Although a number of comprehensive reviewshave examined global ecosystem services (ES), few havefocused on studies that assess urban ecosystem services(UES). Given that more than half of the world’ ...

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A Quantitative Review of Urban Ecosystem Service Assessments: Concepts, Models, and Implementation

Urban green space is purported to offset greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions, remove air and water pollutants, cool local climate, and improve public health. To use these services, municipalities have focused efforts on designing and implementing ecosystem-services-based “green infrastructure” in urban environments. In some cases the environmental benefits of this infrastructure have been well documented, but they are often unclear, unquantified, and/or outweighed by potential costs. Quantifying biogeochemical processes in urban green infrastructure can improve our understanding of urban ecosystem services and disservices (negative or unintended consequences) resulting from designed urban green spaces. Here we propose a framework to integrate biogeochemical processes into designing, implementing, and evaluating the net effectiveness of green infrastructure, and provide examples for GHG mitigation, stormwater runoff mitigation, and improvements in air quality and health.

https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1890/090220

Coupling biogeochemical cycles in urban environments: ecosystem services, green solutions, and misconceptions

Planning for Cooler Cities : A Framework to Prioritise Green Infrastructure to Mitigate High Temperatures in Urban Landscapes

Positive effects of vegetation: urban heat island and green roofs.

State-of-the-art analysis of the environmental benefits of green roofs

Green roofs (roofs with a vegetated surface and substrate) provide ecosystem services in urban areas, including improved storm-water management, better regulation of building temperatures, reduced urban heat-island effects, and increased urban wildlife habitat. This article reviews the evidence for these benefits and examines the biotic and abiotic components that contribute to overall ecosystem services. We emphasize the potential for improving green-roof function by understanding the interactions between its ecosystem elements, especially the relationships among growing media, soil biota, and vegetation, and the interactions between community structure and ecosystem functioning. Further research into green-roof technology should assess the efficacy of green roofs compared to other technologies with similar ends, and ultimately focus on estimates of aggregate benefits at landscape scales and on more holistic cost-benefit analyses.

/pdf/green-roofs-as-urban-ecosystems-ecological-structures-39k0ixmvvw.pdf

Green Roofs as Urban Ecosystems: Ecological Structures, Functions, and Services

Impact of Insulated Concrete Curb on Concrete Balcony Slab

Low-sloped roofs such as commercial and high-rise buildings in a dense urban area provide vast “unused” surfaces that can be used to manage storm-water and mitigate urban flooding. Storm-water Detention Assembly (SDA) known as “blue roof” exerts advanced drainage technologies and operational strategies to store-and-release storm-water during and after heavy rainfall events. SDA can reduce peak flow and decrease storm-water run-off volume. However, the SDA application is limited due to the lack of science-based regulatory requirements. This paper introduces SDA, summarizes the benefits and challenges of this system, reviews the existing code specifications on roofing drain systems, and documents the criteria to design and construct SDA. With this systematic approach, the missing links are identified that shall form code change request for possible inclusion in the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) and National Plumping Code of Canada (NPC). In addition, a road map is stated to calculate and benchmark the drain requirements on low-sloped roofs for a given design climatic load.

/pdf/low-sloped-rooftop-storm-water-detention-assembly-to-10qroykz.pdf

Low-Sloped Rooftop Storm-Water Detention Assembly to Mitigate Urban Flooding

Background: Conventional antifungals are becoming resistant against dermatophytosis due to development of recalcitrant tinea. These patients may get benefit from newer topical antifungals or combination therapy. Topical antifungal therapy is the mainstay in the treatment of dermatophytosis. Aims/Objectives: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of topical amorolfine in tinea infection in real-world settings. Materials and Methods: This was a real-world retrospective study; data was collected from 106 centers across India on the usage of amorolfine in the management of tinea infections. The treatment response was evaluated at the end of 2 and 4 week. It was determined by the reduction in severity of the classic symptoms of disease viz. pruritus, burning sensation, erythema, and scaling and crusting at Week 2 and Week 4 of treatment. The severity of symptoms was classified and quantified as mild (1), moderate (2), and severe (3). Safety was determined based on the occurrence of any adverse events during the treatment. Results: An improvement in symptoms score was observed for all the classic symptoms of infection viz. pruritus, burning sensation, erythema, and scaling and crusting at Week 2 and Week 4 compared to baseline. Mean total symptom score (TSS) was reduced to 0.88 ± 1.19 from 7.18 ± 2.84 at week 4 (P < 0.05). Only 10 (0.73%) patients out of 1358 showed mild and non-treatment-related adverse events. Conclusion: Amorolfine alone or in combination therapy with oral antifungals in real world clinical setting represents an improved treatment strategy for patients with tinea infections.

Hitesh Doshi

Papers

Green Roofs as Urban Ecosystems: Ecological Structures, Functions, and Services

Impact of Insulated Concrete Curb on Concrete Balcony Slab

Low-Sloped Rooftop Storm-Water Detention Assembly to Mitigate Urban Flooding

A retrospective analysis of real-world data to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of topical amorolfine in tinea infection

Accounting Transparency and the Implied Volatility Skew