Elsevier,
The Lancet, 2024, ISSN 0140-6736,
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02801-5.
This article is about mental health and menopause and questions the assumption that menopause always causes mental health problems whilst also identifying specific at-risk groups who may need additional support.
Elsevier,
The Lancet, 2024, ISSN 0140-6736,
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02802-7.
This paper is about treatment-induced menopause after cancer care. It highlights how treatment-induced menopause can lead to more severe symptoms than natural menopause and these are often overlooked during cancer care – especially in LMICs.
Elsevier,
The Lancet, 2024, ISSN 0140-6736, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02799-X.
This paper is about empowering women during the menopause and argues that an over-simplified narrative of menopause as a health problem to be solved by replacing hormones is not based on evidence and deflects attention from the need for substantial societal shifts in how menopause, and midlife/older women in general, are viewed and treated around the world.
Elsevier,
Geoderma, Volume 443, March 2024
Artificial grassland restoration can be an effective method when applied to severely degraded grassland in alpine areas, however, their effects on slope runoff and sediment yield are still unclear. Qian et al., 2024 studied the effects of artificial restoration and degradation on the runoff sediment process in three areas and found that artificial grassland can significantly reduce runoff and sediment yield compared to alpine meadows and severely degraded alpine meadows. The study underscores the importance of plant and soil characteristics in erosion processes, highlighting the effectiveness of artificial grassland in mitigating soil erosion through improved soil conditions and enhanced vegetation coverage, with implications for restoration efforts in alpine regions.
Elsevier,
Soil Security, Volume 14, March 2024
Ginzky 2024 discusses the ongoing legislative process in Germany to amend the soil protection act, addressing climate change, biodiversity maintenance, and other challenges, with the support of the current government. The paper outlines the societal importance of soils, challenges, current legislation shortfalls, proposed regulatory approaches including ongoing EU deliberations, and strategies for gaining political support considering ecological and social services, as well as competing interests.
Elsevier,
Soil Security, Volume 14, March 2024
Mulwafua and Kamchedzera 2024 found that Malawi's soil laws lack strong priorities for Avoid, Reduce, and Reverse strategies regarding land degradation neutrality, contrasting with Uganda and Germany which incorporate these strategies in their soil-dedicated legal frameworks. By using Roscoe Pound's theory of social engineering, the authors suggest that Malawi's human-centred approach to soil conservation neglects eco-centric and deep ecology perspectives.
Elsevier,
Soil Security, Volume 14, March 2024
Soil systems play a key role in the fight against climate change. A paper, produced by Rubio et al., 2024, highlights the importance of soil management and land conservation for sustainable use of resources. It calls for a comprehensive vision recognizing soil's socio-economic benefits and ecological functions, urging for radical environmental, social, and economic shifts to address climate change responsibly for present and future generations, in alignment with initiatives like the European Green Deal and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Elsevier,
Geoderma Regional, Volume 36, March 2024
Areas prone to drought and land degradation need effective water management plans to secure food production. Methods such as hydrological modelling and digital soil mapping can aid in evaluating water availability (water content and water stress). A study by Horta et al., 2023 examined the use of a global and local soil hydraulic properties (SHP) dataset to simulate soil-water balance at a regional scale in Portugal and found that the SHP dataset is a key factor to consider. The results showed that the choice between global and local SHP datasets significantly impacts the accuracy of soil-water balance simulations, influencing irrigation schedules and potentially jeopardizing crop production and soil quality, particularly in Mediterranean conditions.
Elsevier,
Geoderma Regional, Volume 36, March 2024
A study by Snoussi et al., 2024 proposes a methodology for evaluating excavated material's environmental, geotechnical, and agronomical properties to determine its ecological reuse potential, particularly for constructing soil in urban green infrastructure. Through the SWOFI framework (Safety, Workability, Fertility, Infiltrability), the authors characterised a non-cohesive sedimentary parent rock with a sandy loam texture from Bou Argoub in Tunisia. The method successfully assessed the material’s pollution hazard, compaction sensitivity, and fertility showcasing a novel integrated approach for sustainable soil construction in urban landscapes.
