Leibniz University of Hanover

About: Leibniz University of Hanover is a education organization based out in Hanover, Niedersachsen, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Finite element method & Computer science. The organization has 14283 authors who have published 29845 publications receiving 682152 citations.

Direct Decomposition of Nitrous Oxide to Nitrogen by In Situ Oxygen Removal with a Perovskite Membrane

Abstract: Direct decomposition of N(2)O to N(2) using perovskite hollow fiber membranes is achieved by combination with in situ oxygen removal (see picture). A coupled partial methane oxidation allows N(2)-free synthesis gas to be obtained. This sustainable process combines N(2)O removal with the simultaneous production of valuable chemicals.

Food Security and the Dynamics of Wheat and Maize Value Chains in Africa and Asia

Abstract: There is an ongoing debate about how best to feed the growing world population in the long run and associated implications for research and development Some call for a new Green Revolution to secure the supply of staple foods, whereas others emphasize the importance of diversifying and improving people's diets We aim to contribute to this debate by reviewing the case of wheat and maize value chains and their contribution to food security in Africa and Asia We first identify drivers transforming food systems We then apply these to the cereal value chains and disentangle their effects on food security We thereby add to the three strands in the literature around production, consumption, and food system transformation and point to different research needs and recommendations for the future The review highlights: (1) Wheat and maize production will be increasingly impaired by ecological drivers such as land degradation, water scarcity and climate change (2) There are promising innovations to increase and maintain productivity, but constraints in adopting these innovations have to be overcome (ie, access to seeds, finance, and education/training) (3) The drivers affect all four dimensions of food security, but first and foremost they determine the availability and stability of maize and wheat This indirectly also influences the economic and physical access of people to maize and wheat (4) Research tends to focus on improving the productivity and sustainability of wheat and maize farming which is largely interlinked with the availability dimension of food security (5) The stability and utilization dimension of food security merits continued yet increased support First, to address climate change and implications for biotic and abiotic stresses Second, to promote healthier diets and enable the equitable transformation of food systems

Validating Metal‐Organic Framework Nanoparticles for Their Nanosafety in Diverse Biomedical Applications

Abstract: Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising platforms for the synthesis of nanoparticles for diverse medical applications. Their fundamental design principles allow for significant control of the framework architecture and pore chemistry, enabling directed functionalization for nanomedical applications. However, before applying novel nanomaterials to patients, it is imperative to understand their potential health risks. In this study, the nanosafety of different MOF nanoparticles is analyzed comprehensively for diverse medical applications. The authors first evaluate the effects of MOFs on human endothelial and mouse lung cells, which constitute a first line of defense upon systemic blood-mediated and local lung-specific applications of nanoparticles. Second, we validated these MOFs for multifunctional surface coatings of dental implants using human gingiva fibroblasts. Moreover, biocompatibility of MOFs is assessed for surface coating of nerve guidance tubes using human Schwann cells and rat dorsal root ganglion cultures. The main finding of this study is that the nanosafety and principal suitability of our MOF nanoparticles as novel agents for drug delivery and implant coatings strongly varies with the effector cell type. We conclude that it is therefore necessary to carefully evaluate the nanosafety of MOF nanomaterials with respect to their particular medical application and their interacting primary cell types, respectively.

Understanding needs embodiment: A theory‐guided reanalysis of the role of metaphors and analogies in understanding science

Abstract: Many authors stress the importance of basing teaching on students' prior knowledge. To build a bridge between students' everyday knowledge and scientific con- cepts, the role of metaphors and analogies came into the focus of the science education community during thepasttwo decades. Approaches usingmetaphor-based teaching strate- giesoftenregardmetaphorsandanalogiesasteachingtoolsthatcanbeadoptedbyateacher. Onthebasisofthetheoreticalframeworkofexperientialism,wearguethatnotonlyteaching but also thinking about and understanding science without metaphors and analogies is not possible. An analysis of studies dealing with metaphors and analogies in science education shows that instructional analogies and metaphors are often not understood as intended or not used by students in their own explanations. By reanalyzing 199 instructional metaphors and analogies on the basis of a metaphor analysis, we show that it takes more than mak- ing a connection to everyday life to communicate science fruitfully. We show that good instructional metaphors and analogies need embodied sources. These embodied sources are everyday experiences conceptualized in, for example, schemata such as containers, paths, balances, and up and down. For the analysis, we introduce the concept of conceptual metaphors for analyzing metaphors as well as analogies. C