In recent years, various countries have put forward Banning Gasoline Vehicle Sales Policy (BGVSP), and the degree of public support for BGVSP is crucial to its design and implementation. Taking China as an example, this study built a policy support index using network crawler technology and natural language processing technology. Then, multi-spatial convergence cross-mapping technology was used to study the interaction between public support and air pollution, electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, EV technology, and use cost. The results showed that air pollution has a significant impact on public support; public support has a significant impact on the construction of the EV infrastructure and the level of EV technological research, and the use cost of traditional gasoline vehicles has a significant impact on public support. This study investigated the correlations between public support and the factors influencing public support, and the results can be used as a reference for the design and implementation of BGVSP in newly industrialized countries.

It is need of the hour to investigate the impacts of climate parameters on agricultural production in a developing region of South Asia. Therefore, this work attempts to explore the climatic indicators on agricultural production for selected South Asian countries over the annual data of 1961–2016. This study estimates the impacts of rainfall, temperature, rural population, land under cereal production, and CO₂ emissions (ECO₂) on agricultural production. For empirical analysis, we applied second-generation unit root tests. After examining the order of integration of time series, we check for the co-integration among the variables. Before the co-integration test, we check for cross-section dependence among the variables. CD and LM tests confirm the existence of cross-section dependence. Afterward, we apply the Westerlund co-integration test to confirm the strong association among the variables. Further, we applied two methods for long-run coefficients of independent variables. Dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) and fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS) tests were applied to cross-check the findings. Our findings show that rural population and rainfall are negatively associated with agricultural production. Moreover, temperature, land area under cereal production, and ECO₂ are positively associated with agricultural production. Our findings shed light on some important policy implications for South Asian countries.

Based on panel data from 30 provinces over the period of 2003–2016, this study uses the spatial econometric model to examine the effect of green credits on carbon productivity. The research findings show that there is a significant positive correlation between green credits and carbon productivity among provinces during this period. Provinces with high levels of carbon productivity (green credits) are also geographically adjacent or economically close to provinces with high levels and vice versa. Regression results of the whole sample show that green credits not only promote carbon productivity, but also have a positive spatial spillover effect. Similar regression results using regional sub-samples indicate that the direct promotion effect and spatial spillover effect of green credits on carbon productivity are more obvious in the central and western regions than in the eastern parts of the country. The research findings have important and relevant policy implications as far as the relationship between green credits and carbon productivity is concerned.

The recycling of asphalt pavements requires a good understanding of the material’s characteristics. However, the rheological behavior of recycled binder is still not well understood. In this study, a novel method is introduced to construct the master curve of the recycled binders. The concentration of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) binder is used to find the shift factors of the master curve. This master curve is called the concentration master curve (CMC). To verify the applicability of the concept, the CMC was plotted for three different RAP sources procured from two states and the capital of India. The percentage of RAP binder content in the recycled binders was varied (0, 15, 25, 40, 65, 80, and 100%) by weight of the total binder. In all three cases, smooth master curves were obtained. To calculate the allowable RAP, an alternative approach based on the damping energy area (DEA) of recycled binders was proposed. It was found that the allowable RAP content based on the DEA criteria was 40–50% less compared to the conventional high PG temperature (PGH) criterion. An attempt is made to understand the rheological interaction between the RAP binder and RA using the recycled binder compatibility index (RBCI). It was observed that the RAP source is the determining factor behind the compatibility and interaction level between the RAP binder and RA in a recycled binder.

This study examines the convergence in renewable energy consumption over the period 2000–2018 by using a convergence algorithm developed by Phillips and Sul. We used 183 countries which were sub-divided into five regions, namely: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA); Middle East and North Africa (MENA); Europe and Central Asia (ECA); East and South Asia and the Pacific (ESAP); and America. The possible influencing determinants of the convergence/divergence clubs for the regions were also investigated by utilising multinomial logit regression. The determinants were majorly classified into macroeconomic, socio-economic, and institutional quality variables, which were computed via principal component analysis by using six governance indicators. The results show an absence of panel convergence and a weak speed of convergence for the regions. The final club formation results obtained from the iteration procedure show that 6 clubs (for SSA), 2 (for MENA and ECA), 5 (for ESAP), and 3 (for America) were formed for the regions. The determinants of renewable energy consumption play both significant and insignificant roles in the likelihood of a country belonging to a particular convergence club in each of the regions. This study found that at the regional level, the process of convergence in renewable energy consumption is yet to echo desirable emanations of renewable energy consumption policies sharing similar characteristics, but the narrative differs when clustering algorithms form clubs for each region. This implies that at regional levels, achieving convergence clubs in renewable energy consumption for environmental sustainability is possible, most especially when realistic policies around macroeconomic, socio-economic and institutional quality variables are taken into account.

Developing green economy has become the focus of governments, scholars, and entrepreneurs all over the world; however, the realization path of green economic efficiency for the regions under the interaction of multiple factors has still been uncertain. This study takes 30 provincial-level regions in China as the empirical object and applies a new method of fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to explore the configuration of conditions for achieving green economic efficiency, which effectively improves the link between theory and practice. This study reveals that the improvement of green economy efficiency is the result of the joint action of multiple factors, and one factor in isolation is not enough for explaining it. Besides, there exist three equivalent paths to achieve high green economic efficiency; therefore, regions can design the most appropriate promotion strategy according to the determined paths. The result shows that high marketization is the core condition for achieving high green economy efficiency. Among the three paths, the combination of environmental regulation, urbanization, marketization, and technological innovation has the highest unique coverage, which alone explains how most regions have achieved high green economic efficiency. Third, four paths for achieving low green economy efficiency have been identified in this study, which provides lessons for regional governments to avoid the decline in green economy efficiency. And specially, the combination of high urbanization, high environment regulation, and high technological innovation can lead to low green economy efficiency because of low marketization. The conclusion improves the theory of green development and provides a practical reference for the regional government to develop green economy.

Eye health of the working population is an essential condition for productivity. Marble industry is processed at large scale at Shaq El Tho’ban area where much dust, crushed pieces of stone, and fluctuating temperatures are endangering employees’ health generally and eye health specifically. The objectives of this study were assessing the prevalence of the most common ocular health problems associated with marble industry and investigating the impact of the working environment and occupational risk factors on the oculo-visual status of marble workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 workers, working at Shaq El Tho’ban area in Egypt during the period from August 2020 to September 2021, using a semi-structured questionnaire and eye examination comprised of full ocular history, visual acuity testing (unaided/aided), slit lamp examination, ophthalmoscopy, and Schirmer’s type I and tear break up time tests. The current study showed that gritty sensation (65.2%) and eye dryness (51.2%) were the commonest symptoms complained. By examination, conjunctival hyperemia (59.6%) was the most prevalent finding. By performing dry eye tests, dry eye was diagnosed in 60.4% and 51.2% of workers by Schirmer’s test and tear break up time test respectively. The study’s results indicated that age, working category, smoking, and diabetes had significant impact on development of ocular symptoms, while working duration, diabetes, smoking, ocular symptoms, and ocular foreign body had significant impact on development of dry eye disease. Implementation of engineering control measures, proper designing, and supply of eye PPE together with adequate health education to all workers about occupational health risks and preventive measures are recommended.

Pregnant women are vulnerable to certain environmental agents, one of which is aflatoxin. As one of the most popular aflatoxins, Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has recently garnered increased attention concerning its potential association between exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aims of the study were to examine the associations between prenatal exposure to AFB1 and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), and whether coagulation function has a mediating effect on their relationship. A total of 379 mother-infant pairs were included in the present study. Prenatal serum AFB1 albumin (AFB1-Alb) adduct levels in peripheral venous blood were detected by using an ELISA kit. Multiple linear and logistics regression models were applied to analyze the relationship between AFB1-Alb levels and PPH. We found mothers with high levels of AFB1-Alb adduct levels had significantly increased postpartum blood loss (partial regression coefficient (β) = 50.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.48, 97.95). Mothers with high levels of AFB1-Alb adduct levels also had significantly increased risk of PPH (odds ratio (OR) = 4.81, 95% CI 1.01, 22.98). Moreover, concentrations of AFB1-Alb were positively associated with activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) while negatively associated with fibrinogen (FIB). One-unit increase in APTT was correlated with a 6.62-ml (95% CI 3.04, 10.20) increase in postpartum blood loss. Mediation analysis suggested that the maternal blood APTT levels had a positive mediating effect in the association between AFB1-Alb adduct levels and postpartum blood loss (β = 0.32, 95% CI 0.04, 0.68). These results indicated that prenatal exposure to AFB1 was associated with increased postpartum blood loss, possibly by interfering with maternal APTT levels.

The use of biochar in soil remediation is a promising method to deal with metal contamination. In the present study, the influence of biochar amendment on the toxicity of silver (as AgNO₃) to terrestrial organisms was assessed. For this, toxicity tests were conducted with terrestrial plant barley (Hordeum vulgare) and invertebrate springtails (Folsomia candida) in the standard natural Lufa soil amended or not with a wood-derived biochar at 5% (w/w). Biochar addition increased root length and mass in barley, compared to unamended soil. However, the effects of Ag on barley growth were masked by a great variation among replicates in biochar-amended soil. Photosynthetic pigment contents (total chlorophyll and carotenoids) were lower in plants exposed to Ag in Lufa soil, but not in biochar-amended soil. Moreover, Ag drastically decreased dehydrogenase activity in Lufa soil. For springtails, the addition of biochar clearly decreased the toxicity of Ag. The LC50 was 320 mg Ag/kg in Lufa soil, while no mortality was observed up to 500 mg Ag/kg in biochar-amended soil. The EC50 for effects on reproduction was significantly higher in biochar-amended soil compared to unamended Lufa soil (315 and 215 mg Ag/kg, respectively). The wood-derived biochar used in this study has shown a potential for remediation of contaminated soils, as a decrease in Ag toxicity was observed in most endpoints analysed in barley and springtails.

The zero-valent iron-anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ZVI-anammox) system has received widespread attention due to its excellent nitrogen removal performance and user-friendly operation. However, its disadvantages include a short service life, high ZVI consumption, and poor system stability. The use of ultrasound as a physical method is increasing in various water treatment processes. In this study, a series of batch tests were conducted to obtain the best ultrasonic parameter and explore the comprehensive effects of ultrasound on a ZVI-anammox system. The highest specific anammox activity of the ZVI-anammox system was found to be 2.88 mg total nitrogen/g of volatile suspended solids/h after ultrasonic treatment (0.2 w/mL, 5 min), which was 37.85% higher than a control group. Additionally, the service life of ZVI extended by 28.57% and the total nitrogen removal efficiency changed from 58.03–72.08 to 63.92–78.33% under ultrasonic irradiation. These phenomena were related to the mechanical force and cavitation of ultrasonic waves. Judging from the characteristics of sludge and ZVI, ultrasound can promote anammox sludge granulation, ease ZVI passivation, and enhance the stability of the entire system. This paper also briefly discusses the impact mechanisms of ultrasound on the ZVI-anammox system. In brief, ultrasound destroys the surface structure of ZVI and thus provides numerous attachment points for microorganisms that improve the performance of the entire system. The proposed ultrasound combined with ZVI is a novel method that has potential for use in large-scale engineering applications in actual sewage treatment after comprehensive analysis.