceeding the limit value proposed. The highest value (2.0 kg/(person•day) is obtained in the MI scenario, and the lowest (1.8 kg/(person•day)) in the CR scenario. Pre-treatment of mixed MSW collected is only achieved in the CR scenario with a value of 18%, however, the target value is not achieved. The highest greenhouse gas emission value is obtained in the MI scenario with 295 kg CO2eq/(person•year), the lowest value of 155 kg CO2-eq/(person•year) is obtained in the CR scenario; a value that is still very high in comparison with the suggested target. The largest recycling rate is obtained in the CR scenario (43%), which is better than the target value proposed, the lowest recycling rate is obtained in the MI scenario (20%). The income of primary collectors in comparison with the income of one individual household is improved significantly in the CR scenario (128%), in the MI scenario, earnings of primary collectors decreased to 51%. The share of GDP spent on MSW management is lower in 2030, compared to the year 2007, in all scenarios the largest value of 0.17% is obtained in the CR scenario, and the lowest value of 0.14% is obtained in the MI scenario. The results of the evaluation of the scenarios showed that the largest sustainability deficits are the amount of mixed MSW which undergoes pre-treatment, the greenhouse gas emissions associated to MSW treatment and disposal, as well as the share of GDP spent on MSW management. The results obtained suggested that an integration of several factors is required to increase sustainability. It is essential to strengthen and take advantage of the subsystems which are working within the waste management system, as in the case of the informal sector. In addition to the implementation of flexible treatment technologies which help to decrease negative environmental impacts. Moreover, the costs of these technologies should be affordable, allowing a better financial management.

The importance of emission control has increased sharply due to increased need of energy from combustion. However, biomass utilization in energy production is not free from problems because of physical and chemical characteristics which are substantially different from conventional energy sources. In this situation, the quantity and quality of emissions as well as used renewable source as wood or corn grain are often unknown. To assess this problem the paper addresses the objectives to quantify the amount of greenhouse gases during the combustion of corn as compared to the emissions in fossil combustion (natural gas, LPG and diesel boiler). The test was carried out in Friuli Venezia Giulia in 2006-2008 to determine the air pollution (CO, NO, NO2, NOx, SO2 and CO2) from fuel combustion in the family boilers with power between 20-30 kWt. The flue gas emission was measured with a professional semi-continuous multi-gas analyzer, (Vario plus industrial, MRU air Neckarsulm-Obereisesheim). Data showed a lower emission of fossil fuel compared to corn in family boilers in reference to pollutants in the flue gas (NOx, SO2 and CO). In particular way the biomass combustion make a higher concentration of carbon monoxide (for a incomplete combustion because there aren’t a good mixing between fuel and air) and nitrogen oxides (in relation at higher content of nitrogen in herbaceous biomass in comparison of another fuel). Proceedings of the 19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 6-10 June 2011, Berlin, Germany, pp. 1296-1304

Dottorato di ricerca in Scienze e tecnologie per la gestione forestale e ambientale ; European beech represents one of the most important European forest tree species, hence possible adverse factors affecting productivity and management of this species can have strong ecological and economic impacts in Europe. Rising atmospheric CO2 concentration, higher temperatures and changes in precipitation are likely to have significant effects on the vegetation period, growth, health and distribution of trees as well as on forest ecosystems, and thus on the goods and services provided by forests. In the 21st century, the Mediterranean Basin could be most sensitive to climate change due to global warming among the European regions and most of the current climate projections for Central Europe predict increased temperatures that are expected to cause an increase in the frequency and duration of intense summer droughts. Owing to its sensitivity towards low water availability and longer drought periods, physiological performance, growth and competitive ability of European beech may be adversely affected by such changing environmental conditions. Most European Beech forests have been historically managed trough different silvicultural systems, which acting directly on structure affect many ecophysiological processes. Tree rings are uniquely widespread relative to all comparable natural archives of climate signals and beech has been concerned extensively in tree ring studies, taking advantage of its widespread distribution, sensitivity to climate and longevity. Air (CO2) and water absorbed by a tree are subtly modified by physiological processes and in response to the varying environment in which the tree lives, and these small changes affect isotopic ratios of elements into the uptaken molecules (CO2, H2O, nutrients). In this context the objectives were to: (1) assess the relationship of climatic parameters, growth and carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13C), (2) evaluate the effect of different types of forest management on tree physiology and growth, (3) assess the response to recent atmopsheric CO2 concentration increment of trees growing in different sites. Hence, we selected four beech forests along a latitudinal gradient: central and southern Apennines (Pian di Limina, CAL1 and Collelongo ABR1, Italy), pre-Alps (Pian del Cansiglio VEN1, Italy), and middle European lowlands (Zoolithenhöhle ZOO, Germany). At each site, co-dominant trees were sampled to build tree ring site chronology and five trees were selected to develop the site Δ13C chronology. At all sites, our results suggested a negative effect of the temperature of the previous summer on the growth of the current year. This demonstrates that reserves are mobilized at bud break to sustain spring growth and that a severe drought period affecting reserve accumulation and partitioning may also influence phenology and spring growth rate in the subsequent year. The effect of summer temperatures was significant in the Apennine sites, but in recent times a similar effect appeared also in the North sites of our transect. In the cold sites we observed a positive relation between spring temperature and Δ13C, suggesting an "earliness effect". The increasing temperature causing the early onset of photosynthetic activities allowed trees to make a substantial part of their growth during the favorable spring conditions (i.e. soil water availability). At the same time increasing temperature affected the summer growth. In all our sites we observed an active response of trees to the increase of atmospheric CO2 concentration, that is reflected in increasing water use efficiency (iWUE). The increase of iWUE from 1950 to 2013 was different among the sites, showing decreasing sensitivity from north to south, suggesting that trees adaptability involved both genetic and physiological mechanism. Despite higher iWUE, the expected increase in growth rates in response to rising atmospheric CO2 was observed only in the Zoolithenhöhle and Collelongo, where important silvicultural treatments occurred immediately before the study period. Probably, the increase of iWUE after silvicultural treatments is related to the increase of photosynthesis rate. In these sites we observed a negative correlation between Basal Area Increment (BAI) and Δ13C. In general the canopy is “organized” to maximize carbon fixation and thinning modified the ratio between shade and light leaves, increasing the amount of light leaves that have a higher photosynthetic rates. This produced a reduction of internal CO2 concentration (Ci) in the canopy and a decrease of Ci/Ca producing an enrichment in 13C (less negative δ13C and lower Δ13C). After that canopy closed the gaps, the ratio between shade and light leaves changed again but this time with an increasing fraction of shade leaves, with an overall lower photosynthesis rate, that caused an increment of Ci, so our results suggested a reduction of growth related to an overall lower photosynthesis rate. In conclusion, we observed that climate is changing (i.e. increase of temperature, increase of atmospheric CO2, changes in precipitation regimes) causing consequent effects on forest growth and tree physiology. Hence, a sustainable and adaptive forest management can have a central role in climate change mitigation and adaptation through preserving and enhancing forest carbon uptake. ; Il faggio (Fagus sylvatica L.) rappresenta una delle più importanti specie arboree forestali europee, quindi possibile avversità che influenzano la sua produttività e la sua fisiologia possono avere forti impatti ecologici ed economici. L'aumento della concentrazione di CO2 atmosferica, temperature più elevate e variazioni delle precipitazioni possono avere effetti significativi sulla lunghezza del periodo vegetativo,sulla crescita,sulla salute dei singoli alberi e sulla distribuzione della specie, così come sugli ecosistemi forestali, quindi sui beni e servizi forniti dalle foreste. Nel XXI secolo, a causa del riscaldamento globale, il bacino del Mediterraneo potrebbe essere tra le più sensibili regioni Europee e la maggior parte delle proiezioni climatiche per l'Europa Centrale -prevedrebbe un aumento delle temperature con un conseguente aumento della frequenza e la durata di intense siccità estive. Vista la sensibilità alla bassa disponibilità idrica e ai lunghi periodi di siccità, le prestazioni fisiologiche, la crescita e la capacità competitiva del faggio possono essere influenzate negativamente da tali condizioni ambientali mutevoli. La maggior parte delle faggete europee sono storicamente gestite seguendo diversi sistemi selvicolturali, che agendo sulla direttamente sulla struttura forestale influenzano molti processi ecofisiologici. Gli anelli degli alberi rappresentano gli archivi naturali più efficienti nel registrare i segnali climatici ed il faggio è stato ampiamente utilizzato in studi dendrocronologici per la sua ampia distribuzione geografica, la sensibilità al clima e la longevità. La CO2 e l'acqua assorbita da un albero sono modificate da processi fisiologici e in risposta alle variazioni dell'ambiente in cui l'albero vive, questi cambiamenti influenzano il rapporto isotopico degli elementi assorbiti (C, H and O) e sono alla base della teoria isotopica applicata agli anelli legnosi. In questo contesto, gli obiettivi erano: (1) valutare l'effetto dei parametri climatici sulla crescita e la fisiologia del faggio, (2) valutare l'effetto di diversi tipi di gestione forestale sulla fisiologia e la crescita, (3) valutare la risposta al recente incremento della concentrazione di CO2 atmosferica di alberi che cresciuti in luoghi diversi. Quindi, abbiamo selezionato quattro faggete lungo un gradiente latitudinale: Appennino centrale e meridionale (Pian di Limina, CAL1 e Collelongo ABR1, Italia), pre-Alpi (Pian del Cansiglio VEN1, Italia), e pianure dell'Europa centrale (Zoolithenhöhle ZOO, Germania ). In ogni sito,sono stati campionati alberi co-dominanti per costruire cronologie di crescita e cinque alberi per sviluppare cronologie degli isotopi stabili del carbonio. In tutti i siti, i nostri risultati suggeriscono un effetto negativo della temperatura dell'estate precedente sulla crescita dell'anno in corso. Questo ha dimostrato che le riserve sono mobilitate all'inizio della stagione vegetativa per sostenere la crescita iniziale e che un periodo di grave siccità che colpisce l'accumulo di riserve e il partizionamento può anche influenzare la fenologia e il tasso di crescita per l'anno successivo. L'effetto negativo delle temperature estive era significativo nei siti appenninici, ma in tempi recenti (1975-2013) un effetto simile è apparso anche nei siti più nord del nostro transetti. Nei siti freddi abbiamo osservato una relazione positiva tra la temperatura primaverile e Δ13C, suggerendo un "effetto precocità". L'aumento di temperatura causa un anticipo dell'inizio dell' attività fotosintetica permettendo agli alberi di fare una parte sostanziale della loro crescita durante le condizioni favorevoli della primavera (ad esempio più disponibilità idrica nel suolo). Allo stesso tempo l'aumento di temperatura influisce sulla crescita estiva. In tutti i nostri siti abbiamo osservato una risposta attiva degli alberi all'aumento della concentrazione di CO2 atmosferica, che si riflette nella crescente efficienza d'uso idrico (iWUE). L'incremento di iWUE è stato diverso tra i siti, mostrando una diminuzione della sensitività da nord a sud, il che suggerisce che nell' adattabilità delle piante ai cambiamenti climatici sono coinvolti sia meccanismi fisiologici che genetici. Nonostante l'incremento di iWUE, il previsto aumento dei tassi di crescita in risposta ad aumento di CO2 atmosferica è stata osservata solo nel Zoolithenhöhle e Collelongo, dove importanti trattamenti selvicolturali si sono effettuati immediatamente prima del periodo di studio. Probabilmente, l'aumento di iWUE dopo trattamenti selvicolturali è legato all'aumento del tasso di fotosintesi. In questi siti abbiamo osservato una correlazione negativa tra l'Incremento di Area Basimetrica (BAI) e Δ13C. In generale, le chiome sono "organizzate" per massimizzare la fissazione del carbonio ed un diradamento modifica il rapporto tra foglie di ombra e di luce, aumentando la quantità delle ultime che hanno un tasso fotosintetico più elevato. Questo ha prodotto una riduzione della concentrazione interna CO2 (Ci) nella canopy e una diminuzione di Ci / Ca produce un arricchimento di 13C (δ13C meno negativo ed Δ13C più basso). Dopo che chiome chiudono i gap, il rapporto tra foglie di luce e di ombra cambia nuovamente, ma questa volta con una componente crescente di foglie d'ombra, che un tasso di fotosintesi complessivo inferiore, che causa un incremento di Ci, così i nostri risultati indicano una riduzione della crescita correlati ad un tasso di fotosintesi complessivo inferiore. In conclusione, abbiamo osservato che il clima sta cambiando (cioè aumento della temperatura, aumento di CO2 atmosferica, cambiamenti nei regimi delle precipitazioni) e di conseguenza anche i suoi effetti sulla crescita delle foreste e la fisiologia delle piante. Quindi una gestione sostenibile e adattativa delle foreste può avere un ruolo centrale nella mitigazione e nell'adattamento ai cambiamenti climatici attraverso il mantenimento e il miglioramento della capacità di assorbimento di carbonio delle foreste.

The main challenge for concrete industry - and in general for construction materials - is to serve the two major needs of human society, the protection of the environment, on one hand, and the requirements of buildings and infrastructures by the world?s growing population, on the other. In the past concrete industry has satisfied these needs well. However, for a variety of reasons, the situation has changed dramatically in the last years. First of all, the concrete industry is the largest consumer of natural resources. Secondly, Portland cement, the binder of modern concrete mixtures, is not as environmentally friendly. The world's cement production, in fact, contributes to the earth's atmosphere about 7% of the total CO2 emissions, CO2 being one of the primary greenhouse gas (GHG) responsible for global warming and climate change. As a consequence, concrete industry in the future has to face two antithetically needs. In other words, how the concrete industry can feed the growing population needs being - at the same time - sustainable? The answer to this question is represented by the ?3R-Green Strategy? widely discussed in the first chapter of this PhD thesis: Reduction in consumption of gross energy for construction materials production, Reduction in polluting emissions and Reduction in consuming not renewable natural resources. In particular, this thesis is focused on the alternative binders to Portland cement such as alkali-activated slag cements and calcium sulphoaluminate cement-based binders in order to manufacture sustainable mixtures for special applications such as repair mortars, lightweight reinforced plasters and concretes for slabs on ground. The experimental results show the feasibility of manufacturing both EN 1504-3 R3 class mortars and Portland-free concretes for jointless slabs on ground with calcium sulphoaluminate cement, supplementary cementitious materials (fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag) and hydrated lime instead of Portland cement. Moreover, alkali-activated mortars and concretes seem to be a reasonable alternative to natural hydraulic lime-based and/or traditional Portland cement-based mixtures for rehabilitation or restoration of ancient masonry buildings and existing concretes structures. Finally, a new sustainability index was developed taking into account the environmental impact, the performances and the durability of mixtures. In particular, in the environmental impact section, the natural raw materials consumption, the greenhouse gas emissions and the energy consumption have been considered. Furthermore, depending on the applications and the environments, design parameters and properties related to durability have been assigned to each mixture. less

Acute ethanol administration stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and increases (3a,5a)-3-hydroxypregnan-20-one (3a,5a-THP) levels in rat brain and plasma. Increased 3a,5a-THP levels contribute to the anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, sedative and pro-aggressive actions of ethanol. We now explored the effects of ethanol on brain and plasma 3a,5a-THP levels in C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) mice, two inbred strains with different sensitivity to behavioral effects of alcohol. Mice were injected with ethanol (2 g/kg, i.p.) or saline and were sacrificed 1 h later. 3a,5a-THP levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in cerebral cortex and by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in plasma. Ethanol increased cerebral cortical 3a,5a-THP (+38%, P < 0.005) in D2 but not B6 mice. In contrast, plasma 3a,5a-THP levels were decreased (-27%, P < 0.01) in B6 mice, but did not change in D2 mice. These differential effects of ethanol on 3a,5a-THP levels may be due to the different genetic background of these strains. To further explore this hypothesis, we examined ethanol-induced changes in cerebral cortical 3a,5a-THP levels of some B6xD2 (BXD) recombinant inbred strains. Basal 3a,5a-THP levels across 8 BXD strains range between 1.81 and 3.72 ng/g, equivalent to a 2-fold genetic variation [F(9,79) = 6.27, P < 0.0001] and heritability of 0.40. The ethanol-induced changes in cerebral cortical 3a,5a-THP levels range between +4 and +63% and were negatively correlated (Spearman -0.82, P = 0.02) with behavioral phenotypes of ethanol consumption previously determined in the BXD strains and available in the GeneNetwork database (www.genenetwork.org). Greater ethanol intake was associated with smaller elevation of 3a,5a-THP following ethanol challenge across these BXD mice. This preliminary finding supports the hypothesis that neurosteroid responses to ethanol may be putative biomarkers of excessive alcohol consumption. Future studies will be required to further explore this hypothesis.

A new dataset of 54 daily Italian downward surface solar radiation (SSR) records has been set up over the 1959- 2013 period. Particular emphasis is placed upon the quality control and the homogenization of the records in order to eliminate gross-errors and not climatic signals contained in the original records. This step has been shown as necessary due to the large differences obtained between the raw and homogenized dataset, especially during the first decades of the study period as a consequence of instrument changes and recalibrations. In addition, SSR series under clear-sky conditions were obtained considering only the cloudless days from corresponding groundbased cloudiness observations. Subsequently, the records were interpolated onto a regular grid and clustered in two regions, Northern and Southern Italy, which were averaged in order to get all-sky and clear-sky regional SSR records. Their temporal evolution is presented, and possible reasons for differences between the two conditions and the two regions are discussed in order to understand which part of the SSR variability depends on aerosols or clouds. Specifically, the all-sky SSR records show a decrease until the mid-1980s (dimming period) and a following increase until the end of the series (brightening period) even if the strength and the persistence of the tendencies are not the same in all seasons. The clear-sky records present stronger tendencies than the all-sky records during the dimming period in all seasons, and during the brightening period in winter and autumn, suggesting that under all-sky the variations caused by the variations of the aerosol concentrations have been partially masked by cloud cover variations, especially during the dimming period. The peculiarity of a stronger dimming in the South than in the North under clear-sky could be a consequence of a significant contribution of mineral dust variations to the SSR variability.

Recent extreme weather events have resulted in an ongoing discussion on the issues of land use and compensation payments within Austrian agriculture. Building on a functional evaluation system for agricultural lands as developed within the Interreg IIIB project “ILUP”, the national project “Agriculture and Flooding” has as its goal to classify the flood-protection contribution and flood sensitivity of agricultural lands. This, in turn, enables the recommendation of targeted measures for potentially improving flood situations, as well as an estimate of their implementation costs. In addition to the digital soil map, other fundamental sources used for the project are the digital flood risk map, IACS land-use data and works by the Institute for Land and Water Management Research. Reference values and marginal returns sourced from the Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics also flow into the cost estimates for the recommended combination. The results will contribute to an understanding of the multifunctionality of agricultural lands and to the setting of priorities on a regional scale regarding packaged flood-prevention and damage-minimization. However, the results at hand can only serve as one step toward regional flood protection projects, whose development will require the cooperation of all interest groups.