Expected Increase In Population Research Articles

Physicochemical and sensory properties of biscuits formulated with Tenebrio molitor and Alphitobius diaperinus flours.

The use of insects is considered by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as an alternative source of protein for human and animal food in order to reduce the carbon footprint caused by meat production and to supply the expected population increase with food. In this regard, the aim of this study was to analyze the physicochemical aspects (water activity, protein and fat content, size, optical and mechanical properties) of biscuits prepared with two different insect powders (Tenebrio molitor [TM] and Alphitobius diaperinus [AD], in different percentages [0, 13, 17, 20, and 25%]) based on total weight. In addition, the biscuits formulated with the highest insect powder content were subjected to sensory analysis. The results revealed that all the biscuits formulated with insect powders may be labeled as “high in protein” products following Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006, although they were not as thick as the control biscuits. The L* and b* coordinates were significantly lower when the insect powders were included, which implied a darkening of the biscuits, which were also harder than the control biscuits, regardless the concentration used. According to the sensory analysis, most panelists perceived the biscuits containing insects as too dark and not crunchy enough and an increase in sweetness might improve their acceptability. Finally, further studies should be carried out to analyze the influence of different structural components and flavorings, such as chocolate, in the formulation of biscuits with insect powders to improve their sensory attributes.

Impact assessment of common bean availability in Brazil under climate change scenarios

CONTEXTBrazil is one of the main producers of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), which have high nutritional value as human food. The climate changes predicted in the 21st century might be a possible threat to the planet’s food security, given the expected population increase, and hence, increased demand for food. OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to project the impact of climate change on common bean cropping systems using an upscaling climate approach and crop modeling to represent the Brazilian production regions. METHODSWe considered the representative CO2 concentration pathway scenarios (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5 presented by the 5th IPCC Assessment Report from 20 atmospheric global circulation models covering the main bean-producing region in Brazil. The well-calibrated CROPGRO-Drybean crop model simulated two representative cultivars of the “black” and “colors” types and three cropping seasons applied by Brazilian farmers. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSOn average, we found that yield increased by 5.56% and 9.12% for the RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios, respectively. Increased photosynthetic efficiency due to the increased atmospheric CO2 concentration was identified as the main cause of this yield increase. Crop respiration rates increased due to the raised air temperature, and were responsible for increasing the probability (production risk) of not meeting the future domestic demands for grains to 10.13% and 8.34% for the RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios, respectively. For the national supply of grains, estimates pointed to a future in which crop production will probably rely more on area expansion than yield gains by crop intensification. SIGNIFICANCEOur findings emphasize the need for new policies for land utilization and investments in scientific research programs aimed towards genetic adaptation in all main Brazilian crops in the face of potential climate change.

A Linguo-Cultural Analysis of COVID-19 Related Facebook Jokes

This research aimed to get an insight into Pakistani people’s thought patterns and matters of concern through social media humor. The data collected through online crowdsourcing have been analyzed, adapting the Linguo-Cultural Approach by Petrova. The ‘culturemes’ have been arranged based on their 'semantic density' in a descending order. The highest dense ‘cultureme’ consists of the memes about gender, reinforcing the traditional notions of patriarchal tendencies. The second and third categories target the people's non-seriousness about the precautionary measures and the 'online classes', respectively. Satirical posts about political figures and governmental decisions are in the fourth position. The aggressive role of police, coupled with the expected population increase, has taken the fifth position in the hierarchy. The sixth category is about the masses' tendency to shop carelessly. The seventh category comprises self-deprecating memes, followed by the eighth category about over-eating and getting fat during the stay at home. Memes about China being labeled as the creator of the virus have taken the ninth position, and the posts about the ethnic slur come next. The least dense category consists of the posts about the hype created by news channels. This hierarchical arrangement of the semantic densities has revealed real-life situations and concerns and doubts and belief systems of the current social media users in Pakistan. The need of the hour is to employ content creators to come up with the comic, but creative memes and jokes to condition people's subconscious to be more careful about their health.

A methodology to determine the potential of urban densification through roof stacking

Facing the need to accommodate a growing number of inhabitants in major European cities, this research aimed to establish a methodology that facilitates decision making on urban densification through roof stacking. The methodology adopts a systematic approach on three consecutive levels: urban, engineering, and social. Multiple criteria are identified to assess and map the roof stacking potential in terms of location and number of added floors. The Brussels Capital Region was chosen as a case study to experiment with the developed workflow chart and validate the proposed approach, using ArcGIS software, by creating a map of the urban densification potential through roof stacking of Brussels at the city scale. The results show a realistic potential of accommodating 30% of the expected population increase in Brussels by the year 2040 using only roof stacking, provided that the current urban regulations are respected. In addition, a theoretical potential to accommodate more than the expected population increase by the same year is proposed provided that urban planning regulations are relaxed in relation to the height of buildings. Further applications to other cities in Europe would help create additional opportunities to develop an automated tool for estimating such potentials on a wider scope.

Impact of climate change and development scenarios on flow patterns in the Okavango River

This paper lays the foundation for the use of scenario modelling as a tool for integrated water resource management in the Okavango River basin. The Pitman hydrological model is used to assess the impact of various development and climate change scenarios on downstream river flow. The simulated impact on modelled river discharge of increased water use for domestic use, livestock, and informal irrigation (proportional to expected population increase) is very limited. Implementation of all likely potential formal irrigation schemes mentioned in available reports is expected to decrease the annual flow by 2% and the minimum monthly flow by 5%. The maximum possible impact of irrigation on annual average flow is estimated as 8%, with a reduction of minimum monthly flow by 17%. Deforestation of all areas within a 1 km buffer around the rivers is estimated to increase the flow by 6%. However, construction of all potential hydropower reservoirs in the basin may change the monthly mean flow distribution dramatically, although under the assumed operational rules, the impact of the dams is only substantial during wet years. The simulated impacts of climate change are considerable larger that those of the development scenarios (with exception of the high development scenario of hydropower schemes) although the results are sensitive to the choice of GCM and the IPCC SRES greenhouse gas (GHG) emission scenarios. The annual mean water flow predictions for the period 2020-2050 averaged over scenarios from all the four GCMs used in this study are close to the present situation for both the A2 and B2 GHG scenarios. For the 2050-2080 and 2070-2099 periods the all-GCM mean shows a flow decrease of 20% (14%) and 26% (17%) respectively for the A2 (B2) GHG scenarios. However, the uncertainty in the magnitude of simulated future changes remains high. The simulated effect of climate change on minimum monthly flow is proportionally higher.

Wild rabbit restocking for predator conservation in Spain

The decline of rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations in Mediterranean Spain has been shown to be one of the main threats to rabbit-specialist predators such as the Iberian lynx ( Lynx pardina) and the Spanish imperial eagle ( Aquila adalberti), two species which are in serious danger of extinction. Consequently, corrective measures such as increasing rabbit populations by restocking have been carried out to help the recovery of predator populations. In order to determine the general applicability of rabbit restocking for predator conservation, we performed three experimental restockings and evaluated their success in relation to season, habitat quality and the number of animals introduced. Rabbits were released either in large or small numbers in all four seasons of the year, and in habitat types defined as `poor' or `rich' according to the food availability for rabbits. For each restocking we evaluated rabbit survival, degree of residency and expected population increase. As a rule, the highest restocking success occurred whenever smaller number of rabbits were released in the richest quality habitat. Restocking during the breeding season was less successful than in other seasons. Problems concerning intraspecific competition, reproductive failure and diseases are discussed.

The world-wide increase in tuberculosis: how demographic changes, HIV infection and increasing numbers in poverty are increasing tuberculosis

After more than a century of decline, in the mid 1980s tuberculosis began to increase in some developed countries. Health care workers were then forced to look to the developing world, where they found tuberculosis to be out of control, in many countries. It is now appreciated that tuberculosis is not only increasing globally but is likely to do so beyond the next decade for three principal reasons. First, demographically as the expected population increase will be greatest in areas of the world where tuberculosis is most prevalent, particularly middle Africa and South Asia. Secondly, the increase of HIV, which renders the host uniquely susceptible to tuberculosis, is occurring in the same areas of the world and is already causing an increase in tuberculosis case rates of up to tenfold. Thirdly, as more and more people are forced to live in poverty, where poor nutrition and crowded conditions lead to the spread of tuberculosis, the disease risk will be compounded. Sound medical management, particularly the use of the five components of directly observed therapy, will relieve the situation. But until world conditions of poverty and HIV spread are addressed, it is unlikely that tuberculosis can be controlled.

Bionomics of Choristoneura rosaceana12

Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) has been studied, primarily, in relation to its occurrence on apple. It is bivoltine under New York conditions. However, populations of the first, or summer generation, are only about 25% as large as the spring generation. This reversal of an expected population increase is apparently attributable to the scarcity of suitable food in July when first generation larvae are active. First-instar larvae appear to require actively growing leaf or fruit tissue for successful establishment. Survival in summer is enhanced through an unusually large egg production in the species and the active dispersal habits of the newly hatched larvae in which some become air-borne. Diapause was facultative in the geographic race occurring in New York. This race lends itself readily to continuous rearing when provided suitable living food (actively growing apple trees or fava beans), a temperature of 27°C, and a day of 16 hours light and 8 hours dark.

Cottonseed’s role in a Hungry world

We have seen that cottonseed, grown in a substantial number of developing countries, is one important source of vegetable protein for supplemental feeding of humans. While the percentage of flour for human consumption currently being produced from this cottonseed still does not provide the total needs for supplemental protein feeding, it is believed that improved technology and handling of this important crop can go a long way toward meeting the critical protein shortage. One promising development is that at least two products have been made containing cottonseed flour and these are being supplied commercially for supplemental human feeding in a number of Latin American countries. In view of the staggering load of expected population increase in the developing countries, some of the aid programs which the United States has underway are reviewed.