@article {533986,
	title = {Storing Energy When Freshwater meets Saltwater},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"597821","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"underwater","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]

	Researchers from Penn State have created a new technology that produces generous amounts of electrical power where seawater and freshwater combine at the coast.



	The difference in salt concentration has the potential to generate enough energy to meet up to 40\% of global electricity demands. Though methods currently exist to capture this energy, the two most successful methods, pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) and reverse electrodialysis (RED), have thus come up short.



	The most common system (PRO), selectively allows water to transport through a semi-permeable membrane, while rejecting salt. The osmotic pressure created from this process is then converted into energy by turning turbines.

The second technology, RED, uses an electrochemical gradient to develop voltages across ion-exchange membranes. This energy is created when chloride or sodium ions are kept from crossing ion-exchange membranes as a result of selective ion transport. Ion-exchange membranes don{\textquoteright}t require water to flow through them, so they don{\textquoteright}t foul as easily as the membranes used in PRO; however, the problem with RED is that it doesn{\textquoteright}t have the ability to produce large amounts of power.}
}
@article {533536,
	title = {A Solution to Ghana{\textquoteright}s Agricultural Wastewater Problem},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"596796","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"ghanaag","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]

	The water supply in Ghana is becoming vulnerable enough that it could threaten the country{\textquoteright}s 25 million people.



	Ahmed Abuhussein, an Environmental Engineering graduate student spent 5 months in Ghana to address institutional, social and technical gaps in applying treated wastewater in agriculture. With 66\% of Ghana{\textquoteright}s withdrawn water earmarked for agriculture (which makes up almost half of the country{\textquoteright}s GDP) the use of treated wastewater could have a significant impact. Currently, 81\% of the country{\textquoteright}s wastewater is not being treated and of the 9\% being collected, less than 6\% is {\textquoteright}appropriately{\textquoteright} treated. Abuhussein conducted field work at a local waste stabilization pond and interviewed local authorities, industries and non-for-profit organizations in the country.



	Abuhussein wants to look towards a project that combines technical and monetary aspects that will address the quality of the water and its end use, because the treatment will be different. He has said many small farms use non-treated wastewater, simply extracting what flows through the open gutters on their property.

}
}
@article {532906,
	title = {An Interesting Energy Supply: The Human Body?},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {
	[[{"fid":"595926","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"health","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]



	Implantable devices in the human body (i.e. pacemakers) have saved countless lives. However, there are many risks that come with having implantable devices in the human body. For example, pacemakers need batteries to operate, and batteries need replacement every so often. This means more surgeries, let alone the possibility that a battery could leak, releasing toxic materials into a patient.



	Enter research from UCLA and the University of Connecticut. They have designed a new bio-friendly energy storage system called a biological super capacitor, which operates using charged particles, or ions, from fluids in the human body. The device is harmless to the body{\textquoteright}s biological systems, and it could lead to longer-lasting cardiac pacemakers and other implantable medical devices.



	The researchers propose storing energy in those devices without a battery. The super capacitor they invented charges using electrolytes from biological fluids like blood serum and urine, and it would work with another device called an energy harvester, which converts heat and motion from the human body into electricity. That electricity is then captured by the super capacitor.



	Modern pacemakers are typically about 6-8 millimeters thick, and about the same diameter as a 50-cent coin; about half of that space is usually occupied by the battery. The new super capacitor is only 1 micrometer thick, meaning that it could improve implantable devices{\textquoteright} energy efficiency. It also can maintain its performance for a long time, bend and twist inside the body without any mechanical damage, and store more charge than the energy lithium film batteries of comparable size that are currently used in pacemakers.



	\&nbsp;

}
}
@article {532586,
	title = {Worldwide Deforestation Increasing Malaria Outbreaks},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {
	[[{"fid":"595656","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"deforestation","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]



	\&nbsp;



	According to a report by the Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations, nearly 130 million hectares of trees have been lost due to deforestation since 1990.



	A study of 67 less-developed malaria-endemic nations titled, "Anthropogenic forest loss and malaria prevalence: a comparative examination of the causes and disease consequences of deforestation in developing nations," published in AIMS Environmental Science, led by Lehigh University sociologist Dr. Kelly Austin, finds a link between deforestation and increasing malaria rates across developing nations.



	Malaria is an infectious disease tied to environmental conditions, as mosquitoes represent the disease vector. Deforestation, is not a natural phenomenon, but rather results predominantly from human activities, or anthropogenically. The study builds upon evidence that patterns in climate change, deforestation, and other human-induced changes to the natural environment are amplifying malaria transmission.



	The analytic research strategy used also allowed the authors to look at the causes of deforestation, in order to have a broader focus on the upstream or human-induced causes of land-use change that impact malaria vulnerabilities.



	Results of the study suggest that rural population growth and specialization in agriculture are two key influences on forest loss in developing nations.



	\&nbsp;

}
}
@article {532141,
	title = {The "Ideal" Look of a Leader},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {
	[[{"fid":"595001","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"leader","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]



	According to a study performed by academics from the University of Exeter Business School and the Bradford University School of Management, business leaders should dress like those they lead, not designer-clad mangers that we often see in TV or films.



	The study wanted to find out if and how people judged their leadership qualities of their bosses based on their appearance. The results showed everyone had a completely different view of what a leader looked like. The conclusion was that it showed people unknowingly draw on their own-self-image because nobody has a clear idea of what a leader should actually look like, or what personality they should express. When people described themselves and compared it with how they described leaders, their {\textquoteright}ideal{\textquoteright} or {\textquoteright}excellent{\textquoteright} leader was a mirror image of themselves.



	Interviewees in the study had been on leadership development programs or described themselves as leaders. Interviews lasted up to an hour and a half and included questioning on their career history.



	\&nbsp;

}
}
@article {531491,
	title = {China{\textquoteright}s Energy Future},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {
	[[{"fid":"594316","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"coal","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]



	The growth in China over the past 3 decades has elevated it to a global superpower. However, its economic miracle has also attracted attention for the wrong reasons: the country is now the world{\textquoteright}s largest energy consumer, oil importer, and CO$_{2}$ emitter. Nevertheless, this is no longer a fair reflection of the country{\textquoteright}s energy situation.



	China is now the world{\textquoteright}s largest user of green energy, accounting for 17\% of global investment in the industry. It installed an average of more than one wind turbine every hour of every day in 2015. By 2030 it is hoped that cleaner energy will help reduce China{\textquoteright}s CO$_{2}$ emissions by 54\% from 2010 levels.



	Compared with other countries, China still has a long way to go. Britain, for instance, recently managed a day without coal for the first time in more than 130 years, while other countries have drastically cut their carbon footprint.



	\&nbsp;

}
}
@article {531026,
	title = {Creating New Jobs from the Use of Waste Paper},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {
	[[{"fid":"593601","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"waste","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]



	Recent research indicates industry specific jobs could soon be getting a big boost from waste paper that makes its way to anything from tennis rackets and cars. The research was published in Green Chemistry, the peer-reviewed journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry.



	About 50 million tons of lignin piles up each year as waste from the U.S. paper and pulping industry. Additional lignin could come from bio-refineries that use plants to produce ethanol, yielding another 100-200 million tons of lignin waste each year. Yet only about 2\% of the lignin waste is currently recycled into new products.



	The research team has had several successes in making fuel and bio-products from lignin. But even the biofuel making process leaves a large stockpile of waste. That led them to consider the possibility of making carbon fiber material. While carbon fiber is not new, known for high strength, low weight and a heat tolerance. It is, however, expensive to produce.



	The researchers noted that lignin is a complex molecule, but when the high-density, high molecular weight portion is separated from the rest, it has a uniform structure that allows the formation of high quality carbon fiber. While still improving and fine-tuning the quality, carbon fiber could be used for windmills, sport materials and even bicycles and cars.

}
}
@article {529781,
	title = {How Does Consumer Sharing Effect Businesses?},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {
	[[{"fid":"592901","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"productshare","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]



	Consumer sharing is an expanding economic force globally. Consumers today share everything from bicycles, cars, and agricultural equipment. Coupled with technology, consumer sharing can happen with even a simple swipe of a finger on a phone.



	Many of these type of transactions involve renters paying a fee to product owners through an online platform, reaping several inherent benefits to this consumer-to-consumer system: profits for the product owner; lower costs for the user; benefits to the environment. How does this type of business practice affect manufacturers?



	Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis{\textquoteright} Olin Business School have shown that the rising trend of product sharing can help all parties involved. There have been discussions that found some companies were worried their customers were sharing products, so some of them might not buy the product anymore. When should companies facilitate sharing, and when should they not?



	To answer those questions, researchers from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics used an analytical framework to explore the effects of consumer-to-consumer product sharing. The researchers analyzed a firm{\textquoteright}s best strategic responses, in terms of pricing and quality decisions, to the consumer{\textquoteright}s product-sharing behavior. They find that peer-to-peer sharing can be a win-win situation, with consumers being better off and firms making higher profits, especially for high-cost products such as cars or other major assets.



	\&nbsp;

}
}
@article {529426,
	title = {The World{\textquoteright}s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Constructed},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {
	[[{"fid":"592296","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"windpower","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]



	Earlier this week, The Netherlands opened what is now the world{\textquoteright}s largest offshore wind farm. 150 new turbines are now in use for clean energy in the North Sea. The wind farm is located 53 miles off of the northern coast, and will meet the energy needs of about 1.5 million people.



	The 2.8-billion-euro ($3 billion) project will contribute about 13\% of the country{\textquoteright}s total renewable energy supply, and about 25\% of its wind power. It will also help reduce emissions of carbon-dioxide emissions, among the so-called greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, by 1.25 million tons.



	The Netherlands remain dependent on fossil fuels, which still make up about 95\% of its energy supply, according to a 2016 report from the ministry of economic affairs. But the Dutch government has committed to ensuring that some 14\% of its energy comes from renewable sources such as wind and solar power by 2020, and 16\% by 2023, with the aim of being a carbon neutral by 2050.



	\&nbsp;

}
}
@article {527231,
	title = {Restoring Soil through Conservative Remedies},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {
	[[{"fid":"591716","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"soil","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]



	In conservative agriculture, there are alternative methods to restoring soil back to health. Just like our bodies need rest when they are tired or hungry, soil acts the same way. How do farmers know that? Fields don{\textquoteright}t produce the same amount of yield, or diseases infect plants. The soil can lack nutrients needed to grow good crops. It may be more prone to erosion or have other physical problems.



	Giving a field rest means the field is empty for a season or more. While this field does not provide income for the grower, continued fertilization is expensive. A bare field also runs the risk of erosion.



	Research performed by Lars Munkholm at Aarhus University studied the impact of conservation agriculture techniques over a span of 11 years on two different farms. They combined the use of these techniques:



	
		Creating very little soil disturbance
	
	
		Ensuring permanent organic soil cover
	
	
		Diversifying the crops grown on the farmland
	



	The fields they studied are in Denmark, and have sandy loam soils. An ideal soil for farming is usually a type of loam, with a good mixture of sand, silt, and clay particles. But sandy loam soils have less clay to hold the soil together. The typical Danish farmer needs to successfully grow food and feed on these soils, making this study important for the nation{\textquoteright}s agribusiness industry.



	This study found that in fields with less tillage, leaving crop residue on the soil was a good solution. In addition, growing permanent cover crops kept roots growing in the soil. This broke up soil clumps and made room for air and water. It also created a beneficial environment for soil microbes, fungi, and other organisms.



	\&nbsp;

}
}
@article {525941,
	title = {Storing Solar Energy Using Sulfur},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {
	[[{"fid":"590616","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"solarsulfur","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]



	Recently, researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) plan to develop an innovative sulfur-based storage system for solar power. Large-scale chemical storage of solar power and its overnight use as a fuel are to be achieved by means of a closed sulfur-sulfuric acid cycle. Long-term, this might be the basis of an economically efficient renewable energy source capable of providing base-load power.



	It is planned to develop prototypes of the key components, such as the solar absorber, sulfuric acid evaporator, sulfur trioxide decomposer, and sulfur burner and to test them. In addition, the materials required for heat absorption, transfer, and storage and for the catalysts of the chemical reactions are planned to be tested for efficiency and long-term stability.



	The concept envisaged for solar power tower facilities is characterized by the use of an inexpensive heat storage medium. Use of the stored energy in a burner makes these power plants capable of providing base-load power.



	\&nbsp;

}
}
@article {525726,
	title = {Saving Crops from Plant Disease},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {
	[[{"fid":"590126","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"drone","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]



	Recent research has found that drones could detect plant disease before any visible signs show, allowing farmers to stop infections in their tracks. Often, plant disease happens before it can be detected by the eye, such as when leaf discoloration happens. While these stresses are invisible to the naked eye, cameras using special filters could detect these subtle changes.



	Researchers in the Department of Life Sciences and Computing are teaming with Agrii (an agriculture services company) to create cameras mounted on drones. Cameras that can automatically detect early disease stages, and notify farmers before the disease damages crops. Detecting plant disease, and spraying early in the right location would help farmers use fungicides effectively and targeting their use to best effect.



	The drones will be equipped with multispectral cameras, using special filters to capture reflected light from selected regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Capturing reflected light using several lenses and different filters simultaneously allows scientists to look at how objects reflect parts of the electromagnetic spectrum differently. Plants that are susceptible to plant disease typically display a {\textquoteright}spectral signature{\textquoteright} that distinguishes them from healthy plants.



	\&nbsp;

}
}
@article {525176,
	title = {Charisma: Not a Necessary Attribute in Effective Leadership},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"589191","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"leadership","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]According to new research led by Michigan State University business scholars, being considered an effective leader doesn{\textquoteright}t necessarily have to include being charismatic.Five studies were conducted, and it was found that bosses who were supportive and set clear expectations (not necessarily transformational leaders with grand visions) were able to effectively motivate their employees.The study was published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, and is one of the first to examine how a leader{\textquoteright}s mindset affects his or her own behavior and, consequentially, employee motivation. The research suggest bosses can modify their mindset to produce a certain outcome from workers, whether that{\textquoteright}s innovation or a more conservative work focus aimed at meeting basic obligations and preventing errors.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {524726,
	title = {Tapping the Energy Potential in Ocean Tides},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"588446","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"waveenergy","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;There is a major project study being launched by the oceanographers at Bangor University{\textquoteright}s School of Ocean Sciences to study tidal turbulence in Wales. The potential of ocean energy is a largely an untapped renewable energy resource, and the potential of the global market for marine energy is estimated to be worth around {\textsterling}76 billion between 2016 and 2050.Grants totaling {\textsterling}230k have been awarded to Bangor University{\textquoteright}s School of Ocean Sciences in order to access this source of energy. The aim is to help improve the design and operation of tidal energy capture devices.The new projects link the Bangor team with oceanographic instrument manufacturer Nortek and marine renewable energy survey company Partrac. This team of specialists sets out to greatly improve the assessment of risks associated with turbulence and so help reduce development costs, leading to cheaper energy from the tides. The findings from these projects will be integrated into Nortek{\textquoteright}s innovative product development.}
}
@article {524371,
	title = {Using Cover Crops to Adapt to Climate Change},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"588011","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"covercrop","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]Long praised for the ability to fix erosion, fix atmospheric nitrogen, and improve soil health, cover crops might be able to play an important role in reducing the effects of climate change on agriculture.According to a Penn State{\textquoteright}s Jason Kaye, professor of soil biogeochemistry in the College of Agricultural Sciences, cover crops have the climate-change mitigation potential, comparable to other practices like no-till. Kaye contends that cover cropping can be an adaptive management tool to maintain yields and minimize nitrogen losses as the climate warms.Collaborating with Miguel Quemada in the Department of Agriculture Production at the Technical University of Madrid in Spain, Kaye reviewed cover-cropping initiatives in Pennsylvania and central Spain. He said that lessons learned from cover cropping in those contrasting regions show that the strategy has merit in a warming world.The researchers concluded that cover-crop effects on greenhouse-gas fluxes typically mitigate warming by 100-150 grams of carbon per square meter per year, which is comparable to, and perhaps higher than, mitigation from transitioning to no-till. The key ways that cover crops mitigate climate change from greenhouse-gas fluxes are by increasing soil carbon sequestration and reducing fertilizer use after legume cover crops.Despite the benefits, Kaye is not necessarily advocating that cover crops be planted primarily for the purposes of climate-change mitigation or adaptation. Instead, he thinks the most important conclusion from his analysis is that there appear to be few compromises between traditional benefits of cover cropping and the benefits for climate change.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {522851,
	title = {Avoiding Staff Burnout through {\textquotedblleft}Meaningful Work{\textquotedblright}},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"586581","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"business","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]Contrary to previous studies, a new study has found that the strategy to boost staff performance and morale by manipulating desire for meaningful work often achieve the opposite.According to a new paper in the journal Human Resource Management Review, the previous thought that important and meaningful work is the single most-valued feature of employment for most of us, brings a range of benefits for individuals and employers. Managers have recognized this and employ a range of techniques to harness this natural motivation, such as encouraging us to adopt organizational values, supporting good causes, and linking work to a wider purpose. But when employees view these strategies as self-serving, they then fall flat and can actually have negative consequences.Professor Catherine Bailey in the School of Business, Management and Economics at the University of Sussex, says that the mismanagement of meaningfulness in the workplace is giving rise to what she describes as {\textquotedblleft}existential labor.{\textquotedblright}Professor Bailey and colleagues at Greenwich, Berlin and LSE identify two forms of {\textquoteright}acting{\textquoteright} that employees use when they perceive organizational efforts to manage the meaningfulness of their work.Surface existential acting is when an employee acts in line with expectations at work even if their true values and beliefs are different.Deep existential acting occurs when an employee attempts to alter their own sense of what is meaningful in order to more closely align with their employer. The paper gives the example of a call center worker who finds meaning in helping vulnerable or worried customers, yet is expected to handle as many calls as possible in a day. That person sets out to deliberately change their perception of the situation so that they instead find meaning in helping the maximum number of people in a day, even if that means sacrificing time spent on each one.}
}
@article {522341,
	title = {Drilling for Clean Energy},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"585961","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"iceland","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;By using the most recent, technologically advanced equipment, engineers have begun to drill into the earth{\textquoteright}s surface to harness endless geothermal energy.For over 100 years, humans have used geothermal energy to produce electricity, now the goal is to generate an even more powerful source of clean electricity using the heat of volcanic areas. Whether it can become controlled has yet to be confirmed.Hjalti P{\'a}ll Ing{\'o}lfsson, from the Geothermal Research Group (GEORG) in Iceland works on on the DEEPEGS project, under which a team of geothermal researchers recently drilled the world{\textquoteright}s deepest well in an active volcanic area {\textemdash} the HS Orka geothermal field in Iceland {\textemdash} reaching a depth of 4,659 meters. They hope to tap into the limitless supply of geothermal energy by accessing searing hot water under such extreme pressure that it{\textquoteright}s in a supercritical state, which has properties of both a gas and a liquid.{\textquotedblleft}Drilling into a volcanic system, we can expect much more heat,{\textquotedblright} explained Ing{\'o}lfsson. However, there are also risks to drilling into volcanic areas. {\textquotedblleft}We can expect magma, which we actually did get in another well.{\textquotedblright} In addition to magma, which the engineers need to make sure they avoid, volcanic rock contains many faults and cracks, which can cause the drill to get stuck, slowing down the drilling process and increasing the difficulty.}
}
@article {521756,
	title = {Harvesting Energy from Waste Heat},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"582351","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"wasteheat","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;A new thermal infrared device could one day make it possible to collect waste heat at infrared wavelengths and turn it into reusable energy. This new technology may improve thermophotovoltaics, which is a type of solar cell that uses infrared light (heat) rather than the visible light absorbed by traditional solar cells.The new device is based on synthetic materials that exhibit exotic properties not available from natural materials. The researchers used a metamaterial engineered to absorb and emit infrared wavelengths with very high efficiency. This in combination with electronically controlled movement, the researchers created the first metamaterial device with infrared emission properties that can be quickly changed on a pixel-by-pixel basis.The researchers report that their infrared emitter can achieve a range of infrared intensities and can display patterns at speeds of up to 110 kHz, or more than 100,000 times per second. Scaling up the technology could allow it to be used to create dynamic infrared patterns for friend or foe identification during combat.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {521296,
	title = {The Benefits and Costs of Sharing Social Responsibility for Businesses},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"581601","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"wallet","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;When businesses share social responsibility with customers, it is generally viewed as a win-win. More patronage from socially responsible customers and larger benefits to society.However, a study forthcoming in the INFORMS journal of Marketing Science questions the idea. The study finds that when a firm shares social responsibility with customers by asking them to "pay what you want," promising a certain percentage of revenues to be donated to charity, consumers respond to whether firms give, but very little to how much they give. A firm only needs to donate very little for customers to open up their wallet - a win for firms, but not for charities and society.The study "Signaling Virtue: Charitable Behavior under Consumer Elective Pricing," by researchers Minah Jung of NYU, Leif Nelson of University of California at Berkeley, and Uri and Ayelet Gneezy both from University of California at San Diego examine consumer behavior under the broad umbrella of "shared social responsibility.{\textquotedblright}In summary, the study found that customers are very sensitive to whether a portion of their payment goes to charity, but seemingly insensitive to how much goes to charity has critical implications for the design of shared social responsibility programs.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {520846,
	title = {Engineering Molds to Produce Energy Instead of Toxins},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"581006","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"fungi","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;While molds have important implications for human health, energy production, and agriculture, they also yield toxic molecules that can contaminate a food supply. Recently it has been discovered that an organelle within fungal cells called the endoplasmic reticulum acts as a cellular factory for synthesizing diverse natural products called sesquiterpenes in fungal cells. Some sesquiterpenes are toxins that pose a health risk to humans, while others are potential precursors to alternative fuels.Molds, or filamentous fungi, produce a diversity of natural molecules with unique byproducts. Many of those byproducts have been used as pharmaceuticals and antibiotics, and some may be promising alternatives to fossil fuels. Despite the importance of these molecules in medicine and agriculture, it has not been clear which cellular compartments are involved in synthesizing natural products in fungal cells.Some scientists have proposed a sesquiterpene called bisabolene could be a precursor for a viable alternative to biodiesel fuels. By understanding how these molecules are synthesized in fungal cells, it may be possible to engineer this biochemical pathway to generate valuable products instead of undesirable toxins.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {520241,
	title = {Feeding the World with a {\textquotedblleft}Bionic Leaf{\textquotedblright}},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"579746","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"hunger","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;A mass use of fertilizer that was part of an agricultural boom called the "green revolution" was largely credited with avoiding a global food crisis. As the population continues to boom, we must find a new source to feed the world. To help with this task, researchers have invented a "bionic" leaf that uses bacteria, sunlight, water and air to make fertilizer in the very soil where crops are grown.Although the transformation of the {\textquotedblleft}green revolution{\textquotedblright} resulted in some serious environmental damage, it potentially saved millions of lives, particularly in Asia according to the United Nations. But the world{\textquoteright}s population continues to grow and is expected to swell by more than 2 billion people by 2050, with much of this growth occurring in some of the poorest countries. Providing food for everyone will require a multi-pronged approach, but experts generally agree that one of the tactics will have to involve boosting crop yields to avoid clearing even more land for farming.To contribute to the next green revolution, Harvard{\textquoteright}s Daniel Nocera, is building on the work he{\textquoteright}s most famous for{\textemdash}the artificial leaf{\textemdash}to make fertilizer. The artificial leaf is a device that, when exposed to sunlight, mimics a natural leaf by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. This led to the development of a bionic leaf that pairs the water-splitting catalyst with the bacteria Ralstonia eutropha, which consumes hydrogen and takes carbon dioxide out of the air to make liquid fuel.For this application, Nocera{\textquoteright}s team has designed a system in which Xanthobacter bacteria fix hydrogen from the artificial leaf and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to make a bio-plastic that the bacteria store inside themselves as fuel.The researchers have used their approach to grow five crop cycles. The vegetables receiving the bionic-leaf-derived fertilizer weigh 150\% more than the control crops. Daniel Nocera says that the next step is to boost throughput so that one day, farmers in India or sub-Saharan Africa can produce their own fertilizer.}
}
@article {518501,
	title = {The Future of Renewable Energy in Africa},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"579206","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"africaenergy","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]Set for a tripled demand of electricity by 2030, a University of California at Berkeley study lays out groundwork for a strategy to develop wind and solar power, while also reducing the continent{\textquoteright}s reliance on fossil fuels and lowering power plant construction costs.The study{\textquoteright}s research team assessed the potential for large solar and wind farms in 21 countries in the southern and eastern African power pools, which includes more than half of Africa{\textquoteright}s population, stretching from Libya and Egypt in the north and along the eastern coast to South Africa. It was concluded that with the right strategy for placing solar and wind farms, and with international sharing of power, most African nations could lower the number of conventional power plants they need to build, thereby reducing their infrastructure costs by billions of dollars.However, a large hurdle remains; energy-generating resources are not spread equally throughout Africa. Hydroelectric power is the main power source for one-third of African nations, but it is not available in all countries, and climate change makes it an uncertain resource because of more frequent droughts. The best areas for wind and solar are not equitably distributed either, and many argue that wind and solar are too erratic and undependable.Based on the team{\textquoteright}s analysis, however, choosing wind sites to match the timing of wind generation with electricity demand is less costly overall than choosing sites with the greatest wind energy production. Assuming adequate transmission lines, strategies that take into account the timing of wind generation result in a more even distribution of wind capacity across countries than those that maximize energy production.Importantly, both energy trade and siting to match generation with demand reduces the system costs of developing wind sites that are low impact, that is, closer to existing transmission lines, closer to areas where electricity would be consumed and in areas with preexisting human activity as opposed to undeveloped areas.}
}
@article {516646,
	title = {The Mutual Benefit of Pollinators and Agriculture},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {\&nbsp;[[{"fid":"576146","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"honeybees","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]According to a new research review, when agriculture helps pollinators, pollinators in turn help agriculture.A University of Idaho researcher, along with a group of international experts analyzed over 250 previous research studies and found that ecological intensification can help reduce pollinator decline while also benefiting agricultural production. Not only are these findings important globally, but also the Pacific Northwest in particular.Many of the region{\textquoteright}s key crops rely on pollinators, especially tree fruit production along the Columbia River in Washington. Due to a variety of ecosystems, the Pacific Northwest is home to many kinds of pollinators. These pollinators contribute not only to crop pollination, but also to assuring the reproduction of plants that form ecosystems such as prairies or forests.The team first reviewed research about how land use practices have led to declines in pollinator populations and species diversity. They then examined ways those practices could be implemented in agricultural production to help pollinators, especially by improving access to nesting and food resources. They then concluded that supporting pollinators benefits the quality and quantity of crops. Pollination by multiple species can improve yield, and thoroughly pollinated flowers can produce better-quality fruit.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {515366,
	title = {Ammonia Found Over World{\textquoteright}s Main Agricultural Areas},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"575561","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"agriculture","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]A global, multi-year study concludes that airborne ammonia gas has revealed "hotspots" of the pollutant over four of the world{\textquoteright}s most productive agricultural regions.The University of Maryland-led research team used data from NASA{\textquoteright}s Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) satellite instrument, and discovered steadily increasing ammonia concentrations from 2002-2016 over agricultural centers in the United States, Europe, China and India. Increased atmospheric ammonia is linked to poor air and water quality.Published recently in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, the study also describes the probable causes for increased airborne ammonia in each region. Although the specifics vary between areas, the increases in ammonia are broadly tied to crop fertilizers, livestock animal wastes, changes to atmospheric chemistry and warming soils that retain less ammonia. The results could help illuminate strategies to control pollution from ammonia and ammonia byproducts near agricultural areas.Although gaseous ammonia is a natural part of earth{\textquoteright}s nitrogen cycle, excess ammonia is harmful to plants and reduces air and water quality. In the troposphere{\textemdash}the lowest, densest part of the atmosphere where all weather takes place and where people live{\textemdash}ammonia gas reacts with nitric and sulfuric acids to form nitrate-containing particles that contribute to aerosol pollution that is damaging to human health. Ammonia gas can also fall back to Earth and enter lakes, streams and oceans, where it contributes to harmful algal blooms and "dead zones" with dangerously low oxygen levels.Each major agricultural region highlighted in the study experienced a slightly different combination of factors that correlate with increased ammonia in the air from 2002 to 2016.The United States, for example, has not experienced a dramatic increase in fertilizer use or major changes in fertilizer application practices. But it was found that successful legislation to reduce acid rain in the early 1990s most likely had the unintended effect of increasing gaseous ammonia. The acids that cause acid rain also scrub ammonia gas from the atmosphere, and so the sharp decrease in these acids in the atmosphere is the most plausible explanation for the increase in ammonia over the same time frame.}
}
@article {514871,
	title = {Does Sympathy Have a Place in Negotiations?},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"574881","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"negotiation","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;Sometimes considered a sign of weakness, sympathy has a place in negotiation. These are findings from research conducted by Laura Kray, a professor in the Haas Management of Organizations Group at UC Berkeley{\textquoteright}s Haas School of Business.The research finds that when one party conveys information with emotional reasons behind it, the other party is more likely to develop sympathy, compromise, and find creative solutions.Kray{\textquoteright}s research, "Is There a Place for Sympathy in Negotiation? Finding Strength in Weakness," is forthcoming in the journal, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. The researchers also found that being transparent about one{\textquoteright}s misfortune is more effective when initiated by a "low power" negotiator or someone in the weaker position. Negotiators in the stronger position who tried to gain sympathy were seen as manipulative.The study involved 106 MBA students (30\% female) and the negotiations took place as part of one of their classes. Participants were randomly assigned to negotiating teams to play out various scenarios.A scenario involved a dispute between a general building contractor and a real estate developer over payment. The study focused on whether feeling sympathy helped the negotiations.Before going on a trip, the developer told the contractor that quality counts. In an effort to improve workmanship, the contractor upgraded the type of wood used and the developer{\textquoteright}s assistant approved the change. However, the developer decided to sell the property and therefore didn{\textquoteright}t feel any upgrades were personally beneficial and didn{\textquoteright}t want to pay for the more expensive materials. The contractor also owed the developer money for a previous loan. The contractor explained that he could be forced into bankruptcy if the developer called the loan and he reminded the developer of his good intentions.While the researchers did not measure the reasons behind the developer{\textquoteright}s response, the outcome suggests that the contractor{\textquoteright}s statements may have triggered sympathy. In the end, both parties were more poised to work out an amicable agreement to split the additional cost of the wood than they were prior to those pleas.A person tasked with negotiating an outcome may not always want to appear weak but the study shows that sharing one{\textquoteright}s vulnerability in a genuine way can be beneficial. The study mentioned that the results are encouraging and give negotiators more tools to work out compassionate solutions.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {513981,
	title = {Storing Solar Energy More Effective Than Ever},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"574206","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"solarpanel","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;Recent research conducted at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have demonstrated efficient solar energy storage in a chemical liquid. The stored energy can be transported and then released as heat whenever needed. The research is now presented on the cover of the scientific journal Energy \&amp; Environmental Science.Many consider the sun the energy source of the future. But one challenge is that it is difficult to store solar energy and deliver the energy {\textquoteright}on demand".The research team has shown that it is possible to convert the solar energy directly into energy stored in the bonds of a chemical fluid. The liquid chemical makes it possible to store and transport the stored solar energy and release it on demand, with full recovery of the storage medium.The research project was initiated more than 6 years ago. At the time, the solar energy conversion efficiency was 0.01\% and the expensive element ruthenium played a major role in the compound. The system now stores 1.1\% of the incoming sunlight as latent chemical energy. Also, that expensive element ruthenium has been replaced by much cheaper carbon-based elements.}
}
@article {513451,
	title = {Greenhouse Gases not Impacted by Energy Crop Production},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"573601","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"switchgrass","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;According to a study on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land, growing sustainable energy crops won{\textquoteright}t increase greenhouse emissions if used on seasonally wet, environmentally sensitive landscapes.Debasish Saha, postdoctoral scholar in plant sciences, and Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, measured the amount of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, emanating from plots of biofuels-producing switchgrass and miscanthus growing in an experimental area in eastern central Pennsylvania and compared it to emissions from adjacent, undisturbed CRP acres.Nitrous oxide is produced by micro-organisms when soils with excess nitrogen from fertilizer and other sources coincide with a near-saturated soil environment after a storm or snowmelt event. It is mostly emitted from agricultural activities and contributes about 6\% of the total warming influence on the planet. An increase of nitrous oxide emissions from CRP land planted with energy crops would undermine the logic of using CRP lands for energy crops production. The transition phase is one of the most sensitive periods because the plants are small and are just establishing their root system.The researchers measured nitrous oxide emissions in the bottom of a watershed that is a realistic example of CRP lands in a seasonally wet landscape. An existing CRP tract was partially converted to switchgrass and miscanthus and the researchers measured nitrous oxide emissions from May September 2013 with gas-sampling devices.The sampling frequency varied from weekly to biweekly, and increased after fertilization and precipitation events. The researchers also continuously monitored soil water content to understand soil water dynamics in the landscape, a critical trigger for nitrous oxide emissions. They installed soil moisture sensors at three soil depths in each of 48 monitoring points and connected each to data loggers through a network of buried cables.Saha and colleagues published their findings in Global Change Biology: Bioenergy, suggesting that CRP and other marginal, streamside lands set aside for conservation are good candidates for biomass production. They found that although nitrous oxide emissions did rise above the baseline provided by CRP lands, the increase only happened in a small portion of the landscape.}
}
@article {511606,
	title = {Using Old Wood for Energy},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"572121","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"oldwood","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;A nationwide survey in Switzerland by the Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest concluded that they are missing out on a huge source of clean energy: 173,000 tons of used wood could be re-used producing valuable heat and power energy today, in addition to the 644,000 tons of used wood already being used.Nearly 1 million tons of wood accumulated on construction or demolition sites, arising from building renovations or conversions or in the form of packaging or crushed wood waste, were produced in Switzerland in 2014. Sustainable energy could have been generated out of 817,000 tons of this wood, but only 644,000 tons of used wood were actually used producing heat or electricity. The additional used wood available would suffice to supply heat, at 80\% efficiency, to some 80,000 average households during the cold season (from September to May) and provide enough power for 40,000 average homes.This data is based on an unprecedented nationwide survey in Switzerland of 567 businesses that collect, transport and/or dispose used wood. A team of WSL researchers led by Oliver Thees determined how much unused wood accrued in 2014 in all regions of Switzerland and which quantities were used in order to produce energy, were disposed of or were sold abroad.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {509976,
	title = {Water Scarcity in North Africa and Middle East Threatening Agriculture},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"569851","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"northafrica","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;Finding fresh water in the regions of North Africa and the Middle East has recently fallen by two-thirds over the past 40 years, prompting {\textquotedblleft}an urgent and massive response{\textquotedblright} by the United Nations agriculture agency.A fundamental need for food, human health, and agriculture, fresh water is now 10 times less than the world average in that area. According to the UN, the need for a significant overhaul of its farming systems is more urgent than ever.Studies have shown that higher temperatures may shorten growing seasons in the region by 18 days and reduce agricultural yields a further 27-55\% by the end of this century. The rising sea level in the Nile Delta is exposing Egypt to the danger of losing substantial parts of the most productive agriculture land due to salinization.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {509971,
	title = {Making Power Stations More Efficient},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"569846","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"power","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;A new study in Nano Energy presents a prototype energy converter, which uses graphene instead of metal, making it almost seven times more efficient. The study, led by Professor Roger Howe at Stanford University, say new materials could reignite the field of thermionic energy conversion, improving the way we produce electricity and reducing the impact the process has on the environment.One of the most challenging problems that faces developing nations is energy. An estimated 1.2 billion people having no access to electricity. Thermal energy is one of the most abundant, cheap and widely used energy sources in the world, but it is harvested using old technology: more than 80\% of the electricity generated in the US comes from mechanical heat engines and turbines based on the 19th century technology that can only be used in large power stations.Alternatively, the thermionic energy convertor (TEC) can convert heat to electricity more efficiently without the need for big, expensive equipment through the phenomenon of thermionic emission. TECs were first developed in the 1950s for use in space programs, but scientists had not managed to make TECs efficient enough to apply to industrial electricity production. Now, with modern materials and approaches, it is possible to improve their efficiency significantly.The technology is not yet ready for use in power stations or people{\textquoteright}s homes - the prototype works in a vacuum chamber but not in a normal setting. The researchers are now working on a vacuum packaged TEC to test the reliability and efficiency of the technology in real applications.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {509801,
	title = {Predicating Success in Crowdfunding Innovations},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"569641","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"crowdfunding","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;According to the paper, "Toward a Better Understanding of Crowdfunding, Openness and the Consequences for Innovation," the number of backers a new product attracts during crowd funding predicts the financial success of the product when it reaches the marketplace - but the amount of money raised during crowdfunding does not.Researchers from North Carolina State University started with data on more than 1,000 successful Kickstarter campaigns related to product innovations in four categories: technology, product design, hardware and video games. The researchers contacted the people behind those campaigns with a survey designed to learn more about their experiences and the market success of their products. The entrepreneurs were contacted one to two years after successfully completed crowdfunding campaigns.The researchers were able to collect complete surveys from 173 crowdfunding entrepreneurs, and got partial responses from 51 more. Respondents had all run successful campaigns raising at least $10,000. The mean funding raised was $78,726, from an average of 1,078 backers.It was found that crowdfunders who raised a lot of money were no more likely than those who raised smaller amounts to meet their sales, profit or other financial goals when their products later hit the marketplace. Margins on pre-orders tend to be much smaller than crowdfunding entrepreneurs expect and delays are common. Pre-order revenue doesn{\textquoteright}t generally translate into sizable enough margins for entrepreneurs to effectively leverage the proceeds of crowdfunding to the benefit of the product{\textquoteright}s mainstream market launch.The researchers also found that crowdfunding entrepreneurs who exceeded their fundraising goals tended to have a decreased focus on radical innovation in the future. The more money raised beyond their goal, the less entrepreneurs focused on big, new ideas.The second key finding was that the number of people who contribute to a crowdfunding campaign was an important contributor to the later market success of a product. In other words, the more backers a campaign attracted, the more likely the product was to exceed financial goals when it launched to the mainstream market.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {509216,
	title = {How Climate Changes Affects Brazilian Agriculture},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"568946","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"agriculture","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;Research from Avery Cohn, assistant professor of environment and resource policy at the Fletcher School, claims that climate change expected over the next decade may cause food production in a key agricultural region of Brazil to decline by up to 13\%. This decline reflects both reductions in crop yield and how crop failures and farmers{\textquoteright} decisions together lead to cultivating less land and growing only one crop in a season instead of two.Changes in rainfall and temperature affect not just whether crops are abundant at harvest, but also whether they live that long. Previous research has failed to account for losses from crops dying before they can be reaped, it may have underestimated the effects of climate change on the food supply.The study focused on Mato Grosso, a state in Brazil that supplies 10\% of the world{\textquoteright}s soybeans. Published in the journal Nature Climate Change, suggests that an increase in temperature of 1 degree Celsius in Mato Grosso will lead to a 9-13\% reduction in soy and corn production. Most of that decrease would be due to the combination of crop failure and farmers{\textquoteright} decisions to sow fewer crops, rather than lower yields on the crops harvested.The researchers found that hot and wet conditions were associated with the largest losses and cool and dry conditions with the largest gains. They used satellite data from 2002 to 2010 to track land use and compared the changes to climate data.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {508406,
	title = {Study Finds the Key for Startup Success},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"567916","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"startup","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;Many entrepreneurs dream of one day leading a successful company they have created. Launching a startup is just one step of many to achieve this goal.With 3 decades of experience as an entrepreneur, Dr. Joseph Picken, also a clinical professor of Organizations, Strategy and International Management and the founder of the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UT Dallas, lays out a guideline for those seeking market traction and rapid growth.While a startup is best served by a loosely structured, flexible and informal organization, rapid growth and scaling requires structure, process and discipline. These tools and techniques of running an established business are commonly taught in business schools. Picken wanted to focus his research on the gap between startup and scaling{\textemdash}a period of transition. The study details the challenges faced by founders and the essential actions required for success.During transition, the founder and team must impose essential structures and discipline, and lay the foundation for a scalable business. The failure to do so will result either in the failure of the venture or the replacement of the founder by a more experienced CEO.Picken outlines "the eight hurdles of transition"{\textemdash}essential steps in the evolution from a hopeful startup to an organization capable of sustained and profitable growth:Setting a direction and maintaining focus.Positioning products/services in an expanded market.Maintaining customer/market responsiveness.Building an organization and management team.Developing effective processes and infrastructures.Building financial capability.Developing an appropriate culture.Managing risks and vulnerabilities.As startups enter this transition period, founders must evaluate the business{\textquoteright}s needs, assess their personal capabilities and limitations, expand their skill set, and adopt the management practices and leadership behaviors essential to retaining the top job.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {508011,
	title = {The Fine Line of Economic Growth and Deforestation},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {\&nbsp;[[{"fid":"567401","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"deforestation","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]According to a new study published in the journal of Scientific Reports, there seems to be economic growth in countries with high deforestation rates, but that effect disappears in wealthier countries.Economic development has been assumed to be a driver of that deforestation, but there has been little reliable data to support the link. For the study, researchers combined satellite data on forest cover with economic data from 130 different countries. By comparing forest cover across border regions with similar geography, they were able to make comparisons between economic factors and deforestation in different countries.The hypothetical link between economic development and environmental degradation is known as an environmental "Kuznet{\textquoteright}s curve." The researchers found what they described as "half of a Kuznet{\textquoteright}s curve"{\textemdash}that is, the data agreed with the hypothesized link between economic development and deforestation for developing countries. For wealthier countries, however, the correlation disappeared.The study has implications in particular for countries on the "dangerous" part of the deforestation curve, where economic growth is likely to lead to major forest cover loss in the near future. The results suggest that Africa is expected to be particularly vulnerable to forest cover loss as sub-Saharan economies catch up on income per capita with the rest of the world.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {507361,
	title = {Invasive Insects Potentially Causing Billions in Agriculture},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {\&nbsp;[[{"fid":"566741","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"agriculturepesticide","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]A report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences claims that invasive insects and pathogens could become a multi-billion dollar problem to agriculture, especially delivering devastation in developing countries.The researchers analyzed the impact of known invasive insect pests and pathogens on 124 countries and determined which counties posed the biggest threats based on their trading partners and numbers of invasive species.The results show the United States, China, India and Brazil, all large agricultural producers, would have the highest potential cost from invasive species. China and the United States ranked one and two, respectively, as the highest potential source countries for the pests. While big agricultural countries, such as the United States and China, may take the biggest monetary hit, smaller developing countries may suffer proportionately higher damage.To estimate the relative cost of species invasion, the researchers divided a country{\textquoteright}s total invasion cost by its mean domestic product from 2000 to 2009. As trade increases and more connections are made between countries, the researchers suggest that the problems associated with invasive species will mount.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {506206,
	title = {Can Smart Buildings Deliver on Efficiency?},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"565221","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"smartbuilding","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;Technology has become more integrated in our daily lives that it has spread to our houses, even to our workplace. They have a hand in automated heating and cooling, automated blinds, and programming appliances to run efficient. But to what extent do {\textquotedblleft}smart buildings{\textquotedblright} become inefficient, and outweigh the benefits of energy efficiency?To answer that question, it{\textquoteright}s easy to see a range of energy challenges that Europe experiences today. Improved efficiency would help consumers reduce income spent on energy consumption, reduce greenhouse emissions and also help EU countries meet the goals of the 2030 energy strategy. But how does home automation work? Can it deliver on its promises of efficiency?While the increased scale of energy consumption in non-residential buildings means there is greater scope for savings, the potential for reducing energy through smart home technology is less clear-cut. Many studies have shown that consumers are largely ignorant of their domestic energy consumption. A review carried out by the Oxford University{\textquoteright}s center for the study of environmental change, outlines "the importance of feedback [mostly via display monitors] in making energy more visible and more amenable to understanding and control".Home automation systems increase awareness of how energy is used in the home and can lead to a reduction in consumption. However, installing a full automation system could be prohibitive for many consumers, making smart solutions less attractive. The Internet of Things market is growing dramatically, 3.3 billion devices are expected to be in use by 2018, so questions of integration look set to remain important in the coming years.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {505201,
	title = {Plant Breeding: The Drone Way},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"564246","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"droneagriculture","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;Until recently, crop breeders had to grow thousands of potential varieties of soybeans at a time, observing key traits made by hand. Now, drones are used successfully to remotely evaluate and predict soybean maturity timing in tests of potential varieties. The use of drones for this purpose could substantially reduce the man-hours needed to evaluate new crops.When plant breeders develop new crop varieties, they grow up a lot of plants and they all need to be repeatedly checked. To make things easier, a team including breeders, computer scientists, engineers, and geographic information specialists turned to unmanned aerial vehicles {\textendash} commonly known as UAVs or drones.One goal was to predict the timing of pod maturity using images from a camera attached to the drone, along with sophisticated data and image analysis techniques. The researchers developed an algorithm to compare images from the drone with pod maturity data measured the old-fashioned way, by walking the fields.Drones are increasingly recognized for their potential to improve efficiency and precision in agriculture (especially after new FAA rules went into effect in August 2016) but this is one of the first studies to use drones to optimize breeding practices.Drones could be particularly useful to large breeding companies, which test hundreds of thousands of potential varieties annually. If breeders can save time and effort using this technology, new varieties could potentially be developed and made available to farmers on a faster timeline.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {504426,
	title = {Keeping Sustainability in Mind with Mexico Energy Reform},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"563406","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"mexicoenergy","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;A new paper suggests that Mexico needs to follow the best international practices for sustainability in order to develop its own economy properlyAuthored by Luis Serra, executive director of Tecnol{\'o}gico de Monterrey{\textquoteright}s Energy Initiative, "The Environmental Challenges of the Energy Reform," identifies areas of Mexico with an abundance of energy resources that could be targeted for exploitation in the wake of the reform. The paper also highlights areas of possible conflict in terms of access to and handling of natural resources and environmental impact with considerable consequences for Mexico{\textquoteright}s natural capital.Mexico{\textquoteright}s Security, Energy and Environmental Agency must establish regulatory criteria for operating safety and environmental protections in the sector based on a perspective that the handling of natural resources and productivity of the country remain closely related.The paper was written for a Mexico Center research project examining the rule of law in Mexico and the challenges it poses to implementing the country{\textquoteright}s energy reform. Mexico{\textquoteright}s energy sector had been under strict governmental management since 1938. This changed in 2013 and 2014 when Mexico amended its constitution and passed legislation overhauling its energy sector to allow private and foreign investments.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {503516,
	title = {New Tool Allows for Monitoring of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Agriculture},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"562371","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"foodindustry","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;Recently, a new tool has been launched then enables agriculture and food companies to identify reasonable greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for the sector. This new tool helps companies meet the commitments made under the Paris Climate Agreement to keep the increase in the global average temperature well below 2 {\textdegree}C. It is estimated that 25\% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are caused by the production and consumption of agricultural products.This new tool will allow companies to calculate the emissions they are producing and will give them valuable insight into different methods they could follow in a bid to inform their sourcing strategy and to reduce their GHG emission levels.The tool will allow the user to select a commodity and a region, and to calculate how much emissions this would produce. Multiplying the pathway with the projected production, the tool also calculates the company{\textquoteright}s future absolute emissions target.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {502581,
	title = {Harvesting Many Forms of Energy Using Material},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"561696","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"sunlight","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;There are various forms of energy that surrounds us every day: sunlight, our own movements, and even extra heat in the room that most goes unused. Energy that can potentially be used to power our everyday wearable gadgets, power our electronics, and make less of an impact on the environment.Recently, researchers from the University of Oulu in Finland have found a mineral with the perovskite crystal structure that has the right properties to extract energy from multiple sources at the same time.Perovskites are a family of minerals, many of which have shown promise for harvesting one or two types of energy at a time{\textemdash}but not simultaneously. One family member may be good for solar cells, with the right properties for efficiently converting solar energy into electricity.However, just one type of energy isn{\textquoteright}t enough as a given form of energy isn{\textquoteright}t always available. Researchers have developed devices that can harness multiple forms of energy, but they require multiple materials, adding bulk to what{\textquoteright}s supposed to be a small and portable device.A perovskite called KBNNO may be able to harness many forms of energy. Experiments have shown that while KBNNO is reasonably good at generating electricity from heat and pressure, it isn{\textquoteright}t quite as good as other perovskites. Perhaps the most promising finding, however, is that the researchers can modify the composition of KBNNO to improve its properties.It is hoped that within the year, KBNNO can be improved to harvest energy to sustain power to our many devices that we use every day.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {501476,
	title = {Research Finds Humans Have Significant Impact on Bee Survival},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"560806","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"bee","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;New research finds the significant effect humans have on a bee{\textquoteright}s metabolism, and ultimately its survival.Research from The University of Western Australia focuses on human{\textquoteright}s significant impact on the environment had on bees, which are crucial for the planet, pollinating one-third of everything we eat. Landscapes that have been degraded mean a reduction in the availability of resources which affects the metabolic rate of the honey bee and puts more strain on its body{\textquoteright}s ability to function.Researchers wanted to find out how honey bees{\textquoteright} metabolism was impacted by human made changes to the environment such as clearing of land. To do this they used a unique method to measure the energy expenditure of bees, originally developed and used in his research on honey possums. Through this method they were able to measure the metabolic rate of bees when they are in their natural environment, and compare pristine environments rich in resources to degraded environments.The research has important implications for understanding environmental impacts on bees which will help preserve bee populations in the future and may offer insight into the way other insects{\textquoteright} metabolism works and how it affects their behavior. This is the first time the metabolic rate and feeding rate of a free-flying insect has been measured in its natural environment and paves the way for future research on pollinators other than bees.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {500256,
	title = {The Immense Power of Wind Energy and Where to Find It},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"559836","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"windenergy","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;Wind, a never-ending source of useful energy that with today{\textquoteright}s technology, can be harnessed to power everything. However, finding the best areas for constant wind energy can be challenging.Recently, a model to help predict wind frequency and potential contributions to more traditional energy sources has been developed by the North China Electric Power University and North China University of Science and Technology.This model uses a method based on "model predictive control," wherein checkpoints across a power grid can exchange information and adjust accordingly. The researchers decentralized this model, so that a problem in one area could be solved to benefit the entire grid. The computer algorithm predicts the variables that influence the grid and applies those constraints for any problem that any part of the system might encounter.Traditionally, a controlled grid could redirect otherwise unused energy from sleeping citizens to a power-hungry hospital or some other entity that continues to require energy even during typical low-load times. In a decentralized system, the system works the same way, but instead of having to clear the redirection with every checkpoint, the variables are assumed and the action is nearly immediate.To test the algorithm, the researchers compared the volume output and dependability of a four-part system{\textemdash}four plants sharing responsibility for generating power in different areas{\textemdash}with and without the incorporation of wind power.In the analysis of a conventional power plant, the researchers found that their model required much less computational time compared to the traditional model predictive control. That{\textquoteright}s a major advantage, as the computing process is expensive in both time and energy. When the researchers added the hard-to-predict wind turbines as a source of power in the model, it still worked. According to the scientists, the major flaw is that computational needs will increase to maintain system stability, which cannot be guaranteed in their algorithm.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {498846,
	title = {Reducing Carbon Storage in Wetland Soils},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"558306","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"wetlands","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;A recent study published in Nature Communications has shown that human activity and development are correlated with reduced carbon storage in wetland soils. Conducted using wetlands on a national scale, the study shows that wetlands play an important role in storing carbon in soil, thus keeping carbon dioxide out of the environment.The study drew upon data from the USEPA{\textquoteright}s 2011 National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA), which collected carbon concentration data from soil pits at nearly a thousand wetland sites across the U.S. Paired with a new version of the NWCA using data from 2016, could help researchers better track trends in carbon retention rates of wetlands.Partly due to their cooler temperatures, the Upper Midwest and the Eastern Mountains have wetlands that are especially adept at storing carbon, accounting for nearly half the wetland carbon stocks in the U.S. But nearly 90\% of the wetlands that were in the Midwest at the time of European settlement have been lost, mainly due to agricultural development. When wetlands are developed, their retention of carbon is disturbed, and the carbon cycles back into the atmosphere.The data also showed that levels of carbon retention are significantly lower in wetlands with the greatest human activity compared to site with lesser amounts of human activity. The study does not determine causality, but it does illustrate the need to protect wetlands from disturbances in order to avoid releasing carbon into the atmosphere, accelerating climate change.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {498001,
	title = {Emissions and Consumption Increase from Storing Solar Power},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"557756","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"solar","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;According to a recent study, homes that have solar panels installed do not require on-site storage to reap the biggest benefits to the environment and economic investment.Research published in Nature Energy from the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin found that storing solar power for night use actually uses more energy and emits more emissions than sending excess solar energy directly to the utility grid.According to the Solar Energy Industry Association, the number of rooftop solar installations grew to more than 1 million U.S. households in 2016. There is a growing interest in using energy storage to capture solar energy to reduce reliance on traditional utilities.Co-authors Michael Webber and Robert Fares, a Cockrell School alumnus who is now an American Association for the Advancement of Science fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy, analyzed the impact of home energy storage using electricity data from nearly 100 Texas households that are part of a smart grid test bed managed by a renewable energy and smart technology company housed at UT Austin.They found that storing solar energy for nighttime use increases a household{\textquoteright}s annual energy consumption{\textemdash}in comparison with using solar panels without storage{\textemdash}because storage consumes some energy every time it charges and discharges. The researchers estimated that adding energy storage to a household with solar panels increases its annual energy consumption by about 324 to 591 kilowatt-hours.The analysis showed that storing solar energy today offers fewer environmental benefits than just sending it straight to the grid, because the energy lost to storage inefficiencies is ultimately made up with fossil-fuel electricity from the grid.}
}
@article {497781,
	title = {Hawaiian{\textquoteright}s Push for Stricter Pesticide Regulations},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"557191","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"hawaiianag","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;Many Hawaiian residents have grown concerned over the use of pesticides by major agricultural companies following the sickness of many school kids and agriculture workers. Many of these major agricultural companies use Hawaii{\textquoteright}s year-round warm weather to test genetically engineered crops such as new types of corn and soybeans.A recent court decision has ruled it is the state{\textquoteright}s responsibility, rather than the individual counties to regulate agriculture and a change in committee leadership in the House have added momentum to the effort to enhance state regulation.Advocates are pushing bills to require companies to fully disclose when and where they{\textquoteright}re spraying pesticides and to mandate buffer zones around schools and hospitals. Another proposal calls for the state and counties to stop using sprays containing glyphosate. Hawaii recently initiated a study on Oahu and Kauai to sample surface water for pesticides before and during storms to evaluate if chemicals are moving offsite at unacceptable levels.The state also is planning to triple its fee to register pesticides to fund monitoring and to expand statewide the Kauai Good Neighbor Program{\textemdash}in which seed companies on Kauai voluntarily report their pesticide use monthly to the state.But critics say the new programs fall short because reporting is voluntary and because the companies don{\textquoteright}t disclose the location where the pesticide is sprayed. Requiring companies to report spray locations could be tricky because fields where seeds are tested are generally spread out to avoid cross-pollination, and because it{\textquoteright}s a competitive industry.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {490566,
	title = {Improving Performance with a Variety of Leadership Style and Culture},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"555996","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"businessmeeting","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;According to a recent research study, CEO{\textquoteright}s having differing leadership styles from the culture of an organization improves the firm{\textquoteright}s performance.Georgia State University, Arizona State University, the University of South Australia and Auckland University of Technology in joint research collected data from 119 CEO{\textquoteright}s and 337 top management team members in 119 organizations in the U.S. software and hardware industries.The researchers found CEO{\textquoteright}s who adopt a leadership style similar to that of the organization{\textquoteright}s culture have a negative impact on firm performance. Instead, firms are most effective when CEO leadership style and organizational culture are different, a discovery that contradicts widely accepted beliefs. The findings are published in The Journal of Applied Psychology.Organizational culture refers to shared values and norms, usually either task-oriented or relationship-oriented, which inform employee behavior. In a task-oriented culture, employees are asked to focus externally on problems such as anticipating customers{\textquoteright} needs and preferences and monitoring competitors{\textquoteright} behaviors. In a relationship-oriented culture, employees are encouraged to focus internally on issues such as coordination, participation and communication.However, not all differences between leadership and culture are positive. If a leader{\textquoteright}s approach is oppositional or confrontational, he or she will likely be met with resistance and resentment. A leader who challenges or discards every assumption about what has worked in the past creates uncertainty, ambiguity and skepticism among the organization{\textquoteright}s employees.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {489746,
	title = {Finding Supplemental Income for Rural Farmers in Africa},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"554981","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"africafarmer","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;Although trees in Africa are easily spotted, many overlook their potential source of income for farming. Recently, a study performed by the University of Illinois has concluded that these trees may reduce rural poverty, and maintain biodiversity.The study found that 1/3 of farmers across five different countries also grow trees on their property. These trees provide 17\% of annual household income for these farmers. Fruit trees and cash crop trees such as coffee trees were the two most popular types of trees. Tree for timber and fuel were only reported by 5\% of the households.Trees also could act as biodiversity corridors, as trees on farms are more prevalent near forests. They can provide wildlife or bird habitat linking different forested or natural areas, while at the same time providing income potential to poor farmers. They promise a potential win-win for conservation and development.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {488841,
	title = {Hawaii{\textquoteright}s Goal: Completely Use Renewable Energy in All Sectors by 2045},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"554116","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"hawaii","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;With a goal of having 100\% of utility energy generated by renewable sources by 2045, Hawaii wants to continue to push for clean and efficient energy by extending its goal to include everything in the transportation sector by the same date.This goal presents a steep climb in the auto industry, where there are only 5,000 electric vehicles out of an estimated 1 million in the state. However, this particular goal doesn{\textquoteright}t carry fines if not met by the deadline, whereas the utilities does.The bill is being introduced in the Hawaii Legislature, and if passed, Hawaii would be the first in the nation to set such a high goal for its transportation sector. Vermont also has an aggressive goal for renewable fuel in transportation, but most states don{\textquoteright}t have such targets in place.The state recently created a new position in the Department of Transportation to work on renewable fuels in transportation, and it is planning to build infrastructure to increase electric vehicle charging stations at work locations in Honolulu{\textquoteright}s urban core using state funds.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {487231,
	title = {The Need for Wastewater Solutions Has Never Been Greater in Ghana},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"553281","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","alt":"ghana","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;As water supply in Ghana dwindles, solutions need to be found soon or the country{\textquoteright}s 25 million population could be at risk, according to Ahmed Abuhussein, an Environmental Engineering graduate student.Abuhussein recently spent five months in Ghana where he addressed institutional, social and technical gaps in applying treated wastewater in agriculture. With 66\% of Ghana{\textquoteright}s withdrawn water earmarked for agriculture, the use of treated wastewater could have a significant impact.Currently, 81\% of the country{\textquoteright}s wastewater is not being treated and of the 9\% being collected, less than 6\% is {\textquoteright}appropriately{\textquoteright} treated. He has conducted field work at a local waste stabilization pond and interviewed local authorities, industries and non-for-profit organizations in the country.Abuhussein wants to look towards a project that combines technical and monetary aspects that will address the quality of the water and its end use, because the treatment will be different. He has also exclaimed that many small farms use non-treated wastewater, simply extracting what flows through the open gutters on their property.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {485071,
	title = {Researching the Relationship of Tropical Glaciers and Water Supply},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"551656","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]Research from the College of Arts and Sciences are closer to understanding how the loss of glaciers in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru is affecting water resources in a region responding to global climate change.A multinational, interdisciplinary research team doing fieldwork in the northern Peruvian Andes have been studying the groundwater hydrology of areas formed by glacier recession in the ice-capped mountains, home to the world{\textquoteright}s highest density of tropical glaciers.The Andes contain 99\% of the world{\textquoteright}s tropical glaciers{\textemdash}slow-moving rivers of ice whose high elevations are virtually unaffected by balmy tropical temperatures. Such glaciers, however, are vulnerable to climate change. One study suggests that, since the 1970s, Peruvian glaciers have lost nearly half of their surface area.Given the density of glaciers in the Cordillera Blanca, communities downstream rely on groundwater discharge and glacier melt water for their water supply during the dry winter months. Runoff from glacial streams also supports small-farm and commercial agriculture, hydroelectric power generation and transnational mining operations. Whereas melt water comes from the melting of ice and snow, groundwater is the result of precipitation that soaks into the Earth{\textquoteright}s surface; is transported underground and then returns to lakes, marshes and streams.What is not understood is the spatial distribution of the groundwater discharge. Using a model called HFLUX, an energy balance model of a stretch of river in Peru{\textquoteright}s Huascaran National Park has been created.}
}
@article {484591,
	title = {China: The New Leader in Clean Energy Globally},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"551231","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;According to a report, the new leader in global clean energy now has a new leader. China{\textquoteright}s overseas investment in renewable energy projects jumped last year by 60\% to a record $32 billion. In 2016, China finalized 11 foreign deals worth more than a billion dollars each, and is expected to pick up the pace this year, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).China announced that it would sink at least $361 billion into renewables by 2020, key to the country{\textquoteright}s transition away from polluting coal power. Overseas investments last year ranged from lithium battery makers in Australia and Chile to an electricity distribution deal in Brazil and the building of a solar cell factory in Vietnam. China now owns five of the six largest solar module manufacturing firms in the world.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {483511,
	title = {A Glimmer of Hope for Poland{\textquoteright}s Wind Energy?},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"550066","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;A new Polish law imposing rules for the installation of wind turbines is likely to limit the development of renewables in the country, which continues to focus on its main energy source, coal. However, small wind turbines, which fall outside the scope of the recent measures, could represent a loophole for the wind energy sector.In 2016, the Polish parliament, where the conservative Law and Justice party has an outright majority, voted one of the most severe anti-wind energy bills in Europe. The new law requires companies to locate turbines at least 10 times the distance of their total height from the nearest housing and "valuable natural areas.{\textquotedblright}Renewable energy sources accounted for just 11.45\% of the energy produced in Poland in 2015, while its national target is to increase this figure to 15\% by 2020.However, the law does have a loophole. The regulation explicitly excludes "micro installations" of power under 40 kW from its scope, such as the small wind turbines installed on the roofs of buildings.Since the energy sector is moving from a centralized energy system to a distributed one, small wind turbines are expected to play an increasingly important role in the coming years. Their importance was recognized by the European Union, which is supporting a project aiming to develop innovative solutions to make smaller-sized wind turbines more competitive, and to facilitate their deployment into urban and peri-urban areas. The so-called SWIP project, aspires to reinvigorate the small wind turbines sector across Europe.}
}
@article {482621,
	title = {Devastation from Dust Bowl Era Still Would Devastate Today{\textquoteright}s Agriculture},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"549291","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;If a drought similar to the Dust Bowl crisis of the 1930s were to strike today, it would have similar results despite the developments of technology and agricultural advances.According to a recent study from the University of Chicago published in Nature Plants, extreme weather simulated from the Dust Bowl era on today{\textquoteright}s crops would be cause them to become severely damaged.The severe damage of the Dust Bowl was actually caused by three distinct droughts in quick succession, occurring in 1930-31, 1933-34 and 1936. From 1933 to 1939, wheat yields declined by double-digit percentages, reaching a peak loss of 32\% in 1933. The economic and societal consequences were vast, eroding land value throughout the Great Plains states and displacing millions of people.In the eight decades since that crisis, agricultural practices have changed dramatically. But many technological and geographical shifts were intended to optimize average yield instead of resilience to severe weather, leaving many staple crops vulnerable to seasons of unusually low precipitation and/or high temperatures.As a result, when the researchers simulated the effects of the 1936 drought upon today{\textquoteright}s agriculture, they still observed roughly 40\% losses in maize and soy yield, while wheat crops declined by 30\%. The harm would be 50\% worse than the 2012 drought, which caused nearly $100 billion of damage to the U.S. economy.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {481956,
	title = {New Water Policy Needed for Mexico Energy Reform},
	year = {2017},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"548706","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;According to a new paper from the Mexico Center at Rice University, the Mexican government should consider how to best prioritize water use in accordance with the law and thoughtfully allocate supplies during the implementation of the country{\textquoteright}s energy reform. Water-resource allocation may become a source of conflict and social tension in Mexico argues the paper.{\textquotedblleft}Recent constitutional reforms have begun to open Mexico{\textquoteright}s energy sector to the world," the authors wrote. "The reforms are targeted, in part, at facilitating access to vast amounts of technically recoverable shale gas via unconventional recovery efforts, a massive and expensive undertaking that will require the use of large volumes of water in a region of the country where water is already scarce. The new energy laws prioritize energy development, imposing requirements on landowners to cooperate with companies attempting to develop the resource."The Mexican energy reform is targeted at facilitating access to vast amounts of technically recoverable shale gas. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that 545 trillion cubic feet of this valuable resource underlie Mexico. Most of the shale gas is located in the northern part of the country, which is also where much of Mexico{\textquoteright}s large-scale agriculture and industry is located.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {481136,
	title = {Creating Marketing Personas Using Social Media},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"547901","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;According to research completed at Pennsylvania State University, computers now have the ability to divide consumers in marketing segments automatically based solely on how they respond to social media data.Marketers, who create personas manually with data from focus groups, ethnography methods and surveys, can then hold conversations and make decisions based on these personas. A downfall of this is that it is very time consuming, expensive, and become obsolete quickly.However, computer-drawn personas not only can be created in real time and at relatively low costs, but they can be updated quickly as economic conditions and demographics continue to change.Algorithms were created and used to analyze different data, such as demographics, interests, and interactions from 188,000 subscribers of a news website. The data included the subscribers{\textquoteright} YouTube profiles, which included demographic information such as gender, age and country location, and their interactions with videos on the site, such as the topics of videos watched by the users.This site had posted approximately 2,807 videos to its YouTube channel that were viewed by 30 million users in 217 countries. The algorithms then identified unique ways that groups of people were interacting with the information, in this case, news videos. While the researchers used news and information in this study, the technology could be applied to other types of consumer transactions.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {480891,
	title = {Capturing Energy from Human Motion},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"547606","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]Researchers from Michigan State University have recently created a way to capture energy by using human motions. They used a device similar to film that can be folded to create more power. The low-cost device, a nanogenerator (FENG), was operated by simply touching or pressing, and doesn{\textquoteright}t use a battery.The findings, published in the journal Nano Energy, claim that this finding puts us on the path toward wearable devices powered by human motion.The innovative process starts with a silicone wafer, which is then fabricated with several layers, or thin sheets, of environmentally friendly substances. Ions are added so that each layer in the device contains charged particles. Electrical energy is created when the device is compressed by human motion, or mechanical energy.The device is as thin as a sheet of paper and can be adapted to many applications and sizes. The device used to power the LED lights was palm-sized, for example, while the device used to power the touch screen was as small as a finger.Advantages such as being lightweight, flexible, biocompatible, scalable, low-cost and robust could make FENG "a promising and alternative method in the field of mechanical-energy harvesting" for many autonomous electronics such as wireless headsets, cell phones and other touch-screen devices.}
}
@article {479711,
	title = {How Does Consumer Behavior Respond to Corporate Social Responsibility Marketing?},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"544981","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;According to a new study from a University of Kansas marketing and consumer behavior researcher, consumers in dominant collectivist cultures, are more likely to support corporate social responsibility initiatives from brands based in their own country as opposed to foreign or global corporations. This distinction matters much less to consumers in individualist cultures, such as the United States and Canada.This research could provide insight to firms seeking to expand into developing markets in Asia or elsewhere because their marketing success in the United States might not necessarily translate in a country where consumers practice more collectivist philosophies.Researchers typically consider consumers in collectivistic societies to value the needs of a group or community over that of an individual, whereby people tend to focus on the importance of the family, and pursue harmony and group cohesion. Individualistic societies are considered to be the opposite.}
}
@article {479246,
	title = {An Evolving Power Sector Receives Guidance from Energy Report},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"544336","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;Relatively small-scale power technologies such as wind, energy storage, power electronics, and solar are being deployed rapidly in the global shift toward a low-carbon energy future. To ensure that both distributed and centralized energy resources are integrated efficiently, electric power systems in the U.S., Europe, and other parts of the world need major regulatory, policy, and market overhauls claims the report "Utility of the Future," released by the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI).Today{\textquoteright}s electric power systems were designed, built, and regulated well before distributed energy resources had come onto the horizon as viable options for widespread use.Now, the businesses and regulatory bodies that determine how power is distributed need a path forward to incorporate these rapidly proliferating technologies. They also need to evolve to meet changing consumer preferences and increase efficiency across the system to achieve cost savings and carbon emissions reductions.Among the study{\textquoteright}s recommendations is a set of measures to improve tariff and rate structures for electricity services. Electricity services should be priced in a "technology-agnostic" manner that is based solely on how consumers use these services. Making use of "peak-coincident capacity charges," which increase prices when electricity networks are under stress or generating capacity is scarce, can discourage consumers from drawing on the grid during these times.Prices and charges should also better reflect how the value of services changes at different times of day or at different locations in the grid. Such cost-reflective pricing can open up opportunities for distributed resources and enable significant cost savings.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {478791,
	title = {Uncollected E-Commerce Taxes on the Rise?},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"543631","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;The US Supreme Court rejected a case earlier this week that could lead to states collecting billions of dollars in sales taxes that are lost to e-commerce shopping.The court would not hear a challenge to a Colorado law requiring online sellers to notify customers and the state how much they owe in taxes. State officials have estimated that Colorado alone has been missing out on as much as $172.7 million a year.Online shoppers always have owed state sales taxes on their purchases, but the rule has been widely ignored. States have spent years examining ways to capture those lost tax dollars, but their options are limited when the retailers are not based in the state.The Colorado Legislature found a possible solution in 2010 when it passed a law requiring online retailers to notify customers to pay sales tax and report purchases to the state. That{\textquoteright}s not the same as demanding tax payments from out-of-state retailers.The Data and Marketing Association sued, and a federal judge put the law on hold in 2012. A year later, a federal appeals court sided with Colorado. The association appealed to the nation{\textquoteright}s highest court, arguing that the law would meddle in interstate commerce. The Supreme Court{\textquoteright}s refusal to hear the case could have far-reaching implications for online shoppers.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {478456,
	title = {Small Businesses Thrive on Quality Management},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"543111","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;The health of U.S. small businesses is a key to the health of the U.S. economy. Small firms account for about half of the nation{\textquoteright}s gross domestic product and employ about half the workforce, so if they are struggling it is very hard for the economy as a whole to grow in line with its long-term trend?A recent study "Quality management (QM) leads to healthier small businesses," published in the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, explores how small businesses in the housing industry have embraced quality management approaches. Study authors William H. Murphy and Denis Leonard interviewed ten owners of small family-owned businesses who have won the National Housing Quality Award (NHQA), which is based on the Baldrige Excellence Framework and its criteria."Once small business owners realize that the QM journey is a sensible, necessary, business-changing journey, change can happen swiftly," write Murphy and Leonard. "Yet, truly seeing the truth of this claim and following up by changing one{\textquoteright}s business toward a QM journey is often a tough step for many small business owners to take. After all, small business owners are often extremely busy, with time-pressing commitments and little wiggle room for figuring out how to engage new platforms such as QM. Yet, as our interviews repeatedly revealed, life gets a lot easier for everyone once QM is part of the business."As a whole, the small business owners interviewed in the study were "certain that positive outcomes follow" once a business implements QM; however, the owners did recognize some barriers to engagement. Small business owners recommend customizing tools and staying the course once started on QM.According to Murphy and Leonard, "The first step toward launching QM is generally the hardest, as most businesses have to stumble along for a while before truly catching on to QM{\textquoteright}s logic and potential. And yet, by targeting easy projects and using a few tools from QM toolboxes, change for the better is soon realized. Over time, with a conviction gained by success and the developing belief that QM is a game changer for one{\textquoteright}s small business, owners may find themselves pushing their QM platforms in unexpected directions."}
}
@article {477711,
	title = {Company Expansion into Internationalization},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"542516","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;As many large, multinational firms expand operations into foreign countries, researchers are beginning to see greater sophistication of the strategies used. A University of Texas at Dallas study seeks to examine why and how multinational enterprises decide to internationalize.Internationalization can enable firms to gain new competencies, boost sales and increase efficiencies. Going abroad also challenges firms to learn, overcome liabilities of foreignness and manage the complexity of international operations.The study focuses on regions{\textquoteright} institutional complexity {\textendash} its institutional diversity and number of countries {\textendash} and how it affects the internationalization of multinational enterprises. Using data from Japanese multinational enterprises operating in 49 countries and nine regions, the researchers investigated the effects of the two components on firms{\textquoteright} decisions to locate their foreign direct investments into a country.The study found that moderate levels of institutional diversity in a region attract the highest amount of internationalization. Researchers also determined larger numbers of countries within the region reduce multinational enterprise internationalization. One reason is that the number of countries affects how complex it is to negotiate with lawmakers, which compounds the risk.The study concludes that firms should consider their ability to make use of their learning regionally and also take advantage of the differences among countries in a region.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {477366,
	title = {Examining the Relationship of Employee and Supportive Managers},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"542166","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;Professors Kristyn Scott from Ryerson University, and David Zweig from the University of Toronto at Scarborough, were interested in how people view their organization, and whether this view influences their job satisfaction and loyalty to the company.The researchers conducted two online surveys to examine workplace cynicism. The first survey was sent to adults employed in a wide array of industries in Canada and the U.S. They found that those who were more cynical of their workplace tended to report lower job satisfaction regardless of the economy.However, organizations may benefit from a small dose of cynicism in the workplace as noted by Professor Scott. {\textquotedblleft}People who are very cynical can ask the tough questions and examine decisions that their company is making with a critical lens. This kind of feedback may be beneficial for organizations if their own employees are holding them to account for their actions."In the second survey, the researchers examined what effect supportive managers had on employees who were cynical of their organization. Adults who were employed across a wide cross- section of sectors and positions in North America, were asked about their view towards their organization. The researchers found that employees were less cynical of their workplace if they had a supportive supervisor. However, these employees did not feel more loyal to their organization.Given that cynicism in the workplace is on the rise and unlikely to disappear {\textendash} especially with factors such as growing income disparity, economic uncertainty and continued austerity measures {\textendash} employees may increasingly view their organizations as acting out of greed and self-interest.}
}
@article {476596,
	title = {European Union Boosting Its Clean Energy},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"541561","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;The EU unveiled its "clean energy" plans that will boost the use of renewables, cut waste and reduce subsidies for coal power in a bid to meet its commitments to the Paris climate deal. The European Commission also plans to raise binding energy efficiency targets by 30\% by 2030.Under the Paris climate deal struck last year, the EU plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40\% by 2030 and make renewable energy account for 27\% of energy use. In 2030, the EU aims to have half of the bloc{\textquoteright}s electricity generation come from renewables like wind and solar power. By 2050, it hopes electricity will be carbon-free.This measure also aims to promote more jobs in a sector that already employs more than one million people. 320,000 worked in the wind energy sector in 2014, five times more than 2005.The EU is calling for reducing so-called capacity mechanisms, which are seen as government subsidies used to help power companies avoid electricity blackouts. Capacity mechanisms will not be used as a backdoor subsidy of high-polluting fossil fuels. This means the EU has set a limit of 550 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour for new plants while giving time for existing capacity mechanisms to adapt to the new rules.The EU is also proposing a binding 30\% energy efficiency target for 2030, up from the current target of at least 27\%. This calls for equipping buildings with new energy saving technology.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {475546,
	title = {Improving Soil Health for Livestock},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"538791","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]A 4 year, $4 million project spearheaded by the USDA adds a cover crop that livestock can graze on to improve soil health. Sandeep Kumar, a South Dakota State University assistant professor leads the project.The fall crop will not only provide nourishment to cattle, sheep, goats and other ruminants, but will bind nitrogen to the soil, reducing runoff into lakes and streams. The integrated crop and livestock management system seeks to use crops, such as oats, sorghum, turnips, radishes or millet, planted after harvest for grazing.One of the concerns the researchers seek to resolve is the availability of moisture. The treatments are different in each state because of the variability in precipitation. At the Southeast Research Center, the researchers are evaluating three treatments{\textemdash}corn-soybean-oat, corn-soybean-oat/cover crop and corn-soybean-oat/cover crop with grazing.In addition to sites at Brookings and Beresford, several producers in South Dakota, who have been utilizing an integrated crop-livestock management system for more than a year, have agreed to participate in the study. Researchers will gather data on soils, crop and livestock performance and environmental parameters, as the goal is greater sustainability.}
}
@article {475296,
	title = {The Effect of Stress on Saving and Spending},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"538451","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]This holiday season, as shoppers flock to retail stores, one interesting question has been raised: How does stress affect the buying and saving habits of consumers?The answer is found in a study published in the Journal of Marketing Research last month. Researchers at the University of Miami have found that stress leads consumers to save money in general but spend strategically on products they believe are essential.The body reacts to stressful challenges with an increase in the hormone cortisol, which leads us to focus our attention toward the threat so that we can attempt to overcome it or alleviate it. Essentially, people lock down and enter survival mode and protect resources as a means to ensure survival.The roots of the stress matter. For example, the study found people who said they were stressed about a current job situation, were less likely to spend money on clothes, while others stressed about starting a new job were more likely to spend money on new clothes because they perceived the purchases as helping alleviate new-job stress. Having some control versus no control seems to affect the buying decisions people make when they are stressed.}
}
@article {474086,
	title = {Advancing Data Technology Through Fiber Optics},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"534876","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;Data communication worldwide has seen a sharp increase due to faster, low-energy, lower cost fiber-optic cables. It is expected that within three years, these fiber-optic cables will be able to transfer 100 GB of data per second in a single fiber with one core, and several terabits per second in a cable with multiple fibers and cores. Anders Larsson, professor at the Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience at Chalmers University of Technology is behind a project making fiber optic technology faster, while also consuming less and less energy.The world{\textquoteright}s data communication is increasing exponentially, and transmission speeds are so high already that wire cables are increasingly being replaced with optical fiber. The requirements here are completely different than those in regular telecommunications. Data communication requires simple, cheap, low-energy solutions. The focus is on developing the laser on the transmitter side of the cable, which converts electronic signals to optical ones.The five-year project is funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research and has already come a long way. They{\textquoteright}ve currently reached speeds of 70 GB per second in a single-core cable and 240 GB per second in a six-core cable.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {473341,
	title = {Corporate Political Activity Influenced by a CEO},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"534231","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]Bruce Rudy, an assistant professor of management at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), has authored a study that examines the influence corporate CEOs have on their firm{\textquoteright}s political activity. He examined 100 large companies over a 27-year period to assess the impact their CEOs have on the firm{\textquoteright}s investment in lobbying.Rudy and his co-author, Andrew Johnson, found that CEOs that were younger, had shorter tenure, held undergraduate degrees in business and law or were promoted to CEO via backgrounds in accounting, finance, and law were more likely to invest internally to build lobbying capabilities within the firm. Older and longer tenured CEOs were more likely to contract with Washington, D.C. lobbyists that were external to the organization.Rudy noted that "external lobbyists tend to be former politicians or D.C. insiders who are really good at tapping into their network,{\textquotedblright} and that {\textquotedblleft}this skill set is particularly well-suited for maintaining the status quo in politics which older and tenured CEOs prefer. In contrast, the CEO characteristics that predicted a firm{\textquoteright}s investment in in-house lobbying capabilities tend to be less associated with status quo maintenance. A skilled in-house lobbying team may even be capable of shifting policy that can benefit the firm over the long-term."}
}
@article {472406,
	title = {The Influences of Purchasing a Chinese Electric Vehicle},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"533286","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;Due to the decreasing air quality of many Chinese cities, air pollutant levels have now far exceeded the {\textquotedblleft}safe{\textquotedblright} zone for breathable air (determined by the EU). One of the many reasons this has continued to increase is the rapid increase of vehicle purchases and usage.These rising environmental concerns are driving the development of new energy vehicles (NEV) as a way to help alleviate the environmental problems associated with automobile usage. However, sales of NEVs are still relatively low. In 2014, the 74,763 NEVs sold accounted for only 0.3\% of total automobile sales in China that year.Therefore, a group of researchers set out to find out what motivates or influences consumer to purchase electric vehicles within seven cities in China. These findings have been published in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy.The group{\textquoteright}s work is based on a questionnaire and an empirical analysis of its data to determine the main factors influencing NEV purchases. The studies revealed that monthly income, the number of cars a family owns, sustainability, and vehicle comfort are the factors that most strongly influence customers{\textquoteright} purchasing behavior.Other factors such as age, marital status and city of residence are playing a role in consumers{\textquoteright} decision-making process. Their primary recommendation is that the Chinese government should consider scaling up "effective targeting of financial support and subsidies, while improving the financial incentive system for NEVs."\&nbsp;}
}
@article {471991,
	title = {Huge Breakthrough Harvesting Energy in Shock Absorbers},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"532691","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;Harvesting energy generated by shock absorbers in motor vehicles has found a new breakthrough. This breakthrough, found by a University of Huddersfield researcher has designed a new system and has recently constructed a prototype for demo use.The researcher, Ruichen Wang, has published his findings in the journal Energies. It provides a summary of current progress in the field of vehicle energy harvesting and a detailed account of the theory and the practical development of his device, designed for installation in a heavy good vehicle.Considerable work has already been done harvesting energy from brake systems, so Dr. Wang focused on the suspension. After the computational analysis and design of the device, Dr. Wang personally constructed his full-size prototype. Harvested energy can be used for any auxiliary purpose in a vehicle, and in hybrids it could recharge the electric motor.The next stage is to work with an industrial partner to install and test Dr. Wang{\textquoteright}s system in a road-going vehicle. But the technology has a wide application and there is every possibility that it could be adapted for rail vehicles.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {471321,
	title = {Driving Agriculture by Controlling Plant Regeneration Systems},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {\&nbsp;[[{"fid":"531786","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]Self-repairing damaged tissue is a key features that defines a living organism. Plants have this special ability, and it has been a quality that has been used for centuries in agriculture such as grafting.Now, scientists from Ghent University have discovered a particular protein complex that allows for this self-regeneration of damaged tissue. Understanding this discovery allows for crops and edible plants to be efficiently cultivated, and resistant to parasites. The results are published in the journal Nature Plants.Stem cells can replace damaged or missing tissue in humans and animals. Plants are characterized by a similar system, but their regenerative properties are generally much greater. While this asset has been widely used in grafting and plant tissue culture techniques, the mechanism by which cells are triggered to form new cells after injury remained largely elusive.A new ecological strategy to counter parasitic plants is another potential future application of the study{\textquoteright}s results. These organisms, accounting for approximately 1\% of flowering plants, are actually grafts that are able to grow through the mechanism described by the research project. In time, scientists may be able to block the natural grafting of these parasites onto economically important crops.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {470321,
	title = {The Beginning of Wave Energy Devices},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"530701","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]Recently, the final piece of a sophisticated wave energy device has been successfully installed into the Bay of Biscay off the coast of Spain. The Marmok-5 uses wave power to spin turbines that drive an associated electricity generator, which can produce up to 30kW {\textendash} enough to run a medium sized business.The monitoring system, which provides high resolution measurement of mooring tensions and device motions, will also enable a greater understanding of operational and extreme conditions at other energetic wave energy sites.The wave energy technology development has been supported by the European project OPERA (Open Sea Operating Experience to Reduce Wave Energy Cost), a multi-cross European project, where the University of Exeter is addressing the design and cost challenge of the mooring through the introduction of a novel mooring elastomeric tether.OPERA, a European Union{\textquoteright}s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, will develop technology to enable a reduction in offshore operating costs, paving the way for a 50\% long term reduction in costs, consequently accelerating the establishment of international standards and reducing technological uncertainties and technical and business risks.}
}
@article {469876,
	title = {Learning from the {\textquotedblleft}Farming Insects{\textquotedblright}},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"530061","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]Innovations in farming have evolved independently at least 9 times in history. Complex civilizations have resulted from this practice. However, humans aren{\textquoteright}t the only species that have raised their own food. Many different species of leafcutter ants, beetles, and termites have been cultivating organisms for millions of years.This type of behavior has interested a Lawrence University anthropologist, Peter Peregrine, who developed dataset and tools to analyze human behavior and culture over time.A "typical broad-ranging SFI conversation over lunch" some years ago uncovered farming parallels between humans and various insects, enough to prompt him to propose a working group of archaeologists, entomologists, and evolutionary biologists.Recently, this group has gathered empirical data on this topic and on species{\textquoteright} agricultural practices, including managing substrates, mutations, weeds, and pests. Not surprisingly, comparing impacts of agriculture on or between insect species is especially tricky. Despite the scarcity of before-and-after pictures of farming insects, their success might offer insights into how to improve our own techniques.}
}
@article {469356,
	title = {Clean Energy Found in Harvesting Algae},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"529256","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;A group of Tel Aviv University researchers have found clean energy in harvesting algae, and even a possible suggestion of a mechanism to jumpstart mass production of this energy resource. Their results have been published in Plant Physiology and Biotechnology for Biofuels.It was once believed that algae only produced hydrogen in the course of a single microburst at dawn lasting just a few minutes. But the team of researchers used highly sensitive technology to discover that algae produce hydrogen from photosynthesis all day long. Due to this discovery, the research team harnessed genetic engineering to increase algae{\textquoteright}s production of this clean energy source by 400\%.Laboratory tests revealed that algae create hydrogen with the assistance of the enzyme hydrogenase, which breaks down when oxygen is present. The researchers discovered effective mechanisms to remove oxygen so hydrogenase can keep producing hydrogen. The research team is now researching synthetic enzymes capable of increasing hydrogen production from microalgae to industrial levels.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {468896,
	title = {Europe Leading Urban Resilience Movement},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"528451","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;An EU-funded project has been helping put the green back into cities, and preventing urban sprawl in new and exciting ways. TURAS, a five-year EU project aimed at making cities greener places to live, ended in September 2016. The program had produced a wealth of results, some planned, while others were unplanned but beneficial surprises.The project brought together 32 organizations from 13 countries to address climate change and mitigation, explore how to build green infrastructure, and examine how cities grow.One such example is a system for managing floods designed by TURAS partners in the Netherlands. The resulting strategy has been mainstreamed in Rotterdam as a part of the planning and city management process. Local residents now not only have a stronger say in how to manage floods but public awareness of the issues and possible solutions has also increased. Project participants in Ljubljana, Slovenia, are now using the strategy to help design their own flood management scheme.The project{\textquoteright}s overall aim of building urban resilience, defined as {\textquotedblleft}a repository of strength of knowledge that can be drawn upon in times of need{\textquotedblright}, is important. The resilience of individuals and communities comes to the fore when sudden, shocking events occur, such as when people work together to recover from an earthquake or a flood.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {466886,
	title = {An End to Unsustainable Agricultural Practices?},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {\&nbsp;[[{"fid":"526171","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]A recent study published in the journal Land Use Policy, has suggested that rural areas can provide for both people and wildlife in biodiversity-rich tropical countries if agriculture is administered in the right way.Agricultural sectors such as cattle ranching and oil palm cultivation are not improving social inequality issues and food security, but are rather creating unstable employment and threatening biodiversity, natural resources, and cultural heritage. Consequently, Colombia, now the world{\textquoteright}s fourth largest oil palm producer, is following other oil palm producing countries like Indonesia and Malaysia in experiencing a loss in wildlife.The study recommended that, in order to reconcile biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, a policy mix that combines both regulatory and non-regulatory approaches is needed.This includes the design and adoption of strategic land use planning to make agricultural subsidies conditional to social and environmental standards, strengthening local institutions, and designing incentives to foster the implementation of best agricultural practices. At the international level, creating a demand for sustainable agricultural commodities is also crucial.The study proves that the future should not hold desolated landscapes cleared of people and/or animals. It also reveals that history should not be ignored when thinking about sustainability and that addressing the legacies of decades of armed conflict is a key step for a sustainable future in Colombia.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {465761,
	title = {Tesla to Work with Panasonic on Solar Energy},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"524521","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;The U.S. electric car maker Tesla is planning on working with Panasonic towards the advancement of solar energy cells and modules that will be used with its energy storage products. Tesla CEO Elon Musk says SolarCity{\textquoteright}s installation network and Tesla{\textquoteright}s global energy storage could provide customers a one-stop shop for sustainable energy and transportation.Tesla intends to provide a long-term purchase commitment for those cells from Panasonic. The collaboration extends the partnership between Tesla and Panasonic, which includes the production of electric vehicle and grid storage battery cells at Tesla{\textquoteright}s Gigafactory.Panasonic is a major manufacturer of home appliances, such as washing machines, refrigerators, TVs and microwaves, but its operations also encompass services and products for businesses, including health care and security camera systems.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {464336,
	title = {The Relationship of Privacy and Ethics in Analytics and Design},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"522841","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]\&nbsp;An examination of the relationship of ethics and privacy in learning analytics has recently been published in The Springer journal Educational Technology Research and Development. The rapid growth of educational big data requires well-established data management, analysis, and regulations.Higher education institutions have always used a variety of data about students, such as socio-demographic information, grades on higher education entrance qualifications, or pass and fail rates, to inform their academic decision-making as well as for resource allocation. Such data can help to successfully predict dropout rates of first-year students and to enable the implementation of strategies for supporting learning and instruction as well as retaining students.Advanced digital technologies and learning analytics systems enable higher education institutions to collect dynamic real-time data from all student activity, offering huge potential for personalized and adaptive learning experiences and support.To address serious concerns and challenges associated with the application of educational data analytics, a call for international research studies expanding the perspectives of ethics and privacy by including different stakeholders, such as teachers, students, learning designers, university management, and governing authorities, conducted as mixed-methods designs, including qualitative components which may help to better understand the drivers of ethics and privacy issues.The issue gathers diverse perspectives and examples on learning analytics, ethics, and privacy, and expands the current understanding of how educational data will influence higher education institutions in the future. The issue discusses ethical dilemmas of intervention strategies for at-risk students, the ethics of categorizing at-risk students, student perceptions and expectations of privacy, and ethical oversight of student data.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {463551,
	title = {Heavy California Traffic Could Be Energy Source},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"521836","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]The gridlocked highways throughout California could be used for more than just using energy, they could also be producing it. The California Energy Commission is investing $2 million to study whether piezoelectric crystals can be used to produce electricity from the mechanical energy created by vehicles driving on roads.The commission is in the process of choosing a company or university to take on small-scale field tests. It will study how the small crystals, which generate energy when compressed, could produce electricity for the grid if installed under asphalt. Scientists already know the technology works, but the state needs to figure out whether it can produce high returns without costing too much. Similar projects in other parts of the world have been discontinued.Scientists say it{\textquoteright}s a matter of shifting perceptions. The hope is that the use of clean energy produced by roads will help the state reach its goal of producing 50\% of California{\textquoteright}s electricity with renewables by 2030. The state is on target to reach 25\% by the end of the year.Whether the technology can withstand the wear and tear of traffic is something that is of concern. There is also uncertainty about whether the technology will be competitive enough with other renewables to merit full-scale investment. California{\textquoteright}s funding to study the technology follows a series of projects in Tokyo, Italy and Israel that appear to have failed or been dropped. The $2 million California is using to test the new technology will come from a renewable investment fund created by the California Public Utilities Commission.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {462896,
	title = {Southeast Asian Rainforests Threatened by Agriculture},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"521216","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]A study led by a Lund University researcher has mapped the effects of small farmers on the rain forests of Southeast Asia. With regards to the long-term environmental impact, economy, and biodiversity, the findings are unfavorable.In the study, Yann Clough has mapped the choice of trees and agricultural methods of small-scale Indonesian farmers. Together with over 40 researchers from Germany, Indonesia, Switzerland and New Zealand, he has assessed the biodiversity and ecosystem functions in natural forest, in traditional agro-forests and in monocultures of palm oil and rubber trees; the data measured includes amongst others forest growth, soil fertility and carbon storage. Additionally, the team interviewed 450 small scale farmers to better understand why they chose to cultivate only oil palms or rubber trees and how this affects their economy.However, the short-term financial gain is the only benefit of monoculture. Biodiversity declines dramatically, the forest loses significance as a carbon source and the increased use of mineral fertilizer leads to additional leaching of nutrients such as nitrogen. Even though the study focused on Indonesia, there are equivalent problems in many other parts of the world.These results contradict the traditional view that small-scale agriculture is environmentally friendly. Collectively, small farmers cultivate a larger part of Indonesia{\textquoteright}s forests than that exploited by large landowners. According to the research, when the small farmers largely embrace monoculture as an agricultural system, they put a great deal of strain on the environment and on biodiversity. Changing the agricultural methods of small farmers requires efforts from various sides and must comprise financial support in order for the farmers to change their way of producing.}
}
@article {461506,
	title = {Wetlands and Agriculture Possible Cause of Methane Rise},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"519571","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]Recent rises of global methane in our atmosphere could be driven by biological sources, rather than fossil fuels suggests research published in the American Geophysical Union{\textquoteright}s journal Global Biogeochemical Cycles.Atmospheric methane is a major greenhouse gas that traps heat in our atmosphere, contributing to global warming. Its levels have been growing strongly since 2007, and in 2014 the growth rate of methane in the atmosphere was double that of previous years, largely driven by biological sources as opposed to fossil fuel emissions.The study shows that methane emissions have been increasing, particularly in the tropics. Researchers discovered that biological sources, such as methane emissions from swamps, make up the majority of increase.The research shows that in recent years, the increase in methane has been driven by sharp increases in the tropics, in response to changing weather patterns. It is possible that the natural processes that remove methane from the atmosphere have slowed down, but it is more likely that there{\textquoteright}s been an increase of methane emission instead, especially from the hot wet tropics.}
}
@article {460596,
	title = {Energy: The Sun is a Rapidly Growing Energy Source},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {\&nbsp;[[{"fid":"518651","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]Recently, Professor Arno Smets gave his inaugural address at TU Delft that concluded with "The sun is a solution." Due to solar energy{\textquoteright}s high returns, and low costs, solar energy should require more attention in his opinion.His research is focused on accelerating this energy transition through continued integration of solar energy conversion systems in society. He has developed various technologies that transform sunlight into useful electrical energy and, more recently, into chemical energy, such as the transformation of electricity into fuel. He wants society to believe in this vision and make use of solar energy itself, instead of trusting in complex stimulation measures.TU Delft educates experts both in Delft and worldwide who are contributing to radical changes in electricity provision. The university does this by offering free online courses, {\textquoteright} Renewable Energy \&amp; Solar Energy MOOCs{\textquoteright} (Massive Open Online Courses), which anyone can register for. These experts are working hard on innovations that contribute towards greater efficiency regarding the generation, transportation, storage, distribution and use of sustainable energy.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {459956,
	title = {Research Finds High Yield and Disease Resistant Wheat},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {\&nbsp;[[{"fid":"517986","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]A new winter wheat, Oahe, has high yields and is disease resistant according to research released by the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Oahe yields about 1-2 extra bushels per acre than the average performance of other SDSU varieties. The new variety also has good resistance to stripe rust, leaf rust and wheat streak mosaic virus, along with resistance to fusarium head blight that is comparable to other popular varieties. The new variety is available to certified seed growers.This higher yield has allowed for an extra 35\% of winter wheat compared to last year. The winter wheat breeding program is supported by the South Dakota Wheat Commission through check-off funding, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the U.S. Wheat Barley Scab Initiative. Because new cultivars take 10 to 12 years to develop, these funding sources are crucial to maintaining the continuity necessary to develop new varieties.During four years of testing in crop performance trials at 14 South Dakota locations, Oahe showed above average test weights, at 58 pounds per bushel East River and 58.6 pounds per bushel West River. The grain protein concentration was average, ranging from 13.4 to 12.9, and similar to other popular varieties. The new variety also has excellent milling quality with fair baking quality.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {458511,
	title = {It Just Might Work: Entrepreneurial Optimism Linked with Success},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {\&nbsp;[[{"fid":"516676","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]According to a University of Oklahoma research study, collective entrepreneurial optimism in the United States is highly predictive of the number of new venture startups and small business growth. Optimism can be contagious in its ability to encourage others to start firms when optimism is a widespread social phenomenon. This finding challenges the notion that necessity is the mother of invention in regards to startups.Researchers examined quarterly fluctuations in collective entrepreneurial optimism over a 17-year period from 1993 to 2010 using National Federation Independent Business data. The team used media data from 242 USA Today articles covering entrepreneur and small business endeavors over the same time period, which showed that the spread of collective entrepreneurial optimism is reflected in press coverage of entrepreneurs{\textemdash}an indication that the media plays a key role in perpetuating the spread of entrepreneurial optimism. They also used 604 articles collected from six regional newspapers, which showed that collective entrepreneurial optimism may differ by geographic region in the United States.The team concluded that in more turbulent, rapidly changing economic environments, collective entrepreneurial optimism becomes more important in predicting startups and growth. This finding suggests that when markets do not provide entrepreneurs with the hard clues they need to determine when to launch or grow a business, then entrepreneurs turn to each other for deciding when to make a decision.The study will be published in an upcoming issue of Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice{\textemdash}a Financial Times top 50 research journal.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {457816,
	title = {Taking on the World{\textquoteright}s Water Challenges},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"515786","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
A University of Manchester researcher has developed a free tool to help farm managers, policymakers, and scientists to manage agricultural water use and improve crop water productivity in regions where supply is scarce.
Throughout the world, there are growing demands to produce more food with less pressure on water resources and the environment. Mathematical models that simulate how crops respond to water are powerful tools for addressing this complex challenge. However, the informative data from these models is only valuable if it is easily and widely accessible to the researchers and others who can use it with other water management software and data.
AquaCrop is a crop water productivity model created by the United Nations{\textquoteright} Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2009. Tim Foster, lecturer in water-food security at The University of Manchester, worked with colleagues at FAO, the Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska and Imperial College London to develop an open-source version of this tool, called AquaCrop-OS.}
}
@article {456831,
	title = {Developing Wave Energy Has Its Challenges},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {
[[{"fid":"514506","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
Developing and harvesting wave-generated power is a solution that could cover a quarter of America{\textquoteright}s energy needs, however the technology is severely lacking behind wind and solar. The United States Navy has established a test site in Hawaii where floating power devices travel a mile through undersea cables to connect to Oahu{\textquoteright}s power grid.
How it works is buoys convert wave movement to electricity. Some buoys capture the up-and-down motion of the waves, powering generators, while others capture the side-to-side motion. Industry experts say a machine that uses all the ocean{\textquoteright}s movements at once is most likely to succeed.
But there are difficulties in obtaining wave energy. Salt water is corrosive, and powerful storms can damage machinery, so it{\textquoteright}s challenging to design buoys that can withstand the elements. Unlike solar panels or wind turbines on roofs and hills, wave energy buoys are constantly moving and are challenging to install and repair, requiring boats and crews with oceangoing expertise.
So what{\textquoteright}s next for capturing wave energy? Two more companies are planning to test devices over the next two years. Each will be able to produce about 500 kilowatts of energy, which could potentially power hundreds of homes.}
}
@article {455886,
	title = {Technological Solutions to Handle Urban Waste},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"513546","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
Smart management of waste in cities can be handled with low-cost interventions, big data analysis, and new regulations on landfills. In Genoa, Italy, researchers at the European project R2Cities have drawn up a feasibility study to introduce low-cost innovations to enhance separated waste collections at a social housing estate in a suburb of the city.
The estimated total cost for the proposed innovations is about {\texteuro}120,000. This could allow savings for {\texteuro}20-22,000 euro per year with a return period of six years. Project plans include increasing the percentage of door-to-door collections to 72\%, compared with the present 30\%, and stockpiling wastes at recycling plants to obtain revenue from it. A second phase of the project looks to allocate the organic portion of the waste to a local compost site to avoid transport costs and pollution, then use the organic material in green areas of the city.
Alongside high-tech and low-cost initiatives to improve separated waste collection and recycling rates, there is also an urgent need to reconsider role and features of landfills to close the lifecycle of materials, while minimizing risks to the environment.}
}
@article {455136,
	title = {Helping Social Businesses Grow},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"512626","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"525","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
A new study has identified 4 strategies that will help scale up social businesses in developing countries that need to serve more than 4 billion people.
A social business (a business with a socially beneficial objective) can help developing countires address basic needs such as healthcare, sanitation, education, and energy, but they have faced difficulty growing in size and in reach.
The study, published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, identifies market penetration, market development, product development and diversification as the four key growth strategies at different stages of business maturity for social businesses. In parallel, the study found two ways of increasing income generated through these four strategies {\textendash} increasing revenue per stream and diversifying revenue streams.
Social businesses have had difficulty scaling up in developing countries due to a lack of infrastructure such as roads and electricity, coupled with a lack of clear property rights and well-functioning courts. On a more encouraging note, new technology such as mobile phones and new business structures such as public-private partnerships now make it easier for such businesses to find ways to reach new consumers.
Based on the case studies, companies with a clear single purpose might start with simpler strategies such as market penetration, while company{\textquoteright}s broader goals will need a more diverse approach.}
}
@article {454336,
	title = {What Drives Homebuyers?},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"511366","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"504","width":"1000","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
A new study published by Papers in Regional Science shows that homeowners in Ohio that place higher emphasis on certain public services live in communities where those qualities are prominent.
The study is the first to look at the characteristics of people who say they bought their houses for environmental or school quality, public safety or low taxes. Data through phone surveys and nine other sources over the course of two years and compiled information about 1,186 Ohio homeowners regarding their houses, neighborhoods, available public services and how much those services cost in property taxes.
Public Safety: ranked first as the most important public service a community can offer to a prospective home buyer. More than half of the respondents bought homes because they were in safe areas.
School Quality: over 30\% of survey respondents linking home purchases to the quality of the school district near them. These respondents typically have young children or volunteer in schools.
Low Taxes: ranked third, as good public services often come attached with higher costs. Those who most value lower taxes are younger than average and more likely to refinance their homes after five years of owning it.
Environmental Quality: listed as the least important reason for buying a home in an area, as only 2\% of homeowners listing it as a factor that played into their decision of buying a home. The people who expressed concern over the environment tend to be more liberal and have higher incomes and bachelor{\textquoteright}s degrees.}
}
@article {452696,
	title = {An Economic Threat to Chinese Infrastructure},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"509936","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"368","width":"700","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
A recent study finds low-quality infrastructure investments can threaten the Chinese economy, as well as the global economy. The study, conducted by the Sa{\"\i}d Business School, argues that over half of the infrastructure investments in China have destroyed rather than generated economic value.
It analyzes 95 large Chinese road and rail transport projects, and 806 transport projects built in rich democracies. The study dispels the conventional wisdom that China has a distinct advantage over other countries in the delivery of large-scale infrastructure projects.
It finds that actual infrastructure construction costs in China are on average 30.6\% higher than estimated costs, which it assesses as a level consistent with global trends. Also, that three-quarters of transport projects in China came in over budget.
It is also argued that traffic using major road projects in China represent two extremes which hamper economic growth. It says two thirds of roads have low use (average shortfall of 41.2\%), while one third are congested with an average traffic surplus of 61.4\%. Road and rail projects in China took 4.3 years on average to build, compared to 6.9 years in rich democracies. However, a growing importance on issues such as cost, safety and the environment is lengthening construction schedules in China.
The study concludes that a massive infrastructure investment program is not a viable development strategy for other developing countries such as Pakistan, Nigeria or Brazil, which may use China as their model for economic development.}
}
@article {452706,
	title = {Smart Carbon Pricing Policies Can Drive Investment in a Cleaner Future},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"509951","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"368","width":"700","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
The 195 countries in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change joined thousands of scientists in reminding the world today that climate change is a growing risk that is already affecting lives and livelihoods. They warned in the IPCC Fifth Assessment Synthesis Report that we need to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions quickly {\textendash} by 40 to 70 percent by 2050 {\textendash} to stabilize rising global temperatures and avoid the most serious economic damage.
Businesses and governments know this. They know how to cut emissions through energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable land use, and they can leverage the money needed to finance a low-carbon transition.
The question is how to change economic incentives and disincentives so they can turn that knowledge into action that has a measurable impact on climate change. It{\textquoteright}s a challenge that forward-thinking investors, government officials, and business leaders are taking up.
The executives {\textendash} including from pension funds AP4 of Sweden and ERAFP of France, the international asset management firm Amundi, and the global technology company Alstom {\textendash} talked about the need for consistent, meaningful carbon pricing; flexible policy frameworks that allow for innovation in how businesses lower their emissions; links between the diverse carbon pricing systems being developed around the world; and complementary policies, such as binding targets for energy efficiency and renewable energy.
They also discussed the importance of corporate disclosure of climate risks and greenhouse gas emissions to help investors and business leader{\textquoteright}s direct capital toward low-carbon choices, and the impact that requiring disclosure could have.
Capital is available to finance the low-carbon transition, they said, but it will not flow at the levels needed for the long-term until governments provide consistent and credible policy signals.}
}
@article {452201,
	title = {Customers Conserve if Businesses Show Commitment to be Green},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"509511","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"341","width":"650","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
Showing effort into conservation and energy waste management can sway customers to conserve as well, saving the business money by mere perception. For example, in the hotel sector, guests focus on conserving energy and resources such as reusing towels, turning off lights, and setting the thermostat to a reasonable temperature.
A recent article, entitled {\textquotedblleft}Turning Off the Lights: Consumers{\textquoteright} Environmental Efforts Depend on Visible Efforts of Firms,{\textquotedblright} was co-authored by Brent McFerran, associate professor at SFU{\textquoteright}s Beedie School of Business; University of Michigan marketing professor Aradhna Krishna; and Wenbo Wang, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
In a study, researchers tracked participants staying in two different hotels, one high-priced, and the other more economical. In both hotels, half of the rooms had notes asking guests to conserve electricity and set the thermostat to a certain temperature, while the other half contained no notes.
Each room was also randomly assigned either an environmentally friendly, but more expensive bamboo toothbrush{\textemdash}signifying a visible effort on the hotel{\textquoteright}s part to be green{\textemdash}or an environmentally unfriendly, but cheaper plastic toothbrush. The study found that guests in the rooms containing the notes requesting them to conserve resources were willing to do so, by using less electricity if the room also contained the environmentally friendly bamboo toothbrush.
Guests staying in rooms with the plastic toothbrush did not conserve electricity, even when asked to do so. Indeed, guests of the higher-priced hotel staying in rooms with the cheaper toothbrush actually used more electricity than normal when asked to conserve resources. Although the bamboo toothbrush cost more to purchase, the higher cost was more than offset by the savings in electricity consumption.
The research has potential for firms in other industries, such as restaurants, whose customers could use fewer paper napkins, or airlines, whose customers could be asked to clean after themselves during flights.}
}
@article {451576,
	title = {New Internet Tool Built from Flooded Town Small Businesses},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"508716","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"434","width":"650","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
A severe flood that has struck a town twice in the last 10 years has been used to create an internet tool that small businesses can use nationwide.
The tool, created after observing many learning resources for small businesses, were focused on short-term contingency planning and the downward transfer of information from government agencies. The tool is aimed at helping firms adapt in ways which make them more resilient to flooding, supporting them in times of changing flooding risk.
Developed as part of the Sesame flooding project, this tool was co-produced with the owners of 10 small businesses, and other local organizations. The project is a great example of partnership working, with researchers working alongside the people they are researching and treating them as partners.}
}
@article {451026,
	title = {Evaluating Buyer{\textquoteright}s Remorse, and Its Effect on Business Competition},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"508231","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"434","width":"650","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]

With a steady stream of new products and upgrades to tempt consumers, the retail industry is always evolving. In an attempt to influence purchases, a marketing strategy for many companies is to invoke buyer{\textquoteright}s regret. However, it has been found by researchers at Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis to be both rewarding, as well as risky for a company.
Olin{\textquoteright}s Baojun Jiang, assistant professor of marketing, and Chakravarthi Narasimhan, the Philip L. Siteman Professor of Marketing, along with co-author Ozge Turut from Sabanci University in Istanbul, Turkey, developed an analytical framework, based on well-established consumer behavior regarding regret, to model a market with two types of businesses: one with an established product and the other with a product that has a new, improved feature. They then examined the concepts of switching regret and repeat-purchase regret.
Initially they thought these firms are invoking regret, which means they will be competing on price more aggressively. However, the research found that they would not. The key insight is if it appears to be that the market is more segmented, then you have your own set of customers that you can care about and you don{\textquoteright}t have to aggressively compete with the other firm.
Conversely, the researchers found that invoking buyer{\textquoteright}s regret can also trigger risk. It depends on how the customer base shifts toward the new product or feature, and how much competing firms are willing to sacrifice to welcome new buyers.
Competing companies should carefully consider both the risks and rewards of invoking buyer{\textquoteright}s regret. The strategy could have big payoffs, but could also backfire, depending on the customer base and the segmentation of the market.}
}
@article {449861,
	title = {The Likelihood of Robots Taking Over Occupations},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"506886","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"434","width":"650","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
Published in 2013, a report entitled {\textquotedblleft}The Future of The Future of Employment: How susceptible are jobs to automation{\textquotedblright} by researchers from Oxford University. Last year, it was used by the BBC to create an interactive website where you can find the likelihood of a career being taken over by robots.
Robots and similar technologies are already in the workplace in a variety of forms. They appear in many places from manufacturing to remote-controlled police robots, even as sports reporters and surgery assistants.
Robotics isn{\textquoteright}t just reserved for large production lines. Currently, most robots are used for laborious work. The inability of robots to feel emotions or physical sensations make them ideal candidates for sifting through reams of data or even operating on a patient for hours without growing tired. These abilities make robots a perfect addition to any growing innovative or entrepreneurial firm.
Entrepreneurship is generally thought to involve big picture and forward-thinking, creativity, vision, and innovation. Contrary to conventional wisdom, there are a number of smaller and more ordinary tasks that an entrepreneur generally takes on, all of which are necessary for the progress of the firm.
Much of the current debate around robots and jobs seems to focus largely on a jobless future. But research suggests artificial intelligence and robots for small business and entrepreneurial firms will deliver a host of benefits.
For instance, if a robot can take calls, the entrepreneur can visit clients in the field, freeing him/her from the confines of the office.
However, there are many drawbacks that robotics would place on an entrepreneur. Many occupations cannot be replaced by robotics, and require human to human interaction. For example, reading and responding appropriately to verbal and non-verbal social cues is likely better handled by a human, who can self-monitor and adjust their behavior accordingly. These skills will arguably become more important as humans learn to work in partnership with robotic counterparts.
Robots are unlikely to compete with humans in terms of social and emotional intelligence. It is unlikely that robots will be able to perceive and categorize a full spectrum of true emotions, let alone "feeling" or "expressing" them.
What do you think about robotics replacing certain occupations?}
}
@article {449081,
	title = {In a {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteright}Gig{\textquotedblright} Economy, Workers Taking on More Risk},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"506086","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"434","width":"650","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
In order to receive work in the {\textquotedblleft}Gig{\textquotedblright} economy (an environment in which temporary positions are common and organizations contract with independent workers for short-term engagements) workers must not only contribute time and labor, but also inherit some risk by using their capital.
In the traditional economy businesses provide capital and employees provide labor. This traditional economy definition is being challenged by technology, specifically the multitude of digital matching platforms.
In this gig type of economy, companies are considered "asset light,{\textquotedblright} which refers to businesses making money through providing access to goods and services by making connections between smaller providers and consumers.
A few examples of gig work that use platform websites are Uber, TaskRabbit, Lyft, enabling work to be broken down into components which allows tasks to be allocated as needed.
Gig workers are increasingly taking risks related not only to their labor but also to their own capital. This occurs when continued ownership of the assets used in work are dependent on a set of circumstances outside the control of the worker. For example, Uber drivers are encouraged to borrow money to buy their cars. If a driver is then "decommissioned" by Uber or if Uber changes the amount it pays to drivers or if the market gets flooded with new Uber drivers due to the accessibility of the platform, the driver is burdened with debt, with no ready means to pay it back.
For platform providers there is a huge incentive to ensure their workers are not classified as employees in any sense {\textendash} otherwise they would be liable for providing entitlements to workers, driving up their costs. It would also question the legitimacy of having "employees" provide the physical assets that the platform relies on to carry out its business.
The key claim of the platform providers is that their gig workers should be considered independent contractors, not employees at all. Contractors in the traditional economy, such as truck drivers, have also sometimes supplied their own "tools" but the gig economy differs in that the gig worker doesn{\textquoteright}t accumulate any goodwill that can be on-sold or leveraged for financial gain. The goodwill accrues to the platform provider, leaving the worker with fewer options.
As the gigging economy gains momentum, policymakers, labor activists and the media are asking questions about how we conceptualize work and protect workers.}
}
@article {448611,
	title = {Growth Opportunities for Consumer Packaged Goods Companies},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"505626","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"428","width":"650","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]

Today, many consumer-packaged-goods (CPG) companies have political, economical, and consumer taste challenges that have posed a threat to growth.
Over the past 4 years, large food and beverage manufacturers (accounting for about half of category sales) have remained stagnant, growing only 0.3\% on average per year. By contrast, midsize companies have expanded sales by 3.8 percent and small companies by 10.2 percent.
Certain practices that set the most successful CPG companies apart from their competitors are bringing to light the customer- and channel-management practices of companies that outperform their peers in the categories in which they compete.
Identify growth and use resources accordingly
Growing CPG companies invest in specific capabilities. Even as they continue to build functional expertise, they also invest in securing exhaustive data from retailers. As they push forward in these high-growth areas, winning companies are more likely to blur the lines between sales and marketing.
Revenue-growth management needs a data-driven approach
Companies that excel in revenue growth management (RGM) have seen margin expansion of up to five percentage points, and tend to have invested in big data, RGM technologies, and advanced analytics.
Commit to e-commerce retail
CPG companies today believe that the top driver of change over the next five years will be e-commerce. Therefore, it{\textquoteright}s unsurprising that companies are partnering closely with Amazon (29\% of leading CPG companies, and an additional 14\% with plans to co-locate.)
Additionally, they use their own e-commerce-enabled websites to enhance consumer experience, strengthen brand presence, collect data and develop insights, and test new products and promotions. They also obtain and analyze more data from online retailers to better understand online shoppers, and they allocate 2.4 times more employees to online sales than others do.}
}
@article {447301,
	title = {Energy Storage Economics},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {
[[{"fid":"504321","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"425","width":"650","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]


The challenge of decreasing the gap between intermittent renewable power and 100\% reliability is affordable storage of that energy. The ability to store renewable power will help relieve congestion on utilities companies, and smooth out variations in power that occur independent of renewable-energy generation. The ability to find cost-effective storage could transform the electronics, cars, and turbine industries.
Costs for energy storage are falling and could be $200 per kilowatt-hour in 2020 {\textemdash}half of the current price{\textemdash} and $160 per kilowatt-hour or less in 2025. Identifying the most economical projects and highest-potential customers for storage has become a priority for a diverse set of companies including power providers, grid operators, battery manufacturers, energy-storage integrators, and businesses with established relationships with prospective customers such as solar developers and energy-service companies.
Managing Demand Charge
Customers are sometimes charged for using power during peak times (demand charge). Energy storage can be used to lower peak consumption, thus reducing the amount customers pay for demand charges. As storage costs fall, the optimum size of energy storage increases for existing customers.
Scale Renewable Power
Energy storage can smooth out or firm wind and solar-farm output, reducing the variability of power produced. The incremental price for firming wind power can be as low as 2-3 cents per kilowatt-hour. Solar-power firming generally costs as much as ten cents per kilowatt-hour, because solar farms typically operate for fewer hours per day than wind farms.
Residential Solar Storage
The combination of solar and storage becomes worthwhile when specific market and regulatory conditions are in place to make the value of storage greater than the cost of installing it. This can happen when excess production can be stored for later consumption, thus reducing the consumers need to buy power from the grid.
Regulating Frequencies
Grids experience continual imbalances between power generation and consumption because millions of devices are turned on and off in an uncorrelated way. These imbalances cause electricity frequencies to deviate, and if unchecked could even affect the stability of the grid. Storage systems are particularly well suited to frequency regulation because of their rapid response time and ability to charge and discharge efficiently.}
}
@article {446411,
	title = {What Really Matters in Leadership?},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"503586","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"304","width":"500","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]

It{\textquoteright}s quite obvious that simply informing CEO{\textquoteright}s that leadership drives performance. There are over 90\% of CEO{\textquoteright}s ready and willing to increase their investment in leadership development because they see it as the single most important human-capital issue their organizations face. Good leadership is a critical part of organizational health, which is an important driver of shareholder returns.
However, what is unknown is what type of leadership behavior should corporations encourage? Should companies concentrate their efforts on priorities such as role modeling, making decisions quickly, defining visions, and shaping leaders who are good at adapting? Or increase communication?
It has been found that leaders in organizations with high-quality leadership teams typically displayed 4 possible types of behavior:

Problem solvers. The process that precedes decision making is problem solving, when information is gathered, analyzed, and considered.
Driven by results. Leadership is about not only developing and communicating a vision and setting objectives but also following through to achieve results.
Supportive of others. Leaders who are supportive understand and sense how other people feel. By showing authenticity and a sincere interest in those around them, they build trust and inspire and help colleagues to overcome challenges.
A desire to see different perspectives. This trait is conspicuous in managers who monitor trends affecting organizations, grasp changes in the environment, encourage employees to contribute ideas that could improve performance, accurately differentiate between important and unimportant issues, and give the appropriate weight to stakeholder concerns.
}
}
@article {445471,
	title = {International Problems Affecting United States Real Estate},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"502631","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"434","width":"650","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
International buyers love the real estate game in the United States. A solid 15.4\% of all real estate buyers in the United States were from a foreign country. Foreign investors have sought real estate investments in the largest economy in the world, seeking stability and a good place to diversify their portfolio. Recently, hard assets in the form of U.S. property has also become an option to safely store money.
But what happens when international events affect interest in U.S. real estate and lead to uncertainty over the future? From terrorism to economic meltdowns, the growing international role in major U.S. real estate markets means we{\textquoteright}re more likely to see the impact of those issues.
Here are some of the most prevalent international issues affecting domestic real estate today:
Politics
Political disputes between countries and even political unrest within a nation can have a ripple effect on overseas buyers acquiring properties in the U.S. These political situations can either make it more difficult for buyers to move wealth abroad or cause buyers to purchase a greater number of overseas properties, showing that they have more faith in another country{\textquoteright}s political and economic climate.
Economic Difficulties
A stronger dollar, when compared to other currencies, makes it more expensive for foreign buyers to purchase U.S. real estate. When a country experiences significant depreciation of its currency, suddenly it becomes difficult for them to buy American property. However, economic trouble encourages a country{\textquoteright}s wealthiest citizens to invest in assets abroad when that option is feasible.
Violence
Economic and political fears don{\textquoteright}t stop just there. Threats of terrorist attacks around the world are driving investments in United States real estate. This ensures a safer environment in a more stable country.}
}
@article {444906,
	title = {Solving the Talent Dilemma},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"502081","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"428","width":"650","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]

The effect of individuals who deploy innovation and market forces to fill social needs, also known as social entrepreneurs, are steadfastly increasing. A huge part of the action belongs to the private sector who bring low-cost healthcare, mobile banking, and lighting to those who are in dire need to leave the grip of poverty.
What do these enterprises need to scale up? And how can they do it? Entrepreneurs have reported that the most important barrier to growth is the most obvious; money, with almost half saying that raising funds was {\textquotedblleft}very{\textquotedblright} or {\textquotedblleft}extremely{\textquotedblright} challenging. The lack of beginning capital continues to challenge the industry{\textquoteright}s growth.
Another huge problem in this industry is finding and keeping talented people, and this becomes critical as entrepreneurs secure some early capital. As the money continues to roll in, companies believe the inability to find and employ needed talent impacts their businesses. Unlike other challenges they face, this talent gap is a problem that gets tougher as social enterprises scale.
But the good news is that entrepreneurs have more control in this area than they do over funding. Here are three things they can do now, by themselves, to do better.

Funding by itself is not going to solve the recruiting difficulty. Good talent is rare to find, and thus expensive.\&nbsp; Instead, they have to build on their own strengths, selling candidates on the complete employee value proposition, more specifically the mission and vision for the company.
Finding top talent should be a priority. Just as entrepreneurs have to anticipate product development and consumer trends, they should also stay ahead of the curve for hiring.
Grow leaders. Turning a company into a talent-development engine is critical to retaining staff and filling senior-leadership roles. If an enterprise proves it{\textquoteright}s good at growing leaders from within, talented people will want to stay.
}
}
@article {443846,
	title = {The Widespread Benefits of Sharing Data},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"501126","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"425","width":"650","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
Governments at all levels account for 30-50\% of most countries{\textquoteright} GDP, exerting profound influence not only by executing their own digital transformations but also by catalyzing digital transformations in other societal sectors.
The coming data revolution will be deeply transformational and that data will produce a shift in the public sector{\textquoteright}s quality of service, allowing governments to deliver better integral service, more-productive operations, and better policy outcomes. Governments also need to install a complete and open performance-management system by enabling data that provides a solid fact base for policy making without sacrificing transparency and public accountability.
With this perspective in mind, governments need to launch data initiatives focused on:

Understanding public attitudes toward specific policies and identifying needed changes.
Developing and using undisputed key performance indicators that reveal the drivers of policy performance.
Gauging what is happening in the field by enabling citizens, business operators, and civil servants to provide fact-based information and feedback.
Evaluating policy performance, reconciling quantitative and qualitative data, and allowing the implementation of a continuous-improvement approach to policy making.

Two powerful trends are fueled by the continuing evolution taking place in public service, supported by true data:

The cost of computing power, data transportation, analysis, and storage continue to become more affordable. Meanwhile, software providers have implemented analytic innovation tools that have made it possible for nearly every business and government to benefit from large datasets, and to be provided insight.
Data volumes have increased exponentially. The volume of digitally generated data doubles every 2 years, and a new explosion of data is on the horizon. Wide-scale deployment of connected devices are expected to increase from 10 billion in 2013 to 50 billion by 2020.
}
}
@article {442556,
	title = {Creatively Allowing for Original Ideas},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"499826","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"434","width":"650","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
Throughout history, famous people have reached their status not because their ideas flowed from a group, but rather that they continuously thought independently. For example, take Frank Lloyd Wright, mastermind behind the renowned architecture of Fallingwater. This original piece to come to fruition not because he was rushed into dreaming it up, but rather allowing himself time to procrastinate his ideas. He knew when it was time to procrastinate before he began on his work. Here are some ideas on how to think freely, and allow ideas to develop:
Allow for quantity over size of ideas.
Every original thought and idea throughout history was rarely a finished idea, but rather an idea that was on a list of ideas, and then tinkered with. If you look at musicians, for example{\textemdash}Mozart, Bach, Beethoven{\textemdash}their average hit rate is not any higher than many composers you have never heard of.
But what makes them different? They came up with a lot more ideas than their peers. The reason for that is you have to generate a lot of variety to be original. You have to rule out the familiar in order to get to the novel. Most people fall in love with their first idea, or they end up questioning whether they have the ability to come up with more ideas.
Judging ideas creatively.
Just as ideas that you have created can become mostly focused on the pros instead of the cons, doesn{\textquoteright}t necessarily mean that managers can judge the idea fairly either, as they can tend to focus more on the negatives. What is constructive however is to take new ideas and compare them to existing prototypes.
What you want to do is ask: {\textquotedblleft}Is this going to appeal to the audience?{\textquotedblright} This is opposed to {\textquotedblleft}Is this similar to what{\textquoteright}s come before?{\textquotedblright} Whom would provide a fair judgment for an idea? The answer is those that also tend to be a little risk averse, such as your peers and fellow creators.
The creative mind-set of your peers will allow new possibilities to be generated, and thinking creatively increases your openness to novel performances. You{\textquoteright}re much more likely, then, to bet on great, original ideas.
Ideas don{\textquoteright}t have to come from youth.
Not all ideas need to be generated from youth. For example, if you look at founders of start-ups, the average venture-backed founder is 38. There are a lot of people who are starting companies much later than we{\textquoteright}ve ever seen before.
Youth does have its assets. Youth gives you a pair of fresh eyes that disregard the learned practices. On the other hand, though, one of the things you can bring if you have more experience is some degree of breadth. The experienced gives advantages because you know your domain.
As you learn about a domain, if you can gain experience in other domains{\textemdash}and the older you are the more of those domains you can learn{\textemdash}you can start importing and exporting ideas from one place to another, which gives you a great advantage because all original ideas come out of a culmination of depth and breadth.
Groupthink changes creative ideas.
Groupthink is a huge barrier to innovation, and can lead to all kinds of bad decisions. It gets in the way of change. Instead, find somebody who genuinely holds a different opinion and invite them into the conversation. Look for the person who{\textquoteright}s in the silent minority and ask them, {\textquotedblleft}What do you think?{\textquotedblright}
Dissent is even useful when it{\textquoteright}s wrong. When somebody brings in a divergent thought it forces the group to step back and say, {\textquotedblleft}Let{\textquoteright}s review our assumptions. Let{\textquoteright}s look at all the criteria on the table for this decision.{\textquotedblright} Then they{\textquoteright}re much more likely to get to a good answer or a novel possibility that they hadn{\textquoteright}t seen before.
Procrastinate wisely.
The word {\textquotedblleft}procrastinate{\textquotedblright} tends to always have a negative tone. However, it can become to be a virtue.\&nbsp; Sometimes, preparing for a project months in advance can hinder original ideas. The reason is, when you dive right into a task, you end up with tunnel vision. You think in linear ways, and you sit down, and you only have access to the obvious and familiar ideas that you initially started with. If time passes between the planned start of a project, and when it actually starts, there is a greater chance to see unexpected connections between ideas, and to have leaps from one possibility to another.
Channel this thought back to the example of Fallingwater. Frank Lloyd Wright procrastinated the idea for the architecture for a year, before his client became so upset that he literally drove out and said, {\textquotedblleft}I want you to design this for me on the spot,{\textquotedblright} not believing it was ever going to get done. Since Frank Lloyd Wright procrastinated over a number of months, his ideas were processed to the point that he finally came up with the brilliant design.}
}
@article {442626,
	title = {Pushing Through the US Economic Growth Bottleneck},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"499881","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"434","width":"650","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]

As the US financial growth has become strained, one thing has become abundantly clear; the past growth engine isn{\textquoteright}t the same as it has been in decades. As international companies and domestic companies have realized this change, Europe has continued in their long recession.
Above all, progress will require a willingness to stretch for new opportunities rather than wait for the old economy to bounce back. Four areas can push businesses through the economic bottleneck.
Develop industry standards
Lingering uncertainties are slowing progress in a number of areas, but business leaders can move these issues forward without waiting for legislative or regulatory action. Some companies already are working with universities and nonprofits to find technical and legal solutions for assuring privacy and cyber-security.
Take for example shale energy; oil and gas players can help alleviate environmental risks by pursuing standards for all producers to follow in fracking{\textemdash}and by continuing to improve drilling and well technologies to reduce its environmental impact. Some energy companies are joining with environmental groups, academic researchers, and foundations to monitor the risks and create operational standards. The Center for Sustainable Shale Development, for example, is a coalition of environmental groups and energy firms. Alleviating these risks is crucial to protecting the air and groundwater while allowing the economy as a whole to reap the full benefits of shale development.
Form new types of partnerships
As the shale examples suggest, companies hoping to stay in the forefront of the new economy must look beyond their own boundaries and find new forms of collaboration. Big data, for example, is tailor-made for partnerships, such as a joint effort by Google and the US Patent and Trademark Office to create a new searchable database of intellectual property. Biotech and pharmaceutical companies are entering new multidisciplinary research partnerships to analyze enormous open databases of clinical and genetic information and collaboratively develop new drugs and diagnostics.
Change locally
Local innovation is the key to realizing the game changers on a national level. Industry leaders can work with city and state officials to build on local capabilities. These types of partnerships should move the opportunities presented by the game changers to the top of the local agenda by developing infrastructure, promoting export industries, supporting the use of big data, expanding vocational training, and assessing the role a region can play.
Stretch thinking and step out of the box
Fully exploiting the opportunities will also require business leaders to stretch their thinking and their capabilities. The potential in energy, big data, and knowledge-intensive industries is large enough to spark the development of whole new supply chains. That could stimulate growth among a wide range of B2B goods, from fabricated metals to electronic controls, as well as service providers in areas such as logistics and data storage.
Policy makers have a role to play, as well, but they need to take a nuanced approach. For game changers such as shale energy and the private sector{\textquoteright}s use of big data, the government{\textquoteright}s role will largely be laying the groundwork by setting legal and regulatory frameworks, often in conjunction with businesses.}
}
@article {360101,
	title = {Paper Finds Large Impact of Climate Change to Southwest Forests},
	year = {2016},
	abstract = {A research paper has predicted the widespread death of needle-leaf evergreen trees within the Southwest United States by the year 2100 under projected global warming scenarios. The research team that conducted the study considered both field results and a range of validated regional predictions and global simulation models of varying complexity, in reaching this grim conclusion.
The Southwest U.S. is a semi-arid region that includes Arizona and parts of New Mexico, California, Colorado, Utah and Texas amongst other states. It is home to 11 national forests spanning more than 20 million acres in Arizona and New Mexico.
The loss of broad-scale forest cover over the Southwest could contribute additional carbon to the atmosphere, creating additional warming. This is because trees and understory vegetation, such as shrubs and bushes, sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Less vegetation means less carbon capture, which can create a negative feedback loop that can accelerate climate change.
The full report can be found\&nbsp;here.}
}
@article {358981,
	title = {Heavier Bodies, Lighter Bones},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Today{\textquoteright}s lifestyles have made humans heavier, but noticeably lighter weight than our hunter-gatherer ancestors in one particular way: the bones.
A study of the bones of hundreds of humans who lived during the past 33,000 years in Europe finds the rise of agriculture and a corresponding fall in mobility drove the change, rather than urbanization, nutrition or other factors. The discovery sheds light on a monumental change that has left modern humans susceptible to osteoporosis, a condition marked by brittle and thinning bones.
At the root of the finding is the knowledge that putting bones under the "stress" of walking, lifting and running leads them to pack on more calcium and grow stronger.
The study was a collaborative effort of researchers from across Europe and the United States that began in 2008. It focused on Europe because it has many well-studied archeological sites, and because the population has relatively little genetic variation, despite some population movements. That meant that any changes observed could be attributed more to lifestyle than to genetics.
The researchers took molds of bones from museums{\textquoteright} collections and used a portable X-ray machine to scan them, focusing on two major bones from the legs and one from the arms. When they analyzed the geometry of bones over time, the researchers found a decline in leg bone strength between the Mesolithic era, which began about 10,000 years ago, and the age of the Roman Empire, which began about 2,500 years ago. Arm bone strength, however, remained fairly steady.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {358726,
	title = {Hawaiian Forests in Danger from Fungus},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A fungus called Rapid Ohia Death has been recently discovered, and is killing a tree species that is critical to Hawaii{\textquoteright}s water supply, endangered native birds.
The disease has hit hundreds of thousands of ohia lehua trees on the Big Island. As of last year, it was found to have affected 50\% of the ohia trees across 6,000 acres of forest, but it{\textquoteright}s believed to have spread further. Hawaii is planning aerial surveys next month to learn how many acres are affected by the fungus. A world expert in similar diseases is also expected to visit the islands to advise the state on how to control the outbreak.
Ohia is important to the water supply because it{\textquoteright}s so effective at soaking water into the ground and replenishing the watershed. It{\textquoteright}s critical for native birds because the animals feed on its nectar. It provides a canopy to native plants growing underneath it in the forests. Ohia wood was used for weapons, hula instruments, homes and temples in ancient Hawaii.
To prevent spreading, the state Department of Agriculture has created rules prohibiting moving wood, flowers and other parts of the ohia tree between islands. Hawaii is also encouraging people to clean tools used on ohia and clean shoes and clothes used near ohia.}
}
@article {358416,
	title = {Energy from a Source You Didn{\textquoteright}t Consider: Seaweed},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Biofuel to run cars and generators could come from large swaths of seaweed grown in the open ocean. That{\textquoteright}s the vision of a new project being led by Marine BioEnergy, Inc.
Marine BioEnergy has proposed a patented method to grow one of the fastest producers of biomass, giant kelp, in the open ocean. Sunshine and space are abundant in the open ocean, but waters are too deep there for kelp to grow on the sea floor. Instead, Marine Bioenergy will develop technology to enable the eventual attachment of kelp to large grids towed by inexpensive robotic submarines that cycle between sunlight at the sea surface and nutrients in deeper waters.
Once farmed, the kelp will be turned into biocrude oil and other hydrocarbon liquids through a conversion process. Development of a multi-step method that will combine hydrothermal liquefaction will follow, all of which involve changes in temperature, pressure and water - to convert biomass. This method will cost-effectively turn kelp into hydrocarbons that are ready for final processing at a commercial oil refinery.}
}
@article {358181,
	title = {Fragmenting Harms Tropical Forest{\textquoteright}s Carbon-Storing Ability},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {According to a new study, scientists have been significantly overestimating the amount of carbon stored in the world{\textquoteright}s tropical forests.
World leaders and climate scientists use carbon storage estimates to devise carbon trading and mitigation agreements. Deforestation is a huge source of excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and leaders recognize forest conservation and restoration as a critical tool for reducing and mitigating climate change. This applies to forests where people have cleared trees {\textendash} usually for roads, timber or agriculture. The more intensely humans use a forest, the more fragmented it becomes. This fragmentation creates drier, more exposed forest edges, which disables the ability to store carbon.
Forest clearing accounts for an estimated 12-15\% of global greenhouse gas emissions through the annual loss of nearly 77,000 square miles of forest, a third of which is in the tropics. These emissions are calculated through forest carbon inventories, which do not take into account the decrease in carbon stocks occurring in forests where they meet with converted land. If current carbon stock estimates for tropical forests are low, then mitigation plans designed to offset timber cutting will need to be adjusted to achieve climate stabilization goals.
The authors of the study used insights gained from local studies, and joined remotely sensed biomass data with land cover data, showing that edge effects vary considerably across forests. Wetter, tropical forests are more affected than drier counterparts. This research stems from an earlier collaboration that found a similar edge effect looking only at forests in Brazil.}
}
@article {357641,
	title = {Freshwater Emits Higher Greenhouse Gases Than Previously Believed},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {That babbling brook shouldn{\textquoteright}t be underestimated when it comes to emmisions of greenhouse gases. The rural water bodies have the potential to create a lot of hot air.
According to a new research conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison and colleagues, the world{\textquoteright}s rivers and streams pump about 10 times more methane into our atmosphere than scientists estimated in previous studies. The new study also found that human activity seems to drive which streams are the biggest contributors.
Like carbon dioxide, methane is a greenhouse gas that traps heat at the Earth{\textquoteright}s surface. It is less prevalent than carbon dioxide in the atmosphere but also more potent: A molecule of methane results in more warming than a molecule of carbon dioxide. Understanding how much methane is emitted into the atmosphere from all sources helps scientists account for the full global greenhouse gas budget, and take measures to mitigate its impact.
Rivers and streams haven{\textquoteright}t received much attention in accounting for that budget, because they don{\textquoteright}t take up much surface area on a global scale and, with respect to methane, didn{\textquoteright}t seem to be all that gassy. But over the years, measurements taken seemed to indicate these sources may produce more methane than scientists had previously known.
The team created a database of measured methane flux (the exchange of the gas between water and atmosphere) and methane concentrations measured in streams and rivers using data from 111 publications and three unpublished datasets. The research team then used two different methods to calculate the best estimates of global methane emissions from the data. They found the emissions to be an order of magnitude higher than scientists had previously reported.
The researchers pointed to one possible reason: Not every stream is identical. The analysis revealed noticeably higher methane emissions from streams and rivers in watersheds marked with heavy agriculture, urban development or the presence of dams. This suggests efforts to improve stream health may have the added benefit of reducing greenhouse gases.
Methane from freshwater is often a byproduct of bacterial metabolism, as they break down organic matter under low-oxygen conditions, like in the sediment at the bottom of a lake. As the climate warms, the contribution of greenhouse gases from natural sources like rivers, streams and wetlands is expected to increase because higher temperatures accelerate this bacterial breakdown, releasing more carbon dioxide and methane.}
}
@article {357316,
	title = {Profiting from Energy Generated by Solar Power},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Researchers from the Universidad Polit{\'e}cnica de Madrid (UPM) have developed a technology based on the use of carbon dioxide to improve the energy production in solar fields. The usage of this fluid on solar energy has been verified by the research group of UPM at the Almeria Solar Platform (PSA), achieving excellent results:\&nbsp; fluid and inexpensive solar fields that are friendly to the environment.
Agriculture has always been a benchmark for production systems in which huge areas are required to obtain economic benefits and trying to reduce harvesting costs. This principle can be applied to the use of solar energy on solar fields for renewable energy production where there are two major competitors: photovoltaic energy and thermal energy. The first competitor cannot currently store large amounts of the energy produced with optimal performance. However, thermal energy allows us to storage energy improving the management of renewable energy, similar to a dam that stores water for a hydroelectric plant.
In the case of solar thermal energy, there are four commercialized technologies with varying costs and energy conversion efficiencies: parabolic trough, power tower, solar dish and linear Fresnel system. The first two types have been developing since the 80{\textquoteright}s but the other two technologies have been less developed. In fact, the analogous to the three-bladed wind turbines has not been found yet.
Researchers have carried out a study that adopts an innovative prospect for making design decisions:\&nbsp; thermal coherence that prevents excessive temperatures or unnecessary material usage. Observing other fields of energy engineering such as nuclear powers plant is required, since numerous plants work with moderate temperatures. Therefore, the solar industry trend of reaching higher temperatures can be unsuitable. Besides, the high production cost can slow down the technological development of the assumed design philosophies. Thus, the disruptive innovation proposed in this study has more potential.
The development of these ideas leads to an improved concept of Fresnel by using carbon dioxide as a fluid working that can be used in severe thermal applications such as the cooling of high-temperature nuclear reactors. In addition, the usage CO2 in solar energy can work to confine this fluid and, at the same time, prevent emissions by replacing other thermoelectric plants that use fossil fuels.
The technology, developed by UPM researchers, is currently being exploited through the Futuro Solar project by signing an agreement between UPM and OHL Industrial. The Futuro Solar project was submitted in the 2nd call for Research and Development Projects co-financed by the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism (EEA-Grants). This technology is an advanced prototype of the learning curve regarding the current state of thermosolar technology. It is expected to start operating in spring 2016.}
}
@article {357006,
	title = {Declining Soil Health Due to Erosion},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A reports has been released stating that the world{\textquoteright}s soils are at best only in fair condition and in some areas are very poor.
According to the\&nbsp;report, 33\% of land is being moderately to highly degraded due to erosion, salinization, pollution, compaction or acidification. The current rate of soil degradation threatens the capacity to meet the needs of future generations. Evidence that the loss of soil resources and function can be avoided. Sustainable soil management, using scientific and local knowledge and evidence-based approaches and technologies, can increase nutritious food supply. It can also provide a valuable lever for climate regulation and safeguard for ecosystem services.
The threats to soil function combined with other pressures caused by increasing population and climate change are especially challenging in southwest Western Australia and on the atoll islands of the Pacific. The document highlights the example of soil monitoring in New Zealand and how this demonstrates the capability to track and respond to changes.}
}
@article {355841,
	title = {Fighting World Hunger Safely},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Increasing trade of agricultural products is vital to eliminating world hunger, but only if open trade policies do not endanger food security. Trade affects all dimensions of food security: food availability, access, utilization and stability, a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has stated.
World trade in food and agricultural products, which has grown almost three-fold in value over the past decade, is set to continue to expand with regions such as Asia, North Africa and Middle East increasing net imports, while others like Latin America boosting exports. The challenge has therefore become one of ensuring that the expansion of agricultural trade works for, and not against, the elimination of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.
Trade affects many of the economic and social variables that ultimately determine a population{\textquoteright}s food security and nutrition status {\textendash} including growth, incomes, poverty levels, food prices and government budgets. While trade in itself is neither a threat nor a complete solution, it does pose challenges and risks that need to be considered in policy decision-making.
The report cited such risks as relying on the global marketplace for imported food which could see sudden price hikes and also leave the importing country vulnerable to actions by trading partners and short-term market shocks. Still, the report concluded there is no "one size fits all" for a trade policy that supports food security. It suggests that trade and related government policy will differ by countries and will change over time as their economies develop.
The distribution and location of food-insecure populations can affect the balance between policies focused on increased production and rural incomes, and those focused on securing cheaper food for urban populations. Overall, trade reforms should be considered as part of broader policy packages aimed at achieving sustainable development goals, including eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.
"The eradication of global hunger by 2030 is a key goal in the new post-2015 sustainable development agenda {\textendash} and trade is one of the means for achieving this goal," the FAO said.}
}
@article {354806,
	title = {Massive Renewable Energy Initiative Launched by Africa},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {The African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI), aims to achieve twice the continent{\textquoteright}s total current electricity supply of 10 gigawatts of new renewables by 2020 and mobilize the potential to generate 300 gigawatts by 2030. The initiative is driven by African countries and represents a part of their contribution to the global efforts on climate change and eliminating energy poverty.
The AREI initiative will help African nations embrace low-carbon development strategies while creating jobs, improving energy security and bringing clean, safe and affordable energy to the 640 million Africans who currently lack access to it. This plan was met with an announcement by France that it will provide 2 billion euros for renewable energy in Africa between 2016 and 2020.}
}
@article {353961,
	title = {Climate Change Threatening the Global Food System},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {The impacts of global climate change is likely to have far-reaching on food security throughout the world, especially for the poor and those living in tropical regions, according to a new international report {\textquotedblleft}Climate Change, Global Food Security, and the U.S. Food System.{\textquotedblright}
The report warns that warmer temperatures and altered precipitation patterns can threaten food production, disrupt transportation systems, and degrade food safety, among other impacts. As a result, international progress in the past few decades toward improving food security will be difficult to maintain.
This report provides an overview of recent research in climate change and agriculture. Led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and published under the auspices of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, it includes contributors from 19 federal, academic, nongovernmental, intergovernmental, and private organizations in the United States, Argentina, Britain, and Thailand.
The report focuses on identifying climate change impacts on global food security through 2100. The authors emphasize that food security {\textendash} the ability of people to obtain and use sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food {\textendash} will be affected by several factors in addition to climate change, such as technological advances, increases in population, the distribution of wealth, and changes in eating habits.}
}
@article {353491,
	title = {Testing a Bean that Survives Droughts},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {In Quezaltepeque, a village 30 kilometers north of San Salvador, 14 co-farmers feel fortunate to be the first testing a bean that survives droughts. They proudly showed off an abundant harvest of around 1.7 acres of the bean grown on the farm where they work, to the awed gaze of visitors. The type of light red bean they are using, which is also resistant to an infection known as bean golden yellow mosaic virus, was painstakingly developed with the help of El Salvador{\textquoteright}s National Center for Agricultural and Forestry Technology (CENTA).
Dubbed CENTA-EAC, the bean is not a biotech crop designed by genetic engineers slicing up chromosomes. Rather it is the product of hybridization: the combining of naturally formed plants to form a cross-breed. The Salvadoran experiment came as a prolonged drought settled on Central America this year, causing heavy crop losses across a broad swathe of land stretching from Costa Rica to Guatemala.
Because of the lack of water, 2.3 million small Central American farmers will need food aid, the UN{\textquoteright}s World Food Program has warned. The CENTA-EAC bean is part of a decade-old effort by laboratories in the region to come up with hybrids able to survive and even prosper during the recurring droughts. With the help of farmers, it was noted that it was possible to come up with crops adapted to extreme weather conditions.
The whole region is working along the same lines. In Guatemala, scientists are working on the ICTA-Chorti, which will not only resist droughts but also be rich in iron. In Nicaragua, another institute has made a variety of red bean, the INTA-Tomabu, also able to survive when water is scarce. In Panama, one of the first countries in the region to work with types of corn resistant to changing weather, has come up with a new seed. In El Salvador, farmers already have the option of using a type of corn called CENTA-Pasaquina, but it has fallen from favor because of its perceived low yield. Nicaragua meanwhile has a type of virus-resistant tomato seed christened INTA-Jinotega that copes with temperatures over 25 degrees centigrade. In Costa Rica, it{\textquoteright}s cocoa{\textemdash}a crop essential to the economy{\textemdash}that is being looked at in the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center with hopes of coming up with a more resistant variety.}
}
@article {352806,
	title = {Increased Amazon Deforestation Occurred in 2015},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {An aim of stopping destruction of the world{\textquoteright}s largest and greatest forest by 2030 has been set back as illegal logging and clearing of Brazil{\textquoteright}s Amazon rainforest increased 16\% in the last year.
The area of deforestation grew to 2,251 square miles between July 2014 and August 2015. The biggest increases of deforestation were in the states of Amazonas, with a 54\% rise, Rondonia with 41\% and Mato Grosso with 40\%. The sharp deterioration came despite Brazil{\textquoteright}s attempts to increase policing of the rainforest, which is seen as a key element in the fight to keep greenhouse gases under control{\textemdash}the subject of a major climate change summit starting in Paris on Monday.
Preliminary reports suggest that expansion of cattle ranching and agriculture is to blame for the clearances.
The Amazon is a giant trap for carbon that would otherwise be released, contributing to global warming. It is also one of the world{\textquoteright}s greatest remaining sanctuaries for rare and often still barely studied flora and fauna.}
}
@article {351866,
	title = {The Future Challenges of Having a Clean Water Supply},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated that a staggering $2.6 billion worth of treated drinking water is lost each year due to leaking water mains and approximately 240,000 main breaks. To address this problem, the agency proposed that more than $600 billion be invested in water infrastructure improvements over the next 20 years.
These numbers don{\textquoteright}t surprise Greg Harrington, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and expert on our drinking water infrastructure. Harrington knows better than most people the importance of the public water utility, and the tremendous role it plays in keeping everyone safe.
In 1993, more than 400,000 Milwaukee residents got sick from drinking their tap water due to an outbreak of the parasite Cryptosporidium. The largest known waterborne disease outbreak in U.S. history, this incident spurred an investment of $89 million in upgrading the city{\textquoteright}s water treatment plants during the next five years.
Harrington conducted research on new water treatment technologies in the aftermath of Milwaukee{\textquoteright}s Cryptosporidium outbreak. But the EPA{\textquoteright}s concerns about infrastructure are also Harrington{\textquoteright}s. Water treatment technology is important, but upgrading the water delivery grid is equally as important, both for public health reasons and for conserving energy. Many of the nation{\textquoteright}s water pipes were either installed more than a century ago or right after World War II. Leakages or water main breaks are one consequence of the deterioration, or corrosion, of these pipes since then. But another consequence involves public health: Even if old pipes don{\textquoteright}t break, they might contaminate the water they carry.
Up until the 1950s, lead was a commonly used material for service lines, or pipe sections that connect the water main to a consumer{\textquoteright}s home. The corrosion of these lead service lines may result in dangerous levels of lead leaching into drinking water, which can cause irreversible brain damage in children. Many utilities have employed chemical corrosion control to reduce lead leaching, but Harrington says the best long-term solution to this problem is replacing all lead service lines with newer pipes made of plastic or copper.
Since both water treatment and water pumping require substantial energy, one of the best ways for water utilities to conserve energy is to minimize water loss by upgrading the water delivery grid. But Harrington also emphasizes that a utility{\textquoteright}s energy use for water quality assurance and infrastructure maintenance is a fixed expense unrelated to the amount of water delivered to a home. Since this expense has to be recovered from monthly water bills, a 50\% decrease in a customer{\textquoteright}s water use may not translate to a 50\% decrease in their water bill.
For more on this topic click\&nbsp;here.}
}
@article {350996,
	title = {The Advantages of Social Background Evident in Education},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Questions that face the German educational system currently are:

Does Germany{\textquoteright}s education system discriminate against children and young people with a migrant background?
What obstacles do they face in reality?
Are there differences between groups from different backgrounds?

A new study provides an overview of the current state of research in this field. It suggests that a child{\textquoteright}s social origin has a greater impact on their educational opportunities than foreign origin.
Performance gaps between young people of immigrant and non-immigrant backgrounds are apparent from an early stage in education. Those differing results comprise a recurring theme through the whole system, and this is primarily due to social conditions. Although migration-related factors are also present, e.g. in the area of language, these are, on the whole, less significant than factors associated with social origin.
In summarizing the central findings, the editors point out clear differences in the performance of different groups. Children of Turkish origin generally achieve far lower results than other immigrant groups, such as first-generation immigrants from the former Soviet Union. This is apparent, for example, in the transition to on-the-job training, with many studies finding transition rates to be far lower among young Turkish men. They tend to do better in large companies, however, indicating that the standardized selection procedures applied in such settings can prevent ethnic discrimination.
Within the education system, individual discrimination in the form of appraisal by teachers does not play a major role in explaining ethnic disadvantages in education. Instead, it is the social backgrounds of pupils that influence their teachers{\textquoteright} decisions, generally to the detriment of children from educationally disadvantaged homes. Of course, this group has a disproportionate weighting of children from immigrant backgrounds.}
}
@article {350706,
	title = {The Long-term Vision for Clean Energy},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Electricity resulting from renewable sources lacks clear regulations that would enable it to be used at large scale, and thus, the grid already faces transmission challenges as the alternative current infrastructure has almost reached its transport capacity. That{\textquoteright}s why large transport of electricity through the grid has stability problems, leading to the rise of overall system costs, outages and blackouts.
Additionally by 2050, the majority of Europe{\textquoteright}s electricity has to come from renewables. Therefore, the security of supply and energy affordability need to be ensured. The offshore winds farms in the North and Baltic Seas have started to supply power for neighboring countries. But to transport vast amounts of electricity produced in the European waters over longer distances, a power grid infrastructure at the sea should be built. There is a huge potential of connecting wind farms to each other or to different countries and to transport the electricity to the markets that need it.
Growing the percentage of renewable electricity implies fundamental changes in the way transmission lines are designed, used and controlled. Indeed, establishing the EU internal energy market will allow a smooth penetration of renewable energy sources and will lead to reduction of CO2 emissions, while ensuring an affordable market for electricity consumers.
For the time being, the unclear methodology for cross-border cost allocation led to unanswered questions. For example, it is hard to define who is financially responsible for building an interconnector from which more countries will benefit.
There are also technical barriers related to the appropriate application of high voltage direct current (HVDC) technology designed to transport the electricity over very long distances. This technology will also permit the connection between the remote wind farms and the continent or from the large solar farms in the south of Europe or North Africa to the European grid. These barriers are also analyzed by the European project Best Paths. The lack of a common vision and a stable investment framework for renewables also need to be addressed. At the EU level, the European Commission set budget allocations for projects of common interest, which co-finance several cross border electricity connections. But the experts say it is not enough.}
}
@article {350306,
	title = {Innovative Agri-Food Technology Developments},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Innovative technologies were recently showcased at the UK National Centre for Food Manufacturing. Amongst these technologies, the robotic harvesting of vegetables, automated weeding techniques and the use of sensitive disease detection software are part of the new agri-tech initiative in the United Kingdom.
Launched in line with the Government{\textquoteright}s quest for the UK to become a world leader in agricultural technology, innovation and sustainability, the first Agri-Tech Week aims to create a better understanding of the issues facing farmers and growers, while showcasing some of the most interesting emerging technologies. As part of this project, the University of Lincoln{\textquoteright}s National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM) welcomed business representatives, leading academics, industry funders and students to a unique event exhibiting cutting-edge science and technology in the agri-food sector.
Included were featured presentations and demonstrations from the teams behind a number of pioneering projects, many of which are part of the new Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology (LIAT). The research institute has been established by the University of Lincoln to support and enhance productivity in the agri-food sectors.
Professor Tom Duckett from the University of Lincoln presented a new research project developing 3D camera technology which could result in a fully automatic robotic harvesting system for broccoli. Funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and Innovate UK as part of the Agri-Tech Catalyst fund, the project will test whether 3D camera technology can be used to identify and select when the vegetables are ready for harvesting. This will be a key step towards the development of a fully automatic system which could significantly reduce production costs. Showcasing Developments in Agri-Food Technology also included robotics demonstrations led by academics from the University of Lincoln{\textquoteright}s School of Engineering and Computer Science.}
}
@article {349606,
	title = {Apple Focusing on Renewable Energy in China},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Apple has been busy cleaning up its manufacturing plants that produce millions of iPads and iPhones in China by reducing its carbon footprint.
The consumer electronics company is working with its Chinese suppliers to eventually produce 2.2 gigawatts of solar power and other renewable energy. Apple has estimated that over 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution will be avoided as more of its suppliers rely on renewable energy between now and 2020. That is equivalent to having four million fewer cars on the road for a year!
Panels capable of generating about 200 megawatts of solar power will be financed by Apple in the northern, southern and eastern regions of China, where many of its suppliers are located. Foxconn, which runs the factory where the most iPhones are assembled, is pledging to contribute 400 megawatts of solar power as part of the 2-gigabyte commitment. The solar panels to be built by 2018 in China{\textquoteright}s Henan Province are supposed to produce as much renewable energy as Foxconn{\textquoteright}s Zhengzhou factory consumes while making iPhones.
Apple just completed projects in China that generate 40 megawatts of solar energy to offset the power required by its 24 stores and 19 offices in the country. All of Apple{\textquoteright}s data centers, offices and stores in the U.S. already have been running on renewable energy.
Apple also has a financial incentive to help make China a better place to live. The greater China region is Apple{\textquoteright}s second biggest market behind the United States. Apple CEO Tim Cook has made it clear that he wants the company to make even more inroads as rising incomes enable more of China{\textquoteright}s population to buy smartphones and other gadgets.}
}
@article {349086,
	title = {Predicting the Distribution of Volcanic Smog},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A recently published paper in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society reviews the development and utility of a computer model for the dispersion of volcanic smog or "vog," which forms when volcanic sulfur dioxide gas interacts with water and coverts it to acid sulfate aerosol particles in the atmosphere.
Vog poses a serious threat to the health of Hawai{\textquoteright}i{\textquoteright}s people as well as being harmful to the state{\textquoteright}s ecosystems and agriculture. Even at low concentrations, which can be found far from the volcano, vog can provoke asthma attacks in those with prior respiratory conditions. It also damages vegetation and crops downwind from the volcano.
Collaborations between the UH M{\={a}}noa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), and the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory have developed a computer model for predicting the dispersion of vog. The vog model uses measurements of the amount of sulfur dioxide emitted by Kilauea, along with predictions of the prevailing winds, to forecast the movement of vog around the state.
The team of scientists developed an ultraviolet spectrometer array to provide near real-time volcanic gas emission rate measurements; developed and deployed sulfur dioxide and meteorological sensors to record the extent of Kilauea{\textquoteright}s gas plume; and developed web-based tools to share observations and model forecasts, providing useful information for safety officials and the public, and raising awareness of the potential hazards of volcanic emissions to respiratory health, agriculture and general aviation.
The Kilauea volcano, the most active volcano on earth, is situated on Hawai{\textquoteright}i Island. The current eruption has been ongoing since 1983, while a new summit eruption began in 2008. The most significant effect of this new eruption has been a dramatic increase in the amount of volcanic gas that is emitted into Hawai'i{\textquoteright}s atmosphere. While the effects of lava eruption are limited to the southeastern sector of the Big Island, the volcanic gas emitted by Kilauea is in no way constrained; it is free to spread across the entire state.}
}
@article {347971,
	title = {Energy Self-sustaining Buildings Prepared for Future},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Next year in Merida, Spain, a state-of-the-art fa{\c c}ade that can turn solar energy into heat for residents{\textquoteright} use will be installed. After a series of tests, the complex insulation system will prove its capabilities in real-life conditions. The worldwide energy consumption of buildings is expected to grow by 45\% from 2002 to 2025.
To reduce this energy demand in old buildings across Europe, a group of researchers have designed an industrialized fa{\c c}ade system for use in retrofitting works. The system brings an imaginative technological solution that can be applied to different types of building and fa{\c c}ade orientations. The insulation technology is ready now for full-scale implementation in a real building in Merida, following a series of extensive tests, which checked its fire, water, wind, impact, acoustic and permeability resistance.
The project{\textquoteright}s researchers admit that their system is neither simple, nor cheap. Yet they are optimistic about the possibilities of the fa{\c c}ade having a good return on investment.}
}
@article {347241,
	title = {Creating Vibrating Orange Groves to Combat Pests},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {To look for a mate, the male Asian Citrus Psyllid situates himself on a twig, buzzes his wings to send vibrations along adjacent leaves and branches, and listens for a female{\textquoteright}s response call. If the call comes, he travels in her direction, the abbreviated insect version of courtship ensues, and two to seven weeks later, scores of psyllids nymphs emerge from their eggs, feed on phloem sap, and mature into adults who head out into the world, ravaging untold numbers of citrus trees in the process.
The Asian Citrus Psyllid is a pest that is loathed by orange farmers because they spread a rod-shaped bacteria called Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. The bacteria causes a disease called citrus greening that turns the trees{\textquoteright} leaves yellow and makes the fruit bitter and stunted. There is no cure, and the infected trees usually die within a few years.
USDA and University of Florida researchers are looking to halt the spread of the disease that caused an estimated $3.63 billion in lost revenue from orange juice for the state of Florida from 2006-2012. Development of vibration traps that hijack psyllid mating calls to locally bring their populations under control has been recently invented by the teams.
Out in the mid-day heat of the orange groves, the male psyllids channel their wing vibrations down their legs and out through adjacent twigs and leaves. If a nearby female is interested, she{\textquoteright}ll reply back within a third to a half of a second. Within this window, the researchers{\textquoteright} microphone detects the incoming male call and the microcontroller sends out a female response call through the piezoelectric buzzer before any neighboring psyllids can. When the male draws closer, he gets snagged and immobilized on an adhesive surface, from where he can be collected during periodic trap inspections.
While the device hasn{\textquoteright}t yet been tested extensively out in the field, estimates that each device would be effective over a range of two feet in a citrus tree, with a cost of construction between $50-100, including the cost of the microcontrollers.}
}
@article {346406,
	title = {Solving the Challenge of Storing Renewable Energy},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A system for managing and storing energy, developed by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne campus (EPFL), has received extensive co-financing from the Canton of Vaud, and is built around an industrial-capacity battery developed by Vaud-based company Leclanch{\'e}. It is now connected to the Romande Energie-EPFL solar park (one of the largest in Switzerland) and will be used to conduct real-world tests on the behavior of a power grid that is fed electricity from solar panels.
The Romande Energie-EPFL solar park will be used to study new, industrial-scale solutions for using renewable energies (especially solar energy) and feeding them into the power distribution grid, as part of the {\textquoteright}EPFL Smart Grid{\textquoteright} project. It will be able to hold up to 500 kWh, which is the equivalent of the average energy consumed by fifty Swiss households over the course of one day, while managing variations in power as a function of the sunshine.
The research involving the new system is set to last 23 months and will optimize the functioning of the various components of the new system and its management with an integrated electricity production and distribution network.}
}
@article {344891,
	title = {Creating a More Efficient Solar Panel},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A University of Connecticut researcher has created a gel that enhances the ability of solar cells to absorb energy from sunlight. This light-harvesting antenna could double the efficiency of current solar cell panels and make them cheaper to build.
Sunlight strikes Earth every day with more energy than is used globally in a year. But finding an efficient way to capture and store that solar energy to replace fossil fuels as the world{\textquoteright}s go-to energy source still remains a challenge.
Silicon photovoltaic solar cells, the most common type currently used on rooftop panels to convert photons {\textendash} tiny particles of light {\textendash} into electricity, can{\textquoteright}t take advantage of the blue part of the light spectrum. Only photons with the right amount of energy get absorbed by the photovoltaic cell. The antenna built by Professor Challa V. Kumar and his team, collects unused blue photons in the light spectrum and, via a process of "artificial photosynthesis," converts them to lower energy photons that the silicon can then turn into current.
Taking inspiration from plants, the team used a mixture of biodegradable materials to collect sunlight, much like plant chlorophyll. The concoction includes cow blood protein, fatty acid from coconuts, and different organic dyes. Together these substances form a gel that, when placed in a Gratzel cell, a particular type of solar cell, increases their absorption of unused photons and the power output of the cell.}
}
@article {344331,
	title = {Making Good Biofuels from Soil},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {One of the most promising bioenergy crops in the U.S. comes from switchgrass. This crop has the potential to provide high-yield biomass on marginal soils unsuitable for traditional agricultural crops.
New research conducted by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, UC Berkeley, the University of Oklahoma, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation is looking into whether switchgrass cultivation could result in an enhancement of key ecosystem services such as biofuel diversity, soil fertility, and carbon sequestration. The team has found that switchgrass can grow and propagate in marginal soils, making it a good candidate for sustainable biofuel production.
Plants and microorganisms have co-evolved for millions of years. Understanding the biochemical and genomic basis of beneficial plant-microbial interactions is a challenge for agriculture, forestry and invasive species management. Better knowledge of the molecular interactions within the plant microbiome also may benefit sustainable crop management. This is particularly relevant to the bioenergy feedstock sector, which is keen to avoid the "food for fuels" debate, and utilize land that is not currently in high-value food production.
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 has mandated that 36 billion gallons of annual biofuel production by constructed by 2022, and that approximately half is expected to be produced from cellulosic feedstock. Switchgrass has been identified as one of the most promising bioenergy crops in the U.S., with the potential to provide high-yielding biomass.
Switchgrass is a native North American prairie grass, with broad adaptability and minimal nutritional needs, meaning it could be cultivated on marginal lands that are unsuitable for agronomic crop plants. If cultivated on marginal lands, acreage for switchgrass would increase substantially. Roughly 11\% of the U.S. mainland is comprised of "marginal lands" and represent an untapped agronomic resource well-suited to switchgrass{\textquoteright} deep, extensive root growth architecture.
To meet the Department of Energy{\textquoteright}s goal to replace 30\% of petroleum-based transportation fuels with biofuels by 2030, the U.S. will require more acreage dedicated to bioenergy crops and substantial productivity increases.}
}
@article {343746,
	title = {Natural Pest Control Found for Fruit Orchards},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Recently, Washington State University scientists have discovered a local wasp that kills a type of stink bug that harms fruit orchards.
The wasp is known as Trissolcus japonicus and hails from Asia. It is being studied under quarantine in the U.S. as a possible weapon against the stink bug. Two small clusters of the stingless wasp were discovered in Vancouver, Washington, in August and September by a field technician with WSU{\textquoteright}s research lab in Wenatchee.
Since 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has directed studies of the wasp in quarantine laboratories to determine if it can be released in the wild to destroy the crop-wrecking brown marmorated stink bug.
The stink bug species, which also originated in Asia, has caused millions of dollars in damage to fruit orchards in the Mid-Atlantic region since it was discovered in Pennsylvania less than two decades ago. The stink bug has been moving West, as it has been found in Washington, Oregon and parts of California.}
}
@article {343271,
	title = {Optimizing Solar Energy Development},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {With the increasing desire to fight global climate change, increasing the use of renewable energy resources such as solar, is a challenge to the traditional model of utility-scale solar energy installations. Until now, studies quantifying the effects on land-cover change and analyses of impacts on protected areas near solar facilities have been limited.
A study published in the\&nbsp;Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, assessed the siting impacts of 161 existing, under construction, and planned utility-scale solar energy facilities in California. Utility-scale solar energy facilities generate at least 1 megawatt, which is enough to power approximately 165 homes.
The researchers found that a majority of sites are located in natural California shrub- and scrublands covering about 145 square miles:

28\% are in croplands and pastures.
Less than 15\% are in developed areas.
Around 19\% are in areas far from existing transmission infrastructure, which has adverse economic, energetic, and environmental consequences.

This study included two kinds of solar technologies, photovoltaics (PV), which use semiconductors, and concentrating solar power (CSP), which use mirrors to focus the sun{\textquoteright}s rays for generating steam.
In analyzing impacts on protected areas, the researchers calculated the proximity of solar installations to them. The fact that nearly 20\% of solar facilities were far from transmission infrastructure means that the energy must travel farther and therefore have greater energy losses, cost more to build, and new transmission corridors degrade the natural environment. Almost 30\% of all installations were in croplands and pastures. It is possible that the mounting pressure from drought has made this shift to solar energy an easier decision for farmers.
After evaluating land-cover change from solar facilities, the researchers used the Carnegie Energy and Environmental Compatibility computer model to develop a compatibility index to identify areas of potential and direct conflict with respect to environmental resources California-wide. Compatible areas are areas that are already developed. For photovoltaic technology, they identified some 8,500 square miles of these compatible areas (11.2\% of total PV installations) and 30,000 square miles of potential compatible areas (71.7\% of PV installations).
Potentially compatible areas are the next best thing. They are not protected, they would not require heavy site preparation, such as grading steep slopes, and they are within 6 miles of transmission lines and roads. There are many locally unique considerations that come into this category, for instance view disruption for local residents. Incompatible areas are natural and protected areas. The scientists found that some 55.5\% of CSP installations were in either compatible or potentially compatible areas.}
}
@article {342576,
	title = {Finding Balance in Developing Agriculture and Saving Forests},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {In order to feed the world{\textquoteright}s population, many forests are being taken down in order to establish an agricultural presence. With an increasing need to keep up, why does it matter where deforestation occurs?
Cutting the same number of trees in two different locations of a forest can have vastly different impacts, according to a study co-authored by four Stanford researchers. Clearing habitat from within a large, intact forest can do up to four times more damage to biodiversity and carbon storage than clearing the same amount of land on the forest{\textquoteright}s edge. According to estimates, agricultural land will expand by more than 740 million acres in the next 40 years. With such mounting pressure, it is essential to find ways to meet agricultural demand while conserving critical ecosystems and minimizing overall impacts.
Brazil, a biodiversity hotspot and one of the planet{\textquoteright}s largest stores of forest-based carbon, is also facing pressure for large-scale land transformation for agricultural production. It is the largest sugarcane producer and the second largest soybean producer in the world, and the area cultivated with these two crops has more than doubled in the past decade, with further increases predicted.
Conversion of forest to agriculture is most destructive when it occurs in a fragmentary pattern rather than in a consolidated patch. Less carbon is stored in forest edges and small forest fragments because of increased tree mortality due to greater exposure to wind, fire, pests and other threats. Breaking up forests into smaller fragments can also block corridors that wildlife use to seek out food, mates and refuge. However, many policy schemes still treat an acre of a particular type of forest {\textendash} regardless of its location or pattern {\textendash} as having a uniform value for carbon storage and biodiversity.
Expanding agriculture into adjacent land rather than fragmenting forest reduces impacts by more than three times for biodiversity {\textendash} or an order of magnitude for carbon storage for the same increase in agricultural area. Even something as simple as gradually spreading into a forest as opposed to jumping ahead beyond the current forest edge can cut the losses to carbon or biodiversity in half for the same amount of forest converted.
The paper{\textquoteright}s authors suggest that governments, corporations and other stakeholders consider these factors in the creation of carbon-trading schemes, sustainability assessments, agricultural zoning, development mitigation and other decisions. Specifically, the researchers suggest policies that encourage expansion around existing agriculture or edges of forests, as opposed to large infrastructure efforts such as roads that leapfrog agricultural development into frontier habitats.}
}
@article {341231,
	title = {Creating Biofertilizer from the Exoskeletons of Insects and Crustaceans},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A new method that obtains a clean organic fertilizer has been developed from research conducted at the Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics. This method is able to regenerate degraded soil caused by overharvesting.
Using natural biodegradable biopolymers like organic fertilizers could be a sustainable alternative facing the common usage of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers that result harmful to the environment. This way, researchers from Universidad Polit{\'e}cnica de Madrid in collaboration with University of Hamburg, have developed a method to obtain biocompounds made from the chitin of the exoskeletons of crustaceans and insects, and its usage in plant cultivations has proved to be more efficient.
This compound is biodegradable, insoluble and harmless to human health, it does not pollute the environment and it can be used in lower amount than other compounds since it does not disappear by evaporation or leaching. Otherwise, the cost can be up to 10\% cheaper than other organic fertilizer, what it means an additional advantage for its future usage.
The nitrogen fertilizers traditionally used in agriculture have polluting effects both in water and in the atmosphere, this can degrade soils and contribute to global warming. Thus, food industry demands more efficient organic fertilizers which are respectful to the environment.
This material has been tested as a fertilizer and has proven to stimulate the growth of several plant species, both forestry and herbaceous, increasing up to the 10\% its total content of nitrogen and carbon as well as an increase of its roots. All the mentioned characteristics of this material, its easy method of production and its low price compared to the traditional fertilizers make this new material a sustainable alternative with an easy market deployment in the area of agricultural fertilization.}
}
@article {338296,
	title = {Bimetallic Catalysts Discovered by Researchers},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {The ability to find catalysts that are highly active, inexpensive, and friendly to the environment is a real challenge for researchers. However recent efforts have focused on combining two metals, often in a structure where a core of one metal is surrounded by an atom-thick layer of a second one.
The properties and performance of these so-called bimetallic core-shell catalysts can be superior to those of either of the constituent metals, but determining how to take advantage of this synergy can be challenging.
Dion Vlachos, who directs the Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation at the University of Delaware, uses computational techniques to predict how these nanoscale materials will behave, and he recently made a surprising discovery about the structure of bimetallic catalysts. The results of the work, which was done with postdoctoral researcher Wei Guo, are documented in a paper, {\textquotedblleft}Patched Bimetallic Surfaces Are Active Catalysts for Ammonia Decomposition,{\textquotedblright} published in Nature Communications.
Vlachos and Guo performed multi-scale simulations of the decomposition of ammonia on various nickel-platinum catalysts and found that patches of the {\textquotedblleft}guest metal.{\textquotedblright} Decomposition of ammonia is often used as a representative reaction for predicting new catalytic materials and understanding why some reactions are sensitive on a particular material{\textquoteright}s structure.
Other advantages of studying this reaction include the need to find less-energy-intensive catalysts to break down ammonia, which is the primary chemical in most fertilizers, as well as ammonia{\textquoteright}s ability to serve as a carbon-free energy carrier for fuel cells. Future work will investigate the feasibility of patched surfaces for additional bimetallic catalysts and other reactions, and Vlachos is optimistic about the potential of the approach.}
}
@article {337666,
	title = {{\textquotedblleft}Fit For Purpose{\textquotedblright} Helping Major Cities with Water Issues},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Cities around the world are facing major water-related challenges, and are further aggravated by global trends such as urbanization and climate change. The time has come for water to become an asset rather than a problem in {\textquoteleft}smart livable cities{\textquoteright} of the future.
All over the world, people are migrating to ever larger cities. Global urbanization poses new water-related challenges{\textemdash}chief among them supplying clean drinking water, disposing of wastewater, and managing extreme precipitation.
The challenges of supplying sufficient water has led authorities, water utility companies, technology suppliers, and knowledge institutions from all over the world to coin the phrase {\textquoteleft}fit for purpose water{\textquoteright}{\textemdash}where water of a quality other than drinking water is used for washing clothes, watering lawns, and cleaning the car, for example.
In some parts of Australia, the authorities supply consumers with two different qualities of water. One is drinking water, and collected rainwater or treated wastewater is used to wash clothes and flush toilets, and other daily operations that do not require drinking water quality.
Now, the {\textquoteleft}Fit for purpose water{\textquoteright} idea has also found its way to Denmark. As a general rule, Denmark has a plentiful supply of water. However, in the Copenhagen area, extracting sufficient quantities of groundwater to meet the city{\textquoteright}s water needs is proving to be a challenge. Heavy precipitation has also spiked interest in using rainwater for purposes that do not require water of drinking water quality. Danish manufacturing companies are also interested in {\textquoteleft}fit for purpose water{\textquoteright} as a way to reduce their consumption of drinking water. By recycling and reusing water for cleaning operations, businesses can reduce the costs associated with clean drinking water and the discharge and treatment of wastewater.}
}
@article {337251,
	title = {Storing Energy Effectively Using Cellulose},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Two engineering researchers are turning trees into energy storage devices capable of powering everything from a smart watch to a hybrid car.
Emily Cranston, an assistant chemical engineering professor, and Igor Zhitomirsky, a materials science and engineering professor, are using cellulose, an organic compound found in plants, bacteria, algae and trees, to build more efficient and longer-lasting energy storage devices or super capacitors. This development paves the way toward the production of lightweight, flexible, and high-power electronics, such as wearable devices, portable power supplies and hybrid and electric vehicles.
Cellulose offers the advantages of high strength and flexibility for many advanced applications; of particular interest are nanocellulose-based materials. The work demonstrates an improved three-dimensional energy storage device constructed by trapping functional nanoparticles within the walls of a nanocellulose foam.
The foam is made in a simplified and fast one-step process. The type of nanocellulose used is called cellulose nanocrystals and looks like uncooked long-grain rice but with nanometer-dimensions. In these new devices, the {\textquoteright}rice grains{\textquoteright} have been glued together at random points forming a mesh-like structure with lots of open space, hence the extremely lightweight nature of the material. This can be used to produce more sustainable capacitor devices with higher power density and faster charging abilities compared to rechargeable batteries.
Lightweight and high-power density capacitors are of particular interest for the development of hybrid and electric vehicles. The fast-charging devices allow for significant energy saving, because they can accumulate energy during braking and release it during acceleration.}
}
@article {336461,
	title = {How Insects Can Help Prevent Infestation},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {There are differentiating opinions about how to manage an infestation of aphids. Some will advise insecticides as a way to manage an infestation, but others will swear by ladybugs. The latter is more environmental friendly, and once the ladybugs run out of food to eat, they move on.
While this strategy may work in someone{\textquoteright}s backyard, it{\textquoteright}s not an option on a large farm. In a Trends in Plant Science Opinion paper, agricultural researchers in Sweden and Mexico argue that one way around the scalability problem is to bring back the odors and nectars found in wild plants that attract pest-eating predators. This could be done either through breeding programs or by using artificial devices.
It{\textquoteright}s also not unusual for wild plants to produce nectar on their leaves to feed carnivores. While leaf-eating caterpillars or beetles are munching away on plant matter, predatory ants or wasps have a sugary substance to drink and a well-stocked spot to lay their eggs.
Theories point out that the reason these rather helpful traits no longer exist in crops is because plant breeders and decision makers couldn{\textquoteright}t tell the difference between helpful insects and pests. Only in the past 30 years has it been recognized that plants use odors to communicate to one another and to other species. Such defenses involve multiple genes, however, and it won{\textquoteright}t be easy to simply bring them back.
One faster alternative would be to plant crops alongside other species that both attract carnivores and repel pests. The downside is that intercropping requires more work during harvesting and its success rate isn{\textquoteright}t 100\%. Another option is to create mechanical dispensers that could release carnivore-calling odors and fungicidal nectar.}
}
@article {326746,
	title = {Economic Inequality Broadens Educational Performance},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {The type of schooling a student is engaged in plays a large role in short-changing the nation{\textquoteright}s most economically disadvantaged students of critical math skills, according to a study in the\&nbsp;Educational Researcher, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Educational Research Association.
The study indicates that unequal access to rigorous mathematics content is widening the gap in performance on a prominent international math literacy test between low- and high-income students, not only in the United States but in countries worldwide.
Using data from the 2012 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), conducted by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), researchers from Michigan State University and OECD confirmed not only that low-income students are more likely to be exposed to weaker math content in schools, but also that a substantial share of the gap in math performance between economically advantaged and disadvantaged students is related to those curricular inequalities.
It was found that in almost every one of the 62 countries examined, a significant amount was added to the social class-related performance gap because of what students studied in schools. The 2012 PISA was the first international study to include student-level indicators of exposure to math content. The authors relied on data from more than 300,000 students, who ranged in age from 15 years and 3 months to 16 years and 2 months.
In the United States, over one-third of the social class-related gap in student performance on the math literacy test was associated with unequal access to rigorous content. The other two-thirds was associated directly with students{\textquoteright} family and community background. Among the 33 OECD participating countries, the U.S. ranked 11th in the relative importance of schooling to SES inequality.
There are striking differences in how countries group their students and structure their instructional opportunities, meaning that in countries like the U.S. there are greater within-school inequalities in content coverage, while in other countries such as France, Germany, and Japan inequalities are larger between schools. Regardless of whether unequal learning opportunities for lower-income students were found within or between schools, they intensified inequitable student outcomes.}
}
@article {325711,
	title = {Forest Conservation Easier to Monitor with Drones},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A new study published in Biological Conservation suggests that drones could monitor the success of forest regeneration in the tropics. Automating the monitoring process will lead accurate results and could save a significant amount of time and money.
For the sake of agriculture, rainforests became heavily demolished through the years 1990-2005 by more than 8\% through deforestation. Today, large areas of agricultural land are being restored to rainforest to meet conservation goals in the tropics. It is important to monitor the success of these efforts to ensure that these areas are replenished with the right vegetation.
Driving the conservation efforts include government subsidies, and many of the people implementing the projects are individual land owners. Monitoring regeneration can be labor intensive and expensive, making it difficult to know whether conservation efforts have been successful. However, using drones to replace manual monitoring under certain conditions could save considerable costs, making the monitoring process more feasible for scientists.
Monitoring rainforests manually requires skilled, knowledgeable people and specialist equipment, and can be especially challenging if the land is difficult to access. An alternative to manual monitoring is LiDAR - remote sensing technology that analyzes reflected light. However, a single LiDAR flight to monitor forest recovery remotely can cost upwards of $20,000.
In the new study, researchers tested a new automated approach to monitoring that doesn{\textquoteright}t involve manual intervention. Using inexpensive drone-based remote sensing technology, the researchers measured the structure of the forest canopy across a series of 1-hectare regenerating fields that were previously agricultural land in southern Costa Rica. The land is part of a long-term tropical forest restoration study.
The drones were fitted with a simple 10 megapixel point-and-shoot digital camera and use open-source software to process these overlapping images. The camera takes thousands of photos and the "Ecosynth" methodology then creates 3D images called point clouds that represent the vegetation. In total, the drone and camera cost US$1500 - less than a tenth of the cost of some equivalent flights.}
}
@article {325136,
	title = {Researcher Effort to Stop Tomato Eating Pest from Reaching US},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A highly destructive species is threatening tomato crops, and a Virginia Tech scientist is aiming to put an end to it. The measures, including quarantine, are designed to stop the advance of the pest {\textquotedblleft}Tuta absoluta{\textquotedblright} throughout the world. The insect originated in Panama and Costa Rica, has been moving northward, but has not established itself in the United States.
No larger than an eyelash, the tiny moth spread from its native Latin America to Europe in 2006 and later crossed the Mediterranean to Africa. Now threatening Asia, the moth strikes at the world{\textquoteright}s most commercially important horticulture crop - the tomato, valuable to farmers around the world. Its path is destructive and its advance rapid, moving from Spain in 2006 through Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India.
The team{\textquoteright}s recommendations to eradicate the pest include:

Educate administrators, scientists, and the public about the impending danger of the coming Tuta absoluta invasion.
Adopt quarantine measures to prevent its introduction. These would include such steps as not allowing the import of tomatoes with stems, leaves, or a calyx.
Set up monitoring programs in border areas using pheromone traps.
Explore the effectiveness of using natural enemies of Tuta absoluta, imported from South America, home of the moth, to control the pest.
Form regional and global networks to inform each other and the world about Tuta absoluta discoveries.

In 2011, Tuta absoluta infested 404,000 acres of cultivated tomato, representing 40 percent of the world{\textquoteright}s crop. In the United States, the tomato industry accounts for more than $2 billion in annual farm cash receipts. The economic impact of this insect has already been severe in countries where it has become established. In Spain, its presence led to an increase of $209 per acre per season related to pest management. In central Argentina, management of Tuta accounts for 70\% of the pest management costs for late-season tomato crops.
Since then, the program has held half a dozen workshops to raise awareness about the invasive species and help public officials and farmers prepare to minimize the destruction.}
}
@article {325141,
	title = {Researcher Effort to Stop Tomato Eating Pest from Reaching US},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A highly destructive species is threatening tomato crops, and a Virginia Tech scientist is aiming to put an end to it. The measures, including quarantine, are designed to stop the advance of the pest {\textquotedblleft}Tuta absoluta{\textquotedblright} throughout the world. The insect originated in Panama and Costa Rica, has been moving northward, but has not established itself in the United States.
No larger than an eyelash, the tiny moth spread from its native Latin America to Europe in 2006 and later crossed the Mediterranean to Africa. Now threatening Asia, the moth strikes at the world{\textquoteright}s most commercially important horticulture crop - the tomato, valuable to farmers around the world. Its path is destructive and its advance rapid, moving from Spain in 2006 through Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India.
The team{\textquoteright}s recommendations to eradicate the pest include:

Educate administrators, scientists, and the public about the impending danger of the coming Tuta absoluta invasion.
Adopt quarantine measures to prevent its introduction. These would include such steps as not allowing the import of tomatoes with stems, leaves, or a calyx.
Set up monitoring programs in border areas using pheromone traps.
Explore the effectiveness of using natural enemies of Tuta absoluta, imported from South America, home of the moth, to control the pest.
Form regional and global networks to inform each other and the world about Tuta absoluta discoveries.

In 2011, Tuta absoluta infested 404,000 acres of cultivated tomato, representing 40 percent of the world{\textquoteright}s crop. In the United States, the tomato industry accounts for more than $2 billion in annual farm cash receipts. The economic impact of this insect has already been severe in countries where it has become established. In Spain, its presence led to an increase of $209 per acre per season related to pest management. In central Argentina, management of Tuta accounts for 70\% of the pest management costs for late-season tomato crops.
Since then, the program has held half a dozen workshops to raise awareness about the invasive species and help public officials and farmers prepare to minimize the destruction.}
}
@article {324191,
	title = {Long-term Clean Energy Savings Offset Costs of Today},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy by 2050 would cost about $1 trillion dollars per year, but that cost would be more than offset by lower energy costs, saving $1.1 trillion, says a Greenpeace report. Wind turbines, for example, run on a "free" energy source{\textemdash}the wind, while a power station has to be constantly refueled with expensive coal or gas.
The world{\textquoteright}s nations are seeking to curb rampant emissions of climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions in a bid to slow global warming, but the cost of the transformation is often held up as a major obstacle, especially for poor and developing countries.
The report highlighted that as many as 9.7 million people could have jobs in the solar power industry by 2030{\textemdash}more than 10 times as many as today and equivalent to the current number of jobs in the coal sector, while wind industry jobs could increase up to almost eight million
The researchers based their forecasts on UN estimations for economic development and population growth, and assumed the world{\textquoteright}s energy system would be completely "decarbonized" over the next 35 years. They also considered rising energy demand in fast-growing Africa and Asia, offset by lower demand in rich nations resulting in a peak of global demand by about 2020. The study also assumed that renewable energy costs come down as the technology and availability improves.
Short term, electricity could become slightly more expensive{\textemdash}by about $0.02 per kilowatt hour, but "as prices rise for conventional fuels, these costs will become economically favorable across all world regions by 2030, and by 2050 the fuel cost savings will be 1.7 US cents/kWh," said the report.}
}
@article {323721,
	title = {Inadvertent Land Degradation Causes Trillions in Lost Benefits},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Drains and clearing used in Agriculture that lower water tables and regulate salinity are impacting waterways in one of the most botanically significant and largest regions in Australia, according to new research from The University of Western Australia.
Regions investigated of acid groundwater were around the Dalyup River, Lake Gore waterways system and the Jacup-Cameron Creek in the Fitzgerald River National Park. Rising acid groundwater tables were flowing into waterways as a result of agricultural clearing by landholders who didn{\textquoteright}t realize the impact of their activities. The study also found that agricultural drains installed by farmers to lower water tables in a bid to manage salinity had inadvertently increased the acidification.
The research found that more than 100 kilometers of waterways in the in the Dalyup catchment headwaters were already permanently acidified. The work follows research by the UWA Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management into the ecological impacts of deep drains across the Wheatbelt which found that the loss of stream and wetland invertebrates could impact other organisms such as frogs and fish that feed on them.}
}
@article {322251,
	title = {Dirty Air Raising Death Toll},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {According to a new study, the air we breathe is killing 3.3 million people a year worldwide, and farming emissions play a huge role in the number. If trends don{\textquoteright}t change on this front, the study projected annual deaths will double by 2050. Currently, air pollution kills more than HIV and malaria combined.
The study, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, used health statistics and computer models. About three quarters of the deaths are from strokes and heart attacks. The findings are similar to other less detailed pollution death estimates. With nearly 1.4 million deaths a year, China has the most air pollution fatalities, followed by India with 645,000 and Pakistan with 110,000.
The United States, with 54,905 deaths in 2010 from soot and smog, ranks seventh highest for air pollution deaths. According to the study, agriculture is the number one cause of these deaths in the U.S. Northeast, all of Europe, Russia, Japan and South Korea. Worldwide, agriculture is the No. 2 cause with 664,100 deaths, behind the more than 1 million deaths from in-home heating and cooking done with wood and other biofuels in developing world.
The problem with farms is ammonia from fertilizer and animal waste. That ammonia then combines with sulfates from coal-fired power plants and nitrates from car exhaust to form the soot particles that are the big air pollution killers, he said. In London, for example, the pollution from traffic takes time to be converted into soot, and then it is mixed with ammonia and transported downwind to the next city. Agricultural emissions are becoming increasingly important but are not regulated.}
}
@article {321216,
	title = {Energy-efficient Computing Through Magnetic Waves},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A theorized, but previously undetected magnetic wave has been discovered through photos by a team of physicists from NYU, Stanford, and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The research appears in the journal Physical Review Letters.
{\textquotedblleft}This is an exciting discovery because it shows that small magnetic waves{\textemdash}known as spin-waves{\textemdash}can add up to a large one in a magnet, a wave that can maintain its shape as it moves,{\textquotedblright} explains Andrew Kent, a professor of physics at NYU and the study{\textquoteright}s senior author. {\textquotedblleft}A specialized x-ray method that can focus on particular magnetic elements with very high spatial resolution enabled this discovery and should enable many more insights into this behavior.{\textquotedblright}
{\textquotedblleft}Magnetism has been used for navigation for thousands of years and more recently to build generators, motors, and data storage devices,{\textquotedblright} adds co-author Hendrik Ohldag, a scientist at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (SSRL), where the soliton was discovered. {\textquotedblleft}However, magnetic elements were mostly viewed as static and uniform. To push the limits of energy efficiency in the future we need to understand better how magnetic devices behave on fast timescales at the nanoscale, which is why we are using this dedicated ultrafast x-ray microscope.{\textquotedblright}
These magnetic waves are known as solitons{\textemdash}for solitary waves{\textemdash}and were theorized to occur in magnets in the 1970s. They form because of a delicate balance of magnetic forces{\textemdash}much like water waves can form a tsunami. However, these magnetic waves are not destructive; they could potentially be harnessed to transmit data in magnetic circuits in a way that is far more energy efficient than current methods that involve moving electrical charge.
This is because solitons are stable objects that overcome resistance, or friction, as they move. By contrast, electrons, used to move data today, do generate heat as they travel, due to resistance and thus requiring additional energy, such as from a battery, as they transport data to its destination.
In their search, the scientists deployed x-ray microscopy at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource {\textemdash}using a method akin to the way x-rays are used to image the human body{\textemdash}in order to image the behavior of specific magnetic atoms in materials. The technique offers extraordinarily high spatial resolution and temporal resolution. The scientists created a condition in magnetic materials where the sought-after solitons should exist by injecting an electrical current into a magnetic material to excite spin-waves.
They observed an abrupt onset of magnetic waves with a well-defined spatial profile that matched the predicted form of a solitary magnetic wave{\textemdash}i.e., a magnetic soliton.}
}
@article {320111,
	title = {Sustaining Agriculture in India{\textquoteright}s Poorest States},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {One of India{\textquoteright}s poorest and food-desolate states is Jharkhand, with over 45\% of the population living below the poverty line. Even though more than 75\% of Jharkhand{\textquoteright}s citizens rely on farming for their livelihood, agriculture accounts for only 15\% of GDP. Groundwater depletion and periodic drought compound the state{\textquoteright}s difficulties and low agricultural productivity, even as a changing climate threatens to make the situation worse.
To help address these challenges, the Centers for International Projects Trust, the Columbia Water Center{\textquoteright}s India affiliate, has teamed up with Birsa Agricultural University to develop a Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers{\textquoteright} Livelihood Villages Program in Jharkhand.
The aim of this program is to transform village economies and farmer livelihoods by promoting the use of modern inputs such as improved seeds and fertilizers, teaching rain-water storage for crop irrigation, building agricultural information networks in the villages, encouraging climate resilience, and developing value chains for crops for enhancing the farm incomes.
The program will pilot-test a series of interventions at 10 villages of the Angara block in the Ranchi district in Jharkhand, benefitting around 700 farmers and putting them on a path toward long-term agricultural and livelihood sustainability.
The team{\textquoteright}s preliminary assessment of the target villages revealed that farmers had poor access to improved seeds, fertilizers and irrigation, which in turn leads to poor production and low yields. This gap, coupled with an overall lack of access to markets, severely limits farmer income.
To address each of these problems, the team organized a suite of interventions for the participating farmers. These included the introduction of modern, high-yielding varieties of maize and rice (depending on farmer preference). In the end, 320 farmers opted to pursue rice cultivation and 310 were selected for maize. Seeds were distributed and farmers trained on the potential benefits of the introduced crop varieties, how to raise and transplant seedlings, and how to make use of weather-based advisories. The farmers were also trained on the standard operating practices and techniques to realize the full potential yield from the introduced crop varieties. But while these interventions were important, none of them would work well without improved water use.
The Jharkand region receives significant rainfall each year{\textendash}nearly 1400 mm, (55 inches), more than much of the East Coast of the United States. However, the sporadic pattern of precipitation leads to frequent agricultural drought. The state{\textquoteright}s irrigation potential is a meager 12\%, which makes harvesting and reusing every drop of rainwater absolutely essential for life-saving crop watering during dry spells.
To address the water challenge, the researchers identified 20 sites (two in each village) to construct small water-harvesting ponds with the help of earth-movers. Construction was preceded by outreach and education of farmers in the respective villages.
The researchers devised a simple system address a crucial information gap: weather and climate forecasting. For farmers, weather- and climate- related information play a critical role before and during the cropping season. Reliable forecasts that are provided at the appropriate time can help farmers time their planting, irrigation and other activities in ways that can greatly enhance production. Farmers in Jharkhand, however, have limited access to reliable agro-advisory services for weather forecasts.
In order to provide real-time weather information, the project research team installed wooden display boards in each of the villages to provide weekly weather information to farmers. Weather-based advisory bulletins prepared by the Birsa Agricultural University will be displayed on the boards twice a week. The bulletin contains weather forecasts for the next five days, along with relevant farming advice on best practices for the given conditions. In addition, farmers will receive daily mobile phone SMS advisories.
The research team plans to implement the suite of interventions over the next two years, along with additional measures as appropriate. The team will regularly monitor and document the entire process and results, and will use these results to advocate for broader policy changes to help farmers throughout the state.}
}
@article {319321,
	title = {Harvesting Efficient Renewable Energy from Waves},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Demand for wind and solar energy as has been steadily increasing over the years, and the need to reduce the cost and extend the life of renewable energy storage batteries becomes even greater.
Thomas Beck, a professor of chemistry at the University of Cincinnati, looked at how water and other molecules influence and align ionic distribution on the surface of water. As part of his research titled "Computational Studies of Specific Ion effects in Water and Ion Channels," he leveraged the technical resources of the Ohio Supercomputer Center to improve methods for calculating the thermodynamics of ion hydration. He found a much more efficient way to quantify the electrical voltage at the surface of water and other liquids like ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate.
Beck has developed basic methods using quantum calculations to show that older, more traditional methods for gauging water{\textquoteright}s electrical surface charge often over-estimate the polarization state of ions, which is at the center of the electrical processes. Ultimately, Beck feels that progress is being made in wind and solar renewable energy but may not be fast enough for the crisis that is expected. Given the trajectory that energy is being used at present rates, he predicts that future energy demands may likely double in the next 50 years, in part because of the growth of developing countries.
For more on this study, click here.}
}
@article {318676,
	title = {Pest Problems Reduced in Cornfields with Increased Diversity of Insects},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Having a cornfield with a more diverse insect population leads to fewer problems with pests, according to a study done by U.S. Department of Agriculture and South Dakota State University.
The project assessed insect populations in cornfields on 53 farms in eastern South Dakota. It is the first to use social network analysis to study insect communities in the corn production system to understand how large groups of organisms interact from an applied angle. The research gives farmers a metric whereby they can assess their corn production system, and that use of no-till and a diverse crop rotation plan can improve insect diversity. Also, a balanced ecosystem can then lead to reduced costs associated with insecticides.
The research indicates that it{\textquoteright}s not the number of species, but rather the balance of species within the insect communities that are responsible for pest suppression. Farmers that adopt a diverse cropping system can reduce the need for insecticides and thus lower their input costs. Additionally, a more diverse cropping system also decreases the revenue variability in farm production.}
}
@article {317456,
	title = {Self-Medicating Bees Combating Parasites},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A study led by Dartmouth College and the University of Colorado-Boulder shows that bees that are infected with parasites self-medicate from nectar containing nicotine and other natural chemicals in plants, and significantly reduced the number of parasites, but the new study shows parasitized bees already are taking advantage of natural chemicals in the wild.
Colony collapse disorder among bees has drawn much attention in recent years, but parasites are a common natural cause of disease in bumblebees and honeybees, both of which play a vital role in agriculture and plant pollination. The intestinal parasite the researchers looked at can strongly affect their survival, reproduction and foraging behavior.
The researchers studied the effects of a group of plant secondary metabolites found naturally in floral nectar{\textemdash}iridoid glycosides{\textemdash}on bumblebee foraging and plant reproduction. Iridoid glycosides can deter deer and other herbivores, but the researchers{\textquoteright} earlier studies showed the compounds have a medicinal effect on parasitized bees by reducing their parasite load.
In the new study, the researchers looked at concentrations of two iridoid glycoside compounds, aucubin and catalpol, in nectar and pollen in four populations of turtlehead, a bee-pollinated wetland plant found throughout eastern North America. They then manipulated concentrations of the chemicals in those flowers to study their effects on bee foraging.
The results showed that relative to healthy bees, those infected with the intestinal parasite greatly preferred visiting flowers with the highest iridoid glycoside concentrations. Bees attacked by a second antagonist, a parasitoid fly, did not respond in this way to nectar chemistry. The researchers also found that flowers with the highest concentrations of nectar iridoid glycosides donated significantly more pollen to other flowers following bee visits, showing that nectar chemistry can affect plant reproductive success.}
}
@article {316656,
	title = {Diminishing Returns of Wind Energy},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {More wind turbines are popping up across landscapes in the U.S. and abroad more than ever before. Wind energy accounted for 3.3\% of electricity generation in the United States in 2011, while globally, that number was 2.9\% for the same year.
But as wind turbines increase dramatically, researchers at the University of Kansas are looking at how these forests of turbines affect the wind itself. What happens to the wind when a larger number of wind turbines removes more and more of the energy of atmospheric motion?
A new study just published in the\&nbsp;Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences\&nbsp;evaluated the effects of large wind farms on atmospheric flow and its implications for how much renewable energy the turbines can generate. Wind turbines generate electricity by removing energy from the wind, so a larger number of wind turbines should result in a slowdown of the winds in the lower atmosphere.
The team found that a slowdown effect triggered by wind turbines is substantial for large wind farms and results in proportionally less renewable energy generated for each turbine versus the energy that would be generated from an isolated wind turbine. While the researchers stress that no current or planned wind farm approaches the size or concentration that would cause the slowdown effect, their results suggest the phenomenon tied to large wind farms needs to be accounted for in future planning of wind energy.
When just a few wind turbines are installed, each additional turbine results in a similar increase in electricity generated. However, when a substantial number of turbines are installed over a small area, the amount of electricity generated is no longer governed by simple multiplication. Instead, because the turbines extract energy from the wind, additional turbines will each generate less and less electricity.
The team{\textquoteright}s simulations estimate this slowdown effect results in a practical upper limit of 1 megawatt per square kilometer that can be generated{\textemdash}far less than previous estimates not accounting for the effect. Current wind farms are operating well below this generation limit, but the authors found that this slowdown effect needs to be accounted for, particularly when comparing different sources of renewable energy.}
}
@article {314481,
	title = {Combating Stink Bugs from Economic Damages},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Various types of stink bugs have long been a problem on soybean crops, but when sweeps of fields in southeast Texas netted 65\% red-banded stink bugs, entomologists realized this particular bug had become the predominant pest problem, according to Dr. Mo Way, an entomologist at the Texas A\&amp;M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Beaumont.
The problem was no one in the U.S. knew much about the red-banded stink bug and how it had been able to overcome the previously predominant southern green stink bug, green stink bug and brown stink bug. An insect{\textquoteright}s life cycle and biology have to be understood before scientists can figure out ways to control it.
Not only did the research team find insect numbers at economically damaging levels in Texas but also determined that the red-banded stink bug was becoming resistant to the organophosphate chemical that previously had provided effective control. Researchers also had an inkling the red-banded stink bug was responsible for what is known as delayed maturity syndrome in which the soybean plant does not grow at its normal rate. They tested this theory by subjecting a controlled growth of soybeans to different densities of red-banded stink bugs and found that the insect is directly connected to the disorder.
Finding that the insect is becoming resistant to the common insecticide used as well as the fact that more frequent doses were required to control them was a significant point in the research. The team is also hoping to continue research with other control possibilities such as using a trap crop planted near soybeans to attract the insects away or developing red-banded stink bug-resistant soybean varieties.}
}
@article {313366,
	title = {A Breakthrough in Barley Genetics},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Barley possesses a large and highly repetitive genome that is difficult to fully sequence, but scientists at the University of California, Riverside have reached a new milestone on sequencing its work. The researchers have sequenced large portions of the genome that together contain nearly two-thirds of all barley genes.
The new information, published in The Plant Journal, will not only expand geneticists{\textquoteright} knowledge of barley{\textquoteright}s DNA but will also help in the understanding, at the genetic level, of wheat and other sources of food. It also has applications in plant breeding by increasing the precision of markers for traits such as malting quality or stem rust.
Prior to this work, a long-held view was that the distribution of genes in the genomes of barley, wheat and their relatives is such that the gene-dense regions are only out near the ends of chromosomes where there is also a high rate of recombination. The work revealed clear exceptions, identifying deviant regions that are gene-rich but low recombination.
Recombination refers to the formation of new combinations of genes naturally during meiosis, which is a stage of the cell cycle where chromosomes pair up and undergo exchange. Close explained that plant breeders rely on meiotic recombination to introduce favorable forms of genes for malting quality, stem rust or any number of traits into cultivated varieties. Crosses are made and progeny plants are screened for desirable new combinations of traits. When a favorable form of a gene lies within a gene-dense, low recombination region it requires much more work to bring that favorable allele into an existing variety without also dragging in neighboring genes that may exist in undesirable forms.
To read the full report, click\&nbsp;here.}
}
@article {312671,
	title = {California Drought Consequences},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {The drought currently being fought in California is having a huge effect on the economy in the area, squeezing about 30\% more workers and cropland out of production than in 2014. In 2015, the state{\textquoteright}s agricultural economy will lose about $1.84 billion and 10,100 seasonal jobs because of the drought, with the Central Valley hardest hit. Analysis has also forecasted how the industry will fare if the drought persists through 2017.
Currently, the industry overall remains robust. The agricultural economy continues to grow in the fourth year of a severe drought, thanks mostly to California{\textquoteright}s vast but declining reserves of groundwater, which will offset about 70\% of the surface water shortage this year.
California is the world{\textquoteright}s richest food-producing region. Continued strong global demand and prices for many of its fruits, nuts and vegetables has helped sustain the farm economy along with intrastate water transfers and shifts in growing locations.
The heavy reliance on groundwater comes at ever-increasing energy costs as farmers pump deeper and drill more wells. Some of the heavy pumping is in basins already in severe overdraft, where groundwater use greatly exceeds replenishment of aquifers. This invites further land subsidence, water quality problems and diminishing reserves needed for future droughts. Further, several small rural communities continue to suffer from high unemployment and drying up of domestic wells because of the drought, particularly in the Tulare Basin.
The UC Davis team that conducted the research used computer models and the latest estimates of surface water availability from state and federal water projects and local water districts. They forecast several drought-related impacts in the state{\textquoteright}s major agricultural regions for the current growing season, including:
The direct costs of drought to agriculture will be $1.84 billion for 2015. The total impact to all economic sectors is an estimated $2.74 billion, compared with $2.2 billion in 2014. The state{\textquoteright}s farmers and ranchers currently receive more than $46 billion annually in gross revenues, a small fraction of California{\textquoteright}s $1.9 trillion-a-year economy.
The loss of about 10,100 seasonal jobs directly related to farm production, compared with the researchers{\textquoteright} 2014 drought estimate of 7,500 jobs. When considering the spillover effects of the farm losses on all other economic sectors, the employment impact of the 2015 drought more than doubles to 21,000 lost jobs.
Surface water shortages will reach nearly 8.7 million acre-feet, which will be offset mostly by increased groundwater pumping of 6 million acre-feet. Net water shortages of 2.7 million acre-feet will cause roughly 542,000 acres to be idled{\textemdash}114,000 more acres than the researchers{\textquoteright} 2014 drought estimate. Most idled land is in the Tulare Basin.
The effects of continued drought through 2017 (assuming continued 2014 water supplies) will likely be 6 percent worse than in 2015, with the net water shortage increasing to 2.9 million acre-feet a year. Gradual decline in groundwater pumping capacity and water elevations will add to the incremental costs of a prolonged drought. The scientists noted that new state groundwater laws requiring local agencies to attain sustainable yields could eventually reverse the depletion of underground reserves.}
}
@article {309796,
	title = {Cutting Energy Use with Light-emitting Diodes},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Using highly efficient, light-emitting diodes (LED) could slash the world{\textquoteright}s electricity consumption in half, saving the nation $700 million annually in energy costs. LED{\textquoteright}s are currently widely available, but widespread adoption of the technology has been hindered by high costs due to limited availability of raw materials and difficulties in achieving acceptable light quality. These obstacles have been overcome as a less expensive, more sustainable white LED has been developed.
To achieve the common, soft white light that consumers expect, current LED technologies typically use a single semiconductor chip to produce light, usually blue, and then rely on a yellow-emitting "phosphor" coating to shift the color to white. That{\textquoteright}s because LEDs do not emit a white light. The phosphor is made from materials, such as cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet, that are composed of rare-earth elements. These elements are expensive and in limited supply, since they are primarily available only from mining operations outside the U.S. Additionally, the light output of these phosphors tends to be harsh, "cold" colors.
Researchers are developing a hybrid of the phosphor-based technologies that are much more sustainable, efficient and low-cost. They combine common, earth-abundant metals with organic luminescent molecules to produce phosphors that emit a controllable white light from LEDs. By varying the metal and organic components, the researchers can systematically tune the color of the phosphors to regions of the visible light spectrum that are most acceptable to the human eye.
Many material combinations are possible, so a computational approach to initially sort through the possibilities and to predict what color of light the various metals and organics combinations will emit. The approach allows a systematic fine tuning of band gaps and optical emissions that cover the entire visible range, including yellow and white colors. As a result, their LEDs can be fine-tuned to create a warmer white light, similar to cheaper but inefficient incandescent lights. The approach shows significant promise for use in general lighting applications. Experiments with some materials have shown that the technology can cut LED costs by as much as 90\% from current methods that rely on rare-earth elements.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {309046,
	title = {Hormonal Teamwork Required for Plant Growth},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Two growth-promoting groups of substances, the {\textquotedblleft}gibberellins{\textquotedblright} and the {\textquotedblleft}brassinosteroids{\textquotedblright}, are used independently of each other for the breeding and production of crop plants. A team of scientists at Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now discovered that the two act in concert - without brassinosteroids, a plant is unable to produce gibberellins.
For their current investigations, a research group at the Technical University of Munich, supported by scientists from the Helmholtz Zentrum Munich and the TU Braunschweig used thale cress,a model research plant. Researchers wanted to examine the molecular mechanisms of brassinosteroids. Although it was well known how brassinosteroids are produced and how their signals are transmitted in plants, it was unclear how the growth promotion process is initiated.
The scientists used plants with mutations, which impaired the activity of brassinosteroids. They thereby discovered that these plants produced less gibberellin. As a result, the plants{\textquoteright} germination was impaired, their growth inhibited and their flowering delayed. The scientists were able to show that transcription factors are responsible for this mechanism. Transcription factors are proteins that regulate gene expression. Once activated by brassinosteroids, they initiate the production of gibberellin.
Dwarf cultivars, such as balcony varieties of vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers, as well as grain varieties were specifically selected for impaired brassinosteroid metabolism. These short cultivars are called semi-dwarf varieties. They were bred as early as the 1950{\textquoteright}s and 1960{\textquoteright}s when the primary aim was to improve yields. Coupled with intensified farming methods, these new crop varieties increased yields fivefold, preventing famines in Mexico and later China.}
}
@article {304586,
	title = {Species Diversity Stabilizes Wild Animals Across the Globe},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {The central issue in ecology is {\textquotedblleft}Why are some species of plants and animals vary more in number than others?{\textquotedblright} Swedish researchers at Linnaeus University and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) have found an important finding to answer this question: Individual differences have a positive and stabilizing effect on the number of moths. Species with varying color drawing are generally more numerous and fluctuate less in number from year to year. This could help to explain why some insect species in some years are very abundant pests and cause substantial damage in agriculture and forestry.
A research team led by Professor Anders Forsman at Linnaeus University has highlighted the issue through over a period of 11 years collecting moths at a site in southern Sweden with a light trap. The 115,000 captured were represented by 246 different species of moths. The researchers then counted how many butterflies of each species they captured in the different years. The species were divided into three different groups depending on how much color artwork varies between individuals within each species.
More moths varied greatly in color drawing, compared to species where moths were more similar to each other. Additionally the number of moths fluctuated strongly between different years for species that had little or no color variation. The relationship between color variation and stability was independent of activity period or host plant range, since the more stable species with large variation in color drawing were not restricted in their activity to a shorter part of the year or to a narrower range of host plants. It was concluded that there is variation in color artwork which affects the dynamics of moth populations.
The population fluctuations were not synchronized among the different species. This suggests that the changes were caused by biological processes rather than by abiotic differences in, for example weather conditions. The results may be partly explained by the assumption that variation in coloration makes predators less effective that hunt by sight. The individual differences contribute to increased stability of the moths which confirms conclusions from previous studies of frogs, lizards and snakes that color variation is a key to success in the wild. Information on animal color drawings can be used in conservation biology to identify which species are particularly threatened and in need of protective measures.}
}
@article {301566,
	title = {Siemens New Wind Turbine Boosts Energy by Nearly 10\%},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Under typical offshore conditions, a single new turbine can generate 32 million kilowatt hours of electricity in a year, enough to supply up to 7,000 homes. A new, Siemens model wind turbine (SWT-7.0-154) has the same rotor diameter of 154 meters as the predecessor model, but delivers a nearly 10\% higher energy yield.
Since 2010, Siemens has relied on gearless technology for its offshore wind turbines. A synchronous generator with permanent magnets converts the rotor motion directly into electrical energy without the use of a gearbox which normally steps up the low speed of the wind rotor to high speed for generating electricity. With the new technology, the entire drive train operates with significantly fewer components, making it lighter, more compact and less prone to wear. The new wind turbine is thus the lightest wind turbine in its performance class. The gearless turbine also delivers more power. Since the use of permanent magnets for exciting the generator obviates the need for electrical power or for the corresponding control system or slip rings, a high level of efficiency is achieved even at low wind speeds.
The latest increase in performance has been attained through optimization measures to the generator and the associated electrical components. The key modifications are more powerful permanent magnets in the rotor and suitably strengthened generator segments. In addition, the converter and transformer that transform the electrical energy produced by the generator for feeding into the supply grid have been re-engineered for the higher power output. The electrical systems are also optimized with respect to reactive power compensation, a function that is important for the stability of the power supply grid. The prototype now installed is designed to test the operation of the more powerful generator and the upgraded electrical components.
All in all, the Siemens engineers have succeeded in increasing the output of the turbine without basically altering its essential components. The proven technology and reliability of its predecessor have been retained and the new system can be brought to production maturity more quickly. The start of series production is planned for the beginning of 2017.}
}
@article {300786,
	title = {Elimination of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Great Plains},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Researchers from Colorado State University have completed a historical analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. Great Plains that demonstrates the potential to completely eliminate agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from the region.
The research article found\&nbsp;here, uses historical agricultural census data and ecosystem models to estimate the magnitude of annual greenhouse gas emissions from all agricultural sources in the Great Plains from the years 1870 to 2000.
The analysis further demonstrated that adoption of best management practices could substantially mitigate agricultural greenhouse gas fluxes. If just 25\% of agricultural producers in the region adopted these practices, an estimated 34\% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would occur. If 75\% of agricultural producers adopted the practices, they could be completely eliminated. These reductions in greenhouse gas fluxes would occur without any reduction in food production and are primarily a result of no-tillage cultivation practices.
As farmers replaced human and animal labor with mechanized equipment and expanded herds of cattle to meet consumer demand for meat, emissions from these sources overwhelmed the otherwise beneficial effects of other agricultural changes, such as increased irrigation and a reduction in the extent of land in crop production.
Using historical data, the research showed that climatic factors mediate these emissions, with cool and wet weather promoting carbon sequestration, and hot and dry weather increasing greenhouse gas releases. Potential future increases in hot and dry weather conditions could greatly enhance greenhouse gas fluxes from the Great Plains. A 25\% reduction in harvested cropland and increases in the conservation reserve program have resulted in major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from the Great Plains during the last 40 years. Potential expansion of cropland in the Great Plains due to high crop prices could greatly increase future greenhouse gas fluxes.
Cultural and economic barriers to the extensive adoption of such best management practices, including higher costs for slow release fertilizer, new equipment, and training are required for conversion to a {\textquotedblleft}no tillage agriculture.{\textquotedblright}}
}
@article {300111,
	title = {Producing Energy from Wastewater},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Engineers from the University of Colorado Boulder have developed an innovative wastewater treatment process that not only mitigates carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, but actively captures greenhouse gases as well.
The engineers have employed a practice known as Microbial Electrolytic Carbon Capture (MECC), that purifies wastewater in an environmentally-friendly fashion by using an electrochemical reaction that absorbs more CO2 than it releases while creating renewable energy in the process.
Wastewater treatment typically produces CO2 emissions in two ways: decomposition of organic material within that wastewater, and the burning of fossil fuels to power the machinery. Plus, existing wastewater treatment technologies consume high amounts of energy. Public utilities in the US treat an estimated 12 trillion gallons of municipal wastewater each year and consume approximately 3\% of the nation{\textquoteright}s grid energy.
Existing carbon capture technologies are energy-intensive and often entail costly transportation and storage procedures. MECC uses the natural conductivity of saline wastewater to facilitate an electrochemical reaction that is designed to absorb CO2 from both the water and the air. The process transforms CO2 into stable mineral carbonates and bicarbonates that can be used as raw materials by the construction industry, used as a chemical buffer in the wastewater treatment cycle itself or used to counter acidity downstream from the process such as in the ocean. The reaction also yields excess hydrogen gas, which can be stored and harnessed as energy in a fuel cell.
The findings offer the possibility that wastewater could be treated effectively on-site without the risks or costs typically associated with disposal. Further research is needed to determine the optimal MECC system design and assess the potential for scalability.
Power companies have many reasons to perk up at the possibility of a carbon-negative wastewater treatment solution. The Environmental Protection Agency{\textquoteright}s Clean Power Plan, expected to take full effect in the year 2020, will require power plants to comply with reduced CO2 emission levels.
The study may also have positive long-term implications for the world{\textquoteright}s oceans. Approximately 25\% of CO2 emissions are subsequently absorbed by the sea, which lowers pH, alters ocean chemistry and hence threatens marine organisms, especially coral reefs and shellfish. Dissolved carbonates and bicarbonates produced via MECC, however, could act to chemically counter these effects if added to the ocean.}
}
@article {299641,
	title = {Genetic Unlock Leads to Domestication of Barley},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Research led by Professor Takao Komatsuda from the National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, and the Okayama University Institute of Plant Science and Resources have unlocked the genetic key in barley that led to the start of cropping in human agriculture. Two genes (Btr1 and Btr2) have been discovered in wild barley that have allowed its domestication from a wild grass to what today is the world{\textquoteright}s fourth most important cereal crop in both area of cultivation and in quantity of grain produced.
These {\textquoteleft}brittle rachis{\textquoteright} genes control the strength of the attachment point between maturing grains and the barley spike. In wild barley the maturing grain snaps off easily, facilitating seed dispersal and survival of the species but making the harvest of large amounts of grain virtually impossible.
The researchers identified the molecular genetic change by which this attachment point lost its brittle characteristic through isolated natural mutation events, resulting in mature grains remaining attached to the head. This was associated with a change in cell wall thickness at the point of attachment of the grain to the spike. Scientists at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls compared the compositions of cell walls at the attachment points.
The team also compared the DNA of these two newly discovered genes in a number of wild and cultivated barleys. The result showed that barley domestication occurred with two independent mutations, firstly in the area of southern Levant (modern Israel) about 10,000 years ago, and later in the area of northern Levant (modern northwest Syria and southeast Turkey).}
}
@article {286806,
	title = {{\textquotedblleft}Rain Debt{\textquotedblright} in California Piling Up},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {California has accumulated a {\textquotedblleft}rain debt{\textquotedblright} of about 20 inches of precipitation between the years 2012 and 2015{\textemdash}the average amount expected to fall in the state in a single year, according to a recent NASA study. The deficit was driven primarily by a lack of air currents moving inland from the Pacific Ocean that are rich in water vapor. In an average year, 20- 50\% of California{\textquoteright}s precipitation comes from relatively few, but extreme events called\&nbsp;atmospheric rivers\&nbsp;that move from over the Pacific Ocean to the California coast.
The NASA study{\textquoteright}s lead author Andrey Savtchenko and colleagues examined data from 17 years of satellite observations and 36 years of combined observations and model data to understand how precipitation has varied in California since 1979. The results have been published in\&nbsp;the\&nbsp;Journal of Geophysical Research {\textendash} Atmospheres, a journal of the American Geophysical Union.
California as a whole can expect an average of about 20 inches of precipitation each year, with regional differences. But, the total amount can vary as much as 30\% from year to year.
In non-drought periods, wet years often alternate with dry years to balance out in the short term. However, from 2012 to 2014, California accumulated a deficit of almost 13 inches, and the 2014-2015 wet season increased the debt another seven inches, for a total 20 inches accumulated deficit during the course of three dry years. The majority of that precipitation loss is attributed to a high-pressure system in the atmosphere over the eastern Pacific Ocean that has interfered with the formation of atmospheric rivers since 2011.
Atmospheric rivers occur all over the world. They are narrow, concentrated tendrils of water vapor that travel through the atmosphere similar to, and sometimes with, the winds of a jet stream. Like a jet stream, they typically travel from west to east. The ones destined for California originate over the tropical Pacific, where warm ocean water evaporates a lot of moisture into the air. The moisture-rich atmospheric rivers, informally known as the Pineapple Express, then break northward toward North America.
Earlier this year, a NASA research aircraft participated in the CalWater 2015 field campaign to improve understanding of when and how atmospheric rivers reach California.
Some of the water vapor rains out over the ocean, but the show really begins when an atmospheric river reaches land. Two reached California around Dec. 1 and 10, 2014, and brought more than three inches of rain, according to NASA{\textquoteright}s Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM){\textquoteright}s multi-satellite dataset. The inland terrain, particularly mountains, force the moist air to higher altitudes where lower pressure causes it to expand and cool. The cooler air condenses the concentrated pool of\&nbsp;water vapor\&nbsp;into torrential rains, or snowfall as happens over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where water is stored in the snowpack until the spring melt just before the growing season.
The current drought isn{\textquoteright}t the first for California. Savtchenko and his colleagues recreated a climate record for 1979 to the present using the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, or MERRA. Their efforts show that a 27.5 inch deficit of rain and snow occurred in the state between 1986 and 1994.
The current drought has been notably severe because, since the late 1980s, California{\textquoteright}s population, industry and agriculture have experienced tremendous growth, with a correlating growth in their demand for water. Human consumption has depleted California{\textquoteright}s reservoirs and groundwater reserves, as shown by data from NASA{\textquoteright}s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission, leading to mandatory water rationing.
According to climatologist Bill Patzert, this study added nuance to how scientists may interpret the atmospheric conditions that cause atmospheric rivers and an El Ni{\~n}o{\textquoteright}s capacity to bust the drought. Since March, rising sea surface temperatures in the central equatorial Pacific have indicated the formation of El Ni{\~n}o conditions. El Ni{\~n}o conditions are often associated with higher rainfall to the western United States, but it{\textquoteright}s not guaranteed.
Savtchenko and his colleagues show that El Ni{\~n}o contributes only six percent to California{\textquoteright}s precipitation variability and is one factor among other, more random effects that influence how much rainfall the state receives. While it{\textquoteright}s more likely El Ni{\~n}o increases precipitation in California, it{\textquoteright}s still possible it will have no, or even a drying, effect. A strong El Ni{\~n}o that lasts through the rainy months, from November to March, is more likely to increase the amount of rain that reaches California, and Savtchenko noted the current El Ni{\~n}o is quickly strengthening.}
}
@article {285926,
	title = {The Economic Effect of Everyone Having an All-Electric Vehicle},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {What would the economic climate be if we switched all our cars over to electricity? The air would be cleaner, but what would be the impact on tax income, electricity demand, and employment? These questions were raised by Cihan Cavdarli{\textquoteright}s Master Thesis in Energy Management.
His first\&nbsp;conclusion: if all cars in Switzerland were electric, total\&nbsp;electricity demand\&nbsp;would rise by 19-24\% depending on the scenario. Should this make us think twice? Not if we look at the bigger picture. To measure the impact of the widespread use of\&nbsp;electric vehicles, Cihan took many other factors into account {\textendash} economic, environmental, technological and tax-related. {\textquotedblleft}The positive impact of switching to electricity generally outweighs the negative impact, apart from some extreme cases,{\textquotedblright} said Cihan in his thesis.
Anticipating the Switzerland{\textquoteright}s phasing out of nuclear power, Cihan looked at two scenarios: one assumes a high carbon footprint, with\&nbsp;nuclear energy\&nbsp;replaced by gas. The other boasts a low carbon footprint, with renewable energies stepping into the nuclear breach. {\textquotedblleft}This latter scenario is the best fit for\&nbsp;electric cars,{\textquotedblright} added Cihan.
Cihan based his work on the scenarios drawn up by the research institute Prognose. He also used the\&nbsp;Swiss-Energyscope calculator, developed by the Energy Center, to estimate marginal electricity generation. He took into account primary energy consumption (before transformation, storage and transport) for both internal-combustion and electric vehicles. Under the assumption that energy efficiency will improve, the consumption of primary energy by electric vehicles will decrease. Depending on the scenario, this decrease is expected to be 16-23\% by 2035.
The environment also stands to gain. Private vehicles currently account for 25\% of CO2 emissions. In the best case this figure would fall to 5\% (with a second life for batteries); in the worst case, 10\%. In addition, even if only a third of vehicles were electric, nitrogen oxide emissions would be cut in half.
When it comes to the impact on tax revenues, things get a little more complicated: taxes on fossil fuels currently account for 8\% of Switzerland{\textquoteright}s tax income. {\textquotedblleft}Tax revenues will go down unless the tax on mineral oils is shifted to electric vehicles,{\textquotedblright} said Cihan. But the tax impact would be reduced. This is because internal-combustion engines are becoming increasingly efficient, which means that fuel consumption is on the decline. And the country will save money on fuel imports. The savings will be even higher since the energy will come from locally produced renewable energies.}
}
@article {284716,
	title = {Resisting Mosquito Resistance to Insecticide},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A huge challenge facing global health is the ability to control mosquitoes that carry human disease, as resistance against insecticides now threatens efforts to prevent epidemics. Scientists in French Guiana have identified new genetic markers for mosquito resistance to insecticides, which could improve its detection in the field. Their findings are published here.
The ability of mosquitoes to resist\&nbsp;insecticides\&nbsp;represents a serious threat to the prevention of diseases such as malaria, dengue and Chikungunya. The detection and monitoring of the resistances developed by natural mosquito populations will be essential to enabling their management in the field for as long as there are no alternatives to the use of insecticides.
Some of these resistance mechanisms remain little known. For example, genetic factors for the metabolic resistance of mosquitoes, linked to the biodegradation of insecticides by detoxification enzymes, are still poorly understood. The scientists used a novel approach involving massive DNA sequencing in order to identify the genetic bases for this resistance in the\&nbsp;Aedes aegypti\&nbsp;mosquito, a close cousin of the Asian tiger mosquito and the vector of dengue fever and Chikungunya in tropical regions. Indeed, rather than sequencing the entire genome of the mosquito{\textemdash}a costly and laborious process{\textemdash}the scientists used bioinformatic techniques to target more than 760 genes potentially involved in insecticide resistance. After analyzing these genes by very high-throughput sequencing, the team determined that an increase in the activity of detoxification enzymes in resistant mosquitoes was often triggered by a rise in the number of copies of genes coding for these enzymes. They were also able to demonstrate that mutations affecting these enzymes could increase the biodegradation of insecticides in resistant mosquitoes.
The researchers also observed that the biomarkers of resistance appeared to be little conserved in some continents. These findings suggest that among the large panel of detoxification enzymes acquired by mosquitoes during their evolution, some are re-used by these insects to resist chemical insecticides, depending on gene flow between populations, their evolutionary history, the appearance of mutations, as well as environmental changes, such as the use of pesticides in agriculture.
These findings represent a major step forward in our understanding of the genetic mechanisms developed by\&nbsp;mosquitoes\&nbsp;to adapt to insecticides, and provide new opportunities to detect them at an early stage (for example, using molecular tests). This will improve their control in the field, and make it possible to adapt treatments to different resistance phenomena.}
}
@article {283816,
	title = {Tagging Cattle Helps Detect Diseases},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Accelerometers are so integrated with technology today, that we don{\textquoteright}t notice how many devices they are in. Our cellphones, a car{\textquoteright}s airbags, and they are used in detecting the magnitude of earthquakes. Accelerometers are able to detect the most sensitive of motions, from the number of steps taken during a morning walk to the number of jaw movements during a heifer{\textquoteright}s morning meal. In fact, some dairy producers use these devices to measure feed intake, detect heat and notably, identify sick animals.
Members from the University of Calgary{\textquoteright}s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada wanted to know if this same accelerometer technology could be implemented with cattle. Their 13-day study, {\textquotedblleft}Technical note: Accuracy of an ear tag-attached accelerometer to monitor rumination and feeding behavior in feedlot behavior,{\textquotedblright} can be found\&nbsp;here.
Calgary{\textquoteright}s study is one of the first to monitor use with an in-ear accelerometer unit. The system uses a proprietary algorithm to quantify ear movements, as well as time spent feeding, ruminating, resting, and being active. It records these actions and relays it to an online program, which can also be downloaded as an app on a smartphone.
A past study conducted by Goldhawk et al. attempted to monitor beef cattle rumination via neck collars. Microphones on the collars were validated to successfully collect rumination data for adult dairy cows. However, the Goldhawk et al. study proved their use poor in beef systems, possibly due to physical differences like dewlaps, neck musculature and skin thickness.
To test the accuracy of the ear tag-attached unit in beef steers, two human observers monitored the feeding and rumination behaviors of steers with ear tag-attached accelerometers. Their live observations were then compared with the data collected electronically by the in-ear devices.
Although the ear tag unit predicted rumination behavior better than the collar system used in Goldhawk et al.{\textquoteright}s study, it still only identified rumination activity correctly 49\% of the time. However, it correctly identified feeding activity 95\% of the time.
More studies need to be conducted to validate the technology before it can be used to detect disease. Consequently, the team at Calgary also applied the ear tags in a Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) study, but since few animals actually contracted the sickness during the trial, a relation between rumination and feeding events couldn{\textquoteright}t be shown.}
}
@article {283141,
	title = {Did the Green Evolution Work?},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {During the last 50 years, human population has more than doubled, but cereal-crop production has grown even faster. Mechanization, synthetic fertilizers, new high-yield seeds and other advances in intensified agriculture have enabled us not only to keep up, but to actually reduce world hunger.
However, quantity does not equal quality. Research has pointed out that the plentiful cereals now grown are generally lower in nutrients per unit weight than old-fashioned crops. Farms are producing more bulk for more people; but many are still not getting enough macronutrients such as protein, or micronutrients such as iron, needed for good health. The research paper, which appears in the journal\&nbsp;Science, calls for more realistic metrics to measure and regulate global food supply.
The world{\textquoteright}s cereal supply has grown by some 220\% since 1965, easily outpacing a concurrent 130\% population increase. This is due largely to intensified cultivation of just three crops: rice, wheat and maize. In this time, the area planted in the big three increased from about two-thirds of cereal acreage to nearly 80\%; yields per acre rose sharply as well. The switch came at the expense of other crops, such as barley, oats, rye, millet and sorghum; these collectively declined from a third of planted area to less than 20\%.
Cereals remain by far the major component of diet in many countries, especially in India and other fast-growing nations. And, despite the huge food supply, some 2 to 3 billion people are still undernourished, overweight or deficient in micronutrients. In North America, some 12\% of women of reproductive age are deficient in iron.}
}
@article {282191,
	title = {Finding the Balance of Destroying Forests and Expanding Agriculture},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Research shows that the removal of trees for the sake of agriculture, does more harm to biodiversity and carbon storage when it{\textquoteright}s scattered throughout what had been intact forest, rather than located next to existing farmland. Cutting the same number of trees in two different locations of a\&nbsp;forest\&nbsp;can have vastly different impacts. For example, clearing habitat from within a large, intact forest can do up to four times more damage to biodiversity and\&nbsp;carbon storage\&nbsp;than clearing the same amount of land on the forest{\textquoteright}s edge.
In the next 40 years, agricultural land will expand by more than 740 million acres, an area larger than India and about a third the size of the United States. Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer of the Stanford Woods Institute and her co-authors focused their research, which integrated field measurements and computer simulations, on the Mato Grosso region of Brazil. The country is a "microcosm of larger global trends in agricultural development and its resulting trade-offs.{\textquotedblright}
Brazil, a biodiversity hotspot and one of the planet{\textquoteright}s largest stores of forest-based carbon, is also facing pressure for large-scale land transformation for agricultural production. It is the largest sugarcane producer and the second largest soybean producer in the world, and the area cultivated with these two crops has more than doubled in the past decade, with further increases predicted.
Conversion of forest to agriculture is most destructive when it occurs in a fragmentary pattern rather than in a consolidated patch. Less carbon is stored in forest edges and small forest fragments because of increased tree mortality due to greater exposure to wind, fire, pests and other threats. Breaking up forests into smaller fragments can also block corridors that wildlife use to seek out food, mates and refuge. However, many policy schemes still treat an acre of a particular type of forest as having a uniform value for carbon storage and biodiversity.}
}
@article {279366,
	title = {Making Solar Energy Affordable and Appealing},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {President Obama{\textquoteright}s plan to help lower and middle-income Americans gain access to solar energy would help introduce the renewable energy source to a segment of the population that typically can{\textquoteright}t afford installation costs or has little incentive to do so, a University of Kansas researcher said.
Rachel Krause, assistant professor in the School of Public Affairs \&amp; Administration, said while a $500 million investment in solar power is no small thing, the initiative is most significant for targeting low-income homeowners and renters.
{\textquotedblleft}These populations typically are often not able to take advantage of renewable energy technologies. Although solar power reduces monthly electricity bills and may end up saving money in the long term, it requires a large upfront investment,{\textquotedblright} Krause said. {\textquotedblleft}This front-end investment is something that lower-income people often cannot do and renters often do not have any incentive to do.{\textquotedblright}
Krause, who teaches policy analysis, public policy and urban administration and a class on sustainability communities, has published research on how a city{\textquoteright}s form of government can influence sustainability initiatives and effectiveness of EPA labels on hybrid and electric cars.}
}
@article {278411,
	title = {Studying Food Crops Using New Research Models},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Many farmers frequently are required to apply nitrogen fertilizers to their crops to maintain quality and improve yields. Worldwide, farmers used more than 100 million tons of nitrogen in 2011. In the same year, the U.S. alone produced and imported more than $37 billion in nitrogen. Now, University of Missouri researchers are working toward less reliance on nitrogen in plants, which could help decrease costs for farmers, develop heartier plants, eliminate runoff in water supplies and provide food for a growing global population. Less dependence on\&nbsp;nitrogen\&nbsp;could start with a simple type of grass,\&nbsp;Setaria viridis, and its relationship with naturally occurring\&nbsp;bacteria.
Gary Stacey, MSMC Endowed Professor of Plant Sciences and Biochemistry at MU, as well as scientists in Brazil from the Federal University of Paran{\'a} and University of Santa Catarina worked to find a plant model system that would be easy to germinate, small enough to study and already had a sequenced genome. They screened more than 30 genotypes of\&nbsp;Setaria viridis\&nbsp;grass looking for a strong nitrogen fixing response when three different bacteria strains were introduced.
Plants then were transplanted into soil containing no nutrients. By eliminating nitrogen in the soil, the scientists were able to assure that bacteria was the only source of nitrogen for the grass plants they were studying.
This proved that the bacteria truly fixed the nitrogen used by the plant, required exposing plants to radioactive isotopes at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. That began with Nitrogen 13, an unstable radioisotope that showed exactly where and how quickly this nutrient was taken up from the bacteria. The team determined that Azospirillum brasilense\&nbsp;bacteria,\&nbsp;which has been used commercially in South America to improve crop plant growth, was the best choice.}
}
@article {277076,
	title = {New Renewable Energy Through Viaduct Wind Turbines},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Around some of the biggest bridges in the world, windy conditions exist in abundance. European researchers want to harvest this wind to produce electricity. Wind turbines constructed using viaducts could be installed under some of the biggest bridges on the road network to produce electricity. For instance, the Juncal Viaduct, in Gran Canaria, has served as a reference for Spanish and British researchers to verify that the wind blowing between the pillars on this kind of infrastructures can move\&nbsp;wind turbines\&nbsp;and produce energy.\&nbsp;  The study is based in models and computer simulations, which were carried out by researcher Oscar Soto and his colleagues in Kingston University (London). Researchers have presented the wind turbines as porous discs in order to evaluate the air resistance and test different kind of configurations.\&nbsp;  If only produced power was evaluated, the best solutions would be the installation of two wind turbines with different sizes - in order to embrace the maximum available space-, or even a matrix of 24 small turbines - due to their power production per surface unit and low weight-, but concerning to viability, the best option is the one which includes two medium sized wind turbines.\&nbsp;  Results confirm that each viaduct presents specific energy possibilities and wind potential. In the Juncal Viaduct case, the evaluated power would be about 0.25 MW per wind turbine. So, with two turbines, the total power output would be 0.5 MW, which is classified in the medium-power\&nbsp;range.\&nbsp;This would be the equivalent to 450-500 homes average consumption. This kind of installation would avoid the emission of 140 tons of CO2 per year, an amount that represents the depuration effect of about 7.200 trees.}
}
@article {276356,
	title = {Can Gene Editing Technology Solve Hunger?},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {795 million people on the earth do not have enough food to lead a healthy active life. That will only get worse as the next global food crisis is predicted to occur within four years. Unprecedented population growth, increasing conflict and displacement, natural calamities and emergence of major epidemics are some of the factors that will compound complexities of global\&nbsp;food security\&nbsp;over the coming years. And recent natural disasters in\&nbsp;food-exporting Asian and African countries, as well as regions like California,\&nbsp;may hasten\&nbsp;a crisis.
In the face of these facts, any technique that can improve food production would be a welcome development. To counteract the coming problem, it is imperative to try daring solutions across the agricultural food chain, including the\&nbsp;gene modification\&nbsp;of crops. While genetically modified (GM) crops could be our best hope for feeding an increasingly hungry planet, they need to be developed within a regulatory framework that takes potential risks into account and protects farmers, consumers and the environment.
Gene modification can produce nutrient-rich, highly productive, drought- and pest-resistant crop varieties much needed by small-scale farmers globally. For example, scientists have extended the shelf life of potatoes\&nbsp;by disabling a single gene\&nbsp;that promotes accumulation of sweet sugars within the tuber. Using this technique, they also reduced its production of cancer-promoting agents including\&nbsp;acrylamide, which is often produced when a potato is fried.
One can imagine these kinds of improvements being of particular interest to farmers in Africa and the rest of the developing world, who rely on staple crops including corn, rice, potatoes and soy. Along with genetically modified cotton, GM corn and soy are currently grown in the\&nbsp;African countries\&nbsp;of Burkina Faso, Egypt and South Africa.
In most African countries, however, GM crops remain a farfetched idea. Despite important economic progress and agricultural successes, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, Africa remains the world{\textquoteright}s\&nbsp;most food-insecure continent. One-third of our continent{\textquoteright}s population is\&nbsp;chronically undernourished.\&nbsp;Chronic malnutrition, or {\textquotedblleft}hidden hunger,{\textquotedblright} though often invisible, is devastating and deadly. Over half of\&nbsp;children{\textquoteright}s deaths globally can be averted\&nbsp;if children have access to nutritious foods.
Techniques for genetic engineering are not perfect. Significant genetic errors have been produced by the commonly applied techniques of\&nbsp;genome editing in the past. In laboratory models, off-target events that produce unwanted mutations, sometimes with fatal results, have been described in\&nbsp;plants,\&nbsp;fish\&nbsp;and\&nbsp;human cells.
For now, there remain\&nbsp;many uncertainties\&nbsp;about the impact of gene-edited organisms on the environment and health. While gene editing may not introduce foreign genetic material, the technology definitely changes the composition of the product at a very fundamental level.\&nbsp;Research\&nbsp;is currently under way to improve these techniques, reduce the frequency of unwanted mutations and improve the safety of genome editing.
Because strict regulatory oversight is mostly lacking on GM techniques including genome editing, it{\textquoteright}s conceivable that biotech companies may develop experimental gene-edited crops for testing in developing countries where the need for food is greater than the political will to protect the masses.
Interestingly, the move toward genome editing as the favored approach to\&nbsp;genetic engineering\&nbsp;may, at least in part, provide some leeway for biotech companies\&nbsp;to avoid regulation. Genome editing using TALENs and similar techniques are either outside the jurisdiction of the US Department of Agriculture or were not envisioned when\&nbsp;existing regulations\&nbsp;were created.
The USDA currently relies on a\&nbsp;product-based regulatory framework\&nbsp;that focuses less on the technology used to develop the crop and more on the inherent risk of the final product. The emphasis is on any potential risk the new traits or attributes introduced into the plant pose to the public or the environment. But considering the reality of unanticipated, and often controversial, novel techniques of food production, it might be a better idea for the USDA to utilize\&nbsp;process-based regulations\&nbsp;as done by the EU, Argentina, Brazil, and several other countries. In those countries, the regulators focus on how food crops are developed, not just on the final outcome.
The world needs more nutrient-rich, environmentally friendly food production. More gene editing in food crops makes sense, but only with prudent regulatory mechanisms in place to ensure the safety of these new approaches to food availability. We don{\textquoteright}t want to see more harm than good done as we seek to address the issue of global food security.}
}
@article {273811,
	title = {Study Proves Higher Education Benefits},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A study that is the first to use Social Security Administration{\textquoteright}s personal income tax data tracking the same individuals over 20 years to measure individual lifetime earnings has confirmed significant long-term economic benefits of college education.
ChangHwan Kim, a University of Kansas researcher, said the research team was also able to account for shortcomings in previous studies by including factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, place of birth and high school performance that would influence a person{\textquoteright}s\&nbsp;lifetime earnings\&nbsp;and the probability of college completion.
The study estimates that the lifetime earnings gap between high school and\&nbsp;college graduates, including those with a graduate degree, is around $1.13 million for men and $792,000 for women. These results are similar to past findings.
However, when important socio-demographic variables that influence both earnings and the probability of college completion are accounted for, the study shows that a man who earned a bachelor{\textquoteright}s degree would earn $840,000 more over 50 years than a man with a\&nbsp;high school diploma. For a woman on average the gap is $587,000 between earning a bachelor{\textquoteright}s degree and a high school diploma.
Further, the study applies a 4\% discount rate over time to account for psychological depreciation of dollar value for future earnings. When taking this into account the net value of a college education at age 20 is around $314,000 for men and around $232,000 for women. From this view, the net present lifetime value of college education at age 20 for those who have similar likelihood of obtaining a bachelor{\textquoteright}s degree is still six times greater than the total cost of college education for men and 4.5 times greater for women.
The findings actually show previous studies overestimated lifetime earnings by about one-third, but the objective was to give a more accurate picture of the value of post-secondary education.
Kim conducted the study with Christopher Tamborini of the U.S. Social Security Administration and Arthur Sakamoto, a professor of sociology at Texas A\&amp;M University. A major key to the study was to match respondents to the Survey of Income and Program Participation to longitudinal earnings recorded by the Social Security Administration, giving the team the ability to estimate 50-year lifetime earnings.
The study examined educational attainment and other data of four groups of men and women born in each decade from the 1930s to 1960s. Then the team examined the lifetime earnings data from 1982 to 2008 to compare with the birth cohort data.\&nbsp;A number of studies have used the Social Security earnings data, but none had applied them to the lifetime earnings of education.The persistence of the net effect of\&nbsp;college education\&nbsp;on cumulative earnings was noteworthy. The study also found the effects of a graduate degree on earnings persist for people into their 60s {\textendash} more so than someone who only earned a bachelor{\textquoteright}s degree. The disadvantages of high school dropouts also appear to be mitigated compared with\&nbsp;high school\&nbsp;graduates later in their work careers, a point that likely further illustrates the importance of a college degree.
Kim mentioned that future research would focus on differences in lifetime earnings by college majors and other factors, like race and demographic groups. The broad study has findings that would be important for public policy related to student loans and retirement and aging.}
}
@article {272036,
	title = {More Food Available with Better Forage for Livestock},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Tropical small-scale livestock farming can become more intensive yet sustainable if better forage is used to feed the animals being raised. This could benefit farming activities in rural South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Central America and the Caribbean, and see a move away from the increased reliance on grain-based feeds, say scientists at CIAT (International Center for Tropical Agriculture) and Thomas Rudel of Rutgers University.
The world{\textquoteright}s livestock population has over the past two decades shifted from cattle, goats and sheep that digest their food in a complex of stomachs towards pigs and poultry. Whereas the former can quite easily digest pasture grasses, other forages and roughages, the latter cannot. In especially the developed world farmers increasingly use more grain and soybean-based concentrates to feed their animals. This has led to a rise in grain prices and has reduced the availability of food for human consumption.
Rudel and his associates at CIAT argue that the {\textquotedblleft}LivestockPlus{\textquotedblright} program could be a way forward by increasing the use of forages to feed livestock, which is often reared on small farms, in the tropics. Its agricultural research and extension efforts help to intensify in sustainable ways the management of forage grasses and legumes, shrubs, trees, and animals.
So far the adoption of new tropical forages has often been fruitful with the exception such as the large scale adoption of pasture grasses in Latin America, as it often only occurs in specific locations and too slowly to produce noticeable changes in financial or environmental terms. It can be done better by introducing new and more nutritious forage varieties and animal management practices to specific farming areas, and by spreading the news about it from farmer to farmer by word of mouth. The tighter integration of forage production with other agricultural activities on a farm could also work well.
Success can also better be accomplished through coordinated efforts by farmers, agricultural extension workers, and scientists from national or international organizations like CIAT. These efforts should explicitly take note of the ecological process at work in a specific agricultural production system, current farming practices, and what the capabilities are of those who are going to use the new innovations.
Outside interventions like LivestockPlus would be most helpful when they fit well into the array of other smallholder activities. To assess these possibilities, farmers need specific information about planting and management requirements for forages. Suitable maps could for instance inform outreach and smallholder efforts about when, where, and how to use new forages best.}
}
@article {271281,
	title = {Renewable Energy in Russia Becomes Profitable for Investors},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Russia has employed an incentive system for renewable energy sources that is based on the wholesale electricity capacity mechanism since 2013. It is intended to increase the share of renewable energy in the country{\textquoteright}s energy production. Doctoral thesis in strategic finance completed at Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) demonstrates that the incentive system can make renewable energy investments in wind, solar and small-scale hydro power profitable for investors. However, in order to be profitable the investments must be within the scope of the full Russian support scheme.
The research compared profitability between different technologies in renewable energy projects carried out in Russia. Results show that building solar power is the most attractive option for investors. Solar power projects have a smaller minimum production requirement than wind or small-scale hydro power. In practice, this means that capacity payments account for a higher share of total revenues when the selling price for electricity is low and thus there is relatively less uncertainty concerning investment profitability.
In addition to the incentive system, the thesis presents an investment strategy that is favorable in terms of profitability. It states that the first step is to specify an appropriate location for the power plant that makes it possible to achieve more than 75\% of the target production level according to the incentive mechanism. The target production level varies according to the form of energy and is 20.3\% for wind power, 10.5\% for solar power, and 28.5\% for small-scale hydro power.
Also, it must be determined whether the investment cost remains within the norms contained in the incentive system. The third step involves finding out whether the localization obligation is met, in other words, can the required minimum share of the investment be built using Russian technology.
Use of the renewable energy capacity mechanism is just beginning in Russia. Among other things, the localization requirement for wind and small-scale hydro power is currently very strict. These restrictions have contributed to reducing investment interest in these types of energy.
However, the restrictions are expected to ease in the near future. This would enable a greater number of investments in wind and small-scale hydro power. The requirement level for solar power has been more encouraging right from the start. It has allowed for practical implementation of investment projects according to the original planned schedule.}
}
@article {270116,
	title = {Promotion of Climate Change Benefits the United States},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Reducing global greenhouse gas emissions could reap big benefits in the U.S., according to a report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including thousands of avoided deaths from extreme heat, billions of dollars in saved infrastructure expenses, and prevented destruction of natural resources and ecosystems.
The\&nbsp;report, {\textquotedblleft}Climate Change in the United States: Benefits of Global Action,{\textquotedblright} relies on research developed at the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change to estimate the\&nbsp;effects of climate change\&nbsp;on 22 sectors in six areas:

Health
Infrastructure
Electricity
Water Resources
Agriculture and Forestry
Ecosystems

The report compares two possible futures: one with significant global action on climate change, and one in which\&nbsp;greenhouse gases\&nbsp;continue to rise.
The MIT researchers developed two suites of future climate scenarios, socioeconomic scenarios, and technological assumptions that serve as the foundation of the EPA report{\textquoteright}s findings. In the first scenario, no new constraints were placed on\&nbsp;greenhouse gas emissions. In the second, global warming was limited to 2 degrees Celsius through global climate action.
Research groups across the country then built on the scenarios developed at MIT to study how different sectors in the U.S. would fare under each future scenarios. The groups studied a diverse range of impacts of\&nbsp;climate change\&nbsp;according to their own areas of expertise, ranging from lost wages due to extreme temperatures, to damage to bridges from heavy river flows, to destruction of Hawaii{\textquoteright}s coral reefs, among others.
The MIT team also contributed heavily to the section of the report focusing on water resources. The report concludes that mitigating greenhouse gas emissions can reduce the risk of both damaging floods and droughts, and prevent future water management issues.
The scenarios developed at MIT serve as a common tie between the results produced by the many teams participating in the project. Each team used the MIT scenarios as inputs to their own modeling tools, uniting all of the estimates in the report with a set of shared assumptions about emissions growth and possible changes in future climate.
For the full report, click\&nbsp;here.}
}
@article {269141,
	title = {Methane Bioreactor Benefiting Environment},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A new methane bioreactor, developed in the Natural Resources Institute of Finland increases environmentally friendly energy to the markets. The reactor stores renewable energy and produces synthetic biomethane with great efficiency. This new technology can help in achieving a carbon-neutral society.
Scientists have succeeded in developing the\&nbsp;methane\&nbsp;bioreactor which produces energy as well as store solar and wind energy and water power. Moreover, the reactor can convert wood gas into very pure methane, which after pressurization, is readily available for transportation fuel.\&nbsp;In the future, the technology can also be used to recycle industrial\&nbsp;carbon dioxide\&nbsp;emissions to methane production.\&nbsp;  The developmental work has produced several innovations, of which the plant has filed two patent applications. Professor Erkki Aura, the father of the invention, created the first version of the bioreactor enriching the appropriate microbial population from Finnish mire. This methane bioreactor produced methane and water out of carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
According to the scientists, biological\&nbsp;methane production\&nbsp;is best suited to decentralized energy production systems, small-scale plants. The efficiency of the process is good. In the process, the loss of heat of combustion of hydrogen has been 20\% at most.\&nbsp;The scientists found out that instead of pure source gases, hydrogen and carbon dioxide, also wood gas containing carbon monoxide can be used. They noticed that the microbes known as methanogens can produce carbon dioxide out of wood gas and further convert it into methane.}
}
@article {267906,
	title = {Increasing Solar Cell Efficiency},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Adelaide chemistry researchers are studying energy loss at the molecular level of new {\textquoteleft}plastic{\textquoteright} materials as a step towards the development of highly efficient, low-cost and flexible solar energy cells. The idea is to be able to tune the molecules to make them more energy efficient, thereby reducing energy loss, and able to harvest more photons from the sun.
They hope one day this research could lead to applications such as whole buildings being covered with a semi-transparent, flexible window tint that would act as a giant solar cell, trapping energy from the sun and generating electricity to power the building.
Traditional\&nbsp;solar cells\&nbsp;used in solar panels on roof-tops are made from silicon which require a large amount of energy to produce and are expensive. There is a whole category of new {\textquoteleft}plastic{\textquoteright}\&nbsp;materials, called organic semi-conductors and, like normal plastics, they are made from hydrocarbon chains or polymers. But unlike normal plastics, they can conduct electricity.\&nbsp;These materials are flexible and cheap to manufacture, and can be printed out as giant sheets. But at the moment they are not currently very good at turning absorbed light into harvestable electricity. They don{\textquoteright}t transport electrons to electrodes as efficiently as they should.
The researchers are using ultra-fast laser spectroscopy and computer modelling to watch the reactions occurring inside the polymer-based solar cells.\&nbsp;Spectroscopy allows the study of matter via its interaction with light. Ultra-fast laser spectroscopy uses extremely short pulses of light, measuring the interactions at the\&nbsp;molecular level\&nbsp;with an electronic detector.}
}
@article {267021,
	title = {Fueling Sesame Seed Food Production},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {The sesame seed crop has largely been unprofitable and difficult to harvest because it produces a low yield. A high percentage of sesame seeds grown are not suitable for human consumption. However, a Hebrew University of Jerusalem agricultural researcher has discovered a way to increase the yield and nutritional quality of this important but challenging food crop.
Dr. Zvi Peleg has screened more than 100,000 sesame seed variants, and has found a way to develop a new elite sesame cultivar with enhanced yield and seed quality suitable for modern agricultural practice. For some 5,500 years, sesame has been grown as an oil-crop in Asia{\textquoteright}s Far East and Africa. In Israel and some other Middle Eastern countries, where falafel is a culturally iconic food, tahini (or tehina) sauce, made from sesame, is an essential condiment.
Peleg{\textquoteright}s innovation facilitates the use of sesame as part of a farmer{\textquoteright}s crop rotation between cereal crops, while at the same time making it high-yield. As a result, it contributes to more sustainable agriculture and helps prevent the development of herbicide resistance weeds.\&nbsp;As a new summer crop, sesame is essential for agriculture in Israel and around the world. Global production of sesame currently stands at 4.4 million tons, with a projected growth value of between 5-10\% annually.
Sesame seed contains about 20\% protein, along with healthy oils and carbohydrates. It is one of the highest oil content crops, broadly ranging from 34-63\%. Sesame seeds are rich in essential nutrients such as iron, zinc and calcium. Peleg{\textquoteright}s innovation could improve the bio-availability of these\&nbsp;essential nutrients\&nbsp;and therefore hold health benefits for consumers.}
}
@article {265451,
	title = {Looking Towards the Plum for Protecting Against Rot},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Naturally occurring yeasts found on plums may be useful for protecting other stone fruits against pathogens that attack after harvest. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) looked to the micro-flora on the surface of the plum to find potential biocontrol agents against brown rot.
At the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Appalachian Fruit Research Station in Kearneysville, West Virginia, it was determined that the plum surface harbors several yeast species with excellent potential for use as biological controls against brown rot of stone fruits. Brown rot is caused by the fungus Monilinia fructicola.\&nbsp;Fruit surfaces are naturally colonized by a variety of microbes, including bacteria and yeast. Some of those native microorganisms have been shown to have a beneficial effect on reducing fruit decay after harvest.
In previous efforts at the research station, bacterium normally found on apples was developed into a commercial biological\&nbsp;control\&nbsp;product that can be used instead of fungicides to control pome fruit diseases. The product is also allowed in organic marketing. A lot of information exists about the benefits of natural fruit micro-flora on grapes and apples, but for plums, the extent of their potential for biological control of fruit decay remains largely unknown.
The research team from ARS identified yeasts naturally colonizing plums from early\&nbsp;fruit\&nbsp;development until harvest and explored their potential for controlling postharvest brown rot, the most destructive disease of\&nbsp;stone fruits.\&nbsp;Through multiple screenings, yeasts were found with a range of biocontrol activities against Monilinia fructicola, including several isolates that provided complete control on plums from decay caused by this fungus.\&nbsp;Developing these yeasts into commercial products will provide growers with an alternative approach for combating brown rot after harvest, and this approach should be compatible with requirements for the rapidly growing organic market.}
}
@article {264486,
	title = {Cutting Energy Consumption Through Microfiber Emitters},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Polymer filaments only a couple of hundred nanometers in diameter called nanofibers, have a huge range of potential applications, from solar cells to water filtration to fuel cells. But so far, their high cost of manufacture has relegated them to just a few niche industries.
In the journal\&nbsp;Nanotechnology, MIT researchers describe a new technique for producing nanofibers that increases the rate of production fourfold while reducing energy consumption by more than 90\% , holding out the prospect of cheap, efficient nanofiber production. Nanofibers are useful for any application that benefits from a high ratio of surface area to volume{\textemdash}solar cells, for instance, which try to maximize exposure to sunlight, or fuel cell electrodes, which catalyze reactions at their surfaces. Nanofibers can also yield materials that are permeable only at very small scales, like water filters, or that are remarkably tough for their weight, like body armor.
The standard technique for manufacturing nanofibers is called {\textquotedblleft}electrospinning{\textquotedblright}, and it comes in two varieties. In the first, a polymer solution is pumped through a small nozzle, and then a strong electric field\&nbsp;stretches it out. The process is slow, however, and the number of nozzles per unit area is limited by the size of the pump hydraulics.
The other approach is to apply a voltage between a rotating drum covered by metal cones and a collector electrode. The cones are dipped in a\&nbsp;polymer solution, and the electric field causes the solution to travel to the top of the cones, where it{\textquoteright}s emitted toward the electrode as a fiber. That approach is erratic, however, and produces fibers of uneven lengths; it also requires voltages as high as 100,000 volts.}
}
@article {263981,
	title = {Pesticide Resistance in Fruit Flies Provide Insight into Cancer},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {For being such tiny insects, fruit flies have had a large impact on genetic research. Thomas Werner, an assistant professor of biological sciences at Michigan Technological University, has bridged the tiny and the massive in an effort to better understand the mechanisms behind several unique features of fruit fly genes.
Over the past week, several studies that Werner has co-authored have been published in\&nbsp;PLoS ONE, the\&nbsp;Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and\&nbsp;Nature Education. All are linked by Drosophila (a genus of fruit flies), and the insights that fruit fly genetics provide on human health, specifically cancer-causing\&nbsp;genes.
The fruit flies that come in with your bananas are not all that keen on eating mushrooms. However, there are three strains of Drosophila melanogaster from Taiwan, India and Malaysia that tolerate a bit of alpha-amanitin, the deadliest of all mushroom toxins. More than 30 times more toxic than cyanide when eaten, alpha-amanitin is found in Death Cap and Destroying Angel mushrooms. The three Asian fruit fly strains are surprisingly resistant to this toxin.
In two separate studies, Werner and a group of undergraduate students found an answer. They counted nearly ten thousand fruit fly eggs, which has to be done under a microscope, measured the thoraxes of thousands of adults and tallied up the life spans of the fruit flies in an effort that took a total of four years. One group of the resistant flies was exposed to the toxin; another resistant group was monitored with no toxin present and a third control group of susceptible flies was not exposed to the toxin. Both resistant groups showed a suite of activated genes that are known as signals of pesticide resistance{\textemdash}suggesting the mushroom toxin resistance was caused by agricultural pesticides. And while the life spans and thorax length of the exposed fruit flies came up short in response to increasing toxin exposure, the egg laying capacity doubled.
Toxin resistance usually means more energy consumption and fewer offspring produced. So, there has to be motivation to keep that resistance up. The egg laying boost in response to eating alpha-amanitin may be the sought-after benefit to the resistance. These findings could be important for our understanding of agricultural pesticide resistance. Werner says that these particular fruit fly strains prefer rotten fruit to valuable crops. But a closely related agricultural pest, another Drosophila species, shares the same genes that could easily develop such a resistance and cause a real threat to agriculture.
Understanding the gene-regulatory mechanisms and enhancers behind one of those master control genes in fruit flies is the subject of a\&nbsp;new study Werner co-authored in\&nbsp;the\&nbsp;Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This gene is essential for both fruit fly and human embryos. In fruit flies, this gene also makes black wing spots. In humans, this gene is a\&nbsp;proto-oncogene\&nbsp;that causes cancer when it is\&nbsp;not regulated correctly.
For more on this study, click\&nbsp;here.}
}
@article {263001,
	title = {Analyzing Energy Data from the New Large Hadron Collider},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {When experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Switzerland\&nbsp;start collecting the first 13-teraelectronvolt (TeV) particle collisions, a long wait will be over for three University of Massachusetts Amherst physicists, who now begin some of the most exciting years of their careers searching for new subatomic particles, evidence of extra dimensions and the nature of dark matter.
The LHC has started delivering physics data for the first time in 27 months, after almost two years offline for re-commissioning. As the LHC begins its second run, researchers will use its data to explore the most fundamental constituents of matter and laws governing their behavior.   The UMass Amherst team brings special expertise in identifying and measuring a class of heavy electrons called muons to the project. Muons are fundamental particles like electrons only 200 times heavier, and are expected to provide tell-tale signs of discovery as decay products of new states of matter.\&nbsp;Thousands of scientists around the world are welcoming data from the LHC beginning that will continue into late fall. It can take up to two years to collect, analyze, review and publish.}
}
@article {261996,
	title = {Biodiversity Influenced by Agricultural Landscapes},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Human interventions increasingly threaten the habitat of many plant and animal species. A project funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF now aims to provide fundamental insights for countering the loss of biodiversity and preserving ecosystems in agrarian regions.
Biological diversity in our habitats can ensure stability. But factors such as climate change, ground sealing and monoculture endanger\&nbsp;biodiversity\&nbsp;and, consequentially, the preservation of ecosystem functions. Today, some species die out 100 to 1000 times more quickly than it would be the case under natural conditions. The potentially far-reaching consequences for nature and human beings include the sacrifice of clean water and fertile land.
Agricultural land use has a strong impact on biodiversity, which is in turn influenced by policy decisions. In 2008, the European Union stopped subsidies for the preservation of agricultural set-asides in order to permit the production of energy from renewable resources on fallow land. On the basis of existing grassland as source area, the research team of the FWF project creates {\textquotedblleft}grass corridors{\textquotedblright} as cross-links between natural grassland and agrarian surfaces. Measuring 10 meters in width and 450 meters in length, these corridors are designed to increase the effectiveness of ecosystem services for the cultivated land and preserve biodiversity.
On these new grass strips, the scientists plant a vegetation mix similar to that on the source grassland in order to facilitate migration for the fauna. The international research team will observe which species already live on the grassland, how long it takes for them to spread to the agrarian land and what impact the grass strips have on beneficials already inhabiting the agrarian land. Among other things, aphids will be offered as prey to determine the level of biological pest control.
Although the International Year of Biodiversity 2010 raised awareness of the issue through widespread media coverage, interest flagged markedly again in the following year. Despite that the EU has laid down new, more tangible biodiversity objectives for 2020, aiming amongst other things at slowing down the pace of species extinction, skepticism abounds.}
}
@article {259766,
	title = {Gaining Knowledge of Energy-Saving Practices Crucial},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A survey conducted at Plymouth University in the United Kingdom showed widespread misconceptions about energy which researchers said may be reducing the effectiveness of\&nbsp;energy-saving\&nbsp;behaviors. It also showed varying levels of motivation and engagement with energy issues, with respondents saying they were uncertain about their capacity to influence business and government on matters of environmental importance.
Published in\&nbsp;Local Environment: The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability, the study was carried out in an attempt to develop a more integrated understanding of energy literacy and to draw out connections between knowledge, attitudes and behaviors.\&nbsp;They analyzed more than 1,100 responses to a questionnaire, which asked participants about their knowledge of energy issues and any current energy saving measures they employ.
Results showed that more than 90\% of respondents considered themselves at least somewhat informed on global\&nbsp;energy issues, while 21\% of females and 16\% of males felt limiting\&nbsp;climate change was the most important issue facing the UK today. Three-quarters recognized their behaviors could make a difference to the energy situation, but less than half felt they had the power to influence the actions of government (45\%) and companies (48\%) to solve energy problems.
The majority of respondents said they tried to employ energy saving behaviors, such as turning off lights (97\%), walking or cycling for short journeys (88\%) and turning down heat in their homes (80\%), and 54\% claimed they always or frequently tried to convince friends to alter their energy behavior. However, there was widespread misunderstanding about which actions saved most energy {\textendash} thus behavioral choices were not always the most effective.
This research particularly emphasizes the importance of not overlooking knowledge as a means of improving the prospects for informed decision-making in both existing and new contexts. It suggests that greater efforts are needed to link formal learning with daily life to enhance awareness of how individuals use energy in everyday practices and illustrate how changing behaviors affect\&nbsp;energy\&nbsp;use. Collective action is frequently identified as playing a key role in adaptation to environmental change, yet our findings offer depressing reading on this front and suggest an increasing focus on individualism.}
}
@article {258411,
	title = {Location Plays a Vital Role in Biofuels and Climate},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A new study published in the journal\&nbsp;Nature Climate Change\&nbsp;shows that looking at the production site alone, growing biofuel crops can have a significant impact on climate depending on location and crop type. The study is the first geographically explicit life cycle assessment to consider the full range of greenhouse gases emissions from vegetation and soil carbon stock to nitrogen fertilizer emissions in all locations in the world.
In the last couple of years, research has begun to raise questions about the sustainability of biofuels. A method that calculates the environmental impact of a product through its entire production and use cycle have returned uncertain results on biofuels, and new research has also begun to consider carbon emissions caused by land use change.
In the long term, natural ecosystems such as forests and grasslands seize carbon from the atmosphere and store it in vegetation and soils. While crops also absorb carbon from the atmosphere, they do not build carbon storage, and unsustainable agricultural practices can also lead to erosion and run-off that further degrades the carbon storage capability of soils.
The new study provides a method of accounting and evaluating biofuels based on a field-level high resolution greenhouse gas accounting. It calculates the time it would take, on a specific piece of land, for\&nbsp;biofuel\&nbsp;production to make up for the emissions it generates by converting from what was there prior to biofuel production. The researchers call this measure {\textquotedblleft}greenhouse gas payback time.{\textquotedblright}
They find that the payback time varies widely around the world depending on the current land use of the specific location, crop type, and cultivation method. The most important factor was the location, according to the study, accounting for 90\% of the variation on payback time.
The researchers found that current land use and crop type played a big role in the payback time. When grown with no input (such as irrigation or fertilizer), rapeseed is found to have the lowest direct impact, with an average payback time around 20 years, and sugarcane the longest, with a global median of 60 years. When it comes to intensive agriculture, however, payback times systematically decrease for all crop types. The most efficient feedstocks appear to be cereals, such as winter wheat and corn, with payback times lower than 10 years.
While this study unearthed the value of high resolution information for the assessment of biofuels impacts, a broader sustainability perspective on agricultural products emissions remains indispensable, say the researchers. Previous research has shown that sustainability criteria limited to biofuels could prove inefficient by ignoring other agricultural uses and consumption changes in other parts of the world.}
}
@article {257661,
	title = {Hormones Used in Animal Agriculture Create Greater Exposure on Environment},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Research by an Indiana University environmental scientist and colleagues at universities in Iowa and Washington finds that potentially harmful growth-promoting hormones used in beef production are expected to persist in the environment at higher concentrations and for longer durations than previously thought.
Numerical simulations performed in this study can help to predict the potential impact of environmental processes on contaminant fate to more effectively understand the potential for these unexpected effects.\&nbsp;
The study illustrates potential weaknesses in the U.S. system of regulating hazardous substances, which focuses on individual compounds and often fails to account for complex and sometimes surprising\&nbsp;chemical reactions\&nbsp;that occur in the environment\&nbsp;  The study focuses on the environmental fate of trenbolone acetate, or TBA, a highly potent synthetic analogue of testosterone, used to promote weight gain in beef cattle. A majority of beef cattle produced in the U.S. are treated with TBA or one of five other growth hormones approved for use in animal agriculture.\&nbsp;The compound and its byproducts are examples of contaminants of emerging concern called endocrine disruptors. In the environment they are capable of interfering with reproductive processes and behaviors in fish and other aquatic life.\&nbsp;  TBA is implanted in the ears of\&nbsp;beef cattle. The cattle metabolize the compound to produce 17-alpha-trenbolone, an endocrine disruptor that is chemically close to TBA. The metabolite makes its way to streams and rivers via manure that washes from feedlots or is applied to land as fertilizer.\&nbsp;The compound breaks down rapidly when exposed to sunlight, and regulators once thought this attribute greatly reduced its environmental risk. But a 2013 study found that the breakdown products reverted back to 17-alpha-trenbolone in the dark. This means that, instead of permanent removal in sunlight, the compound would be expected to persist in stream environments, returning to its earlier form overnight in the dark, shallow streambed where stream water mixes with groundwater, known as the hyporheic zone.\&nbsp;  The research team and collaborators set out to learn how much longer trenbolone may persist in the environment because of its unique reactivity, and whether this added persistence matters for aquatic ecosystems. Using mathematical modeling techniques, they show that concentrations of TBA metabolites may be about 35\% higher in streams than previously thought. And the compounds persist longer, resulting in 50\% more biological exposure than anticipated.\&nbsp;That{\textquoteright}s a problem, because even very low concentrations of these powerful endocrine disruptors have been shown to have significant effects on stream life.\&nbsp;  Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies have found endocrine disruptors to be present in many streams, rivers and lakes, and several similar compounds have even been found in drinking water.\&nbsp;While TBA and its metabolites are the focus of the study, those compounds are representative of many others{\textemdash}suggesting it may be time to update regulatory approaches to better include a wide range of findings from modern research.\&nbsp;  The research that led to the publication is funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The researchers are also examining other compounds that may react in similar ways and looking at characteristics of streams and lakes that cause compounds to persist or accumulate, resulting in increased risk to ecosystems.
The publication can be found here.}
}
@article {256926,
	title = {The Future of Digital Higher Education},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A new study of how the role technology plays in higher education has urged universities to capitalize on technologies that effectively support student learning, to embrace blended learning environments, and to customize degree programs to serve the needs of students in a digital age.
George Siemens, executive director of The University of Texas at Arlington{\textquoteright}s Learning Innovation and Networked Knowledge Lab, is the lead author of "Preparing for the Digital University: A Review of the History and Current State of Distance, Blended, and Online Learning." The international study offers strategies and important implications for\&nbsp;higher education\&nbsp;institutions preparing for the digital wave. It also emphasizes the importance of universities drawing from learning sciences research in preparing new models of teaching, learning, and student assessment.\&nbsp;  The\&nbsp;paper is published\&nbsp;on the LINK Research Lab website and is part of the MOOC Research Initiative, a project focused on Massive Open Online Courses that was funded by a $835,000 grant from the Bill \&amp; Melinda Gates Foundation and administered by Athabasca University in Alberta, Canada.\&nbsp;  The study supports previously published research that has found\&nbsp;online learning\&nbsp;to be equally or more effective than in-person instruction. The new study, however, delves further by examining the evolution of learning in digital spaces, including various approaches to credentialing and assessment beyond the traditional grading scale and diploma. Future technology structures that bear no resemblance to current learning management systems are described as part of the tool set for the 21st century education.\&nbsp;  For their research, Siemens and his team members analyzed 339 secondary studies in the domains of distance education, online learning, and blended learning. This is a practice that combines traditional face-to-face instruction with online learning, using content analysis and citation network analysis research methods.\&nbsp;  Beyond showing no significant difference in effectiveness of online and face-to-face learning settings, the study provided directions for further research, necessary to better understand what practices work best in online settings. The transition to digital learning offers universities opportunities to reach more students and increase the quality of learning, while providing a range of options to students, the authors said.
Siemens is an early originator of open online education who taught one of the first open online courses in 2008 while a professor at University of Manitoba.\&nbsp;}
}
@article {256461,
	title = {A Reduction In Wind Means Reduced Energy},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {The Rocky Mountains aren{\textquoteright}t known for their mild winters. But in contrast to the upper Midwest, which seems to exist in a continuously frozen state from November through March, the plains just east of the Rockies do get an occasional pardon from the bitter cold: the Chinook winds. When these strong, warm winds blow, they can raise temperatures as much as 50 degrees Fahrenheit and melt away the snow, which is a welcome break for residents sick of sweeping slick sidewalks and wearing puffy parkas.
But the Chinook winds receive a colder reception from\&nbsp;wind energy\&nbsp;forecasters, according to a University of Calgary study published in the\&nbsp;Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy. According to the study, these winds can precede large shifts in\&nbsp;wind power\&nbsp;output from\&nbsp;wind\&nbsp;farms, which presents a challenge for companies seeking to provide a constant stream of green energy to consumers. By establishing a connection between local meteorological events and power grid output, the researchers hope that they may ultimately help grid operators more accurately predict fluctuations in flow and manage the grid accordingly.
The Chinook is the North American name for F{\"o}hn winds, which occur in mountainous regions around the globe. They blow down the leeward side of large mountain ranges when dry air descends from aloft, warming and increasing in wind speed while moving down the slope.
One of the greatest challenges to implementing wind energy on a massive scale is the unpredictability of its driving force. Wind comes and goes, frequently shifting speed and direction, and mountainous terrain makes it even more fickle. And yet, customers depending on wind power as their primary source of electricity demand a consistent flow, not one that dies with the wind. Thus, the success of wind energy depends, in part, on the ability to predict changes in wind flow and adjust the grid accordingly.
The University of Calgary team focused on wind-power ramps, large changes in energy output over a relatively short period of time caused by sustained and substantial wind speed shifts. They analyzed two years of wind-speed data from an Alberta field site located on the plains just east of the Canadian Rockies, where numerous wind turbines have been installed.
They found that wind-power ramps occurred even when Chinook winds were not blowing, suggesting a {\textquotedblleft}complex relationship with local weather.{\textquotedblright} For instance, changes in temperature over the course of the day also impacted power-ramp frequency, with ramp-up events occurring most often shortly before solar noon as temperatures rose.\&nbsp;However, when the team examined the largest wind-power ramps, those with a change in power greater than 50\% in less than 4 hours, they found a clearer connection.
They recognized that large wind-power ramps occurred on days when a Chinook wind was present over 50\% of the time. That is, when the Chinook wind is blowing, electrical grid operators should prepare for potential changes in power output.
Because F{\"o}hn winds occur around the world, and the plains at the base of mountain ranges are a particularly popular spot to install wind turbines, the researchers hope that their findings will help wind power grid operators to better manage their energy supply. In the future, they plan to investigate the turbulence properties of F{\"o}hn winds in order to more fully understand the impact on wind energy production.}
}
@article {255766,
	title = {Linking Soil to Climate and Weather},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Researchers have made the first simultaneous measurements of Ultra-Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (ULF-NMR) and neutron imaging to visualize the movement of water in trees. Water use by trees is a key part of the hydrological process linking soil to climate and local weather. Despite decades of research and method development, non-destructive, in vivo measurements of water uptake and flow in trees are unavailable for field-based measurement. The lack of measurements limits progress towards understanding this important climate factor.
Climate change is predicted to lead to more frequent and severe droughts in many parts of the world. Agriculture, forestry, and meteorology need inexpensive, non-invasive, and simple methods for use in field conditions in order to detect plant water status. Developing an affordable method is a step forward in measurement accuracy, enabling progress in our understanding of vegetation responses and interactions with the environment.
Measurement challenges arise from the opacity of wood and the intricate nature of the water transport system; opposing pressure gradients in adjacent tissues cause\&nbsp;water uptake\&nbsp;from the soil and delivery of carbohydrates produced in the leaves. Previous approaches to detect water movement in plants have been based on systems using large magnetic fields to obtain NMR signals with good signal-to-noise. Those NMR systems work in regulated temperatures, requiring a cooled magnet and maintaining the system at constant temperature. The physiological configuration and the size and cost of the magnet limit this approach.
The researchers have taken a different approach {\textendash} keeping the magnetic field low to produce a very light and inexpensive system, suitable for bulk water measurements on trees. The result is\&nbsp;an ULF-NMR system that is suitable for use in ambient, outdoor environments to monitor long-term changes in the water contents of living trees non-destructively. The method could easily be duplicated to measure many trees or multiple parts of the same tree. Eliminating the need to cool the ULF-NMR system makes it simpler and reduces measurement costs. The journal\&nbsp;Review of Scientific Instruments\&nbsp;reported the novel system.}
}
@article {255166,
	title = {Advantages of Energy Hybridization},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {The project HYSOL is entering into the demonstration stage in order to see the technical, economical and environmental advantages of using a hybridization of solar power with fossil and renewable fuels.
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP), both parabolic trough and solar tower technologies, is a clean and sustainable technology that permits electricity to be generated from\&nbsp;solar radiation. In these plants, the elevated temperatures needed to move the vapor cycle does not require the combustion of\&nbsp;fossil fuels\&nbsp;or a nuclear reaction in order to activate the electric generator. In its place, solar radiation is concentrated by a series of parabolic trough collectors or heliostats. Despite these economical and environmental advantages that could be expected using free and renewable resource such as solar radiation, the reality is that the commercial development depending on the maturity of this technology, cost reduction and difficulty in managing the electrical generation according to its demand.
These problems are being resolved as the CSP technology incorporates thermal storage systems and the possibility to hybridize with other auxiliary fuels, mainly natural gas. The hybridization suffers from an important problem since the efficiency of the transformation of auxiliary fuels in electricity in a simple cycle is limited and is normally much inferior to what can be achieved in larger plants or in combined cycle centers.
The HYSOL project aims to use a commercial level of a new form of solar hybrid plants with high efficiency. The fuel used to hybridize can have fossil (natural gas) or renewable origins that permit a broad number of localizations and reduce the carbon footprint. This way an optimal management of the electrical production, dispatchable and firmness, with an elevated efficiency of conversion can be achieved, which results in a better economic and environmental process.
The HYSOL project hopes to show an experimental level of technical, economical and environmental advantages of the solar integration with other energetic sources. Throughout 2015 the new system for recuperating heat that allows the integration of CSP technology with other\&nbsp;renewable energy sources\&nbsp;will be put in place at the cluster of innovation of Manchasol Solar Power Plant in Ciudad Real, Spain.
The whole energy market (particularly the countries that have an elevated solar resource), expectedly await the new generation of CSP plants that are capable of competing with conventional technology that generates renewable and sustainable electricity. Spain and the United States are leaders in developing technologies and commercially implementing this technology, even though there are 19 countries that count on commercial instillations and CSP demonstrations. It is important to note that the inauguration of new projects in countries who have an enormous economical and energy potential are China, India, Australia, Arab Emirates, Morocco, Chile, Israel and South Africa.
For more on this project, click\&nbsp;here.}
}
@article {254716,
	title = {As Depletion of Soil Accelerates, Humans at Risk},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Currently, humans have been depleting Earth{\textquoteright}s soil resources faster than the nutrients can be replenished. If this course does not change, soil erosion, combined with the effects of climate change, will present a huge risk to global food security over the next century, warns a review paper authored by some of the top soil scientists in the country.
The paper singles out farming, which accelerates erosion and nutrient removal, as the primary game changer in\&nbsp;soil health.
Published in the journal\&nbsp;Science, the authors say that\&nbsp;soil erosion\&nbsp;has accelerated since the industrial revolution, and we{\textquoteright}re now entering a period when the ability of soil, {\textquotedblleft}the living epidermis of the planet,{\textquotedblright} to support the growth of our food supply is plateauing. The publication comes nearly two weeks ahead of the Global Soil Security Symposium at Texas A\&amp;M University, a meeting held as part of the declaration of 2015 as the International Year of Soils by the United Nations.
The authors identify the supply of fertilizer as one of the key threats to future soil security. Farmers use three essential nutrients to fertilize their crops: nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous. The paper credits the discovery of synthetic nitrogen production in the early 1900s to significantly increased crop yields that supported dramatic global population growth. Because the process of synthesizing nitrogen is energy- intensive, its supply is dependent on fossil fuels.
Unlike nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous come from rocks and minerals, and the authors point out that those resources are not equitably distributed throughout the world. The United States has only 1-2\% of the world{\textquoteright}s potassium reserves, and its reserves of phosphorous are expected to run out in about three decades.}
}
@article {254356,
	title = {Finding and Harvesting Ocean Energy},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {New technologies in the last decade have shown slow but steady progress of ocean and sea energy power: about 30 tidal and 45 wave energy companies are currently at an advanced stage of technological development worldwide, many of them nearing pre-commercial array demonstration and others deploying full-scale prototypes in real-sea environment.
The European Union is at the forefront of technological development of ocean energy power plants, with more than 50\% of tidal energy and 45\% of wave energy developers based in the EU, as well as the majority of ocean energy infrastructure. The current pipeline of projects could bring Europe{\textquoteright}s combined tidal and wave energy capacity up to 66 Mega Watts by 2018, a significant step forward for a promising sector. The first tidal energy array is expected to be deployed in the UK in 2016, becoming the first ocean energy array project worldwide to be completed.
Ocean energy represents one of the few untapped renewable energy sources and its development is attracting the interests of policymakers, utilities and technology developers. In recent years, slow technological progress has hindered technology development and reduced investor confidence in ocean energy. The JRC report analyses the sector, assessing the status of ocean energy technologies, ongoing developments, related policies and markets. In Europe, the highest deployment potential is located along the Atlantic coast, with further localized exploitable potential in the Baltic and Mediterranean seas and in the outermost regions.
To support the {\textquoteleft}blue energy{\textquoteright} sector move towards full industrialization, the European Commission proposed a Blue Energy Action for the creation of an Ocean Energy Forum, bringing together stakeholders to build capacity and foster cooperation. The outcomes of the Forum will feed into a strategic road map, which will provide an agreed blueprint for action in order to help the ocean energy sector move towards industrialization. In a later phase (2017-2020), a European Industrial Initiative could be developed, based on the outcomes of the Ocean Energy Forum.
Ocean energy could thus play a threefold role for Europe: contributing to the de-carbonization of energy supply; increasing energy security by exploiting indigenous resources; and fueling economic growth in coastal regions. The development of wave energy technologies is lagging behind that of tidal energy, mainly because a lack of design consensus and low-reliability levels. Nevertheless, small wave energy deployment projects have been taking place in Europe, the US and Australia.
Ocean energy technologies face four main bottlenecks: technology development, finance and markets, environmental and administrative issues and connection to the grid. Overcoming these issues requires concerted efforts by industry, academia and the support of policy makers. The definition and achievement of performance targets and key performance indicators for each ocean energy technology type will be fundamental to overcoming technology barriers. Public support mechanisms so far proposed appear to be adequate to sustain the growth of the sector, though it is essential they can be tailored to the needs of the various technologies and their status.
For more on this topic, click here.}
}
@article {253981,
	title = {Termites and Fungi Can Teach Agriculture a Thing or Two},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Termite species in Africa and Asia have been cultivating fungi for consumption for tens of millions of years, long before humans ever set foot on the earth. And they do it well as the harvests of a colony retain the same high yield level for up to several decades. How do termites achieve this? Millions of years of symbiosis between termites and fungi may hold the key to higher agricultural yields, according to evolutionary biologist Duur Aanen of Wageningen University. His research proposal was awarded with a Vici grant of 1.5 million euros from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).
Duur Aanen is fascinated by the question how termites manage to achieve these long-term high food yields. {\textquotedblleft}Looking at a colony of termites you can see hundreds of thousands of workers that are extremely busy maintaining their own fungus gardens. As a group, their productivity is unprecedented. However, when we imitate this monoculture in the lab, the yield drops considerably after several generations. We think this is caused by unconscious selection of unwanted properties. So the question is: what do the termites do differently to ensure that their success continues for decades? It{\textquoteright}s clear they make the right selection, but we don{\textquoteright}t know how they do this.{\textquotedblright}
As a biologist, Aanen is mainly attracted to the fundamental character of the research, where he believes that the resulting knowledge will also find its way into practice. He mentions two interesting applications. {\textquotedblleft}Firstly, fungi are increasingly being used by industry; in the production of enzymes, for example. And of course, there are also cultivated edible mushrooms, the fruiting bodies of fungi. For both applications we sometimes see a strong reduction in productivity, which is probably due to unconscious selection. For companies it is very interesting to see how one could maintain high productivity, as achieved by\&nbsp;termites.{\textquotedblright}A second link to practice is that this research will contribute to the knowledge needed to cultivate the termite fungi by humans. {\textquotedblleft}Once a year, the fungi develop mushrooms from the termite colonies, and these mushrooms are being collected and traded as a popular and highly nutritious food source in Africa and Asia. Scientists have yet to successfully cultivate these mushrooms in the laboratory. Once we know the conditions for mushroom formation, we may be able to do the same. And that would be highly interesting, as these mushrooms are a very tasty food source that is rich in protein.{\textquotedblright}
For more on this study, click\&nbsp;here.}
}
@article {253541,
	title = {Geothermal Energy Taking a Step Forward},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Generating electricity from the hot rocks deep underground is clean, safe and renewable, and it{\textquoteright}s about to take a step forward.
The U.S. Department of Energy announced that a team from the University of Utah{\textquoteright}s Energy \&amp; Geoscience Institute (EGI) is one of five research groups selected to study new techniques for developing\&nbsp;geothermal energy\&nbsp;in places where it{\textquoteright}s not currently feasible. EGI is part of the U{\textquoteright}s College of Engineering.
The U team of geologists and engineers will evaluate establishing an underground geothermal laboratory about 10 miles north of Milford, Utah within the Milford\&nbsp;renewable energy\&nbsp;corridor. This corridor is home to two geothermal plants and a 306-megawatt wind farm. Utah{\textquoteright}s geothermal power plants provide enough\&nbsp;electricity\&nbsp;to power nearly 70,000 homes in Utah, California and Arizona.
The award is a Phase I grant in a three-phase DOE project named Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE). If selected for Phase III, the FORGE laboratory would be built on private land and cover about 10 acres. The laboratory would consist of two wells drilled to depths of about 8,000 feet. One well would be used to inject\&nbsp;water\&nbsp;into the hot rocks below. The second will recover the heated water, which is recycled.
What makes geothermal systems work? Three ingredients are necessary for a geothermal system: water, heat from the rocks (at 300-500 degrees Fahrenheit) and underground cracks that allow water to flow through the hot rock. Moore is confident that the granite formations beneath the site near Milford are hot enough, but the rock lacks the permeability needed to form a natural reservoir for the water to flow through.\&nbsp;The wells drilled at the FORGE laboratory would be used to develop ways to produce the underground fractures needed to create large, sustainable geothermal reservoirs for electric production. The researchers would create the fractures using the low-pressure injection of locally available, non-drinkable water. This water will migrate along the newly created pathways and heat up as it comes in contact with the hot granite formations.
The goal is to discover better ways to create underground flow that will allow communities throughout Utah and across America to construct sustainable and clean geothermal systems and power plants. According to the DOE, capturing even 2\% of the naturally occurring thermal energy in the U.S. would provide 2,000 times more energy than we currently use.}
}
@article {253046,
	title = {Plant Biodiversity Aided by Regenerative Agriculture},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {The European project Life Regen Farming, led by the Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development Neiker-Tecnalia, is seeking to produce healthier, more fertile pastures that offer greater plant biodiversity. The initiative sets out to identify, demonstrate and transfer best practices in meadow management and to propose that stockbreeders and farmers adopt regenerative agricultural techniques allowing the soil to be managed more effectively and sustainably.
The new pasture management techniques can yield up to 14\% more grass, as Neiker-Tecnalia technicians have been able to show. This research has been carried out on the model farm in Spain with an experimental flock of milk-producing sheep of the latxa breed (a dairy sheep in Spain). In the trial it has been possible to show that applying regenerative\&nbsp;agricultural practices\&nbsp;results in plots of land that have the same grass offer and nutritional quality for grazing purposes, whereas preserved herbage on plots under regenerative management is significantly higher.
The production of {\textquoteleft}extra{\textquoteright} grass could mean savings in the purchase of fodder and indicates the technical and economic effectiveness of regenerative management. Moreover, the milk of sheep kept managed pastures has the same yield and composition. Furthermore, the introduction of regenerative practices means that chemical fertilizers are eliminated, the consumption of feed concentrate is cut by 4\%, and grazing time is increased by 7\%. This means that the carbon footprint per liter of milk produced is cut by 10\%.
The trials in the Life Regen Farming project are taking place on pastures located on Neiker-Tecnalia land in Arkaute; on land belonging to INTIA (The Navarrese Institute of Food Technologies and Infrastructure) in Roncesvalles (Navarre); and on commercial farms with pastures used by beef cattle in Ordu{\~n}a. The aim is to test these regenerative practices in a range of agro-climatic conditions in order to find out the outcome of these new practices when they are applied to soils of different characteristics.
In the past few decades, the intensifying of production systems has led to a fall in grazing, which means that these systems could clearly be affected by sustainability problems. The Life Regen Farming project is promoting the viability of certain regenerative practices like organic fertilizers, the direct sowing of pastures and the use of perennial species as well as regenerative or managed grazing.
The advantages of managed grazing are as follows: fodder yield and quality are increased, plants can recover, the offer can be controlled, and the selection of animals can be avoided. This more consistent use of the pasture means that the droppings are also distributed more evenly and soil health is improved. Permanent pastures have a considerable carbon-fixing capacity as well. All these beneficial effects can be achieved by adjusting the livestock densities, the time the animals spend on pastures, and the time the vegetation takes to recover.}
}
@article {251761,
	title = {Improving Energy Storage Using 3D Printing},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A new type of graphene aerogel will make for better energy storage, sensors, nanoelectronics, catalysis and separations. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers have made\&nbsp;graphene\&nbsp;aerogel micro lattices with an engineered architecture via a 3D printing technique known as direct ink writing. The research appears in the April 22 edition of the journal,\&nbsp;Nature Communications.
The 3D printed graphene aerogels have high surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, are lightweight, have mechanical stiffness and exhibit super compressibility (up to 90\% compressive strain). In addition, the 3D printed graphene aerogel micro lattices show an order of magnitude improvement over bulk graphene materials and much better\&nbsp;mass transport.
Aerogel is a synthetic porous, ultra-light material derived from a gel, in which the liquid component of the gel has been replaced with a gas. It is often referred to as {\textquotedblleft}liquid smoke.{\textquotedblright}\&nbsp;Previous attempts at creating bulk graphene aerogels produce a largely random pore structure, excluding the ability to tailor transport and other\&nbsp;mechanical properties\&nbsp;of the material for specific applications such as separations, flow batteries and pressure sensors.\&nbsp;During the process, the graphene oxide (GO) inks are prepared by combining an aqueous GO suspension and silica filler to form a homogenous, highly viscous ink. These GO inks are then loaded into a syringe barrel and extruded through a micro nozzle to pattern 3D structures.}
}
@article {251151,
	title = {Male Diversity Suffered When Humans Began Agriculture},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Some 10,000 years ago, people abandoned a hunter-gatherer lifestyle and became agriculturalists, and they gave up a lot of things. This significant shift in the way they obtained their food was probably not something they elected to do. Instead,\&nbsp;population\&nbsp;pressure and diminishing resources forced people into developing new intensified forms of subsistence. This meant people became more sedentary.
Not only did these new arrangements result in the emergence of new social structures and new technological innovations, but it also had some very negative outcomes.\&nbsp;As people intensified their subsistence strategies and became sedentary, there was an increase in population size.\&nbsp;New diseases evolved through the closer association with animals and coupled with large population sizes this enabled the emergence of epidemic scale disease patterns. This list probably included diseases such as measles, influenza, whooping cough, smallpox and tuberculosis.\&nbsp;A lot happened when humanity turned to agriculture.
A recent\&nbsp;study\&nbsp;has looked at specific parts of modern genomes of people from around the globe. It also appears that there were significant changes in population structure as well, and not just population size.\&nbsp;The study focused on the Y chromosome that is only inherited through the paternal line from fathers to sons. This tells us about origins and migrations of males in the population, but it can also reveal patterns in population changes.
These results were compared to those from the mitochondrial DNA, that is the DNA inherited through the maternal line in humans.\&nbsp;This provided a very different picture of the regional male and female effective population size. In general terms, the effective\&nbsp;population size\&nbsp;is the number of individuals in a population who contribute offspring to the next generation.\&nbsp;The study suggests that there was a global collapse in genetic diversity of the males in contrast to that of females. Essentially this means there was an extreme reduction in the number of males who reproduced, but not a reduction in the number of females.
This appears to correlate with the timing of this major shift in subsistence, referred to by archaeologists as the\&nbsp;Neolithic.\&nbsp;In fact, Y chromosome genetic data suggests this reduction at around 8,000 to 4,000 years ago. Essentially there was a genetic bottleneck in male genetic diversity at that time which cannot be easily explained through natural selection.
Could the development of agriculture and a shift in social patterns explain this change? If male reproductive success was being controlled by a smaller number of males of high social order, for example a smaller ruling elite, then we would see a situation where male population diversity was reduced.
An example of such an event from much later times is\&nbsp;Genghis Khan. He was reputed to have sired hundreds of children, resulting in millions of Asian men today who bear a\&nbsp;very similar Y chromosome lineage. Identifying such social changes within the archaeological record, however, is easier said than done. The Neolithic introduced a new system of economic production and increased social stratification. The rise of a social elite and followers and the development of hierarchies in a society, independently emerged in several global regions, and later spread across much of the world.The studied 110 populations were grouped according to seven global regions and the decrease of male\&nbsp;genetic diversity\&nbsp;emerges in all of them (with the exception of Siberia).\&nbsp;It is important to note that the Neolithic took many different forms as it spread across the globe. It was not a prehistoric corporate global takeover, but it did set humanity on a course that it could not turn back from.}
}
@article {250886,
	title = {Water Security a Struggle for the Chinese},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {When he became China{\textquoteright}s prime minister in 1999, Wen Jiabao warned that water scarcity posed one of the greatest threats to the {\textquotedblleft}survival of the nation{\textquotedblright}. Sixteen years later, that threat looms ever larger, casting a forbidding shadow over China{\textquoteright}s energy and food security and demanding urgent solutions with significant regional, and even global, consequences. The mounting pressure on China{\textquoteright}s scarce, unequally distributed and often highly polluted water supply was highlighted in a report released at the World Water Forum this week in Daegu, South Korea.
Published by the Hong Kong-based NGO, China Water Risk (CWR), it underlined the complexity of the challenge facing China as it seeks to juggle inextricably linked and often competing concerns over water, energy supply and climate change.
{\textquotedblleft}There are no one-size-fits-all solutions to China{\textquoteright}s water-energy-climate nexus. More importantly, China{\textquoteright}s energy choices do not only impact global climate change, but affect water availability for Asia,{\textquotedblright} it claims, warning of the danger of future {\textquotedblleft}water wars{\textquotedblright} given China{\textquoteright}s upstream control over Asia{\textquoteright}s mightiest rivers.
The Qinghai-Tibetan plateau is essentially the world{\textquoteright}s largest water tank and the origin of some of Asia{\textquoteright}s most extensive river systems including the Indus, Brahmaputra and Mekong. The most significant link in the nexus the report describes is the fact that 93\% of China{\textquoteright}s power generation is water-reliant.
Agriculture accounts for between 65-70\% of China{\textquoteright}s water use and vast amounts are wasted by inefficient irrigation. This is especially true in northern regions that, despite being some of the most arid in the country, are the production focus for water-hungry crops like corn and wheat. Mounting pressure on China{\textquoteright}s scarce, unequally distributed and often highly polluted water supply has been highlighted in a report released at the World Water Forum in Daegu, South Korea.
Efforts to change the crop mix have included a recent campaign to promote the harvesting of potatoes, which require far less water. Given the traditional taste preference for rice and wheat, the state broadcaster CCTV has tried to prod things along by publishing recipes on its Weibo account, including one for Kung Pao potato.
Northern China{\textquoteright}s thirst for water extends to its rapidly growing and increasingly affluent urban populations. The need to meet the rising demand from these cities resulted in one of the world{\textquoteright}s most ambitious engineering projects, with an overall estimated cost of more than $80 billion. The central phase of the massive South-North Diversion Project opened in December, as water began flowing to Beijing through more than 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) of channels and pipes, which equates to the distance from London to Madrid.
But experts stress that China cannot simply engineer its way out of its water crisis with headline mega-projects that will never be big enough to keep pace with increasing demand.}
}
@article {250276,
	title = {Cleaning the Untapped Geothermal Energy by New Fluid},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {More American homes could be powered by the earth{\textquoteright}s natural underground heat with a new, nontoxic and potentially recyclable liquid that is expected to use half as much water as other fluids used to tap into otherwise unreachable geothermal hot spots. The fluid might be a boon to a new approach to geothermal power called enhanced geothermal systems. These systems pump fluids underground, a step that{\textquoteright}s called {\textquotedblleft}reservoir stimulation,{\textquotedblright} to enable power production where conventional geothermal doesn{\textquoteright}t work.
The new reservoir stimulation fluid features an environmentally friendly polymer that greatly expands the fluid{\textquoteright}s volume, which creates tiny cracks in deep underground rocks to improve power production. This fluid could also substantially reduce the water footprint and cost of enhanced geothermal systems. A paper describing the fluid has been published by the Royal Society of Chemistry in an advance online version of the journal Green Chemistry.
Geothermal power is generated by tapping the heat that exists under the Earth{\textquoteright}s surface to extract steam and turn power plant turbines. Conventional geothermal power plants rely on the natural presence of three things: underground water, porous rock and heat. Existing U.S. geothermal power plants generate up to 3.4 gigawatts of energy, making up about 0.4\% of the nation{\textquoteright}s energy supply.
Enhanced geothermal power can be generated at sites where heat exists, but isn{\textquoteright}t easily accessible because of impermeable rock or insufficient water. A 2006 report led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology estimates enhanced geothermal systems could boost the nation{\textquoteright}s geothermal energy output 30-fold to more than 100 gigawatts, or enough to power 100 million typical American homes.
Interested in this potential, the Department of Energy (DOE) has funded five enhanced geothermal system demonstration projects across the country. At one demonstration project in Nevada, enhanced geothermal methods increased a conventional geothermal plant{\textquoteright}s productivity by 38 percent. But the use of enhanced geothermal systems has been limited due to technical challenges and concerns over their cost and heavy use of water.
Creating enhanced geothermal systems requires injecting millions of gallons of water {\textendash} a valuable resource in the arid American West, where enhanced geothermal has the most potential. That water is sometimes mixed with a very small amount of chemicals to help the fluid better create and spread tiny cracks underground, which ultimately extends the life of a geothermal power plant.
Some geothermal reservoir stimulation fluids are similar to oil and gas hydraulic fracturing fluids in that a small percentage of their volume can include proprietary chemicals, according to a 2009 paper in Geothermics and other sources. These chemicals can be toxic if ingested, leading geothermal developers to retrieve and treat used fluids. This protects aquifers, but increases the cost of power generation as well. Environmental reviews must be conducted to receive permits for enhanced geothermal injections.}
}
@article {249416,
	title = {Pollution From Pesticides Can Be Severe},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {
A global study of pesticides in streams and waterways found that such pollution is rare, but when found it exceeded regulatory limits about half the time. The study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences was based on a review of more than 800 studies conducted in 73 countries over the past five decades.
Of the some 2,500 aquatic sites covered, just 2.6\% of the samples contained measurable levels of insecticides. Researchers looked for 28 commonly used insecticides representing all major insecticide classes. At the sites containing insecticides, 52.4\% of the detections exceeded regulatory thresholds.
The study was led by Sebastian Stehle and Ralf Schulz at the Institute for Environmental Sciences at University Koblenz-Landau in Germany. Threshold levels were high even in highly regulated countries and were pronounced for new-generation insecticides. Researchers warned that the high levels of pesticide contamination they did find {\textquotedblleft}constitutes an excessive threat to aquatic biodiversity.{\textquotedblright}
The study concluded {\textquotedblleft}Overall, our analysis suggests that fundamental revisions of current regulatory procedures and pesticide application practices are needed to reverse the global environmental impacts of agrochemical-based high-intensity agriculture.{\textquotedblright}
For more on the study, click here.
}
}
@article {248411,
	title = {Reducing Wasted Energy Using Nano-coatings},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Thermochromic nano-coatings employed correctly can help reduce energy usage and generate savings. The coatings either absorb heat or permit its reflection, depending on their temperature.
Nanoparticles possess an especially large surface-area-to-volume ratio. This makes them extremely efficient and reactive. Tiny amounts are sufficient to produce large effects. These coatings can be applied easily like paint or varnish.
The process is highly adaptable and suited to processing quite varied nanomaterials. Additional advantages: small amounts of substances can be bound in environmentally-friendly, water-based systems of plastics that release hardly any volatile organic compounds. These coatings can be applied directly without first requiring a primer coat {\textendash} experts refer to this property as {\textquotedblleft}direct-to-metal{\textquotedblright}.{\textquotedblright} In addition, the layers prevent oxygen from reaching the metal and thereby protect against corrosion.
Researchers at Fraunhofer ICT worked together with partners in industry under a project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) on novel nano-coatings for metallic wire and strip. The experts developed thermochromic coatings during the project that change color depending on their temperature. The coatings thereby either absorb heat or become transparent and permit its reflection
Strip and wire coated like this are useful in architectural applications. They can be interwoven and used as exterior self-regulating thermal cladding for walls and facades to help cool buildings passively and thereby reduce operating costs. These kinds of effects are useful for safety markings and signage. The coatings can also help clearly differentiate branded products from pirated copies, since pirates do not have these kinds of luminescent nano-coatings at their disposal.
Researchers with the Application Center for Plasma and Photonics of the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST in Braunschweig have also become involved in nanotechnology. They are designing particle surfaces with beneficial properties\&nbsp;by applying for example carbon or metallic nano-coatings. Specific particles surrounded by a 1-2 nanometer carbon nano-coating become more electrically conductive and this leads to an enhanced performance of lithium-ion batteries.}
}
@article {248021,
	title = {Fighting Deadly Amphibian Disease is a Complex Bacterial Challenge},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {New research from The University of Manchester and the Institute of Zoology has shed light on the complex challenge facing scientists battling one of the world{\textquoteright}s most devastating animal diseases.
Chytrid fungus is thought to be behind the decline or extinction of at least 200 species of frogs. It is also one of the reasons why 31\% of amphibian species are currently listed as threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. This latest study used bacteria from frogs in Belize to test the limitations of probiotic treatments. This form of treatment aims to introduce bacteria cultivated from amphibians that aren{\textquoteright}t affected by the disease to those at risk of infection to boost their immunity.
Dr Rachael Antwis who carried out the study while completing her PhD at Manchester{\textquoteright}s Faculty of Life Sciences explains: {\textquotedblleft}Using beneficial bacteria to act as {\textquoteleft}probiotics{\textquoteright} for disease mitigation is already common in agriculture and human health. In fact, many bacteria that reside on amphibian skin have been shown to inhibit the growth and survival of B. dendrobatidis. However, the reliability of the potential probiotics hasn{\textquoteright}t been tested against the shifting targets the disease presents.{\textquotedblright}
To assess the effectiveness of probiotic treatments, the team used bacteria taken from frogs in Belize, where the species has shown resilience despite the long term presence of the disease in the area. 56 strains of bacteria were isolated and stored for use in the laboratory. The team challenged the bacteria against different genetic strains of the disease, and then looked at whether the bacteria had inhibited the growth of the disease in its various forms. They found the bacteria performed in a variety of ways with only a small number inhibiting all forms of the disease. The bacteria that had an impact on one strain of the disease didn{\textquoteright}t have the same impact on the other genetic variations.
Moving forwards the scientists say that further research is needed to fully understand how bacteria inhibit B. dendrobatidis growth and the ability to infect hosts. Looking at the B. dendrobatidis genome for virulence factors will be fraught with difficulty but this study demonstrates some hope for finding effective probiotic treatments from within the amphibian community.
The results of the study have been published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.}
}
@article {247466,
	title = {Producing Geothermal Energy from Mine Water},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Millions of miles of tunnels cross under old mining communities across the United States. They are abandoned, falling apart, and choked with water. The tunnels are often viewed as a dangerous legacy. But the water in these mines could actually be a major geothermal resource.
Student researchers at Michigan Technological University have put together the first comprehensive guidebook communities can use to explore the feasibility of using mine water for geothermal energy to heat and cool buildings. While there is great potential for this resource, there are less than 30 active mine water geothermal systems in the world. One is at Michigan Tech{\textquoteright}s Keweenaw Research Center just north of Houghton, Michigan.
University{\textquoteright}s Keweenaw Research Center and community leaders in Calumet to understand the local potential. In fact, the idea for this project came from community members in Calumet, and especially Elmore Reese at Main Street Calumet.
Michigan Tech graduate student Edward Louie spearheaded the project as part of his master{\textquoteright}s degree work in energy policy. {\textquotedblleft}With mine water, you can draw lots of heat from it without it cooling down,{\textquotedblright} Louie says, explaining that the mine water in the Keweenaw stays around 53 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. These temperatures can then be used to heat or cool buildings using simple technology: mostly pipes, heat exchangers and heat pumps. {\textquotedblleft}A heat pump is simply a device that can move and concentrate heat with relatively little energy input,{\textquotedblright} Louie says, adding the equipment has been around since the 1970s. {\textquotedblleft}The efficiency of heat pumps has gotten better; their reliability has gotten better, but the technology itself is not from Star Trek.{\textquotedblright}
Louie compares a geothermal heat pump to a refrigerator, which acts as a heat pump. The refrigerator compressor uses a little electricity to move a lot of heat, he explains. It concentrates the heat, moving it out the back, and puts the cold inside. {\textquotedblleft}That{\textquoteright}s why the back of your fridge is warm, and that{\textquoteright}s why your freezer is freezing cold.{\textquotedblright}
In a geothermal heating system, the heat pump concentrates a relatively small amount of heat from the mine water, which remains much warmer than the winter outside air, into comfortable temperatures for heating a building. {\textquotedblleft}It{\textquoteright}s like the back of the fridge is placed in your house,{\textquotedblright} Louie says. {\textquotedblleft}So, it{\textquoteright}s dumping the heat in a warmer form into your house.{\textquotedblright} For cooling, the heat pump works in reverse, dumping cooler air into the building. And for every unit of energy used to power the heat pump to do this exchange, the pump can move four{\textemdash}sometimes more{\textemdash}units of heat.
Geothermal systems are inherently flexible, depending on location and the quality of the mine water. In the Keweenaw, where pure copper was mined, the mine water is relatively clean. In other areas, mine water laden with heavy metals and acid corrodes equipment. For this reason, Louie and his team outline several open and closed loop systems in the mine water geothermal guidebook. Closed loop systems help protect equipment from corrosive mine water by exchanging heat outside a loop of corrosion resistant pipes placed inside the mineshaft. The mine water itself is never pumped. In open loop systems, the mine water is pumped and makes contact with a metal heat exchanger. The advantage is increased efficiency and less piping, but the mine water has to be clean enough.}
}
@article {246636,
	title = {New Board of Agriculture Report Reveals Hidden Greenhouse Emissions},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {
Restoration of wetlands can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is shown in a report that has been written in part by researchers from the University of Gothenburg.
Former wetlands that have been drained and which are currently used for forestry and agriculture give off 11.4 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. That can be compared with Sweden{\textquoteright}s total emissions of 57.6 million tons. But in Sweden{\textquoteright}s report to the Climate Convention, emissions from drained peatland are not visible since they are included with forest growth.
The report Emissions of Greenhouse Gases from Peatland shows that drained peatlands should be restored into wetlands so as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Studies of greenhouse gas emissions from drained peatlands that are used for forestry production show that nutrient-rich, well-drained areas of land release more greenhouse gases than nutrient-poor, wetter grounds do.
Restoring drained ground to wetland reduces the release of both carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide from the ground. Although the release of methane will increase in the long term, the decrease of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide will be greater which means that, all in all, greenhouse gas emissions from the ground will be reduced. Establishing wetlands can also give other benefits such as increased biological diversity and it may reduce nutrient leaching into lakes and watercourses.
}
}
@article {245731,
	title = {Accounting for Wildfire in Calculating Carbon-Payback Time for Biomass Energy Projects},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {Accounting for wildfire is essential in achieving an accurate and realistic calculation of the carbon payback period associated with converting forest biomass into energy, according to a new study. Researchers said their analysis of carbon-accounting methods is expected to inform the scientific debate about the sustainability of such conversion projects.
Some contend that biomass is inherently carbon neutral because the trees sequestered the carbon from the atmosphere, while others argue that when a forest is harvested to produce energy, it represents a substantial carbon debt because it will take many years for new trees growing in that location to sequester the carbon emitted when the energy was produced. The time it takes to capture that carbon in new trees is called the carbon-payback period.
Defining a baseline for carbon stocks in a forest ecosystem has been the focus of research and policymaking of late because it is the carbon benchmark against which the effect of biomass energy development is evaluated. There is disagreement about the type of baseline to use; some have argued for the use of a static baseline and others for a dynamic baseline.
A static baseline uses the amount of carbon stored in the forest before the project and assumes it remains unchanged over time, whereas a dynamic baseline assumes that the carbon stock will vary as the forest changes.
Quantifying the carbon balance of using forests for biomass feedstock is not a simple task because there are many factors that have to be considered. For example, if the forest is likely to be harvested for wood products, the demand for wood products such as paper doesn{\textquoteright}t go away if the trees instead are harvested for biomass energy.
Led by Thomas Buchholz, of the Spatial Informatics Group of California, and Hurteau, researchers analyzed the results of 38 previously published studies on forest biomass carbon accounting that included a measure of carbon-payback period (how long until the carbon debt is gone and the forest biomass project is carbon neutral). The carbon payback periods for the studies included in their analysis ranged from zero to 8,000 years.
The researchers identified 20 attributes to classify these studies. They included factors such as type of forest (plantation or natural), fossil fuel energy source displaced, and whether or not the study included natural disturbance when modeling forests. After they classified all of the studies based on these attributes, they ran an analysis to determine which attributes were most influential for determining the carbon-payback period. The type of baseline{\textemdash}reference point or dynamic{\textemdash}was only influential after many other attributes were accounted for and only for a handful of the studies researchers analyzed.}
}
@article {242896,
	title = {Boosting Renewable Energy Using Nanomaterials},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {In the world we live in, our global energy consumption is accelerating at an alarming rate. The causes of this rapid energy consumption: rapid economic expansion, population growth, and increased reliance on energy-based appliances across the world.
Our rising energy demand and the environmental impact of traditional fuels pose serious challenges to human health, energy security, and environmental protection. It has been estimated that the world will need to double its energy supply by 2050 and it is critical that we develop new types of energy to meet this challenge. Fuel cells usually use expensive platinum electrodes, but a non-metal alternative could be an affordable solution for energy security. Fuel cells generate electricity by oxidizing fuel into water, providing clean and sustainable power.
Hydrogen can be used as the fuel. First, hydrogen is split into its constituent electrons and protons. Then the flow of electrons generates electrical power, before the electrons and protons join with reduced oxygen, forming water as the only by-product. This technology has high energy conversion efficiency, creates virtually no pollution, and has the potential for large-scale use. However, the vital reaction which generates reduced oxygen in fuel cells requires a catalyst {\textendash} traditionally a platinum electrode. Unfortunately, the high cost and limited resources have made this precious metal catalyst the primary barrier to mass-market fuel cells.
Ever since fuel cells using platinum were developed for the Apollo lunar mission in the 1960s, researchers have been developing catalysts made from alloys containing platinum alongside cheaper metals. These alloy catalysts have a lower platinum content, yet commercial mass production still requires large amounts of platinum. To make fuel cells a viable large-scale energy option, we need other efficient, low cost, and stable electrodes.
We previously discovered a new class of low-cost metal-free catalysts based on carbon nanotubes with added nitrogen, which performed better than platinum in basic fuel cells. The improved catalytic performance can be attributed to the electron-accepting ability of the nitrogen atoms, which aids the oxygen reduction reaction. These carbon-based, metal-free catalysts could dramatically reduce the cost of commercializing of fuel cell technology. Unfortunately, they are often found to be less effective in acidic conditions {\textendash} the typical conditions in mainstream fuel cells.
Using carbon composites with a porous structure to increase surface area and nanotubes to enhance conductivity, our latest research demonstrates that our nanomaterials are able to catalyze oxygen reduction as efficiently as the state-of-the-art non-precious metal catalysts {\textendash} and with a longer stability. This first successful attempt at using carbon-based metal-free catalysts in acidic fuel cells could facilitate the commercialization of affordable and durable fuel cells.
In addition to fuel cells, these new metal-free carbon nanomaterial catalysts are also efficient electrodes for low-cost solar cells, super capacitors for energy storage, and water splitting systems which generate fuel from water. The widespread use of carbon-based metal-free catalysts will therefore result in better fuel economy, a decrease in harmful emissions, and a reduced reliance on petroleum sources. This could dramatically affect life in the near future.}
}
@article {242116,
	title = {Gene Therapy and Agriculture Helped by Discovery},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {A fundamental question pursued by plant scientists worldwide for the past decade has been answered by researchers led by the University of Sydney.
Although our different cells and organs have exactly the same set of genes, the ability of any organism to turn certain genes on or off within each cell is central to the functioning of the organism. It defines the identity of cells, tissues and organs, and controls responses to the environment. An important way in which this process is regulated is by tiny RNA molecules, called {\textquoteright}microRNAs{\textquoteright}. Specific microRNAs control specific genes or sets of genes.
The researchers discovered that the microRNA mechanism that controls whether a particular cell destroys or simply represses the mRNA molecules in plants relies on {\textquoteright}switcher{\textquoteright} genes.
Now that the researchers have found the switchers, it will be possible to manipulate them. Regulating the switcher mechanism should allow them to boost the capacity for environmental adaptation without interfering with development. This has clear applications for plants affected by climate change. The researchers worked collaboratively for three years analyzing the plant model Arabidopsis to reveal the underlying mechanism.}
}
@article {239056,
	title = {Solar Power in India},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {

India{\textquoteright}s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, made headlines last year by announcing his ambition to install 100 gigawatts of solar power capacity (over 30 times more than India has now) by 2022. Skeptics noted the lack of a detailed plan and budget, but some well-capitalized industrial players have apparently caught the Prime Minister{\textquoteright}s solar fever: at a renewable energy summit called by Modi last month he collected pledges for 166 gigawatts of solar projects.
At the New Delhi summit, energy renewable giants such as First Solar and SunEdison mixed for the first time with chief ministers from Indian states and top executives of Indian industrial conglomerates such as Adani Enterprises and the National Thermal Power Corporation, India{\textquoteright}s largest power generator.
Tobias Engelmeier, founder of Bridge to India, a solar-market consultancy, says Modi{\textquoteright}s ambition has {\textquotedblleft}changed the conversation{\textquotedblright} about India{\textquoteright}s solar potential. But what happens next, will depend only in part on what renewable energy strategy Modi can devise from within the central government. The ultimate driver could be India{\textquoteright}s unmet demand for electricity. A quarter of India{\textquoteright}s population is not connected to the power grid, and electricity supply is chronically short for those who are.
Modi has said that India had to {\textquotedblleft}make a quantum leap in energy production,{\textquotedblright} and he said solar could deliver with its rapid construction rates and crashing prices{\textemdash}from 20 rupees (32 cents) per kilowatt-hour to less than seven rupees over the last three years.
In some Indian states, renewable energy can compete with fossil fuels even without the benefit of any subsidies, at least for commercial and industrial consumers, who pay the highest rates in India. Industrial firms normally pay 10 rupees or more per kilowatt-hour for grid power, but solar developers there are selling their power at a profit for eight rupees per kilowatt-hour.
Engelmeier{\textquoteright}s firm reported in November 2014 that even rooftop installations, which cost more to install, now match or beat the grid rates for commercial and industrial consumers in one out of four Indian states, with rates of about eight rupees per kilowatt-hour. Between 2012 and 2014, solar capacity increased from 461 megawatts to over three gigawatts in India, and Engelmeier projects that developers will add up to two more gigawatts this year. An increasing number of states, including Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh, are leasing public lands for solar parks. This eliminates the need for solar developers to work through India{\textquoteright}s complex land registries to support their own solar farm.
}
}
@article {237511,
	title = {Viewing 15 Million Years of Monsoon History},
	year = {2015},
	abstract = {

When the research vessel JOIDES Resolution returned to port in late January after a two-month cruise, it had harvested more than 550 sediment cores from deep beneath the Indian Ocean. Locked within those tubes of muck is a record of monsoon rainfall dating back millions of years. This glimpse of monsoons{\textquoteright} past could help scientists predict what may become of the rains in the future.
Accurately predicting how climate change might affect the Indian monsoons is crucial. They are the lifeblood of the Indian subcontinent. More than half of the billion-plus people in the region make a living in agriculture. Summer monsoons bring as much as 80 percent of the region{\textquoteright}s annual rainfall, making them the backbone of the Indian economy, essential for successful crops.
The huge influx of fresh water from the monsoons is enough to alter the salinity of the Bay of Bengal in the northern Indian Ocean. Rain and runoff create a layer of dilute seawater in the bay that rides atop the denser, more saline water below. The surface water is a habitat for microorganisms called planktonic foraminifera. The fossils left behind by those creatures will help reconstruct monsoon activity.
The foraminifera use nutrients in the water to construct their tiny shells. When the creatures die, the shells sink to the bottom and become trapped in sediment. By taking core samples of sediment and analyzing the oxygen isotopes in those fossils, scientists can divine the salinity of the water in which the creatures lived. That salinity signal can be used as an indicator of changing rainfall amounts over time.
Other data from the cores complement the foraminifera data. River runoff into the bay brings sediment from the continent with it. The amount of continental material found in the ocean sediments is an indicator of rain intensity. Plant matter washed into the ocean and buried in sediment offers another rainfall signal. The hydrogen isotopic composition of waxes on plant leaves varies in different rainfall environments, and that signature can be detected in sediment cores.
Scientists are hopeful that all these proxies, measured in sediment of different ages, can give them a fairly detailed picture of monsoon activity over the last 15 million years or so. The rainfall amounts through time can be compared to known variations in factors that influence global climate{\textemdash}greenhouse gas levels, variations in Earth{\textquoteright}s orbit, and volumes of glacial ice. That enables researchers to correlate those factors with changes in the monsoons.
To gather the sediment cores, the crew of the JOIDES Resolution (JOIDES is an acronym for Joint Oceanographic Institutions for Deep Earth Sampling) set sail from Singapore late last November. The ship and crew traveled about 4,000 nautical miles over two months, collecting cores from six locations in and around the Bay of Bengal. The expedition was an international effort, funded in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation.
The Resolution, a converted oil-drilling vessel, is crewed by 100 people, with an additional 30 or so scientists aboard. The ship is 470 feet long with a 200-foot drilling tower on the deck. It{\textquoteright}s capable of operating in water eight kilometers deep, and can drill holes to a depth of a several kilometers. The cores are brought on board in 9.5-meter intervals{\textemdash}one coming up about every 30 to 60 minutes when drilling is underway. Once the cores are hoisted up from the depths, the scientists go to work. The Resolution has impressive laboratory facilities, Clemens said, and quite a bit of preliminary analyses can be done at sea.
However, the bulk of the analysis on the cores lies ahead. Over the next few years, scientist will begin analyzing samples in labs all over the world including here at Brown. The science team will meet in 2017 to present the findings and consider where to publish them.
}
}
@article {219031,
	title = {Saving Energy Through Turbine Testing},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {

They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. But a little knowledge can also be comforting. For anyone who has sat on a jet airplane at takeoff, tense and sweaty-palmed, wondering how in the world this gigantic plane will manage to climb into the sky and stay up, here is a little knowledge: That plane is propelled by a gas turbine engine, which is ideal for jet aircraft because of its excellent power-to-weight ratio{\textemdash}it{\textquoteright}s a relatively small turbine engine that produces a lot of power for its light weight.
Gas turbine engines, lesser known than their steam, water, and wind counterparts, are found primarily in jet aircraft and in electric power plants. They are well suited for these uses because they operate best under a long-term, consistent load, rather than a fluctuating load, like that experienced by an automobile engine. Because gas turbines spin at high speeds and at temperatures well over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, they generate large amounts of power. In fact, gas turbines produce 15 percent of all energy used in the U.S. for air transportation and electricity generation.
That process requires burning up a lot of jet fuel. To find ways to increase gas turbine engine efficiency and thus reduce fuel burn, researchers in Penn State{\textquoteright}s College of Engineering have teamed with aerospace manufacturer Pratt \&amp; Whitney and the Department of Energy{\textquoteright}s National Energy Technology Laboratory, performing experiments on a full-scale test turbine at the Steady Thermal Aero Research Turbine (also known as START) facility near University Park. The United States uses 1.4 million barrels of jet fuel each day, and their main goal is to reduce that number by 5 percent.
One important step toward greater engine efficiency is improved air system seals. Gas turbines have both rotating and stationary components that contain gaps at their interfaces, creating airflow leakages. The research team will experiment with various types of seals to see which ones best reduce leakage, and the data they generate will help Pratt \&amp; Whitney improve its engine design tools.
After completing the experiments on turbine seals, the team will shift its focus to cooling technologies{\textemdash}how to better cool the vanes and blades that drive a gas turbine. A gas turbine engine consists of a compressor that takes in and pressurizes air; a combustor that burns fuel (propane, natural gas, kerosene, or jet fuel) and produces high-pressure, high-velocity gas; and a turbine that extracts energy from the gas.
The Department of Energy, a partner in the gas turbine research, has a particular interest in advanced cooling designs. These may be applied to improving cooling technology to the larger, stationary gas turbines in power plants.
}
}
@article {217451,
	title = {Success of Wind Power in Scotland},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {

\&nbsp;
In Scotland, where renewable energy installations also serve as major tourist attractions, enough energy is generated at on and offshore wind farms\&nbsp;to power all of the country{\textquoteright}s homes and then some.
Using data culled from WeatherEnergy, the World Wildlife Fund{\textquoteright}s Scottish arm recently published impressive findings that prove wind power is making a huge impact, no matter how controversial and hated wind turbines are in some communities.\&nbsp;During the {\textquotedblleft}bumper month{\textquotedblright} of October, the country{\textquoteright}s wind turbines collectively generated enough juice {\textemdash}982,842 megawatt hours (MWh) {\textemdash}\&nbsp;to power 3,045,000 homes. This is about 126\% of the electricity needs for Scottish households.
Looking at the United Kingdom as a whole, wind turbines generated enough energy to provide the electricity needs for a staggering 28 percent of households in the U.K. Currently, a quarter of Europe{\textquoteright}s offshore wind resources are located in Scotland with realized farms including the massive (60 turbines with a capacity of 180 megawatts) Robin Rigg Wind Farm at Solway Firth near the Scottish and English border. The largest onshore wind farm in the U.K., the 215 turbine-strong Whitelee Wind Farm, is located just outside of Scotland{\textquoteright}s largest city, Glasgow. Whitelee Wind Farm alone has a total capacity of 539MW {\textemdash}\&nbsp;enough power to provide electricity to just under 300,000 homes.
In fact, it was recently reported that the country{\textquoteright}s wealth of wind turbines, accused of marring the pristine Scottish countryside by detractors, generate\&nbsp;too much juice for the National Grid to handle. Many wind farms have been issued {\textquotedblleft}constraint payments{\textquotedblright} {\textemdash} 43 million in these payments have been issued so far in 2014 {\textemdash}to deactivate turbines so that the natural supply-demand balance isn{\textquoteright}t further thrown off.
According to WWF Scotland, solar power didn{\textquoteright}t perform too badly in October either despite Scotland{\textquoteright}s reputation for having perpetually dreary skies: Rooftop PV panels provided 46 percent of the electricity needs for Edinburgh homeowners who have invested in residential solar installations. That number drops a bit for solar-equipped homes in Iverness (38 percent), Glasgow (37 percent) and Aberdeen (33 percent). Solar thermal also performed well, providing solar hot water panel-fitted homes in the above cities with over a quarter of their respective household hot water needs.
}
}
@article {216296,
	title = {A Strong World Bank Commitment to Agriculture},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
78 percent of the world{\textquoteright}s poor people live in rural areas and rely on farming, livestock, aquaculture and other agricultural work to put food on their plates and make a living. For millions, agriculture is the starting point for their pathway out of poverty. \&nbsp;Long acknowledged as one of the most powerful tools for raising the incomes of very poor people, agriculture is integral to ending poverty and boosting shared prosperity for the world{\textquoteright}s poorest.
But agriculture is not just important to the rural poor. It is also critical to fighting hunger, tackling malnutrition and boosting food security for a population that is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050. Agriculture also creates jobs; on farms, in markets, and throughout the farm-to-table food chain. And because agriculture is one of the sectors that is most vulnerable to extreme weather and one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gases, it is also important in the fight against climate change.
The World Bank Group has steadily increased its investments in agriculture over the years. \&nbsp;In 2014, the Bank Group made $8.3 billion in new commitments to agriculture, establishing itself as a leading financier of the agriculture sector. The majority of Bank lending goes to increasing productivity, food security and improving access to markets.\&nbsp; The Bank{\textquoteright}s work in agriculture is also aimed at helping farmers cope with risks, reducing gender inequality, making agriculture more environmentally sustainable and advancing climate-smart agriculture.}
}
@article {215846,
	title = {Organic Farming Using the Rooting of Olive Trees},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
After the enactment of organic farming regulations, there have been significant limitations to the use of certain products for rooting olive trees. Researchers from the School of Agricultural Engineering and School of Agricultural Technical Engineering of Universidad Polit{\'e}cnica de Madrid have taken an important step towards finding solutions thanks to the {\textquotedblleft}Org{\'a}nico Terrabal{\textquotedblright} product that is permitted in organic farming and can be an alternative to the most popular rooting product for olive trees, indolebutyric acid. According to the regulations, indolebutyric acid (IBA) is not permitted for organic production.
Organic farming aims to obtain the highest quality products which are respectful to the environment and can preserve soil fertility by avoiding using synthetic chemicals. Organic olive groves comprise the second-most important organic farms worldwide after coffee. Spain has more than 168,000 hectares of organic olive grove, representing 31.1 percent of the total global area. Castilla La Mancha has 38\% of the organic olive grove surface in Spain. Andalucia has 33\% and Extremadura 19\%. It is estimated that 11.5 million kilos of organic olive oil were sold in 2012. This means an increase of about 17\% compared to the year before. Italy is the main exporter of Spanish organic oil with 4 million kilos.
Today, olive tree multiplication is performed by semi-hard wood cuttings comprising stems of 20 cm with leaves. The base of cuttings is treated with products that facilitate the rooting and the root formation. After that, the cuttings are placed into a greenhouse on basal heated benches with filled substrate trays and are watered with intermittent misting in order to maintain humidity and trigger the rooting.
IBA is the most popular product in traditional agriculture to trigger the rooting of cuttings. This component belongs to the group of growth regulators. This product does not generate phytotoxic effects and it usage is relatively simple. It is essential to regulate the immersion time of cuttings. However, after the enactment of organic farming regulation the products mentioned before are not permitted for producing organic materials.
In order to find alternatives to IBA for production of organic olive cultivars, researchers from UPM conducted two tests at the nursery of the Centro de Transferencia Tecnol{\'o}gica {\textquotedblleft}La Isla{\textquotedblright} of the Madrid Institute for Research and Rural Development in Food (IMIDRA), located in Arganda del Rey.}
}
@article {213426,
	title = {Boosting profits, saving energy in LED factories},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
Studies have shown that switching to LED lights in factories not only saves energy, it boosts productivity and increases profits. LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, create less heat than traditional lights, so they help keep factory floors cooler. When workers are more comfortable, they produce more and are less likely to be absent- which is a major problem for employers, according to the study of 25 garment factories in Bangalore, India, from 2010 to 2013.
The garment factories in the study were not air conditioned and had hundreds of people laboring on machines that ran constantly in buildings with multiple stories. Similar work conditions are found in Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and other major exporters in the $200 billion apparel industry.
Due to climate change, finding ways to keep factories cooler will become increasingly challenging for businesses in developing countries, which on average are hotter than developed nations.
The researchers studied the staggered rollout of the LED lights in the factories over four years. They found the LEDs cost about $6,300 to install, and the energy savings was about $3,000 per year. But increased profits from efficiency gains were more stark; an increase of $41 per operating day for each factory, or nearly $13,000 per factory per year.}
}
@article {212036,
	title = {As energy crisis deepens, India turns to nuclear},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
India{\textquoteright}s new prime minister is turning to nuclear energy to ease a power crisis made worse by the cancellation of hundreds of coal mining permits, but he faces skepticism both at home and abroad.
Energy-starved India relies on coal to produce two thirds of its electricity, but power blackouts are common and demand is rising quickly as the economy and middle class expand. Last week, the Supreme Court cancelled over 200 coal mining permits because the licensing process was deemed illegal, making the need for alternative energy sources even more pressing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made nuclear a priority as he seeks to fulfill his campaign pledge to kick start the country{\textquoteright}s flagging economy. But to succeed, he will need to convince a skeptical public that nuclear is safe, and dispel foreign proliferation concerns to secure the imports of uranium and technology that India needs to produce atomic energy. Nearly 400 million Indians still have no access to electricity, according to the World Bank.
India{\textquoteright}s 20 nuclear plants currently account for less than two percent of its power capacity, but the government wants to boost this to 25 percent by 2050.
Modi has quickly set about trying to achieve that. He secured Prime Minister Shinzo Abe{\textquoteright}s pledge to speed up discussions on a nuclear agreement during a visit to Japan last month, before signing a deal with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott that will pave the way for uranium sales to India.
China{\textquoteright}s President Xi Jinping also showed willingness to talk nuclear cooperation with India on a visit last week, although no specific pact was announced.}
}
@article {210706,
	title = {No-till Farming Not as Efficient as Once Thought},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
Extensive meta-analysis completed by an international team led by the University of California-Davis states that no-till farming, a key conservation agriculture strategy that avoids conventional plowing and otherwise disturbing the soil, may not bring a hoped-for boost in crop yields in much of the world.
As the core principle of conservation agriculture, no-till has been promoted worldwide in an effort to sustainably meet global food demand. But after examining results from 610 peer-reviewed studies, the researchers found that no-till often leads to yield declines compared to conventional tillage systems. It still shows promise for yield gains in dry land areas, however.
Conservation agriculture is currently practiced on 125 million hectares of land globally, an area nearly as big as the total U.S. cropland. Three key principles guide the concept: minimizing soil disturbance (also called no-till farming), protecting the soil with cover crops or leftover crop residue, and rotating the crops.
The goals of conservation agriculture are to improve long-term productivity, profits and food security, particularly under the threat of climate change. Because conservation agriculture avoids tillage, it is less time-consuming and can be more cost-effective than conventional farming methods.
In recent years, however, there has been some disagreement about the impact of no-till farming practices on yield. After assessing more than 5,000 side-by-side observations, the researchers concluded that on average no-till negatively impacts yields at the global scale, yet several opportunities exist for more closely matching or even exceeding conventional tillage yields.
Yield reductions were minimized when the principles of crop rotation and residue retention were also practiced, highlighting the importance of implementing all three conservation agriculture principles as part of an integrated management system rather than no-till alone.
Moreover, when adopted in dry climates in combination with the other two principles of conservation agriculture, no-till farming performed significantly better than conventional tillage, likely due to the higher retention of soil moisture.
Dry land ecosystems are home to 38\% of the world{\textquoteright}s population, and millions of acres of land in arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia have been identified as suitable for sustainable intensification. Yet, the authors also caution that practicing no-till in dry land areas without the implementation of the other two principles of conservation agriculture decreases yields.
In regions with moist climates and sufficient precipitation, no-till farming actually resulted in yields that were on average 6-9\% lower than with conventional tillage methods.}
}
@article {210386,
	title = {Backing Agriculture Produces Best Results from Monetary Aid},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
European countries devote small percentages of their national income to international aid, but these add up to colossal amounts {\textemdash} in the UK, for example, 0.7\% amounts to {\textsterling}11 billion a year. How can governments ensure they are getting the most bang for their buck and actually contribute to sustainable solutions for the world{\textquoteright}s poor?
Escaping the poverty trap begins with having enough food on your table and enough money in your pocket. For more than 500 million smallholder farmers all over the world, this means producing enough on two hectares (or less) of land to eat, and also having surplus to sell.
Investment in agriculture is about twice as effective for poverty reduction as investment in any other sector. This is why, if Western donors want to make the most impact on the ground, they must put their money into agricultural innovations.
An online tool developed by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and launched earlier this year, allows policymakers to identify which technologies or practices (out of 10 that were modeled) will do most to improve yields in their region, taking predicted climate change conditions into account. The results for sub-Saharan Africa were striking. For instance, the joint adoption of no-till agriculture and drought-tolerant crops could as much as triple yields by 2050.
To see these results click here}
}
@article {209926,
	title = {Potential Economic Impact of the Spread of Ebola},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
With the latest death toll from Ebola now at 3,439 in the three worst-affected countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, a new economic impact assessment from the World Bank Group says that if the epidemic was to significantly infect people in neighboring countries, some of which have much larger economies, the two-year regional financial impact could reach US$32.6 billion by the end of 2015.
According to the World Bank Group{\textquoteright}s analysis, the economic impacts of Ebola are already very serious in the core three countries {\textendash} particularly Liberia and Sierra Leone {\textendash} and could become catastrophic under a slow-containment, High Ebola scenario. In broader regional terms, the economic impact could be limited if immediate national and international action stop the epidemic and alleviate the {\textquotedblleft}aversion behavior{\textquotedblright} or fear factor that is causing neighboring countries to close their borders, and airlines and other regional and international companies to suspend their commercial activities in the three worst-affected countries. The successful containment of Ebola in Nigeria and Senegal so far is evidence that this is possible, given some existing health system capacity and a resolute policy response.}
}
@article {208761,
	title = {Are We in the Midst of an Energy Revolution?},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
Anyone who doubts that the deployment of the technologies we have come to call fracking constitutes a revolution should consider this: U.S. oil production has soared by 70 percent in the past six years. American refineries have cut in half their imports from the OPEC cartel, setting off a scramble by those countries to find new markets. Nigeria, once among our top-five suppliers, no longer exports to the United States a single barrel of its light, low-sulfur oil, the type produced by fracking.
Thanks to a bit of definitional legerdemain that gets partially around an old anti-export law passed when we were deemed excessively dependent on foreign oil, we are set to become a major exporter. Our crude exports are at their highest level since the 1950s, and when, as seems likely, the remaining ban on exports is removed, will rise sharply. Shipments of just the type of crude European refineries need will head there, more Alaskan oil will be shipped to Asia, and global competition will become more intense. RIP theories of {\textquotedblleft}Peak Oil.{\textquotedblright} The ripple effects of the glut-induced drop in oil prices to levels not seen since December 2012 are only now beginning to be felt.}
}
@article {207831,
	title = {High Levels of Biosecurity are Sacrificing Agriculture Research},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
The image of Australian agriculture is that it is {\textquotedblleft}clean and green{\textquotedblright} due to biosecurity measures that operate to keep a vast army of exotic pests and pathogens out of the country.
An argument can be made that the overzealous application of biosecurity measures that are applied are hindering agricultural research, thus restricting the flow of crop-protection measures and potentially increasing pest and disease burdens.
Losses to pest and pathogens in agricultural systems such as in Australia and around the world are hard to quantify but is generally believed to average 15-30 \%, less in temperate and developed regions and more in tropical and less-developed areas.
In wheat, diseases costs about $1 billion and pests cost about $800 million out of a total crop value of about $10 billion. Relative losses in barley and canola are similar but in pulses are much worse.
And this is despite the application of pesticides that cost about $1 billion and a climate that is significantly less favorable for many diseases than in most other countries.
To read the full report, follow this link here.}
}
@article {206426,
	title = {Fishermen in Senegal Come Together to Overcome Illegal Fishing},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
Fishermen of a Senegalese coastal village known as Ngaparou, have for decades relied on fishing on the Atlantic ocean{\textquoteright}s wealth of fish and crustaceans to not only fill their nets, but also their wallets, and stomachs.
However, recent surges in illegal fishing, resulting in overfishing, have threatened to eliminate several species that could once be found in abundance, leaving Ngaparou{\textquoteright}s villagers vulnerable to stark poverty.
As the situation became dire, worried fishermen rallied the entire village to take action in an effort to save their livelihoods and maintain their way of life. The village came together to establish the Local Fishermen{\textquoteright}s Committee of Ngaparou (known by its French acronym, CLP), with the goal of implementing a community-based fisheries management aimed at restoring fish stocks and promoting a healthy marine environment.
Supported by $15 million dollars in funding from the generosity of World Bank, this Senegalese component of the West Africa Regional Fisheries Program (WARFP) enables the people of the Ngaparou to confront the challenge of over-exploited fish resources with sustainable solutions while benefiting from a social safety net.
To see the full story, follow the link here.}
}
@article {205631,
	title = {Changing Worldwide Agriculture by Mobile Payments},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
For farmers across the developing world, being trapped in a cash-based economy is costly.\&nbsp;Those costs come in all forms{\textemdash}what commodity buyer{\textquoteright}s farmers can work with, security risks associated with constantly carrying around large wads of currency, the unpredictable price fluctuation and pressure to produce more as opposed to better.
The cash economy doesn{\textquoteright}t offer buyers much in the way of benefits, either. Large scale buyers of agricultural products in developing nations generally face increased security, record-keeping and transaction costs in a low-trust environment where cash on demand is the only payment model any supplier in the chain is willing to accept.\&nbsp;Moreover, cash payments represent increased cost for diminished benefit. Fraud instances statistically run higher in environments where buyers must make individual cash payments to tens of thousands of farmers
In short, the cash dominated agricultural marketplaces are not sustainable in the 21st century.
This was the thesis of the GSMA (Groupe Speciale Mobile Association) at Nairobi{\textquoteright}s Fin4ag\&nbsp;conference hosted by the\&nbsp;Technical Center for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation. GSMA represents 850 mobile network operators worldwide and has declared that it is in its strategic interest to help steer payments between buyers and suppliers in Africa{\textquoteright}s agricultural commodities marketplace toward digital payments.
GSMA{\textquoteright}s push for expanded digital exchanges in agricultural commodity exchanges comes as buyers and suppliers around the world are embracing digital as a reasonable alternative to both cash and traditional banking, especially in nations where under banked is an almost universal condition{\textemdash}particularly in agricultural communities where there are simply no banks.
Even when physical bank availability can be addressed, rural Africa and South East Asia both have widespread literacy gaps in rural areas, making banking forms impossible to fill out.
Even in remote rural locations, however, there are mobile devices and that access is projected to expand, according to the Southern Africa Telecommunications Association. (SATA).\&nbsp;According to SATA, more than a billion dollars has been invested in Africa over the last 16 years and that investment means that, increasingly, mobile technology is accessible.
With that technology, agricultural suppliers are getting their first crack at a financial identity and supply chains that can be customized better. With new technology from Bangalore-based ThoughtFocus,\&nbsp;the Jayaraman\&nbsp;farm is one of many milk collection centers across South India that has had embedded sensor systems installed. The sensors collect data on the milk, check fat and protein content, temperature and overall quality. That data is then transmitted to buyers, who also have the option to purchase it directly, also through the ThoughtFocus platform.
The buyer gets a higher quality good while the seller makes more profit and gets paid much faster. As more money pours into developing economies in South East Asia and Africa, much still needs to be done to optimize mobile payments. Infrastructure needs to be built, partnership need to be forged and local agricultural sellers need to learn.
But as mobile payments are picking up steam world-wide, and farmers in developing economies increasingly comfortable with using their phones as a payment method, the days of cash-based agriculture may finally be drawing to a close in the developing world.}
}
@article {204676,
	title = {UN Agency Urges a Paradigm Shift Towards Sustainable Agriculture},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
In order to move towards more sustainable agriculture, a broader approach is needed to overhaul the world{\textquoteright}s food system, the head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said, as he pressed for a global reduction in the quantity of chemicals and water in contemporary agriculture.
Speaking at the opening of the 24th session of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) in Rome, Director-General Jos{\'e} Graziano da Silva called for a {\textquotedblleft}paradigm shift{\textquotedblright} in global attitudes on agriculture, adding that only by decreasing the amounts of {\textquotedblleft}inputs,{\textquotedblright} such as water and chemicals, could the sector move towards a more sustainable and productive long-term path.
{\textquotedblleft}We cannot rely on an input-intensive model to increase production,{\textquotedblright} Mr. Graziano da Silva declared. {\textquotedblleft}The solutions of the past have shown their limits.{\textquotedblright}
Pointing to options such as agro-ecology, climate-smart agriculture, biotechnology and the use of genetically modified organisms, the Director-General emphasized that global food production would need to grow by 60 per cent by 2050 in order to meet the expected demand from an anticipated world population of nine billion.
Established in 1971 and with over 100 members within its ranks, the COAG{\textquoteright}s biennial meeting is currently addressing a wide range of issues, including family farming, sustainable agriculture, food safety, water governance, soil management and agricultural heritage systems.
Addressing the Committee in his keynote speech, the President of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina, underscored his Government{\textquoteright}s support of the principle that food be considered a universal right and noted that his country was on the verge of passing a law establishing said right.}
}
@article {203951,
	title = {Getting superior cereal crops starts with fine tuning plant cells},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
Changing the developmental path of grain in cereal crops to better influence yield, quality and end-use is the aim of University of Adelaide research scientist Dr Matthew Tucker. 
Dr Tucker, who was recently awarded a prestigious Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship, will be taking advantage of plant cells{\textquoteright} ability to change identity as the plant develops, to determine how to tailor cereal grains that are healthier to eat or have other desirable attributes.
"Unlike animals, most plant cells essentially can become any cell type," says Dr Tucker, who is based in the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls in the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine. "But how and why plant cells change identity during grain development hasn{\textquoteright}t been determined.
"I{\textquoteright}m trying to identify the pathways that drive cells to become different. We{\textquoteright}ll be looking to identify natural variants in these pathways that can be used to purposely change cell types in the developing cereal grain."
One potential outcome could be increased antioxidant levels in wholegrain or whole meal flour. Antioxidants are important because they contribute to health benefits associated with consuming wholegrain products, such as reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes and obesity.}
}
@article {203236,
	title = {Creation of Global Financing Facility to Advance Women{\textquoteright}s and Children{\textquoteright}s Health},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
The World Bank Group and Governments of Canada, Norway, and the United States announced yesterday that they will jumpstart the creation of an innovative Global Financing Facility (GFF) to mobilize support for developing countries{\textquoteright} plans to accelerate progress on the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and bring an end to preventable maternal and child deaths by 2030.
The GFF, in support of Every Woman Every Child, is being developed in close collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders, including partner countries; the H4+ agencies (UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UNAIDS, UN Women and the World Bank Group); civil society organizations; bilateral and multilateral development partners; foundations; private sector and others working in the areas of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health. The GFF will support countries in their efforts to mobilize additional domestic and international resources required to scale up and sustain essential health services for women, children and adolescents.
The initial donor commitments to the World Bank Group for the GFF include grants in the amounts of $600 million from Norway and $200 million from Canada. The GFF resources will be provided to countries in conjunction with low-interest loans and grants from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank Group{\textquoteright}s fund for the poorest countries. Based on strong country demand for health results-based financing programs, these bilateral contributions could leverage up to an estimated $3.2 billion from IDA, for a total of up to $4 billion in financing to support MDG acceleration and improve reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health.
To see full report click here}
}
@article {202766,
	title = {Non-Governmental Organizations Warn Climate-Smart Agriculture is Corporate Green-Washing},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
On the sidelines of the U.N.{\textquoteright}s heavily hyped Climate Summit, the newly-launched Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture announced plans to protect some 500 million farmers worldwide from climate change and {\textquotedblleft}help achieve sustainable and equitable increases in agricultural productivity and incomes.{\textquotedblright}
But the announcement by the Global Alliance, which includes more than 20 governments, 30 organizations and corporations, including Fortune 500 companies McDonald{\textquoteright}s and Kelloggs, was greeted with apprehension by a coalition of over 100 civil society organisations (CSOs). The 107 CSOs include ActionAid International, Friends of the Earth International, the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements, the South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication, the Third World Network, the Bolivian Platform on Climate Change, Biofuel Watch and the National Network on Right to Food.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who gave his blessing to the Global Alliance, said: {\textquotedblleft}I am glad to see action that will increase agricultural productivity, build resilience for farmers and reduce carbon emissions.{\textquotedblright} These efforts, he said, will improve food and nutrition security for billions of people. With demand for food set to increase 60 per cent by 2050, agricultural practices are transforming to meet the challenge of food security for the world{\textquoteright}s 9.0 billion people while reducing emissions, he asserted.
But the coalition has said: {\textquotedblleft}Although some organizations have constructively engaged in good faith for several months with the Global Alliance to express serious concerns, these concerns have been ignored.{\textquotedblright} Instead, the Alliance {\textquotedblleft}is clearly being structured to serve big business interests, not to address the climate crisis,{\textquotedblright} the coalition stated. The coalition also pointed out that companies with activities resulting in dire social impacts on farmers and communities, such as those driving land grabbing or promoting genetically modified (GM) seeds, already claim they are climate-smart.}
}
@article {202231,
	title = {The future of global agriculture may include new land, fewer harvests},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
Most of the our Earth{\textquoteright}s accessible agricultural land are already under cultivation. Ecological factors such as climate, soil quality, water supply and topography determine the suitability of land for agriculture. Climate change may impact global agriculture, but some regions may benefit from it. In a new study, researchers focused on the probable impact of climate change on the supply of land suitable for the cultivation of the 16 major food and energy crops worldwide, including staples such as maize, rice, soybeans and wheat. They simulated the impact of climate change on agricultural production over the course of the 21st century and found that two-thirds of all land potentially suitable for agricultural use is already under cultivation.
The results indicate that climate change may expand the supply of cropland in the high latitudes of the Northern hemisphere, including Canada, Russia, China, over the next 100 years. However, in the absence of adaptation measures such as increased irrigation, the simulation projects a significant loss of suitable agricultural land in Mediterranean regions and in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.}
}
@article {201691,
	title = {Tourism in the Green Economy},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
Tourism has significant potential as a driver for growth of the world economy. The sheer size and reach of the sector makes it critically important from a global resource perspective. Even small changes toward greening can have important impacts. Further, the sector{\textquoteright}s connection to numerous sectors at destination and international levels means that changes in practices can stimulate changes in many different public and private actors beyond the direct and immediate impact of tourism activity.
Tourism in the Green Economy reviews and defines that following factors:

Tourism has significant potential as a driver for growth for the world economy.
The development of tourism is accompanied by significant challenges.
Green tourism has the potential to create new, green jobs.
Tourism development can be designed to support the local economy and reduce poverty.
Investing in the greening of tourism can reduce the cost of energy, water and waste and enhance the value of biodiversity, ecosystems and cultural heritage.
Tourists are demanding the greening of tourism.
The private sector, especially small firms, can, and must be mobilized to support green tourism.
Much of the economic potential for green tourism is found in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which need better access to financing for investing in green tourism.
Destination planning and development strategies are the first step towards the greening of tourism.
Government investments and policies can leverage private sector actions on green tourism.
}
}
@article {200466,
	title = {India Helping Increase Agriculture Output in Netherlands},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {The Netherlands is working with India to set up 10 centers of excellence across the country with an aim to raise agriculture output and introduce modern farm technologies and techniques.
{\textquotedblleft}The work has already been started on three centres, one each in Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab and the work is soon to be expected to start in Karnataka,{\textquotedblright} the Netherlands Counsellor for Agriculture in India Wouter Vethey.
He was speaking on the sidelines of an event by the Kerala government to announce the {\textquoteleft}Global Agro Meet{\textquoteright} in the state from November 6-8.\&nbsp; Vethey added that centre in Kerala and Maharashtra will be for horticulture, while in Punjab the center of excellence will be for potatoes. He also said that all the centers will come up in a few years. For the remaining the six centers, the European nation is looking to set up the centers on dairy, horticulture, floriculture and others.


In June this year, Dutch Ambassador Alhponsus Stoelinga had called on Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh and informed him about the developments made in the areas Indo-Dutch agriculture cooperation plan of dairying, post harvest management, including cold chain infrastructure and hi-tech agriculture.
}
}
@article {199461,
	title = {Thermoelectric devices could capture wasted energy},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {In recent years, we have become familiar with the concept of {\textquotedblleft}energy vampires{\textquotedblright}:\&nbsp; these are small devices around the house like phone chargers that steadily use up energy a little at a time. We{\textquoteright}ve all been encouraged to avoid wasting energy in this way by unplugging these things.
More recently, researchers have started looking at opportunities for actually harvesting energy that is otherwise wasted. Things that produce heat, vibrations, radio and microwaves are all around us and all that emitted energy generally serves no purpose. Emerging technologies for scavenging waste energy could change all that.
Thermoelectric devices can convert waste heat into electricity and newer versions can operate on very little heat. Electronic devices could derive power from the vibrations from a user{\textquoteright}s footsteps. Tapping into low-level energy sources could in principle replace batteries in a variety of modern devices. Tiny sensors, processors and biomedical devices are all candidates for scavenged power. Sensors that don{\textquoteright}t rely on depletable energy sources offer valuable reliability and flexibility. Electronic devices of all sorts could even derive some of their power from their own excess heat. On a larger scale, significant heat sources such as hot parking lot pavements and tailpipe heat could be exploited to great effect. Making use of ambient energy is likely to become increasingly common.}
}
@article {198821,
	title = {Troubling study shows a loss in Mexico{\textquoteright}s maize genetic diversity},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {The genetic diversity of maize, or corn, is declining in Mexico, where the world{\textquoteright}s largest food crop originated, report researchers in Mexico and at the University of California, Davis. 
The findings are particularly sobering at a time when agriculturists around the world are looking to the gene pools of staple foods like corn to dramatically increase food production for a global population expected to top 9 billion by 2050. 
The new study, which contradicts some earlier and more optimistic assessments of corn diversity in Mexico, appears online in the\&nbsp;Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The researchers warn that as the impacts of climate change intensify, yields from currently cultivated maize varieties will likely decline. Unless farmers have access to genetic resources that will equip them to restore yields to profitable levels, many of them may abandon agriculture at a time when there is a growing need to boost global food production. 
They stress that there are likely multiple causes for the decline in genetic diversity in maize and identifying those causes will be crucial for future conservation efforts.}
}
@article {198491,
	title = {Climate-smart agriculture requires three-pronged global research agenda},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {Faced with climate change and diminishing opportunities to expand productive agricultural acreage, the world needs to invest in a global research agenda addressing farm and food systems, landscape and regional issues and institutional and policy matters if it is to meet the growing worldwide demand for food, fiber and fuel, suggests an international team of researchers.
In a paper appearing online in the journal Agriculture and Food Security, the authors summarize the findings of the second international Climate Smart Agriculture conference held in March 2013 at UC Davis.
"Climate-smart agriculture has become a global policy initiative for economic development, poverty reduction and food security," says lead author Kerri Steenwerth, a U.S. Department of Agriculture soil scientist and adjunct professor in the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology.
"It makes sense for farmers, consumers and food businesses because it is focused on the long-term sustainability of supply chains, and applies both to farmers{\textquoteright} fields and to the natural landscape," she said.
The objectives recommended in the new paper set the stage for a stronger emphasis on moving knowledge into action and involving researchers in helping communities and societies to change and adapt.}
}
@article {197101,
	title = {A Year for Record Crops Spur Exits From Agriculture Investment Funds},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {An investment binge in U.S. agriculture funds has ended as record crops and the promise of improving meat supplies send prices plunging.
After taking in more money than precious metals or energy funds during the first five months of 2014, exchange-traded products backed by agriculture had a net outflow for the year of $57.7 million as of Aug. 29, down 2.9 percent, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Energy, precious-metal, industrial-metal and broad-based funds saw net inflows over the period, boosting total raw-material investment by $341 million, or 0.5 percent.
While coffee, cattle and hogs posted gains that beat most commodities this year, prices for cotton, soybeans, corn and wheat fell into bear markets. Speculator bets on an agriculture rally are down 78 percent since early April as farmers in the U.S., the world{\textquoteright}s largest grain grower, prepare to collect what the government predicts will be record harvests. Global food costs fell for four straight months through July.}
}
@article {196041,
	title = {Helping Combat Malnutrition among Mothers and Children},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {The World Bank has approved $47.95 million to help the Government of Pakistan improve nutrition status of children under the age of two, and pregnant and lactating women in targeted areas. Specifically, it will focus on women and the relatively high proportion of stunting that occurs during pregnancy. It will support scaling-up of well proven maternal nutrition interventions for women of child-bearing age and sharpening the nutrition focus of ante-natal visits and provision of daily Iron Folic Acid supplementation during pregnancy.\&nbsp;
All the provinces in Pakistan are facing challenges of malnutrition.\&nbsp; Half of the children under five in Balochistan (52 percent) and in Sindh (50 percent) are stunted and these rates have worsened in these two provinces since 2001.
Likewise, almost half (48 percent) of children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and 39 percent of children under five years in Punjab are stunted. While the project focuses initially on Sindh and Balochistan provinces, the aim is to enhance national coverage through coordination of support between Pakistan{\textquoteright}s development partners.
Although maternal and child health indicators have improved in Pakistan, significant challenges remain.\&nbsp; The preliminary findings of the 2011 National Nutrition Survey revealed that the rates of child stunting have not changed in Pakistan since 1965. Pakistan has high rates of child malnutrition, with 44 percent of children being stunted and 22 percent severely stunted.}
}
@article {194571,
	title = {British Renewable Energy Sources are Increasing by Record Numbers},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {Recently, renewable energy has been taking a strong hold in European countries, considered to be stronger than what the United States has allowed. Since the first quarter of the year, renewable energy{\textquoteright}s contribution to the British power grid has been increasing.
In the first quarter, renewable energy accounted for one-fifth of the British total power grid. A recent government study has shown that renewable energy sources being contributed have sharply increased over the winter. Onshore wind power increased by 62 percent, offshore wind power increased by at least 50 percent, and hydropower increased by 78 percent.
There has also been an increase in solar power stations and power, adding 1.1 GW of power to the grid in the year{\textquoteright}s first three months. All of these technologies combined added a total of 20.8 GW of renewable power, a 15 percent increase from a year before.
Germany also announced significant increases in renewable energy, contributing to 28 percent of the country{\textquoteright}s power grid.
These efforts to increase renewable energy sources in Europe come from goals established by the European Union to have 15 percent of the continent{\textquoteright}s total energy come from renewable resources by 2020.
The EU is setting a great example here. It{\textquoteright}s not saying to cut the carbon emissions, but rather increase renewable energy. Perhaps that{\textquoteright}s the way that it should be done. With the increased efficiency that renewable sources have to offer, the use of fossil fuels should eventually be phased out as time allows.}
}
@article {193831,
	title = {Agriculture Ministry in Jerusalem Offering Incentives to Form Associations},
	volume = {2014},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {Today, the Agriculture Ministry in Jerusalem announced that they are in the process of allocating a 10 million budget toward encouraging individual farmers to organize into cooperative units, to strengthen the power of smaller family farms.
The purpose of the ministry{\textquoteright}s new program is to provide incentives to individual farmers in their operations as well as fortify agricultural settlements. By organizing into associations, these farmers can benefit from the advantages of economy of scale and thereby maximize their strength and the revenues of their businesses. In turn, the farmers can preserve the small family farm lifestyle.
"This move is expected to maintain and strengthen the small family farm by increasing the bargaining power and profitability of the farms," said Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir.
The 10 million budget, which will be allocated for 2014-2015, was formulated during discussions regarding an amendment to the Antitrust Law. The new amendment, which will come into force in March 2015, will prevent wholesalers who are not farmers themselves from coordinating product prices and quantities in the market. By organizing together into cooperative associations, however, farmers will be able to continuing taking advantage of the exemption from the law that they already enjoy, the ministry said.
By joining forces in associations, farmers can increase their bargaining power and save in costs related to training, control, purchasing, branding, packaging, and marketing. They also may be able to contribute to improving the quantity and quality of products demanded by the market.\&nbsp;\&nbsp;
Through its new program, the Agriculture Ministry will be providing support according to three different tracks.

Providing assistance for examining the feasibility of participating in such associations, including consultancy services.
Contributions to the preparation of legal documents and legal infrastructure required to build such associations.
Providing support for the costs of managing the organization and performing activities like branding and marketing, the ministry said.

In announcing its decision to financially support the organization of farmers into associations, the Agriculture Ministry cited the European Union{\textquoteright}s efforts to do the same. The EU likewise supports organizational initiatives among farmers, such as efforts involved with planning production, improvement and preservation of product quality, experimental studies, crisis prevention, management tools and environmental activities.}
}
@article {192556,
	title = {The Strength of a Nation : Agriculture},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, both believed a strong agriculture was essential to building and maintaining a strong and vibrant nation. Washington recommended to Congress in 1796 that money be appropriated for a National Board of Agriculture that would be responsible for the development and sharing of information on farming methods designed to increase production and efficiency. This recommendation was largely ignored until 1862 when Abraham Lincoln and Congress established the Department of Agriculture and the Land Grant Colleges for Agriculture and Mechanics through the Morrill Act. This eventually led to the Agriculture Experiment Stations.
Many farmers were reluctant to change and use information provided by the university and experiment stations. In 1902, a school superintendent in western Ohio, A.B. Graham, decided that he might reach the parents through introducing their children to the new ideas. He began to teach the youths in the area how to raise corn and hogs with the new techniques and let their parents see the results for themselves. Graham{\textquoteright}s idea worked and was the beginning of 4-H. Today, there are more than 200,000 4-H members in Ohio alone. In 1914, 100 years ago, the Agricultural Extension Service was established by Congress through the Smith-Lever Act, putting an agricultural agent in each county to extend university reach to farmers in a practical and useable form.
The changes in agriculture from Washington{\textquoteright}s day to the present have been immense: from 99 percent of the population being farmers to 1 percent farmers; from approximately 10 bushels of corn harvested per acre to 150 or more; from more than 60 hours of labor required to produce an acre of wheat to about two hours. And crops and livestock that once traveled at speeds of six to 10 miles per day to market now are transported round the clock, as many as 700 miles per day.
Washington and Jefferson would be overwhelmed by the changes and advances in agriculture as we know it today, but I think they would be pleased with the strength that our agriculture contributes to the strength of our nation.}
}
@article {191516,
	title = {More U.S. Made Wind Turbines Are Being Sold Overseas},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {A report released by the Department of Energy Monday shows a substantial increase in the percentage of American-made small wind turbines being sold to other countries, driven in part by Congress{\textquoteright} refusal to act on renewing a key subsidy for the U.S. wind industry, which has created uncertainty in the market.
76\% of the small wind turbines manufactured in the United States were exported to other countries last year, the Department of Energy{\textquoteright}s 2013 Distributed Wind Market Report has stated. That{\textquoteright}s quite an increase from 2012, when only 57 percent of U.S.-made small turbines were exported. The market for U.S. made turbines is spread across the world, too; small wind turbines produced here were sold to more than 50 countries, with top export markets in Italy, Germany, China, and Mexico.
{\textquotedblleft}To compensate for weaker domestic sales, U.S. small wind turbine manufacturers shifted their focus to growing international markets,{\textquotedblright} The report read. {\textquotedblleft}Importers interviewed for this report indicated that they spent their efforts in more promising international markets {\textellipsis} as it was hard to justify sales efforts in the United States without consistent policy support at the federal, state, and utility levels.{\textquotedblright}
The fact that small wind turbine manufacturers have been exporting isn{\textquoteright}t bad. In fact, they{\textquoteright}re what ultimately {\textquotedblleft}saved the day{\textquotedblright} for manufacturers here, the report has noted. Actual investment in small wind turbines produced in the United States declined substantially, from $101 million in 2012 to just $36 million in 2013, exports are what helped keep many manufacturers afloat.
Projections for how much wind capacity will be added to the U.S. grid by 2016 vary greatly depending on whether Congress renews the PTC (Production Tax Credit). If Congress decides to renew the PTC, the report indicates that the U.S. will continue to add wind capacity to the grid. If not, it will likely drop off, in part due to competition from the oil and gas industries, which benefit from a wealth of federal tax carve-outs.
Even if the PTC is not renewed, however, there is still hope that other policies will boost wind energy production in the future. The DOE{\textquoteright}s technology report noted that investments in wind power could be spurred by the implementation of the EPA{\textquoteright}s proposal regulations to reduce carbon emissions from existing and new coal power plants, which may create new markets for wind energy.}
}
@article {187711,
	title = {World Bank Commits $5 billion for Energy Projects in African Countries},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {$5 billion has been committed by the World Bank Group in new technical and financial support for energy projects in six African countries. Those countries are Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Tanzania. All of these countries are partners in President Obama{\textquoteright}s Power Africa initiative.
Jim Yong Kim,\&nbsp;president of the World Bank Group\&nbsp;said this type of commitment was essential to creating more electricity for the people of Africa. There are 600 million Africans with no access to electricity. Even though Africa has some of the largest potentials for hydropower, geothermal, wind and solar.
{\textquotedblleft}We think that the U.S. Power Africa initiative will play an extremely important role in achieving the goal of providing electricity for Africa.\&nbsp; So today I{\textquoteright}m very pleased to announce that the World Bank Group, following President Obama{\textquoteright}s lead, will partner with Power Africa by committing $5 billion in direct financing, investment guarantees, and advisory services for project preparation in Power Africa{\textquoteright}s six initial partner countries, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Tanzania. The U.S. Government and the World Bank Group are working now on specific tasks and milestones which could help to achieve one quarter of Power Africa{\textquoteright}s goal of generating 10,000 megawatts of new power in Sub Saharan Africa,{\textquotedblright}\&nbsp;Jim Yon Kim\&nbsp;said.
The power crisis in Africa makes it so people are spending too much of their income on costly and potentially hazardous forms of energy. There are many that use sources like diesel generators or wood for indoor cooking fires to generate their power. Africa uses just 8 percent of the\&nbsp;hydropower potential. Which is a travesty when you look at Western Europe where they are using 85 percent of available hydropower potential. The money that has been allocated should go a long way in creating a brighter energy future in these countries.}
}
@article {185901,
	title = {Using Time Efficiently},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {Time is a scarce resource especially for the top brass. On average senior executives are spending less than three hours both working together as a team and discussing strategic issues. This can lead to a lot of frustration, poorly considered decisions, bad investments and missed opportunities. It{\textquoteright}s not just the top brass that are being hampered though, managers find their days eaten up unproductive meetings too. All of which makes it feel like there aren{\textquoteright}t enough hours in the day.
Fortunately it doesn{\textquoteright}t have to be this way if leadership steps up to the plate. In an organization meetings should be managed with an emphasis on being quick and effective. Reaping maximum benefits with minimal time being wasted can be accomplished with these techniques.
Seperation of Strategy and Operations
Strategy is about the whole picture with an eye toward the future. Operational matters are about detailed discussion and analysis. Both are going to have very different views on how things should be done and when forced to work together can cause problems. Leadership should schedule separate meetings for the separate purposes. For example, if you{\textquoteright}re having bi-weekly meetings to for review and discussion of the daily operations, you could instead have one weekly meeting that covered the daily operations and once a month have a strategy meeting focusing on the big picture. By doing this better decision will be made in a shorter span of time.
Decisions not Discussions
When meetings are held they should be to make decisions, not have a discussion. This can be easily achieved by changing the standard protocol for meetings. At Intel when a meeting is held for example, they begin every meeting with a statement: The purpose of the meeting is to inform you about X, discuss Y and decide on Z, where Z is a specific decision. By placing a label on the items that will be discussed more time will be used to make decisions.
Setting Priorities
Executives should make distinctions between the urgent and legitimately important tasks to make sure they get the correct amount of attention. A decisions architecture can be a useful tool in assessing the level of importance for each item on your docket. Basically a decisions architecture is a list of essential decisions for each step of a business{\textquoteright}s value chain. This chain is prioritized by the attention it requires and the value that is at stake. Create the list and use it as a guide when setting the agenda for your meetings. Doing this will put the emphasis on things that are truly important.
Clearing Your Agenda
Issues will arise and you need to be able to resolve them quickly with a specific timetable outlining the manner in which your team will come to a decision and execute it. Delay was called the worst form of denial by Cardinal Health CEO, Bob Walter. Walter made sure his employees worked with a strict decision timetable.
Stick to Decisions
When you make a decision, stick to it. Many companies spend countless hours wasting time revisiting decisions that only need to be made once. Make a point of summarizing the decisions you make at meetings, along with the commitments that were made and to-do{\textquoteright}s for follow-up. Create a log and look it over at the next meeting.
Leaders who want to capitalize on the time they have will put these techniques into practice.}
}
@article {184986,
	title = {World Hepatitis Day 2014},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {The World Health Organization welcomes new progress to combat viral hepatitis. It is part of a group of infectious diseases known as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. The affects of hepatitis are felt by millions worldwide and causes acute and chronic liver disease. It kills close to 1.4 million people annually.
{\textquotedblleft}For years, viral hepatitis has been largely neglected,{\textquotedblright} says Dr Margaret Chan. {\textquotedblleft}But now we are beginning to see greater awareness and global momentum building to tackle it.{\textquotedblright}
Momentum Building
The rise in interest has created debate on hepatitis at the 2014 World Health Assembly. The 194 countries who belong to the WHO endorsed a resolution aimed to increase the efforts to prevent, diagnose, and treat viral hepatitis. It emphasizes the importance of comprehensive national plans to fight hepatitis. The plans should be designed with the specific needs of the countries in mind.
The WHO stated in their resolution that testing is key. The majority of people don{\textquoteright}t know they have hepatitis, the symptoms usually manifest themselves after serious liver disease years later. The need for prevention strategies that are effective is growing. Plans would have to meet the growing need for immunization programs that protect against hepatitis A and B.
Hepatitis Innovations
World Hepatitis Day is July 28th and coincides with the 20th International AIDS Conference. A wide range of the sessions to be held will be focusing on the inherent challenges that come with preventing viral hepatitis and HIV.
Dr Hiroki Nakatani said,\&nbsp;{\textquotedblleft}The experience gained by HIV programmes in scaling up comprehensive prevention and treatment programmes, improving access to affordable medicines and diagnostics, engaging communities and reaching vulnerable and marginalized populations can do much to inform viral hepatitis responses, addressing wider populations of people affected by hepatitis B and C.{\textquotedblright}
This past year a huge stride in chronic hepatitis C treatment has taken place. There have been drugs created and even more in the works with the intent to change hepatitis C treatment. Creating safe treatments with cure rates greater than 90\%. There are still hurdles to overcome, but it is this type of progress that is so encouraging as Hepatitis Day 2014 nears.}
}
@article {181436,
	title = {WHO Noncommunicable Diseases Country Profiles 2014},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {The World Health Organization has compiled a report, "Noncommunicable diseases country profiles 2014" to show the progress that has been made in controlling noncommunicable diseases.
The report reviews the NCD situation and includes recent trends and government responses in 194 countries. I{\textquoteright}ve listed some of the larger points of discussion

95\% of countries responding to the survey have a designated Ministry of Health department or division specifically designed to combat NCDs;
1/2 of the world{\textquoteright}s countries have a plan and a budget for NCDs;
Countries who are monitoring the main risk factors has doubled since 2010.

WHO Director, General Dr Margaret Chan said,\&nbsp;{\textquotedblleft}I see no lack of commitment. I see a lack of capacity to act, especially in the developing world." She also mentioned that their latest data shows 85\% of premature deaths from NCDs are occurring in developing countries. Showing how great a challenge is being brought about by these diseases.
Worldwide NCD Deaths Increase
The country profile makes projections based upon it{\textquoteright}s findings. Every year 38 million people die from NCDs. This number accounts for the nearly 16 million of which occur prematurely, which is to say before they reach 70. NCD deaths have increased worldwide and in every region since 2000. The largest increase in NCD deaths has been in the World Health Organization{\textquoteright}s South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions.
World Health Organization{\textquoteright}s Plan of Action
The WHO global action plan is designed to thwart the epidemic and reduce premature deaths from NCDs by 25\% by 2025. In New York world leaders are meeting to review the progress that has been made in recent years. They will also be discussing a stronger effort to reduce NCDs.
"WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2020" was endorsed in 2013 by 194 countries. It\&nbsp;offers a menu of policy options for countries, global partners and other organizations which, when implemented collectively will attain 9 voluntary global targets, including that of a 25\% relative reduction in premature mortality from NCDs by 2025.
Dr Oleg Chestnov, WHO Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health said,\&nbsp;{\textquotedblleft}WHO has established a global infrastructure to stop the rise in noncommunicable diseases and is supporting countries to accelerate progress...particularly in less-developed countries that are already bearing the brunt of the NCD burden and need our assistance.{\textquotedblright}}
}
@article {176861,
	title = {Taking Stock in EPI after 40 Years},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {In 1974 the World Health Organization launched the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). It was designed for the six diseases that are preventable by vaccine: polio, diphtheria, tuberculosis, pertussis (whooping cough), measles and tetanus. They modeled the EPI based on the strategy that was employed to eradicate smallpox. When the program began nearly 5\% of the children in the world were protected against the diseases. That number has since risen to 83\%.
Vaccines \&amp; Challenges
The World Health Organization works with UNICEF and the GAVI Alliance to provide support for vaccination programs. WHO estimates the EPI prevents 2.5 million premature deaths a year, in addition to protecting millions of people from illness and disability.\&nbsp;Based on the success the program had most countries vaccinate against at least 9 or 10 diseases.
EPI Impact
The challenge that health officials face is reaching 22 million children who don{\textquoteright}t have access to the basic EPI vaccines. Data is needed to better the targeting and response to vaccine programs. The World Health Organization{\textquoteright}s system is developing tools that improve the recording and reporting of diseases and vaccine estimates.
Back in Meadowlands, Lindiwe and Sibusiso are called to the consulting room where the nurse deftly gives him two shots {\textendash} in one arm a combined vaccination against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) and polio; in the other a second dose of the measles vaccine. A few tears from Sibusio; vaccination booklet updated; visit over until the next scheduled appointment. Routine and rather remarkable.
\&nbsp;Dr Thomas Cherian, WHO{\textquoteright}s EPI coordinator from 2006 to 2012 said,\&nbsp;{\textquotedblleft}When you introduce more vaccines, a program becomes more complex. Health workers need more training, and parents need to take in more information. Supply chains, distribution networks and monitoring systems need to be strengthened to make sure health systems can accommodate all the vaccines and achieve the required results.{\textquotedblright}}
}
@article {175386,
	title = {The Benefits of Climate-Smart Development},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {Typically socioeconomic benefits and environmental externalities are left out of economic analysis, mainly because of the difficulty in measuring those factors.
The World Bank has created a new macroeconomic modeling framework that gives us the ability to measure several aspects socioeconomic benefits and environmental externalities that weren{\textquoteright}t possible before. With the new modeling tools the benefits of reducing emissions can be measured, projects and policies can be designed and analyzed better, and a rationale for combining climate action with sustainable development can be provided.
Based on seven simulated case studies the new framework can be used to calculate the impact and benefits of reducing air pollution. Three of those seven studies deal with sector policies. Included in the policies are taxes, regulations, and incentives. The policies aim to create more clean transportation, industrial energy efficiency, and energy efficient appliances.
They are estimating that through the implementation of these policies about 30 percent of the reduction necessary to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius by 2030 could be accomplished. It{\textquoteright}s staggering to think the policies would save 16 billion kilowatt-hours of energy, which is the equivalent of taking 2 billion cars off the road
The four simulated project studies looked at local development interventions and then scaled those to a national level.
One study showed the possibilities using an example of a landfill in Brazil that integrated waste management options, like biodigesters, composting, and methane capture for electricity production. If those same methods were scaled to a national level for a 20 year period, they estimate that over 44,000 jobs would be created. These jobs would add over $13 billion to the GDP, while drastically reducing emissions.
The other case studies also showed promise. In India they looked at increasing bus rapid transit, in rural China the impact of clean cookstoves, and in Mexico the use of solar panels.
The estimated benefits of the fours studies combined created some incredible figures. They estimated that 1 million lives would be saved and 1-1.5 million tons of crop losses would be prevented. The financial implications of the projects in India, Brazil, and Mexico alone would equate to over $100 billion.
When you take these studies into account it{\textquoteright}s easy to see the great benefits that can be obtained through climate-smart development.}
}
@article {174331,
	title = {World Blood Donor Day},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {This past Saturday was the World Blood Donor Day campaign. This year{\textquoteright}s motto was {\textquotedblleft}give blood for those who give life.{\textquotedblright} World Blood Donor Day is put together by the World Health Organization. \&nbsp;There are nearly 800 women who die each day from childbirth-related complications. During the delivery process and after child birth severe bleeding causes the majority of mortality, morbidity and long-term disability. The {\textquotedblleft}give blood for those who give life{\textquotedblright} campaign aimed to increase awareness about the importance of timely access to blood products for all countries. This campaign is a portion of a comprehensive program put together by the World Health Organization{\textquoteright}s approach to the prevention of maternal deaths.
The World Health Organization primarily targeted donors who regularly give blood and healthy people who would be eligible to give blood, but have yet to do so on a regular basis. They also encouraged countries, organizations and international partners that are focused on blood transfusions and maternal health to create a plan that would highlight the needs that currently exist.
The numbers that are associated with the existing needs are staggering. Severe bleeding contributes to 34\% of maternal deaths in Africa, 21\% in Latin America and the Caribbean. The World Health Organization strongly supports improving access to blood for women and children.
To learn more about this annual event\&nbsp;visit the World Health Organization site.}
}
@article {173366,
	title = {How Does Carbon Pricing Work?},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {The idea of pricing carbon isn{\textquoteright}t a new one.
In the world today there are around 40 countries as well as 20 cities than have plans or are currently using carbon pricing mechanisms. The regions mentioned account for nearly 25 percent of the globes emissions. In addition to the aforementioned regions there are many more that are creating systems to place a price on carbon in the not-so-distant future. Combining these two faction would cover roughly half of the CO2 emissions around the world.
Carbon pricing has two common forms. One is emissions trading systems, or ETS, and carbon taxes
ETS
Emission trading system are often referred to as a cap-and-trade system. In an ETS system a cap is set for the total level of greenhouse gas emissions. Then those who are under the cap are allowed to sell their allowance to the larger emitters. This creates a supply and demand for emissions and establishes the market for greenhouse gas emission pricing. Having a cap in place forces to stay within the limits or purchase the allowance of others.
Carbon Tax
Placing a tax on carbon is a much simpler tactic. A price for carbon is set with a defined tax rate on emissions or the carbon content of fossil fuels. This varies from an ETS because the reduction in emissions is not predetermined.
The strategy that is employed should be weighed by the national and economic circumstances.
Pricing carbon can also be done indirectly with things like, fuel taxes, fossil fuel subsidy removal and regulations. It{\textquoteright}s worth noting that\&nbsp;The World Bank Group has reviewed best practices for carbon pricing and is creating their own process that weighs all of the key factors, including global impact.}
}
@article {172966,
	title = {Impact of Raising Tax on Tobacco},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {The question about the impact of raising tax on tobacco is fairly common. In the Phillipines they successfully raised the taxes even with the strong opposing force of the tobacco industry. \&nbsp;The idea was pressed forward by President Franklin Drilon, who felt that increasing the tax on tobacco would aid the government{\textquoteright}s health agenda and combat the high occurrence of smoking that was taking place in the country.
In the Phillipines they were able to communicate a strong media message from their Department of Health and Finance that informed the general public of the health benefits that would go along with the implementation of the bill. They were able to label it as anticancer tax to the public. Stating that it was fair to tax the tobacco industry based on the health burdens that are created by smoking.
A year after the tax was implemented the government in the Phillipines was able to collect more than they had expected. 85\% of the revenue that came in has been allocated to universal health coverage and the improvement of the health care facilities available to the people of the Phillipines.
Which brings us to the topic of discussion. It is widely believed that raising the tax on tobacco is the most effective solution to reduce tobacco use. With what has taken place in the Philippines serving as evidence to that point as well as similarly effective legislations in countries like Egypt, France and Turkey.
The difficult part about raising the tax on tobacco is outlining the benefits from a health and economic standpoint, as well as dismissing the myth that a tax will lower the tobacco sales. It is important to note that the single largest cause preventable death is smoking. Smoking kills nearly 6 million people each year. It not only impacts life expectancy, it also impacts quality of life.
Raising the Tax
Most people understand tobacco is harmful, but many think that raising the tax on tobacco would be harmful too. The idea behind the tax is to raise the price above inflation rates and hope that people will buy less tobacco do to the price increase. If you were to raise the tax in such a way that it would increase the overall price of tobacco by 10\% it is estimated that it would reduce tobacco consumption by 4-5\% depending on the income levels of the country where it is implemented.
The World Health Organization projects that if you were to raise the tax on tobacco by 50\% that the number of smokers would decrease by 49 million. By having 49 million fewer people smoking they also project that you would be able to avoid 11 million deaths from smoking.
To go along with the clearly immense health benefits that come with raising the tax on tobacco you also have the new revenue stream for the government. Creating a win-win situation. There are a lot of economic and health factors at play, but the studies that have been done indicate raising the tax would be a strong positive from a health and economic perspective.

}
}
@article {171986,
	title = {Weakness Beginning to Show in Europe{\textquoteright}s Economy},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {
The European Central Bank took several courses of action to combat low inflation. They lowered the main lending rate from .25\% to .15\%. Beyond that they became the first big central bank to move to negative interest rates by lowering their deposit rate from 0 to -.1\%. They also announced that these new measures will aid struggling businesses by giving them inexpensive long-term funding to banks that support through the duration of their loan. This was designed to promote a recovery that wouldn{\textquoteright}t rely so heavily on Germany.
Prior to the changes German annual growth of 3.3\% was all that was keeping the economy from shrinking in the first quarter of this year. The german rate is expected to slow down, but the overall economy in the next two years is expected to grow by nearly 2\%. Which is what it has done since the start of the european crisis in 2010.
Since 2006 Germany{\textquoteright}s surplus has averaged nearly 7\% GDP, even reaching a high of 7.5\% in 2013. Maintaining that level is impressive because their main export market is the rest of the european market that has been suffering. The surplus of the other european members dropped to 2.1\% in 2013. They have sustained the levels in Germany by reaping the benefits of the emerging markets in need of machinery and transport goods.
Employment in Germany reached has steadily risen the last ten years and is at its highest point since 1990. The unemployment rate has dropped from 11.4\% to 5.2\%, which constitutes the second-lowest rate in the European Union.
The rise in employment has positively impacted tax revenues. Low long-term interest rate have allowed lower borrowing costs on government debt. Combine the two and you have a public finance system that is blossoming. The budget ended up with a surplus in 2012 and then this past year the national debt dropped to less than 80\% of the GDP, which is the first such occasion in the past 5 years.
We{\textquoteright}ve spoken on the strengths, but the long-term prospects are troubling due to a number of key factors. For starters their birth rate has been below the replacement rate and the nearly 400,000 people per year that migrate aren{\textquoteright}t enough to counter the issue. The other option to counteract the effects of a birth rate below replacement rate is a high productivity growth, but even substantial productivity growth would fall well short.
Even with their imposing current-account surplus, it can be interpreted as a sign of weakness, since it represents a shortfall of domestic investment in relation to national saving. Total investment has fallen from 21.5\% of GDP in 2000 to 17.2\% in 2013. The government is not only investing too little in new infrastructure but also spending too little on maintenance.
}
}
@article {171906,
	title = {$5 Trillion Indian Economy by 2025},
	year = {2014},
	abstract = {[[{"fid":"235971","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"height":"233","width":"310","style":"float: right;","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]The three main factors of success that have been propelling India{\textquoteright}s growth are demographics, globalization and reforms. In the last decade the GDP growth for India has seen a significant jump from the previous two decades. India has averaged 7.6\% growth in the last ten years, compared with 6.1\% in the 1990{\textquoteright}s and 4.6\% in the 1980{\textquoteright}s.
This trend combined with an adverse global environment, poor macro policy choices of pursuing high fiscal deficits, strong rural wage growth and policy inaction did however, cause the credit crisis in 2008.
Over the course of the last couple years, the Indian policymakers have taken note of the impact policies have on the economy. The adjustments have been very effective with exchange rates and interest rates. They have taken steps to improve the business environment as well as improve the external environment and the changes are starting to have some real positive manifestations.
The expectation is that India will transition from their current growth rate into a more comfortable rate somewhere closer to 6\%. There will be structural challenges that present themselves over the next decade. The strong growth in the working-age population, reform to aid productivity and accelerating productive job opportunities, income and saving will be strong enough to support India{\textquoteright}s growth trend.
Improvement in demographics has been a major source of higher potential growth. Favourable demographics provide a platform of surplus labour that the economy could mobilize.
To read more on India{\textquoteright}s Potential\&nbsp;click here.}
}
