In this investigation, three different methods for the harvesting of spruce under otherwise identical conditions were analysed with respect to their greenhouse gas emissions per unit of output: a partially mechanised method using motor saws and draft horses, a more highly mechanised method using motor saws and a forestry tractor and a fully mechanised method with a harvester and forwarder. All the sub-steps from the harvesting of the fallen trees to the transportation to the road were included in the investigated greenhouse gas audit, which followed the rules of a streamlined life cycle assessment. The lowest greenhouse gas emissions were produced by the partially mechanised method (305.7 kg CO 2 e ha -1 ), followed by the more highly mechanised method (510.5 kg CO 2 e ha -1 ) and by the fully mechanised method (554.3 kg CO 2 e ha -1 ). The greatest proportion of the greenhouse gas audit within each method was taken up by the fuel, lubricant and hydraulic oil utilisation. In the horse audit, transportation to and from the site of operation caused the greatest effect (60%). With these results, it could be confirmed that horses when used for logging could be assessed as being more positive with respect to their climate friendliness than large-scale machines despite their lower harvesting capacity per hectare of spruce. However, as this study did not take all environmental impacts into consideration, this relatively better environmental audit for draft horses could be changed when other environmental impacts (e.g. land use) are also included. This possibility should be investigated in further investigations.

Urbanization becomes increasingly important in our modern life. This is undoubtedly a huge opportunity and challenge for construction industry. More and more bridges are constructed to improve the infrastructure and develop the economy. For more than a century, reinforced concrete bridges are the most common bridges due to its durability, relatively low maintenance cost and rapid construction. In general, concrete bridges are designed to ensure a service life of at least 100 years. However, mechanical and environmental factors or excessive use accelerate the deterioration of the bridges. Some bridges even failed in their early-life. Thus, we are faced with the necessity to monitor health condition of bridges at every moment during their life which is also the aim of Structure Health Monitoring (SHM). Most deterioration and failure mechanisms are connected to the development of micro-or macro-cracks. Ultrasonic Coda Wave Interferometry (CWI) method using diffuse wave is one of the most promising method to detect subtle changes and cracking in heterogeneous materials such as concrete. Moreover, the data acquisition system has a high portability and the size of data recorded is small. If needed, even real-time assessment can be performed with an optimized algorithm. Embedded ultrasonic sensors can be installed inside the structure to avoid changes in coupling or excess influence of environmental influence factors. The measurements will focus more on the internal of the structure. Research shows that CWI has high sensitivity in detecting temperature change, stress variation and cracks in laboratory size concrete specimens. A young reinforced concrete road bridge in Gliwice, Poland has been monitored in a first step. Results have shown that the bridge is in good condition. However, the method has so far not been implemented on existing middle-aged bridge. In this paper, the monitoring of a 46 years old reinforced concrete road bridge close to Cologne, Germany will be discussed. Multiple sensors (thermocouples, strain gages and embedded ultrasonic sensors) were installed in the bridge. The bridge will be monitored for at least one month and subjected to a load test. As a result, the influence of temperature should be detected and quantified and a diagnosis of the bridge condition (especially changes in cracks) should be established.

Development of preterm infant lungs is frequently impaired resulting in bronchopulmoary dysplasia (BPD). BPD results from interruption of physiologic anabolic intrauterine conditions, the inflammatory basis and therapeutic consequences of premature delivery, including increased oxygen supply for air breathing. The latter requires surfactant, produced by alveolar type II (AT II) cells to lower surface tension at the pulmonary air:liquid interface. Its main components are specific phosphatidylcholine (PC) species including dipalmitoyl-PC, anionic phospholipids and surfactant proteins. Local antioxidative enzymes are essential to cope with the pro-inflammatory side effects of normal alveolar oxygen pressures. However, respiratory insufficiency frequently requires increased oxygen supply. To cope with the injurious effects of hyperoxia to epithelia, recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor (rhKGF) was proposed as a surfactant stimulating, non-catabolic and epithelial-protective therapeutic. The aim of the present study was to examine the qualification of rhKGF to improve expression parameters of lung maturity in newborn rats under hyperoxic conditions (85% O(2) for 7 days). In response to rhKGF proliferating cell nuclear antigen mRNA, as a feature of stimulated proliferation, was elevated. Similarly, the expressions of ATP-binding cassette protein A3 gene, a differentiation marker of AT II cells and of peroxiredoxin 6, thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase, three genes involved in oxygen radical protection were increased. Furthermore, mRNA levels of acyl-coA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1, catalyzing dipalmitoyl-PC synthesis by acyl remodeling, and adipose triglyceride lipase, considered as responsible for fatty acid supply for surfactant PC synthesis, were elevated. These results, together with a considerable body of other confirmative evidence, suggest that rhKGF should be developed into a therapeutic option to treat preterm infants at risk for impaired lung development.

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In the present study the total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the production of organic apple juice from apples from Germany's "Altes Land" region were compared with apples from the Southern Carpathians (Romania). The goal of the analysis was to clarify whether extensive agricultural production methods have a greater influence on the total emissions produced by the apple juice value-added chain in comparison to potentially longer transportation distances to the fruit processing company.Despite the extensive agricultural cultivation methods used in the Southern Carpathians, which could be assumed not to produce any GHG emissions, the apple juice from these apples had higher total emissions (782 g CO 2 e/l apple juice) than apples from the "Altes Land" region (630 g CO 2 e/l apple juice). The reason for this is the distance over which the Romanian apples need to be transported to the fruit processing plant, which exceeded the GHG emissions saved during the apple cultivation.