Article
Environmental Sciences
Xu Zhang, Jinbao Li, Qianjin Dong, Zifeng Wang, Han Zhang, Xiaofeng Liu
Summary: This study develops an empirical hydrological model to bridge the temporal gap between GRACE and GRACE-FO products and successfully reconstructs global terrestrial water storage anomalies (TWSA). The model performs similarly to previous studies but does not require detrending or deseasonalizing transformations, improving the physical understanding of TWSA.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luis Augusto Di Loreto Di Raimo, Eduardo Guimaraes Couto, Danilo Cesar de Mello, Jose Alexandre Mello Dematte, Ricardo Santos Silva Amorim, Gilmar Nunes Torres, Edwaldo Dias Bocuti, Gustavo Vieira Veloso, Raul Roberto Poppiel, Marcio Rocha Francelino, Elpidio Inacio Fernandes-Filho
Summary: This study uses remote sensing techniques to characterize and classify sandy soils, as well as quantify their physical and chemical attributes. The results show that visible, near, and short-wave infrared, as well as mid-infrared spectroscopy, have high potential in distinguishing sandy soil classes and predicting soil attributes.
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Simona Donati Guerrieri, Chiara Ramella, Eva Catoggio, Fabrizio Bonani
Summary: Process-induced variability is a significant concern in the design of analog circuits, particularly for monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) for 5G and 6G communication systems. This paper introduces a flexible procedure to extract black-box models from accurate physics-based simulations, allowing for fast and accurate statistical and yield analysis in RF and MMIC design.
Article
Soil Science
Susana Salazar, Andres Ochoa, Paul J. McCarthy
Summary: In his 1941 treatise on soil formation, Swiss pedologist Hans Jenny had limited knowledge of tropical soils. However, through his fieldwork in Colombia in 1946-1947, Jenny was able to validate his theories in a tropical environment, greatly impacting soil research and management in the country.
Article
Thermodynamics
Gautier Hypolite, Jean-Henry Ferrasse, Olivier Boutin, Sandrine Del Sole, Jean-Francois Cloarec
Summary: This paper presents a method for measuring water temperature and flow in large water systems, with validation using a raw water supply system in southern France. The study shows that the model can accurately predict water flow and temperature, with an increase in water temperature observed after adding heat injections to the system.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Gustavo Ferreira da Silva, Juliano Carlos Calonego, Bruno Cesar Ottoboni Luperini, Vinicius Brasil Silveira, Larissa Chamma, Rogerio Peres Soratto, Fernando Ferrari Putti
Summary: Soil management systems can directly impact crop yield by altering the physical and hydraulic properties of the soil. Long-term experiments have shown that the no-tillage system improves soil density and compaction resistance, enhances root development, and increases soybean yield by 6.5%, without affecting water infiltration.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tong Chen, Mei Yang, Guanghong Cui, Jinfu Tang, Ye Shen, Juan Liu, Yuan Yuan, Juan Guo, Luqi Huang
Summary: IMP is an integrated medicinal plantomics platform that provides gene annotation, sequences, functions, distributions, and expressions. It enhances the understanding of molecular metabolic pathways in medicinal plants and drives advancements in synthetic biology.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Alexandre M. J-C Wadoux, Gerard B. M. Heuvelink, R. Murray Lark, Philippe Lagacherie, Johan Bouma, Vera L. Mulder, Zamir Libohova, Lin Yang, Alex B. McBratney
Summary: Pedometrics, the study of soil distribution and genesis using mathematical and statistical methods, has expanded its scope in the past two decades. The development of remote and proximal soil sensing, along with data-driven statistical modelling techniques, has had a major impact on the field. The current demand for quantitative digital soil information for environmental modeling and management has pushed pedometricians to address soil-related questions from a quantitative perspective. The ten challenges discussed in this paper serve as guidance for future research in pedometrics and collaboration among soil scientists, indicating the current understanding and state of knowledge in the field.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Junyi Liang, Kangli Chen, Siqintana, Tianci Huo, Yaowen Zhang, Jingying Jing, Wenting Feng
Summary: Soils serve as important carbon reservoirs and play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. Soil water potential (SWP), which represents the energy with which water is retained in the soil, is a vital factor in soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition. This study investigates the impact of extrapolating SWP estimations beyond the range of measurements on SOC decomposition modeling. The results demonstrate that extrapolating SWP significantly underestimates its value and leads to inaccurate predictions of SOC decomposition, particularly under dry conditions.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Thomas Poulose, Saurav Kumar, Girisha K. Ganjegunte
Summary: SMITUV is a system dynamic model designed to simulate transient soil water flow, solute transport, and root water uptake in crops under water and salinity stress. It is based on fundamental physical principles, robust enough to handle different scenarios, and provides crucial tools for growers to understand the salt-water-soil system.
ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Chengxiang Yin, Jian Tang, Tongtong Yuan, Zhiyuan Xu, Yanzhi Wang
Summary: This paper presents a novel real-time model, Sem2Ins, for instance segmentation. It leverages conditional generative adversarial networks, deep supervision, and weighted fusion layer to generate instance boundaries based on semantic segmentation. Experimental results demonstrate that Sem2Ins performs well in terms of both speed and accuracy, outperforming state-of-the-art solutions and comparable to powerful detect-and-segment approaches.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MULTIMEDIA
(2022)
Review
Agronomy
Christian Feller, Jean-Paul Aeschlimann, Emmanuel Frossard
Summary: This article introduces Friedrich Albert Fallou, who coined the term "pedology" and played an important role in the development of soil science. He provided detailed descriptions of soils in the Saxony region and emphasized the importance of studying soils in situ. Despite sticking to some outdated scientific concepts, he deserves recognition as an important forerunner of modern soil science.
JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Raul Roberto Poppiel, Ariane Francine da Silveira Paiva, Jose Alexandre Melo Dematte
Summary: This study aims to provide basic guidelines for the use of soil spectra in laboratory routines for internal quality control and sample selection. The use of spectral analysis for quality control and attribute prediction can reduce the need for laboratory analysis, saving time and reducing costs.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Bao Zhang, Yibin Yao, Yulin He
Summary: This study evaluated different methods to fill the data gap in Greenland and its six sub-regions, with the results showing that the BPNN method outperformed others, especially in terms of accuracy for the whole of Greenland, helping to re-estimate the ice mass change in the region.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jing Li, Yiyan Sun, Li Wang, Yuan Wang
Summary: The study identifies priority conservation areas in Anhui Province based on systematic conservation planning theory and suggests expanding the protected area network to enhance conservation benefits for biodiversity and key ecosystem services.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mohammad Reza Goodarzi, Hamed Vagheei, Rabi H. Mohtar
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Rabi Mohtar, Richard George Lawford, Jill A. Engel-Cox
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Agronomy
Jelle Beekma, Jeremy Bird, Adey Nigatu Mersha, Stijn Reinhard, Sanmugam Ahembaranathan Prathapar, Golam Rasul, Jeffrey Richey, Jouke Van Campen, Ragab Ragab, Chris Perry, Rabi Mohtar, Laurie Tollefson, Fuqiang Tian
Summary: This paper analyses the complexity of water, food, and energy security from the perspectives of their interconnectivity and focuses on the water-food-energy nexus as a tool for improving productivity and sector policies. The discussion highlights the trade-offs and challenges in finding measures with positive outcomes, and introduces emerging modelling approaches for quantifying security and trade-offs between the elements. Sub-themes of the forum focus on productivity, technology interventions, and stakeholder interaction, using the water-food-energy nexus approach to derive recommendations for policy environments.
IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Meshal M. Abdullah, Amjad Assi, Waleed K. Zubari, Rabi Mohtar, Hamed Eidan, Zahraa Al Ali, Bader Al Anzi, Virender K. Sharma, Xingmao Ma
Summary: Revegetating 10% of Kuwait's desert as grazing rangeland can reduce water consumption from fodder production, increase natural grazing efficiency, and support more domestic livestock. Strategic supplemental irrigation can enhance vegetation coverage and improve food security and water sustainability in arid regions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Civil
Rabi H. Mohtar
WATER INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rabi H. Mohtar, Virender K. Sharma, Bassel Daher, Chrysi Laspidou, Hyunook Kim, Efstratios N. Pistikopoulos, Iman Nuwayhid, Richard Lawford, Ali Rhouma, Majdi Abou Najm
Summary: This paper summarizes key messages from the American Chemical Society's symposium on creating a Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus community of practice. It highlights the importance of chemistry in understanding and addressing the interlinkages of nexus systems, particularly in the areas of food and agriculture, cleaner energy and water, and sustainable food production. The paper also raises the question of how to better engage the chemical society in the WEF nexus moving forward, proposing the resource of health as a way to foster dialogue and establish an inclusive community of science and practice.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Iman Nuwayhid, Rabi Mohtar
Summary: This perspective emphasizes the importance of health in the context of water, energy, and food nexus, and argues for its inclusion in the WEF Nexus.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jordan D. Muell, Rabi H. Mohtar, Eun Sung Kan, Amjad T. Assi, Valentini Pappa
Summary: Intensive livestock production negatively impacts the environment, but thermo-chemical methods can transform manure into a valuable resource. The closed-loop dairy system utilizes these methods to produce biochar for soil amendment and water filtration. The system has the potential to generate energy byproducts and reduce excessive nutrient runoff. The study shows that the closed-loop dairy system can be profitable and beneficial for the environment.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sang-Hyun Lee, Amjad T. Assi, Rabi H. Mohtar, Meryem Hamane, Pu Reun Yoon, Seung-Hwan Yoo
Summary: The aim of this study was to analyze various sustainability strategies for phosphate and phosphorous fertilizer production systems. The study used the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus Tool 2.0 adapted for the phosphate industry to assess different scenarios based on environmental priorities identified by the Moroccan phosphate industry. The tool provides sustainability indices for resource allocation and CO2 emissions, allowing stakeholders to make informed decisions based on trade-offs involved.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Bassel Daher, Roula Bachour, Sandra F. Yanni, Sasha Koo-Oshima, Rabi H. Mohtar
Summary: Lebanon's lack of long-term planning in its agricultural sector has led to a food security crisis. The study aims to identify and quantify the interconnections between water, energy, nutrition, and food systems in Lebanon, develop a framework to quantify the trade-offs associated with interventions, and evaluate producers' willingness to implement proposed changes.
FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Rabi H. Mohtar, Mirella Aoun, Bassel Daher, Chrysi S. Laspidou, Hyunook Kim, Virender K. Sharma
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Aavudai Anandhi, Puneet Srivastava, Rabi H. Mohtar, Richard G. Lawford, Sumit Sen, Jasmeet Lamba
Summary: This article reviews the current approaches in developing FEW Nexus frameworks and emphasizes the methods used by different stakeholders to define and conceptualize these frameworks. It provides scientists, consultants, and practitioners in the FEW domains with the tools and knowledge needed for successful implementation of the Nexus. The article also highlights knowledge gaps in the FEW Nexus domains.
JOURNAL OF THE ASABE
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Mohammad Reza Goodarzi, Rabi H. Mohtar, Reza Piryaei, Atiyeh Fatehifar, Majid Niazkar
Summary: This study used the case study of Borujerd, Iran and employed ARC GIS and models to calculate urban morphological data and crop irrigation water demand. The findings indicate that future temperature and rainfall will change. To tackle this, the study suggests adopting the WEF Nexus approach, including centralized agriculture, rainwater harvesting, and water treatment and recycling, to meet the city's water and electricity demand.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Rabi H. Mohtar, Ali Fares
Summary: Globally, water scarcity poses a challenge to food security, necessitating new approaches to water usage in food production. Food insecurity affects all nations, including the most developed ones, and reliance on traditional, non-sustainable food and agricultural systems exacerbates disruptions in food supply chains.
FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Rabi H. Mohtar
Summary: This paper describes the beginning of the WEF Nexus Journey in the classroom and shows how it has evolved into the discipline it is today. It provides definitions, shares success stories from around the world, reflects on future opportunities, and concludes with some remarks.
FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
(2022)