Estimation of aerosol optical depth in relation to meteorological parameters over eastern and western routes of China Pakistan economic corridor

This study finds out seasonal and monthly variations in Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) over eastern and western routes of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the relationship between AOD and meteorological parameters (i.e., temperature, rainfall and wind speed). The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) data was used from the terra satellite for the period of 2000-2016. This study aims to overtake the conventional view of the purpose of using the satellite datasets. This study takes on to the concept that validated satellite data sets rather should be used for the analysis instead of just validation specifically for our study region. Hence, after comparing MODIS AOD with MISR AOD, only MISR AOD dataset is used for further analysis. The results show a decreasing trend of AOD in summer season, a positive relationship between temperature and AOD during winter and spring seasons whereas a positive relationship between wind speed and AOD in winter and spring seasons over eastern and western routes. Periodic analysis of MODIS AOD and MISR AOD depicts May-Aug as the peak period of aerosol concentration over central Pakistan. The inter-annual analysis shows the aerosol trend remained higher during summer season however rainfall shows the washout effect. Eastern route has higher standard deviation and larger values for aerosol prevalence as compared to western route. The trajectory analysis using the HYSPLIT model suggests the bias of air mass trajectory caused deviation in the aerosol trend in the year 2014.     

Nano-structured dynamic Schiff base cues as robust self-healing polymers for biomedical and tissue engineering applications: a review

Polymer materials are vulnerable to damages, failures, and degradations, making them economically unreliable. Self-healing polymers, on the other hand, are multifunctional materials with superior properties of autonomic recovery from physical damages. These materials are suitable for biomedical and tissue engineering in terms of cost and durability. Schiff base linkages-based polymer materials are one of the robust techniques owing to their simple self-healing mechanism. These are dynamic reversible covalent bonds, easy to fabricate at mild conditions, and can self-reintegrate after network disruption at physiological conditions making them distinguished. Here we review self-healing polymer materials based on Schiff base bonds. We discuss the Schiff base bond formation between polymeric networks, which explains the self-healing phenomenon. These bonds have induced 100% recovery in optimal cases.

     

An insight into the drag effect of water,land, and energy on economic growth across space and time: the application of improved Solow growth model

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Economies that depend on natural resources can experience a resource drag effect when economic growth is limited by constraints on the availability of...     

Role of casting and curing conditions on the strength and drying shrinkage of greener concrete

The shrinkage of cement-based materials is a critical dimensional property that needs proper attention as it can influence the corresponding characteristics especially when the preparation of such cement-based material is done in hot weather. Studies have shown that the casting or curing conditions influence the performance of concrete. However, there is limited understanding of the combined role of casting temperature and curing conditions, especially for concrete made with unconventional binders. In this study, five supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) were utilized as the substitute of the ordinary Portland cement (OPC) at different ratios to produce greener concrete and improve its characteristics and sustainability. The influence of four casting temperatures (i.e., 25 °C, 32 °C, 38 °C, and 45 °C) and two curing regimes (i.e., covering of samples using wet burlap and applying curing compound on the surface of samples) on the corresponding compressive strength and drying shrinkage at various ages was studied. The outcomes of this research revealed that the composition of the binders has a substantial impact on the characteristics of concrete. In addition, the casting temperature and curing regimes also have a huge role on the compressive strength of concrete produced with binary binders. For example, the compressive strength at 3 days of concrete made at 25 °C made with binary binders was reduced up to 31% compared to that made with only OPC as the binder when cured using wet burlap. Nonetheless, less than 38 ℃ was suitable to minimize the durability issues in the studied blended cement mixes.

     

Ecotoxicological risk assessment for sediments of Çavuşlu stream in Giresun,Turkey: association between garbage disposal facility and metallic accumulation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The objective of this paper was to stress the possible potential toxic element (PTE) accumulation in the surface sediments of the Çavu?lu...     

5-fluorouracil and curcumin with pectin coating as a treatment regimen for titanium dioxide with dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer model

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Colorectal cancer was inducted in Wister rats using titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) and dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and treatment using...     

Impact of good governance and natural resource rent on economic and environmental sustainability: an empirical analysis for South Asian economies

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Good governance and natural resource rent are important pillars of sustainable development. The paper explores the role of governance and natural...     

Fabrication of ZnO–SnO2 nanocomposite and its photocatalytic activity for enhanced degradation of Biebrich scarlet

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The n–n-type ZnO–SnO2 nanocomposite was fabricated using malic acid following a simple one-pot co-precipitation method. The fabricated...     

Assessing environmental quality through natural resources,energy resources,and tax revenues

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Developing countries have depleted their natural resources in economic interest to achieve high economic growth. Current urbanization patterns and...     

Soil erosion hazard evaluation—An integrated use of remote sensing,GIS and statistical approaches with biophysical parameters towards management strategies

Soil erosion hazard maps can be an essential tool in erosion prone areas as they explain and display the distribution of hazards and areas likely to be affected to different magnitudes. Therefore, it is very useful to planners and policy makers initiating remedial measures and for prioritizing areas. In this study, a numerical model was developed for soil erosion hazard assessment, in which Z-score analysis was combined with a geographical information system (GIS) to compute a synthetic soil erosion hazard index (SEHI). For this model, nine factors which have notable impact on soil erosion were selected. To generate the selected factors remote sensing, analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and GIS techniques along with spatial models were applied. To standardize all of the factors and establish the factor weights, the AHP method was adopted. For Z-score analysis with selected standardized factors, the Integrated Land and Water Information System (ILWIS) software was used and nine individual layers with Z-scores were prepared. Afterwards, the layers were integrated with their factor weights by means of a weighted linear combination to derive a SEHI value for each pixel. To classify the discrete SEHI map to represent a meaningful regionalization of soil erosion hazard, the equal distance cluster principle was used and graded into four levels of hazard; very high, high, moderate and low. The results depicted that in general, a moderate hazardous condition of soil erosion was found in the study area and the proposed approach was also able to identify the areas under high and very high hazards that require urgent intervention on a priority basis. Based on this study, comprehensive erosion hazard management strategies were anticipated for the efficient management of present and future erosion disaster in the area.