Global Challenges最新文献

Requiring no fuel for generation and negligible material/energy for operation and maintenance, photovoltaic (PV) systems have environmental impacts mostly due to the production of modules and the commissioning of power plants. Thus, extending the service lifetime of these systems from 30 to 40 years through an enhanced lamination process for module production potentially reduces environmental impacts per unit energy generated. Life cycle assessment is employed to evaluate the environmental impacts under scenarios for resource utilizations for the new lamination process, operation and maintenance requirements in the extended service lifetime, and degradation rates of the devised modules. Extending the service lifetime significantly reduces environmental impacts across categories, with a 21–27% reduction in global warming potential on the pessimistic and optimistic ends. At least 20% impact reduction is achieved in most impact categories, even under a pessimistic scenario. Considering uncertainty models in the life cycle inventories, samples are generated for scenarios via Monte Carlo simulation, and with significant improvements with large effects in most environmental impact categories, deterministic impact comparisons are supported by ANOVA and Tukey tests. Production strategies for more durable and reliable PV modules have a significant potential in contributing to global sustainability efforts.

Signaling pathways in fungi offer a profound avenue for harnessing cellular communication and have garnered considerable interest in biomaterial engineering. Fungi respond to environmental stimuli through intricate signaling networks involving biochemical and electrical pathways, yet deciphering these mechanisms remains a challenge. In this review, an overview of fungal biology and their signaling pathways is provided, which can be activated in response to external stimuli and direct fungal growth and orientation. By examining the hyphal structure and the pathways involved in fungal signaling, the current state of recording fungal electrophysiological signals as well as the landscape of fungal biomaterials is explored. Innovative applications are highlighted, from sustainable materials to biomonitoring systems, and an outlook on the future of harnessing fungi signaling in living composites is provided.

Optimizing sustainability among smallholder farms poses challenges due to inherent trade-offs. In the study of organic and conventional cocoa smallholder farming in Ghana, 398 farms are assessed using the Food and Agriculture Organsation of the United Nations (FAO) Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture systems (SAFA) Guidelines and Sustainability Monitoring and Assessment Routine (SMART)-Farm Tool. Organic farming exhibited synergies in environmental aspects (e.g., soil quality, energy efficiency) and between biodiversity conservation and risk management. Conventional farming showed potential vulnerabilities, including trade-offs with long-range investments (e.g., chemical inputs) and species diversity. Both systems demand tailored approaches for short-term economic and environmental sustainability, aligning with community-wide long-term goals. To mitigate trade-offs in conventional farming, smallholders should adopt practices like material reuse, recycling, and recovery within their operations.

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen generation is a promising technology for green hydrogen production yet faces difficulties in achieving stability and efficiency. The scientific community is pushing toward the development of new electrode materials and a better understanding of the underlying reactions and degradation mechanisms. Advances in photocatalytic materials are being pursued through the development of heterojunctions, tailored crystal nanostructures, doping, and modification of solid-solid and solid-electrolyte interfaces. Operando and in situ techniques are utilized to deconvolute the charge transfer mechanisms and degradation pathways. In this review, both materials development and Operando characterization are covered for advancing PEC technologies. The recent advances made in the PEC materials are first reviewed including the applied improvement strategies for transition metal oxides, nitrites, chalcogenides, Si, and group III-V semiconductor materials. The efficiency, stability, scalability, and electrical conductivity of the aforementioned materials along with the improvement strategies are compared. Next, the Operando characterization methods and cite selected studies applied for PEC electrodes are described. Operando studies are very successful in elucidating the reaction mechanisms, degradation pathways, and charge transfer phenomena in PEC electrodes. Finally, the standing challenges and the potential opportunities are discussed by providing recommendations for designing more efficient and electrochemically stable PEC electrodes.

This study assesses the impact of implementing a floating solar photovoltaic system (FSPV) on the Turgutlu irrigation pond in Sakarya, Turkey, aiming to reduce energy expenses in agricultural irrigation and promote sustainability in farming. Two scenarios are developed to evaluate the FSPV, focusing on CO₂ emissions mitigation, energy generation potential, evaporation reduction, conservation of terrestrial land, effects on agricultural production, decreased reliance on fossil fuels, and associated costs and return on investment (ROI). In the first scenario, the FSPV is expected to generate 7168 MWh of energy, preventing the emission of 4520 tons of carbon, and reducing annual evaporation by 6686 m³. In the second scenario, the FSPV's energy output is estimated at 99 MWh, preventing 64.2 tons of carbon emissions, and reducing annual evaporation by 94.4 m³. These findings provide valuable insights at the regional level, presenting a compelling case study for potential replication in other irrigated agricultural regions.

The cover image is based on the Review Updates on Hydrogen Value Chain: A Strategic Roadmap by Julio Garcia-Navarro et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202300073 Image Credit: Júlio Arvellos

Over the past decades, red meat allergy, also known as mammalian meat allergy, which manifests differently from classic food allergies, has been reported in different countries and regions, including China. The allergen of this disease is not a protein but an oligosaccharide: galactose-α-1,3-galactose, i.e., alpha-gal or α-gal. Therefore, this clinical syndrome is also called α-gal syndrome (AGS). It clinically manifests as delayed anaphylaxis, i.e., patients generally develop allergic symptoms 2–6 h after ingesting red meat. This clinical manifestation is believed to be related to sensitization to α-gal after tick bites. Sensitized individuals may also develop anaphylaxis after ingesting food and medicine or being exposed to medical equipment containing α-gal, such as cetuximab and gelatin. Here, the literature on AGS is reviewed for a better understanding of its pathogenesis, clinical diagnosis, and treatment.

Electrochemical nitrogen reduction (E-NRR) is one of the most promising approaches to generate green NH₃. However, scarce ammonia yields and Faradaic efficiencies (FE) still limit their use on a large scale. Thus, efforts are focusing on different E-NRR catalyst structures and formulations. Among present strategies, molecular electrocatalysts such as metal-porphyrins emerge as an encouraging option due to their planar structures which favor the interaction involving the metal center, responsible for adsorption and activation of nitrogen. Nevertheless, the high hydrophobicity of porphyrins limits the aqueous electrolyte–catalyst interaction lowering yields. This work introduces a new class of metal-porphyrin based catalysts, bearing hydrophilic tris(ethyleneglycol) monomethyl ether chains (metal = Cu(II) and CoII)). Experimental results show that the presence of hydrophilic chains significantly increases ammonia yields and FE, supporting the relevance of fruitful catalyst-electrolyte interactions. This study also investigates the use of hydrophobic branched alkyl chains for comparison, resulting in similar performances with respect to the unsubstituted metal-porphyrin, taken as a reference, further confirming that the appropriate design of electrocatalysts carrying peripheral hydrophilic substituents is able to improve device performances in the generation of green ammonia.

The architecture, engineering, and construction industry is undergoing a significant shift, steering buildings away from resource-intensive processes toward becoming instruments for climate mitigation. In this transformative landscape, integrating circular bio-based alternatives and reducing emissions through biotechnological and enzymatic processes have significant potential. Specifically, mycelium-bound composites have emerged as renewable alternatives for new materials and added-value wood products. Despite their numerous advantages, integrating these materials into current engineering practices presents challenges deriving from the complex nature of the material´s production process and the transfer from the laboratory to the industrial scale. In this regard, the design and engineering of novel controlled environments are fundamental in maintaining optimal growth conditions during material production. This, in turn, influences the overall material performance and potential use in construction.