A review on carbon emissions of global shipping

Compuscript Ltd

 

image: 

Fig. 1 Global CO2 emissions from shipping 2000–2021. The lines represent historical CO2 emissions (Mt yr−1) from the emission inventories listed in Table 1, and the bars represent the ratios of variances between above emission inventories to their average values

 

 

 

view more 

Credit: MD

https://doi.org/10.1007/s44312-023-00001-2

Announcing a new publication for Marine Development journal. In this research article the authors Shiyu Deng and Zhifu Mi from Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, University College London, London, United Kingdom review carbon emissions from global shipping.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from shipping account for about 3% of total annual anthropocentric CO2 emissions and are assumed to increase markedly without mitigation measures. Following the introduction of the net-zero emissions target, the large uncertainties and challenges of a low-carbon transition in the shipping industry have raised concerns in the scientific community.

 

The authors of this article present a compressive review of CO2 emission inventories for the shipping industry, examines the historical CO2 emission trends and associated estimation uncertainties due to different methodologies, and further discusses the CO2 reduction measures and potential published in the literature.

 

The findings show that there are significant differences in historical CO2 emission trends due to uncertainties in estimation methods and the scope of the study. In contrast, IMO ship-based emission inventory estimates are higher, while CAMS-GLOB-SHIP v3.1 provides high-resolution information. The bottom-up life cycle approach is more favorable for using geospatial information to monitor and manage emission reductions across the industry.

 

CO2 emissions from global shipping returned to prepandemic levels by 2021, which indicate that it is urgent to improve energy efficiency so that seaborne trade can be decoupled from carbon emissions, thereby achieving a net zero carbon emissions target for the shipping industry. For mitigating CO2 emissions from shipping, emission source control and emission process control measures could offer 50–60% reduction potential, leaving 40–50% abatement responsibility to be shouldered by zero-carbon fuels, CCUS, and out-of-industry transfers. In detail, increasing the use of shore power and accelerating the piloting of electric boats are vital for medium- and long-term adoption of new energy. The increase in the proportion of electric ships is supposed to contribute the most to CO2 emission reduction, followed by ship enlargement, ship elimination, shore power use and operational energy efficiency.

 

In addition to the widely discussed economic and technological feasibility, net-zero emissions in the shipping industry still face many constraints and challenges. One of the challenges is to avoid the side effects of decarbonization measures, such as fugitive methane from LNG utilization and PAHs exhaustion from CCUS. Another challenge is to guarantee navigation safety when considering zero-carbon but chemically unstable fuels. An international standard and framework for the use of hydrogen and ammonia require to be developed to provide guidance on how to properly store and burn these alternative fuels. Meanwhile, the adoption of global ETs should safeguard the wellbeing of the crew, and the free emissions quota percentage (FEQP) and the carbon trading price (CTP), international management should be further discussed. The importance of international cooperation for green corridors should also be further emphasized, and more coastal countries should be called upon to participate in the co-construction of clean power berths.

 

Article reference: Deng, S., Mi, Z. A review on carbon emissions of global shipping. Mar Dev 1, 4 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44312-023-00001-2

 

Keywords: Shipping emissions, Carbon dioxide, Abatement measures, Net-zero target

# # # # # #

Marine Development aims to publish research papers in all relevant disciplines related to the ocean and the sea. Its scope spans diverse domains, including but not limited to marine resource management, marine environmental conservation, marine biodiversity, fisheries management, marine energy, marine policy, and international maritime law. The journal particularly values research that explores the complex links between marine issues and broader global challenges, such as climate change, sustainable economic development, and international cooperation. As a platform for interdisciplinary knowledge exchange, the journal will enable scholars to communicate their research and promote interdisciplinary research that advances our understanding of marine issues. It welcomes original research with a multidisciplinary focus and also encourages review articles that highlight the latest research trends and those with significant global impacts.

 

For more information, please visit https://link.springer.com/journal/44312.

Editorial Board: https://link.springer.com/journal/44312/editorial-board

MD is available on SpringerLink https://link.springer.com/journal/44312).

 

Submissions to MD may be made using ScholarOne ManuscriptsTM (https://www.editorialmanager.com/made/default.aspx)

 

Abstracted and indexed in:

 

Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baidu

CLOCKSS

CNKI

CNPIEC

Dimensions

EBSCO

Google Scholar

Naver

OCLC WorldCat Discovery Service

Portico

ProQuest

TD Net Discovery Service

Wanfang

 

 

ISSN 3004-832X

# # # # # #

---

Journal

Marine Development

DOI

10.1007/s44312-023-00001-2 

 

Three pathways to achieve global climate and sustainable development goals

Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)

"Sustainable development pathways are strategies that prevent dangerous climate change while at the same time moving towards a world that allows people to prosper on a healthy planet,” explains Bjoern Soergel, scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research PIK and lead author of the study published in Environmental Research Letters. This is the essence of the 17 SDGs agreed by the United Nations in 2015. “Our analysis shows that all three sustainable development pathways are far more effective than our current ‘business as usual’. They drive substantial progress towards the SDGs, for example reducing the number of people in extreme poverty by two thirds until 2030 and to virtually zero in 2050. They also curb global warming and avert further degradation of the environment. Importantly, they also avoid the unintended side effects of simplistic climate protection strategies, such as relying heavily on bioenergy or carbon capture and storage without taking into account potential conflicts with food production or public acceptance.”

Three powerful ways to accelerate sustainable development

In the study, the scientists look at three possible pathways to achieve the 17 sustainable development goals used by governments, companies, and NGOs worldwide to guide action towards a sustainable and just future. The study is the first to systematically compare such different sustainable development pathways, analysing results from four models: two integrated assessment models of the global energy, economy, land and climate system and two models focused on the global buildings and materials sectors, respectively.

“All scenarios we looked into share the same set of goals, but the question is how to get there,” explains Isabelle Weindl, PIK scientist and co-author of the study. She points out that all the pathways examined in the study stand out in their own way. “For example, the sustainable lifestyle pathway includes a rapid shift towards a flexitarian, largely plant-based nutrition, which is known to also have substantial benefits for human health.” This pathway would further include a reduction of global final energy use per capita of around 40% by 2050, with wealthier countries contributing the largest share to decrease energy inequality. Such changes might pose challenges in terms of how realistic they are for people to adopt, the researchers point out. However, they would also come with large benefits, as Soergel adds: “The sustainable lifestyle pathway has the lowest reliance on unproven technologies and the most positive outcomes for biodiversity and climate protection.”

The other pathways foresee a more gradual change in diets and energy consumption, but assume more rapid innovation in green technologies or greater orchestration of system-wide changes by governments, which each comes with their own challenges. “Even though the pathways differ in what they emphasize, they all can deliver”, says Elmar Kriegler, Head of the research department Transformation Pathways at PIK and co-author of the study. “This is important because the path to sustainable development is often narrowed to individual worldviews, making it more difficult to find common ground to embark on this journey. ” He concludes: “If we stick to our current trajectory, none of the SDGs will be achieved. By 2030, 660 million people could still be living in extreme poverty, and environmental crises like biodiversity loss and global warming will only get worse. So it is clear we must act now. We can still choose which sustainable path to pursue, but ignoring them is no longer an option.”

The publication is accompanied by an interactive web tool for exploration, visualization and download of the scenario data: https://shape.apps.ece.iiasa.ac.at/

Article: Bjoern Soergel, Sebastian Rauner, Vassilis Daioglou, Isabelle Weindl, Alessio Mastrucci, Fabio Carrer, Jarmo Kikstra, Geanderson Ambrósio, Ana Paula Dutra Aguiar, Lavinia Baumstark, Benjamin Leon Bodirsky, Astrid Bos, Jan Philipp Dietrich, Alois Dirnaichner, Jonathan C Doelman, Robin Hasse, Ariel Hernandez, Johanna Hoppe, Florian Humpenöder, Gabriela Ileana Iacobut, Dorothee Keppler, Johannes Koch, Gunnar Luderer, Hermann Lotze-Campen, Michaja Pehl, Miguel Poblete-Cazenave, Alexander Popp, Merle Remy, Willem-Jan van Zeist, Sarah Cornell, Ines Dombrowsky, Edgar G Hertwich, Falk Schmidt, Bas van Ruijven, Detlef van Vuuren, and Elmar Kriegler (2024): Global burned area increasingly explained by climate change. Environmental Research Letters. [DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ad80af]

---

Journal

Environmental Research Letters

DOI

10.1088/1748-9326/ad80af 

Method of Research

Computational simulation/modeling

Article Title

Multiple pathways towards sustainable development goals and climate targets.

Article Publication Date

30-Oct-2024

 

Tattoos to confront the terror of death

The emergence of memorial body art following the October 7 massacre and ensuing war aligns with a prominent psychological theory and sheds light on how individuals cope with trauma and find meaning through tattoos, Bar-Ilan University study finds

Bar-Ilan University

The October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel resulted in widespread trauma, impacting not only the direct victims but also the broader population. Many experienced posttraumatic symptoms. This collective trauma blurred the lines between witnesses and victims, leading to a shared experience of pain and grief across Israeli society.

In the wake of these attacks, a notable phenomenon emerged: memorial tattoos. Defined as body art that commemorates deceased loved ones and expresses a more general experience of loss and grief, on one hand, and hope and empowerment, on the other, memorial tattoos serve as tangible symbols of loss and emotional connections. They reflect personal narratives while also representing collective trauma experienced by the entire nation.

A new study by Dr. Ayelet Oreg, Dr. Hilit Erel-Brodsky and Prof. Orit Taubman – Ben-Ari from Bar-Ilan University’s Weisfeld School of Social Work uses Terror Management Theory (TMT, Solomon et al., 1991) to explore the rise of memorial tattoos in Israel following the attacks. TMT posits that human awareness of death creates existential anxiety, which people manage through cultural worldviews, self-esteem, and social connections.

The researchers analyzed data from public Facebook groups and Instagram accounts of tattoo artists, collecting 250 images of memorial tattoos. They used a combination of digital ethnography and visual data analysis to explore war-related tattoos as testimonials of experiences from the October 7 massacre and the subsequent war, focusing on how the tattoos serve as expressions of collective grief and cultural identity, and may assist individuals to contend with the trauma and the existential terror of death.

The analysis of the 250 memorial tattoo photos yielded three main themes:

1. Memorial tattoos as a means for validating cultural worldviews: Many tattoos incorporated Holocaust symbols and Israeli national imagery, reflecting a reaction to the trauma of the attacks and a connection to collective historical memories.

Holocaust symbols

These memorial tattoos showcase the collective memory of Israeli Jews regarding the Holocaust. The tattoos feature symbols like the yellow star and the Star of David, accompanied by the phrase “never again,” linking past trauma to present experiences. The date 7.10.23, which marks a recent tragedy, is inscribed on many arms and is reminiscent of the identification numbers imprinted on the arms of Jews during the Holocaust. Additional symbols, such as tefillin (phylacteries), a set of small black leather boxes with leather straps containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah, and barbed wire, strengthen the emotional connection between Holocaust trauma and recent loss. These tattoos affirm a commitment to Judaism and reflect collective religious beliefs.

Tattoos of Israeli-Jewish nationalist symbols

These tattoos, particularly maps of Israel and representations of lions and lionesses, evoke themes of strength, courage, and connection to the tribe of Judah, as lions symbolize both the tribe and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). In the aftermath of the October massacre, such tattoos reflect a nationalistic worldview defense, emphasizing emotional ties to the land.

One notable tattoo depicts a hand emerging from a grave clutching the Israeli flag, symbolizing resilience and the bond between past and present. Other tattoos express love and protection of the land, often accompanied by biblical references and poignant lyrics, such as "I have no other land,” reflecting collective grief and memory.

Additionally, the tattoos are a means for individuals to boost self-esteem, particularly through personal narratives of battle participation, resilience, and national identity. These tattoos serve to memorialize personal experiences and roles in conflict, reinforcing a sense of self-worth amid collective trauma.

1. Memorial tattoos as a means of strengthening self-esteem: The tattoos acted as affirmations of personal and cultural identity, helping individuals cope with existential anxiety in the wake of violence.

Military memorial tattoos

These tattoos commemorate experiences from battles and the tragic Nova music festival massacre.

One tattoo depicts a bomb explosion with destroyed buildings and 11 angels representing the soldiers killed in that battle, alongside the name "NOVA," featuring a broken heart symbolizing loss. Another tattoo shows a wolf and hints at tunnels beneath the destruction, while the third features a Merkava tank and the Israeli flag. These tattoos encapsulate personal war memories for the soldiers who adorn them.

Additionally, many tattoos emerged among survivors and victims' relatives following the Nova massacre, characterized by red and black colors reminiscent of the festival logo. Common inscriptions like "all of us" and "we shall dance again" highlight unity, resilience, and a determination to reclaim joy after tragedy. These tattoos foster a sense of belonging and pride among those affected.

Self-esteem tattoos

These tattoos serve as public affirmations of identity and self-worth. Examples include expressions of Jewish identity and statements related to October 7, emphasizing a connection to community and resilience.

One tattoo transforms "impossible" to "possible," symbolizing strength and survival, while another, featuring the phrase "release our hostages" along with a quote from Jewish visionary Theodore Herzl, reflects a belief in overcoming challenges. A tattoo that inscribes "home" alongside a heartbeat graphic conveys resilience and connection to one’s homeland.

1. Memorial tattoos as a reflection of the desire to achieve proximity to deceased loved ones and places affected by the war: Tattoos symbolized a longing to connect with deceased loved ones and places impacted by the conflict.

Memorial tattoos honoring and commemorating deceased loved ones

These tattoos provide their bearers with a sense of closeness to their loved ones, offering comfort and strength in facing the anxieties of death and mourning.

Tattoo images include a lifelike representation of a fallen soldier and a poignant tribute, for example, from a brother to his deceased sibling featuring the phrase "Always with me." Other tattoos portray the departed as angels, and one illustrates a scene of companionship with the inscription "never alone," symbolizing a perpetual bond between the living and the deceased.

Memorial tattoos commemorating places or nature

These images emphasize a connection to specific places in Israel where the atrocities were suffered. One tattoo represents a police station in Sderot, which was heavily damaged and became a site of loss, while another symbolizes Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where many residents were killed or abducted. These tattoos serve as emotional reminders of cherished memories tied to these locations.

Additionally, wheat tattoos symbolize renewal and life, referencing Israel's agricultural heritage and the resilience captured in a poignant war song about the Yom Kippur War. Red poppies and anemones are also highlighted, representing endurance amidst adversity and connecting to the trauma of the recent conflict in a region known for an annual festival showcasing its fields bursting with these blooming red flowers. These tattoos reflect a desire to maintain a bond with nature and the region's history, encapsulating themes of hope and survival.

“Following traumatic events, such as the 9/11 attacks in the United States, people often express nationalism through symbols, such as memorial tattoos, which serve as coping mechanisms to mitigate the extensive anxiety,” say Dr. Oreg, Dr. Erel-Brodsky and Prof. Taubman – Ben-Ari, who led the study.

This study of the October 7 onslaught, published in the journal Death Studies, offers insights into how individuals cope with trauma and find meaning through tattoos, using TMT as a theoretical framework, ultimately contributing to the understanding of psychological resilience in the face of terror. By exploring how these tattoos function as a means of processing trauma, the study furthers understanding of the broader implications of TMT in real-world contexts and can contribute to the development of strategies for mitigating the psychological impact of terrorism and mass crises.

---

Journal

Death Studies

DOI

10.1080/07481187.2024.2414275 

Article Title

Embodied memories - exploring memorial tattoos through the lens of terror management theory

 

The ‘urban revolution’ was slow in Bronze Age Arabia

Ancient town of al-Natah, occupied 2400-1500BCE, was an early transitional stage between pastoralism and complex urban settlements

PLOS

 

image: 

3D virtual reconstruction of the Bronze Age site of al-Natah. Reprinted under a CC BY license, with permission from AFALULA-RCU-CNRS, 2024.

view more 

Credit: Charloux et al., 2024, PLOS ONE, CC-BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Settlements in northern Arabia were in a transitional stage of urbanization during the third to second millennium BCE, according to a study published October 30, 2024 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Guillaume Charloux of the French National Center for Scientific Research, Paris and colleagues.

The development of large urban settlements was a major step in the evolution of human civilization. This process of urbanization has proven difficult to study in northern Arabia, due in part to a lack of well-preserved archaeological sites in the region compared with better understood areas such as the Levant and Mesopotamia. In recent decades, however, excavations have uncovered exceptional sites in northern Arabia that provide insights into the early stages of urbanization.

In this study, Charloux and colleagues provide a detailed description of the Bronze Age town of al-Natah in Medinah province, occupied from around 2400-1500BCE. The town covered approximately 1.5 hectares, including a central district and nearby residential district surrounded by protective ramparts. A cluster of graves represents a necropolis, with burial practices indicating some degree of social stratification. The authors estimate the town was home to around 500 residents. The size and organization of al-Natah is similar to other sites of similar age in northern Arabia, but these sites are smaller and less socio-politically complex than contemporary sites in the Levant and Mesopotamia.

The researchers suggest that al-Natah represents a state of ‘low urbanization,’ a transitional stage between mobile pastoralism and complex urban settlements. Archaeological evidence so far indicates that northern Arabia was dotted with small fortified towns during the Early-Middle Bronze Age, at a time when other regions exhibited later stages of urbanization. Further excavations across Arabia will provide more details about the timing of this transition and the accompanying changes in societal structure and architecture.

The authors add: “For the first time in north-western Arabia, a small Bronze Age town (c. 2400-1300 BCE) connected to a vast network of ramparts has been discovered by archaeologists, raising questions about the early development of local urbanism.”

#####

In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS ONE: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0309963

Citation: Charloux G, Shabo S, Depreux B, Colin S, Guadagnini K, Guermont F, et al. (2024) A Bronze Age town in the Khaybar walled oasis: Debating early urbanization in Northwestern Arabia. PLoS ONE 19(10): e0309963. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0309963

Author Countries: France, Saudi Arabia

Funding: GC, RC, MM This work was funded by the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA) https://www.afalula.com/. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

---

Journal

PLOS ONE

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0309963 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

A Bronze Age town in the Khaybar walled oasis: Debating early urbanization in Northwestern Arabia

Article Publication Date

30-Oct-2024

 

New genetic web tool to help restore climate-resilient marine ecosystems

Flinders University

 

image: 

Flinders University researcher Dr Georgina Wood diving on crayweed restoration site in Sydney, NSW.

view more 

Credit: Photo courtesy John Turnbull

In the face of increased human pressures and climate change, a team of Australian scientists led by Dr Georgina Wood at Flinders University have launched a new online tool to assist marine managers and restoration experts to bolster the resilience of marine habitat-forming species.

The ‘Reef Adapt’ initiative, developed by experts from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW DPIRD), Flinders University and The University of Western Australia (UWA), aims to expand the tools available to promote diverse, adaptable and resilient ecosystems.

Described in a new article in Communications Biology, Reef Adapt harnesses genetic data from diverse marine species – including key reef-building corals and habitat-forming kelps, but with scope to expand to other taxa – to map out areas likely to harbour populations adapted to current and future environmental conditions.

The innovative web platform is designed for the rapid inclusion of genetic, biophysical and environmental data into planning of marine restoration and assisted conservation initiatives.

The tool provides users with maps that identify areas with populations suited to their specific restoration sites under current and future climate scenarios. The platform will initially house data for 27 species collected from 420 sample locations across the globe. Users will also be able to upload their own data to the site, further supporting the conservation of other species and areas.

While guidelines for terrestrial ecosystem restoration seed-sourcing exists, for example, the US National Seed Strategy and Australia’s Florabank, Reef Adapt is one of the first tool of its kind for marine environments.

The project follows similar projects on land, such as Australia’s NSW Restore and Renew program, to remove barriers of access to genetic data and improve restoration and assisted gene flow

Dr Georgina Wood, an Australian Research Council Early Career Industry  Fellow with Flinders University and Adjunct Research Fellow at UWA, says global efforts to restore ecosystems are intensifying, including the Convention on Biological Diversity’s recent adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework which aims to put 30% of degraded ecosystems under effective restoration by 2030.

“Alongside the increase in scale of marine restoration projects, there is a need ensure that restoration practices keep up with the latest available science, including the use of cutting-edge genomic information to make informed decisions about where to source restoration stock material,” says researcher Dr Wood

“Our world is changing now more rapidly than ever before. Ideally, every restoration project would incorporate climate adaptation into their design, but the data needed for this are typically difficult to access. Reef Adapt puts this information directly into the hands of both managers and practitioners,” she says.

The easy-to-use web platform hosts vital genetic information for government, not-for-profit and community organisations – removing barriers of access to vital information that the team hopes will improve both immediate and long-term restoration outcomes.   

Dr Melinda Coleman, NSW DPIRD Senior Principal Research Scientist, says the Reef Adapt online webtool will help guide marine restoration and assisted adaptation programs now and into the future.

“The revolutionary new Reef Adapt tool will use cutting-edge genomic data and seascape analyses to help marine managers, restoration practitioners and other stakeholders including aquaculture make informed decisions about where to source stock for restoration or aquaculture as well as help select climate proof stock that will withstand future ocean conditions,” explains says Dr Coleman.

“We hope that this webtool will be used broadly across marine and conservation managers, community groups or anyone embarking on marine restoration as well as aquaculture proponents.”

Dr Wood says the new Nature article and user manual give examples, with several case studies of ecologically and evolutionarily diverse taxa, including the staghorn coral (Acropora kentii), cauliflower coral (Pocillopora damicornis), golden kelp (Ecklonia radiata) and crayweed (Phyllospora comosa).

Development of the tool required collection of almost 10,000 reference data points from published population genetic literature, as well as a suite of environmental data and oceanographic models.

The article, ‘Reef Adapt: A tool to inform climate-smart marine restoration and management decisions’ (2024) by GV Wood (Flinders), KJ Griffin (UWA), M van der Mheen (UWA), MF Breed (Flinders), JM Edgeloe (UWA), C Grimaldi (UWA / Australian Institute of Marine Science, Perth), A Minne (UWA), I Popovic (University of Queensland), K Filbee-Dexter (UWA / Institute of Marine Research, Norway), MJH van Oppen (Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville / University of Melbourne), T Wernberg (UWA / Institute of Marine Research, Norway) and MA Coleman (UWA / NSW DPI, Fisheries) has been published in Communications Biology DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06970-4.

Videos and photos: Please credit video courtesy Stefan Andrews from Great Southern Reef Foundation. Photo  captions included.

Dr Georgina (‘George’) Wood will present on the use of digital tools to progress marine restoration at the 10th Western Society of Naturalists’ annual meeting in Oregon, US in November.

---

Journal

Communications Biology

DOI

10.1038/s42003-024-06970-4 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Reef Adapt: A tool to inform climate-smart marine restoration and management decisions

Article Publication Date

30-Oct-2024

 

Turning silver to gold: A diacetylene derivative-based metallic luster materials

Researchers developed a sustainable metal-free material that changes its color under external stimulus

Chiba University

 

image: 

UV irradiation of diacetylene crystals obtained by forming a unique array structure changes the luster from silver to gold.

view more 

Credit: Michinari Kohri from Chiba University

Societies of the past and present have given high regard to precious metals like gold and silver. Both metals remind us of nobility and luxury. However, they are quite expensive, which restricts their applications. Therefore, materials with attractive but artificial gold- and silver-like metallic lusters are popular, finding use in jewelry, reflective materials, inks, and cosmetics.

 

Unfortunately, typical metallic luster materials cause environmental harm, rendering them unsustainable. Thus, scientists are actively searching for metal-free alternatives. In this direction, the research fraternity has examined organics such as thiophene, pyrrole, porphyrin, azobenzene, and stilbene derivatives and found some success in creating materials whose colors can be tuned by external stimuli while maintaining the metallic luster. However, the task still remains challenging.

 

Recently, a group of researchers from Chiba University, led by Professor Michinari Kohri and Kyoka Tachibana from the Graduate School of Engineering, in collaboration with scientists from Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd., Tokyo University of Science, Keio University, and Yamagata University, has demonstrated the preparation of a metallic luster material that changes color from silver to gold under UV irradiation. Their findings were published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces on September 14, 2024.

 

Highlighting the motivation behind this study, Prof. Kohri says, “Expanding on our earlier findings on biomimetic metallic luster materials, we conducted a targeted search for molecular structures capable of transitioning between silver and gold. This effort resulted in the identification of a novel material with desirable properties.”

 

In this study, researchers developed diacetylene (DA) derivative-based luster materials incorporating stilbenes via linkers at both ends, denoted as DS-DAn (where n represents the linker carbon number, ranging from 1 to 6). Varying n yielded diverse metallic luster and color change behaviors.

 

After several innovative experimental trials, the researchers observed that the stacked structure of platelet crystals comprising DS-DA1, the derivative with the shortest linker carbon chain, had a silver look. Its luster notably turned to gold upon UV irradiation, a remarkable external stimulus-based behavior. The team attributed this to the unique crystal structure of DS-DA1 with two coexisting assembled states, revealing that partial topochemical polymerization (a polymerization method performed by monomers that are aligned in the crystal state) of DA within the structure modified its color tone from silver to gold.

 

The silver luster material developed in this study can express a golden luster selectively in specific areas using only light irradiation. It is also possible to add gradation colors of gold and silver. Thus, it has the potential to be useful in a variety of applications, such as decorative items, printing inks, and cosmetics.

 

“By eliminating metal components, our innovative material minimizes environmental footprint and weight. Moreover, its suitability for UV laser-based drawing techniques opens up new possibilities for high-end decorative printing. Further exploration of molecular structures may make it possible to express a wider variety of glossy colors,” concludes Prof. Kohri, optimistically.  

In summary, this work advances the fundamental science of DA polymerization and unlocks new opportunities for metallic luster materials with desirable properties in photomask patterning and UV laser lithography.

 

 

About Professor Michinari Kohri
Michinari Kohri obtained a Ph.D. in Engineering from Tohoku University in 2007. He currently holds the title of Professor at the Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University. His research is centered around polymer chemistry, colloid chemistry, and functional materials, with a particular focus on structural colors, biomass upcycling, and soft magnetic materials. He has published over a hundred papers on these topics and is a member of various scientific societies, including The Chemical Society of Japan, The Society of Polymer Science (Japan), and The Japanese Liquid Crystal Society.

---

Journal

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

DOI

10.1021/acsami.4c14218 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Silver to Gold Metallic Luster Changes in Stimuli-Responsive Diacetylene Derivatives Uniquely Arranged within Crystals

 

New study shows that university students experienced increased psychological distress during COVID-19, but utilized fewer support services

Underrepresented students, particularly women of color, were less likely to receive mental health services during the pandemic

George Mason University

 

image: 

Elaine C. Russell, MPH

view more 

Credit: Elaine C. Russell, MPH

PhD in Public Health candidate Elaine Russell and her mentor Kenneth Griffin, professor in the department of Global and Community Health, in George Mason University’s College of Public Health, worked with Tolulope Abidogun, also a PhD in Public Health student, and former Global and Community Health professor Lisa Lindley, now of Lehigh University, to analyze data from the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA III) in an effort to understand how university students’ mental health needs changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“More U.S. college students suffered from mental health concerns during the pandemic, but fewer received necessary mental health treatment,” says Russell.

This study is the first to use a national dataset to examine changes in university students’ psychological well-being and their utilization of mental health services from pre-COVID-19 to peak pandemic. Russell and the research team found that, consistent with prior research related to diverse populations, racial/ethnic, gender, and sexual minority groups were at a greater risk of suffering from poor mental health during the pandemic. Additional findings revealed that during the pandemic, students of color, especially female students of color, were less likely to receive mental health services. 

“When developing innovative approaches to improving mental health outcomes on college campuses, it is important to be culturally sensitive and understand the diverse needs of the specific student population,” says Russell.

The study used data from before the COVID-19 pandemic (Fall 2019 and early Spring 2020) and during the pandemic (Spring 2021) to examine mental health symptoms and utilization of mental health services among university students. The sample was limited to full-time undergraduate students aged 18-24 attending four-year universities in the United States. In addition to analyzing the entire sample of university students, the team examined demographic subgroups based on race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Several validated psychological testing scales were used in the study to indicate students’ self-reported levels of psychological distress, loneliness, overall stress, psychological well-being, and resilience. Additional survey questions asked about COVID-19 specific stressors, including the students’ concern over themselves or their loved ones getting COVID-19 and being unable to spend time with the people they care about due to the pandemic lockdowns. Students’ use of mental health services within the 12 months preceding the survey was also assessed.

“These findings are important to better understand sub-groups who disproportionally suffer from severe psychological distress but may not be accessing the necessary care,” the study reports. While issues such as a lack of access to mental health services and discrimination within the healthcare system are undoubtedly factors in students’ reluctance to seek mental health care, the stigma surrounding mental health is also prohibitive.

“Improvements in mental health resources must also address stigma and empower students to access necessary care,” Russell says, specifying the use of peer health educators and making efforts to normalize mental health treatment may be effective prevention strategies.

Russell concludes by calling for future research to increase understanding of the barriers to mental health service use among high-risk university students.

“Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students’ psychological distress, well-being, and utilization of mental health services in the United States: Populations at greatest risk” will be published online in Frontiers in Public Health October 30, 2024.

The authors are: Elaine Cooper Russell, George Mason University; Tolulope M. Abidogun, George Mason University; Lisa L. Lindley, Lehigh University; Kenneth W. Griffin, George Mason University.

About College of Public Health at George Mason University

The College of Public Health at George Mason University is the first College of Public Health in Virginia and a national leader in inclusive, interprofessional, public health research, education, and practice. The College is comprised of public health disciplines, health administration and policy, informatics, nursing, nutrition, and social work. The College offers a distinct array of degrees to support research and training of professionals dedicated to ensuring health and well-being for all. The College’s transdisciplinary research seeks to understand the many factors that influence the public’s health and well-being throughout the lifespan. Areas of focus include prevention and treatment of infectious and chronic diseases, inequalities and marginalized communities, environmental health and climate change, nutrition, violence, mental and behavioral health, informatics, and health technologies. With more than 500 partners, the College serves the community through research, practice, and clinical care with a focus on the social determinants of health and health equity.

The College enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students in our nationally-recognized programs, including 5 undergraduate degrees, 7 master’s degrees, and 4 doctoral degrees, and 10 certificate programs. Our graduates are uniquely prepared to thrive in an increasingly multicultural, multidisciplinary, community-focused public health landscape.

---

Journal

Frontiers

DOI

10.3389/fpubh.2024.1442773 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

“Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students’ psychological distress, well-being, and utilization of mental health services in the United States: Populations at greatest risk”

Article Publication Date

30-Oct-2024