National activities to protect the natural environment are on the rise. Conventional explanations of the phenomenon emphasize domestic processes, set in motion by environmental degradation and economic affluence. We propose instead a top-down causal imagery that hinges on a global redefinition of the “nation-state” to include environmental protection as a basic state responsibility. We test our view using event-history analyses of five indicators of environmentalization: the proliferation of(1) national parks, (2) chapters of international environmental associations, (3) memberships in intergovernmental environmental organizations, (4) environmental impact assessment laws, and (5) environmental ministries in countries around the world over the twentieth century. For all five measures, the top-down global explanation proves stronger than the bottom-up domestic alternative: The global institutionalization of the principle that nation-states bear responsibility for environmental protection drives national activities to protect the environment. This is especially true in countries with dense ties to world society and prolific “receptor sites,” even when controlling for domestic degradation and affluence. It appears that blueprints of nation-state environmentalization, which themselves become more universalistic over time, are drawn in world society before being diffused to and enacted by individual countries.
Modern manufacturing industries face increasing pressure to enhance operational efficiency while reducing energy costs and environmental impact. This research develops a metal waste cleaning robot with integrated multi-objective energy optimization for local manufacturing applications. The robot integrates 28 main components including dual motor systems (80 W drive motor, 60 W arm motor), HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor, ESP32 microcontroller, and hierarchical thermal protection. Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) simultaneously optimizes energy consumption, coverage completeness, and operational time. The multi-objective optimization framework achieves significant energy reductions through three independent mechanisms: trajectory planning optimization reduces total energy consumption by 30% (from 235.7 Wh to 165 Wh per cycle), adaptive control systems reduce motor power consumption by 50% (from 280 W to 140 W) through dynamic voltage adjustment based on environmental complexity, and strategic base station placement reduces travel distance by 20% (from 150 m to 120 m per cycle), resulting in corresponding energy savings. ANSYS validation confirms structural stability with maximum equivalent elastic strain of 7.6839 × 10−5 m/m and maximum equivalent deformation of 6.710 × 10−5 m (67.10 μm) under operational loading, demonstrating that the structure operates well within the elastic limit with safety factor >5. The robot demonstrates total power consumption of 165 W with 75.4% cleaning efficiency, reducing operational time from 35 min (manual methods) to 8.4 min across four material types (aluminum, copper, steel, glass). Performance testing shows 76.7% efficiency for chip cleaning (7 min) and 87.5% efficiency for metal dust cleaning (5 min). The hierarchical thermal protection system ensures operational safety with motor temperature sensors providing 35% protection effectiveness. This integrated optimization framework provides validated solutions for local manufacturing industries with limited technology accessibility, contributing to sustainable energy-efficient industrial robot for metal waste management in developing countries.
Shahd Rasmy, Salwa Mowafi, Mahmoud Suleyman
et al.
Abstract Eco-friendly textile dyeing technologies are increasingly popular because of raised environmental consciousness and the need for less polluting substitutes wefor synthetic dyes. Waste of black tea is an appropriate source of polyphenols and tannins with ecological as well as functional benefits, such as microbial resistance, and antioxidant activity. Herein, a new method for eco-friendlier dyeing and finishing of viscose fabric using black tea waste extract (BTWE) as a sustainable natural colorant for dyeing and functional finishing of viscose fabric was examined. The dyeing conditions, like pH, temperature, dye concentration, and time, were systematically regulated to assign the proper conditions for maximum color strength (K/S). The colorfastness of the dyed fabric against washing, perspiration, crocking, and light was determined. Using zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) improved the performance of the dyed fabrics by making them more resistant to some pathogens. The results revealed that the optimum dyeing conditions were found to be pH 3, 45 °C, 4% dye, for 60 min. Finishing the dyed samples with ZnO-NPs enhanced the K/S and antimicrobial activity without negative impact on the mechanical strength. The dyed viscose fabric exhibited excellent resistance towards Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria as well as the fungus Candida albicans. The antioxidant activity of the dyed samples was greatly improved compared to undyed viscose fabric. However, enhancement of the ultraviolet protection factor of the dyed fabric was limited, likely due to inadequate surface coverage and lack of coating operations. The discrepancy in the chemical and morphological structures between the undyed and the corresponding dyed viscose fabrics was monitored using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The correlation between the different dyeing parameters and the color strength as well as the colorimetric data was assigned using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The findings of this investigation justify the potential application of BTWE as a green colorant for one-pot sustainable dyeing and functional finishing of viscose fabrics.
Highly sensitive real-time detection of hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) is important for human health and environmental protection due to its highly toxic properties. The development of high-performance H<sub>2</sub>S sensors remains challenging for poor selectivity, high limit detection and slow recovery from irreversible sulfidation. To solve these problems, we strategically prepared a layered structure of CuO-sensitized WO<sub>3</sub> flower-like hollow spheres with CuO as the sensitizing component. A 15 wt% CuO/WO<sub>3</sub> exhibits an ultra-high response (R<sub>a</sub>/R<sub>g</sub> = 571) to 10 ppm H<sub>2</sub>S (131-times of pure WO<sub>3</sub>), excellent selectivity (97-times higher than 100 ppm interference gas), and a low detection limit (100 ppb). Notably, its fast response (4 s) is accompanied by full recovery within 236 s. After 30 days of continuous testing, the response of 15 wt% CuO/WO<sub>3</sub> decreased slightly but maintained the initial response of 90.5%. The improved performance is attributed to (1) the p-n heterojunction formed between CuO and WO<sub>3</sub> optimizes the energy band structure and enriches the chemisorption sites for H<sub>2</sub>S; (2) the reaction of H<sub>2</sub>S with CuO generates highly conductive CuS, which significantly reduces the interfacial resistance; and (3) the hierarchical flowery hollow microsphere structure, heterojunction, and oxygen vacancy synergistically promote the desorption. This work provides a high-performance H<sub>2</sub>S gas sensor that balances response, selectivity, and response/recovery kinetics.
Paul Picciano, Minghao Qiu, Sebastian D. Eastham
et al.
AbstractClimate policies that target greenhouse gas emissions can improve air quality by reducing co-emitted air pollutant emissions. However, the extent to which climate policy could contribute to the targets of reducing existing pollution disparities across different populations remains largely unknown. We quantify potential air pollution exposure reductions under U.S. federal carbon policy, considering implications of resulting health benefits for exposure disparities across U.S. racial/ethnic groups. We focus on policy cases that achieve reductions of 40-60% in 2030 economy-wide carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, when compared with 2005 emissions. The 50% CO2 reduction policy case reduces average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure across racial/ethnic groups, with greatest benefit for non-Hispanic Black (−0.44 μg/m3) and white populations (−0.37 μg/m3). The average exposure disparity for racial/ethnic minorities rises from 12.4% to 13.1%. Applying an optimization approach to multiple emissions reduction scenarios, we find that no alternate combination of reductions from different CO2 sources would substantially mitigate exposure disparities. Results suggest that CO2-based strategies for this range of reductions are insufficient for fully mitigating PM2.5 exposure disparities between white and racial/ethnic minority populations; addressing disparities may require larger-scale structural changes.
Oxide materials in bulk and thin film form, and metal oxide nanostructures exhibit a great variety of functional properties which make them ideal for applications in solar cells, gas sensors, optoelectronic devices, passive optics, catalysis, corrosion protection, environmental protection, etc. [...]
IntroductionHeterostyly is a genetically controlled style polymorphism, that plays an important role in promoting outcrossing and improving reproductive fitness. Although distyly is often studied in plants of the Rubiaceae family, little attention has been paid to the reproductive strategies of distylous species in fragmented habitats. Here, We report for the first time the growth of Ophiorrhiza alatiflora, a type distylous species, in karst areas and evaluate its reciprocity between long styled morph and short one. We analyze the two distyly morph differences in the ancillary polymorphic of flowers and explore their reproductive strategy in fragmented habitats.MethodsIn this study, we measured the floral characteristics of different morphs and performed differential secondary metabolite analysis on different morphs and tissue organs; Different pollination treatments were carried out to observe the fruit set, pollen germination, and pollen tube elongation of O. alatiflora.Results and discussionOur research indicates that O. alatiflora is a typical distylous plant for the distyly has high reciprocity. Both morphs exhibit the highest fruit set of intermorph outcrossing; The pollen germination and pollen tube elongation experiments have also demonstrated that the affinity of pollen from intermorph outcrossing is highest, regardless of whether it is the long or short morph as the maternal parent; Meanwhile, O. alatiflora is an incompletely self-incompatible plant that exhibits a certain degree of self-pollination and intramorph outcrossing, which may be one of the important means to ensure sustainable reproduction in severely disturbed habitats. In the ancillary polymorphic of flowers, L-morphs flowers produce more pollen, and S-morph flowers produce more ovules to improve their male-female fitness and compensate for the asymmetry of pollen flow; Compared with S-morphs, L-morphs contain significantly higher levels of several kinds of terpenoids. S-morphs produce more flavonoids than L-morphs. The differences in secondary metabolites between L-morphs and S-morphs are mainly reflected in the different nutritional organs (including stems and leaves). Overall, our work has revealed the unique reproductive strategy of O. alatiflora in fragmented habitats based on the characteristics of distyly, verifying the hypothesis that the distyly of O. alatiflora promotes outcrossing and avoids male-female interference, improving male-female fitness and this is the first time in the Ophiorrhiza genus.
Oprea Carmen, Ionescu Elena Valentina, Matei Raluca
et al.
The scope of the present study was to evaluate the results obtained from implementing the integrated programme of sustainable entrepreneurship specific to balneal tourism in the pre- and post-pandemic period at the Balneal and Rehabilitation Sanatorium of Techirghiol (SBRT), with the identification of current trends and preferences of the population regarding healthcare services in the Techirghiol area. Methods: The retrospective longitudinal study, conducted from 2018 to 2022, used data gathered in SBRT services on a number of patients grouped by condition, the quality of therapeutic water accessed by patients and of waste water discharged into the lake, books and documents specific to the proposed topic. Results: Starting with the pandemic year 2020, patients are also referred to SBRT for treatment of post covid after-effects (restrictive/obstructive respiratory diseases). Water waste discharged into Lake Techirghiol in 2020 exceeds the legal limits for the arithmetic mean values of nitrogen ammonia, returning to normal in 2021 (2.88 mg/l), reaching 0.24mg/l in 2022. Considering the 2020 pandemic year as the reference year, the number of tourists in 2020 decreased by 58% compared to 2018 and by 37% compared to 2019, with an increase of 42% and 43% in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Conclusions: The number of patients accessing natural factor therapies in the time period analysed has seen a steady post-pandemic increase. The sustainable development of spa tourism in the Techirghiol area requires an integrative approach that ensures environmental protection.
Cyclommatus stag beetles (Coleoptera, Lucanidae) are very interesting insects, because of their striking allometry (mandibles can be longer that the whole body in large males of some species) and sexual dimorphism. They mainly inhabit tropical and subtropical forests in Asia. To date, there has been no molecular phylogenetic research on how these stag beetles evolved and diversified. In this study, we constructed the first phylogenetic relationship for Cyclommatus using multi-locus datasets. Analyses showed that Cyclommatus is monophyletic, being subdivided into two well-supported clades (A and B). The clade A includes the island species from Southeast Asia, and the clade B is formed by the continental species. The divergent time estimates showed these beetles split from the outgroup around 43.10 million years ago (Mya) in the late Eocene, divided during the late Oligocene (around 24.90 Mya) and diversified further during the early and middle Miocene (around 18.19 Mya, around 15.17 Mya). RASP analysis suggested that these beetles likely originated in the Philippine archipelago, then dispersed to the other Southeast Asian archipelagoes, Indochina Peninsula, Southeast Himalayas, and Southern China. Moreover, relatively large genetic distance and stable morphological variations signified that the two clades reach the level of inter-generic differences, i.e., the current Cyclommatus should be separated in two genera: Cyclommatus Parry, 1863 including the clade A species, and Cyclommatinus Didier, 1927 covering the clade B species. In addition, the evidence we generated indicated these beetles’ diversification was promoted probably by both long-distance dispersal and colonization, supporting an “Upstream” colonization hypothesis. Our study provides insights into the classification, genetics and evolution of stag beetles in the Oriental region.
China has taken a number of positive measures to meet the requirement of environmental protection. The switch to electricity especially in transport sector is considered as a promising way to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and facilitating to meet China's carbon neutral target in 2060. Besides, because of the overall impact of the COVID-19 on the transport sector, the future measures imposed by the government on electric vehicles (EVs) remain in high uncertainty. Taking the characteristics of different vehicles, business models, uncertainty of government financial subsidies and environmental factors into consideration, a replacement optimization model for a taxi fleet is proposed in this study under the cap-and-trade system. We assume that the taxi company has four types of vehicles to purchase or lease and manage to maximum the pecuniary advantages and environmental benefits simultaneously. Experimental results analyze that EVs and battery-swap electric vehicles (BSVs) are highly competitive when government subsidies do not decline. During the early stage of the planning horizon, adjusting the fleet continuously and timely can help the company to realizing the maximum revenue.
Yuyi Yang, Geoffrey Michael Gadd, Ji-Dong Gu
et al.
Deciphering biogeographical patterns of alkaline phosphatase (phoD)-harboring bacteria is essential to understand organic phosphorus mineralization. However, it is poorly understood about distribution pattern and diversity maintenance mechanisms of phoD-harboring bacteria (PHB) in watershed ecosystems. Here, we estimated ecological processes shaping landscape of PHB in soils and sediments along the Yangtze River. The PHB community similarity decayed against higher geographical distance at taxonomic and phylogenetic levels, and larger compositional variation in PHB community were found in sediments only. The PHB displayed higher α-diversities, broader environmental breadths, higher community stability, and stronger species replacement in soils. Conversely, PHB showed stronger phylogenetic signals in sediments. Stochastic and differentiating processes dominated community assemblies of PHB in both soils and sediments. Electrical conductivity displayed decisive roles in shaping PHB diversity for soils and sediments at taxonomic and phylogenetic levels. Our results emphasized differences in distribution patterns of PHB between soils and sediments, and highlighted ecological processes shaping landscapes of PHB in soils and sediments along the Yangtze River. The phosphorus cycling-related findings might be helpful to estimate ecological potential of a watershed ecosystem and could provide new insights for ecological protection policy for the Yangtze River.