Global Challenges最新文献

Over 60% of European soils are unhealthy according to the Soil Mission board estimates and the indicators presented in the European Union (EU) Soil degradation dashboard. The situation may worsen if no policy interventions are taken. The unsustainable use of natural resources, in particular the degradation of soils, precipitates biodiversity loss, exacerbated by the climate crisis. In particular, in the EU alone, soil degradation costs over €50 billion per year due to the loss of essential services they provide and to the impact on human health. Here a more precise estimation of the soil degradation cost related to a set of soil degradation processes, ranging between €40.9 and 72.7 billion per year is presented. This newly updated estimate compared to the Impact assessment of the Soil Monitoring Law takes into account the costs of soil erosion, contamination, phosphorus losses, soil carbon losses, nitrogen losses, soil compaction, and soil sealing. However, this estimation might double if it is added to the costs of soil biodiversity loss, floods, droughts, off-site effects of soil erosion, and health consequences of soil contamination. Therefore, further research is needed to address this knowledge gap and estimate the missing costs. Soil degradation is a critical issue with transboundary implications that requires urgent attention and action at the EU level. The costs of soil degradation are substantial, both in terms of environmental impacts and economic consequences, highlighting the importance of investing in sustainable soil management practices and a harmonized EU soil monitoring system. By addressing soil degradation through the proposed Soil Monitoring Law, investing significant amounts for research and innovation in the Soil Mission, and promoting international cooperation, the EU can take solid steps toward protecting its soil resources and achieving a sustainable future for all.

Vegetation restoration plays a critical role in mitigating urban heat island (UHI) effects and improving local climate conditions, particularly in mining-affected areas. This study analyzes vegetation cover changes and their impact on UHI from 2000 to 2020 in three locations: Dexing City and Qibaoshan Township in China, and Dartford Ebbsfleet Garden City in the UK, using satellite imagery and remote sensing data. In Dexing City, the transition from open-pit to underground mining, combined with reclamation efforts, maintained a stable fractional vegetation cover (FVC) of 0.88-0.91, reducing the UHI area from 1216.86 km² in 2000 to under 1000 km² by 2020. Qibaoshan Township saw an increase in FVC from 0.88 in 2000 to over 0.92 by 2020, resulting in a 26% reduction in UHI area. Dartford achieved a temporary peak FVC of 0.71 in 2002 through urban greening initiatives. The findings show that increased vegetation cover significantly lowers surface temperatures through evapotranspiration, shading, and albedo modification, with heavily vegetated areas maintaining temperatures up to 3°C lower than adjacent mining sites. The study demonstrates the importance of integrating ecological restoration with sustainable urban planning.

Advancements in electronic textiles over the past decade have significantly transformed the field of wearable technology, with recent developments leading to the production of a wide array of textile-based sensing and actuation systems. Beyond sensors and actuators, textile-based technologies can benefit from the integration of additional electronic solutions within the framework of textilization. One such solution is filtering, which has primarily been explored in the context of high-frequency applications in e-textiles. In contrast, low-frequency filtering has received limited attention in the literature. This study investigates the design and fabrication of low-frequency textile-based Resistor–Capacitor (RC) filters, emphasizing their potential for wearability. Various materials and geometric configurations are explored for the resistive and capacitive components of the filter, evaluating their performance in terms of frequency response. Additionally, these filters are integrated with textile-based electrodes and assess their filtering efficacy at a cutoff frequency of approximately 100 Hz within the context of an electrocardiogram (ECG) application during both static and dynamic activities. The results demonstrate that textile-based filters can serve as viable alternatives to conventional electronic filters, exhibiting comparable performance in noise suppression, as evidenced by signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvements of 25 dB during static activities and 11 dB during dynamic activities.

Recent advancements in industrialization have sparked substantial interest among the academic community and policymakers regarding energy consumption. The consumption patterns of distinct energy types seem to be influenced by many national and international factors. In this essence, this study investigates the effects of technological innovation and trade orientation on renewable energy consumption (REC). Using panel data from G-7 economies from 2000 to 2019, Panel EGLS (estimated generalized least square) and ARDL (autoregressive distributed lag) models are employed to check the regression. The analysis reveals that both technological innovation and export orientation have a significant and positive impact on REC. In contrast, import orientation negatively affects REC. The results highlight that technological advancements and a focus on export-oriented trade strategies can significantly boost REC. Policymakers are encouraged to invest in research and development to advance renewable energy technologies and provide incentives for their adoption. These measures are crucial for achieving environmental sustainability and reducing pollution. The study provides valuable insights into how national and international trade dynamics influence renewable energy usage.

Due to their perceived benefits for health, the environment, the economy, and sustainability, in recent years there has been a growing interest on the part of researchers and policymakers in short-food supply chains (SFSCs). However, a systematic review of the literature on this topic remains lacking. To address this gap, the study conducts a meta-analysis to examine consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for SFSC products, taking into account various sociodemographic factors and sustainability attributes. On average, consumers are willing to pay a 34.5% premium for SFSC products. Key factors influencing WTP include gender, education, study year, age, region, product category, and sustainability attributes. Women exhibit higher WTP, and individuals with higher education levels also demonstrate increased WTP. Notably, WTP for SFSC products is lower before 2014, while younger consumers exhibit higher WTP overall. Consumers in Western Europe present higher WTP estimates compared to those in North America and other regions. In terms of sustainability attributes, organic products receive the highest WTP, with food categories such as meat, poultry, dairy products, and honey showing the highest estimates. These findings offer valuable insights for SFSC producers, marketers, and policymakers, guiding effective strategies to promote SFSC products within sustainable agri-food systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the global threat posed by emerging viruses, emphasizing the critical need for effective strategies to combat pathogen transmission. Moreover, alongside emerging viruses, the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance further reinforces the need to develop novel methods for infection control. Anti-pathogenic coatings on textiles offer a promising solution; in this study, three electroless copper-plated fabrics are evaluated for their antipathogenic properties following International Standards Organisation (ISO) standards. Prior to electroless plating, materials are activated either by immersion in a Pd catalyst solution (material A) or by ink-jet printing Cu/Ag catalyst along the weft (material B) or warp thread (material C). This study demonstrates that activation method influences the materials antipathogenic performance, with all materials achieving complete bactericidal/fungicidal neutralization within 30 min of incubation. Material B exhibits up to 4-log virucidal effects within 1 h against viruses such as coronavirus (OC43, 229E), Influenza A (H1N1), and Rotavirus A. Furthermore, biocompatibility testing indicates that material B exhibited low in vitro cytotoxicity. Textile B demonstrates strong antibacterial results even after one year of accelerated aging with no significant difference (P = 0.74) in efficiency against MRSA, highlighting promising applications for infection control in clinical settings reducing pathogen transmission, nosocomial infections and the associated economic burden.

Traditionally, kapok fiber is employed as filling for soft pillows, bedding, and diverse elements. Due to its buoyancy and proportion between cell wall and lumen, it is also applied as buoyant material in life vests and insulation materials. This study examine slightweight insulation panels produced from kapok fibers. Lightweight insulation boards are produced by hot-air using kapok fibers (95%) bonded with polylactic acid or bicomponent fiber (5%), achieving very low densities of 10,15, and 20 kg.m⁻³. The technological attributes like density, porosity, water absorption, wettability, compression, and thermal conductivity, are evaluated against commercial glass wool. In terms of water absorption rates, there is a direct correlation with density. All the variables reach short-term water absorption values less than 1 kg.m⁻², which are comparable to commercial standards. This can be attributed to the lower density, higher porosity of the samples, and the inherent hydrophobic wax layer in the cell wall surface of kapok fibers. This trend is also evident in wettability tests, where produced boards demonstrated water-repellency when exposed to water. Regarding the mechanical property of compression, neither the binder nor the density significantly impacts compression strength. The thermal conductivity performance of kapok-based boards is comparable with commercially available ones.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer and a leading cause of death among women globally, posing a significant public health challenge. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive subtype accounting for 15–20% of all breast cancers, lacks targeted therapies due to the absence of hormone receptors and HER2, resulting in poor prognosis and high recurrence rates. This study investigates the role of cancer-derived extracellular vesicle (EV) integrin beta-2 (ITGB2) in TNBC progression. These findings reveal that ITGB2 is significantly overexpressed in TNBC tissues and serum EVs, correlating with advanced tumor stages and poor patient survival. ITGB2 enhances TNBC progression by activating cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) within the tumor microenvironment, promoting tumor growth, migration, and invasion. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that EV ITGB2 facilitates CAF activation, driving tumor-stroma interactions that support TNBC progression. These results highlight ITGB2 as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in TNBC, emphasizing the need for novel interventions to combat this challenging breast cancer subtype.

Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) have revolutionized medical imaging, enhancing the accuracy and diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The increasing use of GBCAs has raised concerns about the release of gadolinium (Gd)(III) into the environment and potential risks for human health. Initially, multiple administrations of GBCAs were associated only with nephrogenic system fibrosis disease in individuals with impaired kidney function. Even if the Gd(III) retention in tissues has not yet been correlated with any specific disease, caution is required for the extensive use of GBCAs. The concerns related to the employment of GBCAs, due to the possible deposition and retention, should be extended also to healthy individuals without renal impairments. To ensure the well-being of patients, there is a need to develop even more stable and better-performing GBCAs, new MRI approaches requiring lower doses of GBCAs and, finally, innovative methods for recovering Gd(III) from both patients’ urines and the environment. This can have strong advantages for human health and for environmental sustainability, also considering Gd(III) scarcity, being a rare earth element, and the shared guideline to reduce, as much as possible, the use of rare metals.

The development of rural human settlement environments in ecologically sensitive areas, particularly the upper reaches of the Lancang River within the Sanjiangyuan region, has garnered significant attention due to its paramount importance in balancing economic growth and ecological conservation. However, the comprehension of sustainable development strategies within the confines of ecological carrying capacity in these regions remains inadequate. The present study aims to investigate the rural human settlement environment in Nangqen County, situated within the Sanjiangyuan region, and to explore adaptive construction strategies that facilitate harmonious coexistence between human settlements and the natural environment. Utilizing an ecological footprint model integrated with the ArcGIS platform, this research evaluates the ecological carrying capacity and its variations from 2000 to 2020. The results indicate that, despite the land ecological environment being generally safe, the total ecological footprint has surpassed a twofold increase, primarily driven by the expansion of animal husbandry activities. Furthermore, the study conducts a suitability assessment of rural settlements in Nangqen County, pinpointing areas that are most conducive to sustainable development and those that necessitate protection.