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Topic Review
Wetland Resources in South Africa
Wetlands are important ecosystems with physical and socioeconomic benefits. A wetland is defined as an area of soil covered with water or has water close to its surface all year or at some periods of the year. They are necessary for people’s livelihoods but not usually considered important.
  • 1.8K
  • 13 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Biological Quality of Soils
As is it known, soil is the basis of all activity in which man is involved. At the same time, it is the key factor for the development of the life and biodiversity of the planet's flora and fauna. Hence, as result of global warming and climate change, ecological research has recently increased its importance on the bases that extensive forest areas, act as carbon sinks mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. But no less important for investigation should be to inquire under this plant cover. Because there is a totally unimaginable and diverse world that remains in constant interactions to keep alive and from the green covering habitat to the diverse forms from small mammals to man. Man in its early days learned to manage the soil with the aim of producing food. Afterwards the exponential growth of the population was produced, and a high demand for food, caused the expansion of livestock borders, caused the devastation of large areas of forests, and generated a great impact to the soil and ecosystem. As a result, the change in land use and the application of chemicals impoverished and impairs the soil and the life that inhabits it. This is why this work highlights the importance of the biological component of soil to the context of the Amazon of Ecuador. For this reason, is important to consider different organisms as Essential Indicators of Soil Quality, mainly for the tropical soil field. In order to reach this objective, we compiled information presenting it in tables. They facilitate the interpretation of the importance of species of organisms and parameters from a biological point of view. At the same time, they can be used as a theoretical basis for the development of projects and research aimed to the management of biological soil composites.
  • 1.8K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Dairy Buffalo Behavior: Calving, Imprinting and Allosuckling
Maternal behavior, in water buffalo and other ruminants, is a set of patterns of a determined species, including calving, imprinting, and suckling. Since the success of dairy farms depends on parturition, lactation, and the welfare of both the dam and the calf, calving behavior in water buffalo is a research area that could help researchers understand this process.
  • 1.8K
  • 18 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Water–Energy–Food Nexus
The availability of water, energy and food plays a key role in meeting the basic needs of the world population and allowing them to achieve prosperity and supports the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs). These three fundamental resources are closely interrelated, with their deep interdependencies reflected in various concepts of the ‘water–energy–food nexus’ (W–E–F).
  • 1.7K
  • 24 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Soil Biology in the Ecuadorian Amazon
For many decades the Ecuadorian Amazon has been used as source of resources for cities both at national and international level. These facts had important consequences and environmental impacts, affecting from the smallest living organisms of the soil to the indigenous communities and peoples that inhabit the Amazon rainforest, as well as the flora and fauna biodiversity. With the change in land use, the Amazonian territory has been progressively affected and it is gradually decreasing, leaving behind poor soils.  Production conditions result modified by the implementation of large monocultures and livestock systems, a situation that directly affects soil and soil fauna. For this reason, we considered interesting to study, understand and compare the behavior of building organisms in natural and intervened areas, through sampling, inventories and laboratory analysis with the aim of developing and implementing production systems (chakras, agroforestry or silvopastoral systems), which benefit both the small producer and the ecosystem and life that inhabits it. Since there are no easily available compiled papers regarding the "Soil Biology in the Ecuadorian Amazon" in this work we collect information that allows us to offer a framework on the topics of changes in land use, typology of Amazonian soils and its main inhabitats organisms. All these date let to be considered as evidences of the degree of the health/disturbance of the corresponding soils.
  • 1.7K
  • 28 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Water Treatment Plant Sludge Dewatering
Using geotextile tubes as dewatering technology may significantly contribute to sustainable treatment of sludge generated in different industries, such as the water industry. This is an economical alternative for dewatering sludge from a Water Treatment Plant (WTP), which prevents sludge from being directly deposited in water bodies and makes it possible to then transfer the sludge to landfills. 
  • 1.7K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Cleaning Technologies for Indoor Air Quality Improvement
If outdoor air is more polluted, or in certain situations where ventilation is not possible, other strategies need to be applied, such as source control and pollutants extraction. The latter incorporates air cleaning technologies, one of the emergent areas of indoor air quality. Various air treatment technologies can be used to control contaminants, including physicochemical technologies and biological technologies.
  • 1.7K
  • 28 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Analytical Methods for Dithiocarbamate Detection
Dithiocarbamates (DTCs) are a group of chemicals used primarily as fungicides, although they are exploited for various other applications. DTCs represent one of the oldest classes of broad-spectrum fungicides employed worldwide to control fungal diseases on many crops. Due to their ease of synthesis, low production costs (cheap and readily available starting materials) and a fungicidal activity with a multi-site mode of action, they are still among modern agriculture’s most extensively used pesticides. Although the environmental degradation in air, water, and soil is relatively rapid due to photolysis and/or hydrolysis, they are among the most frequently detected pesticides in the European Union (EU), also with a high frequency of maximum residue level (MRL) exceedances.
  • 1.7K
  • 27 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Soil Microbes in Chernobyl and Fukushima
Compositional changes in soil microbes associated with decreases in abundance and species diversity were reported, especially in heavily contaminated areas of both Chernobyl and Fukushima, which may accompany explosions of radioresistant species. In Chernobyl, the population size of soil microbes remained low for at least 20 years after the accident, and the abundance of plant-associated microbes, which are related to the growth and defense systems of plants, possibly decreased. These reported changes in microbes likely affect soil conditions and alter plant physiology. These microbe-mediated effects may then indirectly affect insect herbivores through food-mass-mediated, pollen-mediated, and metabolite-mediated interactions. Metabolite-mediated interactions may be a major pathway for ecological impacts at low pollution levels and could explain the decreases in insect herbivores in Fukushima.
  • 1.7K
  • 20 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Antibiotics Remediation Technologies
Antibiotics are used widely in human medicine, veterinary medicine, and agriculture. However, a portion of these compounds is excreted by treated organisms, entering water bodies through hospital effluents, domestic sewage, and agricultural waste. Furthermore, pharmaceutical production and improper disposal contribute to environmental contamination. The presence of antibiotics in the environment can have highly adverse consequences, such as the development and dissemination of bacterial resistance, reducing the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating infections. Several techniques are available for treating antibiotic contamination in water, including physical, chemical, and biological processes. The variety of techniques allows adaptation to the specific conditions of each case, selecting the most effective and cost-effective method considering the available infrastructure. 
  • 1.7K
  • 19 Jun 2024
Topic Review
ElectroKinetic Remediation
The ElectroKinetic Remediation Technology (EKRT) is an electrochemical approach that is applied for the remediation of contaminated soils. Electrochemical approaches have gained prominence thanks to the many possible applications and their proven effectiveness. This is particularly evident in the case of inorganic/ionic contaminants, which are not subject to natural attenuation (biological degradation) and are difficult to treat adequately with conventional methods.
  • 1.7K
  • 01 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Catalytic Ozonation and Membrane Contactors
Membrane filtration has been widely used in water and wastewater treatment. However, this process is not very effective for the removal of refractory organic compounds (e.g., of pharmaceutical origin). Alongside, ozonation is an efficient oxidative process, although ozone is considered to be a rather selective oxidant agent and sometimes it presents quite low mineralization rates. An improvement of this oxidation process is catalytic ozonation, which can degrade organic compounds via the acceleration of hydroxyl radicals’ production. The hydroxyl radicals are unselective oxidative species, presenting high reaction constants with organic compounds. An efficient way to couple membrane filtration with catalytic ozonation is the deposition of an appropriate solid catalyst onto the membrane surface. Catalytic membrane ozonation can enhance the degradation of these compounds and, subsequently, the incidence of membrane fouling (i.e., the major problem of membrane uses).
  • 1.7K
  • 18 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Water Land Resources Degradation Index
Natural resources are gradually coming under continuous and increasing pressure due to anthropogenic interventions and climate variabilities. The result of these pressures is reflected in the sustainability of natural resources. Significant scientific efforts during the recent years focus on mitigating the effects of these pressures and on increasing the sustainability of natural resources. Hence, there is a need to develop specific indices and indicators that will reveal the areas having the highest risks. The Water and Land Resources Degradation Index (WLDI) was developed for this purpose. WLDI consists of eleven indicators and its outcome results from the spatiotemporal performance of these indicators. The WLDI is based on the Standardized Drought Vulnerability Index (SDVI) and the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Index (ESAI). 
  • 1.7K
  • 27 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Influence of Benzo(a)pyrene on Different Epigenetic Processes
Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and is used as an indicator of PAHs. It is primarily produced by burning of fossil fuels, wood and other organic materials.  The mechanism of epigenetic changes induced by BaP are mainly due to the formation of CpG-BPDE adducts, between metabolite of BaP—BPDE and CpG, which leads to changes in the level of 5-methylcytosine. BaP also acts through inhibition of DNA methyltransferases activity, as well as by increasing histone deacetylases HDACs, i.e., HDAC2 and HDAC3 activity. The aim of this entry is to discuss the mechanism of the epigenetic action of BaP on the basis of the latest publications.
  • 1.7K
  • 22 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Climate Change Education (CCE)
Climate Change Education (CCE) is learning geared toward helping people address and develop effective responses to climate change. It helps learners understand the causes and consequences of climate change, prepares them to live with the impacts of climate change and empowers learners to take appropriate actions to adopt more sustainable lifestyles. CCE helps policy-makers understand the urgency and importance of putting mechanisms into place to combat climate change on a national and global scale. Communities learn about how climate change will affect them, what they can do to protect themselves from negative consequences, and how they can reduce their own climate footprint. In particular, CCE helps increase the resilience of already vulnerable communities who are the most likely to be adversely affected by climate change. CCE is rooted in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
  • 1.7K
  • 04 Nov 2022
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
The Environmental Impacts of Overpopulation
Overpopulation’s central role in environmental degradation is intermittently challenged. This article assesses the impact of mounting demographic pressures on six critical global sustainability challenges: deforestation, climate change, biodiversity loss, fishery depletion, water scarcity, and soil degradation. By synthesizing findings from hundreds of peer-reviewed studies, the article offers a comprehensive review of the effects of expanding human populations on the most pressing current environmental problems. Although the rate of population growth worldwide is slowing, human numbers are expected to continue increasing on Earth until the end of the century. Current research confirms that overpopulation causes substantial and potentially irreversible environmental impacts that cannot be ignored if international sustainability policy is to be effective.
  • 1.7K
  • 17 Apr 2025
Topic Review
Economics in Marine Spatial Planning
There has been a rapid increase in the use of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) worldwide, partly due to the continued loss of marine biodiversity and habitat. The sustainability of marine resources is threatened in all regions of the world by major events such as climate change, marine pollution, and overfishing, as well as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing both on the high seas and in country waters.
  • 1.7K
  • 20 Feb 2024
Topic Review
State of the Art in Textile Waste Management
Textile waste constitutes a significant fraction of municipal solid waste sent to landfill or incinerated. Its innovative management is important to enhance sustainability and circularity.
  • 1.7K
  • 29 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Vehicle Exhaust Particle Number Regulations
In vehicle solid particle number (SPN) regulations, solid (nonvolatile) particles are defined as particles surviving thermal pre-treatment at 300-400 °C and large enough to be detected with a particle counter having approximately 50% counting efficiency at approximately 23 nm or 10 nm (depending on the regulation).
  • 1.7K
  • 23 Dec 2021
Topic Review
The Drivers and Barriers of Green Ports
Ports play an increasingly significant role in fostering regional economic growth and international trade as a key hub of the transportation network. Ports now provide cities, regions, and nations with a vital strategic resource for taking part in global economic cooperation and competitiveness, in addition to providing space for transportation, logistics, and a way to connect with the outside world. Green ports are presented as an achievable solution to the energy issue and environmental degradation. A green port is a port that not only satisfies environmental criteria but also provides economic benefits. Green ports are an excellent strategy to reduce environmental pollution and ecological harm, as well as to maintain the ports’ water resources and natural environment.
  • 1.7K
  • 26 Sep 2023
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