This study aims to analyze the Penta helix collaboration model for involving reserve component personnel in disaster resilience in Malang Regency. A qualitative approach was used with an in-depth interview method involving nine informants from various Penta helix actors, namely academia, business, the community, government, and the Media. The main findings indicate that the Penta helix collaboration model has the potential to enhance disaster resilience in Malang Regency. Its strengths lie in inclusive participation, transparency, clear leadership, and the commitment of stakeholders. However, there are still weaknesses, such as a lack of coordination, limited resources, and suboptimal role understanding that hinder the involvement of reserve component personnel. Each actor makes significant contributions: academics provide knowledge, businesses aid in logistics, communities engage in mitigation and emergency response, the government formulates policies, and the media disseminates information. Major challenges include a lack of coordination, limited resources, miscoordination, bureaucracy, insufficient training, and unclear legal frameworks. Improvement efforts include strengthening coordination, increasing resource capacity, clarifying roles, developing guidelines, and enhancing training. In conclusion, the Penta helix collaboration model in Malang Regency has great potential but requires improvements to enhance its effectiveness, providing insights for stakeholders to strengthen disaster resilience in the region.

In the face of the pressing global issue of waste management and the diminishing availability of natural resources, the management of non-biodegradable waste materials, including brick waste, poses significant challenges. Ineffective disposal practices not only create logistical obstacles but also pose health hazards. This study explores the potential of utilizing waste refractory bricks (RB) as a sustainable substitute for natural fine aggregates in concrete production. Various experimental investigations were conducted to evaluate the feasibility and performance of RB sand in concrete mixtures. Tests included assessments of fresh and hardened properties, such as slump values, compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, and resistance to elevated temperatures. The research revealed that RB sand, when used as a partial replacement for fine aggregates, can significantly enhance the compressive strength of concrete, with optimal results observed at a 30% replacement level. Moreover, RB-based concrete exhibited improved split tensile strength compared to traditional concrete, particularly at replacement levels of 10% to 30%. Flexural strength also showed notable improvements, with the 40% replacement level demonstrating optimal performance. Additionally, the study investigated the effects of elevated temperatures on concrete specimens and found that RB-based sustainable concrete showed higher compressive strength retention compared to conventional concrete at a 30% replacement level. Furthermore, weight variation analysis indicated that RB-based concrete had a lower density compared to traditional concrete. Overall, the findings suggest that incorporating RB sand in concrete mixtures could offer a promising solution for sustainable construction practices, contributing to environmental conservation and human health preservation by reducing reliance on natural aggregates and minimizing adverse environmental impacts.

Food banks play a crucial role in reducing food waste and addressing food vulnerability. Their operations involve an efficient supply chain that collects surplus food, processes it, and distributes it to those in need. This aligns with the goals of a circular economy, aiming to minimize food crises. This research aims to understand the supply chain of the Food Bank Bandung and analyze the implementation of circular economy principles within its supply chain. The study employs qualitative methods, with data gathered through interviews conducted with representatives from the Food Bank located in Bandung City. The collected information was used to design a comprehensive supply chain model, which was then meticulously analyzed. The analysis reveals that the Food Bank in Bandung effectively implements a circular economy by transforming surplus food, which would otherwise go to waste, into consumable items. Furthermore, the food bank adopts circular economy concepts by providing inedible food to Black Soldier Fly (BSF) cultivation for maggot consumption, which then can be used as an alternative source of protein for animal feed. The findings of the study show how circular economy practices can be integrated into food bank operations. By analyzing the circular economy approach in the Food Bank of Bandung, this research contributes to the existing body of knowledge and provides a foundation for future studies, offering a more extensive dataset for researchers and practitioners in the field.

The study was conducted within the Protected Area of the Tumauini Watershed Natural Park located in the municipality of Tumauini province of Isabela along the western part of the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park. The protected areas in the Philippines cover 39% of the total forest cover. Protection and conservation of protected areas is significant due to the increasing habitat loss and biodiversity loss. The main objective of the study is to assess the tree diversity of the park using the modified belt-transect method adopted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The transect line has a distance of 2 kilometers and a total of 9 stations. A Nested Quadrat was established along the transect line for tree identification. Results of the assessment show that the park has a species richness of 34 tree species in eight families and 26 genera. Species diversity indicates low (2.4) to very low (1.12) based on the Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index despite the high number of individuals found in the watershed area. The low diversity of the watershed is affected by the rampant anthropogenic activities and naturally-induced hazards occurring in the protected area. Shorea polysmerma is the most dominant and the most important species, with an Importance Value index of 38.78. Three species of trees were recorded as generalists in the area such as Calophyllum blancoi, Shorea palosapis, and Ficus sp.

Noble metal decorated metal oxide composites have proved to have Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) as a notable approach for efficient light absorption. Herein present work, a new sonochemical method is proposed for in-situ synthesis of noble metal-based CeO2 composites for the sonophotocatalytic degradation of commercial Acephate solution. Pristine CeO2 and Ag@CeO2 with different Ag contents viz. 4, 6 and 8 wt. % were successfully synthesized by a facile in-situ sonochemical approach. The as-synthesized CeO2 and Ag@CeO2 nanocomposites were characterized by various physicochemical characterization techniques, including XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, BET, and FESEM-EDS. Further, these CeO2 and Ag@CeO2 nanocomposites were employed for photocatalytic, sonocatalytic, and sonophotocatalytic degradation of commercial Acephate solution. Experimental results revealed that the photocatalytic and sonocatalytic processes follow a pseudo-first-order model, whereas the sonophotocatalytic process had a more substantial rate constant compared to the photocatalytic and sonocatalytic one. Further, the kinetics of the study were examined by the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. Overall, the sonophotocatalytic degradation involving as-synthesized Ag@CeO2 with 6 wt. % Ag content has shown to be the most effective method for the effective degradation of a commercial acephate solution.

The monsoon system in India plays a pivotal role in shaping the country’s climate. Recent studies have indicated that the increasing variability of monsoons is attributable to climate change, resulting in prolonged periods of drought and excessive rainfall. Understanding, analyzing, and forecasting monsoons is crucial for socioeconomic sustainability and communities’ overall well-being. Climate forecasts, which project future Earth climates typically up to 2100, rely on models such as the Couple Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP). However, confidence in these forecasts remains low due to the limitations of global climate models, particularly in terms of capturing the intricacies of monsoon dynamics, notably from June to September. To address this issue, researchers have examined precipitation simulations under various future scenarios using both CMIP5 and the latest CMIP6 models. Evaluating the performance of these models from 1979 to 2014, particularly in simulating mean precipitation and temperature, has revealed improvements in multi-model ensembles (MME), highlighting advancements in monsoon characteristics. By comparing the CMIP5 and CMIP6 models, researchers have identified the most reliable models for climate downscaling research, which can provide more accurate predictions of regional climate changes, thereby offering valuable insights for enhancing climate modeling in the Indian subcontinent.

The key observations on the study concerning the geostatistical appraisal, hydrogeochemical environment of major ions (cations and anions) as well as groundwater suitability from the part of Balaghat District (MP) latitude 21°31ʹ42ʺ: 21°43ʹ11ʺ N and longitude 79°50ʹ30ʺ:80°11ʹ30ʺ E., Central India are presented here. The pH (7.3 to 8.6) of the groundwater samples and range of EC values (50-5080 μS.cm-1) typically clarify the alkaline nature and the involvement of diverse processes (geogenic as well as anthropogenic) deciding the hydrogeochemical environment of groundwater. This prominent behavior is the result of the conductivity in groundwater, which is the consequence of ion exchange along with the solubilization processes during the rock-water interaction and also represents anthropogenic activity. The abundance succession of cations is Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+, while the profusion sequence of anions is HCO3- > Cl- > NO3- > SO42- > F-. The positive correlation among the pair of Ca2+ with Mg2+ (r = 0.657), Na+(r = 0.691), and HCO3- (r = 0.842) as well as the high positive association between K+ and SO42- (r = 0.856), plus K+ and NO3- (r = 0.779) unravels the derivation of ions from the geogenic origin and the agro-chemical derivation of ions respectively. The three factors (1:6.350, 2:2.732, and 3:2.697), having a total variance of 87.923%, correspond with the geogenic factor, anthropogenic factor, and alkalinity factor, respectively. The groundwater from the study area is suitable for drinking and irrigation purposes with a slight threat of exchangeable sodium.

The global construction industry faces significant challenges related to environmental sustainability and resource scarcity. Researchers are increasingly exploring innovative approaches to repurpose waste materials, aiming to mitigate environmental pollution while producing value-added construction materials. This paper reviews the sustainability of current methodologies for synthesizing construction materials from pollutants, considering industrial by-products, post-consumer waste, and pollutants as potential feedstocks. The evaluation focuses on various recycling, upcycling, and bioconversion techniques, assessing their environmental and technical feasibility. The paper also discusses case studies of successful implementations and emerging trends in the field to highlight practical applications and future research directions. Ultimately, the paper advocates for sustainable practices in the construction sector by promoting a circular economy model, where waste is transformed into valuable resources, fostering wealth development.

This study aims to explore the applications of graphene and chitosan in water splitting and catalysis, focusing on their unique properties and synergistic effects. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to examine their roles in photocatalytic activity and environmental remediation. Graphene, known for its high surface area and conductivity, was analyzed for its ability to enhance charge separation and light harvesting through doping and hybridization with metal nanoparticles. Similarly, chitosan’s biopolymeric nature and strong affinity for transition metals were evaluated for their utility in enzymatic and catalytic applications. Results indicate that graphene’s photocatalytic performance can be significantly improved through doping and functionalization, while chitosan proves effective in wastewater treatment and as a polymeric support for catalysts. The study concludes that the combined use of graphene and chitosan offers promising potential for advancing sustainable energy solutions and environmental technologies.

Variations in size and shape distinguish vegetation patches across different ecosystems. Nonetheless, recent research highlights notable parallels in the dynamics of these patches and the mechanisms governing their formation and persistence. Two primary types, banded and spotted vegetation, characterized by their patch shapes, stem from shared mechanisms, albeit each type is predominantly influenced by a distinct driver. Banded vegetation emerges when water primarily facilitates the redistribution of materials and propagules, whereas spotted vegetation arises when wind serves as the primary redistributing force. Overall, the analysis underscores how patchy vegetation structures bolster primary production. According to Patch Dynamics theory, vegetation can be categorized into homogeneous and heterogeneous patches, with seasonal conditions playing a pivotal role in the coexistence of various vegetation types. Understanding mechanisms of coexistence necessitates a thorough grasp of the ecophysiological responses of dominant species to different patch types. Consequently, this study aimed to discern the ecophysiological reactions of species to two distinct patch categories. Throughout the examination of Patch Dynamics, both patch species exhibited the highest photosynthetic capacity within their respective patches. Parameters such as Leaf Area Index (LAI), the number of individuals (N), biomass, height (h), weight, and others manifested changes across patch types. Notably, species within the banded patch exhibited heightened sensitivity and more substantial fluctuations in their values compared to those in the spotted patch. These differential responses to distinct patches offer insights into potential mechanisms facilitating species coexistence.