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Topic Review
Life Cycle Assessment of Embodied Carbon in Buildings
The environment demands a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as building and construction are responsible for more than 40% of the energy consumed worldwide and 30% of the world’s GHG emissions. Many countries have aligned themselves with the Paris agreement, following its target of achieving net zero carbon emissions, although some governments are focused on the operational energy efficiency part of the equation instead of the whole equation. Building embodied carbon assessments can be compared to the more widely used and standardized life cycle assessment approach in terms of methodology (LCA), which focuses on quantifying carbon emissions throughout a building’s life cycle.
  • 1.1K
  • 02 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Microbial Mats: Extraterrestrial Life Models
Extant microbial mats already present on Earth provide useful working analog models for the exploration of life in extraterrestrial hydrospheres.
  • 1.1K
  • 08 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Sources of Arsenic in the Aquatic Environment
Arsenic is an element that is distributed globally and is abundant in the Earth’s crust (20th most abundant element) and seawater (14th most abundant element). It is classified as a metalloid and exhibits both metallic and non-metallic properties. The high solubility and mobility of arsenic in aquatic environments affects its global cycling. Furthermore, the biological processes in the aquatic environment are discussed, especially the possible microbe-mediated reactions of arsenic in sediments. In addition, various environmental factors, such as redox conditions, pH, and salinity, which influence the transformation of arsenic species.
  • 1.1K
  • 04 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Light-Based Removal of Emerging Contaminants
Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are currently an unregulated class of contaminants with increasing global presence and awareness. However, the management of CECs in water bodies is particularly challenging due to the difficulty in detection and their recalcitrant degradation by conventional means. Light-based oxidation processes are viable options for such application. Light-driven oxidation processes use light as an irradiation source to generate oxidative species for the degradation of emerging contaminants. The key few technologies available are discussed in the review article: photo/Fenton, photocatalysis, photolysis, UV/Ozone. Herein, a cost–benefit analysis on various light-based processes was conducted to access the suitability for CECs degradation. It was found that the UV/Ozone process might not be suitable due to the complication with pH adjustments and limited light wavelength. It was found that EEO values were in this sequence: UV only > UV/combination > photocatalyst > UV/O3 > UV/Fenton > solar/Fenton. The solar/Fenton process has the least computed EEO < 5 kWh m−3 and great potential for further development. Newer innovations such as solar/catalyst can also be explored with potentially lower EEO values. Light-based processes could also be used to detect  CECs in surface water. Hence forming the 2 pronged approach for CEC management.
  • 1.1K
  • 06 Sep 2021
Topic Review
NOx Emission Reduction and Recovery
Since its first confirmed case at the end of 2019, COVID-19 has become a global pandemic in three months with more than 1.4 million confirmed cases worldwide, as of early April 2020. Quantifying the changes of pollutant emissions due to COVID-19 and associated governmental control measures is crucial to understand its impacts on economy, air pollution, and society. We used the WRF-GC model and the tropospheric NO2 column observations retrieved by the TROPOMI instrument to derive the top-down NOx emission change estimation between the three periods: P1 (January 1st to January 22nd, 2020), P2 (January 23rd, Wuhan lockdown, to February 9th, 2020), and P3 (February 10th, back-to-work day, to March 12th, 2020). We found that NOx emissions in East China averaged during P2 decreased by 50% compared to those averaged during P1. The NOx emissions averaged during P3 increased by 26% compared to those during P2. Most provinces in East China gradually regained some of their NOx emissions after February 10, the official back-to-work day, but NOx emissions in most provinces have not yet to return to their previous levels in early January. NOx emissions in Wuhan, the first epicenter of COVID-19, had no sign of emission recovering by March 12. A few provinces, such as Zhejiang and Shanxi, have recovered fast, with their averaged NOx emissions during P3 almost back to pre-lockdown levels.
  • 1.1K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Snowmelt Models
The snowmelt model is a hydrological model that simulates the processes of snow accumulation, melt, and confluence. Since the snowmelt process involves the complex energy transfer and water transfer processes between the atmosphere and snow, between different snow layers, and between snow layers and soil, it is more complicated than the formation process of rainfall runoff. If there is a rainfall event on snow, it is very difficult to simulate the runoff generation process due to the mixture of rain and snow. Snowmelt simulation is the basis for the simulation of snowmelt flood formation processes, and it plays a crucial role in accurately modelling snowmelt floods.
  • 1.1K
  • 29 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Mechanisms and Impact of Biofilms
Biofilms comprising aggregates of microorganisms or multicellular communities have been a major issue as they cause resistance against antimicrobial agents and biofouling. To date, numerous biofilm-forming microorganisms have been identified, which have been shown to result in major effects including biofouling and biofilm-related infections. Quorum sensing (which describes the cell communication within biofilms) plays a vital role in the regulation of biofilm formation and its virulence. As such, elucidating the various mechanisms responsible for biofilm resistance (including quorum sensing) will assist in developing strategies to inhibit and control the formation of biofilms in nature. Employing biological control measures (such as the use of bioactive compounds) in targeting biofilms is of great interest since they naturally possess antimicrobial activity among other favorable attributes and can also possibly act as potent antibiofilm agents.
  • 1.1K
  • 13 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Genetic Improvement of Wheat for Drought Tolerance
Wheat production and productivity are challenged by recurrent droughts associated with climate change globally. Drought and heat stress resilient cultivars can alleviate yield loss in marginal production agro-ecologies. The ability of some crop genotypes to thrive and yield in drought conditions is attributable to the inherent genetic variation and environmental adaptation, presenting opportunities to develop drought-tolerant varieties. Understanding the underlying genetic, physiological, biochemical, and environmental mechanisms and their interactions is key critical opportunity for drought tolerance improvement.
  • 1.1K
  • 30 May 2022
Topic Review
Vermicomposting
Vermicomposting is a process that has been intensively studied for years and has become significant and frequent topic. Numerous papers are describing its mechanism and performance, but each highlights different aspects. Although numerous studies have been conducted on the topic of vermicomposting and each of them has contributed to understanding the role of vermicompost, there are still unknowns that need to be additionally explored to maximize the potential of vermicompost and to recoup the process itself according to specific needs.
  • 1.1K
  • 27 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Biopollution
Biopollution describes the biological pollution caused by the introduction of non-indigenous species into biogeographic regions where they were not present before. It is considered one of the main threats to environmental health, and it is a factor of disturbance that can be consistently viewed as a pollution agent, albeit of a different nature if compared with physical and chemical factors. Ecosystem deterioration may be induced by the development of massive alien population outbreaks following introduction events. Biopollution assessment procedures have been proposed, adopting criteria already used for xenochemical compounds. Also prevention and mitigation measures to reduce biopollution impact have been developed in a similar way as for chemical pollution.
  • 1.1K
  • 12 May 2021
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