Unlocking the potential: A paradigm-shifting approach for valorizing lignocellulosic waste biomass of constructed wetland enabling environmental and societal sustainability

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are widely recognized as nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment, offering various socio-economic and ecological benefits. However, the sustainable management and disposal of waste biomass generated from CWs have received limited attention. Owing to the rich lignocellulosic proportions, the harvested vegetation can potentially serve as a feedstock for various value-added products, including natural fiber-reinforced polymeric composites (NFRPCs). In this context, for the first time, we present a comprehensive review exploring different valorization routes employed to gainfully utilize waste biomass from CWs. The study discusses various value-added products developed so far from the waste biomass of CW. Biogas generation and bioethanol production are the most commonly explored valorization pathways. However, the commercial implementation of these value-added products is stalled by factors such as growth conditions, pretreatment, moisture content, process conditions, and limited energy recovery efficiency. Furthermore, this article introduces a novel class of sustainable materials, namely NFRPCs, developed for the first time by utilizing waste biomass from CWs as a reinforcement element in the polymeric matrix. A detailed analysis of the physical, mechanical, structural, and crystallographic characteristics of Canna indica (CI)-reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites is also discussed to evaluate their pertinence for structural applications. Additionally, we provide an in-depth review of natural-fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites, comprising single-fiber composites, hybrid fiber composites, and composites reinforced with organic/inorganic fillers. This comprehensive review emphasizes the potential of utilizing waste biomass from CWs as a sustainable feedstock for developing NFRPCs. It also highlights the promising prospects of NFRPCs as a sustainable substitute to synthetic fiber-reinforced composites, contributing to a circular economy and a greener future

Small-scale sheep and cattle enterprises in Scotland: demographics, animal health, and biosecurity

Livestock keepers who operate on a small scale in the United Kingdom are often described as either smallholders or hobby farmers; however, this is not always the case. There is another distinct population in Scotland. The crofting system promotes the preservation of a way of life that is significant to the cultural heritage of Scotland, whilst at the same time utilising and maintaining marginal land that could otherwise be deemed of very low productive value. We developed two cross-sectional questionnaire surveys to gather descriptive data about individuals from two populations (crofters and smallholders) who kept sheep and/or cattle. Our aim was to explore demographics, animal health, husbandry, and biosecurity practices of these two communities, including how they may interact with other livestock sectors. Most respondents in each population kept sheep, with far fewer keeping cattle. There was a distinct geographical difference in the approximate location of respondents’ holdings. Movement of sheep was often local, temporary, and exempt from reporting to national databases. Visits from the vet were infrequent, but the vet remained an important source of animal health advice, alongside peer networks.The information from these surveys is valuable because policy decisions taken with predominantly larger, commercial-scale enterprises in mind also frequently apply to small-scale enterprises, even though these smaller enterprises may not have the same opportunity to influence those decisions or implement the requirements. Aspects of agricultural activity and food production at the scale explored in these surveys – including plurality of employment and diversification away from purely agricultural activities – are relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of sustainable cities and communities, zero hunger and life on land. In this context, competent authorities should support this type of context-sensitive agriculture, alongside seeking to maintain animal health and welfare standards at the highest possible level on a national scale. Our surveys contribute to improved understanding of how these enterprises function and therefore will support policy makers when considering the breadth of keepers and circumstances affected by rules and regulations governing agriculture

A review of the impact of decision heuristics on calorie underestimation and the implications for unhealthy eating

PurposeThe global rise in obesity can be closely linked to excessive calorie consumption and misperceptions regarding food intake. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to review the existing literature to have a better understanding how heuristic cues – mental shortcuts used for decision-making – impact calorie underestimation and consequently lead to unhealthy eating habits.Design/methodology/approachA search was conducted across multiple databases with priority given to studies in developed countries that provided insights into the cognitive processes behind food choices, the application of specific heuristics, and the association with eating behaviours. Articles were also selected based on their methodological quality.FindingsThe main findings are that the dichotomous categorization of foods as healthy or unhealthy can result in underestimating the calorie content in those foods perceived as healthy. Although nutrition claims, health claims and campaigns help in the fight against obesity, there is also the risk that consumers’ reliance on heuristic-based decision-making could aggravate the problem because a misinterpretation or misrepresentation could lead to calorie underestimation and overeating.Practical implicationsTo establish effective behavioural interventions for obesity prevalence, it is critical for interventions and policies to understand how consumers perceive calorie content and how they interpret claims on food marketing or packaging. Recognizing and addressing these heuristic-driven biases and understanding the factors influencing food choices are crucial for encouraging healthier eating habits.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the only review to date that consolidates research on the topic, drawing from multiple disciplines

Implementing Competency-Based Veterinary Education: A Survey of AAVMC Member Institutions on Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies for Success

Competency-based education is increasingly being adopted across the health professions. A model for competency-based education in veterinary medicine was recently developed by a working group of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) and is being used in institutions worldwide. The purpose of this study was to gather information on progress in and barriers to implementing competency-based education (including use of the AAVMC competency-based veterinary education (CBVE) Model) by AAVMC member schools to inform the development of strategies to support institutions in successful implementation of the CBVE Model. A cross-sectional survey was developed and distributed to AAVMC member institutions via an AAVMC web-based communication platform. Thirty-four of 55 AAVMC member institutions responded to the survey (62% response rate). Twenty schools reported using a competency-based education framework. Eleven of these institutions had implemented the AAVMC CBVE Framework, with an additional 12 institutions anticipating implementing it over the next 3 years. Timing, resources, and change management were the most commonly reported challenges to implementation. Suggestions for development of training resources included translation of milestones to pre-clinical courses, development of assessments, guidance on making progress decisions, illustrative overviews of specific components of the CBVE Model (e.g., the AAVMC CBVE Framework, EPAs, entrustment scales, milestones), and curriculum mapping. This study assesses progress in implementing the CBVE Model in AAVMC member schools and aids in identifying key challenges and resources to support faculty and institutions in the successful adoption and implementation of this educational model

Mitigating cost vector effects in stated choice experiments using cheap talk and opt-out reminders

The magnitude and range of the cost attribute levels in stated choice experiments have been found to affect willingness to pay (WTP) estimates. Such cost vector effects are of concern for the validity of derived welfare estimates. This paper employs a treatment design to investigate whether using a cheap talk and opt-out reminder device, which has previously been found to be effective in reducing hypothetical bias, mitigates potential cost vector effects. In the context of a stated choice experiment to value outcomes of marine and coastal management in Germany, results show considerable cost vector effects in a set of four control treatments that do not apply cheap talk and repeated opt-out reminders: WTP estimates are significantly higher as the magnitude of the cost attribute levels increases. However, cost vector effects are reduced substantially in another treatment arm where the combined cheap talk and opt-out reminder device is used, and model fit increases relative to control reatments. Ancillary results demonstrate how the device increases the validity of stated preference responses and resulting welfare measures. The findings suggest that the inexpensive use of this device in stated choice experiments may be an effective way to mitigate potential cost vector effects at the design stage.<br/

The impacts of precision livestock farming tools on the greenhouse gas emissions of an average Scottish dairy farm

Precision livestock farming (PLF) tools are increasingly used in daily herd management to improve health, welfare, and overall production. While not intended to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on farm, PLF tools can do so indirectly by improving overall efficiency, thereby reducing the emissions per unit of product. This work modelled the potential effects of commercially available PLF tools on whole enterprise and product emissions of two average Scottish dairy farm systems (an 8,000  L and 10,000  L herd) using the Agrecalc carbon foot printing tool. Scenarios modelled included an improvement infertility and an improvement in fertility and yield from the introduction of an accelerometer-based sensor, and an improvement in health from introduction of an accelerometer-based sensor, with and without the use of management interventions. Use of a sensor intended to improve fertility had the large streduction in total emissions (kg CO2e) of −1.42% for a 10,000  L farm, with management changes applied. The largest reduction in emissions from milk production (kg CO2e) of −2.31% was observed via fertility technology application in an 8,000  L farm, without management changes. The largest reduction in kg CO2e per kg fat and protein corrected milk of −6.72% was observed from an improvement in fertility and yield in a 10,000  L herd, with management changes. This study has highlighted the realistic opportunities available to dairy farmers in low and high input dairy systems to reduce their emissions through adoption of animal mounted PLF technologies

Drivers of soybean-based rotations synergistically increase crop productivity and reduce GHG emissions

Soybean-based rotations have long proven beneficial for increasing subsequent crop productivity and nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) under low chemical N inputs. Despite this, importance of soil microbial community and enzymes in N cycling processes has not been well investigated. As well, optimal fertilizer-N that achieve high yield and NUE with low GHG emissions remain uncertain, as perceived “optimal” fertilization varies widely across agroclimatic regions, seasons and production systems. Here, our systematic review indicated that soybean-based rotations mitigate soil-borne diseases, such as cyst nematodes, and thus contribute to increased soybean yield. We show that soybean roots produce large amounts of root exudates, which are conducive to formation of soil macroaggregates and carbon accumulation, enhancing soil health and productivity of gramineous crops. Biological N fixation (BNF) and rhizosphere N deposition of soybean crops together evoke high soil N content and low C:N ratio. We found that soybean-based rotations significantly alleviated acidification and positively influenced soil microbial activities and enzyme activities, reducing N2O and CO2 emissions. Our study demonstrates that reduced fertilizer N inputs catalyse greater BNF and pre-crop effects of soybean in rotations. We provide compelling dialogue that underlines the biological, environmental and economic implications of soybean crops for long term sustainability in farming systems.</p

Overexpression and nonsynonymous mutations of UDP-glycosyltransferases are potentially associated with pyrethroid resistance in Anopheles funestus

UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) enzymes are pivotal in insecticide resistance by transforming hydrophobic substrates into more hydrophilic forms for efficient cell elimination. This study provides the first comprehensive investigation of Anopheles funestus UGT genes, their evolution, and their association with pyrethroid resistance. We employed a genome-wide association study using pooled sequencing (GWAS-PoolSeq) and transcriptomics on pyrethroid-resistant An. funestus, along with deep-targeted sequencing of UGTs in 80 mosquitoes Africa-wide. UGT310B2 was consistently overexpressed Africa-wide and significant gene-wise Fst differentiation was observed between resistant and susceptible populations: UGT301C2 and UGT302A3 in Malawi, and UGT306C2 in Uganda. Additionally, nonsynonymous mutations in UGT genes were identified. Gene-wise Tajima's D density curves provide insights into population structures within populations across these countries, supporting previous observations. These findings have important implications for current An. funestus control strategies facilitating the prediction of cross-resistance to other UGT-metabolised polar insecticides, thereby guiding more effective and targeted insecticide resistance management efforts.</p

A prospective cohort study examining the association of claw anatomy and sole temperature with the development of claw horn disruption lesions in dairy cattle

Foot characteristics have been linked to the development of sole lesions (sole hemorrhage and sole ulcers) and white line lesions, also known as claw horn disruption lesions (CHDL). The objective of this study was to examine the association of claw anatomy and sole temperature with the development of CHDL. A cohort of 2,352 cows was prospectively enrolled from 4 UK farms and assessed at 3 time points: before calving (T1-precalving), immediately after calving (T2-calving), and in early lactation. At each time point body condition score was recorded, a thermography image of each foot was taken for sole temperature measurement, the presence of CHDL was assessed by veterinary surgeons, and an ultrasound image was taken to retrospectively measure the digital cushion and sole horn thickness. Additionally, at the postcalving time point, foot angle and heel depth were recorded. Four multivariable logistic regression models were fit to separately examine the relationship of precalving and postcalving explanatory variables with the development of either white line lesions or sole lesions. Explanatory variables tested included digital cushion thickness, sole horn thickness, sole temperature, foot angle, and heel depth. Farm, parity, body condition score, and presence of lesion at the time of measurement were also included in the models. A thicker digital cushion shortly after calving was associated with decreased odds of cows developing sole lesions during early lactation (odds ratio [OR]: 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65–0.84). No association was found between digital cushion thickness and development of white line lesions. Sole temperature after calving was associated with increased odds of the development of sole lesions (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.02–1.05), and sole temperature before and after calving was associated with the development of white line lesions (T1-precalving OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.07; T2-calving OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.93–0.99). Neither foot angle nor heel depth was associated with the development of either lesion type. However, an increased sole horn thickness after calving reduced the odds of cows developing sole lesions during early lactation (OR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.83–0.93), highlighting the importance of maintaining adequate sole horn when foot trimming. Before calving, animals with a lesion at the time of measurement and a thicker sole were more likely to develop a sole lesion (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.09–1.40), compared with those without a sole lesion. The results presented here suggest that white line and sole lesions may have differing etiopathogenesis. Results also confirm the association between the thickness of the digital cushion and the development of sole lesions, highlight the association between sole horn thickness and sole lesions, and challenge the potential importance of foot angle and heel depth in the development of CHDL.</p

Polydopamine-Enabled Biomimetic Surface Engineering of Materials:New Insights and Promising Applications

Surface modification is an important approach to modify the properties of materials. Numerous approaches have been adopted to tailor the properties of such materials, which have been proven successful at many scales and parameters. However, most of these techniques are often tedious, poorly adhesive, costly, sometimes hazardous, and surface-specific, hence cannot be extended on a large scale and all kinds of surfaces. These shortcomings have led to the emergence of new dopamine (DA) based green surface modification technique where a thin polydopamine (PDA) layer is deposited on surfaces through a facile polymerization of DA under alkaline conditions to enable the surface for various applications. This surface modification strategy has several advantages over other techniques in deposition processing under mild conditions, cost-effective and straightforward ingredients, and applicability to all kinds of surfaces regardless of their sizes, shapes, and types. Moreover, the PDA layer enhances the surface functionality. Therefore, it can serve as a versatile platform for various secondary reactions for a wide range of applications. Herein, the chemistry of DA is summarized and its polymerized form PDA for the modification of different families of materials’ surfaces with an emphasis on energy, environmental and biological applications.</p