scholarly journals Delineation and Dimension of Deforestation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moses Z. Sithole ◽  
Isaac A. Agholor
Keyword(s):  
Human Activities ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Indigenous Plants ◽  
Forest Protection ◽  
Environmental Dimension ◽  
Rural Dwellers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
By Products

Deforestation is induced by human activities, cascading into associated cost and economic benefits. The concepts, dimensions and, deforestation caused by deliberate human activities were extensively examined. The chapter also highlighted the rationale for deforestation, environmental dimension to deforestation and contributions of forestry and forest by products to livelihoods. The segmented cases and experiences to create awareness on the need to discourage deforestation were explored. While recognizing that forest provides useful support for majority of rural dwellers, the justification for forest protection is advocated. Some communities depend on forests for their main livelihood, and use medicinal therapies derived from indigenous plants found in the forest. Forest remains an important pool of biodiversity and deforestation must be avoided. The chapter conclude that awareness of the impact of deforestation by the citizenry should be encouraged and supported by policies.

scholarly journals Industrial Symbiosis for Optimal Bio-Waste Management and Production of a Higher Value-Added Product

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 2228
Author(s):  
Edgaras Stunžėnas ◽  
Irina Kliopova ◽  
Daina Kliaugaitė ◽  
Rimas Pranas Budrys
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Impact Analysis ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Nitrogen ◽  
The Impact ◽  
By Products

A considerable amount of food waste ends up in centralized treatment plants due to the lack of preventive measures, resulting in significant environmental impacts. Hospitality food waste management is even more resource-intensive because of animal by-products regulation. According to this regulation, companies must store and then consign waste to specific waste managers. The extensive need for transportation of high-moisture-content materials is the leading cause of the impact. Moreover, the management of category III animal by-products is costly for companies. A previous study has shown the economic benefits of decentralized animal by-product treatment by intensive composting in catering companies. Although the produced compost was characterized by exceptional quality parameters, it was phytotoxic. The investigation of hospitality waste management is scarcely discussed among scholars, and waste management on a regional scale is nearly absent. This study examines the regional management of hospitality food waste by exploiting the municipal waste management infrastructure and intensive composting at the source. The co-maturation experiment with animal by-products and municipal green waste primary composts showed that the phytotoxicity parameters of the cured compost were in the optimal range or below the thresholds (conductivity (1.1 mS cm−1), dissolved organic carbon (82 mg kg−1), and NH4+/NO3− ratio (0.0027)). Additionally, the amounts of total nitrogen, water-soluble nitrogen, and water-soluble phosphorus in the compost were rated as very high. Finally, inventory and environmental impact analysis of the current and planned management approaches showed a reduction in 12 of 18 impact categories.

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal evolution of vegetative net primary productivity and its influencing factors in China's Yellow River Basin

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiangsu Li ◽  
Hongmei Cao ◽  
Weihua Li ◽  
Xiaoluan Shi ◽  
yeqing han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influencing Factors ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Primary Productivity ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Net Primary Productivity ◽  
Yellow River ◽  
Yellow River Basin ◽  
Spatiotemporal Pattern ◽  
Forest Protection ◽  
The Impact

Ecosystem vulnerability in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) is a prominent concern. Exploration vegetative net primary productivity (NPP) serve as an important aspect of assessing and protecting ecosystem health. We used a range of spatial analysis techniques, residual trend analysis, and the cutting-edge computing-intensive variable importance decomposition method to explore spatiotemporal changes and influencing factors for vegetative NPP in the YRB from 2000–2015. The results found that NPP showed a fluctuating growth trend over time, ranging from 165.9–227.7 gC∙m-2∙a-1, as well as a clear negative south-north spatial gradient. Significant spatial agglomeration pattern was observed, with Low-Low and High-High clusters being the dominated area classifications at both scales of grid cells, counties and cities in the study area. Foremost, we found that NPP was statistically significantly affected by both natural factors, including climate and topography, and human activities, whilst precipitation accounts for the most important factor, explaining roughly 42% of the variability in NPP on average. Although the impact of human activities on NPP was relatively low, human activities tended to promote NPP on average, mainly due to the implementation of the ecological restoration project in the region, such as the Forest Protection and Grain for Green Project. Overall, this study provides an improved technical framework for a comprehensive analysis of spatiotemporal pattern of vegetative NPP and its influencing factors at multiple-spatial scales.

scholarly journals The effects of changing environment and human activities on the Arctic: Drivers and challenges in Svalbard (Short Communication)

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-93
Author(s):  
Barbora Padrtová
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Natural Environment ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
The Impact

Climate change brings several layers of challenges to the Arctic. On the one hand, we can observe increased human activities that create potential for economic development – especially in mining, oil and gas industry, shipping, fisheries and tourism. On the other hand, these economic benefits pose a risk to the environment, local populations and traditional livelihood of the Indigenous peoples. In the following three years (2020-2022), recently established interdisciplinary team investigates the impact of climate change and human activities on natural environment in the Arctic. The team is composed of eight scientists with different specialization from three faculties of the Masaryk University – Faculty of Social Studies, Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Law. The research focuses on both the challenges and risk assessment in terrestrial ecosystems. The relation of natural environment changes to the human-to-environment interaction is investigated, as well as the consequences for the geopolitical, legal and security developments in the Arctic region. Based on gained findings, risks analysis and recommendations for mitigating the impact of environmental changes on the natural environment and population in the specific Arctic territories will be done. The research directly contributes to encouraging interdisciplinary innovative approach with high added value and international impact. These innovative aspects of the project lie in the interdisciplinary character of the Arctic research across different specializations – natural science, social science and law, which has not been combined and investigated yet. Additionally, the project is unique due to its specific science communication and dissemination of research findings, which aims at four levels of audiences – (i) academic community, (ii) policymakers, (iii) general public, and (iv) students.

Hydrogen Cyanide Polymers from the Impact of Comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 on Jupiter

1997 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 179-187
Author(s):  
Clifford N. Matthews ◽  
Rose A. Pesce-Rodriguez ◽  
Shirley A. Liebman
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Solar System ◽  
Hydrogen Cyanide ◽  
Nitrogen Heterocycles ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Heterogeneous Solids ◽  
The Many ◽  
Comet Halley ◽  
The Impact ◽  
By Products

AbstractHydrogen cyanide polymers – heterogeneous solids ranging in color from yellow to orange to brown to black – may be among the organic macromolecules most readily formed within the Solar System. The non-volatile black crust of comet Halley, for example, as well as the extensive orangebrown streaks in the atmosphere of Jupiter, might consist largely of such polymers synthesized from HCN formed by photolysis of methane and ammonia, the color observed depending on the concentration of HCN involved. Laboratory studies of these ubiquitous compounds point to the presence of polyamidine structures synthesized directly from hydrogen cyanide. These would be converted by water to polypeptides which can be further hydrolyzed to α-amino acids. Black polymers and multimers with conjugated ladder structures derived from HCN could also be formed and might well be the source of the many nitrogen heterocycles, adenine included, observed after pyrolysis. The dark brown color arising from the impacts of comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 on Jupiter might therefore be mainly caused by the presence of HCN polymers, whether originally present, deposited by the impactor or synthesized directly from HCN. Spectroscopic detection of these predicted macromolecules and their hydrolytic and pyrolytic by-products would strengthen significantly the hypothesis that cyanide polymerization is a preferred pathway for prebiotic and extraterrestrial chemistry.

The Impact of a Potential Public/Private Initiative on a Defined Region of the South Suburban Chicago Metropolitan Area

2019 ◽  
pp. 14-32
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Impact Analysis ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Market Area ◽  
State And Local ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

The university is considered one of the engines of growth in a local economy or its market area, since its direct contributions consist of 1) employment of faculty and staff, 2) services to students, and supply chain links vendors, all of which define the University’s Market area. Indirect contributions consist of those agents associated with the university in terms of community and civic events. Each of these activities represent economic benefits to their host communities and can be classified as the economic impact a university has on its local economy and whose spatial market area includes each of the above agents. In addition are the critical links to the University, which can be considered part of its Demand and Supply chain. This paper contributes to the field of Public/Private Impact Analysis, which is used to substantiate the social and economic benefits of cooperating for economic resources. We use Census data on Output of Goods and Services, Labor Income on Salaries, Wages and Benefits, Indirect State and Local Taxes, Property Tax Revenue, Population, and Inter-Industry to measure economic impact (Implan, 2016).

Model estimates of the results of diabetes patients using modern glucometers with tri-color technology for displaying test results

2019 ◽  
pp. 81-89
Author(s):  
Larisa Dmitrievna Popovich ◽  
Svetlana Valentinovna Svetlichnaya ◽  
Aleksandr Alekseevich Moiseev
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Patients With Diabetes ◽  
The Impact

Diabetes – a disease in which the effect of the treatment substantially depends on the patient. Known a study showed that the use of glucometers with the technology of three-color display of test results facilitates self-monitoring of blood sugar and leads to a decrease in glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc). Purpose of the study: to modeling the impact of using of a glucometer with a color-coded display on the clinical outcomes of diabetes mellitus and calculating, the potential economic benefits of reducing the hospitalization rate of patients with diabetes. Material and methods. Based on data from two studies (O. Schnell et al. and M. Baxter et al.) simulation of the reduction in the number of complications with the use of a glucometer with a color indication. In a study by O. Schnell et al. a decrease of HbA1c by 0.69 percent is shown when using the considered type of glucometers, which was the basis of the model. Results. In the model, the use of a glucometer with a color-coded display for type 1 diabetes led to a decrease in the total number of complications by 9.2 thousand over 5 years per a cohort of 40 thousand patients with different initial levels of HbA1c. In a cohort of 40 thousand patients with type 2 diabetes, the simulated number of prevented complications was 1.7 thousand over 5 years. When extrapolating these data to all patients with diabetes included in the federal register of diabetes mellitus (FRD), the number of prevented complications was 55.4 thousand cases for type 1 diabetes and 67.1 thousand cases for type 2 diabetes. The possible economic effect from the use of the device by all patients with a diagnosis of diabetes, which are included in the FRD, estimated at 1.5 billion rubles for a cohort of patients with type 1 diabetes and 5.3 billion rubles for patients with type 2 diabetes. Conclusion. Improving the effectiveness of self-monitoring, which is the result of the use of glucometers with color indicators, can potentially significantly reduce the incidence of complications in diabetes and thereby provide significant economic benefits to society.

Global challenges to functioning of precious gemstones market

2019 ◽  
pp. 15-19
Author(s):  
Maryna Khmara
Keyword(s):  
Social Impact ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Small Enterprises ◽  
Ecological Responsibility ◽  
Global Challenges ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Managerial Strategies ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Complicated Nature

The peculiarities of gemstone market functioning under the impact of globalization are examined. Modern condition of financial stabilization in world is defined and main features of gemstones are outlined. Negative impact of illegal market on socio-economic development of countries, namely on revenues to the country’s budget from the business, is revealed. The importance of the problem of transferring most of gemstones processing operations beyond the countries of production is emphasized. Poor public control over the circulation of precious stones is proven. The challenges are substantiated to be aggravating under the impact of globalization. The diamonds market, which has peculiar high demand, is analyzed: diamonds and derivatives account for 85% of global turnover. Application of managerial strategies for gemstones market to efficiently use resources is defined to be complicated by the fact that managerial strategies impact the high cost of product items and its variability; unique features; intangible qualities; complicated processing. More environmentally friendly production and social responsibility are confirmed to have impact on forming of demand on gemstones. Investment attractiveness of gemstones, except for diamonds, is proven to be low. Condition of production and consumption of diamonds is analyzed. Development condition of the market segment – non-diamonds gemstones – is shown. The activity of small enterprises and households engaged in gemstones production is confirmed to be characterized by chaotic and complicated nature of broker networks, leading to aggravated global challenges. The paper defines that expansion of spectrum and emergence of new opportunities for illegal activity, reduced income and loss of other types of economic benefits, growing negative ecological and social impact, growing exploitation of workers at illegal enterprises remain to be the global challenges of gemstones market functioning. The author suggests increasing of social and ecological responsibility of business, strengthening of the state regulating functions and promotion of gemstones market legalization in order to reduce the challenges.

scholarly journals Consumption of Enriched Yogurt with PAF Inhibitors from Olive Pomace Affects the Major Enzymes of PAF Metabolism: A Randomized, Double Blind, Three Arm Trial

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 801
Author(s):  
Maria Detopoulou ◽  
Agathi Ntzouvani ◽  
Filio Petsini ◽  
Labrini Gavriil ◽  
Εlizabeth Fragopoulou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Activating Factor ◽  
Lipid Mediator ◽  
Olive Pomace ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Catabolic Enzymes ◽  
Platelet Activating Factor Acetylhydrolase ◽  
The Impact ◽  
By Products ◽  
Apparently Healthy

Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a proinflammatory lipid mediator, plays a crucial role in the formation of the atherosclerotic plaque. Therefore, the inhibition of endothelium inflammation by nutraceuticals, such as PAF inhibitors, is a promising alternative for preventing cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of a new functional yogurt enriched with PAF inhibitors of natural origin from olive oil by-products on PAF metabolism. Ninety-two apparently healthy, but mainly overweight volunteers (35–65 years) were randomly allocated into three groups by block-randomization. The activities of PAF’s biosynthetic and catabolic enzymes were measured, specifically two isoforms of acetyl-CoA:lyso-PAF acetyltransferase (LPCATs), cytidine 5′-diphospho-choline:1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol cholinephosphotransferase (PAF-CPT) and two isoforms of platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase in leucocytes (PAF-AH) and plasma (lipoprotein associated phospholipase-A2, LpPLA2). The intake of the enriched yogurt resulted in reduced PAF-CPT and LpPLA2 activities. No difference was observed in the activities of the two isoforms of lyso PAF-AT. In conclusion, intake of yogurt enriched in PAF inhibitors could favorably modulate PAF biosynthetic and catabolic pathways.

scholarly journals The Economic Effects of Electromobility in Sustainable Urban Public Transport

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 878 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliwia Pietrzak ◽  
Krystian Pietrzak
Keyword(s):  
Public Transport ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Urban Transport ◽  
Energy Mix ◽  
Zero Emission ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Given

This paper focuses on effects of implementing zero-emission buses in public transport fleets in urban areas in the context of electromobility assumptions. It fills the literature gap in the area of research on the impact of the energy mix of a given country on the issues raised in this article. The main purpose of this paper is to identify and analyse economic effects of implementing zero-emission buses in public transport in cities. The research area was the city of Szczecin, Poland. The research study was completed using the following research methods: literature review, document analysis (legal acts and internal documents), case study, ratio analysis, and comparative analysis of selected variants (investment variant and base variant). The conducted research study has shown that economic benefits resulting from implementing zero-emission buses in an urban transport fleet are limited by the current energy mix structure of the given country. An unfavourable energy mix may lead to increased emissions of SO2 and CO2 resulting from operation of this kind of vehicle. Therefore, achieving full effects in the field of electromobility in the given country depends on taking concurrent actions in order to diversify the power generation sources, and in particular on increasing the share of Renewable Energy Sources (RES).

scholarly journals Polyphenol Profiling of Chestnut Pericarp, Integument and Curing Water Extracts to Qualify These Food By-Products as a Source of Antioxidants

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 2335
Author(s):  
Gabriella Pinto ◽  
Sabrina De Pascale ◽  
Maria Aponte ◽  
Andrea Scaloni ◽  
Francesco Addeo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Time Of Flight ◽  
The Other ◽  
Curing Process ◽  
Flight Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Water Curing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
By Products

Plant polyphenols have beneficial antioxidant effects on human health; practices aimed at preserving their content in foods and/or reusing food by-products are encouraged. The impact of the traditional practice of the water curing procedure of chestnuts, which prevents insect/mould damage during storage, was studied to assess the release of polyphenols from the fruit. Metabolites extracted from pericarp and integument tissues or released in the medium from the water curing process were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and electrospray-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (ESI-qTOF-MS). This identified: (i) condensed and hydrolyzable tannins made of (epi)catechin (procyanidins) and acid ellagic units in pericarp tissues; (ii) polyphenols made of gallocatechin and catechin units condensed with gallate (prodelphinidins) in integument counterparts; (iii) metabolites resembling those reported above in the wastewater from the chestnut curing process. Comparative experiments were also performed on aqueous media recovered from fruits treated with processes involving: (i) tap water; (ii) tap water containing an antifungal Lb. pentosus strain; (iii) wastewater from a previous curing treatment. These analyses indicated that the former treatment determines a 6–7-fold higher release of polyphenols in the curing water with respect to the other ones. This event has a negative impact on the luster of treated fruits but qualifies the corresponding wastes as a source of antioxidants. Such a phenomenon does not occur in wastewater from the other curing processes, where the release of polyphenols was reduced, thus preserving the chestnut’s appearance. Polyphenol profiling measurements demonstrated that bacterial presence in water hampered the release of pericarp metabolites. This study provides a rationale to traditional processing practices on fruit appearance and qualifies the corresponding wastes as a source of bioactive compounds for other nutraceutical applications.

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