In the present research, groups of nanolayered structures and nanohybrids based on organic green dyes and inorganic species are designated to act as fillers for PVA for inducing new optical sites and increasing its thermal stability through producing polymeric nanocomposites. In this trend, different percentages of Naphthol green B were intercalated as pillars inside the Zn-Al nanolayered structures to form green organic-inorganic nanohybrids. The two-dimensional green nanohybrids were identified by X-ray diffraction, TEM and SEM. According to the thermal analyses, the nanohybrid, which has the highest amount of green dyes, was used for modifying the PVA through two series. In the first series, three nanocomposites were prepared depending on the green nanohybrid as prepared. In the second series, the yellow nanohybrid, which was produced from the green nanohybrid by thermal treatment, was used to produce another three nanocomposites. The optical properties revealed that the polymeric nanocomposites depending on green nanohybrids became optical-active in UV and visible regions because the energy band gap decreased to be 2.2 eV. In addition, the energy band gap of the nanocomposites depended on yellow nanohybrids was 2.5 eV. The thermal analyses indicated that the polymeric nanocomposites are thermally more stable than that of the original PVA. Finally, the dual functionality of organic-inorganic nanohybrids that produced from the confinement of organic dyes and the thermal stability of inorganic species converted the non-optical PVA to optical-active polymer in a wide range with high thermal stability

According to research, we have learned that Mg and TiO2 are new types material of marine protective coatings. We found that the addition of Mg can improve the performance of Zn-Al coating passivation film, and TiO2 has excellent photocatalytic self-cleaning performance. In this paper Zn-Al pseudo alloy coating was prepared by cold spray technique, and Zn-Al-Mg-TiO2 pseudo alloy composite coating was prepared by adding Mg and nano-TiO2. The effects of Mg and TiO2 to the marine protective properties of Zn-Al coatings were studied by friction and wear test, dynamic salt water corrosion test, electrochemical test, scanning electron microscope(SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS) and super deep scene 3D microscope. The results show that the addition of Mg and nano-TiO2 not only fills the gap of the coating and improves the density of the coating, but also generates grid-like flocculent corrosion products on the surface of the coating which can gather other corrosion products to improve the density of corrosion products, reduce the friction coefficient and corrosion rate of the coating surface, effectively prevent the invasion of Cl- in solution, and improve the wear and corrosion resistance of the coating.

The effect of retrogression re-aging treatment (RRA) on corrosion behavior of 7055 Al-Zn-Mg alloy were studied. Results provides the corrosion resistance could be greatly improved by RRA. After the RRA treatment, the isolated precipitates occurred on grain boundaries (GBs) and the low angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) presented a larger fraction compared to the single-stage peaking aging. The samples after RRA treatment also show better corrosion resistance than the single-stage peak aging. The results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) show that impedance spectrum is consisted of semi-infinite layer diffusion impedance and stagnant Weber impedance. The semi-infinite layer diffusion impedance corresponded a limited retention layer on the electrode surface. In corrosion process, Weber impedance corresponded to stagnant layer of corrosion products generated by the anode branches. The RRA sample has the high Rf and low Cf, Cp values, and the corrosion current density of the RRA samples is ten times less than the single-stage peak aging samples with the 10% hardness losing.

Aluminum base alloys containing chromium (Cr) and zinc (Zn) were produced using extrusion and heat treated powder metallurgy. Cr addition ranged between 5 to 10 wt. % while Zn was added in an amount between 0 to 20 wt. %. Heat treatment processes were performed during powder metallurgy process at different temperatures followed by water quenching. Similar alloys were extruded, with an extrusion ratio of 4.6 to get proper densification. Optical microscopy was used for microstructure investigations of the produced alloys. The element distribution microstructure study was carried out using the Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis method. Hardness and tensile properties of the investigated alloys have been examined. Wear resistance tests were carried out and the results were compared with these of the Al-based bulk alloys. Results showed that the aluminum base alloys containing 10wt. % Chromium and heat treated at 500°C for one hour followed by water quenching exhibited the highest wear resistance and better mechanical properties.

Semi-solid feedstock of AZ80 magnesium alloy modified by minor rare-earth Y element (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 wt.%) were fabricated by strain induces melting activated (SIMA) in the form of extrusion and partial remelting. The effect of Y addition on the microstructure evolution of extruded and isothermal treated alloy was observed by optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and quantitative analysis. The results show that the Y addition can refine the microstructure and make the β-Mg17Al12 phases agglomerating. During the subsequent isothermal treatment at 570℃, the average solid grain size, shape factor and liquid fractions increased with prolonged soaking time. Smaller spheroidal solid grains and the larger shape factor were obtained due to Y addition. The coalescence and Ostwald ripening of solid grains operated the coarsening process simultaneously. The coarsening rate constants of AZ80M1 (0.2 wt.% Y addition) of 164.22 μm3s-1 was approximately four times less than the un-modified AZ80 alloy of 689.44 μm3s-1. In contrast, the desirable semi-solid structure featured by fine, well globular solid grains and appropriate liquid fractions and shape factor was achieved in AZ80M1 alloy treated at 570℃ for 20-30 min.

Q345 steel is widely used in the construction industry, vehicle manufacturing industry, bridge construction industry and many other aspects due to its excellent comprehensive performance. However, due to its high silicon content, direct hot-dip galvanizing will lead to a series of problems, such as easy peeling of the coating due to the "silicon reactivity". In this paper, we adopt the "two-step hot-dipping method", first hot-dip aluminizing and then hot-dip galvanizing, to isolate the substrate and zinc liquid direct contact, so as to avoid the occurrence of "silicon reactivity". Through the microstructure characterization, neutral salt spray corrosion experiments, electrochemical experiments, the results show that: Al-Zn composite coatings from the inside out were perpendicular to the substrate growth of loose Fe2Al5 layer and Al-Zn layer, outbursts generation; Al-Zn composite coatings resistance to neutral salt spray corrosion was far more than the substrate; Al-Zn composite coatings polarization curve corrosion potential than the substrate was lower than that of the substrate by 0.512V, showing a strong corrosion resistance. It shows extremely strong corrosion resistance.

Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy has high specific strength, good corrosion resistance, fracture toughness and fatigue resistance. It is one of the most important structural materials in the fields of aviation, aerospace, weapons, transportation and so on, which plays a huge role in the field of aerospace.In order to optimize the strength, toughness and corrosion properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy, alloying has always been the focus of research on Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy. The effects of main alloying elements, trace alloying elements and rare earth elements on the microstructure and properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu aluminum alloy were briefly introduced in the paper, and the future research directions were prospected.

The wealth of data obtained during the past 20 years using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) indicates that the technique is very promising to detect small chemical contents of alloying elements. The potential of LIBS was looked more seriously during the past two decades or so as more data were obtained on Aluminum and steel to study the phenomena in the condition of local thermodynamic equilibrium and time-delay between a Q-switch laser and an intensified CCD camera. Since the past decade, some data on compounds were also shown to be useful in determining small concentrations of harmful elements. This manuscript is intended to show that the technique of LIBS performance is very promising in fields such as micro-machining, in alloying element analysis, surface cleaning and environmental applications even with lightweight spectrometers having a relatively low resolution, which can potentially be air-borne.

A series of defective ZSM-5 zeolites (~300 nm, SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio of 55, 100, 400 and 950) were intentionally prepared and systematically studied by XRD, SEM, ²⁹Si MAS NMR, argon physisorption, NH₃-TPD and FT-IR technologies. The nature, the amount and the accessibility of the acid sites of defective ZSM-5 zeolites are greatly different from reported ZSM-5 zeolites with perfect crystal structure. The co-existed strong Brønsted acid sites (Si(OH)Al) and weak Brønsted acid sites (hydroxyl nests) over defective ZSM-5 zeolites might lead to unique catalytic function. Zn(C₂H₅)₂ was grafted onto defective ZSM-5 zeolites through chemical liquid deposition (CLD) method. Interestingly, FT-IR spectroscopy studies find that Zn(C₂H₅)₂ was preferentially grafted on the hydroxyl nests with weak acidity rather than the Si(OH)Al groups with strong acidity over different defective ZSM-5 zeolites. Particularly, home-built operando dual beam FTIR-MS was applied to study the catalytic performance of Zn species locating at different sites of defective ZSM-5 zeolites under n-hexane transformation. Results show that Zn species grafted over hydroxyl nests obtain better dehydrogenation performance than Zn species over framework aluminum. This study provides guidance for the rational design of highly efficient alkane dehydrogenative aromatization catalysts.

This article utilized electrodeposition technology to fabricate Zn and Zn-Y₂O₃-Al₂O₃ composite coatings on Q235 steel plates. The composite coatings were obtained by adding Y₂O₃/Al₂O₃ nanoparticles (0, 5, 10, and 15 g/L) to acidic chloride solutions. This study then examined the impact of these nanoparticles on the microstructure, morphology, microhardness, hydrophobicity, and corrosion resistance of the composite coatings. The results indicate that the addition of the nanoparticles increased the nucleation sites on the surface of the coating, thereby refining the grain size and reducing the roughness of the coating surface. When 10g/L of Y₂O₃ and 10g/L of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles were added, the hardness of the composite coating (369 Hv) was 2.49 times higher than that of the pure Zn coating (148 Hv), which was attributed to the dispersion strengthening and grain refinement effects of the nanoparticles. The corrosion resistance of the Zn and Zn-Y₂O₃-Al₂O₃ composite coatings was studied using linear sweep voltammetry and AC impedance spectroscopy. The addition of the nanoparticles improved the corrosion resistance of the composite coating, and the composite coating prepared in an electrolyte containing 10 g/L of Y₂O₃ and 10 g/L of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles exhibited the best corrosion resistance. Meanwhile, the composite coating exhibited good hydrophobicity, with a contact angle of 120.9°, 1.94 times that of the pure Zn coating (62.2°). The Zn-Y₂O₃-Al₂O₃ nanocomposite coating material has significant potential advantages in the field of steel corrosion.

In laser joining of copper (Cu) and aluminum (Al) sheets, the Al sheet is widely chosen as the top surface for laser irradiation because of increased absorption of laser beam and lower melting temperature of Al in contrast to Cu. This research focus on welding from Cu side to Al sheet. The main objective of irradiating the laser beam from the copper side (Cu on top) is to exploit higher solubility of Al in Cu. A significantly lower laser power can be used with 515 nm laser in comparison to 1030 nm. In addition to low laser power, a stable welding is obtained with 515 nm. Because of this advantage, 515 nm is selected for the current research. By fusion of Cu and Al the two sheet metals are welded, with presence of beneficial Cu solid solution phase and Al+Al2Cu in the joint with the brittle phases intermixed between the ductile phase. Therefore the mixed composition strengthens the joint. However excessive mixing leads to formation of more detrimental phases and less ductile phases. Therefore optimum mixing must be maintained. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis indicate that large amount of beneficial Cu solid solution and Al rich phases is formed in the strong joint. From the tensile shear test for a strong joint, fracture is obtained on the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of Al. Therefore the key for welding from copper side is to have optimum melt with beneficial phases like Cu and Al+ Al2Cu and the detrimental phases intermixed between the ductile phases

Zn–Ni plating is indispensable in various industries because of its high corrosion resistance. However, Ni has been reported to trigger allergies; thus, an alternative Ni-free plating is desired. Zn–Fe plating is considered to be a promising candidate, albeit its corrosion resistance still needs to be improved. The corrosion resistance of Zn–Fe plating is expected to increase by the addition of Mo as the third alloying element as it is more noble than Zn and Fe. In this study, Zn–Fe–Mo plating with a corrosion resistance nearly equivalent to that of the Zn–Ni plating was fabricated. Zn–Fe–Mo plating was electrically deposited from continuously agitated plating baths prepared by mixing ZnSO₄, FeSO₄, Na₂MoO₄, Na₃C₆H₅O₇, and Na₂SO₄ using Fe or Ni plates as the substrate. The surface morphology, composition, crystal phase, and electronic state of Mo of the platings were investigated by SEM-EDS, XRD, and XPS. The anti-corrosion performance was evaluated by Tafel extrapolation method. Formation of plating comprising a Mo containing alloy phase was found to be crucial for improving corrosion resistance. The Zn–Fe–Mo plating demonstrates promise for replacing anti-corrosion Zn–Ni platings.

This study aimed to reveal the creative thinking of primary school female teachers in Al-Ahsa Governorate, in addition to identifying differences in light of the variables of experience and specialization. The researchers followed the descriptive method. The study was applied to a sample of (340) female teachers. The Creative Thinking Scale, which was adapted by researcher Hawzam Salman (2021), was used. The study concluded that the female teachers of primary stage in Al-Ahsa Governorate have creative thinking at a high degree; in addition, there were no differences in light of the variables of experience and specialization.

Tetrathiolate zinc fingers are potential targets of oxidative assault under cellular stress conditions. We used the synthetic 37-residue peptide representing the tetrathiolate zinc finger domain of the DNA repair protein XPA, acetyl-DYVICEECGKEFMSYLMNHFDLPTCDNCRDADDKHK-amide (XPAzf) as a working model to study the reaction of its Zn(II) complex (ZnXPAzf) with hydrogen peroxide and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), as oxidative and nitrosative stress agents, respectively. We also used the Cd(II) substituted XPAzf (CdXPAzf) to assess the situation of cadmium assault, which is accompanied by oxidative stress. Using electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), HPLC, and UV-vis and circular dichroism spectroscopies we demonstrated that even very low levels of H2O2 and GSNO invariably cause irreversible thiol oxidation and concomitant Zn(II) release from ZnXPAzf. In contrast, CdXPAzf was more resistant to oxidation, demonstrating the absence of synergy between cadmium and oxidative stresses. Our results indicate that GSNO cannot act as a reversible modifier of XPA, and rather has a deleterious effect on DNA repair.

Background and Aim: Zinc plays a pivotal role in various zinc enzymes, resulting in the maintenance of liver function. Patients with chronic liver diseases (CLDs) usually have lower concentrations of zinc, which decrease further as liver fibrosis progresses. It remains unknown whether long-term zinc supplementation improves liver function and reduces the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Patients and Methods: Two hundred sixty-seven patients with CLDs who received a zinc preparation (Zn-group; 196 patients), or who did not receive zinc (no Zn-treatment group; 71 patients) were retrospectively analyzed in this study. The Zn-group was divided into 4 groups according to their serum Zn concentrations at 6 months after the start of Zn treatment. Results: Liver function significantly deteriorated in the no Zn-treatment group, while no notable change was observed in the Zn-group. The cumulative incidence rates of events and HCC at 3 years were lower in the Zn-group (9.5%, 7.6%) than in the no Zn-treatment group (24.9%, 19.2%) (p<0.001). According to the serum Zn concentrations, the cumulative incidence rates of events and HCC were significantly decreased in patients with Zn concentrations ≥ 70 µg/dl (p<0.001). Conclusion: Zinc supplementation appears to be effective at maintaining liver function and suppressing events and HCC development, especially among patients whose Zn concentration is greater than 70 µg/dl.

Environmental concern has attained a higher level than in the past, with numerous organisations, including the pioneering "Green Banking" institution, expressing their concern. This study examines the relationship between green brand innovativeness and perceived value, as well as its effect on green brand loyalty. It expands on previous research that investigated the differences between innovation and innovativeness and their effects on brand loyalty. In addition, the role of perceived green value as a mediator and consumer green knowledge as a moderator in the formation of green brand loyalty is investigated. To test the conceptual model, a convenience-sampling survey of 600 Ethiopian customers was administered to capture a sample of respondents for the conceptual model. For data analysis, structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed. The results indicate that consumers' perceptions of green value have indirect effects on brand loyalty and direct effects on the innovativeness of green brands. In addition, green knowledge mediates the relationship between green brand innovation and green value perception in a significant way. Therefore, organisations should concentrate on enhancing consumers' environmental literacy and nurturing positive attitudes towards green brands in order to increase green brand loyalty.

Despite being one of the most abundant elements in soil, phosphorus (P) often becomes a limiting macronutrient for plants due to its low bioavailability, primarily locked away in insoluble organic and inorganic forms. Phosphate solubilizing and mineralizing bacteria, also called phosphobacteria, isolated from P-deficient soils have emerged as a promising biofertilizer alternative, capable of converting these recalcitrant P forms into plant-available phosphates. Three such phosphobacteria strains - Serratia sp. RJAL6, Klebsiella sp. RCJ4, and Enterobacter sp. 198 - previously demonstrated their particular strength as plant growth promoters for wheat, ryegrass, or avocado under abiotic stresses and P deficiency. Comparative genomic analysis of their draft genomes revealed several genes encoding key functionalities, including alkaline phosphatases, isonitrile secondary metabolites, enterobactin biosynthesis and genes associated to the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gluconic acid. Moreover, overall genome relatedness indexes (OGRIs) revealed substantial divergence between Serratia sp. RJAL6 and its closest phylogenetic neighbors, Serratia nematodiphila and Serratia bockelmanii. This compelling evidence suggests that RJAL6 merits classification as a novel species. This in silico genomic analysis provides vital insights into the plant growth-promoting capabilities and provenance of these promising PSRB strains. Notably, it paves the way for further characterization and potential application of the newly identified Serratia species as a powerful bioinoculant in future agricultural settings.

Zinc plays a crucial role in the process of virion maturation inside the host cell. The accessory Cys-rich proteins expressed in SARS-CoV-2 by genes ORF7a and ORF8 are likely involved in zinc binding and in interactions with cellular antigens activated by extensive disulfide bonds. In this report we provide a proof of concept for the feasibility of a structural study of orf7a and orf8 proteins. A conceivable hypothesis is that lack of cellular zinc, or substitution thereof, might lead to a significant slowing down of viral maturation.

Ti and its alloys are the most commonly used materials for biomedical applications. However, bacterial infection after implant placement is still one of the significant rising complications. Therefore, the application of the antimicrobial agents into implant surfaces to prevent implant-associated infection has attracted lots of attention. Scientific papers have shown that inorganic antibacterial metal element (e.g. Ag, Cu, Zn) can be introduced to implant surfaces with the addition of metal nanoparticles or metallic compounds into electrolyte via micro-arc oxidation (MAO) technology. In this review, the effects of the composition and concentration of electrolyte and process parameters (e.g. voltage, current density, oxidation time) on morphological characteristics (e.g. surface morphology, bonding strength), antibacterial ability and biocompatibility of MAO antimicrobial coating were discussed in detail. Anti-infection and osseo-integration can be simultaneously accomplished with the selection of the proper antibacterial elements and operating parameters. Besides, MAO assisted by magnetron sputtering (MS) to endow Ti-based implant materials with superior antibacterial ability and biocompatibility was also discussed. Finally, the development trend of MAO technology in the future was forecasted.

Systemic AL amyloidosis is a challenging disease for which many patients are considered frail in daily clinical practice. However, no study has so far addressed frailty and its impact on the outcome of these patients. We built a simple score to predict mortality based on three frailty-associated variables: age, ECOG performance status (&lt;2 vs. 2) and NT-proBNP (&lt;8500 vs. 8500 ng/L). Four-hundred and sixteen consecutive newly diagnosed patients diagnosed at ten sites from the Spanish Myeloma Group were eligible for the study. The score was developed in a derivation cohort from a referral center, and it was externally validated in a multicenter cohort. On multivariate analysis the three variables were independent predictors of survival. The score was able to discriminate four groups of patients in terms of overall survival and early mortality in both cohorts. Comorbidity was also analyzed with the Charlson comorbidity index, but it did not reach statistical significance in the model. A nomogram was created to easily estimate the mortality risk of each patient at each time point. This score is a simple, robust, and efficient approach to dynamically assess frailty-dependent mortality both at diagnosis and throughout the follow-up. The optimal treatment for frail AL amyloidosis patients remains to be determined but we suggest that the estimation of frailty-associated risk could complement current staging systems, adding value in clinical decision-making in this complex scenario.

A prior investigation revealed that a lack of Zinc (Zn) could hinder the intestinal cell proliferation in broiler chickens; however, the mechanisms responsible for this effect remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the possible mechanisms of dietary Zn deficiency in inhibiting the jejunal cell proliferation of broilers. For this study, a total of 112 chickens (21 d old) were randomly divided into two treatments (n = 7, 8 chickens per replicate cage): control (CON) and Zn deficiency groups. The duration of feeding was 21 d. Chickens in the CON group were provided with a basal diet containing an extra addition of 40 mg Zn/kg in the form of Zn sulfate, whereas chickens in the Zn deficiency group were given the basal diet with no Zn supplementation. The results indicated that, in comparison to the CON, Zn deficiency increased (P < 0.05) duodenal and jejunal crypt depth (CD) of broilers on d 28 and jejunal and ileal CD on d 35, and decreased (P < 0.05) duodenal, jejunal and ileal villus height/crypt depth (VH/CD) on d 28 and jejunal VH, jejunal and ileal villus surface area and VH/CD on d 35. Furthermore, Zn deficiency decreased (P < 0.0001) the amount of proliferating cell nuclear antigen positive cells, and down-regulated (P < 0.01) mRNA or protein expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated PI3K, phosphorylated serine threonine kinase (AKT), phosphorylated mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), G protein-coupled receptor 39 (GPR39), and extracellular regulated protein kinase, but up-regulated (P < 0.05) mRNA or protein expression levels of P38 mitogen activated protein kinase, c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) 1 and JNK2 and phosphorylated Protein Kinase C in the jejunum of broilers on d 42. It was concluded that dietary Zn deficiency inhibited the cell proliferation possibly via GPR39-mediated suppression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in the jejunum of broilers.

Our concern was to obtain a biocomposite material with improved properties of the constituent materials (poly(lactic- co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and zinc–boron (Zn–B) complex) in accordance with the novelties in the field of delivery systems for therapeutic agents which lately redefine the importance of biopolymer nanocomposites with PLGA (biodegradable composites). The advantages of such a biomaterial target the health system, being easy to obtain, through a cost-effective method. The water/oil/water double emulsion method also allows the adjustment of the synthesis parameters, to maximize the degree of Zn–B complex encapsulation. The morphological aspects of the samples (size, shape, porosity) were established by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Particle size distribution (by volume and by number) was determined by direct light scattering (DLS). For all the synthesized materials, the observed morphology was typical for PLGA, spherical one. The particle size distribution showed that depending on the synthesis conditions, the particles can be obtained with diameters between 10–450 nm range and the value of the zeta potential (ZP) shows that the particles have electronegative surface charge, which offers a favorable perspective on the phenomena of aggregation, flocculation, dispersion. It was observed, applying the design of experiments (DoE), that the size of the particles increased with increasing amounts of PLGA and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in the formulation, while ZP increased with higher PLGA and smaller PVA. The encapsulation efficiency was determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (UHPLC/MS).

Since the discovery of the first reported case with Zinc-deficiency in Iran¹ by Prasad et al. in 1961, the knowledge on Zinc has increased significantly. Zinc is the second most abundant common trace mineral in the human body, responsible for vital biological functions from cell growth and development to cell homeostasis and immune response ^2,3. Up to a fifth of the global population is estimated to suffer from different degrees of Zinc deficiency⁴. In the western world, Zinc deficiency is more prevalent among the geriatric population³, vegans/vegetarians, and people with certain underlying conditions⁴such as liver cirrhosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and various auto-immune disorders^4,5. Zinc and Zinc deficiency has been associated with several infectious diseases ^2,3. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which is responsible for the ongoing pandemic belongs to the family of coronaviruses. SARS-CoV-2 has a high genetic similarity to another family member, SARS-CoV, which caused the first major epidemic of the 21^st century^6,7. Currently, there is no evidence linking the anti- SARS-CoV-2 response and the element Zinc. Herein and in light of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, we marshal the evidence associating the element Zinc with the anti-viral and antibacterial immune response as well as the cytokine storm and lung injury. Such a revisit of the precedent evidence may inspire further investigation assessing the relationship between Zincemia status and the anti-viral response in SARS-CoV-2 patients.

The main purpose of study is to identify the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the green financing of banks and non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) in an emerging economy such as Bangladesh. Also, this study shows the green banking activities of the banks and NBFIs during the pandemic. To analyze the impact of the pandemic on green financing, secondary data were obtained from the quarterly and annual reports of Bangladesh Bank (BB) on green financing as well as the annual reports and websites of 61 banks and 34 NBFIs in Bangladesh for the period 2021–2019. Subsequently, the study deployed dependent t-test statistics, growth rate (year-on-year), descriptive statistics, relative percentage changes, and varying tables and graphs to analyze the obtained secondary data. The empirical findings revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in green finance for all banks and NBFIs compared to before the epidemic, indicating that the pandemic had no negative impact on the total green finance growth of all banks and NBFIs. On the other hand, compared to the pre-pandemic period, bank-wise growth in green financing was higher for state-owned commercial banks (SOCBs), specialized banks (SDBs), and private commercial banks (PCBs) but lower for foreign-owned commercial banks (FCBs) during the COVID-19 epidemic. This suggests that the pandemic does not affect the expansion of green finance by SOCBs, SDBs and PCBs but significantly impacted the growth of green financing by FCBs. Furthermore, the research findings showed that the total outstanding and classified loans within the green finance investment decrease for both banks and NBFIs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results indicated that the Bangladeshi banks’ level of automation towards green banking were satisfactory during the pandemic. Therefore, major policy implications for the green economic recovery by the government, BB, and managers of the banks and financial institutions in emerging economies like Bangladesh were discussed.

In the present study, hypereutectic Al-Si alloy compacts and Al-Si/B4C composites were produced by conventional, microwave and spark plasma sintering techniques. The effects of sintering techniques and B4C particle addition on microstructural properties, density, hardness and electrical conductivity were investigated. The microstructures were examined with an optical microscope. Densities were measured using the Archimedes technique. Electrical resistance measurements were made with the four-point probe measurement technique. Elemental Al grains, master alloy grains and primary Si particles were determined in the microstructures of all samples. The addition of 15 wt% B4C caused the porosity rate to increase in the samples. Samples produced with SPS technique gave ≈80% higher hardness values than samples produced with CS and MWS. Compared to the samples produced with CS and MWS, the samples produced with SPS gave higher electrical conductivity values. Electrical conductivities were decreased as the weight percentage of B4C increased in all samples.

A detailed analysis of the dehydrogenation mechanism and reversibility of LiBH₄ doped by active Al* derived from AlH₃ was performed by thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), mass spectral analysis (MS), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results show that the dehydrogenation of LiBH₄/Al* is a five-step reaction: (1) LiBH₄ + Al → LiH + AlB₂ + “Li-Al-B-H” + B₂H₆ + H₂; (2) the decomposition of "Li-Al-B-H" compounds liberating H₂; (3) 2LiBH₄ + Al → 2LiH + AlB₂ + 3H₂; (4) LiBH₄ → LiH + B + 3/2H₂; (5) LiH + Al → LiAl + 1/2H₂. And the reversibility of LiBH₄/Al* composite is based on equation as follows: LiH + LiAl + AlB₂ + 7/2H₂ ↔ 2LiBH₄ + 2Al. The extent of dehydrogenation reaction between LiBH₄ and Al* greatly depends on the precipitation and growth of reaction products (LiH, AlB₂ and LiAl, etc.) on the surface of Al*. A passivation shell of Al* formed by these products is the kinetic barrier to the dehydrogenation of LiBH₄/Al* composite.

Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiency in cereal grains has deleterious effects on the health of millions of people, especially in developing countries. As wheat, as a staple crop, is consumed in large quantities, its micronutrient content is important. Crops in Africa are often grown under low nitrogen (N) and low phosphorous (P) conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of low N and low P stress on Fe and Zn and phytic acid concentration, in two commercial spring wheat cultivars with excellent baking quality. The two cultivars did not differ significantly for the measured characteristics. Across all treatments the average values for Fe varied between 19.60-28.61 mg kg^-1, Zn between 17.68-33.79 mg kg^-1 and phytic acid between 5.03-6.92 mg g^-1. Low P stress lead to the highest values of Fe and Zn, and the lowest value for phytic acid. Phytic acid:Fe and phytic acid:Zn ratios were also highly significantly reduced under low P stress conditions. Low N conditions caused significantly increased Zn levels. Despite this, the phytic acid:Fe and phytic acid:Zn ratios were relatively high under all conditions, indicating a low bioavailability of both Fe and Zn in these wheat cultivars.

Ti-Al alloy phase layer/Ti-Al carburizing composite coating was prepared on the surface of titanium alloy by the stepwise coating method of hot dip aluminization and then carburizing. The weight gain results of the composite coating showed that the titanium alloy coated with the composite coating had long-term stability (≥16 days) at 800oC. The microstructure, phase structure and composition of the composite coating were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS).The composite coating is composed of an alloy phase layer and a carburized layer. The natural transition of four phases (Ti3Al/TiAl/TiAl2/TiAl3) in the alloy phase layer, significantly improves the interfacial bonding between the coating and the substrate, and slows down the propagation of microcracks through the coating.Al2O3, TiC and C in the carburizing layer improve the surface hardness of the coating, and TiAl2 and Al2O3 also have excellent oxidation resistance at high temperature.

There is an overall scientific consensus that public space and, mainly, space with a high ecological index – most notably experienced in green areas – positively affects individual and collective well-being and urban dwellers’ physical and mental health. However, the ‘reality check’ indicates difficulties in translating the assumed benefits of green space into implementable interventions in urban environments. To examine such an ‘implementation gap’ on the case of Zurich seems valid, given that the ‘green urban agenda’ debate has been embedded in numerous Swiss policies (from the federal to the municipal levels). In narrow terms, the research first focuses on Zurich’s district 9 consisting of two neighborhoods (Altstetten and Albisrieden) – the area under ongoing densification yet with a variety of green spaces, to then elucidate four green space clusters and their 400-meter catchment areas in the mentioned district. The mixed-method approach has been applied at three analytical levels: 1) documentary analysis of multi-scale national policy toolkits, to identify the critical tenets associated with the ‘green urban agenda’, 2) assessment of green spaces in Zurich’s district 9 based on online available quantitative data and on-site observation, to determine their provision, types, size and mutual connectivity, and 3) analysis of four green space clusters within the mentioned district through on-site observation, to identify green space attributes and main activities. Through critical mutual examination of the identified ‘green urban agenda’ principles in the national policies, on the one hand, and green space attributes, on the other, the research findings reveal the extent of the convergence and/or divergence between the ‘green urban agenda’ policy trends and their implementation in practice.

The requirement for developing tools capable of detecting and monitoring heavy metals (HMs) has recently taken on more significance due to worries about their toxic effect on human health and aquatic habitats. In this study, a simple electrochemical sensing carbon paste electrode (CPE) based on composite of Zinc/Iron layered double hydroxide (LDH) and polyaniline (PANI) was developed for the determination of lead ions in aquatic solutions. For this purpose, Zn-Fe LDH/PANI was prepared and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Modified carbon electrode based Zn-Fe LDH/PANI was electrochemically characterized compared with unmodified electrode in FCN as a redox probe using cyclic voltammetry (CV). Thus, Zn-Fe LDH/PANI was utilized as sensing material for the electrochemical determination of lead ions using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Zn-Fe LDH/PANI/CPE show limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 167.8 nM and 559.4 nM, respectively. Zn/Mg/Fe LDH was prepared using co-precipitation method and characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM and BET, used for removal of Pb+2 ions. Removal process was investigated at different conditions as pH, metal ion concentrations, starting adsorbent dose at first and contact time. Zn/Mg/Fe LDH was evaluated as an effective adsorbent material for lead ions elimination in aquatic solutions, with capacity of adsorption 700 mg/g. The elimination of lead ions on Zn/Mg/Fe LDH fitted the pseudo first-order kinetics model and the isotherm was matched with Langmuir model. Studies revealed that the ideal removal conditions were pH = 5.0, an adsorbent mass of 0.05 g, and 20 ml of 50 ppm metal ion concentration at 60 min. The Zn-Fe LDH/PANI composite also showed potential anti-cancer properties against lung cancer cells (A549) while maintaining safety for normal lung fibroblast cells (WI-38). Collectively, advancements in electrochemical sensors offer promising solutions for lead ion detection, with wide-reaching applications in wastewater treatment and cytotoxicity assessment. These innovations have the potential to enhance environmental monitoring and public health safety.

The development of sustainability, the improvement of the quality of life, and the protection of future generations have become of prime importance in light of climate changes and carbon emissions. Universities are at the top of institutions that should participate in creating an environmentally friendly infrastructure. This study thus aimed to explore the extent to which Saudi universities achieve sustainability in the light of the Saudi Green Initiative from the faculty members’ perspective. Surely, this investigation would produce a proposal to promote sustainability in Saudi universities. A questionnaire consisting of five dimensions, namely academic sustainability, community partnership, resource management, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership was developed and administered to 120 faculty members from five Saudi universities. The participants’ ratings of Saudi universities’ achievement of sustainability dimensions ranged from high to moderate. Based on the results, a proposal was offered to take sustainability in Saudi universities to a higher level.

Hypoeutectic Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys are promising candidates for use in automobile parts. Therefore, various attempts have been made to develop alternative casting technologies to improve the mechanical properties of cast alloys. In this study, the effects of modification with different levels of strontium (Sr) on primary and eutectic silicon (Si) in hypoeutectic Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys were investigated. Using a gravity cast process, the Sr-modified samples were prepared from melts with four levels (100, 200, 300, and 400 ppm) of Sr. In addition, the wear properties of the cast samples were studied using a block-on-ring wear-testing machine. The sizes of the primary Si phases increased with increasing Sr content in the alloys. Moreover, more finely dispersed eutectic Si was observed with higher Sr content. In frictional wear tests, the specific wear rates of the test specimens decreased as the Sr content increased from 200 to 400 ppm. Coarse Si phases are considered to act as solid lubricants in the contact region during sliding.

Growing interest has accrued in the co-existence of cardiac amyloidosis and valvular heart disease. Amyloid infiltration from either transthyretin (ATTR) or light chain (AL) origin may affect any structure of the heart, including the valves. Recent literature has mainly focused on aortic stenosis and cardiac amyloidosis, improving our understanding of epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this dual pathology. Even though of high clinical relevance, data on mitral/tricuspid regurgitation and cardiac amyloidosis is rather scarce and mostly limited to case reports and small cases series. It is the aim of this review article to summarize the current evidence of concomitant valvular heart disease and cardiac amyloidosis including epidemiology, diagnostic approaches, screening possibilities, therapeutic management, and prognostic implications.

Understanding the infiltration and solidification processes of liquid 5083Al alloy into Al2O3 three-dimensional reticulated porous ceramic (Al2O3(3D) RPC) is essential for optimizing the microstructure and properties of Al2O3(3D)/5083Al interpenetrating phase composites (IPCs) prepared by low-pressure infiltration process (LPIP). This study employs ProCAST software to simulate the infiltration and solidification processes of liquid 5083Al with pouring velocities (PV) of 0.4 m/s infiltrating into Al2O3(3D) RPC preforms with varying porosities at different pouring temperatures (PT) to prepare Al2O3(3D)/5083Al IPCs using LPIP. The results demonstrate that pore diameter of Al2O3(3D) RPC preforms and PT of liquid 5083Al significantly influence the of the infiltration. Solidification process analysis reveals that the Al2O3(3D) RPC preform with smaller pore diameters allows the lower pouring velocity of 5083Al to solidify faster compared to the preform with larger pore diameters. Al2O3(3D)/5083Al IPCs were prepared successfully from Al2O3(3D) RPC porosity of 15 PPI with liquid 5083Al at PV 0.4 m/s and PT 800 °C using LPIP, resulting in nearly fully dense composites, where both Al2O3(3D) RPCs and 5083Al interpenetrate throughout the microstructure. The infiltration and solidification defects were reduced under air pressure of 0.3 MPa (corresponding to PV of 0.4 m/s) during LPIP. Finite volume method simulations are in good agreement with experimental data, validating the suitability of the simplified model for Al2O3(3D) RPCs in the infiltration simulation.

We investigate the ammonium removal abilities of natural and synthetic zeolites, which have distinct Si/Al ratios and various surface areas, to study how adsorption and ion-exchange processes in zeolites perform under different ammonium concentrations and different temperatures. Five zeolites including natural mordenite, chabazite, erionite, clinoptilolite and synthetic merlinoite were immersed in 20 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg ammonium solutions. The results demonstrate that zeolites under high ammonium concentrations (100 mg/kg) possess higher physical adsorption capacity (0.398–0.468 meq/g), whereas those under lower ammonium concentrations (20 mg/kg) possess greater ion-exchange property (64–99%). The ion-exchange ability of zeolites are extremely dependent on the cation content of the zeolites, and the cation content is affected by the Si/Al ratio. The surface area of zeolites also has a partial influence on its physical adsorption ability. When the surface area is less than 100 m²/g, the adsorption ability of zeolite increases obviously with surface area; however, adsorption ability is saturated as the surface area becomes larger than this critical value of 100 m²/g. When we carried out the zeolites in 50 mg/kg ammonium concentration at different temperatures (5~50 ℃), we found that zeolites exhibit the highest ammonium removal ability at 30°C and the potassium release was enhanced at 30~40 ℃.

The design and fabrication of low-cost catalysts for highly efficient oxygen reduction is of paramount importance for various renewable energy-related technologies, such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Herein, we report the in situ growth of Fe3N nanoparticles encapsulated N-doped carbon nanotubes on the surface of flexible biomass-derived carbon cloth (Fe3N@CNTs/CC) via a simple one-step carbonization process. Taking advantage of its unique structure, Fe3N@CNTs/CC was employed as a self-standing electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and possessed high activity as well as excellent long-term stability and methanol resistance in alkaline media. Remarkably, Fe3N@CNT/CC can directly play the role of both gas diffusion layer and electrocatalytic cathode in a zinc-air battery without additional means of catalyst loading, and display higher open circuit voltage, power density, and specific capacity in comparison with the commercial Pt/C catalyst. This work is anticipated to inspire the design of cost-effective, easy-preparation, and high-performance air electrodes for advanced electrochemical applications.

Rechargeable aqueous Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their high theoretical capacity of 820 mA h g‒1, low cost and intrinsic safety. However, the electrolyte leakage and the instability issues of Zn negative electrodes originating from side reactions between the aqueous electrolyte and Zn negative electrode, not only restricts the battery stability but also results in short-circuit of aqueous ZIBs. Herein we report a flexible and stable N-isopropylacrylamide/sodium alginate (N-SA) gel electrolyte, which possesses high mechanical strength and high ionic conductivity of 2.96×10‒2 S cm‒1, and enables the Zn metal negative electrode and MnO2 positive electrode to reversibly and stably cycle. Compared to the liquid electrolyte, the N-SA hydrogel electrolyte can effectively form a uniform Zn deposition and suppress the generation of irreversible by-products. The assemble symmetric Zn/Zn cells at a current density of 1 mA cm‒2 shows a stable voltage profile, which maintains a low level of about 100 mV over 2600 h without an obvious short circuit or any overpotential increasing. Specially, the assembled Zn/N-SA/MnO2 batteries can deliver a high specific capacity of 182 mAh g‒1 and maintain 98% capacity retention after 650 cycles at 0.5 A g‒1. This work provides a facile method to fabricate high-performance SA-based hydrogel electrolytes that illustrates their potential for flexible batteries for wearable electronics.

Researchers from around the world are looking for better and cheaper ozone production. One of the methods increasing the efficiency of ozone production is the use to a rotating electrode presented in this paper. Experiments were carried out which shows that the most important parameters are the materials used on the electrodes and the condition of its surface. The metallographic investigations of the electrodes after continuous monthly work was made, which show how the raids layers are formed. As a result of working in a highly oxidizing environment, the electrode is oxidized in the process of chemical corrosion. It is obvious that the layer of corrosion products created during the work of the plasma reactor isolates the surface of the electrode, which reduces the intensity of the electric field, causing a decrease in the amount of plasma generated, which is a direct cause of lowering the concentration of ozone during this process. The dynamics of plasma generation process and the type of electrode material working in changing process conditions are the decisive factors influencing the concentration of ozone produced. The influence of the medium, which is the electrode material, depends mainly on its resistance to corrosion in the environment of dynamically changing conditions, e.g. electrode rotation, oxygen flow through the rotating electric field and the long monthly working time of the plasma reactor.

As one of the typical deposits in Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou Pb-Zn metallogenic province, the Daliangzi Pb-Zn deposit has a close genetic relation with the structural system of “black/fracture zone” formed under the action of NWW-approx. EW strike-slip structures in the metallogenic province, but the mechanism of rock and ore-controlling action of the structural system remains unclear. Based on detailed analysis of tectonite-mineralized alteration lithofacies of R1 “black/fracture zone”, the tectonite-mineralized alteration lithofacies zones can be divided into 4 types in succession outward from the Pb-Zn mineralization center, i.e., ① brecciated and stockwork-like Pb-Zn mineralization-complex breccia facies zone, ② stockwork-like Pb-Zn mineralization-simple breccia and cataclasite facies zone, ③ veined pyrite-sulfide-dolomitic cataclasite facies zone, and ④ fine-veined calcite-black carbonized dolomite facies zone; Cl- and SO42--rich high-temperature oxidizing ore-bearing fluid mixes with reducing fluid in Zone ① while migration and precipitation occur in Zone ④. With the evolution of ore-forming fluid, the homogenization temperature decreases from Zone ① to Zone ④, the salinity increases from Zone ① to Zone ② and then decreases to Zones ③ and ④, and the fluid density has little change on the whole; the contents of Zn, Pb, Cu, Ga, Ge, Cd, Ag, and other metallogenic elements, the Zn/Pb ratio, and the CaO/MgO mole ratio decrease gradually from Zone ① to Zone ④; and REE fractionation, calcilization, silicification, and pyritization enhance gradually from Zone ① to Zone ④. This series of changes are the product of diapirism (cryptoexplosion) of strike-slip structures and “black/fracture zone”, among which the second-order structures (F5, F100, and other faults) derived from NWW-approx. EW striking dextral shear-tension faults F1 and F15 control the brecciated and stockwork-like Pb-Zn mineralized complex breccia facies zones and the stockwork-like Pb-Zn mineralized simple breccia and cataclasite facies zones. Therefore, this paper establishes the zoning mode of tectonite-mineralized alteration lithofacies of “black/fracture zone” and proposes that Zones ① and ② are important prospecting criteria. conclusions.

Technological development has profoundly marked the evolution of the economy. The constant changes brought about by scientific and technological advances have been decisive in the transition from an analogue to a digital world. In this context, the impact of the fourth industrial revolution (or Industry 4.0.) manifests itself in many ways. Environmental impact is one of these. The energy sector has been evolving and changing just like the economy and society. Therefore, a study of this sector, and of the other related elements, is of interest to better understand the 4.0 concept. The promotion of sustainability at both political and social levels has led to changes in different areas, such as the productive vision, the use of green energies or the implementation of green taxes. Energy as a key factor in Industry 4.0. involves studying it both quantitatively and qualitatively. This is to under-stand the lights and shadows that the concept currently presents. Therefore, this work aims to bring the reality of the energy sector closer to reality, both in its positive and negative aspects, considering the main factors of incidence, in order to show the strengths and weaknesses that can be deduced.

The current rapidly changing and highly competitive market has put companies under a great pressure not only to be successful, but also to sustain their success into the future. In addition, in recent years, companies have become more aware of the fact that it is no longer enough to take care of economic aspects, being crucial to also take care of environmental and social aspects in order to actually succeed and lead in the current and future markets. In this context, companies are urged to move towards more innovative manufacturing practices that maintain a healthy balance among economic, environmental and social performances, which are the three pillars of the sustainability performance. To give some insight into this issue, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) is conducted in this paper regarding the current trends in the field, doing special focus on the link between lean-green manufacturing and the different sustainability aspects. The SLR concluded that lean and green implementations as stand-alone systems are usually not enough to ensure the required balance between the three pillars of sustainability, suggesting further combining them into a single approach. Researchers expect to achieve further improvements in the sustainability performance moving towards the next level of sustainability.

This study aims to examine Turkish companies from a sustainability and green innovation point of view. Through this purpose, this research’s objective is to find out relationship between sustainability drivers and green innovation and also to search for green organizational culture’s mediation effect in this relationship. Survey was carried in companies operating in Turkey which were listed among İstanbul Chamber of Industry (ICI) Top 500 companies for last 3 years successively and have ISO14001 Environmental Management Certificate. According to the survey results, it was manifested that factors directing companies to sustainability having a positive relationship with green organizational culture and green innovation. It is found that there is a partial mediation effect of green organizational culture between motivating factors for sustainability and green innovation.

Al has very good corrosion resistance and corrosion properties. The corrosion resistance of Al cast alloys is different because these alloys contain a lot of elements. Especially in secondary alloys which contain more impurity elements from which Fe is the most common. This study deals with secondary AlSi7Mg0.3 cast alloys which contain more Fe and are affected by a chloride corrosion environment. This environment was selected based on the application of castings in the automo-tive industry. The main object was to research the effect of such an environment on basic me-chanical properties and fatigue properties. The results show that a higher Fe content does not lead to a significant reduction in the properties of the casting and the chloride environment is not so harmful. Therefore, can be stated that the investigated secondary sand-cast experimental materials can replace the primary alloys without losing the required corrosion and mechanical properties.

Egyptians face a significant challenge in meeting the growing population's water needs for agriculture and food production. To address this, policymakers and researchers have implemented the National Great Project for Lining and Rehabilitation of All Open Canals of the Irrigation Network to reduce irrigation water losses through seepage, evaporation, and evapotranspiration. The current field study evaluates water losses from the Al Maanna canal network in Assiut governorate, Middle Egypt, using empirical formulas and field ponding methods. The obtained results indicated that the Moleth-Worth formula is more compatible and gives results that are in good agreement with the field measurements carried out. The estimated seepage losses from the existing, distorted Al Maanna canal network using the Moleth-Worth formula and field ponding method were about 2.07 and 2.20 million m3/month, respectively. Also, the calculated maximum evaporation and evapotranspiration losses were about 0.086 and 1.133 million m3/month, respectively. Consequently, the total water losses might be about 3.42 million m3/month, representing nearly 13.63% of the Al Maanna canal’s total discharge. After completing the lining process, seepage losses from lined canals were determined to be only about 0.472 million m3/month using the ponding method, while evaporation and evapotranspiration losses will be significantly decreased after canal rehabilitation. Hence, lining the Al Maanna canal network can decrease the total water losses by about 84%, which is sufficient to recommend and encourage the lining processes where the value of the gained quantities of water exceeds all the implementation expenses, in addition to other moral, cultural, and environmental gains.

The conductor aluminum alloys Al-0.25wt.%Zr doped additionally with Х = Er, Si, Hf, and Nb were the objects of investigations. The fine-grained microstructure in the alloys was formed by Equal Channel Angular Pressing and Rotary Swaging. The thermal stability of the microstructure, specific electrical resistivity, and microhardness of the novel conductor aluminum alloys was investigated. The mechanisms of nucleation of the Al3(Zr,X) secondary particles during annealing the fine-grained aluminum alloys were determined using Jones-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov equation. Using Zener equation, the dependencies of the mean secondary particle sizes on the annealing time were obtained on the base of analysis of the data on the grain growth in the aluminum alloys. The secondary particle nucleation during long-time low-temperature annealing (300 оC, 1000 hrs) was shown to go preferentially at the cores of the lattice dislocations. The Al-0.25%Zr-0.25%Er-0.20%Hf-0.15%Si alloy subjected to long-time annealing at 300 оC has the optimal combination of the microhardness and electrical conductivity (59.8%IACS, Hv = 480 ± 15 MPa).

Nano Silicon carbide reinforced aluminum (Al/nanoSiC) metal matrix composites are attractive because of their superior properties such as high strength and stiffness, Application of aluminum in technological and structural application is growing steadily. The major limitation for metal matrix nano composites, however, is their propensity to brittle fracture. The new technologies and new materials are two basic aims for companies. In this research, the effect of addition Al/SiC nano particles on microstructure and mechanical properties of pure aluminum has been investigated. Pure aluminum powder and various fractions of SiC particles with an average diameter of 50 nm were milled by a high-energy planetary ball mill to produce nanocrystalline Al–SiC nanocomposite powders. Pressing and sintering applied to consolidate powders to tablet shape. Then the samples were rolled to cylindrical shape. The nano SiC Percentage were 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10% , 12,5% and 15%. Mechanical tests such as tensile, hardness, fracture toughness and young’s modules measurement carried out to study the mechanical behavior of each alloy. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphology and microstructure of nanocomposite powders and bulk samples. The role of wt% fraction of SiC nanoparticles was investigated. The results shows that the addition of SiC nano particles has significant influence on the microstructure and mechanical properties of composites and usually the optimum properties depends on wt% SiC.

Accurate, detailed and recent Information about land cover/use is important and much more needed for different aspects of sustainable development and environmental management. As remote sensing datasets are becomes one of the most important and effective tools to generate such information, this study aimed to generating land cover map for sub area in Al-Ahasaa Oasis, Saudi Arabia, by using and classifying a subset of Landsat-ETM+ image of the selected study area, as bases and required input for future studies and researches. Different image preprocessing techniques in addition to a will-known and widely used classification method (i.e., Maximum Likelihood classifier) were applied. To be reliable with the final product, accuracy assessment was carried out with 89% agreement and accepted according to the applied method. Different land cover classes were found in the study area, which includes (Sand dunes, Water bodies, Sabakha, Bare soil, Urban, and Agricultural lands). The study also revealed that the dominant land cover class is sand dunes with approximately ± 70% in area. The study strongly indicated that the area has long been affected by sand movement. Finally, the study suggested that, further researches with more advanced methods rather than traditional methods are needed in the future to support the findings of this study, with high degree of accuracy.

Misfolding of superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) is a pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with SOD1 mutations. The development of antibodies specific for misfolded SOD1 deepens our understanding of how the protein participates in ALS pathogenesis. Since the term “misfolding” refers to various disordered conformers other than the natively folded one, which misfolded species are recognized by specific antibodies should be determined. Here, we molecularly characterized the recognition by MS785-MS27, an antibody cocktail experimentally confirmed to recognize over 100 ALS-linked SOD1 mutants. Indirect ELISA revealed that the antibody cocktail recognized Zn-deficient wild-type and mutated SOD1 species. It also recognized conformation-disordered wild-type and mutated SOD1 species, such as unfolded and oligomeric forms, but had less affinity for the aggregated form. Antibody-reactive SOD1 exhibited cytotoxicity to a motor neuron cell model, which was blocked by Zn treatment with Zn-deficient SOD1. Immunohistochemistry revealed antibody-reactive SOD1 mainly in spinal motor neurons of SOD1G93A mice throughout the disease course, and the distribution after symptomatic stages differed from that of other misfolded SOD1 species. This suggested that misfolded SOD1 species exist as heterogeneous populations. In conclusion, MS785-MS27 recognizes various misfolded SOD1 lacking the incorporated Zn ion and should be useful for monitoring Zn availability in SOD1.

The results of electron-beam processing of Mn-Zn ferrite samples using pulsed and continuous electron beams in the forevacuum pressure range (10 Pa) are presented. We find that continuous electron-beam processing leads to surface structuring of the ferrite, changes in elemental composition on the surface, and electrical property modification. The degree of ferrite parameter changes exhibits a threshold behavior. For surface processing temperatures below 900 °C, changes are barely noticeable, while for temperatures over 1100 °C the surface resistance decreases by more than an order of magnitude. Electron-beam processing with millisecond pulse duration and pulse energy density exceeding 15 J/cm² results in the formation of low zinc content melt islands, while the remaining surface area (outside the islands) elemental content and ferrite properties remain largely unchanged. The thickness of the modified layer depends on the processing mode and can be controlled over the range 0.1–0.5 mm. Because of its low resistance, the modified layer can be utilized to enhance the RF-absorbing properties of the ferrite.

The requirements for using noncyanide imitation gold plating as decorative electroplating are increasing; thus, continuously improving the quality of the coating of the imitation gold plating and optimizing the coating process have become the current priority. In this work, hydroxyethylidene diphosphonic acid (HEDP) was used as the main complexing agent, CuSO4·5H2O, ZnSO4·7H2O and NaSnO3·3H2O were the main salts, and NaOH and anhydrous sodium carbonate were used as the buffers to prepare the electroplating solution. Using sodium citrate (SC), sodium potassium tartrate (SS), sodium gluconate (SG), and glycerol (Gl) as four additives, the effects of the number of carboxyl groups on the properties of a Cu-Zn-Sn alloy coating were compared. The electrochemical analysis showed that Cu-Zn-Sn alloy codeposition occurred at -0.50 V vs. Hg|HgO. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that the particle size of the coatings obtained with carboxyl-containing additives was more uniform than that obtained with the electroplating solution without additives. The X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) analysis revealed that the composition of the Cu-Zn-Sn alloy coating obtained by using SC as an additive in the electroplating solution was 89.75 wt% Cu, 9.61 wt% Zn, and 0.64 wt% Sn, and the color of the coating was golden yellow. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern showed that the coating was a mixture of Cu, Cu5Zn8, CuSn, Cu6Sn5, and CuZn phases. The analysis of the electroplating solution by UV, IR and NMR spectroscopy methods indicates that the additives improve the coating by affecting the complexation reaction of metal ions. These results can provide technical and theoretical guidance for developing Cu-Zn-Sn ternary alloy electrodeposition technology with the new cyanide-free HEDP alkaline electroplating system.

The digital economy promotes economic development, industrial upgrading, and environmental protection. This article calculates the green total factor productivity (GTFP) based on the SBM-DDF model and uses the entropy method and principal component analysis to calculate the digital economy index. We use panel data from 282 Chinese cities to test the driving effect of the digital economy on green total factor productivity. The study results show that the digital economy significantly increases GTFP, and the heterogeneity of this impact is further explored. We also explored the mechanism of the digital economy in promoting green. The digital economy can indirectly increase industrial production efficiency by promoting innovation in green technologies.

The paper in question explores the connection between green areas and urban well-being in an effort to give readers a comprehensive grasp of the topic. The major goals of this study are to evaluate how green spaces affect urban residents' physical and mental health, sense of community, and general quality of life. This research presents numerous major conclusions through a thorough investigation of the current literature and empirical analysis of urban environments across various areas. First of all, it shows that being close to green spaces is associated with better physical health, including a decline in obesity and cardiovascular disease rates. Second, green areas are linked to better mental health, with residents of greener neighbourhoods reporting reduced levels of stress, anxiety, and sadness. However, neighbourhoods having green open grass areas have greater levels of social interaction, and cohesion, which encourages residents to feel a sense of belonging. Lastly, this study highlights the positive impact of green spaces on overall urban quality of life, as they contribute to cleaner air, lower noise pollution, and increased property values. The implications of these findings are significant for urban planning and policy development. They underscore the importance of prioritizing green spaces in urban design, as investments in such areas not only promote physical and mental health but also enhance social bonds and elevate the overall liveability of cities. This research provides a foundation for evidence-based decision-making in urban development to create healthier, more vibrant, and sustainable urban environments.

As customer demand for green products increases in the digital economic era, this study analyses the green innovation of the e-tailer and supplier in drop shipping models. Moreover, drop shipping e-tailers and suppliers with a drop shipping option need to make choices regarding whether to provide green or normal products to the market. When a supplier with a drop shipping option produces green products, more fees may be invested on the production of green products than on normal products. The drop shipping e-tailers and suppliers with a drop shipping option can also choose to sell normal products at a low cost, as before. This study designs four models of drop shipping e-teilers and suppliers with a drop shipping option under different choices, analyzes their operational process in drop shipping models, and investigates five theorems. The optimal pricings decisions and green degree of drop shipping e-tailers and suppliers with a drop shipping option were evaluated in this study. The impacts of the green innovation factor, green elasticity coefficient, manufacturing and distribution costs on the drop shipping e-tailers and suppliers with a drop shipping option, and the effect of other environmental parameters on the green degree of green products are also analyzed through computer simulation. The findings of the simulation analysis provide valuable guidance for e-tailers and suppliers with green innovation in drop shipping models and offer important academic and practical implications for e-commerce and the digital economy.

As an important means of controlling the spread of cities, large-scale urban green belts have been widely used in the planning and construction of green space systems in various mega-size cities around the world. In previous studies, there has been more research on the overall isolation effect of green belts, while there has been less research on changes in their internal structure. There have been more perspectives on the land-use change (LUC) caused by urban expansion, and less systematic research on the dual driving factors of LUC. In this paper, we constructed a multi-dimensional index system to measure the "contraction-expansion" mechanism of land use in the overlapping vegetation areas of large green belts under the dual influence of urban expansion and urban greening, from the perspectives of quantity, space, and connectivity during different construction periods. Taking the boundary of two green belts in Beijing as an example, we hope to provide scientific support for the construction and ecological protection of Beijing's green belts.

Abstract: Green walls and green dams are increasingly being considered as part of many nation-al and international desertification initiatives. This paper studies the spatiotemporal evolution of the green dam in the Moudjbara region (Djelfa Province, Algeria) from 1972 to 2019 by using Landsat imagery, Land Change Modeler and Open Land package. The future evolution of pine plantations for the year 2029 was also forecasted, based on an anthropogenic scenario (i.e., an-thropogenic pressure is the main driver of the green dam destruction). Our findings revealed that the green dam project was successful for a few years, but after that, pine plantations deteri-orated significantly due to forest harvesting, livestock overgrazing, and the proliferation of the pine caterpillar processionary, which destroyed most of the reforestation. Land Change Modeler predicted a huge degradation of pine plantations for the year 2029, and if the deforestation con-tinues at the same rate, the green dam will disappear in the Moudjbara region during the next few decades. Aware of this threat, the Algerian authorities are now planning to reforest more than 1.2 million ha under the latest rural renewal policy by introducing new principles related to sustainable development, fighting desertification, and climate change adaptation

Braskem is the only company in the world that produces green polyethylenes (HDPE – high density polyethylene and LLDPE – linear low density polyethylene) derived from the dehydration of sugarcane ethanol. Although the performance of green and fossil nominally same polyethylenes are equivalent, commercial clients may use blends of up to 51% of green polyethylenes and 49% of fossil polyethylenes and still have the right to use the I’m greenTM label which appeals to environmental conscious consumers and places these companies in a noticeable position. The Annual Income Statement - AISs from 2010, when Braskem started production of green PE, until 2018, show there was growth of revenues. Despite of the production of polyethylenes have continued stable and the number of green polyethylenes patents have decreased since 2014, the profits with the BRKM5 stocks increased. There is no transparency of how carbon credits were gained and in the AIS. Investments in securities in the Brazilian financial market (BRKM5 and carbon credits) are much more attractive than the investment in new patents, because they generate greater gains (268% increase in the average share price of BRKM5 from 2012 to 2018) and do not require large investments in R&D.

This study examines the dynamic relationship between Green Human Resource Management (Green HRM), Environmental Performance (EP), Green Employee Behavior (GEB), and Environmental Knowledge and Awareness (EKAW) within the Egyptian hospitality sector context. Using Pearson correlation coefficients and regression analyses on a sample of 400 staff members from hotels and tourist villages in Egypt, the study examines Green HRM practices’ influence on EP, mediated by GEB and moderated by EKAW. The findings reveal significant positive correlations between Green HRM practices and these mediators, indicating that comprehensive environmental strategies and incentive management are pivotal in promoting eco-friendly practices among employees. The study further confirms GEB and EKAW’s substantial mediating role in enhancing EP. The results also suggest that while EKAW and GEB independently contribute to EP, their interaction and the role of environmental awareness as a potential moderator warrant further examination. This research contributes to the literature on sustainable business practices by underscoring human resource strategies’ integral role in achieving environmental sustainability goals, highlighting the importance of incentivizing green practices, and cultivating an organizational culture that prioritizes EKAW. These insights are particularly valuable for organizations seeking to enhance their ecological footprint through effective Green HRM practices.

This is a paper of Political Economy and Economic Policies into the European Green Deal framework to improve the Recovery Plan post-COVID-19. This paper is focused on the green jobs opportunity for Europe, especially for Spain. It is offered a systematization of concepts and calculations in the issue (attending the international institutions and forums proposals) to harmonize the recovery plans, to apply them beyond the energy sector and to align public and private sector, as well other key stakeholders in achieving this goal. The obtained outcome gives the creation of around 350.000 new green jobs and the necessity of a new workforce reskilled. This result makes necessary to coordinate sectoral plans by the policymakers in which all the involved entities might express their needs and views on the best education approach to renewables sector and green jobs.

The procedures for the extraction and separation of lipids and nutraceutics from microalgae using classic solvents have been used many times. However, these production methods usually require expensive and toxic solvents. Based on our studies involving the use of eco-sustainable methodologies and alternative solvents, we select ethanol (EtOH) and cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) for extracting bio-oil and lipids from algae. Different percentage of EtOH in CPME favors the production of an oil rich of SFA useful to production biofuel or rich of compounds bioactive. The proposed method for obtain a rich extract of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids from dry algal biomass is disclosed is eco-friendly and allows a good extraction yield. The method is compared both in extracted oil percentage yield and in extracted fatty acids selectivity to extraction by supercritical carbon dioxide.

The principal main of this research work was the study the influence of Cu addition on the wear behavior (WB) of eutectic Al-12.6Si alloy developed by spray forming (SF) method and compared with as-cast (AC) alloys. The phases of chemical compositions and microstructure were studied by optical microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The microstructure of SFAl-12.6Si (SF1) alloy reside — of fine primary and eutectic Si phases evenly distributed in the equiaxed α-Al matrix and SF Al-12.6Si-2Cu (SF2) alloy lie of uniformly distributed fine eutectic Si particulates and spherical form θ-Al2Cu precipitates in α-Al matrix. On other hand, the AC Al-12.6Si alloy (AC1) alloy involve of eutectic Si needles in the dendrite α-Al matrix, whereas AC Al-12.6Si-2Cu (AC2) alloy consisted of eutectic Si needles and Chinese script form θ phase distributed randomly in the α-Al matrix. The microhardness and wear properties were analyzed using Vickers hardness (VH) and dry sliding WT. The SF alloys exhibit superior hardness compared to the AC alloys. The wear properties of SF alloys exhibited significantly superior compared to the AC alloys. The SF2 alloy showed high wear resistance (WR) than the SF1 alloy in the entire sliding velocities and applied loads. The results indicate that the spray deposited alloys have a lower coefficient of friction (CF(µ)) than the AC alloys under varying load and sliding velocity conditions. The high WR in the SF alloy was due to microstructural modification during SF and precipitation of fine Al2Cu intermetallic and solid solubility effects. The SF2 depicts increased transition from oxidative to abrasive. In other ways, AC alloys demonstrate wear mechanisms that change from oxidative to abrasive and delamination with an increase in sliding velocity and load.

In this study, Cu/Ni and Cu/Al multilayer thin films with individual layer thickness varying from 25 nm to 200 nm were deposited at room temperature and further annealed up to 300 ℃. The mechanical and microstructural properties of the multilayers were characterized by nanoindentation, x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Both systems exhibited an increase in hardness with increasing annealing temperature. However, the Cu/Ni system showed a gradual and moderate (up to 30%) hardness increase from room temperature to 300 ℃, while the Cu/Al system showed a sharp increase (~150%) between 125℃ and 200℃. This distinct strengthening behavior is attributed to solid solution formation in Cu/Ni and diffusion-activated intermetallic formation in Cu/Al.

The development of Al-Ni alloys with a controlled microstructure has had a great impact on the field of study of aluminum-based alloys. In the present research, the influence of thermal parameters on the grain structures resulting from the directional solidification process of Al-Ni alloys with different alloy content has been studied. It has also been evaluated how different structures and the distribution of second phases influence the corrosion behavior and microhardness of alloys. The columnar-to-equiaxed transition (CET) was observed to occur when the temperature gradient in the melt decreased to values between 1.3 to 2.9 ° C/cm. In addition, a small increase in the microhardness values was observed as a function of the Ni-content. When the Ni-content increase, the resistance to polarization decreases for samples with equiaxed grain structure, throughout the range of compositions studied. Furthermore, the equiaxed grain structure presents higher resistance to polarization values than the columnar grain zone, for alloys with a composition equal to or lower than the eutectic composition.

Enterobacteriaceae can contaminate meat during various stages of processing, including slaughter, evisceration, and butchering, causing foodborne illnesses. The purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae associated with carcasses obtained from slaughterhouses and raw cut meat collected from butcher shops. A total of 120 samples of camels and cattle were identified using biochemistry and PCR testing. Total viable count (TVC) was range from 4.91 to 5.37 Log10 CFU/g in slaughterhouses and butcher shops. E. coli was predominating with 84 (70%) among all samples, where the camels had the highest with 100% and sheep the lowest with 30%. Salmonella spp. was confirmed in 40% of camel samples, 47.5% of cattle samples, and 32.5% in sheep samples. Twenty-five Enterobacteriaceae genera were confirmed using PCR. Where sheep’s samples had the highest occurrence of Enterobacteriaceae with 15 different genera followed by camels and cattle samples with 14 different genera. The prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae among camel, cattle, and sheep carcasses raises significant concerns regarding food safety. Adherence to good hygiene practices throughout animal slaughtering is crucial to minimize the risk of infection and transmission and ensure food safety.

Thermal analysis of a hypereutectic Al-Si alloy used for an automotive part was carried out in this research work. Solidification characteristics are recognized from the Temperature-time curve and its corresponding derivatives. This analysis was successfully used in a simulation software program with the aim of improving the resultant simulation accuracy. In this study, different types of molds, with and without cooling systems, were designed and used. The melt present in the furnaces of the factory was used to simulate the casting process. The effect of different cooling rates (1.2ºC/s, 2ºC/s, 2.3ºC/s and 2.9ºC/s) on the solidification parameters have been investigated. Differences in the resultant microstructure between wall and center of the molds have been analyzed and have been related to the T-t curve. Finally, the experimental results clearly indicate that the water-cooling rate of the molds and the melt temperature directly affects the solidification process as well as the final microstructure.

In this study, the effects of various beryllium (Be) addition (Be-free, 0.1, 0.25, 0.50 wt.%) on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion corrosion of the Al-Mg-Li alloys were systematically investigated. The best performance was obtained in alloy with 0.1 wt.% Be addition. Trace Be addition promotes the grain refinement of the as-cast alloy ingot and contributes positive effects to the recrystallization, bringing improvement of tensile property. Meanwhile, the best anti-corrosion behavior is also presented at 0.1 wt.% Be addition, due to its potential to reduce the width of precipitates free zone (PFZ). As the Be content increase to an excessive level, the comprehensive performance decreases. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that adding trace Be element into Al-Mg-Li alloys has a positive effect on the comprehensive service performance.

This study involved the fabrication of a set of Aluminum ion-grafted SBA-15 utilizing ethylene-diamine and trimethylamine ionic liquids. The primary objective was to examine the impact of the fabrication environment on the physicochemical characteristics of the catalysts. Comprehensive characterization of the Al-SBA-15 catalysts was conducted using various techniques, including XRD, FTIR, surface area, pyridine FTIR, 27Al-NMR, TGA, HRTEM, and FESEM, to analyze their physicochemical characteristics. Furthermore, the acidic characteristics were examined by con-ducting potentiometric titration in a nonaqueous solvent and employing FTIR spectroscopy to an-alyze the chemisorbed pyridine. The effectiveness of the fabricated acid materials was evaluated by testing their performance in the acetic acid esterification with butanol. The findings obtained reveal that the mesostructured of SBA-15 remains intact following the successful inclusion of Al3+ ions into the silica frameworks. Additionally, a remarkable enhancement in the existence of both Bronsted and Lewis acid centers is noted due to the grafting process of Al3+ ions. At temperatures of 80°C and 100°C, the reaction in Al-SBA-15(T-120) proceeds swiftly, reaching approximately 32% and 38% conversion, respectively, within a span of 110 minutes. The excellent catalytic performance observed in the esterification reaction can be attributed to two factors: the homogeneous distribution of Al3+ ions within the SBA-15 frameworks and the acidic character of Al-SBA-15. The findings further indicate that the grafting process for incorporating Al3+ ions into the silica matrix is more efficient.

The corrosion behavior of Fe-containing directionally solidified (DS) and centrifugally cast (CC) Al-Si-Cu-Zn alloys with either Co or Ni additions has been investigated. Electrochemical and immersion corrosion methods were used to investigate the corrosion behavior in 0.6 M NaCl after short (1-hour) and long (30-day) exposure periods. The employed solidification methods allowed the production of samples with a wide range of secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) while preserving Si and Fe-containing phases. The 0.5 wt.% Ni and Co additions led to the growth of the AlFeSi(Ni) and AlFeSi(Co) phases, but no binary AlNi nor AlCo intermetallic par-ticles have been generated. Potentiodynamic polarization studies at early exposure revealed an increase in the corrosion potential as the Ni was added for either fast or slow solidified samples. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy at early exposure demonstrated that the Ni-modified alloy, on the other hand, was associated to smaller charge transfer resistances, in-dicating a reduction in corrosion resistance after short elapsed time into the electrolyte. Howev-er, 30-day immersion tests revealed much lower corrosion rate of the Ni-modified alloy than the other alloys, while the corrosion rates of the Co-modified and non-modified alloys were simi-lar. In the Ni-containing alloy, decreased corrosion rate under long-term corrosion process was attributed to the formation of a thick and dense alumina layer, effectively protecting the surface under such conditions. This work contributes to a better knowledge of the corrosion behavior of Ni- and Co-corrected Al industrial scrap compositions.

The drought is one of all phenomena at local to a global scale that caused climate change impacts, alongside it also the human activities related, which were deforested and land use changed that caused to ecological disturbance, which one is hydrological changes. Hence, it’s a lot of lost productivity, chiefly to farming land aspects and the other, so the land restoration by reforestation is needed in framework to water cycle (hydrology) process kindly. The aim of this research has identified and analyzed ecological restoration to ecosystem services, chiefly in wastewater management (treatment) to conservation, especially in Al Zaytun areas (Pesantren), so observing and in-depth individual interview (with some of personage and pesantren of boards) is one method that used to data collected, alongside land survey management to classified type development in Al Zaytun areas. The result of this research revealed that Al Zaytun successfully in water management to conservation by wastewater treated management by Eichhornia crassipes (Enceng gondok), afterward to the reservoir as water saved development. Those conservation types considered capability in reviving to ecological systems to ecosystem services increased kindly, alongside to land restoration by some of the plant species or trees to grow and developed in which Tectona grandis L. f is more dominantly and it's favorite because of investment economic that advantage based on ecological perspective. These were type management that did by Al Zaytun, alongside its able in coping to both drought and climate change impacts kindly and adaptively, and of course, it’s part of an obligation as the follower’s Islam religion in preserving and maintaining natural resources, chiefly to water resources.

The microstructure of Al-5Fe-1.5Er alloy was characterized and analyzed by using XRD, SEM, TEM and EDS. The effect of microstructure on the behavior of crack initiation and propagation was investigated by in situ tensile testing. Results show that the microstructure consists of α-Al matrix, Al₃Fe, Al₄Er, eutectic phase Al₃Fe + Al₄Er, while the 1.5 wt.% Er was added in Al-5Fe alloy. The twin structure of the Al₃Fe phase was observed, and the twin plane is {001}. Moreover, a continuous concave and convex interface structure of the Al₄Er has been found. Al₃Fe is in the form of a sheet with a clear gap inside.In situ tensile tests of the alloy at room temperature show that the crack initiation occured mainly in the Al₃Fe phase, and that the crack propagation modes include intergranular and transgranular expansion. Crack transgranular expansion is due to the strong binding ability between Al₄Er phases and surrounding organization, and the continuous concave and convex interface structure of the Al₄Er provides a significant meshing effect on the matrix and eutectic structure.

It is important for researchers in material domain to reconstruct and visualize the microstructure of alloy, which helps discover morphologies and properties that can only be found in three dimensional and microscopic space. However, because of the limitation of state-of-the-art sensors, the internal microstructure of the material is not easy to obtain. In this paper, a novel automatic 3D reconstruction method is proposed using diffraction contrast tomography technology to capture the 3D microstructure of Al-La alloy. The pipeline of the proposed method starts from the imaging of Al-La alloy with the LabDCT technique from Carl Zeiss AG, which produces a sequence of 2D microstructure sections. Then, a segmentation algorithm based on superpixel and lifted multicut is proposed to extract the 2D microstructure in an image section. Finally, 2D segmentations are joined together to reconstruct and visulize the 3D microstructure. As a result, a novel morphology of Al-La alloy is recovered with both dendrite and lamellar morphologies. The proposed method has the advantage of the ability to losslessly recover the internal microstructure.

In order to understand the hot deformation behavior of novel Cu/Al laminated composites, isothermal hot compression tests were conducted by Gleeble-1500D thermo-mechanical simulator. And the effect of bonding interface, deformation temperature and strain rate on the deformation behavior was analyzed. Results show that under the interface constraint effect, soft Al layer trends to flow synchronously with hard Cu layer. And further microstructure examinations indicate the cooperative deformation capability of Cu/Al composites increases with increasing stain rate and decreasing deformation temperature. Strain hardening exponent, calculated based on the true stress-true strain data, also proves the effect of deformation temperature and strain rate on the cooperative deformation behavior. Meanwhile, unique composites structure allows the Al matrix to exhibit the characteristic of dynamic recrystallization during the hot deformation process. Lastly, strain compensated Arrhenius-type constitutive equation was employed to describe the coupling effect of temperature, strain rate and strain on the flow stress.

This research aims to review the educational and research operations of Mahasarakham University and propose development directions for the university to meet sustainable development criteria for ranking as a green university. This involves gathering data and analyzing the results of operations over the past 3 years, then using this analysis to synthesize lessons learned and develop guidelines for sustainable development in the coming years. The study found that the university's policies and strategies implemented following the annual performance evaluation criteria align with the green university assessment criteria for education and research. This has resulted in minor improvements in curriculum for sustainability. However, community service projects for sustainability have increased by 89.10%, while funding for sustainable research and academic publications related to sustainability has decreased. In summary, the projects under the university's development strategy adequately support and drive suitable development activities. Nevertheless, the university must continuously review its operations to adapt to changing contexts, budget constraints, and evolving competition and develop each year sustainably.

Real assets in the energy market are subject to ecological uncertainty due to the penetration of renewables. We illustrate this point by analysing electrolysers, a class of assets which recently became the subject of a large interest, as they lead to the production of the desirable green hydrogen and green ammonia. The latter has the advantage of being easily stored and has huge potential in decarbonising both the fertilizer and shipping industries. We consider the optimization of green ammonia production with different types of electricity procurement in the context of stochastic power and ammonia markets, a necessary assumption to translate the features of renewable, hence intermittent, electricity. We emphasise the importance of using stochastic prices to effectively model the volatile nature of the price dynamics, illustrating the project risks that can be mitigated by hedging activities. This study shows the pivotal role of flexibility when dealing with fluctuating renewable production and volatile electricity prices to maximise profits and better manage risks.

Green carbon-based materials (GCM), i.e. carbon materials produced using renewable biomass or recycled wastes, ought to be used in order to processes become sustainable and carbon neutral. Carbon nanomaterials, like for example carbon dots and nanobichar families, and carbon materials, like for example activated carbon and biochar substances, are sustainable materials with great potential to be used in different technology applications. In this review, the following four applications were selected, and the works published in the last two years (since 2022) critically reviewed: agriculture; water treatment; energy management; and, carbon dioxide reduction and sequestration. GCM improved the performance of the technological applications under revision and play an important role in the sustainability of the processes, contributing to the mitigation of the climate change, namely by reducing emission and increase sequestration of CO2eq..

The present study identified the influence of green advertising and eco-labels on the attitude and environmental awareness of millennials who purchase ecological products in shopping centers in Ecuador. The research was quantitative, correlational and with a cross-sectional design. A total of 430 millennials participated in the study. A 20-question survey was applied in person outside the shopping centers of Quito and Guayaquil - Ecuador. The convergent and discriminant validity of the research model was verified using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Models (SEM). SPSS 20 and AMOS 24 programs were used for statistical analysis. The results show that green advertising influences environmental attitudes (β: 0,245) and awareness (β: 0,110) and specifically influences purchasing behaviour (β: 0,154) for green products. Although eco-labels do not directly influence purchasing behaviour (β: 0,128), they influence the attitudes (β: 0,406) and ecological awareness (β: 0,277) of millennials who buy organic products. This article is one of the first studies to identify the relationship between green advertising elements and green product purchasing behaviors among millennials in a developing country, concluding that marketing strategies based on green advertising and eco-labels have an impact on the attitude and environmental awareness of millennials, but only advertising directly affects purchasing behaviour while eco-labels do not. This research has social implications since it corroborates that millennials are concerned about environmental problems and are willing to contribute to sustainability.

This research aims to understand the Cambodian green economy transition and analyze its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). The research showed that Cambodia has been significantly transitioning its green economy since 2009 as evidenced by the National Green Growth Roadmap. Cambodia also established the National Council for Green Growth in 2012 and upgraded it to the National Council for Sustainable Development in 2015 in alignment with 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations. The members of the Council are from all the government’s ministries and relevant inter-ministerial councils/committees, which are significant for policymaking. All governors of the capital and provincial administrations are also its members, which are significant for supporting and implementing the works at the subnational levels. Under the structure of the Council’s Secretariat, Department of Green Economy is playing an important role in promoting green economic development in Cambodia by looking at national policies and strategic plans, undertaking projects, and mobilizing resources. Through coordination between this Department and UNIDO, Cambodia in 2022 became a Member of the United Nations Partnership for Action on Green Economy. The findings showed that Cambodia is transitioning its green economy at the right time, especially the new government’s Pentagonal Strategy strongly supported this green economy transition with a clear and strong political commitment. The national inter-ministerial council for sustainable development is also very significant for cross sectoral policy-making and implementing levels, inclusively for promoting green economic development.

As in every workplace, human sustainability in dental enterprises is connected to air and water quality, eco-friendly and naturally designed working spaces and 4R’s culture. Purpose of this study is to access the preferences and knowledge on circular economy and green building construction in a sample of students and dentists in Greece. Students (N1=93) and dentists (N2= 126) filled in e-questionnaires from April to December 2022. The response rate was 17,88% for N1 and 1.94% for N2. Data revealed that both students and dentists lack knowledge on circular economy (N1=67.7%, N2=68,25%), EU regulations on amalgam disposal (N1=64.5%, N2=58.73%) and plastic recycling (N1=76.34%, N2=76,98) while they do recycle at home (N1= 80.6%, N2=82.54%) and have participated in voluntary environmental actions (N1=58.1%, N2=66.67%). Gender influences the importance of factors related to green dental practices, with women students being more prone to answer positively as important for increase costs for network changes (p=0.02), lack of environmental awareness of manufacturers (p=0.057), and poor wastewater management (p=0.01). Students from urban areas are more prone to answer positively for lack of state financial support (p=0.02), low level of green design in the building (p=0.03), low direct financial benefit of a green dental office (p=0.04), low benefit to the reputation of the green dental office (p=0.02), lack of continuing education training seminars on green dentistry (p=0.05). For dentists, no significant relationships were observed except of a weak positive relationship in increase in costs for changes related to utility networks (p=0.08) while increased wasteful energy (p=0.12) and waste of dental materials (p=0.19) seemed important only for dentists in urban areas. Women dentists were more prone to answer positively on wasting energy (p=0.024) and use of unapproved disinfection products (p=0.036). The findings contribute ideas and solutions on green dental office buildings and sustainable behaviors through educational activities and social perspective of factors such as age, experience in dentistry, gender, and urbanism. It also inspires future multi-disciplinary research on dental quality assurance, psychology of environmentalism, economics, and behavioral science in dentistry.

Breakthrough curves for the adsorption of H2S using a metal-oxides mixture were predicted using the Bohart-Adams model of fixed bed adsorption. This mixture (ZnMn2O4+ZnO+Mn2O3) came from the processing of an urban waste as spent alkaline batteries were. The H2S adsorption experiments were carried out in a fixed-bed column at 20º C, and under various experimental conditions: gas flow rate, inlet H2S concentration and adsorbent dosage. Curves predicted by the model matched well with experimental data, providing data for the possible scale-up of the system. At the various experimental variables, the efficiency of the column, were also provided in the work. This investigation demonstrated the usefulness of a waste material, like spent alkaline batteries, to provide an adsorbent material to mitigate the problem of the presence of this harmful gas.

The Yb/Al multilayer films exhibit excellent theoretical reflectivity in the 54-90nm wavelength range. This study attempted to incorporate 1.5% wt.% of Si impurities into Al to suppress the crystallization of Al, reduce interfacial roughness, and enhance the actual reflectivity of the prepared Yb/Al multilayer films. The internal microstructure changes of the film layers before and after Si impurity doping were investigated using GIXRR, AFM, and XRD techniques. The reflectivity of two types of multilayer films, Yb/Al(1.5wt.%Si) and Yb/Al(pure), was tested to evaluate the effect of Si impurity on the film performance.

The effects of different pulse frequencies on the microstructure grain size and solid solubility of Al-9Si alloy were systematically investigated using OM, SEM, and EDS. The effects on the mechanical properties of the alloy were analyzed using micro-Vickers hardness tester and multifunctional friction tester. During the solidification process, the Al-9Si alloy is exposed to high-frequency electric current pulses with a current density of 300A/cm2 and frequencies of 0Hz, 500Hz, 1 000Hz, and 2 000Hz. The experimental results show that as the high-frequency pulse frequency increases, the Lorentz force also increases. The intense electromagnetic stirring leads to grain refinement. However, as the pulse frequency continues to increase, the combined effect of Joule heating and Lorentz force results in an enlargement of the melt zone and an increase in grain size. At a pulse frequency of 1 000Hz, the eutectic structure size of the Al-9Si alloy is optimal, with the average size reduced to 13.87μm and a dense distribution, effectively eliminating primary Si. The EDS results revealed that the high-frequency pulse led to a more uniform distribution of Si elements within the matrix, and the solid solubility of Si in the α-Al matrix increased to a maximum value of 1.99%, representing a 39.2% increase. At a pulse frequency of 1 000Hz, the sample demonstrates the most favorable mechanical properties, with the friction coefficient reaching a minimum value of 0.302, representing a 37.7% decrease in the average friction coefficient. The results demonstrate that high-frequency pulsing is an effective method for enhancing the mechanical properties of Al-9Si alloy.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is the most common factor limiting the growth of alfalfa in acidic soil conditions. Melatonin (MT), a significant pleiotropic molecule present in both plants and animals, has shown promise in mitigating Al toxicity in various plant species. This study aims to elucidate the underlying mechanism by which melatonin alleviates Al toxicity in alfalfa through a combined physiological and transcriptomic analysis. The results reveal that 5 μM MT significantly alleviates Al-induced growth inhibition and preserves the morphology of root tip cells. Moreover, MT application reduces Al accumulation in alfalfa roots and shoots by 28.6% and 27.6%, respectively. Additionally, MT plays a crucial role in scavenging Al-induced excess H2O2 by enhancing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), consequently reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The RNA-seq results reveal that MT application significantly upregulates the expression of xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH) and carbon metabolism-related genes, including those involved in the glycolysis process, as well as sucrose and starch metabolism, suggesting that MT application may mitigate Al toxicity by facilitating the binding of Al to the cell walls, thereby reducing intracellular Al accumulation, and by improving respiration and the content of sucrose and trehalose. Taken together, our study demonstrates that MT alleviates Al toxicity in alfalfa by restoring redox homeostasis, enhancing Al binding to the cell wall, and modulating carbon metabolism. This research advances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying MT's effectiveness in mitigating Al toxicity, offering potential strategies for reducing Al accumulation in alfalfa.

Saudi Arabia consists mainly of desert land. However, it has big and small natural wetlands and artificial wetlands. Most of these wetlands are seen along the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf coastal regions. Al-Asfar Lake, located in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia, is one of the historical landmarks of Al-Ahsa province. The primary lake water source is agricultural drainage water, which some refer to as an artificial lake. This paper mainly aims to reflect shade on the wetlands in Saudi Arabia in general and to show in detail the environmental impacts of Al-Asfar Lake on the ecosystem and biodiversity of the study area. The analytical review of the previous studies conducted in Al-Asfar Lake was adopted in this article. Hence, the impact of the lake on the land-use system, water quality and biodiversity was illustrated as the main outputs of the review analysis. However, the sustainable management of Al-Asfar Lake requires the stakeholders to adopt the wetland ecosystem health concept, which might lead to improving the lake's environmental conditions.

Fe- and Al-rich metapelite from the Transangarian segment of the Yenisey Ridge (East Siberia, Russia) is a potential new source of high-alumina refractories. The rocks have relatively high average contents of Al2O3 (20 wt.%) and Fe2O3 (7.91 wt%), moderate K2O (3.44 wt%), and low CaO (0.74 wt%). Their dominant mineral assemblages are andalusite + muscovite + margarite + chlorite + biotite + quartz or staurolite + kyanite or/and andalusite + chlorite + muscovite + biotite + quartz with ±garnet and ±plagioclase. Al2SiO5 polymorphs occur as up to 1.5 cm andalusite porphyroblasts and partial or complete pseudomorphs after andalusite (kyanite and staurolite). Accessories include abundant Fe-Ti oxides and sporadic REE-, Y-, Ca-phosphates; sulfides are negligible. The composition of Al2SiO5 concentrates obtained in laboratory by heavy-media and magnetic separation from ≥0.06 mm fractions meet all requirements for raw material of this type: &gt;56 wt% Al2O3, &lt;42 wt% SiO2, &lt;1 wt% Fe2O3, &lt;1.2 wt% TiO2, and &lt;0.2 wt% (CaO+MgO). The andalusite, kyanite, and mixed ores yield 0.7-4.1 wt%, 0.7-2.2 wt%, and 1.9-6.0 wt% of concentrate, respectively. The best-quality ores rich in Al2SiO5 polymorphs reside in zones of contact and/or dynamic metamorphism superimposed over regional metamorphism of Al-rich rocks.

The cast defects strongly degrade the mechanical properties in cast alloys. The effect of Sn addition on Al-Si alloys was investigated by 3D computed tomography, SEM and TEM. Amorphous Sn oxides are found near the alumina film, cause more shrinkage pores, initiate cracks and deteriorate mechanical properties. This work suggests not adding Sn in various Al alloys used in cast state.

The effects of partial replacement of Si by Al on the microstructure, tensile properties, and Charpy impact toughness were investigated using 0.2%C-Si/Al-Mn-Cr-B TRIP-aided martensitic steels. The impact toughness was related to the microstructural and mechanical properties. The partial re-placement decreased the volume fraction of retained austenite and increased the mechanical stabil-ity, accompanied by softening and an increase in the volume fraction of the primary martensite. Resultantly, the partial replacement decreased strength and ductility. The impact absorbed energy (value) at 25 C was slightly increased by the partial replacement. The increased impact absorbed energy was mainly caused by high crack/void propagation energy due to the softened primary martensite and a small contribution of the stabilized retained austenite. The 50% shear fracture ductile-to-brittle transition temperature was marginally raised by the partial replacement. The raised transition temperature was mainly associated with an increase in a unit crack path of qua-si-cleavage/cleavage fracture.

The narrow process window during intercritical annealing and discontinuous yielding have limited the commercialisation of medium Mn steels. In this study, a double annealing process based on the commercial continuous annealing line is proposed. The cold-rolled medium Mn steels were first fully austenitized and quenched during the first annealing, followed by the intercritical annealing for reverted austenite transformation. The microstructure of duplex lath-shaped austenite and ferrite is produced and the steel exhibit a desirable continuous yielding during tensile deformation. Al is added into the medium Mn steel to enlarge the process window and to improve partitioning efficiency of Mn. The produced steel is more robust with temperature fluctuation during the industrial process due to the enlarged intercritical region. Mn partitioning is more efficient owing to elevated annealing temperature, which results in the improvement of ductility in the Al-added steel with increased austenite stability.

A microwave assisted method for synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazoles has been developed. The combination of molar ratio N-phenyl-o-phenylenediamine:benzaldehyde (1:1) using microwave irradiation and only 1% mol of Er(OTf)3 provide an efficient, environmental and mild access to a diversity of benzimidazoles under solvent-free conditions.

Green development ensures the socioeconomic development that incorporates environmental issues while remaining economically viable for owners and tenants. Government as the authority of the state should provide favorable incentives, policy and regulatory pressure for green development. The present study aims to investigate the government policies and regulations for green development in Bangladesh and make a critical discussion of the initiatives. The study is descriptive in nature and collects secondary information. Evidence suggests that environmental degradation and climate change related risks and vulnerabilities have intensified in Bangladesh. The government of Bangladesh (GOB) is concerned about green development and formulates various Acts, regulations and policy initiatives since 2010. Major green development initiatives observed in the financial institutions due to the mandatory requirements by Bangladesh Bank but green bond and green insurance in capital market are yet to be developed. The GOB required taking proper policy initiatives for the garments and leather industries to ensure pollution free production system which ensures green trade initiatives. The environmental taxes and ecological compensation mechanisms should be revised. Urban green space and Government green procurement are still less concerning matter. The GOB should make effective collaboration with all related stakeholders to ensure the green development.

Concept sustainable of banking is based on principle realization growth and profit for the bank and shareholders, but only with achievement social goals, as and care for conservation life environment. Providing new ones banking service and creation new ( green ) banking jobs, except for _ profitable, they achieve and spreads social and ecological goals, chances are with creation competitive advantages, both in countries Western Balkans observed in the work, so and in all countries of the world In this one work we will focus on analysis macroeconomic parameters in countries Western Balkans works tests influence selected indicators on performance banking system, with special in retrospect on social and component protection life environment. The results indicate that rate unemployment the most significant indicator potentially risky events for bankers, as and banks they are not recognized in national conservation strategies _ life environment which are in WB countries currently on strength. Accordingly, the former is necessary to carry out education foreign affairs, and in parallel to promote green loans like they live and in the long term more favorable of traditional loans, with update the existing one regulatory frame in the domain protection life environment.

Purpose, This research aimed to examine the effect of green logistics (GL) and green human resource management (GHRM) on the performance of environmentally friendly manufacturing industries oriented towards sustainable development of organizations (SDO) through the role of sustainable production (SP) as a mediating variable. Methodology, A quantitative approach was employed through a standardized questionnaire to obtain data from 110 manufacturing industries in Indonesia that implemented environmentally friendly practices. Advanced statistical techniques, such as Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and data analysis using Smart PLS (Partial Least Square) version 4 were utilized to analyze the collected data. Findings, The results showed that the model supported the statistical significance of all seven hypotheses and confirmed the direct and mediating effects of GL, GHRM, and SP on SDO. Practical implications, This research added critical insights into the theory and practice of GL and GHRM to realize SDO through the role of SP as a mediator in environmentally friendly manufacturing industries. Originality, This research contributd to the existing literature by adding to the effect of SP mediation on the relationship of GL and GHRM on SDO. There was no previous research that discussed the important role of SP mediation in influencing the relationship between GL and GHRM on SDO.

This study was conducted to propose the Green Economic Development Plan for Manufacturing S.M.E.s based on financial performance and operations thru Green Initiatives. The descriptive survey method used to gather data to determine the green initiative's implementation of small and medium (S.M.E.s) manufacturing enterprises. Green initiatives use as a basis for crafting a green economic development plan. Document analysis was also employed to obtain data from any available printed materials and records provided by the respondents. Such methods of gathering information used to validate data gathered from local and foreign-related literature. The observation also employed to survey the assets owned and validate any green initiatives practiced, including their implementation. The study's findings show that among the green initiatives implemented by SMMEs, which resulted in the reduction of total costs and expenses, were the proper disposal and segregation of waste materials, water management by recycling wastewater and using water-efficient equipment, natural resources, and raw materials management. SMMEs should encourage active participation and support of suppliers and customers in achieving G.E.D.'s objectives by developing incentive schemes.Furthermore, SMMEs should continue to benchmark with G.E.D. Practitioners are operating locally and abroad to adopt best greening strategies and regularly network with concerned government agencies for continuous updating on G.E.D. Initiatives that may benefit the firm. Further research may be conducted on green initiatives implemented by small and medium enterprises in other industry sectors.

Public access to high quality green environments has become a key issue for city managers and a matter of environmental justice. Remnants of natural ecosystems allow citizens a direct contact with nature, but conversely the presence of people contributes further to the existing disturbances. Urban pressures on ecosystem remnants may act to favour the expansion of some invasive species in cities. Whilst the negative impacts of invasive species on ecosystem function is well documented little is known how invasive species influence the use of green spaces by people. Here, we examined one of the few remnants of urban riparian forests in Europe, the Vistula river valley in Warsaw which has recently become an attractive recreation site. Despite their high ecological value, the poplar and willow forests have been increasingly taken over by the invasive tree species Acer negundo. We examined the status of the invasion process and the relationship between recreational ecosystem services and the characteristics of the tree stands – tree species, tree density and age and NDVI values. We found the willow forest to be more susceptible to invasion by A. negundo than the poplar forest, which was revealed in significantly higher share of the maple individuals and their greater volume per unit area. Presence of A. negundo affected biodiversity resulting in decreased undergrowth density and number of species. The use intensity by the public, assessed on the basis of trampling intensity and the density of existing informal tracks, were negatively correlated to the presence of A. negundo. This study highlights the need to integrate invasive species management into green infrastructure planning and management.

Green ICT has received significant attention in organizations to reduce global warming since last decade. Several maturity models have been proposed for tracking green ICT practices in organizations. Current literature shows that SMEs around the world try to follow some common strategies such as virtualization, consolidation of devices, energy efficiency and disposal of ICT equipment for greening ICT. The increasing interest for green ICT practices in organizations is not only due to the desire to attain environment-friendly atmosphere but mainly because of sustaining business goals such as cost reduction, competitive advantages and stakeholders’ pressure. Nevertheless, due to the lack of green ICT knowledge, organizations, specially SMEs, tend to ignore those practices. Therefore, this research proposes a framework that provides combination of existing green and sustainable ICT maturity models by mapping them with the strategies the businesses are already following. Out of this framework, a web application has been developed that provides questionnaire for SMEs to identify their present situation of green ICT practices and guidelines for improvement. The results have been analyzed by testing the application in some SMEs of Finland and Bangladesh. Finally, a survey has been conducted to attain SMEs’ perception about the possibility of sustainable development of businesses through this application.

Here we report a new synthetic protocol based on Microwave- Assisted Synthesis (MAS) for the preparation in higher yields of zinc and copper MOFs based on different bis(pyrazolyl)-tagged ligands ([M(BPZ)]n where M = Zn(II), Cu(II), H2BPZ = 4,4′-bipyrazole, [M(BPZ-NH2)]n where M = Zn(II), Cu(II); H2BPZ-NH2 = 3-amino-4,4’-bipyrazole, and [Mx(Me4BPZPh)] where M = Zn(II), x = 1; Cu(II), x = 2; H2Me4BPZPh = bis-4′-(3′,5′-dimethyl)- pyrazolylbenzene) and a detailed study of their antibacterial activity, tested against Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive (S. aureus) bacteria, as representative agents of infections. The results show that all MOFs exert a broad-spectrum activity and strong efficiency in bacterial growth inhibition, with a mechanism of action based on surface contact of MOFs particles with bacterial cells through the so-called “chelation effect” and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, without a significant release of Zn(II) and Cu(II) ions. In addition, morphological changes were elucidated by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and bacterial cell damage was further confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) test.

Tourmalines are a group of minerals which may concentrate various accessory components, e.g. Cu, Ni, Zn, Bi, Ti, Sn. The paper presents fluor-elbaite and elbaite from a dyke of the Julianna pegmatitic system at Piława Górna, at the NE margin of the Bohemian Massif, SW Poland, containing up to 6.32 and 7.37 wt.% ZnO, respectively. Such high amounts of ZnO are almost two times higher than in the second most Zn-enriched tourmaline known to date. The compositions of the Zn-rich tourmalines from Piława Górna, studied by electron microprobe and Raman spectroscopy, correspond to the formulae: (Na0.73Ca0.01•0.25)Σ1(Al1.03Li0.79Zn0.76Fe2+0.33Mn0.09)Σ3Al6B3Si6O27(OH)3(F0.66OH0.34), and (Na0.78Ca0.01•0.21)Σ1(Al1.06Li0.87Zn0.88Fe2+0.10Mn0.09)Σ3Al6B3Si6O27(OH)3(OH0.84F0.16), respectively, with Zn as one of the main octahedral occupants. A comparison with other tourmalines and associated Zn-rich fluor-elbaite and elbaite from the pegmatite indicates that atypically high Zn-enrichment is not a result of Zn-Fe fractionation, but dissolution and reprecipitation induced by a late (Na,Li,B,F)-bearing fluid within the assemblage of gahnite spinel and primary schorl-type tourmaline. This strongly suggests Na-Li-B-F metasomatism of gahnite-bearing mineral assemblages as that is the only environment that can promote crystallization of a hypothetical Zn-dominant tourmaline. The compositions of the Zn-rich fluor-elbaite and elbaite suggest three possible end-members for such a hypothetical tourmaline species: NaZn3Al6B3Si6O27(OH)3(OH), •(Zn2Al)Al6B3Si6O27(OH)3(OH) and Na(Zn2Al)Al6B3Si6O27(OH)3O.

This paper undertakes a comprehensive review to underscore the central role of sustainability in the evaluation and innovation of jet grouting technologies. It meticulously traces the evolution of evaluation methodologies, emphasizing the imperative of sustainable practices throughout history. Traditional evaluation paradigms are examined alongside contemporary trends, with a particular focus on sustainability metrics and visualization techniques. Through an examination of innovative jet grouting technologies, this paper illustrates how sustainability principles have driven advancements aimed at improving the efficiency and environmental impact of jet grouting methods. Central to this review is an assessment of sustainability across multiple dimensions, including method applicability, installation and operational compatibility, and the performance of the resulting jet grouted piles. By emphasizing sustainability considerations, the paper highlights the intrinsic link between environmental integrity and technological innovation in the field of jet grouting. In addition, it discusses analytical evaluation methods designed to proactively address sustainability concerns prior to construction, thereby promoting a more environmentally responsible approach. Finally, this paper presents a pioneering evaluation framework that integrates real-time monitoring and visualization tools, allowing stakeholders to track sustainability milestones throughout the construction process. By emphasizing sustainability as a guiding principle, this review advocates for a paradigm shift toward more ecologically sound and resilient jet grouting practices.

This study aims to investigate the influence of various economic, environmental, and social factors on sustainable development, with a specific focus on the impact of green technology and climate change adaptation. A panel dataset comprising 38 OECD member countries from 1990 to 2020 is employed, and a series of dynamic panel data models are estimated using the system generalized method of moments (GMM) approach. Numerous covariates, such as globalization, socio-economic conditions, economic and political values, climate and technological progress, and environmental determinants, are examined. The empirical findings highlight the significant role played by macroeconomic, institutional, social, and government policy-related factors in sustainable development. More importantly, our results provide novel and robust evidence that the diffusion of green technology and climate change adaptation positively affect green growth. The study's empirical outcomes are demonstrated to be robust to misspecification errors and statistically significant at traditional significance levels. These findings carry substantial policy implications for the development and implementation of strategies that promote climate change adaptation and green innovation. Consequently, policymakers should prioritize the integration of green technology and adaptive measures in their sustainable development agendas to foster a greener, more resilient future.

Solar green roofs, namely rooftops functionalized with properly selected living vegetation and photovoltaic modules, achieve an ideal symbiotic relationship in which promotion of biodiversity and onsite renewable energy production are both enhanced whereas the roof provides a wide range of environmental, health, aesthetic and economic benefits. This study provides a unified outlook of this eminent sustainable technology at the dawn of its uptake across the world, especially in polluted urban areas.

The present study describes the preparation of a composite material consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane-poly (n-isopropylacrylamide) (TPU-PNIPAM), which was employed for the se-lective adsorption separation of alcohol/water mixed solutions for the first time. The findings revealed that TPU and PNIPAM were interconnected through interchain hydrogen bonding, resulting in exposed hydrophobic isopropyl groups while covering the hydrophilic hydrogen bond sites. Selective separation of alcohols from alcohol/water mixed solutions occurred via London dispersion forces between alkyl groups. Increasing the PNIPAM load on the TPU surface led to a decrease in available hydrogen bond sites capable of bonding with water molecules, an increase in dispersible isopropyl groups interacting with alcohol alkyl groups, and enhanced selective adsorption capacity of TPU-PNIPAM towards alcohol/water mixed solutions. Moreover, TPU-PNIPAM exhibited a characteristic fast-slow-fast-equilibrium ad-sorption curve for different initial concentrations of alcohol/water mixtures, and its selective adsorption capacity increased when temperature reached 55℃. In addition to these general trends, under identical conditions, the selective adsorption capacity of TPU-PNIPAM gradually increased by methanol < ethanol < isopropyl alcohol < propyl alcohol, thus indicating a positive correlation between selectivity performance and hydrophobicity level.

Aluminum (Al) and manganese (Mn) toxicity are the top two constraints to crop production in acid soil. Crops have evolved common and specific mechanisms to tolerate the two stresses. In the present study, the responses (toxicity and tolerance) of wheat near-isogenic lines (ET8 and ES8) and their parents (Carazinho and Egret) to Al and Mn were compared by determining physiolog-ical parameters and transcriptome profiling of roots. The results showed that: (1) Carazinho and ET8 exhibited dual tolerance to Al and Mn as compared with Egret and ES8, indicated by higher relative root elongation and SPAD; (2) After entering into roots, Al was mainly distributed in the root and fixed in the cell wall, while Mn was mainly distributed in the cell sap and then trans-ported to leaves. Both Al and Mn stresses decreased the contents of Ca, Mg, and Zn; Mn stress al-so inhibited the accumulation of Fe, while Al showed an opposite effect; (3) Transcriptomic analy-sis identified 5581 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under Al stress and 4165 DEGs under Mn stress. Among these, 2774 DEGs were regulated by both Al and Mn stresses, while 2280 and 1957 DEGs were exclusively regulated by Al and Mn stress, respectively. GO and KEGG analyses indi-cated that cell wall metabolism responds exclusively to Al, while nicotianamine synthesis exclu-sively responds to Mn. Pathways such as signaling, phenylpropanoid metabolism, and metal ion transport showed commonality and specificity to Al and Mn. TFs, such as MYB, WRKY, and AP2 families, were also regulated by Al and Mn, and WGCNA identified PODP7, VATB2, and ABCC3 as the hub genes for Al tolerance and NAS for Mn tolerance. The identified genes and pathways can be used as targets for pyramiding genes and breeding multi-tolerant varieties.