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Navigating uncertainty in regulatory decision-making for novel entities : the case of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and its precursors
No full textNavigating uncertainty in regulatory decision-making for novel entities: The case of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and its precursors Jakob Kramer a,* , Jens Lange b , Jule Lichtner a, Michael Müller c , Sylvia Kruse a a Chair of Forest and Environmental Policy, University of Freiburg, Germany b Chair of Hydrology, University of Freiburg, Germany c Chair of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Freiburg, Germany A R T I C L E I N F O Keywords: Decision-making Uncertainty Knowledge production Boundary object Novel entity Trifluoracetic acid A B S T R A C T Regulatory decision-making for novel entities such as trifluoroacetic acid, respectively trifluoroacetate (TFA), involves multiple forms of uncertainty. This paper applies a typology that structures uncertainty along two di- mensions: types of uncertainty (epistemological, ontological, and ambiguity) and objects of uncertainty (sub- stantive, strategic, and institutional). We argue that three key substantive features of TFA, its large number of precursors, its extreme environmental persistence, and its global mobility, do not only shape substantive un- certainties about its properties, effects, and mitigation, but also amplify strategic and institutional uncertainties. Specifically, the wide and fragmented network of actors involved in TFA’s regulation across sectors (e.g., water, pesticides) creates diffuse responsibilities and complicates coordination. TFA’s persistence intensifies ontological uncertainties, as continuous and potentially irreversible exposure renders some long-term impacts effectively unknowable within relevant policy timeframes. Its mobility challenges regulatory systems that are spatially and institutionally bound. Importantly, we show how regulatory outcomes are shaped not only by substantive or institutional challenges but also by competing actor framings and power asymmetries, as actors strategically influence how regulatory uncertainties are defined and addressed. These findings are not just relevant for TFA regulation, but also for the broader group of novel entities where regulatory decision-making depends on measures such as emission reduction, improved input control, increased regulatory transparency, and sensitivity to power asymmetries. We propose that the applied typology can serve as a boundary object to foster inter- disciplinary dialogue in environmental governance, bridging distinct philosophical and disciplinary perspectives while remaining sufficiently open to accommodate different conceptual and disciplinary framings of uncertainty. The applied typology shows how different types and objects of uncertainty interact in decision-making around novel entitie
Local development based on non-timber forest products: revisiting the case of São Francisco do Iratapuru in the Brazilian Amazon
No full textThe sustainable use of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) promised to reconcile forest conservation and economic development. Particularly in the Brazilian Amazon, initiatives to promote development based on NTFPs have proliferated since the 1990s. Surprisingly, there is litte empirical evidence of the outcomes of these initiatives which comprehensively addresses all dimension of sustainability (economic, social and environmental) over time. To fill this gap, this article undertakes a longitudinal analysis of the case of São Francisco do Iratapuru, in the Eastern Amazon state of Amapá. The community has a long history of well-documented NTFP initiatives spanning several decades. Using information from former studies as well as own empirical data from interviews, a representative household survey and focus groups, we show that the quality of life in the village has improved markedly over the last decades while the forest has been conserved. We observed an increase in real income, a reduction in income inequality and better access of households to marketed as well as public goods and services, except eletricity. An examination of the results chains of initiatives in São Francisco do Iratapuru and the comparison with neighboring regions that have experienced other development approaches suggests that these achievements are largely attributable to NTFP-related interventions
Investment Contracts in the Natural Resources of Developing Countries and the Right to Regulate
No full textDie vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit dem sogenannten “right to regulate” im internationalen Investitionsschutzrecht. Sie behandelt im Kern die Frage, ob die Stellung eines Gaststaates als Entwicklungsland einen Einfluss auf den Bestand oder die Auslegung dieses staatlichen Regulierungsrechts im Investitionsschutzrecht, also in bestehenden Investitionsschutzabkommen und der Schiedsgerichtspraxis, hat. Zu diesem Zweck untersucht der Verfasser die rechtliche Stellung von Entwicklungsländern im Völkerrecht, insbesondere im Investitionsschutzrecht
Benefit for some, harm for others: forest structural changes following recent drought years have contrasting effects on bat habitats
No full textStructural changes in Central European forests have recently accelerated, with uncertain impacts on biodiversity. Using remote-sensing data, this study investigates changes in multiple structural attributes of a temperate mountain forest in Germany between 2015 and 2021, a period characterised by two droughts, increased tree mortality, and adaptive management. To evaluate retention measures under these conditions, which aim to provide old-growth structures, structural changes were analysed in relation to retention management and forest ownership type. In addition, changes in habitat suitability (HS) were assessed for nine bat species(-groups). Following drought years, canopy height heterogeneity and forest gaps increased while tree volume decreased, particularly in coniferous forests (-41.7 m3/ha). Standing deadwood cover tripled but remained low (0.1 % vs. 0.3 %) and showed a limited persistence. Height heterogeneity remained highest in state forests with retention measures, compared to those without, and to corporate or private forests. Private forests - and in mixed or deciduous forests, also state forests with retention measures - maintained higher average tree volumes. However, forest structure development was broadly similar among ownership and management types, particularly within coniferous forests most affected by drought and adaptive management practices. While open forest structures were previously lacking, recent changes have improved habitats for bats adapted to edge and open environments. In contrast, species adapted to high tree volumes, such as Myotis and Plecotus bats, may experience adverse effects. Thus, maintaining mature forest habitats is becoming increasingly critical, and retention levels should be enhanced and refined to preserve disturbance legacies
Establishing a transient SHP2 knock out system in humanJurkat T cells based on CRISPR/cas
No full textGRADE guidance 44: Strategies to enhance the utilization of randomized and non-randomized studies in evidence syntheses of health interventions
No full textAdjustments of balance control during cognitive dual tasking: evidence from event-related force-plate analysis
No full textCognitive-motor interference refers to the interaction between cognitive and motor processes occurring at the same time. Recently, balance control parameters while standing on a force plate were analysed using an event-related approach while participants performed a Simon task. Resolving response conflict in incongruent trials reduced balance adjustments prior to manual response execution, suggesting a bottleneck for concurrent cognitive and balance control. In the present study, we combined this approach with a cognitive dual task which comprised a visual-vocal short-term memory task with a delayed vocal response and an auditory-manual reaction time (RT) task. This hybrid psychological refractory period (PRP) paradigm created a functional processing bottleneck during memory consolidation in the visual-vocal short-term memory task. To examine how this cognitive bottleneck influences balance control, 48 participants per experiment stood quietly on a force plate, and balance control was quantified as moment variability (mNm) in 100 ms sliding windows. We varied the stimulus-onset asynchrony (SOA: 100 vs. 1,000 ms) between the targets (Experiment 1) and task load (report vs. ignore the visual object; Experiment 2). As expected, auditory-manual RTs increased at short SOA, showing dual-task interference that persisted in ignore trials, consistent with task-set inertia. Force-plate data were analysed using cluster permutation analysis to identify time-specific effects. Participants were less likely to adjust balance during cognitive task processing and more likely after task completion, independent of the presence of a cognitive bottleneck. These findings suggest that balance control flexibly delays or advances balance adjustments based on cognitive demands, thereby reducing cognitive-motor interference
Robot-assisted salvage prostatectomy: external validation of the EAU selection criteria and identification of the optimal candidate: a junior ERUS/YAU collaborative study
No full textBackgroundEAU guidelines recommend salvage radical prostatectomy (sRP) only in highly selected patients with recurrent prostate cancer in experienced centers.MethodsThe Junior ERUS/Young Academic Urologist Working Group on Robot-Assisted Surgery conducted a multicentric project to investigate biochemical recurrence-free (BCR), metastases-free (MFS), and overall survival (OS) outcomes in robotic sRP patients stratified according to EAU criteria.ResultsOf 180 patients, 49% fulfilled EAU criteria. Patients not fulfilling EAU criteria more frequently underwent focal therapy as primary treatment (53% vs. 33%) and exhibited significantly higher rates of pT3–4 (70% vs. 48%), positive surgical margins (48% vs. 24%), and pathological Gleason score 8–10 (72% vs. 48%, all p ConclusionsThe majority of patients do not fulfill EAU criteria, and even more so after focal therapy. These patients harbor worse BCR rates after robotic sRP. However, within our short-term follow-up, no differences in MFS and OS were observed