Summary

Environmental science emerged from the fields of natural history and medicine during the Enlightenment. Today, it provides an integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental systems. Environmental studies are incorporating more of the social sciences in order to understand human relationships, perceptions and policies towards the environment. This entry collection features information about design and technology for improving environmental quality in every aspect.

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Topic Review
Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria for Sustainable Agriculture
PGPR promotes plant growth indirectly by preventing phytopathogens by producing metabolites of antimicrobial nature; the production of enzymes such as chitinase, protease, and lipase, which enable lysis of pathogenic bacteria and fungi; and induction of systemic resistance. PGPR produces low molecular weight compounds possessing antimicrobial activity even at low concentrations. Due to these compounds, PGPRs are the first choice among biological control agents for sustainable agriculture.
  • 1.3K
  • 22 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Food Losses and Waste of Food
In recent times the issue of food losses and waste of food (FLW) has received increased academic and political attention. Although the definition of FLW is not clear, the truth is that globally roughly one-third of food is not consumed and is wasted, equivalent to 1.3. billion tonnes per year. The reasons for FLW differ between countries. In developed countries, most FLW occurs at the retail, foodservice and, home stages of the food supply chain for a variety of reasons. For instance, food not used in time, burning, spoilage, personal preferences or, leftover waste. While in developing countries FLW is mainly due to the absence of infrastructure, lack of knowledge and, investment in storage technologies.
  • 1.5K
  • 02 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Oklahoma Hard Red Winter Wheat
Wheat breeding continues to be an important component of agricultural innovations in the Great Plains region of the US. Over the past century, Oklahoma’s wheat yields have increased but the productivity gains have been offset in part due to increased yield variability. The shift to improved wheat varieties has resulted in increased susceptibility to plant disease and pest pressure. While a few varieties introduced over the past few decades have dominated the wheat seed market, recent trends indicate producers are adopting a more diverse range of wheat varieties. Producers’ concerns have expanded beyond demands for high yielding varieties to include more market oriented needs to increase protein content and test weight.
  • 1.3K
  • 02 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Soybean Callus as a Tocopherols Source
Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is a key species used by the nutraceutical and functional food industries for its secondary metabolites such as polyphenolic compounds, tocopherols, tannins, lignins, and alkaloids. Particularly, soybean is an excellent source of tocopherols with about 300 μg g−1/seed total tocopherols. In fact, tocopherols exist in four forms (i.e., α, β, γ, and δ). Among them, γ-tocopherol is found in higher concentrations (more than 60%), and α-tocopherol accounts for less than 10% of total tocopherols in soybean seeds. Therefore, as the α-tocopherol is an essential nutrient that functions as a peroxyl radical scavenger in the body, the dietary reference intake for vitamin E is currently based solely on α-tocopherol. Despite the lesser presence, α-tocopherol is reported to have the most significant antioxidant activity among tocopherols and is preferred by the human body, as it is the predominant form of vitamin E found in the blood and tissues. α-tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant and serves as a peroxyl radical scavenger protecting the polyunsaturated fatty acids in membranes and lipoproteins (protects the fats in low-density lipoproteins from oxidation). Furthermore, vitamin E is of vital importance for the nervous system, as a deficiency in humans leads to ataxia and myopathy. α-tocopherol is found naturally in plant sources as RRR-a-tocopherol and synthetically manufactured as all-rac-a-tocopherol.
  • 1.9K
  • 02 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Eco-efficiency
The term eco-efficiency was first proposed in 1990 by Schaltegger and Sturm. However, it was in 1991 that the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) was responsible for introducing one of the main concepts of eco-efficiency to the world. The term was defined as the delivery of economically competitive goods and services that meet the needs of society in terms of quality of life and that the entire process of manufacturing and availability for consumption, that is, throughout its life cycle, should have the least possible impact on the environment.
  • 3.9K
  • 13 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Photoswitchable Zirconium MOF
UiO-66-NH2 is a metal–organic framework (MOF), which is constructed of zirconium and amino-terephthalate ions. Modification of MOFs with photochromic compounds allows managing their gas capacity and directing sorption-desorption processes. Photochromic molecules are able to reverse their configuration under UV‐light irradiation affecting available pore volume. The modification of UiO‐66‐NH2 with diarylethene molecules (DAE, 4‐(5‐Methoxy‐1,2‐dimethyl‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐3‐(2,5‐dimethylthiophen‐3‐yl)‐4‐furan‐2,5‐dione) results in the formation of new photoswitchable material for light-driven H2 storage. Most of the DAE molecules inside of the UiO‐66‐pores had an open conformation after synthesis. However, the equilibrium was able to be shifted further toward an open conformation using visible light irradiation with a wavelength of 520 nm. Conversely, UV‐light with a wavelength of 450 nm initiated the transformation of the photoresponsive moieties inside of the pores to a closed modification. We have shown that this transformation could be used to stimulate hydrogen adsorption–desorption processes. Specifically, visible light irradiation increased the H2 capacity of modified MOF, while UV‐light decreased it. A similar hybrid material with DAE moieties in the UiO‐66 scaffold was applied for hydrogen storage for the first time. Additionally, the obtained results are promising for smart H2 storage that is able to be managed via light stimuli.
  • 891
  • 02 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation
 Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a promising technology for solidifying sandy soil, ground improvement, repairing concrete cracks, and remediation of polluted land. By solidifying sand into soil capable of growing shrubs, MICP can facilitate peak and neutralization of CO2 emissions because each square meter of shrub can absorb 253.1 grams of CO2 per year.
  • 1.5K
  • 01 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Invasive Aedes albopictus in the Americas
Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus Skuse is a mosquito native to Southeast Asia. Currently, it has a wide distribution in America, where natural infection with arboviruses of medical and veterinary importance has been reported. In the Americas, Ae. albopictus occupies the same ecological niches as Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti. It is difficult to incriminate the Asian mosquito as the cause of autochthonous arbovirus outbreaks. However, evidence suggests that Ae. albopictus is very effective in transmitting endemic arboviruses (such as dengue) in both horizontal and vertical transmission. Aedes albopictus could be useful as a sentinel species to monitor dengue virus in interepidemic periods.
  • 889
  • 01 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Graphene Family Nanomaterials (GFN)-TiO2
TiO2 is a naturally occurring oxide of titanium with structural stability and corrosion resistance. Although TiO2 is typically considered to be of low toxicity, the development of TiO2 nanotechnologies has resulted in increased human and environmental exposure, putting TiO2 nanoparticles under toxicological scrutiny. The points of view on the intrinsic properties of TiO2, GFNs (pristine graphene, graphene oxide (GO), reduced GO, and graphene quantum dots (GQDs)), and GFN-TiO2 are presented. This entry also explains practical synthesis techniques along with perspective characteristics of these TiO2- and/or graphene-based materials. The enhancement of the photocatalytic activity by using GFN-TiO2 and its improved photocatalytic reactions for the treatment of organic, inorganic, and biological pollutants in water and air phases are reported. It is expected that this entry can provide insights into the key to optimizing the photocatalytic activity of GFN-TiO2 and possible directions for future development in these fields.
  • 982
  • 01 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Analysis of Time Use Surveys Using CO-STATIS
The aim of this article was to study 23 time use activities measured in the two latest Colombian National Time Use Surveys, taken in 2013 (with 119,899 participants over the age of 10) and in 2017 (with a sample of 122,620 participants), to identify similarities and differences between the years of the survey by gender, age group, and socioeconomic level. The study’s results were obtained using the CO-STATIS multiway multivariate data analysis technique, which is comprised of two X-STATIS analyses and co-inertia analysis. The results confirm the existence of gender issues related to time use in Colombia, which are associated with gender stereotypes that link women to unpaid work and home care, especially in low socioeconomic levels, where women face limitations in terms of the time available to earn their own income. Additionally, differences were found by socioeconomic level, where Colombians of high socioeconomic status in all age groups are able to devote more time to leisure and recreational activities.
  • 1.0K
  • 01 Dec 2021
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