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... Forests in the upper continental montane zone are important ecotones between lowland and subalpine forest ecosystems. A thorough understanding of the past vegetation dynamics at mid elevation is crucial to assess past and future altitudinal range shifts of tree species in response to climate change. Lake sediments from Lac de Champex (1,467 m a.s.l.), a small lake in the Canton Valais in the Centr ...
decline; extinction; flora; forests; herbaria; land use change; natural resources conservation; population dynamics; wetlands; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Old herbarium specimens and historical floristic data give insight into regional floras for given time periods. They often cover historical time periods for which few other data are available. Herbaria thus allow the study of changes of the flora of a region across time. Using a 150-year-old regional herbarium together with a historical publication, we investigated to which extent the flora of the ...
... During the 20ᵗʰ century human activities drastically altered the natural environment at global and local scales by habitat destruction, urbanisation, intensive agriculture, and climate warming. This anthropogenic pressure has modified species distributions and abundances, and led to the increased spread of neophytes. However, the determination of the magnitude, direction, and drivers of changes re ...
... Densifying existing settlements is a top planning priority worldwide. Its main goals include protecting undeveloped land, reducing CO₂ emissions, and the provision of housing. Despite a common acceptance of densification as a planning strategy, the local implementation of densification tends to provoke local opposition. Based on the analysis of a survey on densification preferences (including an a ...
... The use of digital technologies in agriculture offers various benefits, such as site-specific application, better monitoring, and physical relief. The handling of these technologies requires a specific skill set. Therefore, the question arises of when and how farm managers learn about digital technologies. Aiming to analyse the current situation, the present research investigated the role that dig ...
... In Europe, the conservation of extensively grazed semi-natural grasslands is addressed by agricultural policies whose effectiveness is questioned. We studied sub-xerophilous Bromus erectus semi-natural grasslands to analyse the interactions among: i) agri-environmental payments, ii) grazing regimes, iii) environmental conditions, iv) habitat conservation state, and v) forage yield and quality. We ...
Michael Glaser; Christian Berg; Fabrizio Buldrini; Serge Buholzer; Jana Bürger; Alessandro Chiarucci; Milan Chytrý; Pavel Dřevojan; Swen Follak; Filip Küzmič; Zdeňka Lososová; Stefan Meyer; Dietmar Moser; Petr Pyšek; Nina Richner; Urban Šilc; Alexander Wietzke; Stefan Dullinger; Franz Essl
climate change; databases; georeferencing; introduced species; land use; taxonomy; vegetation; Austria; Central European region; Croatia; Czech Republic; Germany; Hungary; Italy; Liechtenstein; Slovakia; Slovenia; Switzerland
Abstract:
... AIMS: Arable habitats (i.e. fields, orchards, vineyards, and their fallows) were created by humans and have been essential elements in Central European landscapes for several millennia. In recent decades, these habitats have been drastically altered by changes in land use as well as agricultural practices and, more recently, by climate change. These changes have precipitated substantial changes in ...
... Mires are among the ecosystems most affected by eutrophication caused by excessive nitrogen (N) inputs via N deposition of ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO₃–), nitric acid (HNO₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and ammonia (NH₃). As NH₃ emissions are mostly generated by agriculture, a particular conflict of interest exists in areas where agricultural production systems are located nearby sensitive ecosystems ...
Enterobacteriaceae; air temperature; antibiotic resistance; beta-lactamase; cephalosporins; comorbidity; hospitals; monitoring; regression analysis; research; time series analysis; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Higher outdoor temperature may be related to an increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria. We investigated the association between local outdoor air temperature and the incidence of extended-spectrum betalactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) correcting for known drivers of antibiotic resistance. We performed a time-series regression study using prospectively collected weekly surv ...
employment; energy policy; gender; heat; models; renewable electricity; socioeconomics; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Utility controlled heat pumps and electric vehicles via Direct Load Control (DLC) programmes could potentially be a solution for tackling challenges in the distribution networks by balancing intermittent renewable electricity sources. However, in many countries, DLC programmes do not have satisfactory enrolment rates. This paper investigates acceptance and preferences of DLC programmes for heat pu ...
... Thermal dilution experiments with Fiber-Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing (FO-DTS) were conducted at the In-situ Stimulation and Circulation (ISC) rock laboratory, at the Grimsel Test Site (GTS) in Switzerland. The experiment consists in replacing the total volume of a borehole with a warmer water and monitoring the rate of temperature increase and decrease during the heating and cooling perio ...
Internet; aggregate exposure; models; odors; probabilistic risk assessment; questionnaires; research institutions; risk; toxicology; California; Korean Peninsula; Switzerland
Abstract:
... In daily life, many people use large amounts of personal care products (PCPs) on a regular basis. For determining the risk to consumers, product usage amount, frequency of use, and co-use patterns are essential information. In this study, the PCP usage patterns of Korean consumers were analyzed, and the data were used to develop a probabilistic risk assessment. A web-based questionnaire was used t ...
... Anaplasma phagocytophilum is considered the most significant rickettsial pathogen affecting cats. The organism is transmitted by ticks of the species Ixodes ricinus in Central Europe and can cause granulocytic anaplasmosis in pets, wildlife and humans. The aims of this study were to assess the frequency of positive test results for A phagocytophilum in cats in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as ...
Muhammad Bilal Sharif; Azadeh Fatemeh Mohaseb; Michaela Isabell Zimmermann; Simon Trixl; Konstantina Saliari; Günther Karl Kunst; Thomas Cucchi; Sigrid Czeika; Marjan Mashkour; Ludovic Orlando; Katrin Schaefer; Joris Peters; Elmira Mohandesan
... Hybrids of horse and donkey, which have been valued in the Mediterranean basin since the Iron Age, became integrated into the animal world north of the Alps in the course of Romanization. Until now, however, their true contribution to the economic and military life in the northern Roman provinces Raetia, Noricum and Upper Pannonia (southern Germany, eastern Switzerland and Austria) has remained un ...
... Based on a study in two European cities, Mainz in Germany and Zurich in Switzerland, the article investigates both acoustical and non-acoustical factors affecting indoor annoyance due to residential road traffic and aircraft noise. We specifically focus on three factors: (1) the role of windows as a feature of the building where people live; (2) the role of individual environmental concern as a ge ...
... Ozonation of secondary-treated wastewater for the abatement of micropollutants requires a reliable control of ozone doses. Changes in the UV absorbance of dissolved organic matter (DOM) during ozonation allow to estimate micropollutant abatement on-line and were therefore identified as feed-back control parameter. In this study, the suitability of the electron-donating capacity (EDC) as an additio ...
data collection; econometrics; empirical research; energy; energy policy; greenhouses; models; Switzerland
Abstract:
... In this paper, we compare the total energy consumption of households living in green certified buildings with households living in conventional buildings based on the example of the Swiss Minergie label. For this purpose, we estimate an econometric total energy demand model using a panel data set comprised of around 1500 households observed over the years 2010–2015. The empirical analysis provides ...
... Uncertainty quantification is an important topic for many environmental studies, such as identifying zones where potentially toxic materials exist in the soil. In this work, the nonparametric geostatistical framework of histogram via entropy reduction (HER) is adapted to address local and spatial uncertainty in the context of risk of soil contamination. HER works with empirical probability distrib ...
... Many countries have carbon pricing in place, in the form of a tax and/or market. Generally, this involves low price rates, incomplete emissions coverage, and price reductions for particular sectors. This raises the question whether the label “carbon price” – in the environmental-economics textbook sense – really applies. To answer it, we assess the authenticity of 31 national carbon prices, calcul ...
circular economy; cognition; economic development; education; greenhouse gases; issues and policy; municipal solid waste; producer responsibility; time series analysis; Switzerland
Abstract:
... This study aims to investigate the nexus among waste generation, economic growth, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a circular economy framework for the case of Switzerland. Using two different empirical approaches (Dynamic Auto-Regressive Distributed Lags and Fuzzy Cognitive Maps), time-series results show that municipal waste and economic growth have both a short- and a long-run impact on GH ...
... Thermal energy storage technologies significantly increase the benefits of decentralized renewable energy production on residential scale. While many studies investigate singular applications of thermal energy storages or provide a broad overview about the current state of research in this field, there is no comprehensive assessment on market-ready solutions. This paper combines a system performan ...
... Background: Malnutrition is highly prevalent in medical inpatients and may also negatively influence clinical outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. We analyzed the prognostic implication of different malnutrition parameters with respect to adverse clinical outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Methods: In this observational study, consecutively hospitalized adult patients wit ...
... In this study, we investigate the characteristics of atmospheric parameters before, during, and after rain events in Bern, Switzerland. Ground-based microwave radiometer data of the TROpospheric WAter RAdiometer (TROWARA) with a time resolution of 7 s, observations of a weather station, and the composite analysis method are used to derive the temporal evolution of rain events and to identify possi ...
Jacqueline Neubauer; Christine K. Kissel; Stephan A. Bolliger; Daniela Barbon; Michael J. Thali; Daniel Kloiber; Peter K. Bode; Boldizsar Kovacs; Urs Graf; Alessandro Maspoli; Wolfgang Berger; Ardan M. Saguner; Cordula Haas
... Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an important public health issue. In young persons aged between 1 and 40 years, most SCDs are caused by potentially inherited cardiac diseases, often not detectable during conventional medico-legal investigations and therefore termed as sudden unexplained deaths (SUD). In this study, we describe the implementation, feasibility and importance of a standardized procedur ...
... Species Distribution Models (SDM) represent a powerful tool to predict species’ habitat suitability on a landscape and fill the gap between truncated observation data and all possible locations. SDMs have been widely used in theoretical studies of species niches as well as in conservation applications. Here, we evaluated the impacts of predictors’ type on models’ performances and spatial predictio ...
algorithms; carbon; carbon sequestration; case studies; climate change; cost effectiveness; energy efficiency; fossils; insulating materials; life cycle assessment; life cycle costing; risk; uncertainty; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Boosting building renovation is urgently needed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Building retrofit can be achieved by energy-efficient measures such as thermal insulation or replacement of a fossil heating system. Currently, conventional materials that are mostly used for envelope insulation raising the risk of a lock-in situation where measures to mitigate climate change are actually contrib ...
... This paper presents an overview of biogas compositions originating from agriculture and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste. An intensive data compilation was performed from literature, plant data from an EU project (Waste2Watts) and from sampling campaigns at 5 different anaerobic digesters in Switzerland. Besides reporting the major components of biogas i.e. methane and carbon dioxide, ...
... Biomonitoring of mycotoxins and their metabolites in biological fluids is increasingly used to assess human exposure. In this study, biomarkers of ochratoxin A (OTA) and citrinin (CIT) exposure were determined in a large number of serum samples from healthy blood donors in Switzerland. In 2019, 700 samples from different regions were obtained. From 240 donors, a second sample (taken 2–9 months lat ...
livelihood; natural resources conservation; politics; sandstone; stakeholders; sustainable communities; tourism; tourists; Central European region; Czech Republic; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Bohemian Switzerland (České Švýcarsko) is a name that has been associated with the prominent area of sandstone landscapes located in Northern Czechia (Central Europe). Over the last centuries, the development of the area and the locational transformation of tourism facilities has been influenced by multiscalar effects of transforming geopolitical context, economic restructuring, and changing value ...
case studies; econometric models; electric potential difference; electricity; energy policy; statistical analysis; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Distribution System Operators are responsible for overseeing the connection of distributed energy sources, such as solar photovoltaic, to the low voltage electricity grid. While solar PV could contribute significantly to the decarbonization of the electricity supply, the technology's proliferation is not necessarily aligned with the business objectives of the Distribution System Operators. We cond ...
... The joint effect of forest edge (FE) heterogeneity and management intensity of the adjacent farmland on FE insect communities is still poorly understood. In this study, a pairwise design was established, consisting of 36 Western European lowland FEs, with each of the 18 FE pairs containing one improved and one nearby non-improved FE. Half of the FE pairs were situated along extensively used and ha ...
agricultural management; canopy; carbon; carbon dioxide; carbon sequestration; carbon sinks; ecosystem respiration; ecosystems; eddy covariance; forests; grasslands; meteorology; net ecosystem exchange; photosynthesis; regrowth; spring; temperature; time series analysis; weather; Switzerland
Abstract:
... The potential of grasslands to mitigate climate change by carbon (C) sequestration in soils depends on agricultural management and the response of the grassland C cycle to a warming and more variable climate. A 15-year time series of eddy covariance carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux measurements on a medium-intensively managed grassland at 1000 m above sea level in Switzerland was analysed to assess how C ...
... Atmospheric C sequestration in agricultural soils is viewed as one of the most promising negative emission technologies currently available. Nonetheless, it remains unclear how strongly soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks respond to agricultural practices, especially for subsoil. Here, we assess the SOC storage potential in croplands and how the presence of temporary grasslands (TG) in the crop rotat ...
... Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for vine development and yield; it is also involved in the winemaking process and significantly affects wine composition. It is therefore essential to control and optimise plant N use to ensure an adequate N composition of the grapes at harvest. An improved understanding of the impact of cultivation practices on plant N metabolism would allow a better orientati ...
adults; factor analysis; green infrastructure; issues and policy; land use; restaurants; stakeholders; surveys; telephones; urban forestry; Switzerland
Abstract:
... For the first time, this study presents a natural experiment describing and explaining selected stakeholders’ attitudes toward the transformation of cemeteries into urban green spaces. In 2020, a real-life community conflict unfolded in Bern, the capital of Switzerland, over plans to close the smallest of its three municipal cemeteries by 2023. This study analyzes a representative sample (N = 519) ...
... The first cestode genomes were obtained by an international consortium led by the Wellcome Sanger Institute that included representative institutions from countries where the sequenced parasites have been studied for decades, in part because they are etiological agents of endemic diseases (Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Canada, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, USA, Japan, and China). After this, se ...
biodiversity; circular economy; industry; infrastructure; issues and policy; laws and regulations; shelf life; spring; stakeholders; summer; surveys; wastes; zero wastes; Austria; Estonia; Germany; Ireland; Netherlands; Norway; Sweden; Switzerland
Abstract:
... The European Commission advocates for the implementation of more sustainable food systems. To accelerate the transition towards zero waste for the benefit of citizens, industry, public organizations, and to preserve biodiversity, it is necessary to re-design our relationship with the planet’s resources. The European Commission proposal on the circular economy (2015) has set high targets in relatio ...
... Forest soil compaction caused by heavy machines can cause ecosystem degradation, reduced site productivity and increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Recent studies investigating the plant-mediated alleviation of soil compaction with black alder showed promising results (Alnus glutinosa). This study aimed to measure soil recovery and GHG fluxes on machine tracks with and without black alders in ...
... Motor vehicle exhaust is a major contributor to air pollution, and exposure to benzene or other carcinogenic components may increase cancer risks. We aimed to investigate the association between traffic-related air pollution and risk of childhood cancer in a nationwide cohort study in Switzerland. We identified incident cases from the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry diagnosed < 16 years of age bet ...
A.M. Fischer; K.M. Strassmann; M. Croci-Maspoli; A.M. Hama; R. Knutti; S. Kotlarski; C. Schär; C. Schnadt Poberaj; N. Ban; M. Bavay; U. Beyerle; D.N. Bresch; S. Brönnimann; P. Burlando; A. Casanueva; S. Fatichi; I. Feigenwinter; E.M. Fischer; M. Hirschi; M.A. Liniger; C. Marty; I. Medhaug; N. Peleg; M. Pickl; C.C. Raible; J. Rajczak; O. Rössler; S.C. Scherrer; C. Schwierz; S.I. Seneviratne; M. Skelton; S.L. Sørland; C. Spirig; F. Tschurr; J. Zeder; E.M. Zubler
... To make sound decisions in the face of climate change, government agencies, policymakers and private stakeholders require suitable climate information on local to regional scales. In Switzerland, the development of climate change scenarios is strongly linked to the climate adaptation strategy of the Confederation. The current climate scenarios for Switzerland CH2018 - released in form of six user- ...
European Union; Larix decidua; Pinus cembra; altitude; biodiversity; cultural heritage; forests; heathlands; infrastructure; land use; livestock; models; pastures; summer; tree growth; treeline; trees; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Alpine summer grazing areas (high-altitude pastures) represent hotspots of biodiversity and high cultural heritage values. Low density forests (Alpine Larix decidua and/or Pinus cembra forests) and species-rich open land (Alpine and boreal heaths, siliceous Alpine and boreal grasslands) are protected according to the Flora-Fauna-Habitat-directive of the European Union. These habitats are threatene ...
case studies; data collection; geophysics; hydrometeorology; mass movement; research; statistical inference; time series analysis; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Generalizing properties of samples derived via data analysis to advance understanding of underlying processes constitutes the essence of statistical inference. This is especially true in geophysical research, where general findings often emerge from case studies. Consequently, statements about trends in case studies should naturally be grounded on a comprehensive and robust analysis of available d ...
... Agri‐environmental schemes are an important policy tool to foster agricultural sustainability. We assess the effectiveness and return on investment of two different schemes designed to encourage biodiversity conservation in Switzerland: payments for actions and payments for results. Empirically, we exploit a major policy reform that created a natural experiment by abruptly and unevenly increasing ...
agronomy; convection; data collection; farms; information exchange; methane; methane production; slurries; summer; temperature; wind speed; winter; Germany; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Methane (CH4) emissions from dairy husbandry are a hot topic in the context of active climate protection, where housing systems with slatted floors and slurry storage inside are in general expected to emit more than systems with solid floors. There are multiple factors, including climate conditions, that modulate the emission pattern. In this study, we investigated interrelations between CH4 emiss ...
... Due to increasing demands to reduce chemical plant protection products, including prophylactic chemical seed treatments, there is a renewed interest in thermal seed treatments for cereal crops. We carried out contemporary evaluations of various alternative seed treatments for economically relevant cereal diseases in Switzerland. Thermal seed treatments were evaluated for effectiveness against two ...
... Plant protection products (PPP) are used to protect apples from pests and diseases and to maintain high yields and fruit quality. Alternatively, non-chemical plant protection measures can be applied to reduce the use and ecotoxicological risks of PPP. However, additional materials, energy or labor are needed, which can have an impact on the environmental or economic performance. To investigate pos ...
... There is an ongoing debate on European scale concerning the criticality of phosphorus. In Switzerland and Germany, phosphorus recovery from phosphorus-rich waste streams will become obligatory. Sewage sludge ash is rich in phosphorus and may become an important secondary feedstock. Thermochemical treatment of sewage sludge ash with sodium sulphate under reducing conditions was shown to remove heav ...
Abies alba; Fagus sylvatica subsp. sylvatica; Picea abies; Pseudotsuga menziesii; administrative management; canopy; ecosystems; forests; light transmission; natural regeneration; summer; tree and stand measurements; understory; ungulates; vegetation cover; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) has regenerated naturally in European forests since the middle of the 20ᵗʰ century. Some cases of an invasive character of the species have been reported under specific site conditions, but systematic data on the extent of natural regeneration and spread of Douglas fir across different forest communities are largely lacking. Due to its potential tolerance to inc ...
... The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor affects honey bee colony health and survival negatively, thus compelling beekeepers to treat their colonies every year. A broadly used mite control regimen is based on two organic molecules: formic and oxalic acids. To ensure optimal efficiency, several applications of these acids at pre-defined time points are recommended. These recommendations are mainly ...
agricultural development; food security; governance; human capital; income; labor force; social capital; sustainable development; Australia; France; Germany; New Zealand; Switzerland
Abstract:
... The occurrence of natural hazards on the earth is as universal as this universe. Though difficult to avoid or control, however, increasing resilience remains a crucial coping mechanism for disasters. This study focuses on the first target (SDG-13.1) of “Climate Action” which entails strengthening country-specific resilience and adaptive capacity towards natural disasters. Thus, we develop a novel ...
... In an attempt to move consumers toward a more sustainable and healthy diet, meat substitute products have flooded the market. However, consumers tend to be conservative about new food products and technologies that are supposed to replace traditional ones. Thus, it is important to evaluate whether consumers see the benefits of consuming these new products compared to the traditional meat products ...
entomophagy; human nutrition; insects; observational studies; questionnaires; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Although insects have long been part of the human diet in many countries, they are poorly received and accepted in European and North American countries. Therefore, this cross-sectional observational study, based on a structured questionnaire, aimed to evaluate the level of acceptability of entomophagy among young adults in a Swiss university context. The variable “acceptability of consuming insec ...
... Fragrance encapsulates (FEs) are designed to deliver fragrance components, notably in laundry care products. They are made of thermoset polymeric shells surrounding the fragrance content. These materials enter the environment mainly during laundry washing, but little is known about their distribution in and impact on the environment. The aim of the present study was to estimate the environmental c ...
climate change; governance; inventories; issues and policy; social networks; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Adaptation to the impacts of climate change has become an increasingly important policy field in recent years, but it is complicated due to ambiguous responsibilities. To ensure the coherence of adaptation policies, cooperation is necessary between sectors as well as between administrative levels. As such, fragmentation between both sectors and levels is a huge challenge for the successful formula ...
Alice Cibois; Michel Beaud; Francesco Foletti; Gérard Gory; Gwenaël Jacob; Nathalie Legrand; Ludovic Lepori; Christoph Meier; Antoine Rossi; Peter Wandeler; Jean‐Claude Thibault
... Artificial structures, and particularly in urban settings, attract species showing similar ecological niches and provide nest‐sites for cavity‐breeding species. It is, however, unknown whether this proximity creates opportunities for hybridization and gene flow across related species. We investigated whether two colonial species, the Common Swift Apus apus and the Pallid Swift Apus pallidus, are e ...
Barbara Willi; Marina L. Meli; Chiara Cafarelli; Urs O. Gilli; Anja Kipar; Alina Hubbuch; Barbara Riond; Judith Howard; Daniel Schaarschmidt; Walter Regli; Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
Cytauxzoon; Felis silvestris silvestris; anemia; cats; confidence interval; cytochrome b; geographical distribution; hemoparasites; mitochondrial genes; national surveys; phylogeny; quantitative polymerase chain reaction; tick-borne diseases; Central European region; France; Switzerland
Abstract:
... BACKGROUND: Cytauxzoon spp. infection is believed to be a newly emerging tick-borne disease in felids in Europe, with three species of the haemoparasite having recently been differentiated in wild felids. In Switzerland, rare infections have been documented in domestic cats in the west and northwest of the country, the first of which was in 2014. The aims of the present study were: (i) to characte ...
... BACKGROUND: Ichthyosis describes a localized or generalized hereditary cornification disorder caused by an impaired terminal keratinocyte differentiation resulting in excessive stratum corneum with the formation of more or less adherent scales. Ichthyosis affects humans and animals. Two rare bovine forms are reported, the severe harlequin ichthyosis and the less severe congenital ichthyosis, both ...
... The reduction of environmental and health risks from pesticide use is on top of the agenda of the food-value chain actors. The establishment of pesticide-free production systems could be a cornerstone for the sustainable intensification of agriculture. In Switzerland, a pesticide-free but non-organic wheat production standard is currently being introduced. We present survey data of 1105 IP-SUISSE ...
farms; nitrogen; nutrient use efficiency; ownership; profits and margins; risk; spring; surveys; Switzerland
Abstract:
... We present data on the stated preference for the adoption of variable rate technologies from 418 crop farmers in Switzerland. The online survey was conducted online in spring 2021. It consisted of two parts: 1) a choice experiment and 2) questions about farmers' characteristics, expectations and beliefs, as well as their risk preferences. In the choice experiment, farmers were presented with eight ...
electricity; electricity generation; energy policy; greenhouse gases; heat; pollution control; solar energy; water power; wind; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Decarbonizing the energy system by electrification of heat and transport is only effective when using low-carbon electricity sources. As many countries such as Switzerland rely on imported electricity to meet their demand, the greenhouse gas (GHG) content of electricity imports must be correctly accounted for. By assuming an average GHG content for each amount imported, impacts of electricity requ ...
... Geothermal district heating could play an important role towards climate change mitigation, but its slow uptake implies that it is cost competitive only under specific sets of conditions, including drilling success and design of the district heating. Even in cases when geothermal district heating may be less cost competitive than other alternatives, expenditure that occurs during its development b ...
... Several studies have found that increased nitrogen (N) deposition leads to a decline in species richness in semi-natural grasslands, mainly due to the loss of species typical of nutrient-poor soils. However, after reaching a peak around 1990, N deposition has decreased in Europe over the last 30 years. In this study, we investigated the changes in species number and composition of semi-natural gra ...
... Vehicle emission remote sensing devices have been widely used for monitoring and assessing the real-world emission performance of vehicles. They are also well-suited to identify candidate high emitting vehicles as remote sensing surveys measure the on-road, real-driving emissions (RDE) of a high proportion of the operational vehicle fleet passing through a testing site. This study uses the Gumbel ...
... Various methods exist to identify the source of siliceous materials used in prehistory. The only efficient and truly non-destructive method for archaeological objects exploits the fact that the majority of these silicifications derive from sedimentary formations.Sediments reflect the biotopes in which they formed, and each biotope differs from the others. Indeed, environmental conditions are never ...
... The aim of this paper is to highlight new occurrences of tephra and cryptotephra layers from three peatbogs located southeastern from the French Massif Central in France. These tephras were evidenced using magnetic susceptibility logging, scanner imagery and chemical analyses by X-Ray Fluorescence, and characterized by their glass chemistry. Originated from the Chaîne des Puys volcanic field, thes ...
alcohols; dairy products; diet recall; fish; food intake; fruits; guidelines; health surveys; meat; nutrition assessment; public health; vegetables; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Different methods of dietary intake assessment are frequently used to assess a population’s diet. In this study, we aimed to compare the adherence to Swiss food-based dietary guidelines as depicted in two Swiss population-based surveys using different methods of dietary assessment. Two population-based, cross-sectional surveys were compared. In the Swiss Health Survey (SHS), diet was assessed via ...
applied ecology; bees; flowers; forests; habitats; landscapes; meadows; pollinators; rare species; space and time; species richness; spring; summer; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Semi‐natural habitats provide important resources for wild bees in agricultural landscapes. Landscapes under management are dynamic and floral resources fluctuate in space and time. Thus, promoting different semi‐natural habitat types within landscapes could be key to support diverse bee meta‐communities throughout the season. Here, we integrate analyses of α‐diversity (species richness) and β‐div ...
biodiversity; herbaria; new taxa; travel; Costa Rica; Germany; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Three generations of the Wendland family, Johann Christoph Wendland (1755–1828), Heinrich Ludolph Wendland (1792–1869) and Hermann Wendland (1825–1903), were outstanding court gardeners at the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen (Hanover, Germany). The “Wendlands” not only enriched the botanical diversity of the gardens through plants obtained in exchange, purchased or collected during their own journey ...
... In this study, we investigated the occurrence of direct and indirect infectious disease transmission pathways among pig farms in Switzerland, as well as their specific relevance for the spread of African swine fever, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), and enzootic pneumonia. Data were collected using an adapted mental models approach, involving initial interviews with experts in ...
... Chemical weathering exerts a key control on atmospheric CO₂ and hence on Earth’s temperature. Knowledge of the influence of discharge and temperature on weathering product loads and fluxes through rivers is important to evaluate the possible influence of climate change on weathering. The role of hydrology on such loads and fluxes is clear, but the effect of temperature is difficult to investigate, ...
... AIM: Understanding the drivers of species distribution ranges and population genetic structure can help predict species' responses to global change, while mitigating threats to biodiversity through effective conservation measures. Here, we combined species habitat suitability through time with process‐based models and genomic data to investigate the role of landscape features and functional connec ...
... Recently, policymakers have been developing some policies to improve environmental quality. Environmental taxes are the most important of these policies. This study examines the effects of transport taxes, economic growth, and fossil fuel energy consumption on air pollution within the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis framework. The study used data from 1994 to 2019 for the ten countrie ...
COVID-19 infection; case studies; decision making; landscapes; mental health; open space; pandemic; travel; urban population; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Densification of cities threatens the provision of public open space for people living in and around cities. The increasing evidence of the many benefits of recreational walking for physical and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted an urgent need for fostering the availability of public open space. In this context, urban planners need information to anticipate recreational ne ...
... Cross-border commuting might be a way to improve an efficient allocation of labour resources, improve the economic performance of border regions and reduce economic and territorial inequality. This study explores the impact of a set of socio-economic, infrastructural or cultural explanatory variables that drive cross-border commuting in the EU and Switzerland for all outgoing commuters from living ...
... We investigated the associations between dietary patterns and chronic disease mortality in Switzerland using an ecological design and explored their spatial dependence, i.e. the tendency of near locations to present more similar and distant locations to present more different values than randomly expected. Data of the National Nutrition Survey menuCH (n 2057) were used to compute hypothesis- (Alte ...
Japan; carbon; carbon dioxide; communications technology; data collection; energy; environmental degradation; humans; socioeconomic development; Denmark; Iceland; Netherlands; Norway; South Korea; Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom
Abstract:
... Although ICT has played a critical role in the socio-economic growth of human cultures, it has also brought with it significant environmental risks. Nevertheless, scholars remain divided on this topic; some believe that ICT has had a positive influence on the quality of the environment, while others believe that ICT has created major environmental issues. Hence, this research is another effort to ...
... The drivers affecting the Pollen Allergen Potency (PAP, amount of allergen released per pollen) are sparsely known. Betula and Poaceae airborne pollen are the two main allergenic pollen in the World. Airborne pollen and their allergens Bet v 1 and Phl p 5 were simultaneously measured from 2010 to 2015 in Davos (Switzerland) and Munich (Germany) by using volumetric traps and ChemVol cascade impacto ...
... The successful identification of hazards at an early stage is a cornerstone of public health in the area of food safety. The Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office has been running an early detection system since 2018. A group of experts that identifies information concerning hazards and evaluates it periodically carries out the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office’s early detection ...
economic analysis; equipment; industry; lumber; markets; models; prices; supply chain; wood; Austria; Central European region; Germany; Italy; Switzerland
Abstract:
... The CLT market is quickly growing and developing in different regions of the world. However, the production and consumption are highly concentrated in Central Europe (Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland). Due to the elevated levels of personalization required for the construction projects, the CLT manufacturing process involves costly and specialized equipment that represents an entry barrier ...
... We use Distributed Strain Sensing (DSS) through Brillouin scattering measurements to characterize the reactivation of a fault zone in shale (Opalinus clay), caused by the excavation of a gallery at ∼400 m depth in the Mont Terri Underground Laboratory (Switzerland). DSS fibers are cemented behind casing in six boreholes cross‐cutting the fault zone. We compare the DSS data with co‐located measurem ...
... In this study, we investigated the consequences of climate change on bioclimatic indices in vineyards along the edge of Lake Neuchatel in Switzerland. Like in other vineyards all around the world, the typicity of wines and the phenology of vines have changed, particularly since the 1970s. Trends in the growing season average temperature and in Huglin’s heliothermal index show that the climate in t ...
Copepoda; biomass; ecosystems; lakes; littoral zone; Italy; Lake Maggiore; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Human-induced water level fluctuations (WLFs) are among the major pressures threatening lake ecosystems. Their effect on meiobenthic species of the littoral zone has been poorly investigated. In this study, we aimed at assessing the effects of human-induced WLFs on the composition and functionality of the benthic copepod assemblages of the littoral zone of Lake Maggiore, Italy and Switzerland. Fro ...
... The Opalinus Clay is a claystone considered as potential host rock for deep geological disposal of radioactive wastes in Switzerland and Gemany. During the operational phase of the repository, an increase in underground water pH, from 7.5 to a value as high as 13.5 is expected, due to the release of alkaline plumes from concrete degradation, resulting in possible changes in the mineralogy of the h ...
aerosols; air pollution; air pollution control; energy-dispersive X-ray analysis; environment; oxidation; particulates; relative humidity; sulfur dioxide; urban areas; China; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Haze related air pollution has become one of major environmental concerns in some Asian countries. Sulfate is a main component of ambient particulate matter (PM) in the urban environment during haze episodes. Among the pollutants, sulfur dioxide (SO₂) is an important precursor of sulfate and new atmospheric particle formation. However, under different atmospheric conditions its underlying formatio ...
algorithms; biogas; biomass; electricity; energy; expert opinion; gas production (biological); geographic information systems; greenhouse gases; heat production; laws and regulations; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Agricultural biogas production is subject to various spatial restrictions including legislation, biomass availability, transport, and the distribution of final energy products. This study introduces a geographic information system (GIS)-based approach for a comprehensive techno-spatial assessment of the above-mentioned factors, which was tested for Switzerland. First, spatial criteria were identif ...
Bayesian theory; algorithms; catenas; data collection; decision support systems; meteorological data; models; rain; rainfall duration; Italy; Switzerland
Abstract:
... This study aimed to evaluate the estimation accuracy of rainfall erosivity (R-factor) in Italy and Switzerland through five Machine learning (ML) models (Decision Tree (DT), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting (GB), and eXtreme Gradient Boost (XGB)) tuned with optimal hyperparameters. To build the ML model, high temporal resolution (HTR) rainfall data were collected fr ...
European Union; carbon dioxide; electricity; issues and policy; models; nuclear power; power generation; renewable electricity; Switzerland
Abstract:
... The quest for safe energy in the EU has increasingly led to a policy of zero nuclear power and a shift towards renewable sources. The phasing out of nuclear power is being carefully undertaken, so as not create negative externalities, even though not all countries are ready to make this move, and despite the valuable role nuclear energy can play in backing up intermittent renewables. This paper ex ...
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; climate change; energy; energy policy; Ireland; Italy; Spain; Switzerland
Abstract:
... To fulfill the Paris Agreement commitments and stimulated by an unprecedented amount of public resources put in place to recover from the COVID-induced recession, European governments have recently announced sizable green policy plans. In this paper, we examine the behavior of green and brown portfolios around green policy-related announcements (GPAs) made by major European governments in 2020 via ...
... Soybean is one of the economically significant crops in the world and is cultivated over a large area in Krasnodar Krai (Russia). In recent years, the harmfulness of the cotton moth Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) has significantly increased for soybeans. The use of chemical insecticides leads to formation of resistance which can be prevented by bioinsecticides based on entomo ...
International Organization for Standardization; aquatic environment; bioassays; cell lines; chemical analysis; ecotoxicology; estrogen receptors; estrogens; genetically engineered microorganisms; humans; osteosarcoma; risk; transcriptional activation; wastewater treatment; water quality; wildlife; yeasts; Switzerland
Abstract:
... Estrogens are released to the aquatic environment by wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents and can affect wildlife. In the last three decades, many in vitro assay platforms have been developed to detect and quantify estrogenicity in water. In 2018, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standardized protocols became available for three types of in vitro estrogen receptor tr ...
... The aim of this study was to determine residue levels of pesticides in Swiss commercial beeswax. Foundation samples were collected in 2019 from nine commercial manufacturers for analysis of 21 pesticides using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography. Individual samples showed the variability and residue ranges and pooled samples represented the average annual residue values of the Swiss produ ...
... This study presents a new dynamical downscaling strategy for extreme events. It is based on a combination of statistical downscaling of coarsely resolved global model simulations and dynamical downscaling of specific extreme events constrained by the statistical downscaling part. The method is applied to precipitation extremes over the upper Aare catchment, an area in Switzerland which is characte ...
analysis of covariance; gardens; mental health; social support; surveys; urban forestry; Switzerland
Abstract:
... This mixed-methods paper examines the experience and effects of the loss of an allotment garden among gardeners in Zurich, Switzerland. The paper explores the subjective experience of garden loss using qualitative material gathered in field conversations with gardeners from an allotment area which was soon to be cleared for construction. In parallel, gardeners from the same area were surveyed befo ...
... We present the results of new and repeat gallery- and borehole-scale seismic experiments carried out in two excavation damaged zones (EDZs) of 10 (gallery 08) and 20 (gallery 98) years of age at the Mont Terri Underground Rock Laboratory in St. Ursanne, Switzerland. The initial geometry and rock mass properties of the EDZs were studied during and shortly after excavation—allowing for a direct comp ...
... The aim of this study was to assess the behaviour of Swiss students regarding meat consumption by analysing their current consumption habits, attitudes and knowledge, acceptance of meat alternatives and willingness to reduce meat intake. Data were collected through an online survey conducted in universities and universities of applied sciences among German- and French-speaking students in Switzerl ...
green infrastructure; land policy; traffic; urban areas; Switzerland
Abstract:
... The Barcelona superblock is an urban neighbourhood transformation strategy, with which car-based traffic is redirected away from streets that are inside a 3 × 3 urban block configuration. This urban design concept promises opportunities for alternative street use such as the transformation of street space into urban green space. The potential to foster urban green space due to superblock design is ...
... The cover-management factor (C-factor) of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) is the most important factor for estimating the effects of farming practices or agricultural policy measures on soil loss rates. This study, conducted in Switzerland from 1987 to 2017, assessed the impact of mitigation measures on arable land by comparing modelled C-factor values and measured soil losses. C-factor va ...
... Growth models of uneven-aged forests on the diameter class level can support silvicultural decision making. Machine learning brings added value to the modeling of dynamics at the stand or individual tree level based on data from permanent plots. The objective of this study is to explore the potential of machine learning for modeling growth dynamics in uneven-aged forests at the diameter class leve ...
... Insecticide use and its adverse environmental and health effects are expected to further increase in a warming climate. We here show that farmers' insecticide use, however, declines substantially when facing extreme heat. Using the example of Colorado potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) in Switzerland, we find an 11.5% reduction of insecticide use for each day and degree that maximum temper ...
... Brachyspira hyodysenteriae is one of the agents of swine dysentery (SD) and its eradication is an effective, but costly control measure. Being a voluntary measure, knowledge about drivers of motivation and satisfaction regarding the eradication of SD would help to convince farmers to eradicate. We aimed to describe eradications performed in Switzerland and to analyse factors influencing the pig ow ...