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In the evolving landscape of Industry 4.0, the convergence of peer-to-peer (P2P) systems, LoRa-enabled wireless sensor networks (WSNs), and distributed hash tables (DHTs) represents a major advancement that enhances sustainability in the modern agriculture framework and its applications. In this study, we propose a P2P Chord-based ecosystem for sustainable and smart agriculture applications, inspired by the inner workings of the Chord protocol. The node-centric approach of WiCHORD+ is a standout feature, streamlining operations in WSNs and leading to more energy-efficient and straightforward system interactions. Instead of traditional key-centric methods, WiCHORD+ is a node-centric protocol that is compatible with the inherent characteristics of WSNs. This unique design integrates seamlessly with distributed hash tables (DHTs), providing an efficient mechanism to locate nodes and ensure robust data retrieval while reducing energy consumption. Additionally, by utilizing the MAC address of each node in data routing, WiCHORD+ offers a more direct and efficient data lookup mechanism, essential for the timely and energy-efficient operation of WSNs. While the increasing dependence of smart agriculture on cloud computing environments for data storage and machine learning techniques for real-time prediction and analytics continues, frameworks like the proposed WiCHORD+ appear promising for future IoT applications due to their compatibility with modern devices and peripherals. Ultimately, the proposed approach aims to effectively incorporate LoRa, WSNs, DHTs, cloud computing, and machine learning, by providing practical solutions to the ongoing challenges in the current smart agriculture landscape and IoT applications.

Coffee consumption is concentrated in the "Global North", while production is mainly located in the "Global South". This trade-driven dependency leads to the exploitation of natural resources. As an export-oriented cash crop, such dependency jeopardizes the existence of a fair distribution of the risks and revenues among all the actors taking part in its globalized supply chain. Coffee trees are mainly rain-fed and only partly irrigated. However, the increasing global coffee demand led to higher consumption of freshwater, which can exacerbate the stressed condition of already stressed water basins. This study quantifies the impact of global coffee consumption on water scarcity, considering the larger system made of producer and consumer countries. The global displacement of such impact is driven by consumer preferences. We found that the US, EU and Asian countries' coffee consumption create impact on water scarcity mostly in African and South American countries, which is also representative of the economic disparities existing behind the global trade flows. Climate change will likely affect the varieties currently preferred by global consumers. Therefore, immediate environmental sustainability actions including water resource preservation are necessary to face current and future challenges., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The thermal mineral water of Peñón de los Baños spa (Mexico City) has been used for over 500 years starting in pre-Hispanic times and is famous for the treatment of various pathologies. It has a temperature of 45 °C, which is rich in HCO 3 - , and its main trace elements are B, Li and Fe, which confers healing effects. Concerns about the sustainability of this important spa have motivated this study to understand the thermal system, possible hydraulic and hydrochemical changes over time and its implications. Stable water isotope data indicate that the thermal water sources originate from local precipitation at Sierra de las Cruces with a recharge elevation of approximately 2770 m above sea level. The recharged water percolates through volcanic and carbonate rock formations and ascends via fault structure conduits, where it eventually is extracted 25 km downstream in Peñon de los Baños. During the gravity-driven deep circulation of up to 4.9 km, the groundwater is heated up to 136-160 °C. A comparison of past and current water levels and water chemical analyses indicates a water table drop and few variations in the chemical composition, confirming the presence of anthropic impact on water quality. Due to the heavy groundwater extractions in Mexico City, the spring water flow has ceased, and water must be pumped now from a 203-m deep well. In addition, the concentration of bicarbonate, sodium and chloride has been reduced by half since the onset of groundwater development. The therapeutic effects of this thermal mineral water are at risk due to the alteration of the chemical signature. However, new and different therapeutical uses may prevent a future deterioration or closure of this historically important thermal spa. It is crucial to establish a monitoring program of the thermal mineral water and reducing or minimizing nearby urban extractions which tap the regional flow component to preserve the properties of the thermal water., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Clean water is an important resource for maintaining human life, economic activities, and ecosystems' survival. Nevertheless, its irregular distribution and occasional scarcity lead to the need to promote its sustainable use. To assess the current situation and the dynamics of sustainable water use, it is crucial to identify the main factors affecting it and to propose monitoring indicators. This paper develops an approach based on compromise programming to analyse water use sustainability at the municipal level, with a methodology that comprise a framework designed in five steps: 1 - indicators' choice; 2 - indicators's weights; 3 - definition of sustainability rankings with the application of a compromise programming approach; 4- application of a GIS analysis; 5 - identification of the main factors affecting sustainable water use. As a first result, the consensus weights of the chosen indicators were defined, indicating that the most important internal factors affecting sustainable water use are safe water, the percentage of housing served by water supply and water distributed by inhabitant. Then sustainability rankings at the municipality level were defined considering these factors. Finally, it was possible to conclude that tourism activity, income level, and young age population have a significant negative effect on sustainable water use, and municipal revenue has a positive effect. Irrigated farming shows a non-significant negative effect on sustainable water use. Population density, elderly population and education level did not show the expected effects on sustainable water use., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Water scarcity has received global attention in the last decade as it challenges food security in arid and semi-arid regions, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. This research assesses the possible alleviation of water scarcity by reducing the water footprint in crop production through the application of soil mulching and drip irrigation. The study is the first to do so at catchment scale, taking into account various crops, multi-cropping, cropping patterns, and spatial differences in climate, soil, and field management factors, using field survey and local data. The AquaCrop-OS model and the global water footprint assessment (WFA) standard were used to assess the green and blue water footprint (WF) of ten major crops in the Upper Litani Basin (ULB) in Lebanon. The blue water saving and blue water scarcity reduction under these two alternative practices were compared to the current situation. The results show that the WF of crop production is more sensitive to climate than soil type. The annual blue WF of summer crops was largest when water availability was lowest. Mulching reduced the blue WF by 3.6% and mulching combined with drip irrigation reduced it by 4.7%. The blue water saving from mulching was estimated about 6.3 million m 3 /y and from mulching combined with drip irrigation about 8.3 million m 3 /y. This is substantial but by far not sufficient to reduce the overall blue WF in summer to a sustainable level at catchment scale., (Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)