Against a backdrop of increasingly extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall, prolonged droughts and wildfires, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the vulnerability of riverside communities in the northern part of the Mono Basin (Togo). Its originality lies in the joint use of quantitative and qualitative approaches, based on a field survey conducted from January to March 2024 among 149 randomly selected individuals. The semi-structured interviews conducted via KoboCollect involved a variety of stakeholders (farmers, community leaders, local elected officials, NGOs/CSOs, municipal services and ANPC), allowing for a comparison of local perceptions, socio-economic realities and environmental risks. The data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 2.0 and R version 4.4.3 softwares. The results confirm a high vulnerability to flooding, drought and vegetation fires, with marked variations between localities. 𝜒2 tests reveal highly significant (p 0.50) associations, highlighting territorial heterogeneity. The populations attribute these hazards to seasonal disruption and global warming. The impacts identified are multiple: animal losses, crop destruction, water and fodder shortages, disease and injury during periods of flooding, but also famine, poverty, inactivity and economic losses due to droughts and fires. Public infrastructure appears to be particularly vulnerable, especially during floods. Finally, the study showed a hierarchy of impacts, focusing on the most visible and immediate effects, whether socio-economic or environmental.

Healthcare utilisation (HU) is key to improving the health of residents in urban informal settlements. This study aimed to explore household-level factors influencing HU among informal settlement households in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Cross-sectional survey. Three informal settlements (Cockle Bay, Dwarzark and Moyiba) in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Primary data from 4871 households were collected during the Health and Wellbeing survey conducted between April and May 2023, targeting households with adults aged 18 years and older. The primary outcomes were households HU both within and outside informal settlements. Household-level predisposing and enabling explanatory variables were derived from Andersen's Behavioural Model of HU. Disability in households increases HU within settlements (especially in Dwarzark, 13% and Moyiba, 10%) but is less likely outside. Households engaged in income-generating activities are more likely to seek healthcare within settlements, but 12% less likely outside in Cockle Bay and Dwarzark. Food insecurity decreases HU within Dwarzark (9%) and increases HU outside by 174% in Moyiba. Longer water fetching times and water shortages were associated with higher HU (between 6% and 16%) within settlements, especially in Cockle Bay and Dwarzark. Clean water sources (eg, piped dwelling, bowser, surface, bottled) were consistently associated with higher HU both within and outside settlements. Shared sanitation facilities (such as shared toilets) were positively associated with HU both within and outside settlements, particularly in Dwarzark and Moyiba. Households with income from fishing, informal salaried work and bike riding showed higher HU both within and outside settlements, especially in Dwarzark and Moyiba. We identified strong settlement-specific patterns of household-level factors that influence HU both within and outside Freetown's informal settlements. These findings provide a foundation for developing targeted policies such as strengthening local services, addressing affordability and accessibility barriers and supporting vulnerable occupation groups.

Healthcare is one of the world's largest polluters. Hospitals face a paradox: while healing patients, they can be simultaneously harming the environment that sustains human health. Over the past century, health metrics have shown significant improvement with life expectancy rising and infant mortality falling, yet carbon emissions, water and energy use, ocean acidification, and deforestation have increased. Left unchecked, this level of consumption and resource use could lead to increased mortality, loss of biodiversity, water shortages, and nutritional disparities. Life cycle assessments have been suggested to examine the broader environmental impact and inform healthcare product decisions. This article describes what a life cycle assessment is, how it can be used for informed product decision-making, and provides recommendations for use in healthcare.

Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) is of great significance for alleviating global freshwater scarcity, but its efficiency relies on hygroscopic materials. Although the capacity and kinetics have been improved, there still face the challenge of high thermal resistance and mass transfer resistance. Here, a hierarchical porous architecture, fabricated by a zwitterionic polyelectrolyte hydrogel with enhanced adhesion was synthesized and loaded on the surface of anodized aluminum foam (AAF), resulting in LC-PIL-SO3Li-CNT@AAF. The moisture absorption capacity of LC-PIL-SO3Li-CNT@AAF reached 16.33 g·ghydrogel -1 at 90% relative humidity (RH), a 322.02% increase. Moreover, the material exhibited excellent low-temperature desorption performance, with a desorption efficiency of 83.34% after 2 h at 40°C. By shifting from 2D planar absorption to 3D mass transfer, the developed hydrogel composite system significantly improved the heat and mass transfer efficiency and absorption-desorption kinetics, ultimately achieving ultrahigh moisture absorption capacity and low-temperature efficient desorption. As a proof-of-concept application, a 10-day field trial using a SAWH device for plant irrigation based on this composite material demonstrated the practical application potential of this material in atmospheric water harvesting technology. This research will provide important insights for alleviating the global water shortage crisis and optimizing agricultural water use.

Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), historically a landscape with abundant water resources, has undergone significant geopolitical changes over the last century. Today, the country must find solutions for extreme water shortages. Dukan Dam serves as an example of how hegemonic and hierarchical effects from recent history have influenced water governance. While population growth and climate change along with unilateral water resource activities undertaken by neighboring states are exacerbating water shortages for Iraq and the KRI, it is important to analyze the internal waterscape and how it is managed. In this article, I focus on the period from 1920 to 2024 in Iraq to shed light on problems of governance strains pertaining to water. To achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, Iraq must reckon with its past to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

Spatiotemporal imbalance of regional water shortage risk based on copulas and concentration index.

Global water shortages and declining water quality are critical challenges. Natural-based solutions (NBSs), such as floating treatment wetlands (FTWs), offer promising methods for water restoration and climate adaptation. This study evaluates the efficiency of FTWs planted with Iris pseudacorus and Glyceria maxima in improving water quality by removing nutrients and organic matter. Conducted in a controlled climate chamber, the experiments utilized treated wastewater in six tanks, with FTWs constructed from PE pipes, coconut mats, and hydroponic pots. The study spanned two sequential experiments, lasting 35 and 21days, respectively. Results indicated that FTWs significantly enhanced pollutant removal compared to control tanks. Iris pseudacorus demonstrated higher removal rates for both phosphates and total nitrogen than Glyceria maxima. The presence of FTWs altered dissolved oxygen concentrations, pH, and oxidation-reduction potential, highlighting complex interactions between biological processes and physicochemical conditions. The study confirmed that FTWs can reduce hydraulic retention time for effective total nitrogen removal from 21 to 5days. Algal growth, prominent in control tanks, was absent in FTW systems, likely due to nutrient competition and shading by macrophytes. The findings underscore the importance of plant species selection in FTW design and implementation. This study supports the potential of FTWs as a tertiary wastewater treatment method and a strategy for mitigating eutrophication.

In Kenya, arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) counties such as West Pokot are adversely affected by climate extremes, given that large sections of the population practice pastoralism. The study's main objective was to examine the pastoral community-based adaptation strategies to climate change. Data were collected from 384 respondents obtained from households identified through stratified random sampling. Other information was from key informants and focus group discussions, and relevant institutions such as livestock, agriculture, water and environment. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 (IBM Company). The results showed that drought, diseases, limited pasture and water shortage negatively affected livestock. The pastoralists adopted pasture establishment, conservation of livestock feeds and designation of seasonal grazing areas to overcome the adverse effects of climate change. In livestock disease control, 45% of the respondents preferred livestock vaccination as a strategy, while 35% migrated to cope with drought. Most indicators revealed (P<0.05) that there was sensitivity of pastoral livelihood systems to negative climate change incidences, while the adaptive capacity to climate change was not significant. Pastoralists need sensitisation on tick control as the primary remedy for livestock diseases and skills enhancement, plus knowledge on participatory disease surveillance for early vaccination of anticipated livestock diseases and treatment of identified livestock diseases. Focusing on climate change adaptation strategies is vital in addressing climate change effects among pastoralists in West Pokot

The paper presents a new behavioural model that collectively focuses on how the smallholder farmers in the drought-prone Barind Tract of Bangladesh perceive, mitigate, and adapt with the effects of climate change. A survey of 385 farm households was examined with the help of linear and ordinal logistic regression models to point out socioeconomic institutional determinants of these behavioural reactions. Findings indicate that 46 per cent of farmers ( n = 177) had a moderate perception of climate change, which was related mostly to lowered soil fertility, water shortage and decreased crop production. Age, education, and income had a significant positive effect on climate awareness (R 2 = 0.692, p < 0.001), whereas agricultural extension, livestock ownership, and peer-to-peer learning had a positive effect on adaptive and mitigative abilities. Conversely, the lack of financial capacity and lack of access to the markets hindered climate action. The main practices by farmers were crop diversification (79%), soil-water conservation (66%), use of organic fertilisers (78%), and management of residues (69%). The novelty of the study is that it summarises perception, adaptation and mitigation into one analytical model, which exposes the behavioural interrelationships that constitute resilience. The results also highlight the effectiveness of enhancing social learning in networks, financial, and mainstream climate-smart agriculture in supporting low-carbon adaptive food systems in semi-arid areas of South Asia.

This study designs and implements a soil moisture monitoring system for household-scale chili plants based on the Internet of Things (IoT) using NodeMCU ESP8266 and soil moisture sensors . The system was developed to assist users in monitoring soil moisture conditions accurately to support more efficient chili plant care. The soil moisture sensor is used to detect soil moisture levels, then the data is processed by NodeMCU ESP8266 and sent via a Wi-Fi network to the IoT platform so that it can be monitored in real-time . System testing was carried out on chili plants planted in pots by observing the sensor reading response in various soil conditions. The test results showed that the system was able to monitor changes in soil moisture stably and display information with a good response. The implementation of this system on a household scale is considered effective in assisting plant watering decisions and reducing the risk of water shortages or excesses. The designed system has the potential to be further developed by adding automatic control features and cloud- based data storage to support the implementation of sustainable smart agriculture.

Climate change results in reservoir management challenges, especially in areas with a high risk of drought and flooding. Traditional reservoir rule curves are insufficient for addressing variations in reservoir inflow. This study presents a framework combining GCMs from CMIP6 (ACCESS-CM2, MIROC6, and MPI-ESM1-2-LR) under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios and WEAP, the accuracy of which has been validated for reservoir inflow and storage capacity. This framework is integrated with Hippopotamus Optimization (HO) to develop a resilience reservoir rule curve (RRRC) for the Ubolrat Reservoir for 2024–2055, employing a dual-objective function that emphasizes reducing water shortages and water excess. The results indicate that the RRRC developed via HO is more efficient and suitable than Honeybee Mating Optimization (HBMO) and existing rule curves. When tested with historical inflow data, HO reduced the average water shortage by 50% and the maximum shortage period by 79% compared to the existing rule curve. Under future climate scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5), efficiency improved significantly, achieving a water shortage reduction of 95–98% and a shortage period reduction of 83–88%. Additionally, HO demonstrated outstanding efficiency in water excess management, with a 7–11% reduction in average excess water. This potential reflects its adaptability in the context of future variations in hydrological conditions. This crucial finding illustrates that the integrated framework can develop resilient rule curves even under uncertainty. HO integrated with various models can be implemented as an optimal framework with high potential for reservoir operation planning under climate change. The developed methodology can be implemented in other reservoirs to investigate additional factors for the sustainable promotion of water resource resilience.

Scholars and policymakers have recognized that collaborating on transboundary water resources is a significant way to promote peace and stability in conflict-prone areas. The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960 between India and Pakistan remains one of the few enduring agreements on water management between the two countries. It has persisted through numerous wars and periods of political hostility. However, the treaty’s resilience and relevance are increasingly challenged by growing water shortages, changing weather patterns, and varying development plans. Besides these challenges, the militarization of Pakistan’s Indus Basin region also exemplifies significant resource challenges in South Asia. This paper examines the IWT both as a growing case of militarization in Pakistan’s Indus Basin Region and as a potential source of the broader environmental peacebuilding framework. Using a qualitative and conceptualization of the issue based on an environmental peacebuilding framework, the paper concludes that strengthening the IWT requires collaborative environmental peacebuilding strategies to transform the Indus Basin from a zone of militarization into a foundation for sustainable water peace and regional water security stability in South Asia.

A severe shortage of fresh water, high evaporation, minimal annual rainfall, absence of rivers, and extreme heat force ultimate farmers in Saudi Arabian to cultivate fish, shellfish, shrimp, and other seafood in sea cages. The long coastline along the Arabian Peninsula, with favorable hydrological conditions that ensure stable sea temperatures and oxygen levels, as well as good water exchange, facilitates the implementation of mariculture projects at a lower cost. To ensure high productivity, a suitable marine site for mariculture must be selected. However, many factors are numerical and linguistic could be vague and fuzzy, making it difficult to formalize the solution. This study aimed to apply automated systems-cognitive analysis to select a suitable marine site that will ensure high mariculture productivity. To achieve this goal, ten mathematical models were synthesized in the Aidos intelligent system, among which, the INF7 model demonstrated the highest identification reliability, and their validity was selected. Of the 120 marine areas included in the training set, 46 were deemed suitable for mariculture, 32 were deemed satisfactory, 25 were deemed poor, and 17 were deemed unacceptable. The results of this study can be used worldwide, as the Aidos system is freely available online, and the user interface can be customized to the most commonly used language.

Abstract Water shortage is a big problem in farming, especially in states like Maharashtra. Many farmers use too much water because irrigation is not managed properly, which causes water wastage. This paper explains a Smart Irrigation System that uses IoT sensors and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to solve this problem. The system uses sensors to measure soil moisture, temperature, humidity, and rainfall. This data is sent to an ANN model, which decides when and how much water the crops really need. The system then automatically turns irrigation on or off. Results show that this smart system can save 35–45% of water compared to traditional methods like fixed timers or simple moisture limits, while still keeping crops healthy. Because ANN can learn from data and improve decisions over time, the system is smart, adaptable, and useful for modern precision farming. Keywords— Smart Irrigation, IoT, Artificial Neural Network, Precision Agriculture, Water Conservation, Automated Irrigation.

Bell pepper is a high-value horticultural commodity with strong development potential in Indonesia, including in Tutur District, Pasuruan Regency, East Java. However, productivity in greenhouse-based cultivation often fluctuates due to various production risks. This study aimed to identify and prioritize major risks in greenhouse bell pepper farming using the Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) method. The research location was purposively selected, involving 66 farmers. Primary and secondary data were collected and analyzed using descriptive analysis and FMEA. The results identified 17 risk factors affecting bell pepper production. Major risks included high rainfall during the rainy season, water shortages during the dry season, strong winds, pest and disease attacks, declining selling prices, increasing input costs, and limited technical knowledge. Based on Risk Priority Number (RPN) analysis, the most critical risks were thrips pest attacks (RPN 109.12), high rainfall (RPN 52.52), and strong winds (RPN 38.31). These risks require priority mitigation to improve productivity and sustainability of greenhouse bell pepper farming.

Bangladesh is experiencing a silent but genuinely antibiotic resistance epidemic. Since it makes many infections more difficult or impossible to treat, it is becoming a bigger hazard to public health. In this review, the present status of antibiotic resistance in Bangladesh is discussed. It draws attention to the fact that germs that were formerly easily treated are now developing resistance to numerous conventional antibiotics. Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae are significant resistant bacteria in Bangladesh. These bacteria can be found in the environment, in communities, in hospitals, and in animals. The abuse and overuse of antibiotics is one of the primary causes of antibiotic resistance in Bangladesh. Antibiotics are frequently taken without a doctor's prescription. Pharmacies sell a lot of medications without a prescription. In order to accelerate animal growth and avoid sickness, farmers provide antibiotics to livestock and poultry. This contributes to the spread of resistance in people and animals. In hospitals, the issue is exacerbated by inadequate infection control, poor cleanliness, and a shortage of clean water. The absence of effective surveillance mechanisms is another significant problem. Many labs and hospitals are unable to accurately identify resistant microorganisms. Programs for antibiotic stewardship are extremely rare. There is also extremely little public knowledge on the proper usage of antibiotics. There are policies, but they are not adequately implemented. According to this review, Bangladesh's antibiotic resistance requires immediate intervention. Better legislation, enhanced monitoring, public awareness campaigns, and appropriate use of antibiotics in humans and animals are all urgently needed. Connecting the health of humans, animals, and the environment requires a ‘One Health’ strategy. If nothing is done right now, antibiotic resistance will keep growing and might eventually make minor diseases fatal. To combat this silent epidemic, strong collaboration between the health sectors, stringent enforcement of policies, and ongoing research are essential. CBMJ 2026 January: vol. 15 no. 01 P: 253-259

The Jordanian portion of the Jordan Valley serves as a critical geostrategic and agricultural corridor, yet it faces an existential threat from absolute water scarcity, climate change, and regional demographic pressures. This study provides an exhaustive qualitative analysis of water governance in the valley, drawing on national strategies, institutional archives, and longitudinal data from 2000 to 2025. The research evaluates the transition of the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA) from a centralized development agency toward a mature, tri-tier decentralization framework involving Water User Associations (WUAs). Despite these reforms, systemic challenges such as elite capture, non-revenue water (NRW) losses in the King Abdullah Canal (KAC), and the subsidies continue to hinder efficiency. The study applies the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus framework to examine the interdependencies between energy-intensive pumping, the reuse of Treated Wastewater (TWW) for 98% in certain sectors, and the preservation of the Dead Sea ecosystem. Findings indicate that while land-use policies have preserved 371,000 dunums of agricultural land, approximately 71,000 dunums remain uncultivated due to water shortages. The manuscript identifies the Amman-Aqaba Water Conveyance Project (AAWA) and the 2030 Digital IT Roadmap as essential catalysts for long-term resilience. The paper concludes with adaptive governance recommendations aimed at reconciling national strategic priorities with localized operational efficiency.

ABSTRACT Reliable river discharge forecasting is essential for flood mitigation and water management in climate-vulnerable areas like Taiwan. This study combines machine learning (ML) models – Random Forest, Support Vector Regression, Multilayer Perceptron, Gradient Boosting Machine, and Long Short-Term Memory – with statistical uncertainty quantification to predict peak discharges. Using historical annual maximum data (1975–2023) from gauging stations, it projects 2025–2040 trends. Empirical distributions (Log-Pearson Type III, Gumbel, Generalized Extreme Value) estimate 100-year return periods. Mann-Kendall analysis shows rising peaks in central Taiwan (e.g., Zhuoshui River) and declines in south/east (e.g., Gaoping, Hualien Rivers), indicating increased flood risks and water shortages. Bootstrap resampling reveals wider uncertainty in variable regions, while Radial Basis Function interpolation maps spatial extremes. Log-Pearson Type III fits best for most stations. Findings underscore adaptive strategies and resilient planning, enhancing accuracy for policymakers and engineers in hydrological risk management.

Root growth is one of the main strategies to improve phosphorus (P) uptake from soils, but both root growth and P movement to the roots are impaired by soil water shortage. Several studies have evaluated the effect of P availability on root growth, as well as the impact of root growth on drought tolerance, but there is still a lack of unity in this knowledge. Thus, the objective of this review article is to identify the primary P management strategies that can enhance root growth and P acquisition in crops during dry spells. This review synthesizes studies published from 1963 to 2025, with emphasis on field-based experiments conducted under rainfed or water-limited conditions. For this purpose, articles carried out in different parts of the world were reviewed. Based on these studies, we found that the main challenge to improving P acquisition by plants under water stress is to enhance P availability in the soil subsurface, which remains wetter for a longer period. Broadcast application of P has been a problem mainly in rainfed and water-restricted environments, and application of P in the sowing furrow is recommended in these environments. The use of cover crops, crop-livestock integration, crop rotation, liming, adjustment of optimum pH, and increase of C and humic substances in the soil are important techniques to improve the availability and mobility of P in the soil and consequently the root growth and P uptake in depth. Plants and cultivars with larger root systems and especially long and dense root hairs can improve drought tolerance and PUE. Growth-promoting microorganisms can help in drought tolerance through better hormonal balance and root growth, but there is still a need for new knowledge associated with P solubilization under field conditions. Future research should seek to evaluate the interactive effects of the use of microorganisms, root growth, and drought tolerance with field studies in different production systems.

Bubbles accumulation in the electrode limits anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer performance at industrial current densities (>1.0 A cm-2). Currently, conventional electrode designs prioritize the optimization of the electrochemically active surface area. However, this study reveals that bubble dynamics matters high-rate water electrolysis efficiency in anode-feeding mode in three ways:1) cover active sites at the anode; 2) hinder water diffusion through the membrane; 3) cause water shortage at the cathode. Based on this mechanism, we propose an easy-to-prepare gradient stainless steel square hole mesh electrode. It not only offers a low cost ($8-150/m2), but also improves bubble dynamics. As a result, it reduces the cell voltage by 0.14 V at a current density of 5.0 A cm-2, even with a lower electrochemically active surface area compared to the stainless steel felt electrode. And it maintains a stable operation over 400 hours. This work redefines electrode engineering paradigms, shifting focus from electrochemically active surface area-centric approaches to two-phase flow management in water electrolyzers for industrial current densities-scale hydrogen production.