Computational Systems Biology - A Beginner's Guide
Embark on a journey through the intricate world of Computational Systems Biology with this comprehensive guide. Delve into the fundamental concepts of network biology, exploring the interconnectedness of biological systems at a molecular level. From understanding the basics of network topology to unravelling complex biological phenomena, this book navigates through databases and tools essential for analysing biological networks. Through illuminating case studies, readers gain practical insights into real-world applications, witnessing how computational methods are revolutionizing our understanding of biological systems. Whether you're a seasoned researcher or a curious student, this book equips you with the knowledge and tools to unravel the mysteries of life through the lens of computational systems biology.
Biodiversity Hotspot of the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka
Focuses on the most interesting and important properties of biodiversity hotspot of Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, covering physiography and climatology, vegetation and forest types, amphibian and reptile biodiversity, genetic diversity of crops and plants, fishes, butterflies, insects etc.
Neuro-Mitochondrial Nexus
Mitochondria are central to neuronal health, serving as the primary energy producers within cells. This vital role makes them a focal point in understanding various neurological disorders. Across conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis, neuroinflammatory disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, stroke, and traumatic brain injury (TBI), mitochondrial dysfunction emerges as a common thread. In Alzheimer's disease, for instance, dysfunctional mitochondria contribute to the accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques and tau protein tangles, accelerating neurodegeneration. Similarly, in Parkinson's disease, mitochondrial impairment disrupts cellular energy production, exacerbating the loss of dopaminergic neurons and leading to motor dysfunction. ALS, characterized by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons, also exhibits mitochondrial dysfunction, further contributing to the disease pathology. Additionally, in conditions like multiple sclerosis and neuroinflammatory disorders, dysfunctional mitochondria exacerbate inflammation and neuronal damage. The role of mitochondria extends beyond neurodegenerative diseases; in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and intellectual disabilities, disturbances in mitochondrial dynamics impact neuronal connectivity and synaptic function. Furthermore, mitochondrial impairment plays a significant role in acute neurological insults like stroke and TBI, exacerbating neuronal injury and complicating recovery processes. Despite the challenges posed by mitochondrial dysfunction in neurological disorders, there is growing interest in mitochondrial therapeutics as a promising avenue for neuroprotection and disease modification. Investigating the neuroprotective potential of mitochondrial-targeted interventions opens new avenues for therapeutic development and offers hope for mitigating the impact of mitochondrial dysfunction across a spectrum of neurological conditions.
Insights into Abiotic Stress Responses and Recovery Patterns
The collective understanding of plant responses to abiotic stresses, including hypoxia, flooding, drought, cold, heat, salinity, and light variations, emphasizes the dynamic and complex nature of metabolic adaptations. Hypoxic stress, exemplified by low cellular oxygen due to events like flooding, triggers significant metabolic shifts in plants, as observed in Arabidopsis seedlings. These shifts are characterized by a substantial alteration in metabolites during the stress phase and a gradual return to baseline levels upon reoxygenation, highlighting the flexibility of plant metabolism. Similarly, an untargeted metabolomics approach revealed distinct metabolic responses across various abiotic stresses, including temperature and water deficits, with changes in central metabolism pathways such as amino acid and sugar metabolism, glycolysis, and the TCA cycle. These responses include both stress-specific and shared metabolic signatures, underscoring the importance of oxidative stress and the critical roles of protein and starch autolysis in early stress responses. Moreover, the application of metabolomics techniques offers insights into the rewiring of plant central metabolism under stress conditions, serving as a hub for maintaining metabolic and energy homeostasis. This comprehensive overview underscores the challenges and emerging insights in utilizing metabolomics to understand plant adaptation and resilience to abiotic stresses, highlighting the need for further research to elucidate the metabolic mechanisms underlying plant stress responses and recovery processes.
Whole-Body Electromyostimulation
This essential is intended as a compact reference for issues and aspects related to the innovative training technology of whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS). In addition to background and information on WB-EMS application, in which the authors pay particular attention to safe and effective use, there is a current overview of research results summarizing the effects of WB-EMS on various target outcomes. Finally, a characterization of the market situation, current trends and a forecast of developments in the field of WB-EMS is presented.
Hydroponics
Hydroponics is an intriguing way of growing plants without soil. Instead, plants are grown in a nutrient-rich water solution, resulting in faster development and larger harvests. It's an excellent choice for beginners who wish to grow their own plants inside or in limited places, as it takes up less space and can be easier to handle than traditional soil-based gardening. This book will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to start hydroponic gardening, including information on various types of hydroponic systems, the best plants for hydroponic growth, and how to maintain balanced nutrient levels for your plants. With the proper expertise and equipment, you can quickly reap the benefits of hydroponic farming. Hydroponics is a way of growing plants that does not require soil. It has gained popularity because it can help conserve water and provide higher yields in a controlled setting. This method uses a nutrient-rich solution to supply important minerals and nutrients straight to the plant roots, resulting in faster development and healthier plants. Both commercial agriculture and home gardening have utilized this method, providing a more efficient and sustainable way to grow a wide range of crops.Yes, hydroponics may be the way to go if you're interested in producing your own plants without using soil.Hydroponics is an excellent method for producing healthy and sustainable crops since it allows for control over nutrient levels, water usage, and plant growth.Are you prepared to transform your growth process? Say farewell to conventional soil-based farming and welcome the amazing realm of hydroponics!Participate in the hydroponic revolution now and observe the imminent advancement of agriculture unfold right in front of you. Cultivate the principles of sustainability and reap the benefits of a more environmentally friendly future with this guide!
Greener Products
Sustainability and its competitive advantage are the goals of every company and any brand that wants to stay successful in the marketplace. Customers also gravitate to brands that manage sustainability issues well. Greener Products: The Making and Marketing of Sustainable Brands written by a renowned sustainability expert, continues to address the latest developments in the extremely fast-moving field of sustainability. The third edition is thoroughly updated, introduces new case studies, and includes a new chapter on green marketing. With over 40 case studies, it explores the best practices of leading global companies and helps readers learn what it is that makes them successful.New in the Third Edition: Presents, in a practical way, the best practices of sustainable brands in a global economy. Addresses the most current sustainability topics like circular economy, plastics in the environment, biodiversity, climate change, green chemistry, etc. Includes current marketing information on consumer trends to purchase greener products. Incorporates the latest pressures on companies to address sustainability, retailer programs, business-to-business expectations, ESG raters, rankers, and stock funds. Covers best practices of companies from various industries on how to make and market greener products. Provides current tools for making products more sustainable and methods on how to market sustainable improvements. Includes lecture slides available upon request for use in the classroom. This book serves senior undergraduate and graduate students in programs focused on sustainability, as well as academics and corporate sustainability leaders. The previous versions have been used to teach courses on sustainability, product improvement, introduction to sustainability, green marketing and sustainability, and sustainability policy. Any university that teaches a course on sustainability and any company or individual interested in making and marketing more sustainable products would benefit from the new edition of this book.
Bioeconomical Solutions and Investments in Sustainable City Development
Spatial development is a discipline aimed at the protection of specific values and rational development by stimulating economic processes. Modern practices challenge developers to minimize the negative impact of urban development on the environment. In order to adhere to this policy, bioeconomical solutions and investments can be utilized. Bioeconomical Solutions and Investments in Sustainable City Development is an essential source that explores the development of sustainable city models based on investments in eco-oriented solutions by protecting and making publicly available green areas and by innovative investments with the use of bioeconomical solutions. Featuring research on topics such as bioeconomy vision, environmental education, and rural planning, this book is ideally designed for architects, urban planners, city authorities, experts, officers, business representatives, economists, politicians, academicians, and researchers.
Ocean - The Secret of Planet Earth
The ocean characterises planet Earth and differentiates it from the more than 5000 known planets. It is also the habitat where life emerged as a singularity in the universe. However, we know less about the oceans than we do about some remote planets such as Mars.This book provides basic facts for understanding the oceans, their properties and their importance to mankind through the ages. The long relationship between the ocean and humanity, which permeates all areas of our culture, is at a crossroads where human activity is profoundly affecting its functioning and the integrity of marine ecosystems. However, the intelligent and rational use of the ocean holds, in large part, the key to providing the resources needed to sustain our quality of life in the future. Unlocking, through scientific research, the secrets that the ocean still holds is an essential challenge for humanity. This book informs the reader about all these aspects of the ocean through a text that combines scientific rigour with personal reflections based on the author's own experiences, dedicated to exploring and learning more about the ocean.
Water from a Transdisciplinary Perspective
Life in cities has distanced human beings from nature and made it difficult to understand the ecology of life dependent on the environment. Urban water collection and distribution processes contribute significantly to the fragmentation of knowledge and the vital recognition of the water cycle. Without the effective participation of the subject in environmental actions, it is not possible to understand the full complexity of water, which is dependent on the agent of protection. Global causality, ecological reasoning and responsibility for one's own actions places the subject as an included third party. In this way, valuing the intimate relationship between the subject and water, at the various levels of reality, determines an understanding of the inseparability of life and water. Transdisciplinarity as a worldview promotes an understanding of ecological complexity and the multiple mediations between the subject and the environment, since the subject, known as the third party, is taken into account in the cultural and historical reality of water and acts as an agent of protection, a holder of useful knowledge about the water cycle and the cycle of life.
Navigating the Intersection of Business, Sustainability and Technology
In today's world, businesses are increasingly recognizing the importance of sustainability and technology as essential components of their operations. This book offers a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the complexities of the interconnected areas of business, sustainability and technology. The book further shows how sustainability and technology are transforming the business landscape and how they can harness their power to drive innovation, create value and achieve long-term success. Drawing on the latest research and real-world case studies, the book provides practical insights and strategies that readers can use to navigate this rapidly changing landscape. The book further offers a comprehensive roadmap to navigate the intersection of business, sustainability and technology, including developing sustainable business models and cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain. This book is an essential resource for business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and students.
Footprint and Entrepreneurship
This book highlights the relevant and timely global change movement: green entrepreneurship. Presented in this book is relevant literature and academic knowledge. The book is expected to support in creating more green entrepreneurship initiatives in collaboration with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Soil and Water Conservation Structures Design
The book is designed to serve as a textbook for graduate and undergraduate courses on soil and water conservation engineering for students of agricultural engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering and related disciplines. The book presents the basics of soil and water erosion, and describes the measures to control erosion, focusing on structures to prevent and control erosion. The chapters dedicated to erosion control structures provide a detailed view of each structural construction, covering the function, design and elements of each type of structure. Some common type of structures covered in the book are terrace, bunds, vegetated waterways, and gully control structures, including spillways. The book also covers wind erosion and control structures to prevent wind erosion. Each chapter includes pedagogical elements such as examples, practice questions, and multiple-choice-type questions to improve understanding and aid in self-study. Besides serving as a textbook university coursework, the book can also serve as a supplementary or primary text for professional development courses for practicing engineers engaged in soil and water conservation or watershed management. The book will also serve as a reference for professionals, environmental consultants, and policy makers engaged in soil and water conservation related fields.
Sustainable Food Waste Management
This book highlights established research and technology on corrosion inhibitors and bio-waste management. It further discusses emerging aspects of utilizing food waste in the field of corrosion inhibition. The topics covered include overview on bio-waste and their management, different types of food waste (i.e., agricultural, vegetable and fruit/fruit juice, plant waste, slaughterhouse trash), and their application as corrosion inhibitors and mitigation of corrosion. It also discusses economic aspects and commercialization of food waste as corrosion inhibitors. The book is a valuable reference for beginners, researchers, and professionals working in the areas of sustainability, food waste management, and material science.
The Routledge Handbook of Landscape Ecology
The Handbook provides a supporting guide to key aspects and applications of landscape ecology to underpin its research and teaching. A wide range of contributions written by expert researchers in the field summarize the latest knowledge on landscape ecology theory and concepts, landscape processes, methods and tools, and emerging frontiers.Landscape ecology is an interdisciplinary and holistic discipline, and this is reflected in the chapters contained in this Handbook. Authors from varying disciplinary backgrounds tackle key concepts such as landscape structure and function, scale and connectivity; landscape processes such as disturbance, flows, and fragmentation; methods such as remote sensing and mapping, fieldwork, pattern analysis, modelling, and participation and engagement in landscape planning; and emerging frontiers such as ecosystem services, landscape approaches to biodiversity conservation, and climate change. Each chapter provides a blend of the latest scientific understanding of its focal topics along with considerations and examples of their application from around the world.An invaluable guide to the concepts, methods, and applications of landscape ecology, this book will be an important reference text for a wide range of students and academics in ecology, geography, biology, and interdisciplinary environmental studies.
Biodeterioration of Cultural Property and Researches on Conservation of Heritage Buildings
Recent corona like pandemic outbreaks have warned the human beings that we are still a fragile species on this Planet Earth. We have to ponder in our past, look how Vedic, Harrapan, and Egyptian civilizations flourished and vanished ultimately. Our cultural heritage can help us to learn the lessons from past and we can preserve our rich culture and Good human Values for next generations. Not only cultural loss of valuables the biodeterioration has direct link to our economy as it is related to survival of UNESCO World heritage monuments. Methods and techniques described will be useful for the beginners in the field. International Council of Biodeterioration of Cultural Property (ICBCP) invited experts in the field and this volume presents their views into three separate sections. A.) Biodeterioration of cultural objects B.) Biodeterioration of heritage monuments, and C.) Conservation of intangible heritage. The researches in the field put fragrance in the atmosphere and bring promises for the new era.
The Truth about Energy
The transition to renewable energy is vital and fast-paced, but how do we choose which technologies to drive this energy transition? This timely book provides everyone interested in the renewable energy transition with an introduction to and technical foundation for understanding modern energy technology. It traces everyday power generation through history, from the Industrial Revolution to today. It examines the use of wood, coal, oil, natural gas, hydro, and nuclear to produce energy, before discussing renewable energy sources such as biomass, photovoltaics, concentrated solar power, wind, wave, and geothermal. The book examines to what extent and how each technology can contribute to a clean, green infrastructure. The Truth About Energy explains the science and engineering of energy to help everyone understand and compare current and future advances in renewable energy, providing the context to critically examine the different technologies that are competing in a fast-evolving engineering, political, and economic landscape.
Restoration of Ecosystems - Bridging Nature and Humans
In this interdisciplinary textbook, which bridges the gap between the natural and social sciences both, the scientific principles of restoration ecology and practical aspects of ecosystem restoration are comprehensively presented. The diversity of land-use types with a focus on Central Europe is highlighted and case studies of practical restoration projects are presented. The textbook offers students who deal with the environment as well as scientists and practitioners a profound and up-to-date, but also critical overview of the state of knowledge. This book opens up the broad spectrum of degraded ecosystems of Central European natural and cultural landscapes. In further chapters, marine ecosystems and their restoration as well as development potentials and the limits of restoration are discussed in more detail. The ecological fundamentals are expanded through an interdisciplinary perspective taking into account environmental ethics, sociology, anthropology, and economics. In additionto an up-to-date overview of the various areas and fields of activity in restoration ecology and ecosystem restoration, the textbook provides a valuable basis for studies, science, and practice. The students also receive assistance in searching for literature and critical fact analysis, and the lecturers on teaching formats and interdisciplinary approaches to discussion in restoration ecology.
Don't Tell the Boss!
After a major disaster, when investigators are piecing together the story of what happened, a striking fact often emerges: before disaster struck, some people in the organization involved were aware of dangerous conditions that had the potential to escalate to a critical level. But for a variety of reasons, this crucial information did not reach decision-makers. So, the organization moved ever closer to catastrophe, effectively unaware of the possible threat--despite the fact that some of its employees could see it coming.What is the problem with communication about risk in an organization, and why does this problem exist? What stops people in organizations or project teams from freely reporting and discussing critical risks? This book seeks to answer these questions, starting from a deep analysis of 20 disasters where the concealment of risks played a major part.These case studies are drawn from around the world and span a range of industries: civil nuclear power, coal, oil and gas production, hydropower energy, metals and mining, space exploration, transport, finance, retail manufacturing and even the response of governments to wars, famines and epidemics.Together, case studies give an insight into why people hesitate to report risks--and even when they do, why their superiors often prefer to ignore the news. The book reviews existing research on the challenges of voice and silence in organizations.This helps to explain more generally why people dread passing on bad news to others--and why in the workplace they prefer to keep quiet about unpleasant facts or potential risks when they are talking to superiors and colleagues.The discussion section of the book includes important examples of concealment within the Chinese state hierarchy as well as by leading epidemiologists and governments in the West during the novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan in 2019-2020. The full picture of the very early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic remains unclear, and further research is obviously needed to better understand what motivated some municipal, provincial and national officials in China as well as Western counterparts to obfuscate facts in their internal communications about many issues associated with the outbreak.
Confessions of an Eco-Warrior
A book that will set the course for the environmental movement for years to come, Confessions of an Eco-Warrior is an inspiring ecological call to arms by America's foremost and most controversial environmental activist. "Rude and brilliant. Read it and you will see the future".--William Kittredge.
Challenges in Tropical Coastal Zone Management
This book focuses on tropical coasts, which are highly vulnerable due to a multitude of stressors. Population growth is substantial, habitats are lost and biodiversity is reduced at an alarming rate, severely affecting many ecosystem services. This situation calls for sound coastal management and the effective engagement of all relevant stakeholders. About two decades ago the M.Sc. program ISATEC (International Studies in Aquatic Tropical Ecology) was created at Bremen University (Germany) to train young scientists for a professional engagement in the complex field of tropical coastal and resource management. This book provides a platform for those Alumni to report on their work experiences and findings in their home countries and covers all regions of the tropical belt. Part I of the book provides a short review of the state of the tropical ocean and its resources and of international attempts towards sustainable ocean management starting with the Rio Declaration onEnvironment and Development in 1992. Part II deals with country case studies, and part III focuses on an evaluation & synopsis of those contributions. Emerging key issues for management and conservation of the tropical coastal environments are presented and critical challenges on the path towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are discussed, as are the needs for enhancing research and capacity development.
Globalization, Urbanization, and Sustainability
Globalization, Urbanization, and Sustainability: What Can We Do? provides students with an introduction to the multifaceted nature of civilization and its impact on our environment. The text explores the intricate interplay between globalization, urbanization, and sustainability, and examines the environmental and health impacts of modern society, including climate change, resource consumption, and waste. The book's nine chapters focus on a distinct aspect of globalization, urbanization, and sustainability, including historical perspectives on urbanism and trade, economic fundamentals of global capitalism, world financial and trade institutions, demography, poverty and economic development, public health, and steps individuals can take to preserve our world and act as good stewards of the earth. Designed to foster a critical awareness of the costs associated with modern systems of production and inspire sustainable solutions, Globalization, Urbanization, and Sustainability is an exceptional resource for courses and programs in environmental studies, urban planning, international studies, economics, public health and sustainability.
The Sustainable University of the Future
The Sustainable University of the Future discusses the rapid changes taking place within institutions of higher education--changes that have pushed universities to reconsider their traditional policies and plans. The book, which has its origins in the Qatar University Annual Research Forum and Exhibition (QUARFE) event "University of the Future" examines the many ways universities are trying to keep pace with this transformation, despite regional and international challenges. The book looks at the role of universities in meeting the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the impact of Industry 4.0, the social aspects of University 4.0, and the future of research-based universities. The need to adopt modern programs and tools is stressed, and ways to anticipate and plan for future challenges are explored.
Sustainability
This book provides relevant theoretical frameworks and the latest empirical research findings in Operations Research (OR) and Management Science (MS) as applied to sustainability. Its goal is to identify and describe ways in which OR and MS have been applied to and influenced the development of sustainability. Many of the issues we face today stem from the interconnectivity of the economy, society, and the environment, and from how both the economy and society are affecting the environment. In response, there have been a range of local and global efforts to advance society without harming the natural environment. The book showcases how OR/MS can help to address these issues, specifically with regard to renewable energy, smart industry, smart cities, transportation, smart homes and devices, etc. This book is intended for professionals in the fields of energy, engineering, information science, mathematics and economics, and for researchers who wish to develop new skills in connection with sustainability, or whose work involves sustainability.
New Horizons for Industry 4.0 in Modern Business
This book discovers what it will take to reindustrialize the previous industrial powerhouses in order to offset the advantages of cheap labor suppliers dominating the industrial sector by exploring the current situation of the production, processing, and manufacturing industries. The Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), and Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Cobotics, Automation, AI, 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, SDN, Blockchain technologies are outlined in this unique and comprehensive book, which has true potential for professionals, researchers, policymakers, and book users. New Horizons for Industry 4.0 in Modern Business encompass trends in business and technology globally that may completely alter how manufacturing and production are conducted. What you will discover: Learn about the Industrial Internet of Things and the Industrial Internet. Learn about the technologies that must develop to support Industry 4.0 and what is being done right now to make that happen. In this book, the topic of Industry 4.0 is covered in detail, and it even moves on to concepts of Digital Twins to boost output and create Industrial Internet of Things. With the development of new digital industrial technology, or "Industry 4.0," it is now feasible to collect and analyze data from many machines, resulting in processes that are quicker, more adaptable, and more efficient, producing things of higher quality while spending less money. The manufacturing revolution will boost productivity, alter economics, promote industrial development, and alter workforce demographics, ultimately altering the competitiveness of businesses and areas. Although advanced digital technology is being employed in manufacturing, Industry 4.0 will completely change how things are done. Greater production efficiencies will result, and conventional connections between suppliers, manufacturers, and consumers--as well as between people and machines--will shift.Industry 4.0 is changing the business process. This disruptive technology is radically changing the way businesses/manufacturing is conducted. It will give machines that little bit of intuition with the help of robotics, 3D printing, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality--that will help them do mindless and repetitive jobs without human intervention, allowing humans to focus more on their core competencies.
Muddy Thinking in the Mississippi River Delta
A free ebook version of this title is available through Luminos, University of California Press's Open Access publishing program. Visit www.luminosoa.org to learn more.Muddy Thinking in the Mississippi River Delta uses the story of mud to answer a deceptively simple question: How can a place uniquely vulnerable to sea level rise be one of the nation's most promiscuous producers and consumers of fossil fuels? Organized around New Orleans and South Louisiana as a case study, this book examines how the unruly Mississippi River and its muddy delta shaped the people, culture, and governance of the region. It proposes a framework of "muddy thinking" to gum the wheels of extractive capitalism and pollution that have brought us to the precipice of planetary collapse. Muddy Thinking calls upon our dirty, shared histories to address urgent questions of mutual survival and care in a rapidly changing world.
The Ocean and Us
The Ocean and Us provides an overview of our contemporary understanding of the ocean and all the ways our lives interact with it. It is intended for everyone with an interest in our blue planet. The book brings together the expertise of over 35 ocean specialists from around the world. It explores a wide variety of themes including the importance of a healthy ocean in the fight to halt and contain climate change. It covers issues such as overfishing and pollution, as well as emerging themes such as the blue economy, marine animal welfare and how we can leverage innovation to protect the ocean. The book provides an overview of some of the world's iconic threatened and at risk ocean ecosystems, and outlines current governance structures and ocean management tools. It also discusses the important social dimensions between people and the ocean, such as ocean and human wellbeing, communities and the ocean, and who gets to participate in the ocean space. The book aims to enhance ocean literacy by making specialist concepts accessible to non-experts, with a view to empowering concerned citizens everywhere to come into action for the ocean, and pave a better way forward for humanity.
Biodiversity in Agriculture and Farming
Traditional agricultural activities have been developed without taking into account the conservation of the environment and biodiversity, therefore, it is necessary in rural agro-productive sectors to carry out an ecological territorial planning that benefits the community and the existing biodiversity in the sector, carrying out sustainable and environmentally friendly productive activities. The objective of this research was to identify the biodiversity associated with an agro-productive rural settlement, in order to make a proposal for ecological management.
Earth and Soul
Facing directly into the devastation of climate chaos and biodiversity loss, Rampy leads her readers on a soul journey through grief and loss to also claim the beauty, joy and possibilities available when we reconnect with Earth. As we follow the author's compelling personal experiences and engagingly lyrical stories of whales, cedars, sparrows, and more, we see the necessity and urgency of learning from the wisdom of our kin in the natural world. Writing at the intersection of spirituality, ecology, and story, Rampy charts a course for living deeply connected to Earth in ways that are both vitally important for and uniquely suited to these times. Even now when the world as we once knew it is ending and a new story lies beyond what we can envision, we hold the potential to lay stepping stones toward a diverse and vibrant world of oneness and mutual flourishing.
Humanity The Final Century
In October, 2023, 16,000 scientists from 163 countries signed a warning to humanity that global climate change, ocean acidification, a collapse of human society, and the extinction of species are increasingly possible. This century. That is: If humanity as a whole doesn't quickly get involved in working to restore wildlife habitat, protect Nature, and live more sustainably. If not, humanity faces: The complete collapse of society, including the end of the monetary, food, energy, water, sanitation, emergency, medical, transportation, communication, industrial, and government systems and services, the meltdown of hundreds of nuclear power plants, and the end of humanity. This century. Professor Lesley Hughes, board member of the Climate Change Authority, and an emeritus professor at Macquarie University recently said: "I don't know how many warnings the world needs. It's as if the human race has received a terminal medical diagnosis, and knows there is a cure, but has consciously decided not to save itself." In his book "Humanity: The Final Century," Daniel John Carey uses quotations from scientists, studies, and reports from around the world mixed with his own commentary in a documentary style of writing to explain the state of Earth, Nature, wildlife, and humanity, and how all of it can soon end as we know it, and that this century might be the end of human history. Carey reasons that humanity needs an intervention for its addiction to destroying Nature and Earth. With this book, he encourages the conversations and actions needed for the solutions to take place. How humans have been living is causing global ecocide and the mass destruction of Nature. If it continues, all evidence points to it causing the extinction of such a wide variety of species within coming decades, and temperatures so high with rising oceans and the instability of so much land that humanity will not survive. There are currently over 42,000 known species of plants and animals threatened with extinction. The planet once again had the hottest temperatures and the most number of forest fires and extreme floods that humans have ever experienced. Record-breaking floods, droughts, temperatures, crop loss, and desertification are accelerating. So are soil loss, pollution, ocean acidification, deep ocean heat, the melting of the ice caps and ocean ice, and the loss of permafrost. "As scientists, we are increasingly being asked to tell the public the truth about the crisis we face in simple and direct terms. The truth is that we are shocked by the ferocity of the extreme weather events in 2023. We are afraid of the uncharted territory we have now entered."- William Ripple, ecologist, Oregon State University Currently, everything from the largest to the smallest forms of life are decreasing in numbers. For instance, in recent decades the populations of both birds and insects have been decreasing by at least two-percent per year. Humans cannot live without insects or birds, and other pollinating animals. It is only one example of the dire situation we are in. It is already impacting all of humanity. At what point will humanity change, and become the solution to the global degradation of the water, land, atmosphere, plants, and animals that humans depend on for life? Or, will it all soon end?
Urban Bats
The Anthropocene is the "age of human influence", an epoch well known for its urban impact. More than half of all people already live in cities, and this proportion is expected to rise to almost 70 percent by 2050. Like other species in urban areas, bats must contend with the pressures of profound and irreversible land cover change and overcome certain unique challenges, such as the high density of roads, lights, glass, and free-ranging domestic animals. Research on urban bats in recent decades indicates that when it comes to urban life, some bats are synanthropes. In other words, although most species of bats are negatively impacted by urbanisation, many appear to not only succeed, but also thrive in cities and towns. This observation has inspired interesting questions about bats in relation to urbanisation. Which traits and behaviours equip bats for urban success? What features of urban areas increase the likelihood that bats will successfully persist there or even colonize newareas? And how does the success of urban bats affect co-habiting humans?Our book explores the interactions between bats and urban environments through case studies and reviews. Understanding how different species interact with urban environments can reveal potential opportunities to mitigate urban threats to bats and threats posed by bats to other urban organisms, including humans. With this book, we thus aspire to provide a knowledge base to help guide current and future efforts to conserve bats.
Environmental Assessment of Recycled Waste
This book with its six interesting chapters highlights the environmental assessment of recycled waste. Waste Management is one of the main topics of concern for an organization and a nation. Out of different destinations at the end of life for a product, Recycling is the need of the hour and is an inevitable destination. Literally all wastes (be it- postindustrial or post-consumer states) if they cannot be reused, have to be recycled. Recycled products are in demand today and we are seeing many recycled alternatives for almost all industrial sectors. One of the million-dollar question to answer in terms of recycling and recycled products is- whether the recycled products are environmentally sustainable than the virgin alternatives? It is highly imperative to ascertain the environmental footprints of recycled products and recycling processes and also find out the best possible ways to further improve the environmental benefits of such recycled products and recycling processes.
Oceaning
Drones are revolutionizing ocean conservation. By flying closer and seeing more, drones enhance intimate contact between ocean scientists and activists and marine life. In the process, new dependencies between nature, technology, and humans emerge, and a paradox becomes apparent: Can we have a wild ocean whose survival is reliant upon technology? In Oceaning, Adam Fish answers this question through eight stories of piloting drones to stop the killing of porpoises, sharks, and seabirds and to check the vitality of whales, seals, turtles, and coral reefs. Drone conservation is not the end of nature. Instead, drone conservation results in an ocean whose flourishing both depends upon and escapes the control of technologies. Faulty technology, oceanic and atmospheric turbulence, political corruption, and the inadequacies of basic science serve to foil governance over nature. Fish contends that what emerges is an ocean/culture--a flourishing ocean that is distinct from but exists alongside humanity.
Oceaning
Drones are revolutionizing ocean conservation. By flying closer and seeing more, drones enhance intimate contact between ocean scientists and activists and marine life. In the process, new dependencies between nature, technology, and humans emerge, and a paradox becomes apparent: Can we have a wild ocean whose survival is reliant upon technology? In Oceaning, Adam Fish answers this question through eight stories of piloting drones to stop the killing of porpoises, sharks, and seabirds and to check the vitality of whales, seals, turtles, and coral reefs. Drone conservation is not the end of nature. Instead, drone conservation results in an ocean whose flourishing both depends upon and escapes the control of technologies. Faulty technology, oceanic and atmospheric turbulence, political corruption, and the inadequacies of basic science serve to foil governance over nature. Fish contends that what emerges is an ocean/culture--a flourishing ocean that is distinct from but exists alongside humanity.
Assessment Framework for People-Centred Solutions to Carbon Neutrality
This open access book presents a catalogue of over one thousand indicators which can be used by cities' public administrators to monitor and evaluate social innovation action plans to support people-centred, collaborative or co-designed solutions to lower carbon emissions. Indicators are clustered according to a framework of social innovation solutions for climate neutrality at city level, developed by merging top-down academic knowledge with bottom-up pragmatic case studies. There is currently limited guidance on how to embed social innovations in their cities' action plans with the aim of reaching climate neutrality, and on how to assess the progress and impacts of such people-centred projects in cities. The book addresses this gap and is thus relevant for scholars in the field of policy-making and design, as well as cities' transition teams, policymakers and consultants. Based on the work developed within the EU-funded project NetZeroCities, intervention logics are provided for each of the ten categories of action, with related indicators clustered by category and evaluation criteria (effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, replicability, and scalability). Guidelines to implement the framework support city administrators in defining steps they need to follow to apply the indicators to their local case, making social innovation a crucial lever for accelerating systemic transformation.
Advances in Dye Degradation
This series provides information on the nature of dyes, their harmful effects, and dye degrading techniques. The first volume of this series presents a fundamental concept of dye degradation. The information on target-oriented dye mitigation is intended to give readers a better understanding of the dye degradation process to sustain a healthy environment. Chapters present referenced information and highlight novel breakthroughs in the industry. Key topics: -Foundations of Dye Knowledge: -Evaluating Toxicity-Nanotechnology-Electrochemistry-Catalytic Materials and Photocatalysis-Microbial Biodegradation This book serves as a foundational resource for researchers and students in chemistry and chemical engineering courses. It also serves as a reference for industry professionals who work with chemical dyes (for example in textile and plastic industries) and are engaged in the critical field of environmental remediation.
Advances in Sea Cucumber Processing Technology and Product Development
Progressive Planet
Revolutionize the Way You View Our Planet: Discover Revolutionary Techniques for Recycling and Reclaiming EarthEmbark on a groundbreaking journey through "Progressive Planet: Modern Techniques for Recycling and Reclaiming Earth", a comprehensive guide on modern, sustainable living. This book dives deep into our current environmental predicament and presents an enlightening approach to rediscover how our actions can significantly influence the future of our planet.Topically, this savvy guide starts by painting a vivid picture of the state of our planet. You'll learn about the symptoms of climate change and the realities of biodiversity loss. Combating climate change starts by acknowledging its existence and understanding its implications, which is where this book steps in as vital reading.Unravel the complexities of our waste problem as you delve into Chapter 2. Further your understanding of not only the obvious waste culprits but also the hidden ones, such as food waste. Clarifying the link between waste overload and environmental degradation, it proposes a paradigm shift from a linear to a circular economy. This illuminates the essence of recycling and its invaluable role in the circular economy.Immerse yourself in newfound understandings of recycling in Chapter 4, highlighting the limitations of traditional methods and the emergence of innovative techniques. You will learn about advanced plastic recycling technology, industrial composting, and e-waste recycling, providing you with the information you need to be an eco-conscious consumer.In Chapter 6, grasp the significance of individual responsibility, while offering practical tips on making small changes that can collectively spell a big difference. By promoting reusing, repurposing, and conscious consumerism, this chapter reinforces the importance of individual contributions towards a sustainable future."Progressive Planet" goes beyond just recycling, introducing the concept of giving new life to used materials, and delving into upcycling, repurposing, and urban mining. It also discusses restoration of natural habitats, support for renewable energy sources, and the principles of organic and regenerative agriculture.The final chapters propose actionable steps, from reviewing government policies to companies making a notable difference, and activism. Ending with a hopeful vision of the planet's future, this book empowers you to carve a path towards a sustainable and resilient earth."Progressive Planet: Modern Techniques for Recycling and Reclaiming Earth" is more than just a book; it's a call to action. Our planet needs us - let's respond with knowledge, consciousness, and care.
Hearsay Is Not Excluded
This chronicle of natural history argues that the modern environmental crisis and rise in science skepticism codeveloped with the historic distancing of scientific knowledge from folk knowledge For millennia, the field of natural history promoted a knowledgeable and unifying view of the world. In contrast, the modern rise of narrow scientific disciplines has promoted a dichotomy between nature and culture on the one hand and between scientific and folk knowledge on the other. Drawing on the fields of anthropology, history, and environmental science, Michael R. Dove argues that the loss of this historic holistic vision of the world is partly to blame for contemporary environmental degradation and science skepticism. Dove bases this thesis on a study of four pioneering natural historians across four centuries: Georg Eberhard Rumphius (seventeenth century), Carl Linnaeus (eighteenth century), Alfred Russel Wallace (nineteenth century), and Harold C. Conklin (twentieth century). Dove studies their field craft and writing; the political, cultural, and environmental circumstances in which they worked; the sources of their insight; and the implications of their work for modern society. Most of all, the book seeks to discover what enabled those natural historians to straddle boundaries that today seem impassable and to distill that wisdom for a modern world greatly in need of a holistic vision of people and environment.
Regional Perspectives of Nature-Based Solutions for Water: Benefits and Challenges
The Wild and the Wicked
A brief foray into a moral thicket, exploring why we should protect nature despite tsunamis, malaria, bird flu, cancer, killer asteroids, and tofu. Most of us think that in order to be environmentalists, we have to love nature. Essentially, we should be tree huggers--embracing majestic redwoods, mighty oaks, graceful birches, etc. We ought to eat granola, drive hybrids, cook tofu, and write our appointments in Sierra Club calendars. Nature's splendor, in other words, justifies our protection of it. But, asks Benjamin Hale in this provocative book, what about tsunamis, earthquakes, cancer, bird flu, killer asteroids? They are nature, too. For years, environmentalists have insisted that nature is fundamentally good. In The Wild and the Wicked, Benjamin Hale adopts the opposite position--that much of the time nature can be bad--in order to show that even if nature is cruel, we still need to be environmentally conscientious. Hale argues that environmentalists needn't feel compelled to defend the value of nature, or even to adopt the attitudes of tree-hugging nature lovers. We can acknowledge nature's indifference and periodic hostility. Deftly weaving anecdote and philosophy, he shows that we don't need to love nature to be green. What really ought to be driving our environmentalism is our humanity, not nature's value. Hale argues that our unique burden as human beings is that we can act for reasons, good or bad. He claims that we should be environmentalists because environmentalism is right, because we humans have the capacity to be better than nature. As humans, we fail to live up to our moral potential if we act as brutally as nature. Hale argues that despite nature's indifference to the plight of humanity, humanity cannot be indifferent to the plight of nature.
Water-Energy-Nexus in the Ecological Transition
This volume includes selected contributions presented during the 3rd edition of the international conference on WaterEnergyNEXUS, which was held in Tunisia in December 2020. This conference was organized by the University of Sfax (Tunisia), in cooperation with the Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division (SEED) of the University of Salerno (Italy), the Advanced Institute of Water Industry at Kyungpook National University (Korea) and The Energy and Resources Institute, TERI (India). The WaterEnergyNEXUS series of conferences are supported by the UNESCO World Water Association Programme (WWAP) and the International Water Association (IWA). It also enjoys the patronage of several international scientific societies, associations and organizations and has established a publishing partnership with Springer Nature. With the support of international experts invited as plenary and keynote speakers, the conference aimed to give a platform for Euro-Mediterranean countries to share and discuss key topics on such water-energy issues through the presentation of nature-based solutions, advanced technologies and best practices for a more sustainable environment within the framework of the ecological transition. This volume gives a general and brief overview of current research focusing on emerging Water-Energy-Nexus issues and challenges and their potential applications to various environmental problems impacting the Euro-Mediterranean zone and surrounding regions. A selection of novel and alternative solutions applied worldwide are included. The volume contains over about one hundred carefully refereed contributions from 48 Countries worldwide selected for the conference. Topics covered in the book include: Nexus framework and governance; Economic evalu ations for investment projects in the water and energy sectors; Innovation of renewable energies and challenges for the mitigation of climate change impact in the water-energy-food-nexus; Advanced technologies and nature-based solutions for the environmental sustainability of the water sector; Water and wastewater technologies for developing countries; Green technologies for sustainable water and wastewater management; Advanced technologies and nature-based solutions in water cycle; Control of hazardous substances and recovery of renewable/valuable resources; Renewable/valuable resources for recovery and utilization; Control of nutrients and hazardous compounds; Energy-saving technologies and future clean energy solutions; Future urban-energy systems with considerations of water and food security; Environmental Biotechnology and Bioenergy; Implementation and best practices. This volume is also an invaluable guide for industry professionals and policymakers working in the water and energy sectors.
The Science of Weather
Every time you go outside, you experience the weather. It may be good, it may be bad, and it may be so bad that it ruins all your plans for the day. Have you ever wondered why the weather changes? Why are the changes sometimes expected and sometimes completely unexpected? Why is the weather forecast on the TV, radio or internet sometimes right and sometimes wrong? Is it possible that the forecast is correct but we don't know how to read it? Can you predict the weather correctly yourself? You will find the answers in this book. This book is full of exciting facts about the weather and climates in different parts of the world, with some incredible examples of weather records and extreme weather events. You will learn how the earth's climate has changed over millions of years, with ice ages following warm periods. How do we know if the global warming today is natural or man-made? THis book is also about people. You will read about the lives of some great people who observed the weather, recorded it, and learned to predict it. They studied clouds and winds, they invented measuring instruments, they sailed to new unwelcoming lands to build weather stations there, they learned to use mathematics to predict weather. Through the lives of those people, you will follow the path the science called meteorology has made from ancient Mayan's' predictions to modern AI-created forecasts. You will find out how this science not only informs us but also saves lives. Finally, you will take a look into the future. Will future technology allow people to make perfect forecasts that can never be wrong?
Trust and Credit in Organizations and Institutions
This book shows that evolutionary game theory can unravel how mutual cooperation, trust, and credit in a group emerge in organizations and institutions. Some organizations and institutions, such as insurance unions, credit unions, and banks, originated from very simple mutual-aid groups. Members in these early-stage mutual-aid groups help each other, making rules to promote cooperation, and suppressing free riders. Then, they come to "trust" not only each other but also the group they belong to, itself. The division of labor occurs when the society comes to have diversity and complexity in a larger group, and the division of labor also requires mutual cooperation and trust among different social roles. In a larger group, people cannot directly interact with each other, and the reputation of unknown people helps other decide who is a trustworthy person. However, if gossip spreads untruths about a reputation, trust and cooperation are destroyed.Therefore, how to suppress untrue gossip is also important for trust and cooperation in a larger group. If trustworthiness and credibility can be established, these groups are successfully sustainable. Some develop and evolve and then mature into larger organizations and institutions. Finally, these organizations and institutions become what they are now. Therefore, not only cooperation but also trust and credit are keys to understanding these organizations and institutions.The evolution of cooperation, a topic of research in evolutionary ecology and evolutionary game theory, can be applied to understanding how to make institutions and organizations sustainable, trustworthy, and credible. It provides us with the idea that evolutionary game theory is a good mathematical tool to analyze trust and credit. This kind of research can be applied to current hot topics such as microfinance and the sustainable use of ecosystems.
Producci籀n Primaria en Ecosistemas Acu獺ticos
Este trabajo presenta los principales conceptos empledos en el entendimiento de la producci籀n primaria de organismos acu獺ticos fotosintetizadores, as穩 como de los procesos externos e internos a los organismos asociados a la fotos穩nteis tales como la termodin獺mica ( fen籀meons biolelectricos y luminiscentes) y metabolismo (fotoss穩ntesis, fotorespiraci籀n, quimios穩ntesis). Por otra parte se aboran los m矇todos para evaluar la producci籀n y la productividad primaria del fitoplancton, fitobentos, macroalgas y pastos marinos. Al hablar de los productores primarios separte de la necesidad de revisar cuales son los factores que influye, n tanto positiva como negativamente, en sus procesos metab籀licos a diferentes escalas micro, meso y mactoambientales y en diferentes tipos de ecosistemas. Otros elementos importantes de este trabajo consisten en la revsi籀n y propuestas de uso y manejo de los productores primarios como recursos naturales, as穩 como mecanisos para su conservaci籀n. Por 繳ltimo se plantean retos y perspectivas en e amnejo sustentable de estos organismos.
The Changing Wealth of Nations 2021
It is now clear that a narrow focus on the growth of gross domestic product (GDP) is insufficient to achieve humanity's aspirations for sustainable prosperity. Well-functioning ecosystems and educated populations are requisites for sustainable well-being. These and other too-often-neglected ingredients of national wealth must be addressed if the development path is to be sustainable. 'The Changing Wealth of Nations 2021: Managing Assets for the Future' provides the most comprehensive accounting of the wealth of nations, an in-depth analysis of the evolution of wealth, and pathways to build wealth for the future. This report--and the accompanying global database--firmly establishes comprehensive wealth as a measure of sustainability and a key component of country analytics. It expands the coverage of wealth accounts and improves our understanding of the quality of all assets, notably, natural capital. Wealth--the stock of produced, natural, and human capital--is measured as the sum of assets that yield a stream of benefits over time. Changes in the wealth of nations matter because they reflect the change in countries' assets that underpin future income. Countries regularly track GDP as an indicator of their economic progress, but not wealth, and national wealth has a more direct and long-term impact on people's lives. This report provides a new set of tools and analysis to help policy makers navigate risks and to guide collective action. Wealth accounts can be applied in macroeconomic analysis to areas of major policy concern such as climate change and natural resource management. This report can be used to look beyond GDP, to gauge nations' economic well-being, and to promote sustainable prosperity.
