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
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.
  • 452
  • 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.
  • 948
  • 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.
  • 471
  • 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.
  • 548
  • 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.
  • 595
  • 01 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Socio-Economic Aspects of Sustainable Mobility
The importance of transportation in terms of economic growth and human resources cannot be overstated. The way people move to work or enjoy recreation, how companies send workers to reach clients, and how businesses ship goods to distribution centres—transport shapes lives and underpins everything. The goal of the transportation system should be to advance the excellence of life in the city and suburbs by providing a safe, dependable, integrated, multi-modal, effective, and environmentally friendly transportation system (particularly by employing low/zero-emission cars, park and ride solutions, and so on). There are various socioeconomic facets of sustainable mobility. In addition, some of them also overlap with the environmental or technical categories. 
  • 726
  • 01 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Malate Transport and Metabolism
Legumes form a symbiosis with rhizobia, a soil bacterium that allows them to access atmospheric nitrogen and deliver it to the plant for growth. Biological nitrogen fixation occurs in specialized organs, termed nodules, that develop on the legume root system and house nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteroids in organelle-like structures termed symbiosomes. The process is highly energetic and there is a large demand for carbon by the bacteroids. Evidence indicates that malate is the preferred form of carbon supplied to the bacteroid and this review describes the processes that facilitate malate metabolism and transport.
  • 375
  • 30 Nov 2021
Topic Review
R&D Activities on Gas Turbine System
Carbon-free ammonia combustion technology
  • 611
  • 30 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Protected Areas in Lebanon
Protected areas (PA) play a significant role in the conservation of the world’s habitats and the protection of biodiversity that have become highly threatened by devastating anthropocentric practices. In addition, protected areas, especially biosphere reserves (BR), are considered effective instruments for both nature conservation and rural development. However, their impact on rural communities constitutes the most controversial debate in conservation policy and practice.
  • 554
  • 01 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Framework Proposal for Achieving Smart and Sustainable Societies
The proposed model is based on the integration of three smart strategies: (1) water provision that consists of the use of greywater and rainwater; (2) sanitation provision that comprises the nutrients recovery from excreta and organic solid waste and; (3) resource-oriented agriculture that conceives the use of the water provision system for the production of food with the use of nutrients recovered from the sanitation system. The S3 framework has the potential to increase the well-being, human development, water availability, food safety, poverty alleviation, and healthy environments of societies through the provision of safely managed basic services as well as the recycling of nutrients and water to achieve sustainability at household and community levels.
  • 586
  • 29 Nov 2021
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