In recent years, organosulfates have been found as a significant component of secondary organic aerosols from both smog chamber experiments and field measurements. In this study, an indirect method was developed to estimate organosulfates in aerosol particles as a whole based on their sulfate functional group. A series of experiments were conducted to optimize and validate the method, and it was then applied to quantify organosulfates in the aerosol samples collected at three sampling characteristic sites in Shenzhen, with one close to a power plant (PP), one at a heavy traffic intersection (HTI), and one on the campus of Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen graduate school (HITSZ). On average, the mass concentrations of organic sulfur (Sorg) were 1.98, 1.11, 0.25 μgS m−3 in PP, HTI and HITSZ respectively. The lower bounds of mass concentrations of organosuflates (OMs-related) were 6.86, 3.85 and 0.86 μg m−3 and the upper bounds of mass concentrations of organosulfates were 23.05, 12.93 and 2.90 μg m−3 in PP, HTI and HITSZ respectively. This indicates that primary emissions from coal burning and automobile exhaust can promote the secondary formation of organosulfates in the atmosphere. Overall, the mass concentrations observed in this work were higher than those reported by previous studies.

Decommissioning offshore Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) platforms requires extensive technical knowledge, since it generates different post-consumer materials, including mooring lines. These ropes are made from polyester high tenacity yarn, based on polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and their high added value means they should not be discarded as scrap. This paper aims to present a review and technical opportunities, from an economic standpoint, of recycling the mooring lines recovered from decommissioned FPSOs. Studies conducted over the last two years have researched and developed different potential applications for the fibers. These studies include collaborative project initiatives involving technical and management professionals, universities and private enterprises, with a view to achieving a more sustainable destination for these fibers.

Settleability of dry and wet weather flow samples from a combined sewer system was examined by settling column tests, in order to improve understanding of settling processes and obtain information for design of settling tanks. In fact, these tests mimic the actual settling processes and allow evaluating total suspended solids (TSS) removal by settling. Therefore, it is also possible to assess, indirectly, removals of other pollutants, such as heavy metals, which are generally transported by solid particles in sewage. Towards this end, dry and wet weather flow samples were collected in the Liguori Channel catchment and analyzed in the laboratory for Water Supply and Sewerage (Acquedotti e Fognature) of the University of Calabria for TSS concentrations according to the Standard Methods. The settleability study revealed that removals of TSS in dry weather samples (i.e., sanitary sewage) were greater than in wet weather samples (WW), using the same experimental procedures. In particular, 65% of TSS was removed in dry weather samples at a depth of 3 m for a detention time of 40 min; while in wet weather samples the comparable removal efficiency was less than 60%.

Sustainable development has by now become an element deeply integrated in the everyday design. It has many shades and may be found under many names. We speak about resiliency in design and procurement of passive, ecologic, plus energy, or nZEB buildings. Nevertheless, if we look closely, we may distinguish certain characteristic ideas. First, sustainable development of societies and urbanization processes should be consistent on a deeper level than presently, and be included within design processes, organization, and planning, as well as modernization and redevelopment procedures of existing urban tissue. Secondly, urbanization should be perceived holistically, as an interaction and harmonious development of both natural and manmade environments, with solutions based on the best technical and technological standards available. Lastly, described ideas are achievable only, if we include continuous cooperation between urban planners, architects, specialist consultants, as well as energy-efficient interdisciplinary solutions to achieve high standard energy measures. One of the thresholds is economic feasibility; the other is health and well-being of the users which should always be discussed as a priority. This paper—outside a brief theoretical approach to initial procedures in design management—will dwell on transformation and modernization of an existing building belonging to the Warsaw University of Technology, one of the oldest universities in Poland, its founding dating back to the beginning of the twentieth century. In 2015, a Nordic Finance Mechanism grant dedicated to the nZEB technology transfer from Norway to Poland was awarded to a group of researchers from Warsaw University of Technology and NTNU Trondheim. The main aim of the project is implementation of nZEB knowledge in Poland, as well as preparation of two integrated concept designs for public (University) buildings as exemplary case studies which could act as the benchmarks for other public buildings.

As one of the important problems in global change, elevated ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation induced by the depletion of stratospheric ozone layer has received more and more attentions around the world. Field experiment with barley was conducted to investigate the effects of elevated UV-B radiation on microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soil. The experiment was designed with two UV-B radiation levels, i.e., elevated (E, simulating 25% stratospheric ozone depletion) and ambient (A, control), and performed at the Station of Agricultural Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China. Compared with the control, elevated UV-B radiation significantly depressed shoot biomass by 13.2–42.6% and root biomass by approximately 50% from jointing to ripening stage. Elevated UV-B radiation significantly increased microbial biomass C and N in nonrhizosphere soil in most cases, but significantly decreased microbial biomass C and N in rhizosphere soil. Further researches are needed to elucidate whether the above findings are connected with the changes in composition and amount of root exudates induced by elevated UV-B radiation, which can mainly affect the dynamics of soil microbial biomass.

Subsurface-flow constructed wetlands technology (SSFW) has been used successfully for treating sanitary wastewater throughout North America and Europe. However, treatment wetland technologies have not been used extensively in the tropics. To advance tropical studies, a pilot-scale SSFW was constructed on the campus of the University of the Atlantic in Barranquilla, Colombia. The systems performance was monitored from January to July of 2009. The treatment system consisted of a 760-L septic tank followed by three mesocsom-scale subsurface-flow constructed wetlands in parallel arrangement. Clarified wastewater was batch loaded to each unit at a rate of 53 L/m2/day to affect a hydraulic retention time of approximately 3 days. One of the treatment units served as a non-planted control (gravel only), while the other two treatment units were planted with either Eriochloa aristata or Eleocharis mutata. The objective of this study was to evaluate the comparative efficacy of the treatment units (planted vs. unplanted), with respect to their abilities to augment treatment of septic tank effluent (sanitary wastewater). Monitored parameters included plant biomass, oxidation–reduction potential, chemical oxygen demand (COD), temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia–nitrogen (NH4 +–N) nitrate– and nitrite–nitrogen (NO3–N, NO2–N), phosphates (PO4 −), and coliform bacteria. Total biomass (dry matter) was 2.84 and 0.87 Kg/m2 for E. aristata and E. mutata, respectively. Redox potential in the plant rizospheres averaged −172 mV (±164.1) in E. aristata, 29 mV (±251.1) in E. mutata, and 32 mV (±210.5) in the unplanted control. COD removal was superior in planted vs. non-planted systems (>75% vs. 47%). Ammonia and total phosphorus removal averaged 69% and 85%, respectively, in planted systems versus 31% and 59% in the unplanted system. Removal of total and fecal coliforms averaged 96%. Results of this pilot study revealed that SSFW technology in the tropics can provide significant removal of organic matter, nutrients, and bacteria from clarified sanitary wastewater.

A growing body of research has investigated the vital effects of urban greening. However, the green space on campus, also recognized as an important element of urban greening and providing many benefits to college students, has gained very limited attention. In developing China, after nearly 20 years of campus construction climax, the speed of expansion has dropped significantly and the focus of a sustainable and optimized green campus has emerged. Improving the accessibility, availability, and attractiveness is a control determining if the green spaces can realize their values. Therefore, this study, taking a case, aims to explore and better understand students’ usage conditions, perceptions, and demands about campus green spaces. On Yijin campus in Hangzhou, China, through the questionnaire among 590 students, and accessibility analysis based on Space syntax theory, we have revealed that the negative usage condition of green spaces: most students rarely or occasionally visit the green space, and the visit time is concentrated in the afternoon and after class but rarely in the morning. Besides, students’ gender and growth surroundings have little influence on the perception of campus green space, but the plant configuration, seasonal color richness, and facilities required at different spaces will affect. In addition, the ranking of accessibility analyzed by Space syntax theory is similar to campus convenience considered by students. In the conclusions, suggestions are made about how to fulfill students’ requirements and improve the attractiveness and accessibility of campus green spaces so that they may inform to the growth of emerging colleges and universities in other cities and countries undergoing campus construction climax.

Hospital workers are exposed to many occupational hazards that may threaten their health and safety. Physical hazards encountered in hospital working environment include temperature, illumination, noise, electrical injuries, and radiation. To assess the awareness of healthcare workers (HCWs) about physical hazards in Tanta university hospitals, this cross-sectional study included 401 HCWs (physicians, nurses, technicians, and workers) from seven departments (general surgery, orthopedics, radiology, ophthalmology, kitchen, incinerator, and laundry). Data were collected through interview questionnaire to assess six types of physical hazards (noise, electric hazards, temperature, radiation, fire, and lighting,). Most of the physicians (63.7%) were aware of the level of noise. All physicians, nurses, technicians, and majority of workers reported that hearing protective devices were not available, and all HCWs reported that periodic hearing examination was not performed. Most of the nurses (75.2%) and workers (68.5%) did not attended emergency training, and more than two thirds of all HCWs were not briefed about emergency evacuation. Most HCWs were not given appropriate radiation safety training before starting work (88% of workers, 73.7% of nurses, 65.7% of physicians, and 68.3% of technicians). The majority of physicians, nurses, and technicians (70.5, 65.4, and 53.7%) denied regular environmental monitoring for radiation level inside work place. Health education programs on health and safety issues regarding physical hazards should be mandatory to all healthcare workers to improve their awareness and protect them from undue exposures they may face due to lack of adequate awareness and knowledge. There is urgent need of expanding the occupational healthcare services in Egypt to cover all the employees as indicated by the international recommendations and the Egyptian Constitution, legislation, and community necessity.

The present work investigated the levels of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m/p-xylene, and o-xylene (BTEX) in different microenvironments in the library of Jawaharlal Nehru University in summer and winter during 2011–2012. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks due to organic compounds were also evaluated using US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) conventional approaches. Real-time monitoring was done for TVOC using a data-logging photo-ionization detector. For BTEX measurements, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) standard method which consists of active sampling of air through activated charcoal, followed by analysis with gas chromatography, was performed. Simultaneously, outdoor measurements for TVOC and BTEX were carried out. Indoor concentrations of TVOC and BTEX (except benzene) were higher as compared to the outdoor for both seasons. Toluene and m/p-xylene were the most abundant organic contaminant observed in this study. Indoor to outdoor (I/O) ratios of BTEX compounds were generally greater than unity and ranged from 0.2 to 8.7 and 0.2 to 4.3 in winter and summer, respectively. Statistical analysis and I/O ratios showed that the dominant pollution sources mainly came from indoors. The observed mean concentrations of TVOC lie within the second group of the Molhave criteria of indoor air quality, indicating a multifactorial exposure range. The estimated lifetime cancer risk (LCR) due to benzene in this study exceeded the value of 1 × 10⁻⁶ recommended by USEPA, and the hazard quotient (HQ) of non-cancer risk came under an acceptable range.

The objective of the study is to conduct the socio-economic and environmental survey about the feasibility of Saudi Arabia-China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (SCPEC) in five different dimensions, i.e., (i) key strengths of SCPEC project, (ii) prospective weaknesses of SCPEC project, (iii) opportunities attain Pakistan from SCPEC project, (iv) opportunities gain SCPEC from Pakistan, and (v) possible threats from SCPEC to other countries, including India. The larger number of intellects participated in this survey, including armed personnel working in strategic industries, academicians of higher education institutes, colleges, and public/private schools, doctors, civil servants, employees of non-governmental organizations, and others. The survey identified five major key strengths, including tourism promotion, infrastructure development, technology diffusion, energy demand, and mutual trade gains, while the prospective weaknesses are financial constraints, political instability, international dumping, corruption, and lack of good governance. The survey results show that Pakistan economy could attain maximum opportunities from SCPEC project in the form of economic empowerment, mutual trade gains, transportation development, entrepreneurship, and development of Gwadar port, while the SCPEC project gains from Pakistan in the form of economic stabilization, trade gains, and low transportation cost. The possible threats to SCPEC project to the other countries including India are political threats, security issues, Kashmir issue, and economic issues. The survey results conclude that the large number of intellects confirmed the positivity of SCPEC project for both the Pakistan and for the Chinese economy, while few intellects in numbers are incompatible with the SCPEC project due to economic, environmental, and security threats.