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202409 bcch ; RGC ; Published ; 24 months ; Green (AAM)

Over the past billion years, the fungal kingdom has diversified to more than two million species, with over 95% still undescribed. Beyond the well-known macroscopic mushrooms and microscopic yeast, fungi are heterotrophs that feed on almost any organic carbon, recycling nutrients through the decay of dead plants and animals and sequestering carbon into Earth's ecosystems. Human-directed applications of fungi extend from leavened bread, alcoholic beverages and biofuels to pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics and psychoactive compounds. Conversely, fungal infections pose risks to ecosystems ranging from crops to wildlife to humans; these risks are driven, in part, by human and animal movement, and might be accelerating with climate change. Genomic surveys are expanding our knowledge of the true biodiversity of the fungal kingdom, and genome-editing tools make it possible to imagine harnessing these organisms to fuel the bioeconomy. Here, we examine the fungal threats facing civilization and investigate opportunities to use fungi to combat these threats.

The dam and hydropower plant in the Marun basin located in southwestern Iran have faced severe challenges in recent years in providing agricultural irrigation water and domestic electricity due to the adverse effects of climate change and population growth. To overcome these challenges, 11 strategies as water-energy nexus scenarios were discussed. For this purpose, first, the effects of climate change on temperature and precipitation variables were examined in three concentration pathway (RCP) RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 from fifth report of International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Then, the inflow to the reservoir and the irrigation water required in the future time period were calculated using the artificial neural network and Cropwat models, respectively. The water system was modeled in the water evaluation and planning (WEAP) model, and the energy system was modeled in the low emissions analysis platform (LEAP) model and then coupled with each other. Considering the field situation of the Marun basin, 11 water-energy nexus (WEN) scenarios and nine nexus indexes for evaluating the scenarios were proposed by the expert group. In order to select the best scenario in the future time interval, the ordinal priority approach (OPA) decision-making method integrated with D-number theory was used. The results reveal that the maximum water-energy nexus sustainability index under RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5 scenarios are 31.56, 34.3, and 34.9 for the WEN4 (i.e., reducing the weeds and vegetables cultivation area by 30%), WEN7 (i.e., reduction in the grain maize and vegetables cultivation area each by 5% units and increasing forage crops cultivation area by 10% units), and WEN11 (i.e., decreasing household electricity consumption intensity by 20% throughout increasing electricity tariffs) scenarios, respectively. Also, the results of the OPA method show that the most important index in evaluating the nexus scenarios is the energy sector sustainability index with a weight of 0.142, and the best nexus scenario is the WEN7 scenario with a final weight of 0.189. The comprehensive decision-making process within the comprehensive framework of the water-energy nexus under the impact of climate change, presented in this study, can easily be adopted and applied in other river basins because of verified tools in water and energy, explicit steps, and available initial data.

The transition from gasoline-powered vehicles (GVs) to electric vehicles (EVs) is crucial for promoting green transportation. However, this transition poses challenges for mobility service providers (MSPs) due to increased operational costs. Motivating MSPs to adopt EVs and minimizing the negative impact on the urban transportation system requires effective strategies. Government agencies (Govs) commonly employ market-oriented instruments (e.g., carbon cap-and-trade schemes) and non-market-oriented instruments (e.g., the installment of emission reduction devices for GVs) to address emission reduction goals. In response to the Gov emission reduction policies, MSPs must decide whether to (i) replace their GVs with EVs and (ii) install emission reduction devices and purchase emission quotas for their GVs. The dynamics of emission quota supply and demand further influence equilibrium carbon prices in the carbon market. To capture the complex interactions between MSPs and the Gov, we propose a bilevel optimization model. Building upon this model, we consider two extensions: First, MSPs have the flexibility to adjust the number of operating vehicles. Second, there are heterogeneous MSPs, with some exclusively owning EVs and others owning GVs. Analytical findings reveal that MSPs benefit from replacing GVs with EVs only when the cost of EV replacement is less than or equal to the monetary benefit obtained by selling excess emission quotas in the carbon market. Moreover, as the Gov imposes stricter regulations, the EV replacement rate is more likely to increase, while the cumulative number of operating vehicles decreases, which ultimately passes on the emission reduction costs to travelers.

Broadband has revolutionized how businesses operate. Research has demonstrated the importance of broadband adoption by smaller businesses to ensure growth as they make up over 90% of all businesses worldwide. This is especially for rural-based smaller businesses as limited innovation for them may lead to social exclusion between rural and urban areas. Research has identified a lag in the take-up of broadband by rural businesses in comparison to other businesses. Investigating broadband adoption by rural businesses may inform solutions to improving the rural economy. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to review literature related to investigating drivers and barriers to broadband adoption by rural businesses to identify solutions for improving broadband take-up amongst rural businesses. Through a systematic literature review (SLR), this paper reviews studies from 2000 to 2023. A thematic analysis identifies drivers and barriers to broadband adoption, however, size, sector, frequency of broadband adoption and level of rurality for the businesses are not clarified. The review identified limited primary research in regions like South America, the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia. Findings inform the development of a conceptual framework. Infrastructure highlighted as a barrier may inform policymakers. Findings may also inform the take-up of broadband by other businesses.