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Initiatives to address food loss and waste (FLW) are gaining attention especially in smallholder-dominated food systems in developing regions. This is in effort to meet some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets. Countries are seeking innovative solutions to address the FLW challenge to contribute food and nutrition security and to reduce environmental impacts of greenhouse gas emissions through food waste. The lack of effective sustainable cold chain targeting smallholders is a key gap and driver of this challenge. There are gaps in system diagnostic of key factors and practices related to value preservation of food loss but is equally important in capturing value in market opportunities for smallholders and other value chain actors that can guide structuring of such cold chain investments. This article provides findings from a diagnostic study conducted to understand these factors and practices in smallholder focused horticultural value chains in Kenya. The mixed-method study collected quantitative and qualitative data through a household survey of 460 farmers and 25 key informant interviews. Results showed that postharvest loss (PHL) is a major challenge affecting all horticultural crops but with different magnitude. Despite the high PHL experienced, most farmers (96%) don't undertake any postharvest management measures during and/or after harvest. Market related challenges were rated as the most (85%) causes to PHL followed by pest and disease (56%), weather impacts (24%), lack of storage facilities (17%), and damage during harvest (8%). Most smallholders sell to brokers at farm gate, capturing a small share of the value that is linked to lack of aggregation, gaps in cold chain infrastructure along value chain and the transactions costs of marketing. Results showed that other market outlets other than brokers offered higher prices linked to quality and safer product handling. Thus, integrating end-to-end cold chain solutions in smallholder systems through inclusive business models will shape interactions with markets and enable farmers to tap into new opportunities. Enhancing access to cold chain is key to supporting farmers and other value chain actors reduce PHL and facilitate better market integration, contribute to profitability of smallholder farming enterprises and improve socio-economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Planetary Health Diet (PHD), also known as the EAT-Lancet reference diet, was developed to optimize global dietary quality while keeping the environmental impacts of food production within sustainable planetary boundaries. We calculated current national and global adherence to the PHD using the Planetary Health Dietary Index (PHDI). In addition, we used data on diet and mortality from three large US cohorts (n = 206,404 men and women, 54,536 deaths) to estimate the total and cause-specific mortality among adults 20 y of age and older that could be prevented by shifting from current diets to the reference PHD. The PHDI varied substantially across countries, although adherence was universally far from optimal (mean PHDI = 85 out of 140). By improving the global PHDI to 120, approximately 15 million deaths (27% of total deaths) could be prevented annually. Estimates of preventable deaths due to this shift ranged from 2.5 million for cardiovascular diseases to 0.7 million for neurodegenerative diseases. Our analysis suggests that adopting healthy and sustainable diets would have major direct health benefits by reducing mortality due to multiple diseases and could contribute substantially to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These numbers of preventable deaths are based on evidence that human biology is similar across racial and ethnic groups, but the exact numerical estimates should be interpreted with caution because some assumptions used for the calculations build on limited data. Refinement of these estimates will be possible when additional regional data on diet and mortality become available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the injudicious use of herbicides in agriculture is causing numerous hazards that affect the environment and living organisms. To achieve the SDG 2030 agenda goal 12- "Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns," there is an urgent need to shift towards using toxic-free agricultural inputs. Various techniques are widely adopted to control weed growth and development, but farmers mostly rely on herbicide application. Nanotechnology-enabled herbicide formulations are more sustainable and efficient in weed control than traditional sources. The nanoherbicides enable lesser application frequency and minimum quantity requirement, thereby preventing herbicide accumulation in soil and water bodies. Mainly nano-mediated biodegradable carrier-based herbicides possess properties of prolonged release, targeted inhibition, reduced mobility in soil, better adhesion to the plant surface, and retards rapid degradation of active ingredients (AIs), which increase herbicide use efficiency against weeds. Biodegradable carrier materials are cost-effective and readily available from living/non-living organisms and mineral sources, which can be an alternate source for metal/metal-oxide carrier materials. Materials like chitosan, plant derivatives, clay particles, and synthetic polymers are notable carrier materials reported for encapsulating or loading herbicide molecules. Applying nano-mediated herbicides is an innovative methodology for controlling weeds while considering environmental safety. This review focused mainly on recent advances in biodegradable carrier-based herbicide application in agriculture to mitigate the crisis in sustainable weed management. The ultimate objective of this manuscript is to serve as a source of reference material for exploring the nano-based herbicide formulations, their mobility, fate, and future perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the results of the 2020 national geographic survey of the autonomous region as the data source, the thematic map was constructed by using the spatial superposition method to visually depict and analyze the spatial distribution of natural resources, cultivated land and tourist attractions in Ili region. On the basis of keeping the quantity and quality of cultivated land, the win-win space of sustainable development of agriculture and tourism industry chain is discussed. From the overall layout of Ili, through regional cooperation and resource integration, we provide suggestions from the aspects of route design, national culture, catering service, homestay construction, income generation of agricultural products, etc., excavate and extend the internal requirements of tourists in the transit process of scenic spots, obtain the in-depth experience of rural tourism, and take a road that meets the actual economic and ecological win-win characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ICRP stated in 2007 that the primary aim of its recommendations is to contribute to an appropriate level of protection for people and the environment from the detrimental effects of radiation exposure without unduly limiting the desirable human actions which lead to such exposure. We face climate, humanitarian, biodiversity, health, pollution, and other crises. This rapidly changing context has potential implications for: the radiological protection system; views on what constitutes desirable human actions; and for how societies view the risks and benefits of technologies. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an ideal framework for facilitating a balanced approach to socio-economic development, good health and wellbeing and environmental protection. The SDGs could be used to guide the development and application of the radiological protection system to ensure that it is fit for the 21st century. This paper considers the fundamental purposes of sustainable development and radiological protection and their underpinning values and principles. It considers how radiological protection contributes to sustainable development and how this might be enhanced; and whether the primary aim of radiological protection should be amended to make its contribution to sustainable development explicit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amino acids (AAs) have broad nutritional, therapeutic, and medical significance and thus are one of the most common active ingredients of nutritional supplements. Analytical strategies for determining AAs are high-priced and often limited to methods that require modification of AA polarity or incorporation of an aromatic moiety. The aim of this work was to develop a new method for the determination of L-arginine, L-ornithine, and L-lysine on low-cost microchip electrophoresis instrumentation conjugated with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection. A solution consisting of 0.3 M acetic acid and 1 × 10−5 M iminodiacetic acid has been identified as the optimal background electrolyte, ensuring the shortest possible analysis time. The short migration times of amino acids (t ≤ 64 s) and method simplicity resulted in high analysis throughput with high precision and linearity (R2 ≥ 0.9971). The limit of detection values ranged from 0.15 to 0.19 × 10−6 M. The accuracy of the proposed method was confirmed by recovery measurements. The results were compared with CE-UV-VIS and HPLC-DAD methods and showed good agreement. This work represents the first successful demonstration of the ME-C4D analysis of L-arginine, L-ornithine, and L-lysine in real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine hair waste was chemically modified to obtain a coupling agent (CA) for the compatibilization of thermoplastic starch (TPS)-unmodified bovine hair waste (UH) composites. The composites processed with CA presented improved tensile strength (3.5 MPa) compared to TPS–UH composites without CA (1.25 MPa). An interaction mechanism to describe the improvement in mechanical properties and thermal stability was postulated based on Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and density functional theory (DFT). In addition, optical and electron microscopy showed that CA favored the adhesion of UH to TPS. Global results suggested the formation of a CA–UH network that interacts with the TPS matrix. Obtaining composites from waste from the tanning industry can contribute to the development of a more responsible and sustainable industry and represents an opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of one of the most important industries globally. It is worth mentioning that this research is aligned with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations, which promotes sustainable industrialization and the promotion of innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating natural rubber latex (NRL) composites through compressive testing for renewable and sustainable building materials This article explores the innovative use of natural rubber latex (NRL) as a fundamental component in the development of sustainable and renewable composite building materials, particularly focusing on incorporating wood chips as reinforcing particles. The study investigates the compressive mechanical properties of various composite formulations, analysing the influence of NRL contents and particle types – considering different wood species, shapes and sizes. Key factors such as particle geometry, NRL content, and sample preparation methods are identified as crucial factors in enhancing the mechanical properties of these composites. The results show that NRL composites exhibit distinctive characteristics like non‐linear behaviour, hysteresis, stress relaxation, and the Mullins effect during compression tests. The significance of these composite materials in construction is heightened by their potential to utilize NRL sourced from plants other than rubber trees, such as dandelions, thus advancing sustainable construction practices. This research aims to focus attention on exploring new, flexible, and highly customized composite materials by utilizing natural fibres and NRL across a range of construction applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the development and evaluation of a novel cement-free gamma-ray-resistant ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC), known as UHPC-CAS. UHPC-CAS is composed of calcium oxide–activated slag, iron and barite powders, and steel fibers, making it a type of ultrahigh-performance geopolymer concrete (UHPGC). In this study, the effects of replacing silica sand with varying percentages of iron and barite powders on the mechanical and radiation properties of UHPC-CAS were investigated. The optimal replacement ratio of iron powder was found to be 50%, resulting in the highest compressive, tensile, and bending strengths among all mixtures without fibers. Furthermore, the UHPC-CAS samples reinforced with steel fibers and containing barite powder exhibited a more pronounced softening zone than those containing iron powder. With 100% iron powder and 3% steel fibers, UHPC-CAS achieved superior resistance to gamma rays, as evidenced by the highest attenuation coefficient of 0.234 cm and the lowest half-value layer of 2.96 cm. This research demonstrates the potential for developing sustainable cement-free UHPC for use in nuclear facilities and other applications requiring high radiation shielding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to uncover diverse perspectives regarding what sustainable consumption is and should be in the future. We draw upon and combine critical futures studies with recognitional justice. Futures studies enables inclusive approaches and divergence from current narratives of the future that are perceived as dominant. Recognitional justice allows for reflection upon who is usually not in the room when consumption futures are discussed. The article analyzes sustainable consumption-futures workshops held with four groups in Sweden. The first was with partners in a research program focusing on sustainable consumption. The second workshop enlisted elderly rural retirees, the third newly-arrived women from Syria and Eritrea, and the fourth high-income earners. A variety of traits in the discussions were noticeably influenced by the local context and backgrounds of the participants. Several issues brought up in the discussions dealt with issues that are on the political agenda in Sweden, such as circulating materials and more information and knowledge. There were also matters not on the political agenda such as eating a vegetarian diet, reducing consumption, and spending less time working. In addition, the newly-arrived women and, to some extent, the retirees, framed peace and ending the use of weapons as a vital element in sustainable consumption. This diversity and divergence highlights that, if it is to become relevant and inclusive, both research and policy need to recognize a multitude of perspectives and incorporate the distribution of power and critical futures perspectives to navigate a pathway toward consumption that is just and sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To understand views of staff in relation to attitudes, enablers, and barriers to implementation of environmentally sustainable surgery in operating theatres. This will ultimately help in the goal of successfully implementing more sustainable theatres. Background: Global health care sectors are responsible for 4.4% of greenhouse gas emissions. Surgical operating theatres are resource intensive areas and improvements will be important to meet Net-Zero carbon emissions within health care. Methods: Three databases were searched (Web of Science, Ovid, and PubMed), last checked January 2024. We included original manuscripts evaluating staff views regarding sustainable operating theatres. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used for quality appraisal and data analysed using thematic synthesis. Results: A total of 2933 articles were screened and 14 fulfilled inclusion criteria, using qualitative (1), quantitative (2), and mixed methods (11). Studies were undertaken in a variety of clinical (Department of Anaesthesia, Surgery, Otolaryngology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Ophthalmology) and geographical settings (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland). Across studies there was a lack of evidence exploring enablers to implementation, but barriers mainly related to the following themes: education and awareness, leadership, resistance to change, facilities and equipment, time, and incentive. Conclusions: This systematic review identified attitudes and barriers perceived by clinicians towards improving environmental sustainability within operating theatres, which may inform future strategy towards sustainable surgery. Most studies used a survey-design, whereas use of interviews may provide deeper insights. Future work should be extended to wider stakeholders influencing operating theatres. In addition, implementation studies should be carried out to examine whether barriers do change in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ideal temperature condition is one of the essential determinants that critically impact the quality of food products. Conventional water‐based ice cubes present challenges from meltwater being breeding grounds for microorganisms and heightening the risk for cross‐contamination. Hereby, the presented cellulose‐based hydrogels crosslinked by epichlorohydrin are dip‐coated with alginate/calcium chloride to form a core–shell structure for achieving the critical benchmarks of an ideal food coolant with limited meltwater production, high‐water retention capacity, and high mechanical strength. The structures and properties of the hydrogels before and after freeze–thaw cycles are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, compressive test, water retention test, and differential scanning calorimetry. All formulated hydrogels demonstrate promising compressive strength, latent heat of fusion, and water retention properties. Notably, the C2A10Cl hydrogel exhibits a maximum compressive strength of 144.7 kPa and high latent heat of fusion of 272.5 J g–1, which is better than previously reported sustainable hydrogel coolants. Furthermore, comparison studies reveal that the cellulose‐based hydrogels demonstrate a similar thawing pattern to conventional ice cubes but without the generation of any meltwater. The temperature of blueberries can be cooled down from 22 to 3.9 °C in 32 min by the hydrogels and in 26 min by ice cubes, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this research, a new method of treating wastewater is introduced using a highly recyclable and sustainable material derived from coconut oil. This material aims to address the issues commonly faced by conventional sorbents, such as limited performance and costly production. These challenges impede a sorbent material from unlocking its full utility in treating wastewater. An exceptional sorbent material was synthesized by incorporating coconut shell-based activated carbon (AC) into a coconut oil-based polyurethane matrix to produce an activated carbon-infused polyurethane (ACIP). The effective adsorption was elucidated by the synergistic interaction between the ACIP material and methylene blue (MB) through electrostatic attraction, π-π interactions, and hydrogen bonding. To provide an exhaustive analysis of the ACIP material, several analytical techniques were employed, including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). A detailed assessment using a fixed-bed column setup investigated its adsorption behavior by encompassing various factors such as inlet concentration, adsorbent bed height, feed flow rate, and solution pH. Results revealed that the ACIP composite exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 28.25 mg g−1. Empirical evidence with a high correlation coefficient (R2 > 0.93) obtained from the Thomas and Yoon–Nelson model suggests the suitability of the composite material to operate efficiently under these diverse circumstances. Notably, after five consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles, ACIP demonstrated its remarkable reusability by maintaining 86% of its regeneration efficiency. Given its outstanding performance and potential for scalability, this innovative ACIP composite presents a more sustainable approach to addressing wastewater issues within industrial environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of global sustainable development, low-temperature stress is a serious impediment to sustainable agricultural production. Low-temperature stress significantly affects plant growth and development, and Jasmonates (JAs), critical endogenous plant hormones, play a crucial role in cold stress response in plants. Although studies have demonstrated the involvement of JAs in plant adaptation to cold stress, the systematic understanding of its mechanism of action and application effects still needs to be improved. This review used systematic evaluation and meta-analysis to comprehensively review the role of JAs in plant response to cold stress over the past five years. It was found that JA treatment significantly increased plant survival and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity while inhibiting primary root growth, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and catalase (CAT) activity. In particular, JA treatment significantly reduced MDA content when plants were in a solid medium, indicating its role in regulating oxidative stress in plants. In conclusion, this review provides new perspectives for understanding the role of JAs in plant cold stress acclimation and provides a scientific basis for applying JAs in agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable tourism entails balancing economic growth, environmental protection, and energy utilisation. However, the current interactive dynamics between urban agglomeration tourism systems and the energy–economy–environment (EEE) system, as well as the sustainable efficiency of the tourism–energy–economy–environment (TEEE) system, remain unclear. For the first time, this study employs a super-efficiency network slacks-based measure (SE-NSBM) model to interact with tourism and EEE systems, proposing a novel network structure that includes feedback variables. To validate the proposed model, this study evaluated the efficiency of the TEEE system and its subsystems in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration (YRDUA) from 2016 to 2020. The study revealed significant variations in the efficiency of the TEEE, tourism, and EEE systems among cities in the YRDUA, with a discernible downward trend. The TEEE and tourism systems exhibit relatively weak coping capabilities when faced with significant unforeseen events, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen system resilience. The results also demonstrate that the new model effectively resolves the issue of efficiency overestimation in the TEEE system observed in traditional models, which tend to overestimate actual efficiency by 3%. The novel model and empirical results offer decision-makers new perspectives and practical insights into formulating sustainable tourism policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a driving force of sustainable energy development, photovoltaic power is instrumental in diminishing greenhouse gas emissions and is vital for achieving our targets for a sustainable energy future. Therefore, a systematic review of carbon emission reduction in photovoltaic power systems (CERPPS) is very important for a deeper understanding and advancing the development in this field. This study leverages the Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection as a primary database and applies VOSviewer and CiteSpace tools to perform a bibliometric analysis of publications related to CERPPS, spanning from 2006 to June 2024. This study has elucidated the research progress from both a quantitative and visual perspective and delineated the evolution of research hotspots. Analysis of the results is done on the basis of annual publications, authorship, institutional affiliations, national origins, journal publications, references, and keywords. The analysis indicates that recycling, the large-scale deployment of photovoltaic modules, energy storage management within photovoltaic power systems, and large-scale deployment of photovoltaic power systems are hot topics. Future research trends encompass the study of new photovoltaic materials, life cycle assessment and recycling, and the development of smart photovoltaic power systems. This study provides an overview of the evolution of CERPPS's main research directions, which establishes a reference framework for scholars to get a deeper insight into the most recent advancements and research outlooks within CERPPS, and also fosters the advancement of photovoltaic power systems towards a more low-carbon and sustainable trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, the aquaculture industry has seen exponential growth worldwide, surpassing other food production sectors. This review aims to explore the dynamics of aqua feed production, particularly the shift from conventional to local feed production in Africa, driven by cost-effectiveness and the availability of raw materials. This review examines various scientific publications on aqua feed, focusing on both conventional and novel feed formulations and their impact on both small-scale and large-scale aquaculture. Commonly used aqua feed ingredients among African farmers include cassava, maize gluten, groundnut oilcake, sunflower oilcake, soybean meal, kale, peas, garlic, shrimp wastes, and waste blood. Novel ingredients such as insect-based diets, micro-algae, and fish discard formulations are also explored. Aqua feed composition impacts aqua waste, water quality, algae, oxygen demand, fish mortality, and eutrophication, and findings from literature reiterate the need to reorient feed formulation methods and ingredients to achieve a circular economy in Africa. This will entail promoting increased fish production at minimal costs and creating employment while supporting climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. Ultimately, the aqua feed sector has the potential to grow sustainably through the adoption of feed alternatives that prioritize sustainable production and encourage beneficiation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therapeutic hospital gardens (THGs) need to be purposefully designed for hospital users and well-integrated into the clinical hospital treatment plan to be effective. Healthcare decision-makers are critically important in establishing therapeutic gardens in hospitals and healthcare facilities because they have the ultimate decision-making power to include such gardens for the holistic care of their patients, staff, and visitors. This study aims to establish how THGs can be successfully created by investigating the professional experiences of 12 global healthcare decision-makers in hospital administration, executive government, and senior consultancy to government on the role of THGs in creating a healthy and sustainable hospital environment. This article shows how these decision-makers, who have already worked with healthcare designers and clinical practitioners to design and establish THGs, have been selected and interviewed. The qualitative analysis of these semi-structured interviews uncovered why and how these healthcare decision-makers made THGs a reality in their hospitals. This analysis informed the development of the THG Healthcare Decision-maker Guidelines, which were designed to guide all hospital CEOs, government executives, and senior consultants to the government to both design and then establish THGs successfully. These guidelines include five systematic steps: 1. design for hospital cohorts; 2. purposefully design and integrate THGs well; 3. facilitate inclusive and defined stakeholder engagement; 4. evaluate the garden visitor experience; and 5. understand the benefits and values of THGs. These five systematic steps can be used immediately by healthcare decision-makers to work with healthcare designers and clinical experts to implement such gardens in hospitals successfully. When the three sectors, healthcare governance, healthcare design, and clinical health, work together, more THGs can be established in hospitals for better patient care, visitor well-being, and a healthy and sustainable hospital environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The initial development of Nicosia's historical urban texture, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of various civilisations that have shaped the history of Cyprus, can be traced back to the Lusignan period (1191–1489). This urban framework continued to evolve through subsequent eras, including the Venetian (1489–1570), Ottoman (1571–1878), British (1878–1960), and Republic of Cyprus (1960–...) periods, as well as more recent developments. As a result, Nicosia has transformed into an open-air museum, encapsulating the architectural and cultural imprints of its diverse historical influences. Greek Orthodox Churches, significant among the island's historical monuments, continue to function today while preserving their distinctive architectural features, serving as enduring symbols of Christianity in Cyprus. The Chrysaliniotissa Church, a notable example within the Walled City of Nicosia, stands out from other churches due to its origins dating back to the Lusignan period of Cyprus and its unique architectural characteristics. In this paper, qualitative research methods were used based on a literature review for the necessary theoretical information and on-site field studies on the architectural features of the church. This paper aims to examine the Chrysaliniotissa Church, highlighting its architectural features shaped by the influences of various historical periods. Additionally, this paper seeks to underscore the significance of this cultural heritage site in contributing to the sustainability of Nicosia's historical urban texture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is essential for life, ecosystems, and economic growth. Water availability and quality are essential for health, agriculture, industry, making water management essential to sustainable development. Industrial waste such toxic chemicals, dyes and heavy metals pollutes water supplies today. Arsenic (As) and Cadmium (Cd) will be removed from water using plant-derived iron NPs in this experiment. NPs were synthesised from Ocimum tenuiflorum, Margosa, and Helianthus annuus. The percentage of arsenic and cadmium biosorption determined this method's efficacy. To maximise heavy metal biosorption (%) from aqueous solutions, the Taguchi L16 orthogonal array (4 factors at 4 levels) was used to statistically optimise process parameters like Plant NP quantity, pH values, exposure time, and initial arsenic and cadmium concentrations. Maximum As and Cd biosorption (%) was 99.92% and 98.95% under optimum circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examine the factors in the adoption of high-efficiency irrigation system (HEIS) for socio-economic development in southern Punjab, Pakistan. Multi-stage sampling is used to select the sample of 400 farmers (200 HEIS adopters and 200 non-adopters) from major districts of south Punjab. The results demonstrated that determinants including average landholding, age, education and awareness of HEIS all had a significant impact on the adoption of HEIS. The adoption rate of HEIS was also found to be impacted by energy crises, operational and maintenance issues, high installation prices and a lack of experienced employees. A higher proportion of participants strongly believed that HEIS might increase agricultural productivity while simultaneously saving water for future use. Additionally, respondents believed that shifting HEIS to high-value crops improves social status, particularly in rural areas. BCR values for wheat, guava and citrus using SI and DI were found to be larger than 1. The SI system's NPV values for the wheat crop ranged from Rs. 248034 to Rs. 463191. Similarly, the results are consistent for DI for guava and citrus orchards (BCR > 1 and NPV positive values demonstrate that HEIS project is more economically feasible and viable than TI). Moreover, the benefit-cost ratio demonstrated that, when compared to conventional irrigated growers, the yield and net benefit due to HEIS of a variety of crops, including citrus, wheat, and guava, improved significantly to 48.48%, 70%, 44.83%, 102%, 178% and 107%, respectively. Water productivity of HEIS-irrigated wheat, guava and citrus were calculated as 1.2, 2.6 and 2.5 kg/m³, respectively and increased highly significantly than TI. The findings suggested that government initiatives should focus to enhance adoption rate of HEIS. This could be accomplished by providing modest subsidized HEIS and imparting awareness to farmers about the socioeconomic benefits of HEIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquifer artificial recharge is one method of restoring groundwater supplies and storing extra water to compensate for losses. In this regard, this research simulates the Dammam aquifer in the MODFLOW code in GMS software. The other objective is to simulate the effect of artificial recharge on groundwater levels in the Dammam-confined aquifer in Iraq. Modeling was done by specifying boundaries and initial conditions. The model was calibrated for steady and unsteady conditions. The calibrated model was utilized to predict groundwater levels in 2030 and assess five artificial recharge scenarios with different proportions of injection water. The water source in the simulation recharge model was excess water from sand-washing plants. The effect of these scenarios was evaluated on the available monitoring wells. The artificial recharge by injecting 60% of the daily excess water into 15 and 51 wells showed a maximum groundwater level increment of about 17–30%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is exacerbating events such as floods and droughts, and trends including sea-level rise, leading to failures in sanitation technologies, increased public health risks and environmental pollution. To reduce these risks, it is crucial to incorporate climate resilience into sanitation technology designs. In this study, we reviewed academic and selected grey literature and identified 25 design features that can contribute to the technology’s resilience to an increasingly volatile and extreme climate. Design features that were conceptually similar were collated into seven categories. These categories included: (i) avoid exposure to hazards, (ii) withstand exposure to hazards, (iii) enable flexibility, (iv) contain failures, (v) limit consequences of complete failure, (vi) facilitate fast recovery and (vii) features that provide resilience benefits beyond technological resilience. In this paper we define the categories and design features, and provide examples of each feature in practice. We also outline how the resilience design features can support sanitation designers and implementers to critique the climate resilience of sanitation technology, and prompt more resilient designs of sanitation technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]