Reduction Goals Research Articles

Effectively saltiness enhanced odorants screening and prediction by database establish, sensory evaluation and deep learning method

Odor-taste interaction has gained success in enhancing saltiness perception. This work aimed to provide candidate odorants for saltiness enhancement. Volatile compounds and their frequencies in salty foods were systematically analyzed. The compounds with higher frequency were incorporated into the savory aroma compounds database. The saltiness enhancement concentrations of representative aroma compounds at the NaCl solution (3.00 g/L) were detected by sensory evaluation. SELF-referencing Embedded Strings-based representation leaning and graph attention network combined with Backpropagation Neural Network classifier was utilized to predict the saltiness-enhancing ability of odorants. Results showed that ketones, pyrazine and sulfur-containing compounds showed higher saltiness-enhancing ability. Mushroom and fatty attributes contributed to the saltiness-enhancing ability of compounds. Deep learning model showed excellent generalization ability and accuracy (95.93 %), which provided rapid screening method for selecting savory aroma compounds. This study would provide new pathways for food industry to achieve salt reduction goals.

Veterans' Experiences of and Preferences for Patient-Centered, Measurement-Based PTSD Care.

Up to 50% of veterans drop out of trauma-focused evidence-based psychotherapies (TF-EBP) without completing treatment or recovering; evidence suggests this is in part because their posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) care is insufficiently patient-centered. There is also evidence that measurement-based care (MBC) for mental health should be personalized to the patient, yet this is not common practice in VA PTSD care. To explore veterans' experiences and preferences for aligning measurement-based PTSD care with their own treatment goals. Qualitative interviews were conducted with veterans (n=15) with PTSD who had received at least 2 sessions of a TF-EBP. Survey on the administration of outcomes questionnaires and demographics and an interview about their most recent TF-EBP episode. Half of veterans had symptom-focused goals and half did not; all had at least one treatment goal that was not symptom-focused. They typically met their goals about functioning and coping skills but not their symptom reduction goals. We found veterans overall were receptive to MBC but preferred patient-reported outcomes measures about functioning, wellbeing, coping skills, and understanding their trauma more than the commonly used PTSD symptom scale (the PCL-5). Many veterans in this sample disliked the PCL-5 because it reinforced their maladaptive cognitions. Such veterans might be more receptive to MBC if offered patient-report outcomes measures that better align with their functional and wellbeing goals. For many goal/outcome areas, psychometrically sound measures exist and require better implementation in PTSD care. For some areas, scale development is needed.

Global, regional, and national burden of HIV/AIDS, 1990-2021, and forecasts to 2050, for 204 countries and territories: the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

As set out in Sustainable Development Goal 3.3, the target date for ending the HIV epidemic as a public health threat is 2030. Therefore, there is a crucial need to evaluate current epidemiological trends and monitor global progress towards HIV incidence and mortality reduction goals. In this analysis, we assess the current burden of HIV in 204 countries and territories and forecast HIV incidence, prevalence, and mortality up to 2050 to allow countries to plan for a sustained response with an increasing number of people living with HIV globally. We used the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 analytical framework to compute age-sex-specific HIV mortality, incidence, and prevalence estimates for 204 countries and territories (1990-2021). We aimed to analyse all available data sources, including data on the provision of HIV programmes reported to UNAIDS, published literature on mortality among people on antiretroviral therapy (ART) identified by a systematic review, household surveys, sentinel surveillance antenatal care clinic data, vital registration data, and country-level case report data. We calibrated a mechanistic simulation of HIV infection and natural history to available data to estimate HIV burden from 1990 to 2021 and generated forecasts to 2050 through projection of all simulation inputs into the future. Historical outcomes (1990-2021) were simulated at the 1000-draw level to support propagation of uncertainty and reporting of uncertainty intervals (UIs). Our approach to forecasting utilised the transmission rate as the basis for projection, along with new rate-of-change projections of ART coverage. Additionally, we introduced two new metrics to our reporting: prevalence of unsuppressed viraemia (PUV), which represents the proportion of the population without a suppressed level of HIV (viral load <1000 copies per mL), and period lifetime probability of HIV acquisition, which quantifies the hypothetical probability of acquiring HIV for a synthetic cohort, a simulated population that is aged from birth to death through the set of age-specific incidence rates of a given time period. Global new HIV infections decreased by 21·9% (95% UI 13·1-28·8) between 2010 and 2021, from 2·11 million (2·02-2·25) in 2010 to 1·65 million (1·48-1·82) in 2021. HIV-related deaths decreased by 39·7% (33·7-44·5), from 1·19 million (1·07-1·37) in 2010 to 718 000 (669 000-785 000) in 2021. The largest declines in both HIV incidence and mortality were in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. However, super-regions including central Europe, eastern Europe, and central Asia, and north Africa and the Middle East experienced increasing HIV incidence and mortality rates. The number of people living with HIV reached 40·0 million (38·0-42·4) in 2021, an increase from 29·5 million (28·1-31·0) in 2010. The lifetime probability of HIV acquisition remains highest in the sub-Saharan Africa super-region, where it declined from its 1995 peak of 21·8% (20·1-24·2) to 8·7% (7·5-10·7) in 2021. Four of the seven GBD super-regions had a lifetime probability of less than 1% in 2021. In 2021, sub-Saharan Africa had the highest PUV of 999·9 (857·4-1154·2) per 100 000 population, but this was a 64·5% (58·8-69·4) reduction in PUV from 2003 to 2021. In the same period, PUV increased in central Europe, eastern Europe, and central Asia by 116·1% (8·0-218·2). Our forecasts predict a continued global decline in HIV incidence and mortality, with the number of people living with HIV peaking at 44·4 million (40·7-49·8) by 2039, followed by a gradual decrease. In 2025, we projected 1·43 million (1·29-1·59) new HIV infections and 615 000 (567 000-680 000) HIV-related deaths, suggesting that the interim 2025 targets for reducing these figures are unlikely to be achieved. Furthermore, our forecasted results indicate that few countries will meet the 2030 target for reducing HIV incidence and HIV-related deaths by 90% from 2010 levels. Our forecasts indicate that continuation of current levels of HIV control are not likely to attain ambitious incidence and mortality reduction targets by 2030, and more than 40 million people globally will continue to require lifelong ART for decades into the future. The global community will need to show sustained and substantive efforts to make the progress needed to reach and sustain the end of AIDS as a public threat. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Climate Risks and Economic Consequences of Rising Global CO2 Emissions in Aviation, Shipping, and Heavy-Duty Transport

This study examines methods to lessen the environmental consequences of global CO2 emissions from the hard-to-abate transport sector. The paper analyzed historical and projected trends in global CO2 emissions from the hard-to-abate transport industry under two scenarios: the stated policy scenario (STEPS) and the announced pledged scenario (APS). The study covered the historical period from 2010 to 2022 and projected emissions up to 2050. The analysis revealed that the compound annual growth rate (CAAGR) of STEP exceeded that of APS in 2030 and 2050 for challenging emissions from heavy- duty vehicles, aircraft, and shipping when compared to the baseline year of 2022. The aviation industry has a higher CAAGR of 5.3% and 2.5% for 2030 and 2050, respectively, compared to heavy-duty vehicles at 1.6% and 0.9% for 2030 and 2050, respectively, and shipping at 0.7% and 0.9% for 2030 and 2050, respectively, under STEPS. Under the APS scenario, shipping showed a negative CAAGR of -0.8% and -2.8% for 2030 and 2050, respectively, and 0.4% and -1.8% for 2030 and 2050, respectively, for heavy-duty trucks. In comparison, the aviation industry had CAAGRs of 4.5% and 0.8% for 2030 and 2050, respectively. The data shows that the aviation industry is expected to see a far greater CAAGR in emissions than heavy-duty vehicles and shipping in both STEPS and APS scenarios. Targeted efforts are necessary to mitigate the environmental effects of air travel in the upcoming decades. The paper also examined 56 publicly traded international transportation companies and their corresponding carbon emission targets. Only seven companies, or 12.5%, have established goals for reducing emissions from 2023 to 2050; 10 companies, accounting for 17.9%, have committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 to 2060; five corporations, representing 8.9%, have set targets for reducing emission intensity from 2025 to 2034; and 34 global corporations, making up 60.7%, have committed to achieving net zero emissions between 2040 and 2050. Despite some progress in setting emission reduction targets in the air travel industry, many companies still need to set carbon footprint reduction goals.

Spatial-Temporal Evolution of Carbon Sequestration and Emission Reduction Capacity of Agricultural Cultivation in Different Functional Grain Areas

The capacity of agricultural cultivation for carbon sequestration and emission reduction plays a key role in advancing the green and sustainable development of agriculture and achieving both emission reduction and carbon sink objectives. This study constructs an index for agricultural carbon sequestration and emission reduction capacity using spatial autocorrelation analysis, Theil index, and kernel density estimation, to thoroughly explore spatiotemporal changes and regional differences in carbon sequestration and emission reduction capacity across China and its different grain functional areas. Major findings include: (1) From 2000 to 2020, China’s agricultural carbon sequestration and emission reduction capacity exhibited a fluctuating upward trend, consistent in grain main production areas, while production–consumption and main marketing areas showed a fluctuating decline. (2) From 2000 to 2020, positive spatial correlation in carbon sequestration and emission reduction capacity increased at both national and regional levels, particularly in the main production and production–consumption areas, while the main consumption areas demonstrated a trend toward negative correlation. (3) The Theil index of China’s agricultural carbon sequestration and emission reduction capacity showed an overall fluctuating increase, with interregional differences contributing over 54%, significantly surpassing intra-regional contributions. Moreover, the main producing regions are the main source of the overall national variance. (4) Kernel density analysis highlights that there are significant differences in the distribution and evolution of carbon sequestration and emission reduction capacity among different grain functional areas, and the overall development is unbalanced. Therefore, each region needs to formulate tailored measures to improve agricultural carbon sequestration efficiency, promote regional sustainable development, and achieve carbon reduction goals.

Optimizing Renewable Strategies for Emission Reduction Through Robotic Process Automation in Smart Grid Management

The integration of renewable energy into Intelligent Distribution Networks (IDNs) is challenged by the inherent variability and fluctuations in energy supply, particularly with photovoltaic (PV) generation as the primary form of distributed generation (DG). However, managing the fluctuations and variability in renewable energy supply presents significant challenges. To address these complexities, it is vital to optimally coordinate flexible resources from source–network–storage–load (SNSL) in a manner that aligns with cross-sectoral emission reduction strategies while enhancing grid stability and efficiency. This paper addresses these challenges by proposing a strategy that optimizes the coordination of PV-based DG, storage, and load resources through Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to enhance grid stability and support emissions reduction. We use a two-layer dispatching framework: the lower-layer model, formulated as a quadratic programming problem, maximizes PV utilization for individual users, while the upper-layer model, based on a second-order cone relaxation approach, manages the overall IDN to minimize operational costs. The iterative solution leverages tie-line power flow as boundary information to ensure convergence across the network. Validated on an enhanced IEEE 33-bus system, the approach demonstrates a 62% increase in PV-based DG consumption and a 25% reduction in active power losses, highlighting its potential to improve grid efficiency and contribute to emission reduction goals.

Public demand for carbon capture and storage varies with information, development magnitude and prior familiarity

Carbon capture and storage is vital to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, albeit research on the public willingness to pay for it remains limited. Here we address this gap by considering information effects, development magnitude effects and prior familiarity relations on willingness to pay towards carbon capture and storage. Based on national-wide online survey targeting Danish public, conducted from June to August 2022, the contingent valuation method is employed. The study reveals that, irrespective of CO2 reduction goals, enhancing familiarity with carbon capture storage can influence public support. Additionally, we estimate willingness to pay elasticities related to development magnitude using a scope test, ensuring economic significance and validity of our findings. Ultimately, this study provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders, supporting and enabling the design of effective strategies to promote public support for carbon capture and storage, and contribute to global climate change mitigation efforts.

Energy Consumption Prediction for Drilling Pumps Based on a Long Short-Term Memory Attention Method

In the context of carbon neutrality and emission reduction goals, energy consumption optimization in the oil and gas industry is crucial for reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency. As a key component in drilling operations, optimizing the energy consumption of drilling pumps has significant potential for energy savings. However, due to the complex and variable geological conditions, diverse operational parameters, and inherent nonlinear relationships in the drilling process, accurately predicting energy consumption presents considerable challenges. This study proposes a novel Long Short-Term Memory Attention model for precise prediction of drilling pump energy consumption. By integrating Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks with the Attention mechanism, the model effectively captures complex nonlinear relationships and long-term dependencies in energy consumption data. Comparative experiments with traditional LSTM and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models demonstrate that the LSTM-Attention model outperforms these models across multiple evaluation metrics, significantly reducing prediction errors and enhancing robustness and adaptability. The proposed model achieved Mean Absolute Error (MAE) values ranging from 5.19 to 10.20 and R2 values close to one (0.95 to 0.98) in four test scenarios, demonstrating excellent predictive performance under complex conditions. The high-precision prediction of drilling pump energy consumption based on this method can support energy optimization and provide guidance for field operations.

Traversing the Jevons Paradox: The dual role of residential photovoltaic systems in electricity conservation and increased consumption in an emerging economy

In response to escalating global climate change, governments and international organizations were engaged in identifying effective strategies to mitigate carbon emissions. Residential photovoltaic systems emerged as a prominent, clean energy solution, drawing attention for their carbon-neutral electricity generation. Despite this, concerns persisted over whether technological advancements and policy incentives could sustain efforts to conserve energy and reduce emissions, particularly in light of the Jevons Paradox, which posits that technological progress might increase energy consumption and counteract emission reductions. This study, grounded in self-identity theory, examined the influence of residential PV installation on household electricity conservation behavior and assessed the paradox's relevance in this context. Through a survey across three representative Chinese provinces, collecting 996 responses, the research utilized Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the data. Findings revealed that PV installation and usage among residents bolstered self-consistency, social identity, and identity affirmation, indirectly encouraging electricity conservation. Economic incentives and environmental campaigns were both shown to increase residential PV adoption and subsequent electricity-saving actions. However, economic incentives were found to be more effective, suggesting that economic benefits primarily influenced residents' energy consumption behaviors. Interestingly, a lower inclination for electricity conservation among higher-income residents hinted at the Jevons paradox (or a rebound effect). The study's findings underscore the importance of crafting energy and environmental policies that balance economic incentives with long-term environmental awareness strategies. It also suggests that reinforcing residents' identities as environmental advocates could enhance engagement in green energy practices, offering valuable insights for China and other nations striving to promote residential PV systems and meet emission reduction goals.

Digital economy as a new engine for synergy of multi-pollutant mitigation: Evidence from a new perspective of marginal cost

Examining the impacts of digital economy (DE) on synergistic effect of pollution and carbon emission reduction (SERPCE) is essential for China's sustainable development and its dual carbon reduction goals. Current research focused on the impacts of DE on reducing individual pollutant, and ignoring the marginal costs of coordinated abatement efforts, which are crucial for balancing energy-environment-economy system. This study introduces a new SERPCE measurement method based on marginal abatement costs using parametric DDF functions with panel data from 30 Chinese provinces in 2011–2019. Findings indicate that DE is a new engine for reducing pollution reduction cost under joint mitigation policy, a 2.89% increase in SERPCE for each one-unit rise in DE, with energy consumption reduction and technological innovation as main transmission mechanisms. Positive effect of DE on SERPCE is with a threshold value 1778.3501, with the effect intensifying as the threshold is exceeded. Heterogeneity of effects emerges due to regional economic and resource differences, and substantial spatial spillover effects of DE on SERPCE emerges, indicating economic interconnectivity. This research provides a methodological framework for SERPCE quantification, enriching academic understanding of DE's impact on SERPCE and offering insights for policymakers in sustainable development strategies.

Precursor-chemistry engineering toward ultrapermeable carbon molecular sieve membrane for CO2 capture

Carbon capture is an important strategy and is implemented to achieve the goals of CO2 reduction and carbon neutrality. As a high energy-efficient technology, membrane-based separation plays a crucial role in CO2 capture. It is urgently needed for membrane-based CO2 capture to develop the high-performance membrane materials with high permeability, selectivity, and stability. Herein, ultrapermeable carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes are fabricated by pyrolyzing a finely-engineered benzoxazole-containing copolyimide precursor for efficient CO2 capture. The microstructure of CMS membrane has been optimized by initially engineering the precursor-chemistry and subsequently tuning the pyrolysis process. Deep insights into the structure-property relationship of CMSs are provided in detail by a combination of experimental characterization and molecular simulations. We demonstrate that the intrinsically high free volume environment of the precursor, coupled with the steric hindrance of thermostable contorted fragments, promotes the formation of loosely packed and ultramicroporous carbon structures within the resultant CMS membrane, thereby enabling efficient CO2 discrimination via size sieving and affinity. The membrane achieves an ultrahigh CO2 permeability, good selectivity, and excellent stability. After one month of long-term operation, the CO2 permeability in the mixed gas is maintained at 11,800 Barrer, with a CO2/N2 selectivity exceeding 60. This study provides insights into the relationship between precursor-chemistry and CMS performance, and our ultrapermeable CMS membrane, which is scalable using thin film manufacturing, holds great potential for industrial CO2 capture.

Using STPA for hazard identification and comparison of hybrid power and propulsion systems at an early design stage

The decarbonization of the shipping industry is a hot topic and new emission reduction goals, regulations, and initiatives all over the world underline its importance. These goals apply to the ocean going fleet, as well as coastal shipping and fisheries. Both academia and industry, work on the development and testing of new technologies to reach emission reduction targets. Besides technical feasibility and economic viability, the safety of new power and propulsion systems must be considered in this process. In this paper, the Systems Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) method is used for hazard identification and comparison of two alternative hybrid power and propulsion systems for a small-scall fishing vessel. The assessment method allows for identifying focus areas for hazard reduction in a systematic manner. System safety requirements derived from the assessment can be considered when designing power and propulsion systems. Based on the results, a discussion of the method and the usefulness of the results is given. The main findings are that the assessment provides valuable insights into the hazards introduced by new power and propulsion systems in a qualitative manner. For a quantification of the risk, further work and an extension of the assessment are needed. The STPA results show that especially the control of the power sources and their interactions internally and externally with the consumer side are crucial. Therefore, special attention should be given to the design of the automated control system, feedback system, and user interaction with the system.

Design of Integrated Energy–Water Systems Using Automated Targeting Modeling Considering the Energy–Water–Carbon Nexus

The swift expansion of the global population and economy has spurred growing requirements for energy and water in recent decades. Inefficient energy and water consumption, however, has led to an increase in CO2 emissions. Hence, the socio-economic development of a country must consider the interconnections between energy, water and carbon, as there are mutual dependencies among these three elements. This work considers the nexus between energy, water and carbon in the design of integrated energy–water systems using a new automated targeting modeling (ATM) framework. ATM incorporates the advantages of the insight-based Pinch method and a mathematical programming approach to provide visual understanding for a thorough analysis of the problem while guaranteeing accurate solutions. Minimum targets of power and water based on the integrated network operation were established by the ATM, with corresponding carbon emissions. A specific goal of annual carbon emissions reduction was set as the constraint and the ATM optimized the capacities of the components in the system accordingly to achieve minimum overall cost. The application of ATM on an industrial plant case study shows that a target of 45% reduction in the carbon discharge amount was achieved by shifting to greener fuel in the energy system at a minimum overall cost increase of 0.45% only. The framework can assist users in meeting power and water loads in their plant while planning for the appropriate decarbonization efforts at the minimum possible cost.

Establishing greenhouse gas emission benchmarks for the asphalt industry – Are short-term reduction targets feasible using current practice or are more extensive measures needed?

The objective of this study was to calculate cradle-to-gate benchmarks for the embodied greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of asphalt mixtures. Reference (median), target (10th percentile), and limit (80th percentile) benchmarks were calculated for nine mixture types using 606 mixtures. The following ranges for the specific benchmarks in terms of CO2-eq per ton were obtained: 41.2 to 66.7 (references), 31.2 to 52.9 (targets), and 44.8 to 75.3 (limits). It was found that the yearly embodied emissions could be reduced by 23.7 % by aiming for the targets, which is just below the 25 % reduction goal set in Belgium. However, these savings could be further increased to 29.3 % considering consistent implementation of the most used best available technologies. Moreover, if the lowest 10th percentile of this scenario was targeted, an ambitious reduction potential of 39.2 % was obtained. Consequently, a combination of more extreme mitigation strategies is required to achieve carbon neutrality.

Enhancing Battery Performance and Safety Through Nanomaterial Coatings

The global transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is crucial for reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and combating climate change. Although EVs offer environmental and economic advantages, battery performance challenges such as electrode degradation and electrolyte decomposition hinder their widespread adoption. This paper investigates the use of nanomaterials in battery coatings and membranes to improve EV battery performance and lifespan. Conductive polymers like Polyaniline (PANI), carbon-based materials such as g-C₃N₄/CNTs, and α-Fe₂O₃@C are explored for their capacity to enhance electrode stability, electrical conductivity, and specific capacity. Additionally, the paper addresses how nanocoatings mitigate issues like electrode degradation, parasitic reactions, and thermal management, ultimately extending battery life and improving safety. By integrating nanotechnology, significant advancements in battery efficiency, longevity, and safety can be achieved, making EVs a more viable and sustainable transportation option. These developments are essential for achieving global carbon reduction goals and supporting a cleaner future.

Pennycress reduces potential for nutrient loss in Illinois.

Nutrient export of nitrogen and phosphorus from row crop agriculture in the Upper US Midwest is a threat to the structure and function of aquatic systems. To meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nutrient reduction goals, the Upper US Midwest needs to implement strategies to reduce nutrient export from agriculture. Studies demonstrate the potential of cover crops to reduce the export of nitrate-nitrogen from the Upper US Midwest. We investigated the impact of the economically viable winter cash cover crop pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) on soil porewater nutrients and soil nutrients and characteristics. We used nine replicated 0.8ha plots (n=3 per treatment) at a production scale research farm over 4 years with pennycress and fertilized pennycress (56kg ha-1 of urea) treatments compared to a fallow reference. Over the study period, soil porewater nitrate-nitrogen was reduced by 53% in pennycress plots and 34% in fertilized pennycress plots relative to the fallow reference at a depth of 45cm. Early season establishment was crucial in providing nutrient reduction potential. In 2021, poor pennycress establishment resulted in porewater nitrate-nitrogen concentrations 141% higher than in 2022 with excellent pennycress establishment. Following pennycress termination, soil nitrate-nitrogen was reduced by 24% in pennycress and 26% in fertilized pennycress compared to the fallow reference in the top 30cm of soil. Following 4 years of pennycress planting, nitrate-nitrogen concentrations were significantly reduced with no broad effect on soil characteristics. We conclude that the novel pennycress crop has potential to reduce nutrient loss from row crop agriculture in the Upper US Midwest.

The Role of Nanoporous Adsorbents in the Circular Economy—Closing the Loop of Critical Materials Recovery

AbstractDue to the increase in the global population, industrialization, and the transition to climate neutrality through low‐emission technologies, the pressure on critical materials (CMs) continues to grow. CMs are defined as materials with a significant risk of supply chain disruption and limited substitutability. In this context, rare‐earth elements, platinum group metals, lithium, and cobalt are particularly crucial for the shift to carbon‐free economy and sustainability. One of the important strategies to endorse the goal of carbon reduction is to promote the recycling of resources. As a solution, effective recovery strategies have been developed, such as solid‐phase separation technologies based on advanced functional sorbents. This perspective article aims to provide a general assessment of the role of porous materials in closing the loop of critical materials recycling. Here, comprehensive insights are provided into recent development, design, and application of porous adsorbents commonly applied in solid‐phase extraction systems. Their current research status and problems related to their future application are also highlighted. This review covers recent advances in porous and hierarchical silica‐based materials, aerogels, covalent organic frameworks, metal–organic frameworks, and carbon‐based adsorbents.

A three-stage oxidation method improves sludge dewaterability by achieving sustained oxidation and phased enhanced coagulation: Ingeniously using H2O2 as a “converter”

Sludge reduction is essential for mitigating the environmental hazards associated with sludge. The use of ferric chloride (Fe(III)) catalyzed ferrate (Fe(VI)) can significantly enhance sludge dewaterability by increasing the Fe(VI) oxidation rate and maintaining in-situ enhanced coagulation. However, its weak oxidation ability at the sludge’s original pH limits its practical application. To address this, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) strengthened Fe(VI)/Fe(III) was employed to efficiently improve sludge dewaterability without pH adjustment, thereby enhancing the environmental utilization capacity of sludge. Compared to raw sludge, the treatment of Fe(VI)/Fe(III)–H2O2 resulted in approximately the 95% reduction in specific resistance to filtration (SRF) and increased the bioavailable phosphorus (P) content in dewatered sludge. During the oxidation process, highly reactive species such as tetravalent iron (Fe(IV)) and hydroxyl radicals (OH) were generated, facilitating the release of tightly bound water in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Importantly, the oxidation process was divided into three stages (persistent moderate oxidation — fast strong oxidation — sustained weak oxidation) based on the predominant reactive species (Fe(IV) or OH). This division promoted more robust and more durable oxidation processes. Phased enhanced coagulation occurred during the oxidation process. The gradual increase in Fe(III) content led to the re-flocculation of damaged EPS, enlarging the size of sludge drainage pores/channels and improving water discharge efficiency. Additionally, the costs and carbon emissions of chemicals for the Fe(VI)/Fe(III)–H2O2 process were 18% and 52% lower than those of the traditional Fenton method. This study not only achieves the goals of sludge reduction and resource collection but also provides insights into selecting sludge conditioning methods that meet pollution reduction and carbon emission reduction requirements.

Exploring the role of trade credit in facilitating low-carbon development: Insights from Chinese enterprises

As the world's largest emitter of carbon, China is proactively addressing climate change in a responsible manner. The country has set an ambitious goal of achieving the most significant reduction in carbon emission intensity globally within approximately 30 years. In light of the transition to a new low-carbon environment, it is imperative that Chinese enterprises assume a more proactive role in embracing carbon neutrality as a social responsibility. The question of how to supplement the green transformation funds that have not yet been covered by green finance has become a significant issue for Chinese enterprises seeking to achieve sustainable development and promote high-quality development. This study employs hand-collected data on companies' carbon emissions from 2018 to 2023, using the fixed effects model to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the role of trade credit embedded within the supply chain in driving the green evolution of Chinese companies and reducing their carbon dioxide emissions. The findings demonstrate that trade credit has a significant impact on reducing CO2 emissions for Chinese businesses while also enhancing their commitment to adopting greener practices, their capacity for investing in green transformation, and the quality of their green outputs. The results of the heterogeneity analysis indicate that the acquisition of trade credit exerts a more pronounced suppressive influence on carbon emissions for heavy-polluting enterprises, non-state-owned enterprises, low-supplier concentration enterprises, and maturity stage enterprises. Similarly, the supply of trade credit notably curtails the carbon emissions for non-heavy polluting enterprises, non-state-owned enterprises, low-medium customer concentration enterprises, and maturity stage enterprises. The empirical findings of this study contribute to reconciling the substantial dilemma between corporate goals for energy conservation, emissions reduction, and production growth. This research offers key insights to support businesses in achieving a gentle transition towards energy efficiency and reduced carbon footprint in line with the overarching trend of sustainable and low-carbon development.

Conservative political rhetoric and associated enduring threat to constitutional right to abortion – A case study from Brazil

Abortion is a critical public issue in Brazil where over 800,000 abortions might occur each year, with approximately 250,000 admitted to emergency departments due to complications from unsafe procedures. A new bill seeks to amend the Brazilian Penal Code (Código de Processo Penal), classifying the practice as a felony for patients over 22 gestational of weeks, even in cases where the practice is already legally foreseen (e.g., derived from sexual abuse, as an attempt to save pregnant individuals at high-risk, or due to fetuses’ anencephaly). This bill undermines several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) endorsed by the United Nations, particularly those related to health (Goal 3), gender equality (Goal 5), and inequality and poverty reduction (Goal 10). Amongst the extensive list of potential solutions to the abortion challenge that Brazil currently faces, a feasible and plausible alternative relates to investment in education, in particular sexual education aimed at adolescents.