Global Challenges最新文献

{"title":"Negatively but Not Positively Charged Nanoceria Promoted Lateral Root Growth via Modulating the Distribution of Reactive Oxygen Species Rather than Auxin","authors":"Guangjing Li,&nbsp;Jie Qi,&nbsp;Wenying Xu,&nbsp;Linlin Chen,&nbsp;Ashadu Nyande,&nbsp;Zhouli Xie,&nbsp;Jiangjiang Gu,&nbsp;Zhaohu Li,&nbsp;Honghong Wu","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202500186","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500186","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Lateral root (LR) formation is important for plant growth. ROS (reactive oxygen species)play an important role in LR formation. While how nanomaterials affect ROS distribution to promote LR formation and the role of ROS in primordia in LR formation are rarely known. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria), as a potent ROS scavenger, are widely used in plants. This study investigates the effects of poly (acrylic acid) nanoceria (PNC, 6.5 nm, −36 mV), aminated nanoceria (ANC, 6.9 nm, 30 mV), and bulk nanoceria (BNC, 84.9 nm, −5.5 mV) on LR formation in <i>Arabidopsis</i>. Only PNC increased LR numbers by 73.5%, reducing root H₂O₂ levels by up to 90.44% and altering O₂^•− distribution in LR primordia (LRP). Furthermore, DPI (diphenyleneiodonium, O₂^•− inhibitor) decreased LR numbers by 18.9%, while PNC treatment reversed this inhibition (12.25 ± 0.53 vs 8.38 ± 0.52). Transcriptome analysis shows PNC regulated ROS metabolism via genes like peroxiredoxins and peroxidases, promoting LR formation. Interestingly, PNC does not affect auxin distribution (confirmed by DR5pro::GFP lines) or alleviate NPA-induced (N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid, an auxin transport inhibitor) LR inhibition. These findings suggest that PNC enhances LR formation through ROS modulation rather than auxin signaling.</p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202500186","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145012717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adoption Dynamics of Organic Pesticides Among Cocoa Producers In Two Ecological Zones Of Ghana","authors":"Michael Asigbaase,&nbsp;Simon Abugre,&nbsp;Mary Banowiiri,&nbsp;Josephine Akutteh","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202500045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500045","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The use of organic pesticides to reduce insect and disease infestations and boost agricultural productivity can minimize the health and environmental costs of synthetic pesticides. However, adoption remains slow, and barriers and drivers influencing their uptake among cocoa farmers across different ecological zones are unclear. Grounded in the Diffusion of Innovations Theory, this study investigated perceptions, drivers, barriers, and strategies to enhance organic pesticide adoption among cocoa farmers in two ecological zones. A mixed-methods approach is employed, collecting data from 450 farmers in eight cocoa-growing communities through questionnaire-led interviews. Data are analyzed using linear mixed-effects regression, probit regression, ANOVA, Chi-Square, and thematic analysis. Findings revealed that adopters have a 7%-32% more favorable perception of the environmental and health benefits of organic pesticides, influencing their adoption. Farm characteristics, farming experience, incomes, land tenure, and ecological zone significantly influenced adoption. Non-adopters cited barriers such as high transportation costs, offensive odors, and limited information access. Suggested strategies to enhance adoption included capacity building, financial incentives, improved product availability, institutional support, and awareness campaigns. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address demographic and socio-economic barriers and promote organic pesticide use. Future research should explore longitudinal impacts on productivity and soil health.</p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202500045","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144888260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Piggy Solution: Harnessing Food Waste for Sustainable Hog Farming","authors":"Matthew C. Ogwu,&nbsp;Catherine E. Hills,&nbsp;Silvana Pietrosemoli","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202500073","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500073","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The increasing global population and concomitant rise in food demand lead to significant challenges in sustainable agricultural practices and food waste management. This review explores a promising solution to these challenges by examining the potential of utilizing food waste in hog farming as a sustainable feed resource. The paper highlights the environmental, economic, and social benefits of diverting food waste from landfills and repurposing it for livestock nutrition. Nutritional adequacy, safety, and regulatory frameworks surrounding the use of food waste in hog diets, as well as technological advancements and logistical considerations necessary for the widespread adoption of this practice, are discussed along with pilot projects that have successfully implemented food waste feeding programs, assessing their outcomes in terms of feed efficiency, animal health, and environmental impact. Using food waste as animal feed provides a cost-effective alternative to traditional feedstuffs. It also contributes to the global goal of reducing the food, land, and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation gaps by 12%, 27%, and 15%, respectively, by 2050. This practice will significantly lower the carbon footprint of hog farming by redirecting 45% of GHG emissions from conventional feed production to promote a circular economy within the agricultural sector. However, successfully implementing food waste feeding programs requires stringent monitoring and adherence to safety standards to prevent contamination and ensure animal welfare.</p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202500073","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144885288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Smart and Sustainable Regeneration of Fouled Desalination Membranes Using Artificial Intelligence","authors":"Muhammad Mubashir,&nbsp;Mustakeem Mustakeem,&nbsp;Ammar Alnumani,&nbsp;Abdulrahman Abutaleb,&nbsp;Ali Hamoud Naji Sumayli,&nbsp;Tausif Ahmad,&nbsp;Muhammad Rizwan Azhar","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202500235","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500235","url":null,"abstract":"<p>During the desalination process, scaling, fouling, and degradation are associated issues that lead to a drop in the separation performance of membranes. Membrane regeneration emerges as a critical technology in which upcycling and downcycling can offer a promising avenue for promoting sustainable membrane lifecycle management. Multiple research papers and reviews have critically analyzed the regeneration of membranes, which explains the end-of-cycle assessment and cost analysis of membrane recycling. However, challenges associated with the conventional and innovative regeneration processes are not yet analyzed. The potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on membrane regeneration is not explained in the literature. This review paper aims to explore the synergistic relationship between AI and membrane regeneration, elucidating the principles, challenges, opportunities, and emerging trends in this rapidly evolving field. By examining the role of AI techniques in enhancing the understanding, monitoring, and control of regeneration membrane processes, as well as their applications in optimizing regeneration strategies and addressing end-of-life considerations, this paper seeks to provide insights into the transformative potential of AI in reshaping the landscape of membrane regeneration.</p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202500235","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144888197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Performance Optimization of Solar Water Heating Systems Using Molten Salt Thermal Energy Storage Across Varying Tilt Angles","authors":"Natrayan Lakshmaiya,&nbsp;Gobikrishnan Udhayakumar,&nbsp;Prem Kumar Reddy M,&nbsp;Karthick M,&nbsp;Ramya Maranan,&nbsp;Prabhu Paramasivam,&nbsp;Asefash Getachew Girma","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202500074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500074","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study proposes a novel approach to enhance the performance of solar water heating systems by integrating molten salt thermal energy storage (MSTES) and evaluating its effectiveness under varying tilt angles (15°, 30°, 45°, and 60°). While prior research has extensively explored solar collectors and conventional storage media, there have been limited studies that experimentally assessed the combined effect of MSTES and tilt angle optimization on thermal performance. To address this gap, a parabolic trough collector system is employed using a eutectic mixture of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate, known for its high thermal stability and energy retention. Key performance metrics, including collector efficiency, heat transfer coefficient, and storage efficiency, are analyzed under different tilt configurations. Results revealed that a 60° tilt angle offered the best performance, achieving a collector efficiency of 75%, a heat transfer coefficient exceeding 880 W m⁻² K, and a storage efficiency of 61% during peak solar radiation. These findings highlight the effectiveness of MSTES in maximizing solar energy absorption and storage, thereby contributing to the development of high-efficiency solar thermal systems that are adaptable to diverse climatic conditions and energy demands.</p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202500074","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144888102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Computational Perspectives on Amoxicillin and Staphylococcus Aureus in Mirror Life","authors":"Lorenzo Pedroni,&nbsp;Chiara Dall'Asta,&nbsp;Gianni Galaverna,&nbsp;Luca Dellafiora","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202500051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500051","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The concept of mirror life is first introduced by Louis Pasteur, referring to biological systems composed of enantiomeric biomolecules. Although nowadays technologies are making a mirror life theoretically achievable, its potential risks remain uncertain. Here, an integrated multi-tier computational pipeline is employed to address the potential environmental threat posed by the hypothetical mirror-image of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, a bacterium relevant to environmental and food safety. The findings suggest that amoxicillin, and perhaps other conventional antibiotics, should not be effective against their mirror targets. On the other hand, the enantiomeric amoxicillin may be a successful counteracting measure, although the risks for the biosphere remain unknown. Overall, this study highlights the need for further dedicated investigations in this field, while emphasizing <i>in silico</i> methods, in particular molecular modeling, as a versatile and effective first-line approach for analysis, free from biohazards and technical limitations of reagents supply.</p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202500051","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144888101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Removal of Phenol by Ozonation in Strongly Alkaline Conditions using a Jet Loop Reactor Operated in Continuous Phase","authors":"Melahat Semin Barlak,&nbsp;Ibrahim Cengiz,&nbsp;Nejdet Degermenci,&nbsp;Ergun Yildiz","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202500085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500085","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In this study, phenol removal by ozonation under strong alkaline conditions in a continuously operated jet loop reactor (JLR) is investigated. The effects of inlet ozone gas concentration, hydraulic retention time (HRT), and influent phenol concentration on phenol, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total organic carbon (TOC) removal in the JLR effluent are evaluated. When the inlet ozone gas concentration is 17.5 gO₃ m⁻³, the steady-state phenol, COD, and TOC removal efficiencies are determined as 97.8%, 61.1%, and 32.2%, respectively. When the inlet ozone concentration increases from 17.5 to 56.5 gO₃ m⁻³, phenol is not detected in the JLR effluent. The system operates at different HRTs, and the highest removal efficiency at steady-state is obtained at 8 h HRT. While phenol is completely removed at this HRT, COD and TOC removals are 76.8% and 48.2%, respectively. An increase in phenol concentration in the JLR influent leads to a reduction in the phenol, COD, and TOC removal efficiencies in the steady-state effluent.</p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202500085","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144888100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Global Challenges: Bridging Business, Law, Science, Design, and Engineering for Sustainability","authors":"Rui Torres de Oliveira,&nbsp;Agnes Toth-Peter,&nbsp;Leonie Barner","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202500273","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500273","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The 21st century faces a planetary crisis, where biodiversity loss, climate change, resource depletion (caused by human activities), technological disruptions, and economic inequality intersect to challenge <i>sustainable development</i>.^[<span>^{1, 2}</span>^] These interconnected issues have brought <i>sustainability</i> to the forefront as a critical concept.^[<span>³</span>^] What began as a focus on environmental issues has evolved into a rich, multidimensional concept, and <i>sustainability</i> now integrates economic and social considerations alongside ecological concerns, giving rise to a broad and dynamic range of sustainability discourses. Sustainability has become a central ambition across policy, business, and academia, with a substantial and enduring influence that continues to shape national and international agendas and drive action across sectors.^[<span>⁴</span>^]</p><p>Sustainability and sustainable development emphasise that human development and economic growth should occur without threatening people, animals, ecosystems, or the Earth's stability.^[<span>⁵</span>^] However, current indicators starkly challenge this ideal. In 2024, Earth Overshoot Day, marking the date when resource consumption exceeds Earth's capacity to regenerate those resources, fell on August 1, highlighting the ongoing ecological deficit.^[<span>⁶</span>^] Further, as of 2023, six of the nine planetary boundaries have been transgressed, placing humanity outside the Earth's safe operating space. These include climate change, biodiversity loss, freshwater use, land change, biogeochemical flows, and novel entities.^[<span>²</span>^]</p><p>Tackling these sustainability challenges is complex, and it requires collaboration across fields, as no single discipline can fully grasp or resolve these systemic issues and develop innovative, viable, and practical solutions. Despite the recognised need for interdisciplinary approaches to help solve these complex problems, the integration of different disciplines remains bound to barriers and challenges.^[<span>^{7, 8}</span>^]</p><p>In the context of research and academia, the concept of sustainability appeared in the mid-1980s.^[<span>⁹</span>^] However, disciplines such as business, economics, law, science, design, and engineering have traditionally operated within distinct silos, with limited potential for cross-disciplinary synergy. As a result, the interest and focus of these fields often differ, with each discipline prioritizing unique questions to shape <i>their</i> approach to sustainability. For instance, business scholars focus on sustainability through the lenses of management, economics, international business, strategy, organizational and consumer behavior, and econo","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202500273","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144888501","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential Waste-to-Wealth Strategy for Combining Medical Surgical Gloves-Derived Pyrolysis Oil with Pentanol and Nanoparticles: Experimental Analysis on Engine Behaviors","authors":"T Sathish,&nbsp;Ümit Ağbulut,&nbsp;Jayant Giri,&nbsp;Moaz Al-lehaibi,&nbsp;Ahmad O. Hourani,&nbsp;Anh Tuan Hoang","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202500031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500031","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In this work, the applicability of surgical glove waste pyrolysis oil (SGWPO) combined with pentanol and nano-additives (silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and nano-graphene) as a substitute fuel for a 5.2 kW-diesel engine is experimentally conducted, aiming to analyze the test engine's performance and emission characteristics. Neat SGWPO could reach 8.6% less BTE, 32.24%, 18.27%, 36.17%, and 9.72% higher NOx, smoke, CO, and HC emissions than diesel at full load. However, blending SGWPO with 25% pentanol by volume and 100 ppm of SiO₂ nanoparticles or 100 ppm of nanographene could improve the engine results. The obtained results of the nanographene-included SGWPO/pentanol blend are lower than SiO₂-included SGWPO/pentanol blend compared to neat SGWPO. Indeed, the nano-SiO₂-added SGWPO/pentanol blend demonstrated 9.72% higher BTE and 36.81%, 29.1%, 33.06%, and 25.67% reduced NOx, smoke, CO, and hydrocarbon emissions, respectively, compared to neat SGWPO. Therefore, nano-SiO₂-included SGWPO/pentanol is recommended as an alternative fuel for diesel engine operation without any modifications. The recommended nanofuel blend usage in engines simultaneously supports much higher engine performance along with reduced emissions, showing the dual benefits of the waste-to-wealth strategy of surgical glove waste.</p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202500031","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144888451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Can the Thermal Runaway of a Thionyl Chloride Cells Generate a Shock Wave?","authors":"Juliette Charbonnel,&nbsp;Sébastien Dubourg,&nbsp;Etienne Testard,&nbsp;Thibaut Rochard,&nbsp;Christophe Magnier,&nbsp;David Brun-Buisson,&nbsp;Rémi Vincent","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202500140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500140","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Due to their high energy density, thionyl chloride technology are used in a wide range of applications in the aerospace industry. These cells consist of a lithium metal anode and a <i>SOCl</i>₂ liquid cathode. The safety problems posed by these cells received particular attention in the 70 and 80s. However, the generation of shock waves during thermal runaway has never been demonstrated. In this article, for the second time, aerial shock waves are characterized for cells composed of lithium metal. Although the TNT equivalent of thionyl chloride cells is widely dispersed between 0.008 and 0.3 g. Its impact on the mechanical structures of the battery module should not be neglected, nor should its impact on people.</p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202500140","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144888471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}