A Multiagent Competitive Gaming Platform to Address Societal Challenges

Materials technology is a constantly evolving discipline, with new materials leading to novel applications. For example, new material properties arise from combining different materials into composites. Researching materials can help solve societal challenges, with the creation of innovative materials resulting in breakthroughs in overcoming hurdles facing humankind, including energy challenges and medical problems. Innovative materials breathe new life into industries and spur on scientific and technological discovery.

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The Blue-Green Urban Living Labs of Kuala Lumpur

Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal ◽

10.21834/e-bpj.v5i13.2072 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (13) ◽

pp. 359-367

Author(s):

Jamalunlaili Abdullah ◽

Raziah Ahmad ◽

Muhammad Hafiz Zainal

Keyword(s):

Green Infrastructure ◽

Publishing House ◽

Kuala Lumpur ◽

Urban Living ◽

The Public ◽

Societal Challenges ◽

Private Citizen ◽

Living Labs ◽

International Publishing ◽

Open Access Article

The extraordinary societal challenges demand cities to be innovative and adaptable to the needs of urban citizens. In the Malaysian context, the Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) has not been well incorporated into the ULLs. This paper seeks to address this gap by exploring the potential of the Blue-Green Urban Living Labs (BGULLs) at the Sungai Bunus catchment area. Using Google Form, survey questionnaire is conducted among professionals and the public. Findings of this unprecedented study suggest the BGULLs offer beyond beautification works, and it is voicing the virtual idea of the BGULLs into a real setting that reflects the public-private-citizen partnerships.Keywords: Urban living labs; Blue-Green Infrastructure; Innovation; societal challengeseISSN: 2398-4287 © 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v5i13.2072

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The Infrared Absolute Radiance Interferometer (ARI) for CLARREO

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs12121915 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (12) ◽

pp. 1915

Author(s):

Joe K. Taylor ◽

Henry E. Revercomb ◽

Fred A. Best ◽

David C. Tobin ◽

P. Jonathan Gero

Keyword(s):

Brightness Temperature ◽

New Technologies ◽

Spectral Radiance ◽

Overall Design ◽

Societal Challenges ◽

Ideal System ◽

Uncertainty Estimates ◽

Infrared Spectrometer ◽

Global Coverage

The Absolute Radiance Interferometer (ARI) is an infrared spectrometer designed to serve as an on-orbit radiometric reference with the ultra-high accuracy (better than 0.1 K 3‑σ or k = 3 brightness temperature at scene brightness temperature) needed to optimize measurement of the long-term changes of Earth’s atmosphere and surface. If flown in an orbit that frequently crosses sun-synchronous orbits, ARI could be used to inter-calibrate the international fleet of infrared (IR) hyperspectral sounders to similar measurement accuracy, thereby establishing an observing system capable of achieving sampling biases on high-information-content spectral radiance products that are also < 0.1 K 3‑σ. It has been shown that such a climate observing system with <0.1 K 2‑σ overall accuracy would make it possible to realize times to detect subtle trends of temperature and water vapor distributions that closely match those of an ideal system, given the limit set by the natural variability of the atmosphere. This paper presents the ARI sensor's overall design, the new technologies developed to allow on-orbit verification and test of its accuracy, and the laboratory results that demonstrate its capability. In addition, we describe the techniques and uncertainty estimates for transferring ARI accuracy to operational sounders, providing economical global coverage. Societal challenges posed by climate change suggest that a Pathfinder ARI should be deployed as soon as possible.

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Primary Prevention of Dementia: An Ethical Review

Journal of Alzheimer s Disease ◽

10.3233/jad-201104 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Dorothee Horstkötter ◽

Kay Deckers ◽

Sebastian Köhler

Keyword(s):

Synergistic Effects ◽

Well Being ◽

Ethical Review ◽

Medical Risk ◽

Medical Risk Factors ◽

Societal Challenges ◽

Dementia Prevention ◽

Health Related ◽

Personal Level

Dementia poses important medical and societal challenges, and of all health risks people face in life, dementia is one of the most feared. Recent research indicates that up to about 40% of all cases of dementia might be preventable. A series of environmental, social, and medical risk-factors have been identified and that should be targeted from midlife onwards when people are still cognitively healthy. At first glance, this seems not merely advisable, but even imperative. However, these new developments trigger a series of new ethical questions and concerns which have hardly been addressed to date. Pro-active ethical reflection, however, is crucial to ensure that the interests and well-being of those affected, ultimately all of us, are adequately respected. This is the goal of the current contribution. Against the background of a concrete case in primary dementia prevention, it provides a systematic overview of the current ethical literature and sketches an ethical research agenda. First, possible benefits of increased well-being must be balanced with the burdens of being engaged in particularly long-term interventions for which it is unclear whether they will ever pay out on a personal level. Second, while knowledge about one’s options to maintain brain health might empower people, it might also undermine autonomy, put high social pressure on people, medicalize healthy adults, and stigmatize those who still develop dementia. Third, while synergistic effects might occur, the ideals of dementia prevention might also conflict with other health and non-health related values people hold in life.

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A review of public acceptance of nature-based solutions: The ‘why’, ‘when’, and ‘how’ of success for disaster risk reduction measures

AMBIO ◽

10.1007/s13280-021-01502-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carl C. Anderson ◽

Fabrice G. Renaud

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Risk Perception ◽

Risk Reduction ◽

Disaster Risk Reduction ◽

Disaster Risk ◽

Public Acceptance ◽

Societal Challenges ◽

Increasing Trend ◽

Risk Reduction Measures

AbstractNature-based solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognized as sustainable approaches to address societal challenges. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) has benefited by moving away from purely ‘grey’ infrastructure measures towards NbS. However, this shift also furthers an increasing trend of reliance on public acceptance to plan, implement and manage DRR measures. In this review, we examine how unique NbS characteristics relate to public acceptance through a comparison with grey measures, and we identify influential acceptance factors related to individuals, society, and DRR measures. Based on the review, we introduce the PA-NbS model that highlights the role of risk perception, trust, competing societal interests, and ecosystem services. Efforts to increase acceptance should focus on providing and promoting awareness of benefits combined with effective communication and collaboration. Further research is required to understand interconnections among identified factors and how they can be leveraged for the success and further uptake of NbS.

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Dutch Public health Foresight study 2018/20

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.1290 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

H Hilderink

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Care Expenditures ◽

Living Environment ◽

Societal Challenges ◽

Challenges And Opportunities ◽

Future Challenges ◽

National Prevention ◽

Business As Usual ◽

Insight Into

Abstract The four-year Public Health Foresight Study (VTV) provides insight into the most important societal challenges for public health and health care in the Netherlands. The seventh edition of the Dutch Public Health Foresight study was published in 2018, with an update in 2020. In this update a business-as-usual or Trend Scenario was developed using 2018 as a base year. In the trend scenario demographic and epidemiological projections have been used to depict the future trends regarding ageing, health, disease, health behaviors, health expenditures and health inequalities. Next, these trends are used to identify the most important future challenges and opportunities for public health. In the 2020 update, special attentions is given to climate change and the local living environment and their impacts and interaction with public health outcomes. Trends in lifestyle-related lifestyle show both positive (smoking prevalence) and negative (overweight prevalence) future developments. Dementia will be the leading cause of mortality and disease burden in 2040 by far. Health care expenditures will double by 2040, with cancers showing the most rapid growth of all disease groups. The insights of this study are directly used as input for the National Health Policy Memorandum and for the National Prevention Accord.

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The Promise of Pragmatism: Richard Rorty and Business Ethics

Business Ethics Quarterly ◽

10.1017/beq.2021.6 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-28

Author(s):

Sareh Pouryousefi ◽

R. Edward Freeman

Keyword(s):

Business Ethics ◽

Moral Responsibility ◽

Richard Rorty ◽

Business Practice ◽

Global Markets ◽

Democratic Deliberation ◽

Philosophical Inquiry ◽

Societal Challenges ◽

Modern Slavery ◽

Empirical Context

Pragmatists believe that philosophical inquiry must engage closely with practice to be useful and that practice serves as a source of social norms. As a growing alternative to the analytic and continental philosophical traditions, pragmatism is well suited for research in business ethics, but its role remains underappreciated. This article focuses on Richard Rorty, a key figure in the pragmatist tradition. We read Rorty as a source of insight about the ethical and political nature of business practice in contemporary global markets, focusing specifically on his views about moral sentiments, agency, and democratic deliberation. Importantly for business ethicists, Rorty’s approach sets in stark relief our moral responsibility as useful, practical thinkers in addressing the societal challenges of our time. We use “modern slavery” as an empirical context to highlight the relevance of Rorty’s approach to business ethics.

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Characterization of Nutritional Quality Traits of a Common Bean Germplasm Collection

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10071572 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1572

Author(s):

Ester Murube ◽

Romina Beleggia ◽

Deborah Pacetti ◽

Ancuta Nartea ◽

Giulia Frascarelli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Common Bean ◽

Extreme Values ◽

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

Germplasm Collection ◽

Growth Conditions ◽

Phenotypic Characterization ◽

Quality Traits ◽

Societal Challenges ◽

Food Legumes

Food legumes are at the crossroads of many societal challenges that involve agriculture, such as climate change and food sustainability and security. In this context, pulses have a crucial role in the development of plant-based diets, as they represent a very good source of nutritional components and improve soil fertility, such as by nitrogen fixation through symbiosis with rhizobia. The main contribution to promotion of food legumes in agroecosystems will come from plant breeding, which is guaranteed by the availability of well-characterized genetic resources. Here, we analyze seeds of 25 American and European common bean purified accessions (i.e., lines of single seed descent) for different morphological and compositional quality traits. Significant differences among the accessions and superior genotypes for important nutritional traits are identified, with some lines showing extreme values for more than one trait. Heritability estimates indicate the importance of considering the effects of environmental growth conditions on seed compositional traits. They suggest the need for more phenotypic characterization in different environments over different years to better characterize combined effects of environment and genotype on nutritional trait variations. Finally, adaptation following the introduction and spread of common bean in Europe seems to have affected its nutritional profile. This finding further suggests the relevance of evolutionary studies to guide breeders in the choice of plant genetic resources.

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Scaling Our Impact: Emerging Human Factors Applications Addressing Societal Challenges

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1071181320641200 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

pp. 863-867

Author(s):

Courtney Rogers ◽

Rupa S. Valdez ◽

Juan E. Gilbert ◽

Karen Lange Morales ◽

Wendy Rogers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Older Adults ◽

Human Factors ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Universal Access ◽

Mental Healthcare ◽

Societal Challenges ◽

Human Factors And Ergonomics ◽

Societal Challenge

There is an increasing need and interest for Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) professionals to apply our discipline to a larger context. HFE researchers are starting to conduct research outside of traditional settings, focusing their efforts on complex societal challenges; however, this type of work is still in its infancy and there is a need to define how HFE can be used in broader contexts, outside of formal institutions. In this panel, we begin a formalized conversation of how our field can scale its impact. Each panelist will introduce a societal challenge they are addressing and discuss how HFE can be adapted to this context. The topics of this panel will span elections technology, sustainability and climate change, universal access to mental healthcare, social isolation in older adults, and food insecurity. This session will conclude with a moderated discussion between the panelists and audience to brainstorm specific societal challenges that HFE can address as well as how methods can be adapted to this context.

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