Article
Environmental Studies
Paul C. Stern, Thomas Dietz, Michael P. Vandenbergh
Summary: In the struggle to mitigate human threats to environmental systems, significant progress has been made in identifying and quantifying the potential of mitigation initiatives. However, there is still a need to understand how these initiatives will impact their targets and whether they can be implemented given social, economic, and political constraints. To address these gaps, a framework for a science of mitigation is proposed, integrating knowledge of mitigation potential with social and behavioral sciences to inform practical decision-making.
ENERGY RESEARCH & SOCIAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Francine H. Mejia, Valerie Ouellet, Martin A. Briggs, Stephanie M. Carlson, Roser Casas-Mulet, Mollie Chapman, Mathias J. Collins, Stephen J. Dugdale, Joseph L. Ebersole, Danielle M. Frechette, Aimee H. Fullerton, Carole-Anne Gillis, Zachary C. Johnson, Christa Kelleher, Barret L. Kurylyk, Rebecca Lave, Benjamin H. Letcher, Knut M. Myrvold, Tracie-Lynn Nadeau, Helen Neville, Herve Piegay, Kathryn A. Smith, Diego Tonolla, Christian E. Torgersen
Summary: Human activities and climate change have negative impacts on coldwater organisms in freshwater ecosystems by warming rivers and streams, increasing warm temperature events, and reducing thermal heterogeneity. It is crucial to adopt cohesive management approaches to protect cold-water refuges, considering physical, biological, and social factors. Current policies for protecting thermally sensitive species include designating cold-water habitats, restricting fishing during warm periods, and implementing temperature standards or guidelines. However, these policies lack coordination and Indigenous peoples' input. We propose managing cold-water refuges as distinct operational landscape units, integrating science and management to prioritize actions and implement adaptive practices.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
A. R. Siders
Summary: Justice theories struggle to inform practical decisions in climate change adaptation practice. It is important to have theoretical and empirical work to guide decisions and ensure transparency. Tailoring justice-relevant decisions to local contexts may promote greater justice. Changes in governance systems may be necessary to achieve greater justice in adaptation decisions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Lakshmanan Muralikrishnan, Rabindra N. Padaria, Anil K. Choudhary, Anchal Dass, Shadi Shokralla, Tarek K. Zin El-Abedin, Shadi A. M. Abdelmohsen, Eman A. Mahmoud, Hosam O. Elansary
Summary: Periodic drought presents a major challenge in drought-prone areas of South Asia. A survey of farmers revealed significant impacts on their socio-economic status, agro-biodiversity, and adaptation, while public institutions' drought mitigation measures received limited participation. Efficient participatory-mode drought adaptation and mitigation policies are needed to address these challenges.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Corey Lesk, Denes Csala, Robin Hasse, Sgouris Sgouridis, Antoine Levesque, Katharine J. Mach, Daniel Horen Greenford, H. Damon Matthews, Radley M. Horton
Summary: The article discusses the need for a global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate risks caused by climate change. The study estimates the CO2 emissions embedded in the broader climate transition using a set of models. The results suggest that while emissions from adaptation-related interventions are relatively low, emissions from deploying renewable energy capacity are much higher. The article emphasizes the importance of considering emissions from mitigation actions and highlights the potential for reducing emissions through ambitious energy decarbonization efforts.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ayyoob Sharifi
Summary: This study emphasizes the importance of urban climate change adaptation and mitigation plans in addressing climate change. It highlights the synergistic benefits and interactions between adaptation and mitigation measures, as well as different measures providing co-benefits and synergies. The research calls for more empirical studies to better understand the magnitude of synergistic benefits between different measures.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Connor F. Gallin, Won-Woo Lee, Jeffery A. Byers
Summary: Efficient and selective processing of mixed polymer waste is crucial for dealing with the escalating plastic waste problem. In this study, it is demonstrated that a combination of ZnCl2 and poly(ethylene glycol) under vacuum can readily depolymerize high ceiling temperature polyesters and polycarbonates back to their constituent monomers. The catalyst system, which operates through a random chain scission mechanism, shows general applicability for a variety of polyesters and polycarbonates, and is capable of selectively depolymerizing a polyester in the presence of other commodity plastics, making it a promising approach for separating mixed plastic waste.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Environmental Studies
Yosef Jabareen
Summary: We examined the contribution of the 424 largest cities worldwide to the global emissions gap and found that 302 cities lack emissions data, while the overall emission rate has been increasing at an average of 7.9% per year. Only 31 cities, all in developed countries, have achieved reductions in the emissions gap. Despite cities being responsible for approximately 75% of global CO2 emissions, there is a lack of practical policies for mitigation in resource-scarce areas. We propose new policy directions to lessen this divide and advocate for the development of city-oriented mitigation science and practical policies to help cities worldwide develop specific mitigation strategies based on their economic feasibility.
Editorial Material
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Alexander J. Spicer, Pierre-Albert Colcomb, Ann Kraft
Summary: Academia and the pharmaceutical industry need to collaborate to provide more opportunities for individuals interested in pursuing research in the field of drug development.
NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Nimai Senapati, Mikhail A. Semenov, Nigel G. Halford, Malcolm J. Hawkesford, Senthold Asseng, Mark Cooper, Frank Ewert, Martin K. van Ittersum, Pierre Martre, Jorgen E. Olesen, Matthew Reynolds, Reimund P. Roetter, Heidi Webber
Summary: Closing the existing genetic yield gap in global wheat production has the potential to significantly increase crop yield and address issues of global food security.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Sabit Ersahin, Bayram C. Bilgili
Summary: Intensive technological developments, rapid population growth and urbanization, and excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers have led to substantial nitrate contamination in water resources in Turkey. This review article aims to emphasize the importance of nitrate contamination and discuss measures to mitigate it nationwide. Agriculture, especially the use of chemical fertilizers in irrigated agriculture, is the main source of nitrate in groundwater. Industrial and domestic discharges also contribute significantly to nitrate contamination in both groundwater and surface waters. Addressing this issue requires implementing well-planned irrigation and fertilizer management strategies, preventing wastewater discharge into water bodies, and conducting studies to evaluate potential health effects of nitrate in drinking water, including the risk of cancer.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Dwaipayan Sinha, Soumi Datta, Reema Mishra, Preeti Agarwal, Tripti Kumari, Sherif Babatunde Adeyemi, Arun Kumar Maurya, Sharmistha Ganguly, Usman Atique, Sanchita Seal, Laxmi Kumari Gupta, Shahana Chowdhury, Jen-Tsung Chen
Summary: Arsenic, a metalloid, is mainly found in soil and water. Excessive levels of arsenic are toxic to living organisms, making it a global concern. Humans can absorb arsenic through polluted water and contaminated food, while plants are more susceptible to arsenic poisoning due to their inability to move and their reliance on roots for nutrients. Arsenic competes with phosphorus and disrupts physiological processes in plants, leading to decreased yield and biomass. Various mitigation strategies, including agronomic practices and genetic manipulation, can help reduce arsenic absorption by plants and address the negative effects.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Paul J. Beggs, Bernard Clot, Mikhail Sofiev, Fay H. Johnston
Summary: One of the adverse impacts of climate change on human health is the increase in allergic respiratory diseases. This is caused by the effects of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and air temperature on airborne allergens such as pollen and fungal spores. This review discusses these effects and explores three translational mitigation approaches for improved health outcomes.
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Hyunseok Seo, Maxime Bassenne, Lei Xing
Summary: Deep learning plays a crucial role in various scientific and engineering tasks, with the selection of an optimal loss function being essential for constructing reliable deep learning models. A generalized loss function with adaptive functional parameters is proposed in this study to provide a versatile framework for optimal neural network-based decision-making in small target segmentation. The method demonstrates improved detection and segmentation of lung and liver cancer tumors compared to current state-of-the-art techniques, opening up new opportunities for practical applications including disease diagnosis, treatment planning, and prognosis.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL IMAGING
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shubha Verma, Sanhita Ghosh, Olivier Boucher, Rong Wang, Laurent Menut
Summary: This study evaluates the impact of black carbon (BC) on population exposure, morbidity, and mortality in the Indo-Gangetic plain. The results show a significant population exposure to BC, with more than 60 million people living in high-concentration areas. In terms of cardiovascular disease mortality, 62% of the burden is attributable to BC exposure in the megacity and 49% in the semiurban area. By implementing emission reduction strategies, over 400,000 lives can potentially be saved from cardiovascular disease mortality annually.
