Abstract Sustainability science recognises the need to fully incorporate cultural and emotional dimensions of environmental change to understand how societies deal with and shape anticipated transformations, unforeseen risks and increasing uncertainties. The relationship between empathy and sustainability represents a key advance in understanding underpinning human-environment relations. We assert that lack of empathy for nature and for others limits motivations to conserve the environment and enhance sustainability. Critically, the relationship between empathy and sustainability is mediated by place and identity that constrain and shape empathy’s role in pro-environmental sustainability behaviour. We review emerging evidence across disciplines and suggest a new model exploring interactions between place, identity and empathy for sustainability. There are emerging innovative methodological approaches to observe, measure and potentially stimulate empathy for sustainability.
The accelerating emissions of greenhouse gases—particularly carbon dioxide (CO2)—pose serious challenges to global environmental sustainability, with China being a major contributor due to its rapid economic and financial expansion. This study investigates the nexus between financial development (FD), renewable energy consumption, and CO2 emissions in China over the period 1996–2022. Using advanced time-series econometric methods, including dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), canonical cointegration regression (CCR), and Granger causality analysis, this study aims to uncover the long-run relationships and causal directions among economic growth, financial development, renewable energy use, human capital, agricultural productivity, and carbon emissions (CEs). The findings reveal five key results: (1) economic growth is positively associated with CO2 emissions, confirming an environmental trade-off; (2) financial development also significantly increases emissions, indicating potential ecological risks from financial sector expansion; (3) renewable energy consumption significantly reduces CO2 emissions, confirming its role in promoting environmental quality; (4) human capital and agricultural productivity both contribute to emission reduction; and (5) causality tests show unidirectional and bidirectional relationships among variables, highlighting the interdependence of energy, finance, and environmental dynamics. The study concludes that China can reduce carbon emissions without compromising economic growth by accelerating renewable energy adoption, investing in green technologies, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices through targeted environmental and economic policies.
Hyperspectral anomaly detection (HAD) is challenging especially when anomalies are presented in sub-pixel form.The spectral signatures of anomalies in mixed pixels are mixed with those of background, making anomalies difficult to be distinguished from background. Most existing methods detect sub-pixel targets in abundance space by spectral unmixing. However, since abundance feature extraction and anomaly detection are decoupled, the learned features are not well-suitable for the subsequent detection. Moreover, these methods neglect the negative effect of anomalies on spectral unmixing, which leads to degradation of detection performance. To tackle these problems, we propose a cascaded autoencoder (AE) unmixing network for HAD. First, based on anomalies have larger spectral reconstruction errors than background, a background estimation approach is proposed to alleviate the negative effect of anomalies on spectral unmixing. Second, a cascaded AE is designed to achieve spectral unmixing from the estimated background to simultaneously obtain the endmembers and abundance vectors. Third, a deep Gaussian mixture model is leveraged to estimate the density distributions of spectral features since anomalies usually lie in the low-density areas. In this way, spectral unmixing and detection are jointly optimized to construct a unified detection framework. Experimental results demonstrate that our method achieves superior detection performance to existing state-of-the-art HAD methods.
Cassia B. Caballero, Trent W. Biggs, Noemi Vergopolan
et al.
Abstract The Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland, experienced unusual drying in 2000–2021, but the causes are poorly understood. Combining remotely sensed data of wetland extent and land cover with observed water level discharge and meteorological data, we quantify the relative contributions of climate and land use to changes in Pantanal wetland extent. Climate variability drove 96% of the runoff changes over four major hydroclimate regimes, including two wet (1951–1964; 1976–2000) and two dry (1965–1975; 2001–2021) periods. Reduced precipitation, runoff, and wetland shrinkage observed in 2001–2021 resembled the previous dry period (1965–1975), indicating decadal climatic variability. However, the higher aridity index in the recent period exacerbated the duration of the drought, and the rainfall-runoff relationship shifted over time, with more runoff for a given rainfall amount in recent periods. Wetland area is highly sensitive to climate variability, contracting to 25% of the maximum during dry years. Future warming and reduced rainfall will likely continue the recent drying trend, further reducing runoff, wetland area, and the Pantanal biodiversity.
Lasocki Maciej, Majewski Piotr, Zinowiec-Cieplik Kinga
et al.
The goal of this paper is to explore whether there is potential in the Warsaw community to develop urban gardens (UG) to foster adaptation to climate change. The paper acknowledges the presence of UG in the research-recognised repertoire of climate change adaptation tools and, based on social research, highlights and discusses features essential for the potential of social capital. The characteristics of gardeners and urban gardening leaders, the functions of UG as perceived by gardeners and indicators of success were examined. The results identify factors influencing engagement conditions, longevity premises and effectiveness agents.
H. Dawood Salman Salman, S. Jafarmadar, S. M. Pesteei
In this research, thermodynamic and thermoeconomic analysis of a new multigeneration system based on the Parabolic trough collector and the photovoltaic-thermal solar collectors is carried out to produce power, cooling, hot water, hydrogen and freshwater. The proposed system includes an organic Rankine cycle, double-effect absorption refrigeration system, PEM electrolyzer and the reverse osmosis desalination unit. Analysis of energy, exergy, thermoeconomics, as well as analysis of various parameters was done by using the EES software. The results show that the energy and second law efficiency of the system is 33.49% and 13.31%, respectively. The net power produced by the system is 1271.48 kW in which ORC turbine has the maximum share. Moreover, the coefficient of performance of the cooling system is achieved to be 1.097 by considering the basic assumptions. The hydrogen and freshwater production rates are 542.3 kg/day and 4.55 kg/s, respectively. Finally, the rate of exergy destruction in each part of the system shows that the highest rate of exergy loss occurs in the PTC collector and the organic Rankine cycle with the amount of 53575 kW and 1624 kW, respectively, and in the organic Rankine cycle, the thermoelectric generator unit and evaporator have the largest share of exergy losses.
Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt (ivy gourd) is popularly consumed in South Asia for food and therapeutic purposes. C. grandis acts as a remedy for various ailments, such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, ulcers, diarrhea, jaundice, inflammation, fever, bronchitis, burns, skin eruptions, insect bites, allergies, eye infections, and urinary disorders. Researchers have identified phytoconstituents in diverse chemical classes from this species, including alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, esters, ethers, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds. Comprehensive research conducted in vitro and in vivo has confirmed the properties of the plant as antidiabetic, anticancer, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, analgesic, antipyretic, anti-Alzheimer's, anticataract, antileishmanial, anti-anaphylactic, anti-histaminic, and wound-healing agent, as well as being advantageous for cardiovascular health. Most pharmacological findings are derived from studies on the extracts and the subsequent phytoconstituents from this plant species. Nevertheless, the specific phytoconstituents underlying these biological effects and the mechanisms of action involved are yet to be fully identified. Toxicological evaluations indicate that C. grandis is generally safe, although high doses can cause dose-dependent hepatotoxicity. Moreover, the clinical trials focusing on the antidiabetic effects of C. grandis demonstrate promising effects in managing glucose dysregulation. This review aims to provide a comprehensive update on C. grandis, expanding on previous studies by incorporating a broader ethnomedicinal scope, a more extensive phytochemical profile with detailed chemical structures, and additional clinical trial data. Unlike prior publications, this review emphasizes C. grandis as a functional food, highlighting its potential in chronic disease management. By integrating these aspects, this study offers a more in-depth analysis of the therapeutic potential and future applications of this plant. The functional food aspect of C. grandis, rich in bioactive compounds, supports its role in preventing and managing chronic diseases as a regular vegetable.
With the development of urbanization and industrialization worldwide, soil heavy metal pollution has become a critical and pressing environmental problem in urban areas. Soil heavy metals exhibit complex and varying spatial aggregation and diffusion processes within diverse urban landscapes, especially in different urban areas with varying urbanization levels. However, many existing experimental methods and conventional models overlook the crucial aspects of spatial autocorrelation and heterogeneity between soil heavy metals and influencing factors. This neglect poses significant environmental concerns, as rapid monitoring of soil heavy metals and accurate identification of their determinants become imperative. This study investigated four environmentally sensitive and potentially harmful soil heavy metals, arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb), in two urban areas in China with varying urbanization levels. Enshi (a prefecture-level city) and Wuhan (a provincial capital city) were selected for comparison of the spatially variable relationships between soil heavy metals and their influencing factors. We employed a global stepwise linear regression (STR) model and a local spatial model-geographically weighted regression (GWR) to map the spatial distribution of soil heavy metals based on 121 auxiliary variables, including terrain, geophysical, socioeconomic factors, and remote sensing data. Our results showed that: (1) soil heavy metals exhibited strong spatial aggregation in the prefecture-level city (Enshi) but, nonetheless, have strong spatial heterogeneity in the provincial capital city (Wuhan) due to elevated anthropogenic disturbances; (2) GWR accurately mapped the spatial distributions of As (<i>r</i> = 0.47 and 0.66), Cd (<i>r</i> = 0.74 and 0.53), Cu (<i>r</i> = 0.60 and 0.54), and Pb (<i>r</i> = 0.44 and 0.50) based on auxiliary variables in different cities and also can clearly reveal the spatially variable relationships with main influence factors; (3) human activities were the primary driving factors influencing As and Pb, while natural environment variables were identified as the main potential sources of Cd and Cu. This study demonstrates a methodology to explore spatially variable characteristics of soil heavy metals and their spatial varying relationships with influence factors. The comparative analysis between two cities provides insights that can greatly enhance quantitative source apportionment and support sustainable management strategies for controlling soil heavy metal pollution across varied urban environments.
No mercado brasileiro tem crescido a oferta de equipamentos conhecidos como biodigestores, os quais visam tratar o esgoto doméstico de residências unifamiliares e pequenos aglomerados. No entanto, surgem dúvidas quanto à eficiência desses produtos. Assim, torna-se urgente estabelecer no Brasil uma padronização dos métodos de avaliação desses equipamentos, a fim de criar uma base unificada para a comparação de suas eficiências. Para alcançar esse objetivo é necessário criar um programa de avaliação de tais produtos e estabelecer uma instituição responsável por promover essas avaliações. Dessa forma, será possível proporcionar aos consumidores uma referência para a comparação dos diferentes equipamentos. Isso facilitará a compreensão das funcionalidades, requisitos e eficiência oferecidos por essas tecnologias e contribuirá para eliminar do mercado produtos mal fabricados ou com desempenho de tratamento inadequado.
Andrew Birkey, Heather A. Ford, Megan Anderson
et al.
Dense seismic arrays such as EarthScope’s Transportable Array (TA) have enabled high-resolution seismic observations that show the structure of cratonic lithosphere is more heterogeneous and complex than previously assumed. In this study, we pair TA data with data from the Bighorn Arch Seismic Experiment and the Crust and lithosphere Investigation of the Easternmost expression of the Laramide Orogeny (CIELO) to provide unprecedented detail on the seismic anisotropic structure of the eastern margin of the Wyoming Craton, where several orogens emerged from nominally strong cratonic lithosphere during the Laramide Orogeny. In this study, we use the splitting of teleseismic shear waves to characterize fabrics associated with deformation in the Earth’s crust and mantle. We constrain distinct anisotropic domains in the study area, and forward modeling shows that each of these domains can be explained by a single layer of anisotropy. Most significantly, we find a fast direction in the southern part of the Powder River Basin, which we refer to as the Thunder Basin Block (TBB), that deviates from absolute plate motion (APM). This change in splitting behavior coincides with changes in other modeled geophysical observations, such as active source P-wave velocity models, potential field modeling, and seismic attenuation analysis, which all show a significant change moving from the Bighorn Mountains to the TBB. We argue that these results correspond to structure predating the Laramide Orogeny, and most likely indicate a Neoarchean boundary preserved within the lithosphere.
Alzubaidi Laith H., Thakur Gaurav, G Vijayalakshmi
et al.
This review explores Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Energy Trading Platforms in Local Energy Markets, drawing insights from three key studies. These markets, using P2P trading, efficiently distribute electricity within communities. Research assesses P2P trading’s impact in a Norwegian neighbourhood, comparing it to scenarios without local markets. It also examines integrating PV systems, batteries, and electric vehicles on grid operations. Findings reveal minimal grid impacts with PVs alone, but adding batteries increases voltage fluctuations and losses. However, P2P trading benefits end-users with cost savings and supports Distribution System Operator operations. The paper surveys global P2P energy trading projects, emphasising communication and control networks within local Microgrids. It discusses the transition from passive consumers to prosumers in power networks and introduces the concept of a federated power plant, combining virtual power plants and P2P transactions among prosumers to address challenges and unlock additional value. This review fills research gaps, shedding light on P2P energy trading’s multifaceted aspects in local markets and its transformative potential for the energy sector.
A key goal of environmental health research is to assess the risk posed by mixtures of pollutants. As epidemiologic studies of mixtures can be expensive to conduct, it behooves researchers to incorporate prior knowledge about mixtures into their analyses. This work extends the Bayesian multiple index model (BMIM), which assumes the exposure‐response function is a nonparametric function of a set of linear combinations of pollutants formed with a set of exposure‐specific weights. The framework is attractive because it combines the flexibility of response‐surface methods with the interpretability of linear index models. We propose three strategies to incorporate prior toxicological knowledge into construction of indices in a BMIM: (a) imposing directional homogeneity constraints on the weights, (b) structuring index weights by exposure transformations, and (c) placing informative priors on the index weights. We propose a novel prior specification that combines spike‐and‐slab variable selection with an informative Dirichlet distribution based on relative potency factors often derived from previous toxicological studies. In simulations we show that the proposed priors improve inferences when prior information is correct and can protect against misspecification suffered by naïve toxicological models when prior information is incorrect. Moreover, different strategies may be mixed‐and‐matched for different indices to suit available information (or lack thereof). We demonstrate the proposed methods on an analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and incorporate prior information on relative chemical potencies obtained from toxic equivalency factors available in the literature.
V. V. Ukhovskyi, O. M. Romanov, O. M. Chechet
et al.
The article presents the results of a molecular genetic study of two isolates of the Pseudorabies virus that were isolated from pigs in Ukraine. Bioinformatic analysis of the gE gene fragment of Aujeszky's disease virus (Pseudorabies virus) isolates was carried out in order to determine the phylogenetic relationships and homology of nucleotide sequences. Fragments of the Aujeszky disease virus genome corresponding to the C-terminal region of the gE gene were selected for sequencing and further analysis. As a result of the conducted studies, it was demonstrated that the nucleotide sequences of the analyzed samples differ from each other by the presence of ACG insert in the tandem repeats region. Comparison of the studied sequences with the sequences of strains/isolates of the Aujeszky's disease virus found in Europe and Asia, presented in the GenBank database, indicates that such an insert is characteristic for the Min-A and HNJZ strains (position 1487 in the gE gene) isolated in Asia. Analysis of the homology of nucleotide sequences showed that the sequence of the gE gene fragment of sample No. 1 is 100% identical to the sequences of strains 89V87 and 00V72 isolated in Belgium. The homology of the nucleotide sequence of the gE gene fragment of sample No. 3 with strains 89V87 and 00V72 was 99.13%. In order to clarify the analyzed samples belonging to a particular genogroup (genetic cluster), a phylogenetic dendrogram was constructed. This demonstrates the phylogenetic relationships between strains/isolates of the Aujeszky's disease virus. It was found that the analyzed samples belong to the genetic cluster uniting European strains/isolates, and the studied isolates are most genetically close to strains 89V87 and 00V72.
Due to their unique physical properties, magnetic fluids are promising for use in bearings, seals, sliding guides, and other devices of modern technology. Some restrictions on their use are imposed by the tendency of magnetic fluids to lose colloidal stability and structure formation in strong magnetic fields. Increasing the stability of a colloid by reducing the size of the dispersed particles of the magnetic fluid is limited by the Heisenberg uncertainty relation, on the condition of maintaining their ferromagnetic state. The search for ways to reduce internal friction in technical devices with magnetic fluids having a highly developed thixotropic nanostructure is important from a practical point of view. Using a device, simulating the operation of a magnetohydrostatic bearing, the rheological characteristics of a fluid nanostructured by a magnetic field, which is a colloidal system with a dispersed phase of magnetite particles (10 vol.%) and a dispersion medium of silicon organic fluid PESV-2, were studied. The dynamic viscosity of the magnetic fluid was about 0.05 Pa.s at 20°C. It has been established that the process of structuring a magnetic fluid in an external field can last hundreds of hours and depends mainly on the viscosity of the dispersion medium and the concentration of magnetite. It has been revealed that the motion of a cylinder with a terminal velocity begins only at shear stresses exceeding the limiting static stress and proceeds at a constant velocity. The breakdown of the structure begins after the shear stress exceeds the critical value. The critical stress is introduced to compare the strength of the structure of different fluids. The value of the critical stress was determined with an accuracy of up to 50 Pa by analyzing the curves of the change in the sliding speed with time. It has been established that the temperature dependence of the critical shear stress is very sharp and close to exponential.