Since prestressed concrete is regarded as more durable and reliable than other construction materials, it is used in a variety of civil engineering applications, including nuclear plants, bridges, and concrete piles. However, as with other building structures, prestressed concrete structures are also subjected to different long-term environmental actions, which influence the durability and performance of prestressed concrete structures. Furthermore, it has been found that data on the effect of deteriorating environmental mechanisms on prestressed concrete is scarce. This state-of-the-art review attempts to provide a concise assessment of existing research on the effect of environmental actions such as freezing and thawing, carbonation, and chloride on prestressed concrete’s durability. It can be summarised that continuous exposure of prestressed concrete to such aggressive environmental conditions reduces not only their mechanical properties, but also their durability performance is affected; the prestress losses increase rapidly and cause significant damage, and cracking occurs. Furthermore, if subjected to marine exposure, the microcracks and widened cracks may provide pathways for chlorides and other harmful agents to penetrate towards the prestress wires or tendons and subsequently cause corrosion.

The presence of drugs on a large scale in aquatic matrices raises concern and requires the study of efficient technologies to remove these compounds. This study investigated the adsorption capacity of the natural zeolite clinoptilolite (CP) in removing the drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Zeolite was characterized by BET, XRD, FT-IR, SEM, and pHₚzc techniques. The kinetic model that best fits the experimental data was the pseudo-first-order and the SIPS isotherm provided the best fit. The Langmuir isotherm RL separation factor (> 0.01) indicated that the adsorption process was favorable and the Freundlich isotherm (n > 1) suggested that the adsorption mechanism occurred mainly by physisorption, with intraparticle diffusion as the step limiting the process. The process was spontaneous (ΔG°ₐdₛ < 0), endothermic (ΔH°ₐdₛ > 0), and with increased randomness at the solid-solution interface (ΔS°ₐdₛ > 0). The initial pH variation of the effluent was not favorable for the adsorption process and the zeolite was easily regenerated for later use. The ecotoxicological tests with Artemia salina and Lactuca Sativa proved that the final effluent did not show toxicity after the adsorption treatment. Based on the results obtained in this work, clinoptilolite zeolite is a potential adsorbent for reducing HCQ toxicity in aquatic matrices.

There are extensive studies of environmental corporate social responsibility at the macro level. However, the study of the impact of environmental corporate social responsibility on employees’ work-related outcomes is inchoate. Drawing on social identity theory and signaling theory, this paper investigates the impact of environmental corporate social responsibility on employees’ green innovative behaviors. The mediating role of perceived meaningfulness at work and the moderating role of moral identity are also investigated. Data were collected via a time-lagged and multisource survey. The study analyzed the responses of 271 employees of Chinese enterprises. Hypotheses were examined using hierarchical regression analysis and bootstrapping. The results indicated environmental corporate social responsibility to be positively related to employees’ green innovative behaviors. Perceived meaningfulness at work mediates the link between environmental corporate social responsibility and employees’ green innovative behaviors. Moreover, moral identity moderates the relationship between environmental corporate social responsibility and perceived meaningfulness at work. The indirect effect of environmental corporate social responsibility on employees’ green innovative behaviors via perceived meaningfulness at work is also moderated by moral identity. Theoretical contributions and practical implications of the study are discussed.

Recently, as a result of the increasing use of fossil fuels in the world, environmentally friendly alternative fuel researches have become an important topic. The present study aims to examine the possible consequences of hydrogen fuel usage as an alternative fuel on the general performance, sustainability performance and environmental performance in the medium scale aircraft turboprop engine. Within this aim, a comprehensive exergetic analysis of the turboprop engine is conducted for both the hydrogen fuel utilization case and jet fuel utilization case. Then, depending on the fourteen performance metrics determined for the concept of the study, the effects of hydrogen fuel usage were observed. As per the results, the fuel mass stream rate reduces from 0.0145 kg/s to 0.052 kg/s compared to the jet fuel usage, while the stationary stream of air mass rate is 8.66 kg/s. Pollutant emissions mass stream rate decreases from 8.805 kg/s to 8.712 kg/s. The fuel exergy rate of the overall system rises from 6588.29 kW to 7002.36 kW. The product exergy rate of the overall system drops from 1135.928 kW to 1134.495 kW. The waste exergy rate of the overall system increases from 5452.36 kW to 5867.87 kW. While the exergetic sustainability index and sustainable efficiency factor of the system decrease from 0.21 to 0.19 and decrease from 1.21 to 1.19, the environmental effect factor and ecological effect factor of the system increment from 4.80 to 5.17, an increment from 5.80 to 6.17, respectively. The environmental effect factor of the overall system increment from 2.36 to 2.57, while the sustainable efficiency factor of the overall system reduces from 1.42 to 1.38.

Generation of solid waste and its improper disposal approaches poses severe threat to the environment, animals, and the human community which may affect the ecosystem. The generation of waste by the human community cannot be avoided but the impact from it can be minimized in various ways. One such approach is to utilize the by-products obtained from the waste through proper techniques and methods. So, in this paper, an attempt is done to use compost as a replacement for M sand and to check its feasibility in manufacturing light-weight concrete. Also, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) is used as a replacement for cement whereas pumice stone is used as the coarse aggregate. Initially, the physical, chemical, and microstructural properties of the raw materials are studied. Then, the concrete specimens are casted for M25 grade and the specimens are tested for compressive strength at 7 and 28 days of age. It is observed that the GGBS at 10% for cement and compost up to 20% for M sand showed higher compressive strength which is sufficient for light-weight concrete. Hence, it can be said that the utilization of compost can minimize the waste disposal and it can be managed effectively.

China is committed to achieving the goals of “peak carbon and carbon neutrality,” and the carbon dioxide emissions generated in the energy utilization process mainly come from industrial and energy systems. This paper used structural decomposition analysis (SDA) and input-output analysis to study the structural emission reductions in China’s industrial and energy systems in 2007–2015. The results revealed that the final demand effect was the main factor promoting the growth of energy-related CO₂ emissions and that the energy intensity effect played a weak role in promoting the growth of energy-related CO₂ emissions. However, the energy structure effect and input structure effect reduced energy-related carbon emission growth. We found that for energy systems, the emission reduction effects of blast furnace gas, raw coal, refinery dry gas, and natural gas were obvious, while those of crude oil, gasoline, fuel oil, and kerosene were not obvious. For industrial systems, the tertiary industry played a major role in the final demand effect, followed by the secondary industry, and the primary industry in turn. This paper provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals of China’s energy systems and industrial systems.

A detailed exergy analysis of a conventional and copper finned acrylic solar still has been presented in this manuscript. The evaporative, convective, and radiative heat transfer coefficient of water-glass has been calculated. Also energy efficiency, exergy destruction of basin, water, and glass has been determined. Conventional acrylic solar still with fins produced maximum hourly output of 1.24 kg and it produced daily output of 5.08 kg. The conventional acrylic solar still without fins produced maximum hourly output of 0.94 kg and it produced daily output of 3.75 kg. The maximum exergy destruction of the basin, water, and glass for the conventional acrylic solar still with fins are 655.206, 83.35, and 90.48 W/m², respectively, and conventional acrylic solar still without fins are 616.28, 122.34, and 48.64 W/m², respectively. The energy and exergy effectiveness of the conventional acrylic solar still with fins are 32 and 2.81%, respectively, and without fins are 24.93 and 1.69%, respectively. The study reveals that exergy destruction of water in the case of still with fins is minimum as related to the exergy destruction of water in the case of still without fins.

Airborne fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) is a major cardiovascular disease environmental risk factor. However, the underlying mechanism of action is not fully understood. Thromboxane is widely known as an important vasoconstrictor substance that binds to G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) in arteries and is involved in various cardiovascular diseases. This study examined the effect of PM₂.₅ on thromboxane A₂ receptor (TP) in the mesenteric arteries and the underlying intracellular signal mechanisms (by focusing on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway). Rat mesenteric artery segments were exposed to PM₂.₅ in the presence of MAPK pathway inhibitors. The contractile reactivity of mesenteric arteries was analyzed using wire myography. The mRNA and protein expression of TP receptor and MAPK pathway molecules were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot. Mesenteric artery receptor localization was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that TP receptor-mediated maximum contraction response was achieved after exposing arteries to 1.0 μg/mL PM₂.₅ for 16 h (Emax: 228 ± 16% of K⁺). Moreover, inhibitor U0126 (ERK1/2 inhibitor), SB203580 (p38 inhibitor), and SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) depressed the increased TP receptor-mediated contractile responses (reduced rage were 17.9 ~ 59.6%). These inhibitors also decreased the increased mRNA expression and protein of the TP receptor induced by PM₂.₅ (reduced by more than 50% and 46%, respectively). The immunoreactivity of increased TP receptor expression was primarily localized in the cytoplasm. In addition, phosphorylation quantitative analysis showed that in the presence of MAPK inhibitors, the PM₂.₅-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38, and JNK protein increased by more than 30.0 ~ 130.3%. These results suggest that PM₂.₅ upregulates the TP receptor of rat mesenteric arteries through activation of the ERK1/2, p38, and JNK MAPK pathways.

Whether green credit policy is conducive to improving the green innovation efficiency of heavy polluting industries is of great significance for China’s sustainable economic development and the construction of ecological civilization. This paper uses China’s Green Credit Guidelines to conduct a quasi-natural experiment based on relevant panel data of industries from 2007 to 2018. Specifically, it employs the Super-SBM model including non-expected output to measure the green innovation efficiency of 35 industries in China, and constructs the propensity score matching difference-in-difference model to explore how green credit policy impact on the green innovation efficiency of heavy polluting industries. The results show that the coefficient of difference-in-difference ([Formula: see text]) was 0.262, which was significant at the 1% level; the coefficient of [Formula: see text] was not significant; the coefficient of [Formula: see text] was 0.490, which was significant at the 1% level; and the coefficient of [Formula: see text] was 0.173, which was significant at the 1% level, indicating that green credit policy significantly contributes to the green innovation efficiency of heavy polluting industries, though with a lag effect. Further study finds that green credit policy pushes heavy polluting industries to improve green innovation efficiency by increasing financing cost and R&D investment; meanwhile, the heterogeneity test shows that the higher the state-owned share of the industry, the greater the positive effect of green credit policy on its green innovation efficiency. Finally, in order to accelerate the implementation of green credit policy and promote the green innovation efficiency of heavy polluting industries, banks can guide heavy polluting industrial enterprises through credit to carry out green technological transformation, heavy polluting industries should raise awareness of green innovation, and government should encourage heavy polluting industrial enterprises to carry out green innovation, and guide and supervise the state-owned enterprises in particular, so that they can improve cleanliness and achieve green economic development.

Wind waves and suspended solids (SS) generated by the resuspension of sediments are ubiquitous characteristics of lake ecosystems. However, their effects on phytoplankton remain poorly elucidated in shallow eutrophic lakes. Laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the responses of Microcystis aeruginosa to SS under static (wind speed of 0 m/s) and breeze (wind speed of 3 m/s) conditions. Results showed that 50 mg/L SS can promote the growth of M. aeruginosa, accelerate the formation of colonies, and increase the floating rate under no-wind conditions. Comparing with static environment, breeze can significantly increase the growth rate of M. aeruginosa and benefit the formation of larger colonies of algae cells. Driven by wind and SS, the buoyancy of the cyanobacteria community in different experimental groups was obviously different. The specific performance was that low SS concentration and breeze were in favor of the floating of cyanobacteria, while high SS concentration went against the floating of algal cells. As a conclusion, wind speed of 3 m/s and 20–50 mg/L SS have a synergistic effect on the formation of cyanobacterial blooms. This study can provide an improved current understanding of bloom formation and turbidity management strategies in shallow eutrophic lakes.