Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 61, the authors present a practical, theoretical approach for systemic landscape planning strategies that incorporate a synergistic view of nature and culture in the process of continuous construction of the landscape, while stressing the reality of urban growth in developing countries. This study was established through a technical analysis of the urban context and biophysical dynamics in correlation with with a social participation method. Afterwards, a report on various species employed in bio-monitoring campaigns: mussels, oysters and clams, algae, vegetables, lichens, mosses is offered. The numerous investigative techniques applied are critically examined, focusing on analytical performance in terms of accurateness and detectability. The authors also discuss applications of remote sensing technology to improve local and regional water governance programs, maintaining that the implementation of remote sensing techniques in water governance frameworks is essential due to their synoptic views which allow us to monitor large areas and thereby improve spatial and temporal management. Following this, deforestation and savanna development in Ghana is examined, with the contention that the current knowledge is incomplete because several gaps exist in the prehistoric, precolonial, and colonial landcover. The authors also go on to review the current changes in wetlands in the five US-Gulf states, the subsequent impact on carbon sequestration, the general function of wetlands in the Gulf of Mexico, the way this contributes to global warming, and the way this mitigates global warming. Later, a study is presented with the goal of exploring residents' sense of place in post-conflict area of Africa, with the goal of supplying information that may guide policy makers in the enhancement of the economic and social welfare of the people in the study area. The compilation ends with a description of numerous causes of uncertainties in forest biomass estimation procedures using optical remote sensing and terrestrial forest inventory data-sets. These uncertainties are typically generated due to spatial resolution and information content on satellite imagery.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 63 opens with a study on carbonate crushed stone of the Saltykovskoye field in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, which is characterized by high water uptake. An impregnation process involving a solvent in its supercritical state is used for impregnating the crushed stone. Two petroleum products are considered as an impregnating material. The first one is a petroleum product recovered from oil sludges in the course of their disposition, whereas the second one is a petroleum product extracted from a heavy residue formed in the process of steam thermal treatment of a high viscosity index oil. Phase equilibrium characteristics of a propane/butane mixture that was used as a solvent in the extraction and impregnation processes are presented together with results of an investigation of some of the thermodynamic properties of materials involved in the processes.Following this, the authors describe the first demonstration of a logical framework developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency to integrate the best available data, methods and models to estimate risks to wildlife populations from multiple stressors. This approach responds to the need for greater realism and ecological significance in the estimation of the effects on wildlife of human-mediated stressors. Specifically, this approach provides a mechanism to quantitatively link responses to increasing levels of specific single or combinations of multiple stressors to adverse outcomes on populations.A review is also included which summarizes the current information on the contribution of heavy metals as a result of pollution to the development of oxidative stress in fish. Metals are considered significant t toxic pollutants and there is extensive literature about their accumulation in aquatic ecosystems. Increased levels of reactive oxygen species lead to oxidative damage including lipid peroxidation, protein and DNA oxidation, and enzyme inactivation. The components of antioxidant defense are used as a biochemical markers of oxidative stress. This knowledge extends to fish because of their sensitivity to oxidative pollutants, their filtration capacity, and their potential for environmental toxicology studies.In the following chapter, the authors examine the role of Technology Transfer and the Clean Development Mechanism in the mitigation of climate change from a legal point of view and policy perspective. Both Technology Transfer and the Clean Development Mechanism have human rights implications; therefore, this paper analyses the current state-of-the-art with regard to Technology Transfer and the Clean Development Mechanism in their interplay with human rights standards, as based on relevant provisions of the Kyoto Protocol and of the EU legislation.A general increase in warm extremes and a decrease in cold extremes were found on a global and regional scale during the last several decades, although warming has not been uniform, either spatially or temporally. Many definitions quantifying the duration and/or intensity of the daytime maxima could be applied to heat waves. In one study, heat waves were defined through the concept of exceeding a given threshold thus allowing the analyzes of the heat wave duration and frequency. The main characteristics of the heat waves and the circulation conditions which caused the heat waves in Serbia were analyzed. It was found that the number of heat waves rapidly increased during the last three decades.In the subsequent paper, the authors focus on the quantification of sustainability connected with the use of various types of concrete with regard to their resistance to degradation. Efficient sustainability management of concrete structures requires the use of tools which allow material, technological and construction variants to be quantified, measured or compared. These tools can be used as a powerful marketing aid and as support for the transition to a "e;circular economy"e;. The goal is to propose a suitable methodology which can simplify decision-making regarding the design and choice of concrete mixes from a wider perspective, i.e. not only with regard to load-bearing capacity or durability.Lastly, this book suggests that since the spatial occurrence of differently sized craters provides information for the relative age estimation of various planetary surfaces, in analysing the size frequency distribution of impact craters, the formation and resurfacing episodes could be estimated using statistical analysis. With a rough approach, the scale and type of eroding processes may also be estimated. Using lunar samples based radiometric ages, the relative crater density could be translated to absolute ages for the Moon. Ising model approaches, such absolute ages could be extrapolated for Mars and other bodies in the Solar System, with certain error levels

Recently, airborne particulate matter (PM), microscopic solid or liquid matter suspended in the atmosphere, has become a major concern in many countries because of its considerable damage as an air pollutant to the climate and human health. In the preliminary chapter of this book, the authors review the current status of fine PM in environmental technology regarding their emission source and discuss future prospects of PM-based air pollutants reduction and related research.Soil organic matter (SOM) is commonly recognized as one of the key parameters of soil quality, and it has been linked to ecosystem productivity, being recommended as a sensitive indicator for monitoring programs. Thus, the following chapter provides an overview of the most important factors altering SOM in agricultural land and forests, describing the current trends to keep soil capacity for biomass production and carbon sequestration.Next, a study is presented which analyzes parameters of the atmospheric boundary layer - such as height, thickness, and temperature- concerning the inversion layer in Murcia (2011-2016). The different factors and situations of more intense TI registered in the VMSR are analyzed using satellite images, synoptic information, and meteorological data provided by radiosonde.In Northern Cyprus, the Guezelyurt groundwater basin contains the most extensive aquifer of the island, which has been exploited since 1955 for both municipal and agricultural water supplies. The authors study hydrographs from 13 wells observed for 40 years to trace the long-term fluctuations of the groundwater level and to sketch temporal contour maps. Significant lowering of the groundwater level was noted in the west-central part of the basin, where the municipal wells are concentrated.Lastly, it will be described how some models treat the effective albedo in cities considering the atmospheric micro and the meso scale. For the microscale, the schemes used in ENVI-MET, SOLWEIG and SOLENE models are described. These models are mainly used to analyze the interaction between the urban design and the human thermal comfort. The albedo is one of the fundamental parameters to study this topic.

The opening study presented in Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 65 aims to clarify the sources and characteristics of groundwater in the aquifers along the coast of the White Sea in northwestern Russia, and on this basis to perform a broad 14C and 234U/238U dating of all their types, taking into account the mixing processes.After this, the process of thermal conversion of layered double hydroxides into metal oxide catalysts and their applications in selected environmental processes is presnted and discussed. Thermal decomposition of hydrotalcite-like materials results in the formation of mixed metal oxides, which may be examined for their applications in catalysis due to their relatively high surface area, porosity and homogenous distribution of metal cations.The authors analyze Mongolia, a landlocked country located in Central Asia with a population of over 3 million people. Due to the harsh weather conditions, rapid urbanization and mining activities, environmental quality of the country has increasingly degraded as the air, soil and water pollution has surpassed permissible levels. The current situation has a harmful impact on the national economy, social development, health and environment.Later, this collection discusses inorganic solid phase supports, including pristine and surface-modified alumina, Fe3O4 nanoparticles and mesoporous silica extractants, which have demonstrated good retention capacity for naturally-occurring and anthropogenic actinides. The choice to adsorb or tether the ligand on the solid surface is addressed as it is a cornerstone for an effective and selective separation between the actinides and the lanthanides.The concluding paper provides a review of how the national struggle between Slovenes and Germans unfolded, and how it was reflected in the conquest of the summits and in the construction of mountain huts. The events presented mostly focus on the area of Carniola, Slovenia, particulary the area of the Julian Alps around Mount Triglav.

This compilation opens by presenting a discussion on the main conditions for the successful start-up and operation of full-scale mainstream partial nitrification-anammox technology, advantages of partial nitrification-anammox technology over other technologies of wastewater treatment, and a description of the interactions among key microbial groups and their identification by using metagenomic approaches. Next, one study elucidates the performance of anammox hybrid reactors under various operating conditions to optimize and assess its efficacy and feasibility for nitrogen removal from wastewater. Four numbers of hybrid reactors conglomerating the dual advantages of attached and suspended growth were designed and investigated. The authors seek to produce a soil erosion susceptibility map with selected parameters including elevation, slope, aspect, slope curvature, stream power index, topographic wetness index, cover management factor, land use/land cover, rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, lineament density, distance from lineament, and distance from stream and drainage density. The weighted linear combination method is applied using remote sensing and geographical information system techniques in the Shiri River Basin of Darjeeling, Himalaya. The following study addresses the financial and economic benefits of tourism, and whether these economic benefits are to the detriment of the natural environment. This is done by conducting an investigation into community fishing practices around Mnemba Island. Semi-structured interviews were held with Mnemba Island Lodge staff, local fishermen and local authorities involved in the fisheries around Mnemba Participatory observations were also used to support the data collected by the semi-structured interviews. The authors present data suggesting that of insolation is of high importance for the structuring of floodplain ecosystems because it has potential to impact floodplain lakes regardless of flooding. It is proposed that future investigations of floodplain aquatic habitats should take into account insolation effects other than those of hydrology. The closing chapter provides a brief review of anchovy characteristics, habitats, use, and eco-friendly treatment of anchovy waste/wastewater for reutilization. Anchovy is an attractive resource for the production of functional compounds such as antimutagenic, antifungal, antioxidant and antibacterial agents.

This compilation highlights current knowledge on iodide mobility in a soil-plant system and provides a theoretical and experimental basis for a better understanding of the geochemical behaviour of iodine in soils, including its availability in the food chain. Following this, the authors provide a comprehensive overview of the uses of iodide salts by focusing on their applications in plants and microbiology, mechanisms of action and possible new uses in histology. The penultimate study contributes to a better understanding of Piauí’s vegetation through a floristic survey, phytosociological study and knowledge about the economic potential and geographic distribution of species from an area belonging to the municipality of Brasileira, north of Piauí, Brazil. Fifty-five families, 126 genera and 141 species represented the flora. Biosphere reserves face the challenge of sustainable development. They have to foster economic development that is ecologically and culturally sustainable. Paradoxically, the demographic-economic-entrepreneurial nexus of biosphere reserves has not been researched, an omission addressed in the closing chapter by studying the towns of the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve in South Africa.

Chapter one of Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 68 contains a rudimentary inferential analysis concerning conditions in the US such as the variation of the atmospheric content of carbon dioxide over two hundred and seventy-two years up to 2016, and the contribution of major environmental sources to the atmospheric amount of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and methane along with emissions caused by hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphurhexafluoride and nitrogentrifluoride. The following chapter aims to present an overview of environmentally exploitable properties, as well as present and potential prospects of bacterial extracellular polymeric substances in addressing real life environmental problems. The authors go on to review the heavy metal processes that occur in the soil and leafy vegetables, particularly in cabbage, and the relationships between the soil levels and metal contents in plants. An approach for the utilization of microorganisms from shallow hydrothermal vent sediments in environmental biotechnology is also presented. Next, it is shown that that SDG 13 and SDG 15 can be addressed simultaneously if policy makers and practitioners focus on reducing the costs of telecommunications and the internet, as this would reduce the costs for tablets and mobile phones, enabling improved access to information and practice on Ecosystem Based Adaptation and microforestry schemes. The authors discuss the responsibility of the Water Board of Nicosia to operate the water distribution network that covers more than 91 sq. km, water mains of 1,280 km length, and the management of the 13 water reservoirs. They also show how water management is governed and how it affects theiIsland of Cyprus. The subsequent study indicates that concentrations of trace elements in sediments and brackish wate,r and even interstitious waters, may not provide an accurate view of the levels of contamination and their potential ecotoxicity in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. The closing paper focuses on the land-use/cover dynamicity and its impact on the land surface temperature of Lodhama river basin in Darjeeling Hill area during the period of 2001 and 2016.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 69 opens with an overview of recent studies regarding toxic effects of chlorpyrifos and the methods of its removal, focusing mainly on the generation of its oxo-analogue, chlorpyrifos-oxon, as a result of organophosphate metabolism by cytochrome P450s, and the influence on some physiologically important enzymes. Following this, a comprehensive overview of the diversity of Basidiomycetes species present in polluted areas is provided, as well as potential uses in the restoration of these areas. Basidiomycetes fungi promote immobilization of mycogenic metals through the precipitation of oxalates or via ligand binding, as well as passive bio-absorption and accumulation in their biomass. Ecosystems of the European North show low tolerance to anthropogenic impact and very slow succession recovery. This largely determines the development of biota and ecosystems. Among the types of impact, the authors propose that special attention should be paid to those associated with gathering, hunting, and grazing, and aimed mostly on the use of bioresource potential of landscapes. Next, after a short introduction on the composition and sources of oil pollutants in the environment, the authors review all transformation processes that affect composition of oil pollutants in contaminated soils. The authors also describe detailed information on the toxicity of chlorpyrifos and its metabolites, the mobility of chlorpyrifos in soil and water following spraying, and residues of its metabolites on treated edible plants. In the penultimate chapter, the RUSLE model coupled with transport limited sediment delivery function were used to predict the longtime average annual soil loss, and to identify the critical erosion-/deposition-prone areas of Lodhama River Basin in Eastern Darjeeling Himalaya, India. Lastly, although microorganisms cannot destroy pollutants, this collection discusses how they can alter their chemical properties via a surprising array of mechanisms. The focus is on the metals and metalloids that contaminate waters and are most commonly found in the environment, including: lead, chromium, mercury, uranium, selenium, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, silver, gold, and nickel.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 70 opens with a brief assessment of the Regional Development Plan of Mumbai Metropolitan Region in relation with MSAAPCC, aiming to address the governance considerations required to deal with climate change. For various food matrices, several spectroscopic techniques and procedures employed to evaluate platinum group metals and thallium are critically discussed. Particular attention is paid to the analytical performance in terms of accuracy and detectability. The authors discuss how controlling the production of greenhouse gases at the source source through intensive agricultural management, changes in land-use management and enhancing nitrogen use efficiency and stabilize can mitigate climate change to some extent. Following this, the authors test how the timing of pollutant inputs captures long-term biological sensitivity by comparing exceedance for periods of higher and lower pollution loading to 60-year red spruce tree-ring chronologies across Vermont and New Hampshire, USA. An analysis of deforestation probability in Partham River basin is carried out based on an AHP model with selected seven parameters such as distance from settlement, distance from river, distance from road, elevation, slope and aspect. Additionally, this collection explores how, since the early 1990’s, the chirality of pesticides and their consequential enantioselectivity has been the subject of hundreds of investigations by scientists around the world. The current findings on ZnO nanoparticles are discussed, and a systematic review on its common usage, chemical nature, related environmental issue, and its potential toxicity after exposure is provided. Electrodialysis systems are described in parallel, counter flow, and recirculation, as well as the materials and processes to obtain a clean and cheaper solution for water desalination. The penultimate chapter is aimed at highlighting the chemical activation strategies of carbonaceous materials into activated carbon, especially for dyes removal in wastewater treatment. The closing chapter demonstrates the need for comprehensive analysis across spatial and temporal scales, using multiple landscape indices to provide insights on the pattern and dynamics of the seagrass landscapes.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 71 first reviews the processing and recycling of plastics all over the world. Due to the population growth and the economic progress of many nations, dependence on the production and consumption of plastic materials has increased. Following this, the authors aim to understand the current outlook of PM2.5 pollution and how the application of computer modelling can contribute to its monitoring and control. The pre-treatment of landfill leachate via ultra-sonication is explored in an effort to debilitate its inhibitory effect prior to bioremediation by microalgae. Accordingly, the by-products generated from ultrasonic pre-treatment were assimilated by microalgae for growth. Material flow accounting approaches are used to calculate crop biomass and to study differences between crop biomass production and residues utilisation for energy purposes with an environmental impact in China and Slovakia. The authors explore how the pressure of the anthropic activities (pollution, species introduction, overfishing, coastal development) on the marine ecosystem has intensified in the past decade with effects that include global warming and ocean acidification. The penultimate study demonstrates the presence of MDR E. coli isolates presenting virulence pathotypes with the ability of biofilm formation in urban rivers located at Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area, Brazil. The closing chapter provides informaiton regarding the wetland plant Phragmites, particularly its medicinal properties and related research. Phragmites a large perennial grass mainly found in wetlands throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the globe.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 72 begins by examining thr global and regional patterns of climate change, the sensitivity of tree growth to climatic stress, and the effects of competition, which are important considerations during oak savanna restoration. Next, the authors discuss coniferous forests, which are predominant in the colder northern regions. Boreal forest ecosystems are characterised by thick humus layers, low decomposition rates and strong limitations by nutrients. One study explores the behavioural changes in the agonistic behaviours of Herring and Lesser black-backed gulls along a rural-to-urban gradient in Liverpool and the Sefton Coast. A subsequent study evaluates the water quality in maize crop fields using the following physicochemical parameters: turbidity, potential of Hydrogen, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, temperature, total hardness, nitrites, nitrates, iron, soluble reactive phosphate, total chlorine and chemical oxygen demand. A hydrochemical study is carried out focusing the waters Águas de Santa Bárbara spa at São Paulo State, describing the analytical data obtained for its major constituents, trace elements and dissolved radon. Later, the authors evaluate the coating aspects to chitosan immobilization on solid matrices. An analysis is conducted in order to choose a suitable support to be studied. In addition, this compilation aims to delineate the various groundwater potential recharge sites in West Bengal. The penultimate chapter discusses natural disturbances, which are important drivers of variation in community structure and composition in most ecosystems. The concluding study presents techniques for monitoring environmental parameters in the process of rock blasting with the use of explosives in order to mitigate the dissipation of the waves in the massif according to governmental regulations.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 73 first focuses on recent research, published mainly in the last two decades, is selected to provide a reasonably concise presentation of some of the latest findings, or emergent research topics, that are being addressed with modern technological approaches. A subsequent study aims to determine the combination and composition of tree species in private teak systems planted in three different types of land. The smallholder teak system is one form of land used by the farmers Gunungkidul. Following this, the authors provide an overview of the method of establishing cardamom-based agroforestry private forests in Ciamis, West Java. Data collection started with a survey identifying cropping patterns. Representatives of the family Cyprinidae in Bulgaria are studied, reviewing the available literature. 51 Cyprinid species occur in Bulgaria, most of them are freshwater and inhabiting still or running waters. One paper draws on the idea of territorial governance from recent political geography scholarships to analyze the making of water supply systems. It revisits the literature on water politics, shedding light on the interplay between the production of ecology and the construction of scale. The concluding chapter summarizes the advances in the genetic improvement of poplar for bioethanol production. A characterization of the biological processes determining biomass accumulation and chemical quality is presented, at different levels, including from the identification of nucleotide polymorphisms to the biochemical characterization of wood.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 74 offers insight into the management of Ramsar sites in Serbia, as well as into their status as tourist destinations, through a methodological framework proposed by the UNWTO. Recent events set in motion by a new federal government that is openly hostile to environmental conservation and cultural diversity are discussed, with regard to how permanence strategies of political actors in the Amazon have been undermined. The authors look at the management structures and processes related to green areas in Addis Ababa, with a particular focus on the level of cooperation between different stakeholders and the role of community organizations in 10 sub-cities within the Ethiopian capital. Results are presented which contribute to the understanding of the influence of organic matter and other parameters of water and sediments on the complexation, availability, transport, and cycling of chemical species in reservoirs of the Amazon region. Later, the toxic effects of water pollution on climate change, environment and human health are assessed, exploring the effects of industrial effluents on the environment and shedding light on future methods for industrial waste management. One study presents previously unknown information regarding the impact of turfgrass on microbial diversity in turfgrass soil, laying the foundation for further investigations on microbiota in turfgrass ecosystems.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 76 first aims to review the microbial communities of urban soils, specific factors that act in the urban environment, and the microbes'' response to these impacts. Following this, the authors discuss the operation of biological wastewater treatment plants, including aspects such as effective solid-liquid separation, pretreatment systems and operating strategies. More specifically, the design of software solutions developed for the wastewater treatment plant in Făcăi, Craiova, Romania is discussed. In the subsequent paper, the authors examine eight geomorphosites that can contribute to promoting scientific tourism, and that must be preserved from environmental degradation, especially from mining exploitation and urban expansion. The concluding study focuses on the northern sector of Fuerteventura, where the urban development of Corralejo, El Cotillo, Lajares, Villaverde and La Oliva has irreversibly deteriorated a number of volcanoes and dunes of high landscape value.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 77 opens with a focus on the impact and direct effects of toxicant exposure, viruses, and parasitism on individual honey-bee survival, foraging behavior, and colony survival. The authors discuss how habitat fragmentation and biological invasions, considered the primary cause for biodiversity loss and the biggest threats to the conservation of ecosystems and their environmental services, interact in the presence of a natural disturbance. Experimental and evidence-based knowledge of application of burning in European grasslands is examined, as grasslands are vital elements of the historical landscape and are of crucial importance in biodiversity conservation. Continuing, this compilation demonstrates a promising methodology for gaining a better understanding of specific interrelations of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in biomatrices. In addition, the authors aim to demonstrate the usefulness of the methodology of total health approach to study the vulnerability and effects of persistent organic pollutants in the lower basin of the Coatzacoalcos River. The domestication and basic genetics of field pea are discussed, along with current initiatives in organic production and breeding and progress related to biofortification. In closing, a brief review of the determination of programmed cell death signals during plant development or biotic-abiotic stress conditions is provided, and the reader will be informed with comparative considerations to use these methods for reliable detection.

This compilation discusses the most relevant and state-of-the-art information related to the evolution of aldehyde dehydrogenases in the plant kingdom, their multifaceted physiological and biochemical functions, and their catalytic and structural properties. The authors discuss how plants adapt in the face of different types of abiotic and biotic stress factors, the plausible mechanisms of rhizobiome recruitment by plants, and role of rhizosphere microorganisms in developing the immunity and defence responses in plants. In one study, the most important factors impacting the dangers of fire are analyzed though multi-dimensional statistical methods using the topographical, climatic, fuel, technical, economic, managerial and social data related to 59 large forest fires that occurred in Turkey between 1977 and 2017. Additionally, the impact of nature-based solutions on the climate resilience of cities is reviewed, particularly focusing on human health, quality of life and well-being. In closing, the authors analyze temporal landscape changes occurring in the Paraguay/Jauquara Basin, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, as well as their effects on the conservation of natural vegetation.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 78 offers a comprehensive critical review of alterations in different lipid classes in response to saline conditions in plants contrasting in salt resistance. A focus is provided on climate change in Odisha, India due to its rich natural and biophysical resources, and the fact that its majority population depends on these resources for survival. Following this, a comprehensive review on process control strategies, biological nutrient removal, effluent quality, electric energy consumption, exploitation problems and recent development in the applications of sequencing batch reactor-membrane bioreactors technology is presented. In the subsequent study, wastewater from the HUST dormitory was treated in a lab-scale sequencing batch reactor-membrane bioreactors system.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 79 begins with a focus on how, due to the political-economic non-robustness of centralized climate policy and the costs of mitigating catastrophic climate-change, a multi-pronged approach at the sub-global level with mitigation, adaptation and amelioration technologies can be advocated from a classical-liberal point of view. The authors attempt to address climate financial challenges, proposing insurance as the appropriate mechanism to pool funds to assist countries that have experienced damage and loss from extreme weather events. An attempt is made to illustrate the inherent oil degrading mechanism in the presence of various interacting parameters affecting bacterial growth, along with few case studies. Future opportunities that may be explored for the effective bioaugmentation of oily wastewater treatment are highlighted. The authors also examine the effects of light wavelength on flower opening and vase life using light-emitting diodes, proposing that light environment control is a powerful tool to improve the quality of cut rose and other ornamental flowers. The closing study focuses on Turkey’s position and geographical features created by differences in climate in the natural forest vegetation, shrubs or bushes, causing the formation of a variety of plants. It is estimated that the number of species of flowering plants distributed in the country is about 12,000.

This compilation comprises seven chapters each detailing a recent advancement in environmental research. Chapter One reviews the efficacy of alfalfa for the cleanup of soils polluted by petroleum hydrocarbons and other contaminants. Chapter Two discusses the growth rate of red algae in unusual environments such as the ecosystems of Takalar Regency and Mamuju Regency. Chapter Three provides an update on the current state of technology in connection with oil spill remote sensing via such techniques as infrared cameras and satellite-borne radar. Similarly, Chapter Four describes the environmental impacts of oil spills and describes the various ways in which technology can mitigate this problem. The fifth chapter describes how fly ash can be leveraged as an environmentally friendly, low-cost alternative to Portland cement for use in oil and gas wells. The sixth chapter studies traditional rainwater harvesting in Croatia and discusses whether this practice has value within the context of modern water supply solutions and environmental concerns. Lastly, Chapter Seven provides some anecdotes concerning the development of the world’s first high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer.

This monograph contains seven chapters that each detail a recent advancement in environmental research. Chapter One summarizes the reactivity, mechanism and toxicity assessment of pesticides and pharmaceuticals by chlorine dioxide. Chapter Two presents a review of liquid fertilizer generation technologies. Chapter Three analyzes the consequences of digital transformation technologies on the environmental sustainability of Brazilian agribusiness. Chapter Four presents results on mineralogical, chemical, and physiochemical characterization of coal briquette ash. Chapter Five describes the potential of ecological sanitation as an innovative, environmentally sound technology for minimizing waste and providing renewable energy. Chapter Six presents up-to-date information on commonly used pesticides and their possible immunotoxic effects. Finally, Chapter Seven provides information about toxic heavy metals, their toxicity mechanism, and their effects on the environment.

The environment consists of the surroundings in which an organism operates including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans and their interrelation. It is this environment which is both so valuable, on the one hand, and so endangered on the other. Effects stemming from the choices made by the human population in regards to environmental health are by and large ruining the environment both for themselves and for other organisms. This series covers leading-edge research in a cross-section of fields focusing on the environment including current research data on the causes, impacts and options of desertification; the industrial and environmental sustainability of ironmaking technologies and alternative approaches to iron extraction; and environmental protection and farm productivity.

This edited volume presents various advancements in the field of environmental research. Chapter One scrutinizes the inherent value of mangrove forests from the perspectives of ethnoscience, ethnobotany, phytotechnology, and ecological aspects. Chapter Two highlights the latest research about abscisic acid biosynthesis, abscisic acid signaling pathways, and their implications in plant development and response to environmental stresses. Chapter Three assesses the policies on methane emissions of several countries, including the U.S., China, and Russia. Chapter Four describes various methods of extracting precious metals from electronic waste in detail. Chapter Five summarizes the research achievements of recent years in connection with the use of electrochemical technology for removal of volatile organic compounds. Finally, Chapter Six reviews microalgae-based processes and their relationship to carbon footprints.

This edited volume consists of seven chapters, each describing a recent advancement in the field of environmental research. Chapter One reviews the ecologically beneficial, alternative technique of phycoremediation that involves the use of algal species for remediating the inorganic and organic effluents produced and released from shrimp aquaculture ponds. Chapter Two reviews the role of liquid chromatography techniques in the analysis of fullerenes and analyzes the occurrence of this family of compounds in the environment. Chapter Three argues that medical consequences of low-dose exposure to ionizing radiation are overestimated, which contributes to the under-utilization of nuclear power. Chapter Four deals with the current research activities related to different synthetic methods of g-C3N4 based nanocomposite materials and their application as an effective photocatalyst towards removing toxic organic pollutants such as dyes and phenols. Chapter Five presents a carbon sequestration design model system that can monitor, calculate and predict how much carbon can be absorbed by proposed plant species at a certain period. Chapter Six uses computational fluid dynamics to present recommendations for the most effective plantation strategies for urban vegetation to reduce pollution. Finally, Chapter Seven applies an importance-performance analysis to evaluate the condition of urban parks in Hong Kong.

This edited volume consists of seven chapters, each describing a recent advancement in the field of environmental research. Chapter One reviews the Brazilian Program for Production and Use of Biodiesel (PNPB) in the 2001-2013 period, considering its effects on social inclusion, its potential direct and indirect influence on deforestation, and associated violence in the definition of land property rights. Chapter Two analyzes the advances and setbacks of Brazilian climate policy. This analysis is fundamental to understanding the turning point in the conduct of this policy, from which some of the setbacks have emerged in fulfilling commitments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Chapter Three in this context, various techniques based on electrochemical principles have been widely used for the detection process using metal and metal oxides as electrode materials. Thus, the current article focuses on the compilation of recent developments in As (III) electrochemical detection and their limit of detections and future scopes. Chapter Four summarizes NO biosynthesis, functions, NO-signaling pathway and final formation of defense response under drought stress in plants. Lastly, Chapter Five discusses the Saharan Morocco comprises two major floristic divisions conventionally indicated under Saharan Atlas (As) and Saharan Morocco (Ms) in key Moroccan botanical references. Knowledge is essential not only for a better understanding of Saharan ecosystems but is vital for the preservation of current plant diversity.

In this volume, various scientific advancements concerning environmental research are presented. Chapter One outlines the connections between modern slavery and deforestation, highlighting issues faced by communities within and close to the natural resources protected by the forest, and solutions for the protection of both people and nature. Chapter Two emphasizes recent understanding on the role of various environmental factors in control of reproductive and associated behaviors in songbirds. Chapter Three investigates the impact of black carbon, released by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and consisting of aggregates of nanospheres, on climate. Chapter Four considers the behavior of the submerged macrophyte Elodea canadensis, one of the most widely spread species of aquatic plants in the Yenisei River, in connection with radioactive contamination. Lastly, Chapter Five advocates for the restructuring of the forest sector’s governance in Madagascar to reduce deforestation and preserve species richness.

This volume includes seven chapters and presents some of the latest advancements in environmental research. Chapter One describes the ecological resources of forests and their ability to absorb greenhouse gases and mitigate climate change. Chapter Two highlights the procedure of using eutectic solvents in the extraction of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants. Chapter Three suggests a holistic framework for assessing the environmental sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture. Chapter Four investigates the accountability profile for environmental sustainability of maritime protected areas. Chapter Five discusses the main urban parameters existing in regional models developed at the beginning of the 21st century: The Single-Layer Urban Canopy Model (UCM), the Town Energy Balance (TEB), and the Building Effect Parameterization (BEP). Chapter Six aims to provide information about phytoestrogens and their beneficial and adverse effects. Finally, Chapter Seven proposes two new indexes for measuring particular aspects of environmental stability and sustainable development: the available resource sustainability index and the natural green surface replacement index.

This volume presents some of the latest advancements in environmental research. Chapter One considers key drivers that influence the seasonal rainfall regime and its variability in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the sub-region's exposure and vulnerability to hydro-meteorological hazards, including drought, and the sub-region's drought history and associated consequences. Chapter Two provides insight about the relationship between the process variables involved in activated carbons preparation and their CO2 removal performance to find the key features associated with efficient CO2 adsorption. Chapter Three systematically assesses the role of groundwater in enhancing urban water supply security and identifies the pre-requisites in terms of its assessment and management for this resource to play a sustainable role. Chapter Four reviews strategies for management of dwindling biodiversity as a consequence of climate change-driven natural disasters, with a specific focus on bushfires in Australia. Finally, Chapter Five compares data obtained from models that simulate the transport of radionuclides released into the Pacific Ocean after the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident with actual measurements of water, sediment and biota.

This volume includes five chapters that detail recent advances in environmental research. Chapter One explores the potential of agroforestry to provide an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional agriculture, which produces climatologically negative effects. Chapter Two provides a general overview of optical biosensors and their applications in clinical diagnosis, food safety and security, and environmental biomonitoring. Chapter Three offers an overview of air quality monitoring. Chapter Four proposes pertinent information related to the prevailing state of the art on the importance of soybean lignocellulosic residues as raw materials of high potential for biorefineries and biofuels production. Lastly, Chapter Five presents case studies from France and Brazil concerning agroforestry in connection with international environmental law goals and sustainable development goals.

This volume includes eight chapters that provide updates in the field of environmental research. Chapter One deals with the subject of applied bioethics, providing historical and contemporary environmental examples. Chapter Two presents different field and experimental studies based on fluorescence spectroscopy addressing the spatio-temporal dynamics of dissolved organic matter in headwaters of North Patagonia. Chapter Three reviews the recent advancements in the field of small RNA delivery in plants and discusses the advantages, limitations and successes of various delivery methods along with their applications in crop improvement. Chapter Four describes the factors that pose threats to floodplain fisheries in Bangladesh and strategies to overcome these threats. Chapter Five explores the preparation and properties of natural fiber-reinforced castor oil-derived polyurethane foams and their applications. Chapter Six discusses the role and long-lasting effect of seasonal flooding in phytoplankton ecology of floodplain lakes along the Middle Daugava River at Daugavpils, South-East Latvia. Chapter Seven evaluates the surface water quality of Küçük Menderes River Basin, located in Turkey, using factor analysis and water quality index methods. Finally, Chapter Eight investigates the effect of nanomagnetite, hydroxyapatite, and nanocomposite particles on wheat.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 61, the authors present a practical, theoretical approach for systemic landscape planning strategies that incorporate a synergistic view of nature and culture in the process of continuous construction of the landscape, while stressing the reality of urban growth in developing countries. This study was established through a technical analysis of the urban context and biophysical dynamics in correlation with with a social participation method. Afterwards, a report on various species employed in bio-monitoring campaigns: mussels, oysters and clams, algae, vegetables, lichens, mosses is offered. The numerous investigative techniques applied are critically examined, focusing on analytical performance in terms of accurateness and detectability. The authors also discuss applications of remote sensing technology to improve local and regional water governance programs, maintaining that the implementation of remote sensing techniques in water governance frameworks is essential due to their synoptic views which allow us to monitor large areas and thereby improve spatial and temporal management. Following this, deforestation and savanna development in Ghana is examined, with the contention that the current knowledge is incomplete because several gaps exist in the prehistoric, precolonial, and colonial landcover. The authors also go on to review the current changes in wetlands in the five US-Gulf states, the subsequent impact on carbon sequestration, the general function of wetlands in the Gulf of Mexico, the way this contributes to global warming, and the way this mitigates global warming. Later, a study is presented with the goal of exploring residents' sense of place in post-conflict area of Africa, with the goal of supplying information that may guide policy makers in the enhancement of the economic and social welfare of the people in the study area. The compilation ends with a description of numerous causes of uncertainties in forest biomass estimation procedures using optical remote sensing and terrestrial forest inventory data-sets. These uncertainties are typically generated due to spatial resolution and information content on satellite imagery.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 63 opens with a study on carbonate crushed stone of the Saltykovskoye field in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, which is characterized by high water uptake. An impregnation process involving a solvent in its supercritical state is used for impregnating the crushed stone. Two petroleum products are considered as an impregnating material. The first one is a petroleum product recovered from oil sludges in the course of their disposition, whereas the second one is a petroleum product extracted from a heavy residue formed in the process of steam thermal treatment of a high viscosity index oil. Phase equilibrium characteristics of a propane/butane mixture that was used as a solvent in the extraction and impregnation processes are presented together with results of an investigation of some of the thermodynamic properties of materials involved in the processes.Following this, the authors describe the first demonstration of a logical framework developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency to integrate the best available data, methods and models to estimate risks to wildlife populations from multiple stressors. This approach responds to the need for greater realism and ecological significance in the estimation of the effects on wildlife of human-mediated stressors. Specifically, this approach provides a mechanism to quantitatively link responses to increasing levels of specific single or combinations of multiple stressors to adverse outcomes on populations.A review is also included which summarizes the current information on the contribution of heavy metals as a result of pollution to the development of oxidative stress in fish. Metals are considered significant t toxic pollutants and there is extensive literature about their accumulation in aquatic ecosystems. Increased levels of reactive oxygen species lead to oxidative damage including lipid peroxidation, protein and DNA oxidation, and enzyme inactivation. The components of antioxidant defense are used as a biochemical markers of oxidative stress. This knowledge extends to fish because of their sensitivity to oxidative pollutants, their filtration capacity, and their potential for environmental toxicology studies.In the following chapter, the authors examine the role of Technology Transfer and the Clean Development Mechanism in the mitigation of climate change from a legal point of view and policy perspective. Both Technology Transfer and the Clean Development Mechanism have human rights implications; therefore, this paper analyses the current state-of-the-art with regard to Technology Transfer and the Clean Development Mechanism in their interplay with human rights standards, as based on relevant provisions of the Kyoto Protocol and of the EU legislation.A general increase in warm extremes and a decrease in cold extremes were found on a global and regional scale during the last several decades, although warming has not been uniform, either spatially or temporally. Many definitions quantifying the duration and/or intensity of the daytime maxima could be applied to heat waves. In one study, heat waves were defined through the concept of exceeding a given threshold thus allowing the analyzes of the heat wave duration and frequency. The main characteristics of the heat waves and the circulation conditions which caused the heat waves in Serbia were analyzed. It was found that the number of heat waves rapidly increased during the last three decades.In the subsequent paper, the authors focus on the quantification of sustainability connected with the use of various types of concrete with regard to their resistance to degradation. Efficient sustainability management of concrete structures requires the use of tools which allow material, technological and construction variants to be quantified, measured or compared. These tools can be used as a powerful marketing aid and as support for the transition to a "e;circular economy"e;. The goal is to propose a suitable methodology which can simplify decision-making regarding the design and choice of concrete mixes from a wider perspective, i.e. not only with regard to load-bearing capacity or durability.Lastly, this book suggests that since the spatial occurrence of differently sized craters provides information for the relative age estimation of various planetary surfaces, in analysing the size frequency distribution of impact craters, the formation and resurfacing episodes could be estimated using statistical analysis. With a rough approach, the scale and type of eroding processes may also be estimated. Using lunar samples based radiometric ages, the relative crater density could be translated to absolute ages for the Moon. Ising model approaches, such absolute ages could be extrapolated for Mars and other bodies in the Solar System, with certain error levels

Recently, airborne particulate matter (PM), microscopic solid or liquid matter suspended in the atmosphere, has become a major concern in many countries because of its considerable damage as an air pollutant to the climate and human health. In the preliminary chapter of this book, the authors review the current status of fine PM in environmental technology regarding their emission source and discuss future prospects of PM-based air pollutants reduction and related research.Soil organic matter (SOM) is commonly recognized as one of the key parameters of soil quality, and it has been linked to ecosystem productivity, being recommended as a sensitive indicator for monitoring programs. Thus, the following chapter provides an overview of the most important factors altering SOM in agricultural land and forests, describing the current trends to keep soil capacity for biomass production and carbon sequestration.Next, a study is presented which analyzes parameters of the atmospheric boundary layer - such as height, thickness, and temperature- concerning the inversion layer in Murcia (2011-2016). The different factors and situations of more intense TI registered in the VMSR are analyzed using satellite images, synoptic information, and meteorological data provided by radiosonde.In Northern Cyprus, the Guezelyurt groundwater basin contains the most extensive aquifer of the island, which has been exploited since 1955 for both municipal and agricultural water supplies. The authors study hydrographs from 13 wells observed for 40 years to trace the long-term fluctuations of the groundwater level and to sketch temporal contour maps. Significant lowering of the groundwater level was noted in the west-central part of the basin, where the municipal wells are concentrated.Lastly, it will be described how some models treat the effective albedo in cities considering the atmospheric micro and the meso scale. For the microscale, the schemes used in ENVI-MET, SOLWEIG and SOLENE models are described. These models are mainly used to analyze the interaction between the urban design and the human thermal comfort. The albedo is one of the fundamental parameters to study this topic.

The opening study presented in Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 65 aims to clarify the sources and characteristics of groundwater in the aquifers along the coast of the White Sea in northwestern Russia, and on this basis to perform a broad 14C and 234U/238U dating of all their types, taking into account the mixing processes.After this, the process of thermal conversion of layered double hydroxides into metal oxide catalysts and their applications in selected environmental processes is presnted and discussed. Thermal decomposition of hydrotalcite-like materials results in the formation of mixed metal oxides, which may be examined for their applications in catalysis due to their relatively high surface area, porosity and homogenous distribution of metal cations.The authors analyze Mongolia, a landlocked country located in Central Asia with a population of over 3 million people. Due to the harsh weather conditions, rapid urbanization and mining activities, environmental quality of the country has increasingly degraded as the air, soil and water pollution has surpassed permissible levels. The current situation has a harmful impact on the national economy, social development, health and environment.Later, this collection discusses inorganic solid phase supports, including pristine and surface-modified alumina, Fe3O4 nanoparticles and mesoporous silica extractants, which have demonstrated good retention capacity for naturally-occurring and anthropogenic actinides. The choice to adsorb or tether the ligand on the solid surface is addressed as it is a cornerstone for an effective and selective separation between the actinides and the lanthanides.The concluding paper provides a review of how the national struggle between Slovenes and Germans unfolded, and how it was reflected in the conquest of the summits and in the construction of mountain huts. The events presented mostly focus on the area of Carniola, Slovenia, particulary the area of the Julian Alps around Mount Triglav.

This compilation opens by presenting a discussion on the main conditions for the successful start-up and operation of full-scale mainstream partial nitrification-anammox technology, advantages of partial nitrification-anammox technology over other technologies of wastewater treatment, and a description of the interactions among key microbial groups and their identification by using metagenomic approaches. Next, one study elucidates the performance of anammox hybrid reactors under various operating conditions to optimize and assess its efficacy and feasibility for nitrogen removal from wastewater. Four numbers of hybrid reactors conglomerating the dual advantages of attached and suspended growth were designed and investigated. The authors seek to produce a soil erosion susceptibility map with selected parameters including elevation, slope, aspect, slope curvature, stream power index, topographic wetness index, cover management factor, land use/land cover, rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, lineament density, distance from lineament, and distance from stream and drainage density. The weighted linear combination method is applied using remote sensing and geographical information system techniques in the Shiri River Basin of Darjeeling, Himalaya. The following study addresses the financial and economic benefits of tourism, and whether these economic benefits are to the detriment of the natural environment. This is done by conducting an investigation into community fishing practices around Mnemba Island. Semi-structured interviews were held with Mnemba Island Lodge staff, local fishermen and local authorities involved in the fisheries around Mnemba Participatory observations were also used to support the data collected by the semi-structured interviews. The authors present data suggesting that of insolation is of high importance for the structuring of floodplain ecosystems because it has potential to impact floodplain lakes regardless of flooding. It is proposed that future investigations of floodplain aquatic habitats should take into account insolation effects other than those of hydrology. The closing chapter provides a brief review of anchovy characteristics, habitats, use, and eco-friendly treatment of anchovy waste/wastewater for reutilization. Anchovy is an attractive resource for the production of functional compounds such as antimutagenic, antifungal, antioxidant and antibacterial agents.

This compilation highlights current knowledge on iodide mobility in a soil-plant system and provides a theoretical and experimental basis for a better understanding of the geochemical behaviour of iodine in soils, including its availability in the food chain. Following this, the authors provide a comprehensive overview of the uses of iodide salts by focusing on their applications in plants and microbiology, mechanisms of action and possible new uses in histology. The penultimate study contributes to a better understanding of Piauí’s vegetation through a floristic survey, phytosociological study and knowledge about the economic potential and geographic distribution of species from an area belonging to the municipality of Brasileira, north of Piauí, Brazil. Fifty-five families, 126 genera and 141 species represented the flora. Biosphere reserves face the challenge of sustainable development. They have to foster economic development that is ecologically and culturally sustainable. Paradoxically, the demographic-economic-entrepreneurial nexus of biosphere reserves has not been researched, an omission addressed in the closing chapter by studying the towns of the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve in South Africa.

Chapter one of Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 68 contains a rudimentary inferential analysis concerning conditions in the US such as the variation of the atmospheric content of carbon dioxide over two hundred and seventy-two years up to 2016, and the contribution of major environmental sources to the atmospheric amount of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and methane along with emissions caused by hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphurhexafluoride and nitrogentrifluoride. The following chapter aims to present an overview of environmentally exploitable properties, as well as present and potential prospects of bacterial extracellular polymeric substances in addressing real life environmental problems. The authors go on to review the heavy metal processes that occur in the soil and leafy vegetables, particularly in cabbage, and the relationships between the soil levels and metal contents in plants. An approach for the utilization of microorganisms from shallow hydrothermal vent sediments in environmental biotechnology is also presented. Next, it is shown that that SDG 13 and SDG 15 can be addressed simultaneously if policy makers and practitioners focus on reducing the costs of telecommunications and the internet, as this would reduce the costs for tablets and mobile phones, enabling improved access to information and practice on Ecosystem Based Adaptation and microforestry schemes. The authors discuss the responsibility of the Water Board of Nicosia to operate the water distribution network that covers more than 91 sq. km, water mains of 1,280 km length, and the management of the 13 water reservoirs. They also show how water management is governed and how it affects theiIsland of Cyprus. The subsequent study indicates that concentrations of trace elements in sediments and brackish wate,r and even interstitious waters, may not provide an accurate view of the levels of contamination and their potential ecotoxicity in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. The closing paper focuses on the land-use/cover dynamicity and its impact on the land surface temperature of Lodhama river basin in Darjeeling Hill area during the period of 2001 and 2016.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 69 opens with an overview of recent studies regarding toxic effects of chlorpyrifos and the methods of its removal, focusing mainly on the generation of its oxo-analogue, chlorpyrifos-oxon, as a result of organophosphate metabolism by cytochrome P450s, and the influence on some physiologically important enzymes. Following this, a comprehensive overview of the diversity of Basidiomycetes species present in polluted areas is provided, as well as potential uses in the restoration of these areas. Basidiomycetes fungi promote immobilization of mycogenic metals through the precipitation of oxalates or via ligand binding, as well as passive bio-absorption and accumulation in their biomass. Ecosystems of the European North show low tolerance to anthropogenic impact and very slow succession recovery. This largely determines the development of biota and ecosystems. Among the types of impact, the authors propose that special attention should be paid to those associated with gathering, hunting, and grazing, and aimed mostly on the use of bioresource potential of landscapes. Next, after a short introduction on the composition and sources of oil pollutants in the environment, the authors review all transformation processes that affect composition of oil pollutants in contaminated soils. The authors also describe detailed information on the toxicity of chlorpyrifos and its metabolites, the mobility of chlorpyrifos in soil and water following spraying, and residues of its metabolites on treated edible plants. In the penultimate chapter, the RUSLE model coupled with transport limited sediment delivery function were used to predict the longtime average annual soil loss, and to identify the critical erosion-/deposition-prone areas of Lodhama River Basin in Eastern Darjeeling Himalaya, India. Lastly, although microorganisms cannot destroy pollutants, this collection discusses how they can alter their chemical properties via a surprising array of mechanisms. The focus is on the metals and metalloids that contaminate waters and are most commonly found in the environment, including: lead, chromium, mercury, uranium, selenium, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, silver, gold, and nickel.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 70 opens with a brief assessment of the Regional Development Plan of Mumbai Metropolitan Region in relation with MSAAPCC, aiming to address the governance considerations required to deal with climate change. For various food matrices, several spectroscopic techniques and procedures employed to evaluate platinum group metals and thallium are critically discussed. Particular attention is paid to the analytical performance in terms of accuracy and detectability. The authors discuss how controlling the production of greenhouse gases at the source source through intensive agricultural management, changes in land-use management and enhancing nitrogen use efficiency and stabilize can mitigate climate change to some extent. Following this, the authors test how the timing of pollutant inputs captures long-term biological sensitivity by comparing exceedance for periods of higher and lower pollution loading to 60-year red spruce tree-ring chronologies across Vermont and New Hampshire, USA. An analysis of deforestation probability in Partham River basin is carried out based on an AHP model with selected seven parameters such as distance from settlement, distance from river, distance from road, elevation, slope and aspect. Additionally, this collection explores how, since the early 1990’s, the chirality of pesticides and their consequential enantioselectivity has been the subject of hundreds of investigations by scientists around the world. The current findings on ZnO nanoparticles are discussed, and a systematic review on its common usage, chemical nature, related environmental issue, and its potential toxicity after exposure is provided. Electrodialysis systems are described in parallel, counter flow, and recirculation, as well as the materials and processes to obtain a clean and cheaper solution for water desalination. The penultimate chapter is aimed at highlighting the chemical activation strategies of carbonaceous materials into activated carbon, especially for dyes removal in wastewater treatment. The closing chapter demonstrates the need for comprehensive analysis across spatial and temporal scales, using multiple landscape indices to provide insights on the pattern and dynamics of the seagrass landscapes.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 71 first reviews the processing and recycling of plastics all over the world. Due to the population growth and the economic progress of many nations, dependence on the production and consumption of plastic materials has increased. Following this, the authors aim to understand the current outlook of PM2.5 pollution and how the application of computer modelling can contribute to its monitoring and control. The pre-treatment of landfill leachate via ultra-sonication is explored in an effort to debilitate its inhibitory effect prior to bioremediation by microalgae. Accordingly, the by-products generated from ultrasonic pre-treatment were assimilated by microalgae for growth. Material flow accounting approaches are used to calculate crop biomass and to study differences between crop biomass production and residues utilisation for energy purposes with an environmental impact in China and Slovakia. The authors explore how the pressure of the anthropic activities (pollution, species introduction, overfishing, coastal development) on the marine ecosystem has intensified in the past decade with effects that include global warming and ocean acidification. The penultimate study demonstrates the presence of MDR E. coli isolates presenting virulence pathotypes with the ability of biofilm formation in urban rivers located at Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area, Brazil. The closing chapter provides informaiton regarding the wetland plant Phragmites, particularly its medicinal properties and related research. Phragmites a large perennial grass mainly found in wetlands throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the globe.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 72 begins by examining thr global and regional patterns of climate change, the sensitivity of tree growth to climatic stress, and the effects of competition, which are important considerations during oak savanna restoration. Next, the authors discuss coniferous forests, which are predominant in the colder northern regions. Boreal forest ecosystems are characterised by thick humus layers, low decomposition rates and strong limitations by nutrients. One study explores the behavioural changes in the agonistic behaviours of Herring and Lesser black-backed gulls along a rural-to-urban gradient in Liverpool and the Sefton Coast. A subsequent study evaluates the water quality in maize crop fields using the following physicochemical parameters: turbidity, potential of Hydrogen, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, temperature, total hardness, nitrites, nitrates, iron, soluble reactive phosphate, total chlorine and chemical oxygen demand. A hydrochemical study is carried out focusing the waters Águas de Santa Bárbara spa at São Paulo State, describing the analytical data obtained for its major constituents, trace elements and dissolved radon. Later, the authors evaluate the coating aspects to chitosan immobilization on solid matrices. An analysis is conducted in order to choose a suitable support to be studied. In addition, this compilation aims to delineate the various groundwater potential recharge sites in West Bengal. The penultimate chapter discusses natural disturbances, which are important drivers of variation in community structure and composition in most ecosystems. The concluding study presents techniques for monitoring environmental parameters in the process of rock blasting with the use of explosives in order to mitigate the dissipation of the waves in the massif according to governmental regulations.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 73 first focuses on recent research, published mainly in the last two decades, is selected to provide a reasonably concise presentation of some of the latest findings, or emergent research topics, that are being addressed with modern technological approaches. A subsequent study aims to determine the combination and composition of tree species in private teak systems planted in three different types of land. The smallholder teak system is one form of land used by the farmers Gunungkidul. Following this, the authors provide an overview of the method of establishing cardamom-based agroforestry private forests in Ciamis, West Java. Data collection started with a survey identifying cropping patterns. Representatives of the family Cyprinidae in Bulgaria are studied, reviewing the available literature. 51 Cyprinid species occur in Bulgaria, most of them are freshwater and inhabiting still or running waters. One paper draws on the idea of territorial governance from recent political geography scholarships to analyze the making of water supply systems. It revisits the literature on water politics, shedding light on the interplay between the production of ecology and the construction of scale. The concluding chapter summarizes the advances in the genetic improvement of poplar for bioethanol production. A characterization of the biological processes determining biomass accumulation and chemical quality is presented, at different levels, including from the identification of nucleotide polymorphisms to the biochemical characterization of wood.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 74 offers insight into the management of Ramsar sites in Serbia, as well as into their status as tourist destinations, through a methodological framework proposed by the UNWTO. Recent events set in motion by a new federal government that is openly hostile to environmental conservation and cultural diversity are discussed, with regard to how permanence strategies of political actors in the Amazon have been undermined. The authors look at the management structures and processes related to green areas in Addis Ababa, with a particular focus on the level of cooperation between different stakeholders and the role of community organizations in 10 sub-cities within the Ethiopian capital. Results are presented which contribute to the understanding of the influence of organic matter and other parameters of water and sediments on the complexation, availability, transport, and cycling of chemical species in reservoirs of the Amazon region. Later, the toxic effects of water pollution on climate change, environment and human health are assessed, exploring the effects of industrial effluents on the environment and shedding light on future methods for industrial waste management. One study presents previously unknown information regarding the impact of turfgrass on microbial diversity in turfgrass soil, laying the foundation for further investigations on microbiota in turfgrass ecosystems.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 76 first aims to review the microbial communities of urban soils, specific factors that act in the urban environment, and the microbes'' response to these impacts. Following this, the authors discuss the operation of biological wastewater treatment plants, including aspects such as effective solid-liquid separation, pretreatment systems and operating strategies. More specifically, the design of software solutions developed for the wastewater treatment plant in Făcăi, Craiova, Romania is discussed. In the subsequent paper, the authors examine eight geomorphosites that can contribute to promoting scientific tourism, and that must be preserved from environmental degradation, especially from mining exploitation and urban expansion. The concluding study focuses on the northern sector of Fuerteventura, where the urban development of Corralejo, El Cotillo, Lajares, Villaverde and La Oliva has irreversibly deteriorated a number of volcanoes and dunes of high landscape value.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 77 opens with a focus on the impact and direct effects of toxicant exposure, viruses, and parasitism on individual honey-bee survival, foraging behavior, and colony survival. The authors discuss how habitat fragmentation and biological invasions, considered the primary cause for biodiversity loss and the biggest threats to the conservation of ecosystems and their environmental services, interact in the presence of a natural disturbance. Experimental and evidence-based knowledge of application of burning in European grasslands is examined, as grasslands are vital elements of the historical landscape and are of crucial importance in biodiversity conservation. Continuing, this compilation demonstrates a promising methodology for gaining a better understanding of specific interrelations of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in biomatrices. In addition, the authors aim to demonstrate the usefulness of the methodology of total health approach to study the vulnerability and effects of persistent organic pollutants in the lower basin of the Coatzacoalcos River. The domestication and basic genetics of field pea are discussed, along with current initiatives in organic production and breeding and progress related to biofortification. In closing, a brief review of the determination of programmed cell death signals during plant development or biotic-abiotic stress conditions is provided, and the reader will be informed with comparative considerations to use these methods for reliable detection.

This compilation discusses the most relevant and state-of-the-art information related to the evolution of aldehyde dehydrogenases in the plant kingdom, their multifaceted physiological and biochemical functions, and their catalytic and structural properties. The authors discuss how plants adapt in the face of different types of abiotic and biotic stress factors, the plausible mechanisms of rhizobiome recruitment by plants, and role of rhizosphere microorganisms in developing the immunity and defence responses in plants. In one study, the most important factors impacting the dangers of fire are analyzed though multi-dimensional statistical methods using the topographical, climatic, fuel, technical, economic, managerial and social data related to 59 large forest fires that occurred in Turkey between 1977 and 2017. Additionally, the impact of nature-based solutions on the climate resilience of cities is reviewed, particularly focusing on human health, quality of life and well-being. In closing, the authors analyze temporal landscape changes occurring in the Paraguay/Jauquara Basin, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, as well as their effects on the conservation of natural vegetation.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 78 offers a comprehensive critical review of alterations in different lipid classes in response to saline conditions in plants contrasting in salt resistance. A focus is provided on climate change in Odisha, India due to its rich natural and biophysical resources, and the fact that its majority population depends on these resources for survival. Following this, a comprehensive review on process control strategies, biological nutrient removal, effluent quality, electric energy consumption, exploitation problems and recent development in the applications of sequencing batch reactor-membrane bioreactors technology is presented. In the subsequent study, wastewater from the HUST dormitory was treated in a lab-scale sequencing batch reactor-membrane bioreactors system.

Advances in Environmental Research. Volume 79 begins with a focus on how, due to the political-economic non-robustness of centralized climate policy and the costs of mitigating catastrophic climate-change, a multi-pronged approach at the sub-global level with mitigation, adaptation and amelioration technologies can be advocated from a classical-liberal point of view. The authors attempt to address climate financial challenges, proposing insurance as the appropriate mechanism to pool funds to assist countries that have experienced damage and loss from extreme weather events. An attempt is made to illustrate the inherent oil degrading mechanism in the presence of various interacting parameters affecting bacterial growth, along with few case studies. Future opportunities that may be explored for the effective bioaugmentation of oily wastewater treatment are highlighted. The authors also examine the effects of light wavelength on flower opening and vase life using light-emitting diodes, proposing that light environment control is a powerful tool to improve the quality of cut rose and other ornamental flowers. The closing study focuses on Turkey’s position and geographical features created by differences in climate in the natural forest vegetation, shrubs or bushes, causing the formation of a variety of plants. It is estimated that the number of species of flowering plants distributed in the country is about 12,000.

This compilation comprises seven chapters each detailing a recent advancement in environmental research. Chapter One reviews the efficacy of alfalfa for the cleanup of soils polluted by petroleum hydrocarbons and other contaminants. Chapter Two discusses the growth rate of red algae in unusual environments such as the ecosystems of Takalar Regency and Mamuju Regency. Chapter Three provides an update on the current state of technology in connection with oil spill remote sensing via such techniques as infrared cameras and satellite-borne radar. Similarly, Chapter Four describes the environmental impacts of oil spills and describes the various ways in which technology can mitigate this problem. The fifth chapter describes how fly ash can be leveraged as an environmentally friendly, low-cost alternative to Portland cement for use in oil and gas wells. The sixth chapter studies traditional rainwater harvesting in Croatia and discusses whether this practice has value within the context of modern water supply solutions and environmental concerns. Lastly, Chapter Seven provides some anecdotes concerning the development of the world’s first high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer.

This monograph contains seven chapters that each detail a recent advancement in environmental research. Chapter One summarizes the reactivity, mechanism and toxicity assessment of pesticides and pharmaceuticals by chlorine dioxide. Chapter Two presents a review of liquid fertilizer generation technologies. Chapter Three analyzes the consequences of digital transformation technologies on the environmental sustainability of Brazilian agribusiness. Chapter Four presents results on mineralogical, chemical, and physiochemical characterization of coal briquette ash. Chapter Five describes the potential of ecological sanitation as an innovative, environmentally sound technology for minimizing waste and providing renewable energy. Chapter Six presents up-to-date information on commonly used pesticides and their possible immunotoxic effects. Finally, Chapter Seven provides information about toxic heavy metals, their toxicity mechanism, and their effects on the environment.

The environment consists of the surroundings in which an organism operates including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans and their interrelation. It is this environment which is both so valuable, on the one hand, and so endangered on the other. Effects stemming from the choices made by the human population in regards to environmental health are by and large ruining the environment both for themselves and for other organisms. This series covers leading-edge research in a cross-section of fields focusing on the environment including current research data on the causes, impacts and options of desertification; the industrial and environmental sustainability of ironmaking technologies and alternative approaches to iron extraction; and environmental protection and farm productivity.

This edited volume presents various advancements in the field of environmental research. Chapter One scrutinizes the inherent value of mangrove forests from the perspectives of ethnoscience, ethnobotany, phytotechnology, and ecological aspects. Chapter Two highlights the latest research about abscisic acid biosynthesis, abscisic acid signaling pathways, and their implications in plant development and response to environmental stresses. Chapter Three assesses the policies on methane emissions of several countries, including the U.S., China, and Russia. Chapter Four describes various methods of extracting precious metals from electronic waste in detail. Chapter Five summarizes the research achievements of recent years in connection with the use of electrochemical technology for removal of volatile organic compounds. Finally, Chapter Six reviews microalgae-based processes and their relationship to carbon footprints.

This edited volume consists of seven chapters, each describing a recent advancement in the field of environmental research. Chapter One reviews the ecologically beneficial, alternative technique of phycoremediation that involves the use of algal species for remediating the inorganic and organic effluents produced and released from shrimp aquaculture ponds. Chapter Two reviews the role of liquid chromatography techniques in the analysis of fullerenes and analyzes the occurrence of this family of compounds in the environment. Chapter Three argues that medical consequences of low-dose exposure to ionizing radiation are overestimated, which contributes to the under-utilization of nuclear power. Chapter Four deals with the current research activities related to different synthetic methods of g-C3N4 based nanocomposite materials and their application as an effective photocatalyst towards removing toxic organic pollutants such as dyes and phenols. Chapter Five presents a carbon sequestration design model system that can monitor, calculate and predict how much carbon can be absorbed by proposed plant species at a certain period. Chapter Six uses computational fluid dynamics to present recommendations for the most effective plantation strategies for urban vegetation to reduce pollution. Finally, Chapter Seven applies an importance-performance analysis to evaluate the condition of urban parks in Hong Kong.

This edited volume consists of seven chapters, each describing a recent advancement in the field of environmental research. Chapter One reviews the Brazilian Program for Production and Use of Biodiesel (PNPB) in the 2001-2013 period, considering its effects on social inclusion, its potential direct and indirect influence on deforestation, and associated violence in the definition of land property rights. Chapter Two analyzes the advances and setbacks of Brazilian climate policy. This analysis is fundamental to understanding the turning point in the conduct of this policy, from which some of the setbacks have emerged in fulfilling commitments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Chapter Three in this context, various techniques based on electrochemical principles have been widely used for the detection process using metal and metal oxides as electrode materials. Thus, the current article focuses on the compilation of recent developments in As (III) electrochemical detection and their limit of detections and future scopes. Chapter Four summarizes NO biosynthesis, functions, NO-signaling pathway and final formation of defense response under drought stress in plants. Lastly, Chapter Five discusses the Saharan Morocco comprises two major floristic divisions conventionally indicated under Saharan Atlas (As) and Saharan Morocco (Ms) in key Moroccan botanical references. Knowledge is essential not only for a better understanding of Saharan ecosystems but is vital for the preservation of current plant diversity.

In this volume, various scientific advancements concerning environmental research are presented. Chapter One outlines the connections between modern slavery and deforestation, highlighting issues faced by communities within and close to the natural resources protected by the forest, and solutions for the protection of both people and nature. Chapter Two emphasizes recent understanding on the role of various environmental factors in control of reproductive and associated behaviors in songbirds. Chapter Three investigates the impact of black carbon, released by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and consisting of aggregates of nanospheres, on climate. Chapter Four considers the behavior of the submerged macrophyte Elodea canadensis, one of the most widely spread species of aquatic plants in the Yenisei River, in connection with radioactive contamination. Lastly, Chapter Five advocates for the restructuring of the forest sector’s governance in Madagascar to reduce deforestation and preserve species richness.

This volume includes seven chapters and presents some of the latest advancements in environmental research. Chapter One describes the ecological resources of forests and their ability to absorb greenhouse gases and mitigate climate change. Chapter Two highlights the procedure of using eutectic solvents in the extraction of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants. Chapter Three suggests a holistic framework for assessing the environmental sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture. Chapter Four investigates the accountability profile for environmental sustainability of maritime protected areas. Chapter Five discusses the main urban parameters existing in regional models developed at the beginning of the 21st century: The Single-Layer Urban Canopy Model (UCM), the Town Energy Balance (TEB), and the Building Effect Parameterization (BEP). Chapter Six aims to provide information about phytoestrogens and their beneficial and adverse effects. Finally, Chapter Seven proposes two new indexes for measuring particular aspects of environmental stability and sustainable development: the available resource sustainability index and the natural green surface replacement index.

This volume presents some of the latest advancements in environmental research. Chapter One considers key drivers that influence the seasonal rainfall regime and its variability in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the sub-region's exposure and vulnerability to hydro-meteorological hazards, including drought, and the sub-region's drought history and associated consequences. Chapter Two provides insight about the relationship between the process variables involved in activated carbons preparation and their CO2 removal performance to find the key features associated with efficient CO2 adsorption. Chapter Three systematically assesses the role of groundwater in enhancing urban water supply security and identifies the pre-requisites in terms of its assessment and management for this resource to play a sustainable role. Chapter Four reviews strategies for management of dwindling biodiversity as a consequence of climate change-driven natural disasters, with a specific focus on bushfires in Australia. Finally, Chapter Five compares data obtained from models that simulate the transport of radionuclides released into the Pacific Ocean after the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident with actual measurements of water, sediment and biota.

This volume includes five chapters that detail recent advances in environmental research. Chapter One explores the potential of agroforestry to provide an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional agriculture, which produces climatologically negative effects. Chapter Two provides a general overview of optical biosensors and their applications in clinical diagnosis, food safety and security, and environmental biomonitoring. Chapter Three offers an overview of air quality monitoring. Chapter Four proposes pertinent information related to the prevailing state of the art on the importance of soybean lignocellulosic residues as raw materials of high potential for biorefineries and biofuels production. Lastly, Chapter Five presents case studies from France and Brazil concerning agroforestry in connection with international environmental law goals and sustainable development goals.

This volume includes eight chapters that provide updates in the field of environmental research. Chapter One deals with the subject of applied bioethics, providing historical and contemporary environmental examples. Chapter Two presents different field and experimental studies based on fluorescence spectroscopy addressing the spatio-temporal dynamics of dissolved organic matter in headwaters of North Patagonia. Chapter Three reviews the recent advancements in the field of small RNA delivery in plants and discusses the advantages, limitations and successes of various delivery methods along with their applications in crop improvement. Chapter Four describes the factors that pose threats to floodplain fisheries in Bangladesh and strategies to overcome these threats. Chapter Five explores the preparation and properties of natural fiber-reinforced castor oil-derived polyurethane foams and their applications. Chapter Six discusses the role and long-lasting effect of seasonal flooding in phytoplankton ecology of floodplain lakes along the Middle Daugava River at Daugavpils, South-East Latvia. Chapter Seven evaluates the surface water quality of Küçük Menderes River Basin, located in Turkey, using factor analysis and water quality index methods. Finally, Chapter Eight investigates the effect of nanomagnetite, hydroxyapatite, and nanocomposite particles on wheat.