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According to the fifth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, changes in land use through urbanization and agriculture are the key anthropogenic effects of climate change. Thus, the preservation of natural environment of urban areas is essential for conserving water and soil, while still adjusting the microclimatic variables (temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, etc.) and stabilizing the natural ecological system from destruction. It has been observed that most parts of city's green vegetation have been lost due to housing developments and commercial activities. This study was carried out to assess the effect of the change in land use on a modern city like Sunyani, by observing the significant changes in vegetation cover from LANDSAT TM imagery over a 31-year period (1986-2017). From the study, there was significant decline of vegetation cover from 1986 to 1999, and no significant change from 1999 to 2017. There were also significant changes in the built-up areas from 1986 to 1999 and no significant change from 1999 to 2017. Adoption of sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies that maintain open green vegetation is recommended for future city planning.

We report on the properties of Eu-doped ZnO nanorods prepared by chemical bath deposition from aqueous solutions in an autoclave. The autoclave enables to grow the nanorods above the boiling point of water. The nanorods were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and low temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy. Under the UV light excitation, the nanorods show a strong blue emission at 450 nm, which is associated with the 4f(6)5d - 4f(4) transitions of Eu2+ ions. We discuss the mechanisms responsible for the blue luminescence. We further clarify how the growth parameters affect the morphology and the optical properties of the nanorods. Growth temperatures above the boiling point of water significantly influence the intensity ratio of the near band edge emission to the deep level emission and greatly enhance optical quality of the nanorods.

‘DRIVE4EU - Dandelion Rubber and Inulin Valorization and Exploitation for Europe’, a demonstration project, aims at the development of a value chain for natural rubber and inulin from Rubber dandelions. The objective of the project is to set up a new European chain for the production and processing of natural rubber. This will enable the EU to become less dependent on the import of natural rubber and at the same time to respond to the threat of a global rubber shortage. The viability of using Rubber dandelions for rubber and inulin production depends on the sustainability of this new value chain. The results of a general economic assessment shows that the total costs over the whole value chain are dominated by the costs for cultivation and harvesting and the cost for biorefining. The combination of natural rubber and inulin makes Rubber dandelion very interesting as a production platform. Proceedings of the 25th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 12-15 June 2017, Stockholm, Sweden, pp. 1292-1293

The chapter is based on analysis of the data from the different parts of Europe on the issue of energy poverty in order to undertake explorative work on comparative energy poverty research. The questionnaire surveys, which were conducted in five studied cities (Brno, Kassel, Leipzig, Lüneburg and Poznan) included 49 open, partly-open and closed questions on the locations and characteristics of dwellings, reasons for choosing the dwelling and personal opinions on its conditions, housing and energy costs, energy use, and the personal situation of the interviewee and other households members.

The aim of the project was to find an effective way for the selection of optimal raw materials to obtain high quality coke for steel production. The work concentrated on optimization of coal blends composition and prediction of coke quality, straight from the blends properties.