Reducing Global Warming and Adapting to Climate Change: The Potential of Organic Agriculture

Climate change mitigation is urgent and adaptation to climate change is crucial, particularly in agriculture, where food security is at stake. Agriculture, currently responsible for 20-30% of global greenhouse gas emissions counting direct and indirect agricultural emissions), can however contribute to both climate change mitigation and adaptation. The main mitigation potential lies in the capacity of agricultural soils to sequester CO2 through building organic matter. This potential can be realized by employing sustainable agricultural practices, such as those commonly found within organic farming systems. Examples of these practices are the use of organic fertilizers and crop rotations including legumes leys and cover crops. Mitigation is also achieved in organic agriculture through the avoidance of open biomass burning and the avoidance of synthetic fertilizers and the related production emissions from fossil fuels. Common organic practices also contribute to adaptation. Building soil organic matter increases water retention capacity, and creates more stabile, fertile soils, thus reducing vulnerability to drought, extreme precipitation events, floods and water logging. Adaptation is further supported by increased agro-ecosystem diversity of organic farms, due to reduced nitrogen inputs and the absence of chemical pesticides. The high diversity together with the lower input costs of organic agriculture is key in reducing production risks associated with extreme weather events. All these advantageous practices are not exclusive to organic agriculture. However, they are core parts of the organic production system, in contrast to most non-organic agriculture, where they play a minor role only. Mitigation in agriculture cannot be restricted to the agricultural sector alone, though. Consumer behaviour strongly influences agricultural production systems, and thus their mitigation potential. Significant factors are meat consumption and food wastage. Any discussion on mitigation climate change in agriculture needs to address the entire food chain and needs to be linked to general sustainable development strategies. The main challenges to climate change mitigation and adaptation in organic agriculture and agriculture in general concern a)the understanding of some of the basic processes, such as the interaction of N2O emissions and soil carbon sequestration, contributions of roots to soil carbon sequestration and the life-cycle emissions of organic fertilizers such as compost; b) approaches for emissions accounting that adequately represent agricultural production systems with multiple and diverse outputs and that also encompass ecosystem services; c) the identification and implementation of most adequate policy frameworks for supporting mitigation and adaptation in agriculture, i.e: not putting systemic approaches at a disadvantage due to difficulties in the quantification of emissions, and in their allocation to single products; d) how to assure that the current focus on mitigation does not lead to neglect of the other sustainability aspects of agriculture, such as pesticide loads, eutrophication, acidification or soil erosion and e) the question how to address consumer behaviour and how to utilize the mitigation potential of changes in consumption patterns

The endocoprid dung beetles of southern Africa (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

The biology and ecology of the endocoprid dung beetles of the Aethiopian zoogeographic region has been studied in the field and laboratory. Work has centred mainly on Oniticellus planatus and O. formoaus although infomation has also been supplied on O. egregius, O. pictus and Tragiscus dimidiatus. The taxonomy of Onticellus (s.str.) and Tragiscus has been discussed with the recommendation that O. planattus and O. pseudaplanatus be synonymised. It has been suggested that endocoprid distribution is chiefly controlled by temperature, rainfall and the density of suitable large dung masses. On the basis of distribution it has been suggested that the taxonomic status of the subspecies of O. pictus should be reviewed. Endocoprids (genus Oniticellus (s.str.) are found throughout the warmer regions of Africa and Asia. Tragiscus is found only in Africa. Methods are described for monitoring endocoprids in the field, for distinguishing freshly emerged from older specimens, and for breeding endocoprids under laboratory conditions. It has been shown that endocoprids breed within or just beneath large dung masses unlike most other members of the Scarabaeinae which actively bury dung and construct the their broods at depth in the soil. It has been shown that there is a restriction of breeding sites available to endocoprids due to the removal of dung by the Scarabaeinae beetles and the limited space available within dung pads. This has resulted in low endocoprid population numbers, a disadvantage, which has been countered by highly specialised but opportunistic breeding habits. The requirements of dung plasticity have limited the time available for breeding activity by most endocoprids (excluding O. egresius) so that both the reproductive system and the reproductive behaviour (cf. O. planatus) are geared to rapid egg and brood production. Large numbers of follicles are able to be produced over a short period. In the probable absence of feeding, this has possibly been allowed by the involvement of a well developed fat body. The broods are tended by the parent female during larval development and the follicles are gradually resorbed, probably to prevent starvation. Ovarian recovery is rapid once feeding recommences. Behavioural mechanisms have developed which boost the number of broods constructed and the rapidity with which they are produced. The duration of endocoprid colonisation and the timing of arrival at dung is shown to be related to the rate of pad desiccation which is chiefly controlled by temperature and degree of dung removal by other dung beetles. Precipitation may also play a part. Predation by vertebrates and other insects has been noted and a number of mechanisms are described which are probably protective. Two insect parasitoids of O. formosus larvae have been recorded. The potential use of endocoprids in the Australian dung and fly control project has been discussed and it is recommended that their introduction be considered of low priority. It is suggested that the endocoprids evolved from Euoniticellus type ancestors and that their behaviour complex nidification developed in response to harsh environmental factors, chiefly the danger of desiccation and competition for dung with other dung beetles. From a consideration of brood and brood chamber construction it is suggested that O. egresius is a relatively unspecialised endocoprid which may retain dry season aestivation and has not evolved much further than its probable Euoniticellus type ancestor. The broods are coated in clay and abandoned soon after construction. Greater specialisation is shown by O. planatus and O. formosus which exhibit brooding behaviour, increasing longevity, more specialised brood protection, increased potential fecundity and continuous activity throughout the year. O. formosus shows greater specialisation in brood production than O. planatus. Greatest specialisation is found in T. dimidiatus which exhibits a precise brooding period and low egg production. Brood construction is of a similar degree of specialisation to that of O. formosus. Activity is also continuous throughout the year. The comparative biology of the five southern African endocoprids is summarised in Table 35. Summary, p. 129-131

Equality of restraint: Reframing road safety through the ethics of private motorised transport

BackgroundMotoring is an emancipation. It is both an individual freedom and a collective freedom with car ownership at 30, 491, 000 vehicles by 2019 in Great Britain. Yet, as the evidence of the impacts of road transport accumulates and the health and environmental aims of sustainable travel become clearer, demand for an ethical analysis also intensifies.PurposeThe paper draws on a previous limited ethics-based literature on road transport. Key tenet of liberalism, of ‘freedom from’ as well as ‘freedom to’, are highlighted. This includes Edmund Burke's concept of ‘equality of restraint’ in meeting common needs. Freedom from fear of road traffic danger forms part of an individual's rights.FindingsEquality of rights and freedom from fear in road use have not been key considerations for reducing risks to vulnerable road users. Indeed, ethical issues have largely been ignored. The emergence of Vision Zero within the road safety field with its focus on zero deaths and serious injuries has brought an ethics-based approach to the mainstream although it appears to be struggling to gain traction in neo-liberal societies.ConclusionsThe Covid-19 pandemic has led to UK governments promoting the use of walking and cycling. These modes have hitherto been left to fend for themselves in an environment where road safety has been measured by casualty reduction while fear has suppressed walking and cycling with the consequence losses to physical and mental health. We ask whether an ethics-based contribution, and lessons from Covid-19, can help re-set the direction of UK road safety policy and practice

Synergistic Effect of 3D Current Collectors and ALD Surface Modification for High Coulombic Efficiency Lithium Metal Anodes

Improving the performance of Li metal anodes is a critical bottleneck to enable nextâ generation battery systems beyond Liâ ion. However, stability issues originating from undesirable electrode/electrolyte interactions and Li dendrite formation have impaired longâ term cycling of Li metal anodes. Herein, a bottomâ up fabrication process is demonstrated for a current collector for Li metal electrodeposition and dissolution composed of highly uniform vertically aligned Cu pillars. By rationally controlling geometric parameters of the 3D current collector architecture, including pillar diameter, spacing, and length, the morphology of Li plating/stripping upon cycling can be controlled and optimal cycling performance can be achieved. In addition, it is demonstrated that deposition of an ultrathin layer of ZnO by atomic layer deposition on the current collector surface can facilitate the initial Li nucleation, which dictates the morphology and reversibility of subsequent cycling. This coreâ shell pillar architecture allows for the effects of geometry and surface chemistry to be decoupled and individually controlled to optimize the electrode performance in a synergistic manner. Using this platform, Li metal anodes are demonstrated with Coulombic efficiency up to 99.5%, providing a pathway toward highâ efficiency and longâ cycle life Li metal batteries with reduced excess Li loading.A 3D current collector architecture based on vertically aligned Cu for Li metal anodes is reported. By rationally tuning geometric parameters and surface chemistry of the 3D architecture, the morphology of Li plating/stripping can be controlled. Leveraging the synergistic effects of the optimized geometry and interface modification, cycling of Li metal anodes is demonstrated with Coulombic efficiency up to 99.5%.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147805/1/aenm201802534-sup-0001-S1.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147805/2/aenm201802534_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147805/3/aenm201802534.pd

Nemesis Reconsidered

The hypothesis of a companion object (Nemesis) orbiting the Sun was motivated by the claim of a terrestrial extinction periodicity, thought to be mediated by comet showers. The orbit of a distant companion to the Sun is expected to be perturbed by the Galactic tidal field and encounters with passing stars, which will induce variation in the period. We examine the evidence for the previously proposed periodicity, using two modern, greatly improved paleontological datasets of fossil biodiversity. We find that there is a narrow peak at 27 My in the cross-spectrum of extinction intensity time series between these independent datasets. This periodicity extends over a time period nearly twice that for which it was originally noted. An excess of extinction events are associated with this periodicity at 99% confidence. In this sense we confirm the originally noted feature in the time series for extinction. However, we find that it displays extremely regular timing for about 0.5 Gy. The regularity of the timing compared with earlier calculations of orbital perturbation would seem to exclude the Nemesis hypothesis as a causal factor.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Societ

Alendronate and Resistive Exercise Countermeasures Against Bed Rest-Induced Bone Loss: Biochemical Markers of Bone and Calcium Metabolism

Weightlessness-induced bone loss must be counteracted to ensure crew health during extendedduration space missions. Studies were conducted to assess two bone loss countermeasures in a ground-based model: horizontal bed rest. Following a 3-wk ambulatory adaptation period, male and female subjects (aged 21-56 y) completed a 17-wk bed rest protocol. Subjects were assigned to one of three treatments: alendronate (ALEN; 10 mg/d, n=6), resistive exercise (RE; 1.5 h/d, 6 d/wk, n=8), or control (CN; no countermeasure, n=8). Dietary intake was adjusted to maintain body weight. Endocrine and biochemical indices were measured in blood and urine using standard laboratory methods. All data reported are expressed as percent change from individual pre-bedrest data. Serum calcium changed little during bed rest, and tended to decrease (4-8%) in ALEN subjects. In RE subjects, bone alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin were increased >65 and >30%, respectively, during bed rest, while these were unchanged or decreased in ALEN and CN subjects. Urinary calcium was increased 50% in CN subjects, but was unchanged or decreased in both ALEN and RE groups. Urinary n-telopeptide excretion was increased 40-50% in CN and RE subjects, but decreased 20% in ALEN subjects. Pyridinium crosslink and deoxypyridinoline excretion were increased 20-50% during bed rest. These data suggest that RE countermeasures are effective at increasing markers of bone formation in an analog of weightlessness, while ALEN reduces markers of bone resorption. Counteracting the bone loss of space flight may require both pharmacologic and exercise countermeasures

Do palliative care patients and relatives think it would be acceptable to use Bispectral index (BIS) technology to monitor palliative care patients' levels of consciousness? A qualitative exploration with interviews and focus groups for the I-CAN-CARE research programme

BACKGROUND: Bispectral index (BIS) monitoring uses electroencephalographic data as an indicator of patients' consciousness level. This technology might be a useful adjunct to clinical observation when titrating sedative medications for palliative care patients. However, the use of BIS in palliative care generally, and in the UK in particular, is under-researched. A key area is this technology's acceptability for palliative care service users. Ahead of trialling BIS in practice, and in order to ascertain whether such a trial would be reasonable, we conducted a study to explore UK palliative care patients' and relatives' perceptions of the technology, including whether they thought its use in palliative care practice would be acceptable. METHODS: A qualitative exploration was undertaken. Participants were recruited through a UK hospice. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted with separate groups of palliative care patients, relatives of current patients, and bereaved relatives. We explored their views on acceptability of using BIS with palliative care patients, and analysed their responses following the five key stages of the Framework method. RESULTS: We recruited 25 participants. There were ten current hospice patients in three focus groups, four relatives of current patients in one focus group and one individual interview, and eleven bereaved relatives in three focus groups and two individual interviews. Our study participants considered BIS acceptable for monitoring palliative care patients' consciousness levels, and that it might be of use in end-of-life care, provided that it was additional to (rather than a replacement of) usual care, and patients and/or family members were involved in decisions about its use. Participants also noted that BIS, while possibly obtrusive, is not invasive, with some seeing it as equivalent to wearable technological devices such as activity watches. CONCLUSIONS: Participants considered BIS technology might be of benefit to palliative care as a non-intrusive means of assisting clinical assessment and decision-making at the end of life, and concluded that it would therefore be acceptable to trial the technology with patients

Road space reallocation in Scotland: A health impact assessment

IntroductionRoad space reallocation involves re-distributing space away from motor vehicles, including car parking and carriageway space, towards other uses. This can promote a shift to more sustainable travel modes and is likely to affect health through multiple pathways.MethodsWe conducted a health impact assessment to identify and assess the potential impacts of road space reallocation on health and health inequalities in Scotland. This involved a facilitated scoping workshop to identify potential impacts, collation of routine data, interviews with 13 key informants and a rapid review of research literature.ResultsWe found that road space reallocation could have positive impacts on health by reducing overall levels of private motorised traffic, encouraging walking, wheeling and cycling, realising benefits from alternative uses of space and supporting local businesses. There is potential for positive impact on public transport if space is reallocated to prioritise buses, but bus users can also be disadvantaged if bus routes are diverted or stops impeded. Reallocation can improve transport and health equity if it increases support for modes other than car use, but disabled people may be disadvantaged if the reallocated space, and alternative modes, are not accessible for them.ConclusionsRoad space reallocation can improve health and help reduce health inequalities. However, consideration is needed to ensure sufficient alternatives to car use are supported and the reallocated space is accessible for people with different needs. Reallocation schemes should be considered as part of a wider inclusive approach to road transport supporting active travel and public or community transport. Road space reallocation should contribute to wider place-making initiatives aiming to improve quality of local environments and meet community needs

Evolution of Fields in a Second Order Phase Transition

We analyse the evolution of scalar and gauge fields during a second order phase transition using a Langevin equation approach. We show that topological defects formed during the phase transition are stable to thermal fluctuations. Our method allows the field evolution to be followed throughout the phase transition, for both expanding and non-expanding Universes. The results verify the Kibble mechanism for defect formation during phase transitions.Comment: 12 pages of text plus 17 diagrams available on request, DAMTP 94-8