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This study aims to scrutinize the determinants of household energy consumption needs in Kebbi State, Nigeria. The data for the study were sourced from household heads within the study area. The paper analyzes the determinants of household energy consumption using six energy consumption indicators (household expenditure on energy, electricity, LPG, kerosene, charcoal, and biomass). To analyze the data, the study used descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression (which has rarely been used in this kind of study) which broaden our understanding of social, economic, and environmental perspectives on energy usage. Our empirical strategy indicates that all the instruments used are appropriate based on Cronbach's alpha scale value of greater than 0.9. Education level was found to be a significant factor in energy expenditure by household, electricity, LPG, and kerosene usage, while negatively correlated with biomass usage. A binary logit regression model revealed that household head income, availability of different energy choices, reliability, and affordability are the major determinants of household energy consumption needs. Findings further show that low-income household heads which account for more than 60% of the respondents rely heavily on the traditional methods of biomass to meet their energy needs. The finding further revealed that 72.80% of the respondents confirmed that accessibility is one of the driving forces which determines their energy choice. Based on the findings, the study therefore, recommends the need to ensure the availability and affordability of safer forms of energy as well as invest more in making renewable energy available and affordable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are envisaging the use of significant amounts of biomass as a primary source in their energy supply. The present greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory guidelines, based on methods and approaches originally proposed by the IPCC in the 1990s do not add the CO2 emissions from the combustion or incineration of these biogenic fuels to national total emissions, as it is assumed these emissions reverse recent CO2 removals from the atmosphere during photosynthetic growth of the biomass, largely within the Party's own boundaries. In a national annual inventory under the UNFCCC, the biomass carbon harvested in a specific year is balanced against the biomass carbon oxidation processes addressed in the energy and waste sectors of GHG inventories. The CO2 emissions from biomass oxidation in the present Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) inventory approach are accounted for by the country harvesting the biomass via the subtraction of the harvested biomass from C pools on their lands. This harvested biomass carbon is implicitly assumed to be oxidized both in the year and the country of harvest, regardless of whether this is factual. In the case of biomass exports, the CO2 emissions from the combustion/oxidation of this harvested biomass are not included in the national totals of the country where the biomass is used, as under the present approach this would lead to double counting on the global scale. With the increasing use of biomass on industrial scales, the assumptions underlying this approach start to introduce material inaccuracies on a national scale (versus global). Biomass combustion may no longer be negligible compared with fossil fuel combustion as biogenic fuels are increasingly traded internationally. In this paper, we review the present IPCC carbon mass flow approach and propose a change in the reporting and accounting methods that has the potential to address this national GHG emissions reporting issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reliance on petroleum derivatives and the increasing trend of fuel consumption in the transport sector have brought attention to biofuels as a measure to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, enhance energy security and boost economic development. The incentive for utilizing biofuels is their potential to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions compared to fossil fuels. Biofuels are considered to be carbon-neutral, regarding the direct CO2 emissions associated with their combustion, on the grounds that the carbon dioxide absorbed by the plants through photosynthesis is equivalent to the CO2 released during their combustion. However, a part of the carbon of biofuels may have a fossil origin and therefore, it is responsible for "non-neutral" CO2 emissions. This was recognized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its guidelines for greenhouse gas inventories. Nevertheless, specific guidance of how to estimate fossil CO2 emissions per each type of biofuel, in order to facilitate the work of emission inventory compilers and practitioners, is neither available in the IPCC guidelines nor in the scientific literature. The purpose of this paper is to define a higher tier method to estimate the associated CO2 emissions with the fossil carbon content of biofuels, aiming to cover all possible biofuel types that are mainly used nowadays to replace diesel and gasoline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with the development of the starch and grain-alcohol industries, biomass energy production has recently become important. Cassava is an important biomass energy plant. In this paper, geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) are used, along with a knowledge of the growing environment needed for cassava and the farmland and ecology protection policy of China, to evaluate the cassava growing potential of Wuming County. The processing of spatial data is done first. Then, the evaluation principles are defined according to the spatial data and the required growth conditions. The evaluation data are obtained by spatial data analysis according with the evaluation principles. Lastly, the cassava planting potential results are verified by referencing these to cassava planting statistical data for 2005 provided by Nanning City Government of Guangxi province. This paper provides the science basis for Wuming County to develop local grain-alcohol and biomass energy industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few decades, fossil fuels replacements have shown leaps and bounds of progressions. Hence, various nations have initiated the adoption of biomass energy, solar energy, wind energy and hydropower energy. Yet, these currently developing technologies have constantly faced dual pressure from both the economic growth and environmental protection. Hydropower has become a key candidate for considerable utilization in various countries due to its numerous social, economic and environmental benefits. In this paper, a short review was carried out to analyse the development of various hydropower plants and compare its utilization over the conventional fossil fuels. The main setback for the adoption of this technology is that large hydropower plant demands for huge deforestation. This would direly result in the destruction of critical ecosystems, migration of large population at downstream and other catastrophic outcomes such as flash floods and landslides. However, this singular setback could be alleviated with the utilization of small or micro hydropower plant. This technology, in particular, was found to have minimal destruction effects to the environment and is able to produce affordable energy to the rural areas as it has proven in many countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical energy storage devices, such as supercapacitors and batteries, have been proven to be the most effective energy conversion and storage technologies for practical application. However, further development of these energy storage devices is hindered by their poor electrode performance. Carbon materials used in supercapacitors and batteries are often derived from nonrenewable resources under harsh environments. Naturally abundant biomass is a green, alternative carbon source with many desired properties. This review article presents state of the art of renewable carbon materials derived from natural biomasses with an emphasis on their applications in supercapacitors and lithium–sulfur batteries. IMPACT STATEMENT This review paper provides a comprehensive understanding for obtaining renewable carbons from natural biomass precursors via various activation methods for electrochemical energy storage application, especially for supercapacitor and lithium sulfur battery. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Biomass derived from agricultural waste in Indonesia is abundant and has potential as a source of renewable energy feedstock. However, analysis is needed to determine the appropriate technology to convert potential biomass into consumable energy forms. This review summarises various data on Indonesia's potential biomass that can be used as a renewable energy feedstock. Biomass and biochar characteristics are systematically discussed, including proximate and ultimate analysis. We then summarise various biochar production technologies based on the biomass used and their yields. The characteristics of biochar produced in both proximate and ultimate analysis and the conversion of biochar into slurry fuel as one of the consumable forms of renewable energy were discussed. Slurry fuel is a potential use of biochar as a liquid fuel. The challenges of developing potential biomass-based bio-slurry production in Indonesia and the future work that needs to be done are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ghana, firewood and charcoal are converted to heat energy traditionally by devices that are inefficient and unsustainable. The use of these devices have devastating consequences on the climate and human health. This study designed, produced and evaluated a multifeed biomass gasifier stove (MFGS) which relies on multiple types of biomass such as agricultural, industrial and forest waste as feedstock. The prototype of the MFGS was evaluated in the laboratory and the field to establish its level of efficiency and cleanliness. The MFGS recorded a maximum thermal efficiency and minimum CO emission of 35.8% and 0.23 g/min as compared to 30.0% and 2.32 g/min, respectively, recorded by the best Ghanaian traditional biomass stove (Gyapa). The total global warming impact recorded by the MFGS represent up to reduction of 99% of that of Gyapa making it a tool for fighting global warming and reducing the health risk of users of wood fuel in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology has an increasingly large impact on a wide range of biotechnological, pharmacological and pure technological applications. Its current use in bioenergy production from biomass is very limited. This paper examines the potential interrelationships between nanotechnology and bioenergy production through a comprehensive literature review and analysis of data from biomass characterisation studies. The aim of this review is to indicate how nanotechnology can be applied in biomass-to-bioenergy conversion. This study shows currently nanotechnology has been applied in the production of only two types of biomass, i.e. sludge and algae. Hence, interaction of nanomaterials with active sludge and algal cells were examined. Our extensive literature review indicates that anaerobic digestion process in sludge can potentially be enhanced by using magnetite nanoparticles, which gives higher methane yields. On the other hand, nanosilver reduces growth and causes adverse effects on the morphology of green algae. This process for bioenergy generation has already been successfully applied to sludge and algae biomass. Our study confirms that the process can also be used in the production of bioenergy from the other biomasses, such as agricultural wastes and industrial residues. Outcomes of this work will be an important tool for implementing nanotechnology in bioenergy research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined heat and power (CHP) plants using biomass are considered important to substantially increase the share of renewables in the total energy supply and meet ambitious climate targets. The analysis focuses on the links between the size of bio-fuelled CHP plants and their techno-economic and environmental performance, as well as social acceptance. In an exploratory way, this paper compares the performance of six bioenergy plants in the Netherlands in these three key areas, thereby focusing on the link between the size of biomass plants and overall performance in an integrated multi-dimensional manner. The findings show that economic and environmental performance does not necessarily improve with scale and, in effect, several large-scale biomass plants score low in several environmental indicators. In addition, we find that there is often limited data availability on economic, environmental and social characteristics of biomass plants in the Netherlands, despite the fact that their operations are largely supported by public funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern agriculture is causing extensive environmental damage. Arguments have been put forward that a systemic change is needed in agriculture to address the major environmental challenges faced by mankind. This is a case study of a research farm whose aim is to form a farming system that has a minimal impact on carbon and nitrogen cycles while maintaining biodiversity. For the farm to minimise its impact on the global carbon cycle and associated climate change, it is important to reduce fossil energy use. The research farm has minimised all its inputs, but uses a diesel-run tractor. Agriculture's primary function is to provide food of adequate quality. The hypothesis of this study is that using biomass from arable land for tractor work on the farm would reduce the amount of food produced relative to using fossil fuel for tractor work. The objective of this paper was to develop scenarios for biomass-derived tractor work for the study farm chosen and to investigate their impact on food production. Food availability was measured by the number of people the farm could supply, denoted as Np. A farm nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) balance was also applied to the different scenarios. The investigated scenarios for replacing fossil fuel tractor work were draught horsepower combined with cold-pressed rape-seed oil in a tractor, ethanol from wheat produced in a conventional ethanol plant, and farm-made ethanol from potatoes. Using wheat and potato to produce ethanol reduced food production by 23% and 18% respectively, compared to using conventional diesel. Combining a draught horse and on-farm cold-pressed rapeseed oil only reduced the food production by 6%. N is maintained in all scenarios due to the nitrogen-fixing leys. P can be maintained in the fields if bones are recycled, but nutrients, especially K, are moved from meadow to field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High rate algal pond (HRAP) systems provide opportunities for low-energy wastewater treatment and energy recovery from wastewater solids, as well as biofuel production from the harvested algal biomass. The wastewater is pretreated using covered anaerobic ponds or gravity settlers and covered digester ponds which remove and digest the wastewater solids. The effluent is then treated in shallow gently mixed HRAP which efficiently breakdown the dissolved organic matter. The algae assimilate wastewater nutrients to provide both secondary and partial tertiary-level treatment. HRAP also provide more efficient natural disinfection. HRAP performance can be further enhanced by bubbling CO2into the pond during the day to promote algal growth when it is often carbon-limited. This paper discusses the design and operation and performance of HRAP systems and their application for economical, low-energy upgrade of conventional wastewater treatment ponds combined with energy recovery and biofuel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the leading global producers of palm oil, Malaysia has the potential to play a pivotal role in global palm oil diesel production. However, such potential will be difficult to exploit based on the industry’s current scenario. The new framework, known as “Strategic Dimensions and Implementation of the National Biofuel Policy in Malaysia”, is vague and the current level of implementation is limited. Thus, a comprehensive and well-structured policy framework for Malaysia’s palm oil biofuel industry is not only important in ensuring that its products, such as biodiesel, meet global standards but also to provide greater benefit to the industry as a whole. This paper presented a brief overview of German rapeseed biodiesel and US corn ethanol policies, aimed at providing a new perspective that can be adopted to reshuffle the existing policies governing the Malaysian palm oil biofuel industry. Throughout this paper, different strategies and policies designed to protect the biofuel industry in the US and Germany are discussed in this study. Such policies would be a good benchmark for the Malaysian government to emulate in an effort to improve its existing policies, strategies and blueprints relating to the palm oil biofuel industry development. This review also contributes to the oil palm industry, particularly in developing countries, by highlighting the importance of comprehensive policies and strategies in accelerating its development. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Biofuels as a substitute for conventional aviation and motor vehicle fuels have received considerable global interest over the past decades mainly due to their perceived economic, social, and environmental benefits. Despite these economic benefits, most developing countries, including South Africa (SA), have yet to produce commercial biofuels. This study aims to inform South African policymakers. Prospective producers of biofuels about the potential socio-economic returns from producing biofuels at a commercial level through a structured rapid review of the literature differs from the peer-reviewed studies to date in South Africa, which focussed more on assessing the economic viability and environmental impacts of biofuels production. The systematic review methodology was used. About 48% of the published empirical studies reviewed integrated the socio-economic and environmental impact assessment, followed by studies that only examined the social impacts of biofuel (about 26%), about 15% of the studies examined economic impact only, and 11.54% examined the socio-economic impact. The results revealed that although the production of biofuels is associated with a positive socio-economic benefit, the biofuel industry is not viable without government support and the selling price of biofuel is not competitive relative to gasoline and petroleum alternatives. Lastly, the results revealed a need for more objective empirical studies in South Africa that can quantify the economy-wide implications of biofuels (especially second-generation biofuels) production. Only two (n = 2) of the 28 reviewed studies were conducted in South Africa from 28 studies reviewed. Both studies conducted in South Africa were feasibility studies focusing more on bioethanol; no study quantified the economy-wide impacts. The study recommends the implementation of the biofuels support mechanism by the government. Furthermore, amendments to the existing biofuels regulatory framework are recommended in order to support the production of advanced biofuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Water deficiency is the most prominent constraint for crop production worldwide which is exacerbated by climate change. Developing drought-resistant species is a cost-effective solution to resolve the water lack problems in arid and semi-arid regions. A two-year study was conducted with the aim of developing the cultivation of Lallemantia royleana drought-resistant ecotypes in desert climates. Drought treatments were included control (−0.5 atm), mild (−3.5 atm), moderate (−6.5 atm), and severe (−9.5 atm). Balangu ecotypes were collected from Kalat in Khorasan Razavi province, Zakheh in Kurdistan province, Kondor in Alborz province, and Jupar in Kerman province. The results showed that Kondor and Jupar were drought-resistant ecotypes, and Kalat and Zakheh were drought-sensitive ecotypes. Growth traits, RWC, photosynthetic pigments content, seed yield, seed oil amount, and omega-6 fatty acids contents in all ecotypes decreased in drought conditions. On the contrary, the content of seed mucilage and soluble carbohydrates, the activity of APX, CAT, SOD, and POX, and the amount of phenol and proline increased. However, the drought-tolerant ecotypes produced more dry matter and seed yield under drought conditions. They can use a large amount of photosynthetic energy for biomass and seed production up to −6.5 atm of soil water potential. However, this ability is retained up to −3.5 atm of soil water potential in drought-sensitive ecotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chad is among the many African countries having the most electrification problems (8.8% access in 2019) relating to the country’s poor economy and depen- dency on fossil fuels. On the other hand, the utilization of biomass for energy needs has been proven successful in various economies. Calotropis Procera, a bush latex plant wildly known for its multiple merits, is abundant in Chad, with an annual average of 6.3 tons per hectare on a wet basis. However, these are considered nuisance and resources are invested in getting rid of them. This study presents the first attempt to assess the biogas potential and prospects from Calotropis Procera for energy production in Chad. Theoretical estimations, field visits and experimental approaches were employed in this study. The experimental results were favourable as it was found that the stem of the plant achieved a biogas yield of 17,744 ± 12 mL and a biomethane production of 1.439 ± 0.31 L/g.VS while its leaves produced 8500 ± 4 mL of biogas for 0.4409 ± 0.15 L/ g.VS of Biomethane. Estimations showed that the average annual availability of 6.3 tons of Calotropis Procera in Chad could produce 891.61 m³ and 9150.884 m³ of biogas from the leaves and stem, respectively. The theoretical energy potential of the Calotropis Procera leaves was estimated at 4.0861 MWh/yr and that of the Calotropis Procera stem at 13.104 MWh/yr. The findings from this study are useful to complement efforts in finding sustainable energy alternatives and resources in Chad and similar contexts. Also, this gives a technical basis for further research in economic and envir- onmental sustainability as well as for policymakers on the production of energy from Calotropis Procera towards significant gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global biofuel production has risen substantially in recent years, principally driven by government support for these industries. The stated motivations for these initiatives are numerous and have varied over time. This article presents a review of some important economic aspects of the most widely used biofuel and related policies around the world, and provides some theoretical and empirical evidence of these initiatives. The South African government's current biofuel policy stance is also evaluated, with concerns expressed over the fact that the commitment to the White Paper on Renewable Energy (DME, 2003) is not binding. Continued technological advancements, infrastructure development, and government interventions will be central to the future developments of biofuel industries, both locally and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marketing activities support the market introduction of innovative goods or services by furthering their diffusion and, thus, their success. However, such activities are rather expensive. Managers must therefore decide which specific marketing activities to apply to which extent and/or to which target group at which point in time. In this paper, we introduce an agent-based simulation approach that supports decision-makers in these concerns. The practical applicability of our tool is illustrated by means of a case study of a novel, biomass-based fuel that will likely be introduced on the Austrian market within the next 5 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainability of fossil fuel is not guaranteed as it is gradually depleting. Alternative ways to this challenge are to generate biofuel from biomass and plastic solid wastes. Many studies have been done on the actualization of these alternatives. Hence, this study accumulates research from multidiscipline for the purpose of advancing biofuel production for sustainable energy. The necessary information needed by scientists having interest in biofuel production, including government policy, biomass selection, different conversion techniques and different ASTM standards for biodiesel properties are entrenched in this study. For vast biofuel production, there is a need for a collaborative work among fields from microbiologist, biochemist to engineering for the development of innovations, growth of cells, understanding of genetic engineering of algae strains and optimization of biofuel production. Also, a review on the recovery and recycling process of plastic solid waste was done. This is to ensure that the use of plastic solid waste to support energy sustenance will lead to no energy is wasted. Various ASTM standards for investigating the different properties of bio-oil were reviewed. The numerous plastic wastes that have not been utilized in the production of biofuel can be investigated to reduce the environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a mesocosm experiment, the growth and photosynthetic responses of Vallisneria natans (Lour.) Hara was studied monthly in different water depths under flowing and static water. Water depth showed a significant effect on the shoot length, below-ground: above-ground biomass, and total biomass, while water velocity showed only a significant effect on the total biomass. In addition, total biomass and shoot length at 45, 75 and 105 cm was higher in the flowing treatment than that in the static treatment, which suggested that total biomass and shoot length are promoted by water flow to some extent. All of the investigated photosynthetic showed different changes with different months. Water depth exhibited significant effects on the maximum photosynthetic efficiency Fv/Fm, the maximum electron transport rate rETRmax, Chla, Chla + b and Chla/b, while water velocity showed only significant effects on Chla, Chla + b, ETRmax. The rapid light response curves varied differently with the time periods. In October, the time-course of slow chlorophyll a fluorescence induction curves, Fm peak, in the flowing treatment in 45, 75 and 105 cm is higher than that in the static treatment. All the results demonstrated that the differences between flowing and static water resulted in the different life strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesel being one of the most promising renewable biofuels has seen rapid increase in production capacity due to high demand for diesel replacement; along with oversupply of its by-product, crude glycerol. Developing new industrial usage for glycerol is essential to defray the cost and sustainability of biodiesel industry and to promote the biodiesel industrialization. One of the approaches is by the transformation of glycerol into a liquid, referred as bio-oil through pyrolysis technology. Bio-oils produced by pyrolysis processes can be upgraded to produce transportation fuels or for power generation. However, current state of pyrolysis technologies are still major hurdles their development with respect to its commercial applications. Recently, microwave technology has attracted considerable attention as effective method for significantly reducing reaction time, improving the yields and selectivity of target products. Hence, this review strives extensively towards addressing the application of microwave-assisted technology applied to the pyrolysis process as a way of cost-effective and operationally feasible processes to directly utilize crude glycerol. The present review will focus on the pyrolyzed liquid product (bio-oil) derived by employing the microwave-assisted pyrolysis method. This review concludes that microwave-assisted glycerol conversion technology is a promising option as an alternative method to conventional glycerol conversion technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the looming energy crisis as a result of depleting fossil fuel resources and environmental concerns from greenhouse gas emissions, the need for sustainable energy sources has secured global attention. Research is currently focused towards renewable sources of energy due to their availability and environmental friendliness. Biofuel production like other bioprocesses is controlled by several process parameters including pH, temperature and substrate concentration; however, the improvement of biofuel production requires a robust process model that accurately relates the effect of input variables to the process output. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have emerged as a tool for modelling complex, non-linear processes. ANNs are applied in the prediction of various processes; they are useful for virtual experimentations and can potentially enhance bioprocess research and development. In this study, recent findings on the application of ANN for the modelling and optimization of biohydrogen, biogas, biodiesel, microbial fuel cell technology and bioethanol are reviewed. In addition, comparative studies on the modelling efficiency of ANN and other techniques such as the response surface methodology are briefly discussed. The review highlights the efficiency of ANNs as a modelling and optimization tool in biofuel process development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diatoms are highly successful marine and freshwater algae that contribute up to 20% of global carbon fixation. These species are leading candidates for biofuel production owing to ease of culturing and high fatty acid content. To assist in strain improvement and downstream applications for potential use as a biofuel, it is important to understand the evolution of lipid biosynthesis in diatoms. The evolutionary history of diatoms is however complicated by likely multiple endosymbioses involving the capture of foreign cells and horizontal gene transfer into the host genome. Using a phylogenomic approach, we assessed the evolutionary history of 12 diatom genes putatively encoding functions related to lipid biosynthesis. We found evidence of gene transfer likely from a green algal source for seven of these genes, with the remaining showing either vertical inheritance or evolutionary histories too complicated to interpret given current genome data. The functions of horizontally transferred genes encompass all aspects of lipid biosynthesis (initiation, biosynthesis, and desaturation of fatty acids) as well as fatty acid elongation, and are not restricted to plastid-targeted proteins. Our findings demonstrate that the transfer, duplication, and subfunctionalization of genes were key steps in the evolution of lipid biosynthesis in diatoms and other photosynthetic eukaryotes. This target pathway for biofuel research is highly chimeric and surprisingly, our results suggest that research done on related genes in green algae may have application to diatom models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saline lands are characterized by salinity and nutrient deficiency and there is an ever increasing need for economical, adaptable plant species to rejuvenate these lands. In this study, we determined the suitability and tolerance ofEuphorbia lathyrisL. (Caper spurge), a well-known biofuel plant, as a sustainable candidate to colonize saline lands. We investigated the germination rate, seedling growth, solute change and anti-oxidative enzyme activitiesetc. under salt stress conditions. Our results showed that Caper spurge seeds prefer to germinate under nonsaline environments and high salt stress induced temporary dormancy during germination, but did not completely hamper the viability of the seeds. The seedling biomass increased without any visible distress symptoms in the presence of NaCl not over 171 mM. Further increase in NaCl concentration had a negative impact on the seedling growth. These demonstrate that Caper spurge seedlings have the potential to grow in saline lands. The salinity tolerance of Caper spurge seedlings was closely associated with the regional distribution of Na+in roots, stable absorption of Ca2 +, K+and Mg2 +, accumulation of organic solutes, and increased activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes. However, excessive accumulation of Na+, sharp increase of superoxide (O2−), H2O2, malonaldehyde (MDA) and cell membrane leakage, reduction of osmoprotectants, and decreased activities of CAT and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)etc. under high salinity might be the reasons for the restrained seedling growth. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Mangrove forest ecosystems are critically threatened in West-Central Africa due to minimal management and policy efforts. This is partly caused by insufficient knowledge about the economic and ecological value of mangrove ecosystems, which provide important ecosystem services, such as fish, flood prevention, erosion prevention, water regulation, and timber products. A strategy to improve mangrove ecosystem management would be to improve public understanding of the ecosystem's values. We studied these drivers on a regional scale, using socio-economic and grey literature and consultations with experts, thereby focusing on the period from 1980 to 2006. Wood harvesting, conversion of mangroves for agriculture, and bio-fuel plantations were important drivers of mangrove forest change. Coastal development is the most important direct driver of mangrove forest change, especially between 2000 and 2006, a period that coincides with large oil discoveries in the region. About 60% of all industries within the region are located near the coast, which is expected to attract about 50 million people by 2025. Future policies should target the risks of declining mangrove ecosystems in West-Central Africa. This requires focusing on adaptive strategies, reviewing existing coastal and marine ecosystem policies, and developing an integrated coastal management strategy for the region. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Fungi play important roles across the range of current and future biofuel production processes. From crop/feedstock health to plant biomass saccharification, enzyme production to bioprocesses for producing ethanol, higher alcohols, or future hydrocarbon biofuels, fungi are involved. Research and development are underway to understand the underlying biological processes and improve them to make bioenergy production efficient on an industrial scale. Genomics is the foundation of the systems biology approach that is being used to accelerate the research and development efforts across the spectrum of topic areas that impact biofuels production. In this review, we discuss past, current, and future advances made possible by genomic analyses of the fungi that impact plant/feedstock health, degradation of lignocellulosic biomass, and fermentation of sugars to ethanol, hydrocarbon biofuels, and renewable chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Electronic medical devices have become an indispensable part of modern healthcare. Currently, a wide variety of electronic medical devices are being used to monitor physiological parameters of the body, perform therapy and supplement or even entirely replace complex biological functions. Cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter-defibrillators and cochlear implants are a few examples of such medical devices. Proper functionality of these devices relies heavily on the continuous supply of a sufficient amount of electricity to them. In this sense, a reliable, safe and convenient method for the provision of energy is very crucial. Various approaches have been developed to fulfil the divergent and challenging energy requirements of medical devices. In this article, we present a brief overview of the energy requirements of medical devices and review the existing and emerging energy sources for application in these devices, particularly wearable and implantable devices. INSET: Key issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study locates and quantifies abandoned agricultural areas using the Geographic Information System (GIS) and evaluates the suitability of abandoned fields for bio-energy production in Tartumaa (Tartu County) in Estonia. Soils of abandoned areas are generally of low quality and thereby limited suitability for crop production; as a result soil-crop suitability analyses could form the basis of knowledge-based bio-energy planning. The study estimated suitable areas for bio-energy production using willow (Salix sp), grey alder [Alnus incana (L.) Moench], hybrid aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.×Populus tremula L.), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), and Caucasian goat's rue (Galega orientalis Lam.) in separate plantations. A combined land-use strategy is also presented as these crops are partially suitable to the same areas. Reed canary grass and grey alder have the highest energy potentials and each would re-use more than 80% of the available abandoned agricultural land. Energy grasses and short-rotation forestry in combined land-use strategy represents the opportunity of covering approximately a quarter of county's annual energy demand. The study estimates only agronomic potential, so further bio-energy analysis should take into account technical and economic limitations. Developed framework supports knowledge-based decision-making processes from field to regional scale to achieve sustainable bio-energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pressures of a growing global economy, along with dwindling energy supplies and environmental concerns, especially climate change, have increased interest in the cultivation of bioenergy crops. Perennial herbaceous grasses can play an important role in this capacity. They contribute a number of desirable attributes to cropping systems such as limiting soil erosion, improving water quality, having lower agricultural chemical and nutrient requirements, and increasing the organic matter content of the soil. In this review the properties of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), one of the highest-yielding cool-season grasses, are discussed with regard to its potential use as a biofuel. Higher yields of reed canarygrass are attainable since more productive accessions have been identified in breeding programs. Furthermore, biofuel quality may be improved through the selection of genotypes with relatively high cell-wall content. However, the high ash content of reed canarygrass remains a challenge, as does its invasiveness as a weed in certain regions of North America. Strategies that can be employed to lower the ash content of reed canarygrass are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: More than 95% of the population in Burkina Faso uses some form of solid biomass fuel. When these fuels are burned in traditional, inefficient stoves, pollutant levels within and outside the home can be very high. This can have important consequences for both health and climate change. Thus, the push to switch to cleaner burning fuels is advantageous. However, there are several considerations that need to be taken into account when considering the use and promotion of different fuel types. Objective: In the setting of the semi-urban area of Nouna, Burkina Faso, we examine the common fuel types used (wood, charcoal and liquid petroleum gas (LPG)) in terms of consumption, energy, availability, air pollution and climate change. Results and conclusion: Although biomass solid fuel does offer some advantages over LPG, the disadvantages make this option much less desirable. Lower energy efficiencies, higher pollutant emission levels, the associated health consequences and climate change effects favour the choice of LPG over solid biomass fuel use. Further studies specific to Burkina Faso, which are lacking in this region, should also be undertaken in this area to better inform policy decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The area of short-rotation willow coppice energy plantations on Swedish farmland increased quickly in the early 1990s because of subsidies for energy crop production, an increased CO[sub 2] tax on fossil fuel and an already existing biofuel market in the country. In this study farm-related determinants for the adoption of short-rotation willow coppice production among Swedish farmers are identified and estimated. A Tobit model is applied to cross-sectional data on Swedish farmers in 1995. The results show that the decision to plant willow and the areas planted depend positively on arable land area, forest land area, the area of other land types, leasing out of arable land and tractor ownership. Negative factors are pasture area, tenancy and animal production. Differences in willow growing between ownership types, age groups and geographical regions are also important. The policy implications of the results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Flower Power: Prospects for Photosynthetic Energy" in the May 1976 issue.

Global interest in using biomass feedstock to produce heat and power is increasing. In this study, RETScreen modelling software was used to investigate the feasibility of biomass heating system in Middle East Technical University, Northern Cyprus Campus. Weiss Kessel Multicratboiler system with 2 MW capacity using rice straw biomass as fuel and 10 units of RBI® CB0500 boilers with 144 kW capacity using natural gas as fuel were selected for the proposed biomass heating system. The total cost of the biomass heating project is US$ 786,390. The project has a pre-tax and after tax internal rate of return (IRR) of 122.70%, simple payback period of 2.54 years, equity payback period of 0.83 year, a net present value of US$ 3,357,138.29, an annual lifecycle savings of US$ 262,617.91, a benefit-cost ratio of 21.83, an electricity cost of $0/kWh and a GHG reduction cost of −204.66 $/tCO₂. The annual GHG emission reduction is 1,283.2 tCO₂, which is equivalent to 118 hectares of forest absorbing carbon. The development and adoption of this renewable energy technology will save costs on buying conventional type of heating system and result in a large technical and economic potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions which will satisfy the sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]