A market modeling review study on predicting Malaysian consumer behavior towards widespread adoption of PHEV/EV

With the rising concern about climate change, there has been an increased public awareness that has resulted in new government policies to support scientific research for mitigating these problems. Malaysia is among the major energy-intense countries and is under an excessive burden to advance its energy efficiency and to also work towards the reduction of its carbon emission. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have the potential to lessen the carbon emission and gasoline consumption in order to alleviate environmental problems. Most of the energy problems linked to the increasing transportation pollution are now being reduced with the solution of the adoption of PHEVs. PHEVs are seen as a solution to cut carbon emission, which prevents environmental damages. Furthermore, PHEVs’ driving range and performance can be comparable to the other hybrid vehicles as well as the conventional IC engines that have gasoline and diesel tanks. Thus, many efforts are being initiated to promote the use of PHEVs as an innovative and affordable transportation system. In order to achieve making the consumers aware of the adoption of PHEVs, we used a model which is based on the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB). This review is based on the factors affecting the adoption of PHEVs among Malaysian consumers. The model takes into account the ten key features that influence the adoption of PHEVs, such as environmental concern, personal norm, attitude, vehicle ownership costs, driving range, charging time, intention, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and personal norm. All these constructs are drivers towards the adoption of PHEVs. These factors affect the relationship between the adoption of PHEVs and how consumers intend to protect the environment. This review is based on improving how the “attitude-action” gap is understood as it is an important element for further studies on PHEVs. The aim of the research is to come up with a framework that examines how to modify the consumer’s environmental concerns in acquiring PHEVs. This will pave the way for more academic research and future works that can emphasize how to obtain empirical results. The authors’ recommendation is that, before a consumer’s behavior is assessed and considered, an observation of the current technology is needed with methods and knowledge of the existing technology adoption aspect.     

Magnetic nanocomposites for sustainable water purification—a comprehensive review

Numerous contaminants in huge amounts are discharged to the environment from various anthropogenic activities. Waterbodies are one of the major receivers of these contaminants. The contaminated water can pose serious threats to humans and animals, by distrubing the ecosystem. In treating the contaminated water, adsorption processes have attained significant maturity due to lower cost, easy operation and environmental friendliness. The adsorption process uses various adsorbent materials and some of emerging adsorbent materials include carbon- and polymer-based magnetic nanocomposites. These hybrid magnetic nanocomposites have attained extensive applications in water treatment technologies due to their magnetic properties as well as combination of unique characteristics of organic and inorganic elements. Carbon- and polymer-related magnetic nanocomposites are more adapted materials for the removal of various kinds of contaminants from waterbodies. These nanocomposites can be produced via different approaches such as filling, pulse-laser irradiation, ball milling, and electro-spinning. This comprehensive review is compiled by reviewing published work of last the latest recent 3 years. The review article extensively focuses on different approaches for producing various carbon- and polymer-based magnetic nanocomposites, their merits and demerits and applications for sustainable water purification. More specifically, use of carbon- and polymer-based magnetic nanocomposites for removal of heavy metal ions and dyes is discussed in detail, critically analyzed and compared with other technologies. In addition, commercial viability in terms of regeneration of adsorbents is also reviewed. Furthermore, the future challenges and prospects in employing magnetic nanocomposites for contaminant removal from various water sources are presented.

     

Lignin and its effects on litter decomposition in forest ecosystems

Lignin is a major component of plant litter. In this review, we found lignin comprises a complex class of organic compounds whose concentration differs greatly both between and within plant species. There are many analytical methods for detecting the composition and structure of lignins. As lignins are enormously complex compounds, chemical assay is difficult and different methods vary with the results. Lignin plays a significant role in the carbon cycle, sequestering atmospheric carbon into the living tissues of woody perennial vegetation. It has also great effects on nitrogen dynamics of forest ecosystems as well as other ecological processes. Lignin is one of the most slowly decomposing components of dead vegetation, contributing a major fraction of the material that becomes humus as it decomposes. Lignin is highly correlated with decomposition of litter. Thus, there is evidence that the lignin concentration is a more influential factor than the other chemical concentrations, in determining the rate of leaf litter decomposition of different forest ecosystems. Although a great number of researchers have addressed lignin's role in litter decomposition, still there are many aspects of lignin biogeochemistry that are not known. This lack of information hinders complete amalgam of lignin effects on litter decomposition processes and dynamics of nutrient cycling.     

Selective separation and preconcentration studies of chromium(VI) with Alamine 336 supported liquid membrane

Chromium compounds have received considerable attention because these are used extensively in such industrial applications as electroplating, steelmaking, tanning of leather goods, and corrosion inhibition. The use of supported liquid membranes (SLMs) to remove metals from wastewaters has actively been pursued by the scientific and industrial community. In the present work, the selective separation and preconcentration of Cr(VI) ions has been studied by using a commercial amine as the membrane liquid on the porous polypropylene support. Permeation experiments were conducted on a laboratory scale batch reactor made up of perspex, with a memberane fixed amid the two chambers. The flux of Cr(VI) ions was found to be maximum (3.15?×?10^?5?mol?cm^?2?s^?1) around pH 1. Above and below this pH the flux decreases. Distribution studies show that an increase in the amine concentration leads to higher distribution coefficients at fixed pH values. At pH around unity, the distribution of Cr(VI) ions into the organic phase was found to be maximum, of the order of 56.3. The Cr(VI) transport through the membrane increases with rise in temperature. In order to check the long-term efficiency of the flat sheet SLM, an experiment was conducted with higher Cr(VI) concentration (5000?ppm) for 24?h, at optimised parameters. It was observed that in 24?h, about 1/5th of the feed Cr(VI) is left over while the rest is transported. However, minute organic droplets were also seen in the feed and strip compartments, after 1 day. This observation suggested the loss of membrane liquid. The feasibility of preconcentration of Cr(VI) by using the proposed SLM parameters, was also studied by using the hollow fibre (HF) system. Highest enrichment factor (E.F) value was obtained for 50?mg?L^?1 whereby all of the metal was transported to the stripping phase and the resulting Cr concentration was 688?mg?L^?1 (E.F?=?13.8). It was observed that while treating more diluted solutions, the enrichment factor decreases. The values of E.F equal to 8.9 and 11.3 were found for initial Cr concentration of 10 and 30?mg?L^?1.     

Levels of selected essential and toxic elements in the foodstuffs of Islamabad as analyzed by DPASV

Typical dietary components such as vegetables, wheat flour, milk, chicken and drinking water samples have been analyzed for the quantification of essential trace elements like Zn and Cu and potentially toxic trace elements like Pb and Cd. The sensitivity, selectivity and cost effectiveness of Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetric method at Hanging Mercury Drop Electrode has been evaluated and used for the analysis. A database covering the adequacy and safety of trace elements through common food articles was first contrived for the Islamabad region. This was followed by assessment of the mobility rate of the heavy metals in the soil, plant system for evaluation of the environmental impact. The method used was also validated using appropriate certified reference materials.     

In vitro genotoxicity of extracellular extract from Nostoc piscinale

The extracellular extract obtained from 3 weeks incubation of the soil isolate cyanobacterium strain Nostoc piscinale GT-319 in BG-11 broth medium showed cytotoxic activity against Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. Based on comet assay, a concentration of 333 µg mL^?1 (IC₅₀) produced DNA breakages in CHO cells. The concentration of 481 mg kg^?1 (LD₅₀) produced acute toxicity in mice at 48 h.     

Thallium(I) and thallium(III) induce apoptosis in isolated rat hepatocytes by alterations in mitochondrial function and generation of ROS

Environmental metal toxins, generated through diverse anthropogenic activities, constitute one of the major contaminants that have led to global dispersion of these toxic metals in the ecosystem. Thallium is one of these widely dispersed metals that produce severe adverse effects on human and biological systems. The influence of thallium(I) and thallium(III) on the early events that trigger apoptosis signaling were examined in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. In addition, the role of oxidative stress, and mitochondria in the induction of apoptosis were also investigated. Incubation of thallium(I) and thallium(III) with isolated rat hepatocytes generated reactive oxygen species (ROS), collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspases cascade, and appearance of apoptosis phenotype. Mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore sealing agents (cyclosporine A and carnitine) and ATP generators (L-glutamine, fructose, and xylitol) inhibited the activation of caspase-3 and apoptosis, indicating that both the cations activated apoptosis signaling via mitochondrial pathway. Pretreatment of hepatocytes with antioxidants (α-tocopherol or deferoxamine) also blocked caspase-3 activation induced by these cations, suggesting that oxidative stress may be directly involved in a mitochondrial MPT pore opening and activation of caspases cascade. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms that mediate thallium-induced apoptosis in isolated rat hepatocytes.     

Visual disturbances with cholinesterase depletion due to exposure of agricultural pesticides among farm workers

In this study, risk assessment for visual disturbances among farm workers spraying agricultural pesticides in farms have been assessed. A cross-sectional study for the assessment of visual disturbances was undertaken using questionnaire survey and clinical examination among agricultural workers exposed to pesticides. Two hundred and thirty nine pesticide sprayers participated in the study. The study was compared to 110 controls not occupationally exposed to pesticides with similar socio-economic status. The prevalence of ocular morbidity was found to be 40% among pesticide sprayers which was significantly higher (p?p?相似文献   

Integration of different environmental valuation methods to estimate forest degradation in arid and semi-arid regions

Many factors are aggravating desertification and degradation of forests such as urbanization, droughts, exploitation of natural resources and climate change. The study aims at estimating and assessing the degradation of forests in arid and semi-arid regions. This task however is complicated since the impact of the degradation will be in different forms such as loss of wood, soil erosion and lost recreational areas. Nevertheless the dynamic impact of the degradation is increasing the complexity of analysis since forest once lost is a reduction of value for all subsequent years. This study is considering the value of damages over time and it is using the concept of three environmental valuation methods to estimate the whole impact of the degradation: the habitat equivalency analysis (HEA), the productivity method and the benefit transfer method. The methods were applied to specific values of forests, depending on the best applicability, and the results combined to an overall value loss. The costs are calculated based on the year 2014 with two time horizons: 30 and 100 years. To apply the valuation approach, Jordan as an arid and semi-arid country is chosen. The result shows that the annual costs of environmental degradation of Jordanian forest areas equal about 0.14% of GDP in 2013, proving the enormous value lost to forest degradation or deforestation. The valuation approach can be transferred to other arid or semi-arid areas and stimulate forest conservation activities to prevent further degradation and to save the forest ecosystem services for the future.     

CoFe2O4@Methylcelloluse as a New Magnetic Nano Biocomposite for Sonocatalytic Degradation of Reactive Blue 19

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Reactive Blue 19 (RB19) removal from synthetic textile wastewater was investigated by using a CoFe2O4@methylcellulose (MC) activated with peroxymonosulfate...