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Kerbside waste-collection schemes may need optimisation, highlights Portuguese study

A new analysis of waste recycling systems in Portugal highlights where kerbside (edge of pavement) collection systems could be optimised, to decrease their environmental impact. In this case, researchers found that the kerbside system was less favourable economically and environmentally due to more packaging and more fuel consumption per tonne of waste, compared to a system where recyclable materials are deposited by residents in large containers. But the researchers suggest that measures such as re-usable boxes and efficient collection routes could help to mitigate the impact of kerbside collection. While there is an environmental impact from waste collection, processing and disposal, this study only focused on the collection phase.




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Energy-efficient cooperative housing reduces bills for residents

Relatively simple, low-cost measures, such as insulating walls and installing solar collectors and efficient heaters for hot water can significantly reduce energy consumption in housing developments, according to a recent study from Portugal. Energy-efficient homes not only benefit the environment, but were found to potentially reduce residents’ energy bills by over half in an apartment block studied by the researchers.




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Energy efficiency policies for home renovations and retrofitting should consider the social factors

Policies and programmes providing technological solutions to improve household energy efficiency alone may be insufficient to actually reduce overall household energy consumption, finds new research. The research examined home renovators’ motivations, behaviours and use of green technologies. Overall, reduced energy consumption was often undermined by other considerations, such as installation and maintenance costs, aesthetic considerations and daily routines or social concerns.




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Water consumption of green energy production should be considered

A recent study highlights the need to consider water consumption when evaluating low-carbon energy production systems, such as biofuels and solar photovoltaic systems, for use in transportation.




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Management strategies for EU water bodies should consider sustainability of ecosystem services, Italy

Considering the sustainability of the services provided by an ecosystem could help to overcome management challenges and hit water quality targets defined by the EU, says a new study. By exploring 13 of the ecosystem services (ES) provided by the Venice Lagoon, Italy, the researchers identify factors affecting sustainable and unsustainable patterns of ES provision, and suggest that confined and more open water bodies could benefit from different management strategies.




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US fiscal stimulus will keep IT downside in check: Infosys

The US government’s massive $2-trillion stimulus is expected to provide liquidity to companies, including banking and financial services that are the biggest outsourcers of IT. Infosys gets 31% of its revenue from banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI).




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Oppo takes IoT, services route to grow business: India President

Chinese smartphone maker Oppo expects the Covid-19 supply chain disruption to end in a week or two. It is also planning to open a 5G lab in Hyderabad.




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Set-aside land improves farmland biodiversity in Hungary

Setting aside agricultural land remains an important method of promoting biodiversity in Central Europe, according to new Hungarian research. Results have indicated that, compared to winter cereal fields, set-aside land has greater plant and insect diversity. This supports the continuing use of set-aside policy in Central and Eastern Europe.




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'Soft' flood defences to protect riverside biodiversity

Riversides that are unprotected by flood defences are home to more diverse plant communities, according to a new study. According to the researchers of the study, 'soft' approaches to flood management, which work in harmony with natural processes, could help promote biodiversity in flood-prone regions.




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Urban gardens provide many ecosystem services to Barcelona residents

Urban gardeners in Barcelona, Spain, identified 20 ecosystem service benefits, from pollination to environmental learning, in a recent study. Cultural ecosystem services — mainly related to the opportunity for residents to interact with nature — were the most common and highly valued of the ecosystem services identified.




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Oilseed rape genes transfer from inside to outside of crop fields: study could aid GM risk assessment

This study is one of few to assess the genetic diversity of crops in an agroecosystem over several years. Researchers analysed the genetic makeup of oilseed rape plants within and outside crop fields over four years. They found similarity between cultivars of field plants in one year and those of feral plants (unplanted) in the following year. They also found persistence of the cultivars within the feral plants, which suggests that feral populations with genetically modified (GM) traits might result from persistent GM traits within field seed banks. The researchers say their findings could aid impact assessments of GM crops.




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Set-aside fields increase the diversity of decomposers in soil in Hungarian agricultural landscapes

A new study has investigated the effects of set-aside management —when fields are taken out of agricultural production — on common invertebrate decomposers in soil. The diversity of woodlice species was higher in set-aside fields compared to neighbouring wheat fields and this effect increased in older set-asides. This study highlights the importance of set-aside areas as habitats for soil invertebrates, which are important for soil health.




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Changes in soil carbon, biodiversity and ecotoxicity should be considered when assessing environmental impact of dairy products

Considering the impact on soil carbon, biodiversity and ecotoxicity is important when assessing the environmental footprint of dairy products, suggests a new study, which explored the impacts of organic and conventional milk production in three types of system established in Western Europe. The study found that organic milk production had a significantly lower impact on ecotoxicity and biodiversity than conventional milk production, and suggests that including soil carbon changes in the assessment would result in greater reductions in the carbon footprint of organic, rather than conventional, milk — in some cases by up to 18%.




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Analysis of greywater reuse considers pollutant management

Research into reuse of domestic 'greywater' (non-toilet wastewater) has found that typical treatment systems can significantly reduce overall water consumption. However, non-biodegradable micropollutants will continue to reach municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), unless a new disposal route is found for the greywater treatment sludge.




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Nanoparticle release from self-cleaning cement: new study considers how much escapes into the environment, and how

New figures on how much titanium dioxide nanomaterial (TiO2-NM) could be released into the environment from photocatalytic cement — a new type of self-cleaning cement — are presented in a recent study. Based on experimental test results, the researchers estimate that between 0.015% and 0.033% of photocatalytic cement’s TiO2-NM content could potentially escape over several years of cement use, depending on the level of cement porosity. The study could help inform environmental risk assessment of TiO2-NM, as well as safer design of nano-products (i.e. commercialised products incorporating nanomaterials).




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Air quality co-benefits should be considered in climate policies

Measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have the additional benefit of reducing air pollutants. However, these benefits are rarely included in the design and evaluation of climate change policies. A new study suggests that considering these benefits in climate change policy could reduce the cost of such policies, and engage stakeholders who are otherwise unmotivated to tackle climate change.




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Gas flaring and residential burning pollute the Arctic more than previously thought

Gas flaring and residential combustion are significant sources of soot, or black carbon, pollution in the Arctic, but their role has been underestimated until now, according to a recent study. The research indicates that flaring from oil and gas developments is the largest source of this pollutant, responsible for 42% of black carbon pollution in the Arctic.




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Shore side electricity: key policy recommendations for uptake

A new study quantifies the economic and environmental potential of powering docked ships in European ports using local electricity networks. The authors give key recommendations on policy actions to enable implementation in European harbours.




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Inside planet Earth / produced by Pioneer Productions for Discovery Channel ; Discovery Communications ; produced and directed by Martin Williams ; producer: Martin Mortimore




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YMCA of Greater Houston Reopening Update from President and CEO Stephen Ives




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Rise of the side hustle - why are side jobs so popular?

Money can be particularly tight at this time of year, but one trend helping to combat this is taking on a sideline job - aka a 'side hustle'.




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VDOT’S FARMVILLE RESIDENCY OFFICE TO OPEN - Services to begin transition from Dillwyn facility

LYNCHBURG —Administrative oversight of maintenance and land use services for the counties of Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, and Prince Edward has started to relocate from the old Dillwyn Residency site on Rosney Road in the Town of Dillwyn to the newly constructed Farmville site on Commerce Road in the Town of Farmville.




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Route 7 Lane Shifts and Side Street Closures in Vienna and Great Falls




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I-66 Outside the Beltway Lane Closures and Traffic Changes May 10-16




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I-66 Outside the Beltway Lane Closures and Traffic Changes May 3-9




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Keybridge Capital Limited 08R - Panel Receives Review Application and Acting President Makes Interim Orders [14/04/2020]

Media Release



  • News and Events

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​Prestigious Lecture Series named after NTU President by IIT Madras 

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​Prestigious Lecture Series named after NTU President by IIT Madras

Prof Subra Suresh, a Distinguished University Professor and President of NTU Singapore, was honoured by his alma mater, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, which launched the Prof Subra Suresh Institute Lecture Series....




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​Prof Su Guaning, President Emeritus of NTU Singapore, elected to the United States National Academy of Engineering

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Prof Su Guaning, President Emeritus of NTU Singapore, elected to the United States National Academy of Engineering

Professor Su Guaning, President Emeritus of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), has been elected to the United States' National Academy of Engineering (NAE)....




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NTU President's speech at the 100th Anniversary Annual Meeting of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences

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​NTU scientists develop handheld, high-resolution medical imaging device with potential for bedside scanning

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​NTU scientists develop handheld, high-resolution medical imaging device with potential for bedside scanning

Scientists at NTU Singapore have developed the prototype of a handheld medical imaging device that can produce images down to resolutions of 1 to 2 micrometres. This is detailed enough to spot the first signs of tumours in specific cells and is about 100 times higher resolution than what X-Ray, computed tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines can provide....




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When should a person be considered an adult?

Forget 18. Research shows that the human brain does not fully mature until much later.



  • Protection & Safety

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Oil industry insider describes BP 'monster' lurking in the Gulf

100,000 barrels per day and a tilting wellhead presage doomsday scenario, according to an industry insider.



  • Research & Innovations

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Stunning belly art reveals baby inside her mom's body

A photographer, a body painter, and a pregnant woman team up to show what it looks like inside the womb.



  • Babies & Pregnancy

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Coop du jour: Inside a run-down hen house-turned-rustic family cottage [Video]

A family proves that even the most ramshackle out buildings can be transformed into cozy, habitable spaces with a bit of hard work and creative design.



  • Remodeling & Design

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Inside the micro-apartments of America's oldest indoor shopping mall

Indie retail and urban downsizing collide at this smart example of adaptive reuse that breathes new life into a historic shopping center.



  • Remodeling & Design

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U.N. considers banning thimerosal from vaccines

Health experts argue that banning the preservative could make it difficult for children in developing countries to get life-saving vaccines.



  • Fitness & Well-Being

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Why the giant heads of 43 presidents are sitting in a field in Virginia

Dozens of massive president heads sit in a field in Virginia, waiting for a new home in a museum.



  • Arts & Culture

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This man's love affair with icebergs will warm you on the inside

No one gets more excited about iceberg season than camera-toting Canadian Mark Gray.




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A question from President Obama

Mother Nature Network's 'Ask Vanessa' offers unsolicited advice on the environment for the president.




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Mummy found hiding inside ancient Buddha statue

A Chinese statue of a Buddha has revealed a hidden surprise: The mummified remains of a monk who lived nearly 1,000 years ago.



  • Research & Innovations

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Obama's dirty little secret: his Presidential limo is a gas guzzler

Should we care that Obama's Presidential Limo will get single digit miles per gallon?




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10 uses for honey outside the kitchen

Bees make it and we get to enjoy it. But honey is good for more than just sweetening recipes, here are 10 ways to use honey.



  • Fitness & Well-Being

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How to survive pollen season (without locking yourself inside the house)

How to pollen-proof your life with these 20 tips for seasonal allergy sufferers.




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Growing the Nissan Leaf: Inside America's largest car factory

The Nissan Leaf will be produced in Tennessee, in America's largest auto plant under one roof. Take a tour with me on the electric tram.




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Inside Nissan's zero emission Leaf

Phil Lebeau has a hands-on look at Nissan's highly anticipated all-electric vehicle, the "Leaf."




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'High Voltage': A look inside the electric vehicle industry

Jim Motavalli shares his insights about electric vehicles in his new book, High Voltage: The Fast Track to Plug in the Auto Industry.




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Vertical garden inside O'Hare Airport is a first

44 different types of organic herbs and vegetables are growing in the middle of Chicago's busy international airport.



  • Organic Farming & Gardening