Comparative Greenhouse Gas Footprinting of Online versus Traditional Shopping for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods : A Stochastic Approach

Variability in consumer practices and choices is typically not addressed in comparisons of environmental impacts of traditional shopping and e-commerce. Here, we developed a stochastic model to quantify the variability in the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprints of product distribution and purchase of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) via three prevalent retail channels in the United Kingdom (U.K.). We found that shopping via bricks and clicks (click and fulfillment via physical store delivery) most likely decreases the GHG footprints when substituting traditional shopping, while FMCGs purchased through pure players with parcel delivery often have higher GHG footprints compared to those purchased via traditional retail. The number of items purchased and the last-mile travel distance are the dominant contributors to the variability in the GHG footprints of all three retail channels. We further showed that substituting delivery vans with electric cargo bikes can lead to a GHG emission reduction of 26% via parcel delivery. Finally, we showed the differences in the "last mile" GHG footprint of traditional shopping in the U.K. compared to three other countries (China, Netherlands, and the United States), which are primarily caused by the different shares of modes of transport (walking and by car, bus, and bike).</p

Illuminating the detection chain of bacterial bioreporters.

Engineering bacteria for measuring chemicals of environmental or toxicological concern (bioreporter bacteria) has grown slowly into a mature research area. Despite many potential advantages, current bioreporters do not perform well enough to comply with environmental detection standards. Basically, the reasons for this are the lack of engineering principles in the detection chain in the bioreporters. Here, we dissect critical steps in the detection chain and illustrate how bioreporter design could be improved by mutagenizing specificity and selectivity of the sensing and regulatory proteins, by newer expression strategies and application of different signalling networks. Furthermore, we describe how redesigning bioreporter assays with respect to pollutant transport into the cells and application of other detection devices can decrease detection limits and increase the speed of detection

Retrospectiva da produção científica do SIBRACEn: (1988-1994) Retrospectiva de la producción científica del SIBRACEn: (1988-1994) Retrospective analysis of the scientific production presented at the Brazilian Symposium on Nursing Communication - SIBRACEn: (1988-1994)

Buscou-se identificar algumas características da produção científica acerca da Comunicação em Enfermagem tendo-se como amostra os trabalhos de temas livres apresentados nos quatro eventos - Simpósio Brasileiro de Comunicação em Enfermagem (1988, 1990, 1992 e 1994). Verificou-se que a maioria dos autores é composta por docentes, que realizam as investigações preferencialmente em grupos, enfocando principalmente como sujeitos as díades (profissionais e clientela), estabelecendo como objeto de estudo aspectos da interação (qualidade e efetividade), bem como aspectos da produção/utilização do conhecimento em Enfermagem. O contexto interpessoal é o usualmente mais pesquisado. A área mais estudada é a assistencial e o ambiente é o hospitalar. As investigações são na maioria do tipo não experimento. Os resultados arrolados pelos seus autores evidenciam aspectos de inadequação da comunicação nas áreas da assistência (incluindo a administração), da educação (principalmente da clientela) e da pesquisa. Ao mesmo tempo percebe-se a tendência subjacente de busca de soluções inovadoras, bem como avanço no conhecimento do processo de comunicação.<br>En este estudio se buscó identificar algunas características de la producción científica sobre Comunicación en Enfermería tenendo en consideración los trabajos presentados en los cuatro eventos del Simpósio Brasileño de Comunicación en Enfermería (1988, 1990, 1992 y 1994). Se verificó que la mayoría de los autores está compuesta por docentes, que realizan sus investigaciones en grupos, enfocando principalmente como sujetos las diades (profesionales y clientela), estabeleciendo como objeto de estudio aspectos de la interacción (cualidad y efectividad) y aspectos de la producción/utilización del conocimiento en Enfermería. El contexto interpersonal es lo más investigado. El área más estudiada es la asistencial y el ambiente es el hospital. La mayoría de las investigaciones son del tipo no experimento. Los resultados evidenciaron aspectos de inadecuacidad de la comunicación en área de asistencia (incluyendo la administración), educación (principalmente la clientela) e investigación. Al mismo tiempo, percíbese una tendencia de búsqueda por soluciones innovadoras, también por el avance del conocimento sobre el proceso de comunicación.<br>The present study had the purpose of identifying characteristics of the scientific production on Nursing Communication based on a sample of papers presented at four events of the Brazilian Symposium on Nursing Communication (1988, 1990, 1992 and 1994). The majority of authors were faculty, who developed research mainly in groups, focussing as subjects the dyad (professionals and clientele), establishing as objects of their studies aspects of interaction (quality and effectiveness) as well as aspects of the production and utilization of Nursing knowledge. Interpersonal context was the most investigated, care was the area most studied and the usual environment was the hospital. Research were mainly of non-experimental type. Results evidenced aspects of communication inadequateness in areas of care (including administration), education (mainly of clientele) and research. At the same time, authors perceived the trend towards innovative solutions and improvement of knowledge on the communication process