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This paper reports an innovative study that aims to address key issues in the efficient recycling of wastepaper cellulose. The research team utilized the temperature-responsive upper critical solution temperature (UCST) polymer P(NAGA-b-DMA) in combination with the LytA label's affinity for choline analogs. This innovative approach enabled them to successfully develop a novel soluble immobilized enzyme, P(NAGA-b-DMA)-cellulase. This new enzyme has proven highly effective, significantly enhancing the degradation of wastepaper cellulose while demonstrating exceptional stability. Compared with the traditional insoluble immobilized cellulase, the enzyme showed a significant improvement in the pH, temperature stability, recycling ability, and storage stability. A kinetic parameter calculation showed that the enzymatic effectiveness of the soluble immobilized enzyme was much better than that of the traditional insoluble immobilized cellulase. After the immobilization reaction, the Michaelis constant of the immobilized enzyme was only increased by 11.5%. In the actual wastepaper degradation experiment, the immobilized enzyme was effectively used, and it was found that the degradation efficiency of wastepaper cellulose reached 80% of that observed in laboratory conditions. This novel, thermosensitive soluble immobilized cellulase can efficiently catalyze the conversion of wastepaper cellulose into glucose under suitable conditions, so as to further ferment into environmentally friendly biofuel ethanol, which provides a solution to solve the shortage of raw materials and environmental protection problems in the paper products industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of water, wastewater, and waste management for sustainable development. It emphasizes the need for innovative and effective solutions to improve the quality of life and maintain ecosystem balance. The article presents a special issue titled "Water, Wastewater and Waste Management for Sustainable Development," which covers various topics related to sustainable water and waste management in agriculture, waste and wastewater management, and the industrial sector. The special issue includes papers that explore topics such as the reuse of treated slaughterhouse wastewater for hydroponics, anaerobic digestion for biomethane production, evaluation of pollutant discharge in tomato hydroponic wastewater, and the impact of different cultivation methods on stream water quality. The article concludes by highlighting the importance of research and inviting further scientific activity in this area. [Extracted from the article]

Regarding decision planning in the electronic manufacturing industry, this paper designs a green closed-loop manufacturing-recycling network for multiperiod production planning for multiple products. The network considers the tradeoff between production costs and environmental pollution induced by production scraps. Therefore, a mixed integer programming model with a dual objective is designed to achieve environmental protection and reduce production costs through resource recovery and utilization. At the same time, the recycled materials are considered to be treated, not entirely new, which could affect the manufacturing qualified rate. Thus, material attributes are proposed to distinguish new raw materials from recycled (second-hand) ones through the closed-loop manufacturing-recycling process to enhance the manufacturing qualified rate. In order to solve the dual-objective optimization model and realize optimal decisions, an epsilon constraint is designed to generate a nonextreme solution set by changing the original feasible region. The results show its ability to obtain a more balanced solution in terms of cost and environmental factors compared with the fuzzy-weighted method. Meanwhile, the analysis proves that the dual-objective optimization model with distinguishing material attributes can improve the efficiency of the manufacturing qualified rate and achieve a win-win situation for production and environmental protection during enterprise production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All the papers are centered around the I forest i as the main keyword, appearing in diverse combinations: forest management [[4], [7]], forest recreation [[7]], forest landscape [[6]], and forest air [[2]], plantation forest [[4]]. The authors concluded that people preferred flat views and had a strong preference for forest trail landscapes, which plays an important role in forest landscape recreation, and that the photos evoked both positive and negative emotions. Forests, which are viewed as an important natural resource for humanity, have been constantly threatened with degradation or even extinction since the dawn of the modern period. In some areas, predominantly rural ones, the forest acts as a site for the seasonal collection of berries and mushrooms (non-timber forest products, NTFPs), which are integrated into rural life as key social activities. [Extracted from the article]

Under the double pressures of economic growth and ecological environment protection, sea green transformation and the sustainable development of mariculture are critical. This paper constructs an evolutionary game model with the government as the main body and mariculture farmers (enterprises) as the main body and puts forward the research hypothesis. Based on 2006–2019 longitudinal data of nine provinces along China's coast, using multi-period Difference-in-Difference (DID) and dual robust estimation, we empirically investigate the national oceanic ranch demonstration zones for the influence of the green sea aquaculture and their mechanism of action. The results showed that (1) the efficiency of green level of mariculture industry in China is not high, and the establishment of national marine pasture demonstration zone has not effectively promoted the improvement of green level of mariculture industry; (2) the institutional environment, unreasonable industrial structure, and lack of scientific and technological innovation have an effect on the national oceanic ranch demonstration area as the main causes of failure to effectively promote marine green farming; (3) the establishment of the national multi-period demonstration area in the north significantly hindered the growth of the green level of mariculture and fell into the "policy trap", while the establishment of the national multi-period demonstration area in the south significantly promoted the growth of the green level of mariculture. The conclusions of this paper provide an empirical basis and reference for the improvement of the national marine pasture demonstration zone policy and the green transformation of mariculture to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on Paulownia spp. has increased in the last twenty years thanks to the growing interest in the application modalities of this plant in various sectors such as wood, phytoremediation, environmental protection, paper, biofuel, chemistry and medicine. For the first time, this study analyzed the papers present in the Web of Science Core Collection on "Paulownia" to obtain a set of characteristics in the work carried out from 1971 to 2021. This analysis selected and took into account 820 articles and provided evidence of the scientific production of authors, institutions, and countries. This work showed that the most studied species was Paulownia tomentosa, followed by P. fortunei and P. elongate. The JCR category and research area with the most publications was plant science, with 20.4% of the total. The papers were published in 460 journals and in a book series. The journals with the most publications were Bioresources, Advanced Material Research, Agroforestry Systems, Journal of Wood Science and Industrial Crops and Products. The institutions with the most prolific affiliation with the field of Paulownia spp. research were Henan University, the US Department of Agriculture, Belgrade University, the Chinese Academy, and Georgia University. Finally, the 3842 keywords were divided into nine different clusters and the trends of interest in the last fifteen years were highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent., a perennial deciduous tree, is used in feed, medicine, papermaking, environmental protection, and ecological restoration. This paper ttook 33 provenances from the natural distribution as the research objects, observes their growth and nutritional traits, and analyzes the laws of geographical variation. The repeatability was 0.80–0.88 and 0.48–0.91, respectively. The correlation was significant (the correlation coefficient was 0.764). The variation is greatly affected by the latitudinal direction. Through clustering, the 33 provenances were clustered into 4 groups and most provenances with relatively close geographical origins were clustered together, showing differences between different geographical regions. Using leaf biomass (0.4662 g) and crude protein content (14.39%) as the selection index, the Sichuan Mianyang (SCMY), Chongqing Kaizhou (CQKZ), Shanghai (SH), and Fujian Nanping (FJNP) provenances were selected as fast-growing, high-yield, and high-quality paper mulberry provenances. This study provides the basis for the selection of excellent paper mulberry trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: This article mainly utilizes the advantages and characteristics of evolutionary game theory and based on the ideas and methods of evolutionary game theory, investigates the spontaneous formation of the relationships among the local governments, power grid enterprises, and market regulators based on low-carbon trading mechanisms during long-term carbon emission reduction. This tripartite evolution game is described as a learning progressive evolution system, focusing on the evolution process of the relationship between various stakeholders and the influencing factors of evolutionary stability in the electricity market and carbon emission market. It provides a reasonable explanation for the spontaneous formation of interest equilibrium states within the local government, power grid enterprises, and market regulators, and also provides theoretical reference and policy suggestions for government regulation to the electricity market and carbon emission market. In the context of increasing global efforts to mitigate climate change, effective carbon emission reduction is a pressing issue. Governments and power companies are key stakeholders in implementing low-carbon strategies, but their interactions require careful management to ensure optimal outcomes for both economic development and environmental protection. This paper addresses this real-world challenge by utilizing evolutionary game theory (EGT) to model the strategic interactions between these stakeholders under a low-carbon trading mechanism. Unlike classical game theory, which assumes complete rationality and perfect information, EGT allows for bounded rationality and learning over time, making it particularly suitable for modeling long-term interactions in complex systems like carbon markets. This study builds an evolutionary game model between the government and power companies to explore how different strategies in carbon emission reduction evolve over time. Using payoff matrices and replicator dynamics equations, we determine the evolutionarily stable equilibrium (ESE) points and analyze their stability through dynamic simulations. The findings show that in the absence of a third-party regulator, neither party achieves an ideal ESE. To address this, a third-party regulatory body is introduced into the model, leading to the formulation of a tripartite evolutionary game. The results highlight the importance of regulatory oversight in achieving stable and optimal low-carbon strategies. This paper offers practical policy recommendations based on the simulation outcomes, providing a robust theoretical framework for government intervention in carbon markets and guiding enterprises towards sustainable practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The autonomous operation of a device or a system is one of the many vital tasks that need to be achieved in many areas of industry. This is also true for maritime transport. This paper introduces an approach developed in order to achieve the autonomous operation of a ship in a port. A safe trajectory was calculated with the use of the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm. The ship motion control was based on two controllers: the master overriding trajectory controller (OTC) and the slave low speed controller based on the Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI) method. The control object was the model of a Very Large Crude Carrier Blue Lady. The results of our simulation tests, which show the safe trajectories calculated by the ACO algorithm and executed by the ship using the designed controllers (OTC and LMI), are presented in this paper. The results present maneuvers executed by the Blue Lady ship when at port. The area where the tests were conducted is located in the Ship Handling, Research and Training Center of the Foundation for Shipping Safety and Environmental Protection on the Lake Silm in Kamionka, Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the needs of environmental protection and the adjustment of energy structure, new energy vehicles are playing an increasingly important role in the field of transportation today. The permanent-magnet brushless direct-current motor has the characteristics of high efficiency, and can be used in the drive system of new energy vehicles or other auxiliary equipment. In the control process of the permanent-magnet brushless direct-current motor, based on a three-Hall position sensor, due to various factors, there are some errors in the Hall position signal, which must be corrected by appropriate measures. In this paper, the relationship between the position deviation in the commutation interval and the non-commutation-phase current is analyzed, and the current expressions in three different states are given. A new closed-loop compensation strategy for correcting the inaccurate commutation caused by the Hall signal error is proposed. Taking the position of a 30° electrical angle before and after the phase-change point as the H point, realizing the current symmetry within the 30° interval around the H point as the target and the sum of the slopes of the tangent lines at the two points symmetrical within the β (0 < β < 30) electrical angle around the H point as the deviation, a proportional-integral regulator is designed to correct the phase error of the phase-change signal. Finally, it is verified by experiments that the closed-loop compensation strategy proposed in this paper can effectively compensate the phase deviation of the commutation signal at a speed of about 2000 r/min, which improves the working efficiency of the motor to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the problematic circumstances of the constant cropping problem in facility crops have become increasingly serious. Compared to chemical disinfection, soil steam disinfestation offers the benefits of environmental protection and being pollution-free, which can effectively reduce the problem of constant cropping in crops. However, during the steam disinfection procedure, a large quantity of liquid water is formed due to the condensation of high-temperature steam, which causes soil pore blockage, seriously affecting the mass and heat transfer efficacy of steam and, thus, affecting the disinfection efficiency. Therefore, to solve this problem, this paper proposes the use of hot air dehumidification to remove excess water from soil pores and achieve the goal of dredging the pores. However, further exploration is needed on how to efficiently remove excess water from different pore structures through hot air applications. Therefore, this paper first used CFD simulation technology to simulate and analyze the hot air flow field, mass, and heat transfer in soil aggregates of different sizes (<2 mm to >8 mm). Then, based on the soil hot air heating experimental platform, research was conducted on the mass and heat transfer mechanism of hot air under diverse soil pore conditions. The results show that as the soil particle size increases from <2 mm to >8 mm, the number of soil macropores also increases, which makes the soil prone to the formation of macropore thermal currents, and the efficiency of hot air heating for dehumidification first increases and then decreases. Among them, the 4–6 mm treatment has the best dehumidification effect through hot air heating, with a deep soil temperature of up to 90 °C and a water content reduction of 6%. The 4–6 mm treatment has a high-temperature heating and dehumidification area of 15–20 cm deep. The above results lay the theoretical foundations for the parameters of hot air heating and dehumidification operations, as well as the placement of the hot air pipe. This paper aims to combine hot air dehumidification technology, for the removal of excess water from soil, and dredging soil pores, ultimately achieving the goal of improving soil steam disinfection efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive chemical substances in agricultural drainage water have serious adverse effects on the ecological environment of the watershed into which they are discharged. Therefore, it has attracted widespread attention from scholars worldwide. In this paper, 282 scientific articles related to agricultural drainage water treatment are selected from the Web of Science Core Collection database, and CiteSpace was used to visualize and analyze the knowledge map of this field. The most productive authors, institutions, and countries in agricultural drainage water research are graphically presented in this paper. Developing countries are becoming the core force in this realm of inquiry. In addition, this paper explains the changes in research topics in this field over time and reveals current research hotspots, including "desalination", "denitrification", and "phosphorus removal". Future research endeavors in using bioreactors and agricultural drainage water ditches for treating agricultural drainage water are implied to become a research focus in this field. This paper also emphasizes that future environmental protection research should increase case studies in developing countries and develop corresponding solutions based on the actual situation of agriculture in rural areas of developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imported air pollution has a significant impact on urban air quality. Relevant studies have shown that many urban air pollution events are not resourced by local emissions but are imported by air pollution from surrounding areas transported across regions. The prevention and control of air pollution is very necessary. However, the existing supervision of urban air quality mostly relies on ground monitoring stations, which are extremely limited in time and space, and cannot satisfy continuous time-space air pollution research. Therefore, aiming at the problem of urban air pollution control, this paper used MERRA-2 reanalysis data and ground monitoring data to establish a "Time-Longitude-Latitude" three-dimensional pollution curve, and then a genetic algorithm was used to optimize its fitting. This study finally reconstructed the imported air pollution transmission route. This paper takes an air pollution event that occurred in Xuzhou City, China, on 12 January 2020, as an example. Through the analysis of aerosol optical depth (AOD), particulate matter (PM), wind speed, and other factors, we found the source, transmission route, and impact time of this pollution. We have verified the correctness and accuracy of the reconstructed contamination transport paths. It is proved that the method is universal and it can quickly and accurately restore the air pollution transmission route and identify the urban imported air pollution transmission entrance. This method will also provide strong data support for the division of responsibilities of environmental protection departments in various regions for severe air pollution transmission events and provide effective governance ideas for the prevention and control of imported air pollution in recipient cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the massive use of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and energy storage, the environmental and resource problems faced by used lithium-ion batteries are becoming more and more prominent. In order to better resource utilization and environmental protection, this paper employs bibliometric and data analysis methods to explore publications related to waste lithium-ion battery recycling from 1984 to 2021. The Web of Science core set from the SCIE online database was used for this article. These findings demonstrate a considerable increase trend in the number of publications published in the subject of recycling used lithium-ion batteries, with a natural-sciences-centric focus. Argonne National Lab, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and China Academic and Scientific Research Center are the top three institutions in terms of quantity of papers published. The affiliated journals corresponding to these three institutions also have high impact factors, which are 106.47, 44.85, and 58.69, respectively. In comparison to comparable institutes in other nations, the American Argonne National Laboratory supports 223 research articles in this area. China and the US make up the majority of the research's funding. The two key aspects of current lithium-ion battery recycling research are material structure research and environmentally friendly recycling. Nevertheless, high-capacity lithium-ion batteries, waste lithium-ion integrated structures, and gentle recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries will be the major aspects of study in the future. It is hoped that the above analysis can bring new ideas and methods to the field of waste lithium-ion battery recycling and provide a basis for the subsequent research and application of waste lithium-ion battery recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protection and restoration projects of the mountain-river-forest-field-lake-grass (MRFFLG) system are the mainstream focus of China's current ecological environment protection. A reasonable method for calculating ecosystem service values (ESVs) is a prerequisite for determining the ecological service functions of a watershed. However, how to effectively implement and evaluate the systematic nature of the ecological protection and restoration of the MRFFLG system remains one of the pressing issues. This paper takes the protection and restoration project of the MRFFLG system in the Hunjiang River Basin (HRB) of Jilin Province, China, as an empirical case. Firstly, it constructs an ESVs system to quantify the comprehensive ecological protection and restoration effects of the MRFFLG system. The results show that the forest ecosystem in the HRB has the highest ecological value. Furthermore, by introducing the interval planning method, an uncertain optimization model is constructed with the objective function of maximizing the ecosystem service value of the HRB, and constraints such as restoration costs, unit restoration price, and restoration area. The results show that the total ESVs has increased, with a maximum increase of 348,413.79 × 104 CNY. Finally, the introduction of the fuzzy method reduced the total interval of ESVs by 49.89%, effectively shortening the assessment interval. This study applies the interval-fuzzy method to the protection and restoration projects of the MRFFLG system, effectively measuring the comprehensive management effects of the MRFFLG system in the HRB. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the development of subsequent MRFFLG projects and offers theoretical references for promoting the ecological environment assessment of the comprehensive MRFFLG system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the increasing need for energy conservation and environmental protection has driven industries to explore more efficient and sustainable processes. Liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) is a common method used in various sectors for separating components of liquid mixtures. However, the traditional use of toxic solvents poses significant health and environmental risks, prompting the shift toward green solvents. This review deals with the principles, applications, and advantages of aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) as an alternative to conventional LLE. ATPS, which typically utilize water and nontoxic components, offer significant benefits such as high purity and single-step biomolecule extraction. This paper explores the thermodynamic principles of ATPS, factors influencing enzyme partitioning, and recent advancements in the field. Specific emphasis is placed on the use of ATPS for enzyme extraction, showcasing its potential in improving yields and purity while minimizing environmental impact. The review also highlights the role of ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents in enhancing the efficiency of ATPS, making them viable for industrial applications. The discussion extends to the challenges of integrating ATPS into biotransformation processes, including enzyme stability and process optimization. Through comprehensive analysis, this paper aims to provide insights into the future prospects of ATPS in sustainable industrial practices and biotechnological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As global urbanisation, industrialisation, and population growth escalate, the production of wastewater also increases, leading to significant water pollution on a global scale. This pollution poses severe threats to environmental health, wildlife, and human communities. In rural areas where centralised sewage systems are often absent, septic tanks play a crucial role in managing wastewater. They separate solids from liquids and facilitate the biological decomposition of organic matter. This paper utilises a Patent Landscape Review (PLR) to analyse the scope and direction of innovations in septic tank technology. Conducted on 23 September 2022, the patent search targeted filings from January 2001 through June 2022 to identify prevailing trends and advancements within this field. Through a detailed examination of 889 patents, categorised by keywords, processes, materials, and designs, this study offers a comprehensive overview of the patent landscape for septic tanks. Key findings indicate that fibreglass cylindrical tanks dominate the market due to their durability and efficiency. This review also highlights a growing trend towards modular septic systems, which offer scalable solutions adaptable to specific environmental conditions. Furthermore, some patents propose the repurposing of various objects as septic tanks, demonstrating a move towards sustainability by reducing waste and enhancing environmental conservation. This paper emphasises the importance of continued innovation in septic tank technology to address the challenges of effective wastewater management in underserved rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the construction industry places increasing emphasis on environmental conservation and sustainability, this trend has spurred profound research into the optimization of door and window performance. One of the critical components of windows is their frames. Over the past several decades, the design of window frames has undergone significant innovations, ranging from introducing new materials to novel design concepts. The performance of window frames is typically influenced by materials, structural design, and the surrounding environment. Consequently, this paper analyzes the common window frame materials in Chinese civil buildings through investigation. It explores commonly used types of window frames available in the market, focusing on their materials and structural designs. It analyzes issues observed during their usage, integrates findings from existing research, and discusses the performance of window frame materials. Additionally, it explores improvement strategies to meet the evolving demands of contemporary and future architectural doors and windows, providing valuable reference points for designers. Finally, approaching the discussion from a sustainable development perspective, the paper evaluates the environmental impact of wood, aluminum alloy, polymer, and composite window frame materials. It emphasizes that wood- and aluminum-clad wood windows represent sustainable options with versatile applications in diverse scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global trend of reducing the "carbon footprint" has influenced the dynamic development of projects that use renewable energy sources, including the development of solar energy in large solar power plants. Consequently, there is an increasingly pronounced need in scientific circles to consider the impact these projects have on space and the environment. The fact that international financial institutions consider environmental effect to be a significant factor when funding solar energy projects is one of the main reasons this topic is so important in professional circles, particularly among solar energy investors. This paper highlights the fact that solar power plants can have both positive and negative impacts on space and the environment. Those impacts need to be defined in order to choose optimal spatial and territorial solutions that ensure preventive planning and active environmental protection. In the process, the application of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) in the planning and spatial organization of solar power plants becomes important. SEA is characterized by a holistic approach where complex interactions and correlations in the location of planned implementation of the solar power plant can be understood at the earliest stage of project development. By doing this, it is possible to prevent all potential risks that may emerge in the project's later stages of implementation, which is favorable both from the aspect of effective environmental protection and from the point of view of investors investing in solar power plant projects. Optimal solutions that bring about the basic role of SEA are sought primarily in the analysis of the spatial relations of the solar power plant with regard to land, biodiversity, landscape, and basic environmental factors, which is particularly highlighted in the paper. Also, the basic methodological concept applied in SEA is demonstrated, combining different methodological approaches and methods for impact assessment, as part of a unique semi-quantitative method of multi-criteria evaluation of planning solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of offshore wind farms is an important step toward increasing the share of green energy in Poland's energy mix, offering promising prospects for the energy industry. However, in addition to numerous benefits, such investments also carry potential risks for the marine environment, including the risk of spills of hazardous substances such as gear oils, hydraulic oils, and lubricants. This paper analyses the potential impact of oil spills from offshore wind farms on the marine ecosystems of the Baltic Sea, taking into account hydrometeorological factors, particularly protected areas (such as Natura 2000 sites) and the intensity of ship traffic in the area of the planned farms. Simulations of spill scenarios are also presented to assess the potential extent of pollution and its impact on the environment. This paper emphasises the importance of advanced monitoring and safety systems in minimising the risk of accidents and responding quickly to possible incidents. The development of offshore wind farms in Poland presents itself as a key element in a sustainable energy development strategy, combining advanced technology with environmental concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea surface temperature (SST) prediction plays an important role in scientific research, environmental protection, and other marine-related fields. However, most of the current prediction methods are not effective enough to utilize the spatial correlation of SSTs, which limits the improvement of SST prediction accuracy. Therefore, this paper first explores spatial correlation mining methods, including regular boundary division, convolutional sliding translation, and clustering neural networks. Then, spatial correlation mining through a graph convolutional neural network (GCN) is proposed, which solves the problem of the dependency on regular Euclidian space and the lack of spatial correlation around the boundary of groups for the above three methods. Based on that, this paper combines the spatial advantages of the GCN and the temporal advantages of the long short-term memory network (LSTM) and proposes a spatiotemporal fusion model (GCN-LSTM) for SST prediction. The proposed model can capture SST features in both the spatial and temporal dimensions more effectively and complete the SST prediction by spatiotemporal fusion. The experiments prove that the proposed model greatly improves the prediction accuracy and is an effective model for SST prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the quest for effective environmental governance, the integration of legal and cultural pluralism within conservation strategies emerges as a critical factor, especially in regions marked by rich ethnic diversity and complex historical legacies. This paper explores the symbiotic relationship between state conservation efforts and the engagement of local communities, with a particular focus on the Indigenous Maroon communities in the Blue and John Crow Mountains (BJCMs) of Jamaica. It underscores the imperative of aligning conservation objectives with the aspirations and traditional practices of these communities to foster sustainable ecosystems and safeguard Indigenous autonomy. Central to this discourse is the development of collaborative frameworks that respect and incorporate the legal and cultural dimensions of pluralism, thereby facilitating a co-managed approach to environmental stewardship. This study emphasizes the role of collaboration and trust as pivotal elements in cultivating a mutual understanding of the interdependencies between state law and Indigenous law. This research advocates for a reciprocal exchange of knowledge between the state and community members, aiming to empower the latter with the resources necessary for effective environmental protection while respecting their legal autonomy. This approach not only enhances conservation initiatives overall, but also ensures that these efforts are informed by the rich cultural heritage and traditional ecological knowledge of the Maroon communities. By examining the conservation practices and governance challenges faced by the Maroons in the BJCMs, this paper reveals the nuanced dynamics of implementing state-led conservation laws in areas characterized by cultural and legal pluralism. The findings highlight the necessity for state regulatory frameworks to enable collaborative governance models that complement, rather than undermine, the traditional governance structures of the Maroons. This research contributes to the broader discourse on environmental governance by illustrating the potential of culturally informed conservation strategies to address environmental threats while respecting and reinforcing the social fabric of Indigenous communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choosing appropriate environmental protection strategies is important in improving enterprises' economic and environmental performance. Based on the data of A-share listed enterprises from 2009 to 2019 in China, this paper uses the difference-in-differences model to identify the effects of environmental credit constraints on the enterprise choice of environmental protection behavior. We find that environmental credit constraints motivate some enterprises to choose active environmental behavior due to the incentive effect of environmental credit constraints on R&D investments. However, some enterprises may adopt evasive strategies because environmental credit constraints increase production costs and debt. State-owned enterprises prefer active environmental protection strategies to address environmental credit constraints, while private enterprises mainly adopt evasive strategies. Environmental credit constraints make high-interest and high-profitability enterprises choose active environmental strategies. Environmental credit constraints generated by enterprises' evasive environmental behavior increase the probability of litigation and arbitration cases, and environmental credit system construction in the short term may exacerbate unemployment, which the government needs to pay attention to when developing and implementing a blacklist system for environmental fraud. Although there are limitations in this paper in terms of research objectives and samples, the results are important for improving the environmental management system and the operating performance of enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 encompass a comprehensive framework to address the world's most pressing challenges, aiming to achieve a more sustainable and equitable future for all. Among these goals, Goal 11 specifically targets sustainable cities and communities, emphasizing cultural and natural heritage preservation and management. This research paper delves into the significance of SDG 2030 in the context of heritage management, focusing on both Indian and global perspectives. The paper highlights the importance of safeguarding cultural and natural heritage for sustainable development, contributing to social cohesion, economic growth, and environmental conservation. The paper also draws on empirical data and case studies; the research delves into the unique challenges faced by India in managing its diverse and rich heritage. The study examines how India's efforts align with global goals and identifies potential gaps and areas for improvement. Factors such as rapid urbanization, population growth, and climate change are explored regarding their impact on heritage sites and their management. In analyzing the global context, the research assesses various heritage management strategies and best practices from different countries worldwide. Drawing comparisons with India's approach, the paper highlights successful models that can be adapted to address global heritage management challenges. The study concludes with a series of policy recommendations to strengthen the efforts toward achieving the SDG 2030 targets related to heritage management. Emphasizing collaboration and knowledge-sharing, the paper advocates for a collective approach to conserving and promoting the diverse heritage of nations and the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the paper industry has led to the discharge of a large amount of papermaking waste liquid containing lignosulfonate. These lignin black liquids cause a lot of pollution in nature, which runs counter to the current environmental protection strategy under the global goal. Through the development and use of lignosulfonate in papermaking waste liquid to increase the utilization of harmful substances in waste liquid, we aim to promote waste liquid treatment and reduce environmental pollution. This paper proposes a new strategy to synthesize novel glue-free biocomposites with high-performance interfacial compatibility from papermaking by-product sodium lignosulfonate/chitosan (L/C) and waste bamboo. This L/C bamboo biocomposite material has good mechanical properties and durability, low formaldehyde emissions, a high recovery rate, meets the requirements of wood-based panels, and reduces environmental pollution. This method is low in cost, has the potential for large-scale production, and can effectively reduce the environmental pollution of the paper industry, promoting the recycling of biomass and helping the future manufacture of glue-free panels, which can be widely used in the preparation of bookcase, furniture, floor and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is limited and its sustainable use is peremptory if we are to preserve dependent ecosystems and human supplies. The consequence of this is groundwater salinity exceeding the quality standard required for human health, crop production, industrial activity, and ecosystem survival. The ERT-based lower electrical resistivity values were associated with higher salinity and nitrate contents. [Extracted from the article]

During the development of rural settlements, the loss of distinctive rural characteristics, caused by the contradiction between urban expansion and the ideal of pastoralism, has attracted widespread attention from researchers worldwide. To effectively understand the development and trends of the Research of Features and Characteristics of Rural Settlements (abbreviated as RFCRS), this paper uses the knowledge mapping software CiteSpace to conduct co-citation analysis, research collaboration analysis, keyword clustering, and keyword co-occurrence. The study analyzes the basic concepts, the literature distribution characteristics, research clusters, key issues, and development trends of RFCRS. The research found that the current key issues in RFCRS include "Eco-logical services and environmental protection of rural settlements", "Sustainable planning and architectural design issues of rural settlements", and "Human settlement environment and service facility construction of rural settlements". This paper predicts that future RFCRS research trends will focus on the study of landscape features and characteristics based on ecology, climate, and aesthetics; study of architectural features and characteristics based on characteristic factors and hierarchical structure; and research on rural revitalization based on sustainable development principles. The paper also offers four priority research suggestions for researchers from different disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of China's synergistic development of import and export strategies and water environmental protection, this paper analyzes the role of two-way FDI synergistic development in water environmental governance efficiency based on panel data of 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China from 2004 to 2021. The paper uses a fixed effect model and analyzes the role of heterogeneous technological innovation using the mediation effect model and the panel threshold model. The results of the study show the following: (1) overall, two-way FDI synergistic development helps to improve China's water environmental governance efficiency; (2) there is regional heterogeneity in the effect of two-way FDI synergistic development on China's water environmental governance efficiency, with a significant positive effect in areas along the coast and with high FDI synergistic development levels and an inhibitory effect in inland areas; and (3) the two-way FDI synergy enhances the efficiency of China's water environmental governance by improving the levels of independent innovation and imitation innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil energy consumption and environmental protection issues have pushed electric vehicles (EVs) to become one of the alternatives to traditional fossil-fuel vehicles. EV refers to a vehicle that uses electric energy as power and is driven by an electric motor. The electric energy of EVs is stored in batteries. When the EV is not traveling, the battery can provide power for other loads. Therefore, with the increase in the number of EVs and the load of the power grid, the EV-to-grid (V2G) mode, which uses EVs to supply power to the power grid, has gradually entered the field of vision of researchers. The physical connection mode, charge and discharge technology, and energy management strategy are the main topics of the current review papers; however, there is a lack of systematic research on V2G modeling, framework, and business models. This paper describes the concepts of the spatio-temporal distribution model and the adjustable capacity of EVs. In addition, common constraints and methods in optimization are introduced. Moreover, this paper introduces the interactive relationship among power grids, load aggregators, and EV users. Furthermore, the business model of V2G is introduced and analyzed from various perspectives. Finally, the future development of V2G is pointed out. This paper's goal is to provide an overview of the present V2G application scenarios and to identify any challenges that must be overcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In response to the challenges posed by a growing global population, the livestock industry must increase food production while ensuring environmental sustainability. This paper explores how feed producers can tackle these challenges using advanced formulation techniques. By leveraging AI decision support systems, producers can optimize feed composition to promote animal health and environmental stewardship. The study's findings offer valuable insights into improving animal feed production, supporting the livestock industry in achieving sustainability goals and contributing to global environmental conservation efforts. The unprecedented challenges presented by the increase in global population have placed substantial demands on the livestock industry for human nutrition, necessitating heightened animal productivity and leading to an increased demand for natural resources to produce animal feed. Feed producers are leading the charge, consistently refining formulations to adapt to the evolving needs of livestock, driven in part by the cost of over 50% associated with feed production. This paper critically analyses the pressing issues within feed formulation, addressing the requirement for environmentally sustainable practices amidst the challenges of climate change. The exploration extends to how advanced decision support tools can enhance formulation techniques and profitability and contribute to environmental sustainability. Through an in-depth review of current feed formulation technologies, encompassing their applications and limitations, this study aims to enhance the existing knowledge base. Additionally, we examined future trends, highlighting the essential role of connecting technologies to establish a resilient and sustainable system. The emphasis is on the potential of formulation techniques to positively impact the environment and enhance the overall quality and performance of the animals. This paper provides actionable insights to improve animal production by examining feed formulation models and decision support tools. The anticipated outcome is a more informed and sustainable decision-making process, addressing the multifaceted challenges confronted by the livestock industry and making contributions to global efforts in climate change mitigation and environmental stewardship in animal production agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The legislation for regional environmental collaboration is of significant importance in enhancing the effectiveness of environmental protection. The existing literature focuses on the power struggle between central and local governments regarding environmental regulation within the realm of regional environmental governance, lacking an examination of the collaborative governance mechanisms and their effectiveness. Therefore, this study takes China's regional environmental collaborative legislation as its research object. It employs a difference-in-differences model to test the effectiveness of regional environmental collaborative legislation concerning environmental governance and conducts a qualitative analysis to examine the current practical challenges facing regional environmental collaborative legislation. The quantitative analysis results indicate that regional environmental collaborative legislation can effectively suppress the emission of environmental pollutants. Specifically, the implementation of regional environmental collaborative legislation results in a 19.7% reduction in prefecture-level wastewater emissions and a 26.6% reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions. Qualitative analysis results show that regional environmental collaborative legislation currently faces challenges such as localism, difficulties in legislative authority allocation, and a lack of cooperation mechanisms. Therefore, this paper proposes to establish a collaboration platform, balance the interests of stakeholders, and improve the allocation mechanism of environmental regulatory powers in order to better optimize the regional environmental collaborative legislation and enhance the government's environmental governance capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microrobots powered by multi-physics fields are becoming a hotspot for micro–nano manufacturing. Due to the small size of microrobots, they can easily enter small spaces that are difficult for ordinary robots to reach and perform a variety of special tasks. This gives microrobots a broad application prospect in many fields. This paper describes the materials, structures, and driving principles of microrobots in detail and analyzes the advantages and limitations of their driving methods in depth. In addition, the paper discusses the detailed categorization of the action forms of microrobots and explores their diversified motion modes and their applicable scenarios. Finally, the article highlights the wide range of applications of microrobots in the fields of biomedicine and environmental protection, emphasizing their great potential for solving real-world problems and advancing scientific progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper addresses the escalating operation and maintenance costs of nuclear power plants, primarily attributed to rising labor costs and intensified competition from renewable energy sources. The paper proposes a paradigm shift towards a technology-centric approach, leveraging mobile and automated robots for physical security, aiming to replace labor-intensive methods. Focusing on the human–robot interaction principle, the review conducts a state-of-the-art analysis of dog robots' potential in infrastructure security and remote inspection within human–robot shared environments. Additionally, this paper surveys research on the capabilities of mobile robots, exploring their applications in various industries, including disaster response, exploration, surveillance, and environmental conservation. This study emphasizes the crucial role of autonomous mobility and manipulation in robots for diverse tasks, and discusses the formalization of problems, performance assessment criteria, and operational capabilities. It provides a comprehensive comparison of three prominent robotic platforms (SPOT, Ghost Robotics, and ANYmal Robotics) across various parameters, shedding light on their suitability for different applications. This review culminates in a research roadmap, delineating experiments and parameters for assessing dog robots' performance in safeguarding nuclear power plants, offering a structured approach for future research endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superhydrophobic surfaces, characterized by exceptional water repellency and self-cleaning properties, have gained significant attention for their diverse applications across industries. This review paper comprehensively explores the theoretical foundations, various fabrication methods, applications, and associated challenges of superhydrophobic surfaces. The theoretical section investigates the underlying principles, focusing on models such as Young's equation, Wenzel and Cassie–Baxter states, and the dynamics of wetting. Various fabrication methods are explored, ranging from microstructuring and nanostructuring techniques to advanced material coatings, shedding light on the evolution of surface engineering. The extensive applications of superhydrophobic surfaces, spanning from self-cleaning technologies to oil–water separation, are systematically discussed, emphasizing their potential contributions to diverse fields such as healthcare, energy, and environmental protection. Despite their promising attributes, superhydrophobic surfaces also face significant challenges, including durability and scalability issues, environmental concerns, and limitations in achieving multifunctionality, which are discussed in this paper. By providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of superhydrophobic research, this review aims to guide future investigations and inspire innovations in the development and utilization of these fascinating surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the influence of the dual policies of sustainable economic development and the national dual-carbon target, the establishment of an environmental protection department for the treatment of heavily polluting industries is imminent, and the country has launched pollution control policies and regulations to restrict the emission rights of heavily polluting industries. Therefore, this paper focuses on whether the restriction of emission rights in key industries has reduced carbon emissions. To achieve this, this paper uses panel data of prefecture-level cities in China from 2006 to 2019 and adopts a two-way fixed-effects DID model to systematically analyze the impact of the key pollution industry governance policies launched by the Ministry of Environmental Protection on CO2 emissions in 2017. And further analyze the role of variables such as green technology innovation patents and energy efficiency using this model, while parallel trend tests and placebo tests, and related policies are used to ensure the robustness of the regression results. This paper reveals that: (1) The heavy pollution industry governance policy implemented in 2017 can effectively reduce CO2 emissions in the cities of the treated group, and the effect is more significant in the year of policy implementation; (2) Green utility patents and energy-use efficiency are the effective mediating mechanisms to reduce CO2 emissions; (3) Over time, the effect of heavy pollution industry governance policy on CO2 emissions gradually decreases; (4) The reliability of the baseline regression results of this paper is proved by the use of parallel trend tests, placebo tests, and tests excluding the influence factors such as relevant policies in the same period. Therefore, the key polluting industries treatment policy launched by China's Ministry of Environmental Protection in 2017 under the recent dual-carbon policy development goals formulated by China, can effectively reduce carbon emissions; however, in the future economic development process, the government should give more consideration to the continuity of the policy impact and its coherence on economic development when implementing the policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to present the mechanisms regulating the waste management system of one of the European countries that affect the cement industry. This publication analyses the possibility of using selected fractions of municipal and industrial waste as alternative fuels, including an analysis of ecological costs and benefits. The methodology includes the analysis of production data and the calculation of savings resulting from the use of alternative fuels. On this basis, ecological aspects were also indicated that should be taken into account when analyzing the profitability of the investment. Production data from an example Polish cement plant were used to analyze the research problem. Based on the guidelines of environmental standards and technical specifications, the parameters that PASr alternative fuels should meet were calculated in the company laboratory. This fuel type was then calculated in terms of emission intensity and production efficiency. The research results obtained in this paper study emphasize that the change in cement clinker production technology toward the use of waste raw materials and secondary fuels does not lead to an increase in heavy metal emissions to the extent that would justify qualifying cement as a material requiring systematic control of its harmful impacts on humans and the natural environment. The conclusions show that the use of alternative fuels reduces CO2 emissions and production costs, without negatively affecting the efficiency and production volume. The average energy requirement for the production of 1 ton of cement is approximately 3.3 GJ, which corresponds to 120 kg of coal with a calorific value of 27.5 MJ per kg. Energy costs account for 30–40% of the total cement production costs. Replacing alternative fuels with fossil fuels will help reduce energy costs, providing a competitive advantage for cement plants that use it as an energy source. The presented considerations can provide an answer to all interested parties, including representatives of the executive and legislative authorities, on what path the sector should follow to fit into the idea of sustainable building materials and the circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: For industrial-scale extinguishment, natural processes such as acoustic wave propagation can be used. As proven, a technology described in the article using modulated and unmodulated waves can be applied to extinguish flames, as well as to control them. The results presented in the article are limited to extinguishing candle flames, but in the long term, this technique can be used to extinguish flames (especially firebreaks) from various materials (Classes C and B). This inexpensive, versatile, and environmentally safe method can provide a supporting or additional means of fire protection, especially useful in the first stage of fire occurrence. This technique appears to be environmentally friendly (it does not leave stains and does not emit chemicals). Moreover, acoustic waves can be applied to reduce the intensity of smoke and harmful substances in the ambient air, the presence of which is the result of fires (future plans). Due to the consequences of fires, new and environmentally friendly firefighting techniques are constantly being sought. There are many methods of extinguishing flames around the world. One of them is a technique that uses acoustic waves for extinguishing, which can be seen as repeated sequences of molecular compression and dilation (acoustic waves transfer energy due to the movements of molecules and atoms). This research shows a new approach to the extinguishing of flames. In practice, the extinguishing capabilities of low-frequency modulated and unmodulated acoustic waves were tested on a laboratory station, the main component of which was a high-powered acoustic extinguisher (the nominal power was equal to 1700 W). A B&C 21DS115 woofer was applied as a sound source. A Rigol DG4102 and a Proel HPX2800 were used as an acoustic generator with a modulator and as a power amplifier, respectively. In this paper, the presented results are limited to extinguishing candle flames. The tests made it clear that flames can be extinguished using properly generated and directed acoustic waves. As the results indicate, it becomes possible to effectively extinguish flames with both low-frequency modulated and unmodulated acoustic waves, which brings many benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately predicting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is crucial for environmental protection. Currently, there are two main issues with predicting CO2 emissions: (1) existing CO2 emission prediction models mainly rely on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Gate Recurrent Unit (GRU) models, which can only model unidirectional temporal features, resulting in insufficient accuracy: (2) existing research on CO2 emissions mainly focuses on designing predictive models, without paying attention to model optimization, resulting in models being unable to achieve their optimal performance. To address these issues, this paper proposes a framework for predicting CO2 emissions, called CGAOA-AttBiGRU. In this framework, Attentional-Bidirectional Gate Recurrent Unit (AttBiGRU) is a prediction model that uses BiGRU units to extract bidirectional temporal features from the data, and adopts an attention mechanism to adaptively weight the bidirectional temporal features, thereby improving prediction accuracy. CGAOA is an improved Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm (AOA) used to optimize the five key hyperparameters of the AttBiGRU. We first validated the optimization performance of the improved CGAOA algorithm on 24 benchmark functions. Then, CGAOA was used to optimize AttBiGRU and compared with 12 optimization algorithms. The results indicate that the AttBiGRU optimized by CGAOA has the best predictive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with the rapid development of society, freshwater shortages have become a global concern. Although existing desalination technologies have alleviated this pressure to some extent, their long-term environmental impact and energy consumption are still questionable. Therefore, it is necessary to find a new effective way for seawater desalination with cleaner energy. Solar-driven interfacial water evaporation technology has the advantages of environmental protection, energy saving, high evaporation efficiency, low cost, and strong sustainability, and is considered one of the most effective technologies to relieve water resource stress. This review summarized the recent advances in carbon-based interfacial photothermal converters focused on the preparation methods of 2D and 3D photothermal absorbers, the potential ways to enhance the efficiency of photothermal conversion. Finally, this paper proposed the challenges and future trends of interfacial photothermal converters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, there are many surface treatment methods for aluminium alloys; the most commonly used of these is the chemical dip galvanizing process, which is complicated due to its use of large quantities of corrosive drugs. In order to simplify the process, this paper proposes a new electromagnetic induction heating activation method instead of the zinc dipping process. The method works as follows: The substrate is first degreased and then activated. The activation process starts by soaking the degreased substrate in an activation solution, taking it out after ten minutes, and placing it into an induction heating unit. The activation solution is sprayed onto the surface of the substrate while heating, using the energy generated by high temperatures to complete the activation reaction. The surface of the activated substrate forms a nanoscale film of nickel, which is finally utilised as a catalytic centre for ENP (an advanced surface treatment process that deposits a very uniform layer). The optimisation of important parameters of the non-destructive activation process was determined using the L9 Taguchi method. The main parameters ranged from 0.15 L/min to 0.25 L/min for spray rate, 200 °C to 400 °C for heat treatment temperature, and 1:4, 1:5, and 1:6 for Ni2+ and H2PO4− ion concentration ratios. The above data were derived from a single variable and were analysed using Minitab 20 software. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy spectrometry (EDS), and ultrasonic experiments were used to characterize and analyse the surface morphology, composition, and bond strength of the coatings. The results show that the nanoscale nickel particles can completely cover the surface of the substrate, forming a layer of nano-film. After activation and ultrasonic cleaning for 30 s at an ultrasonic frequency of 40 KHz and a power of 80 W, the surface nano-film was not destroyed, which proves that it had a high bonding strength. After the application of the plating, the plated surface had a compact microstructure, and the continuity was good. Therefore, compared with the currently commonly used zinc dipping process, this process has the advantages of being a low-cost, simple operation, and non-destructive and environmentally friendly activation process for the substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the "dual carbon" goal, the core issue at present is to improve the environment while ensuring economic development. As a result, green finance, that is a tool that integrates finance and environmental protection, has shown increasingly significant carbon reduction effects. With the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2012 to 2021 being the research object, this study employs a spatial Durbin model to examine the impact of green finance on carbon emissions and further discusses its mechanism effects. The empirical results indicate the following: firstly, the development of green finance effectively suppresses carbon emissions; secondly, by decomposing the spatial effect of green finance on carbon emissions, it is found that green finance also reduces carbon emissions in neighboring regions due to the spillover effects; finally, green finance can suppress carbon emissions through technological innovation and industrial structure upgrading. Therefore, it is imperative to actively engage in practical work related to green finance, to establish a sound system for green finance, and simultaneously, to enhance cooperation among regions in terms of green finance, in order to fully leverage its role in suppressing carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasingly serious problems of energy shortage and environmental degradation, countries around the world are actively developing safe, environmentally friendly, and renewable energy. Biomass energy has become an ideal substitute for fossil fuels due to its abundant reserves, good renewable performance, and zero carbon emissions. This paper discusses the importance and potential of biomass energy as a renewable energy source for China's energy development, mainly including the three biomass conversion methods of physics, chemistry, and biology, seven utilization technologies, such as direct combustion, gasification, and pyrolysis, and five application approaches, such as biomass power generation, biomass gas fuel, biomass liquid fuel, and bio-based materials. This review systematically analyzes the challenges faced by China's development of biomass energy and discusses the future development direction of biomass. The utilization of biomass resources should take a comprehensive and high-value path. China is actively looking for new energy utilization paths, and biomass energy has become a key measure to cope with carbon emission reduction, climate change, and ecological environment protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research study aims to develop a system which ensures the mobility of a floating dock and its stability in position during docking operations. The dock is designed for operation in a river canal. In order to dock a ship, it is moved away from the quay over a dock trench. Initial requirements and design criteria for the system were determined. The most important of them include docking in the maximum weather conditions, corresponding to a wind speed of 5° Beaufort (5°B), and a zero-emission target for the power supply system (use of a renewable energy source). A wire and winch system was designed to move the dock and stabilise it in position during docking operations. The system comprises mooring wires which are tied to bollards on both quays, and wire winches mounted on both sides of the dock. The wire winches are hydraulically driven, and the hydraulic pumps, run by electric motors, are powered with batteries charged using photovoltaic panels. Statistical environmental parameters (wind, river current) were analysed and the probability of certain mooring wire loads and the corresponding wire winch power output were quantified. Based on these calculations, the power of photovoltaic panels and capacity of the batteries required to power the dock moving system were determined. This paper discusses the system design as well as the results of trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, renewable energy has received extensive attention due to its advantages of sustainability, economy, and environmental protection. However, with the rapid development of renewable energy, the problem of curtailment is becoming increasingly serious. Studying the calculation method and establishing a quantitative evaluation system of renewable energy accommodation capacity are important means to solve this problem. This paper comprehensively considers the factors affecting the accommodation of renewable energy, establishes a accommodation calculation model with the maximum accommodation of renewable energy as the optimization target based on the time series production simulation method, and uses the hybrid particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to solve it. The model is verified with historical data such as load, photovoltaic (PV), and wind power in a certain region throughout the year. The experimental results verify the rationality of the renewable-energy accommodation-capacity model proposed in this paper and the correctness of the theoretical analysis. The calculation results have important reference and guiding significance for the operation and control of power-grid planning and dispatching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arctic navigation research will be more urgent as it is predicted that 4.7% of the shipping trade will be deployed in the Arctic region by 2030. This paper presents a multi-objective path optimization algorithm based on the field theory to investigate Arctic shipping route design and navigation strategies that take safety, economy and environmental protection as factors. The algorithm considers the ice conditions in Arctic waters throughout the year, the energy consumption of ships with different ice classes and carbon emissions. The sea environment is initially modeled using the potential field method, incorporating the ice condition field, fuel consumption, emission field and directional field. The navigable area is defined based on the ship navigability, and path optimization is conducted using the principle of gradient descent between the departure point and destination. The experimental results show that the cost of carbon emissions and fuel consumption varies for each class of ship on the planned path in different months. Therefore, by combining different classes of ships and months, we obtain an Arctic navigation strategy with a consideration of the best cost and environmental protection for each month. The path planning and navigation strategy decision method proposed in this paper can provide a reference for an Arctic route design, navigation month and vessel selection, which is beneficial to the sustainable development of Arctic shipping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is grounded on the following information: (1) Disposable masks primarily consist of polypropylene fiber, which exhibits excellent flexibility. (2) China has extensive coal gangue deposits that pose a significant environmental hazard. (3) Coal gangue concrete exhibits greater fragility compared to regular concrete and demonstrates reduced resistance to deformation. With the consideration of environmental conservation and resource reutilization, a preliminary concept suggests the conversion of discarded masks into fibers, which can be blended with coal gangue concrete to enhance its mechanical characteristics. In this paper, the stress–strain law of different mask fiber–doped coal gangue concrete (DMGC) under uniaxial compression is studied when the matrix strength is C20 and C30, and the effect of mask fiber content on the mechanical behavior and energy conversion relationship of coal gangue concrete is analyzed. The experimental results show that when the content of mask fiber is less than 1.5%, the strength, elastic modulus, deformation resistance, and energy dissipation of the concrete increase with mask fiber content. When the amount of mask fiber is more than 1.5%, because the tensile capacity and energy dissipation level of concrete produced by the mask fiber cannot compensate for the compression and deformation resistance of concrete of the same quantity and because excess fiber is difficult to evenly mix in the concrete, there are pore defects in concrete, which decreases the concrete strength due to the increase in mask fiber. Therefore, adding less than 1.5% mask fiber helps to improve the ductility, toughness, impermeability, and oxidation and control the cracking of coal gangue concrete. Based on Weibull theory, a constitutive model of DMGC is established, which fits well with the results of a uniaxial test, providing support for understanding the mechanical law of mask fiber–doped concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Challenges related to sustainability arise in all areas of human activity, but with a significant impact on the environment considering that the construction industry is held accountable for nearly one-third of the world's final energy consumption. The aim of this paper is to assess through the use of the Bob–Dencsak specific model a sustainable slope design taking into account environmental, economic, and safety variables. Thus, analysis was performed on four intervention works, two versions of reinforced concrete retaining walls and two versions of reinforced soil with a biaxial geogrid, which ensure the stability of a slope that serves as a base for an access road to an ecological landfill located in Alba County, Romania. The study's analysis points out that reinforced soil retaining walls are far more sustainable, providing the best sustainability indices, which is also supported by the impact of geogrids compared to reinforced concrete, thus resulting in the finding that reinforced concrete is less sustainable, achieving increases of up to 23% for embodied energy and 66% of CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. Finally, the paper provides recommendations for future research on the sustainability assessment of slopes, with the intention of reducing environmental damage, while keeping costs to a minimum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the growing concern over air pollutant emissions (NOx, SOx, PM, CO2) from ocean-going vessels in harbor areas and the role of Onshore Power Supply (OPS) systems in mitigating these emissions during vessel berthing. However, the slow progress in global shore power facilities is attributed to safety- and specification-related concerns. Our study conducts a comprehensive analysis, comparing international shore power regulations, with a specific focus on the IEC/IEEE 80005-1 standard and guidelines from various ship classification societies. We introduce checklists, scoring tables, and spider diagrams to evaluate the regulatory content, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. Furthermore, this paper emphasizes the significance of a well-defined operational process for high-voltage shore connection (HVSC) to ensure the safety of OPS operations. We present process diagrams for key operational stages, based on IEC/IEEE 80005-1 specifications and evaluation criteria. The ultimate goal of this research is to drive the global adoption of shore power and foster the establishment of shore power facilities worldwide. This aligns with the broader environmental protection objectives of achieving cleaner ports and reducing emissions for a sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circular economy and efficient use of resources gained importance in the context of sustainable development. The paper aims to evaluate the development of landfilling in Slovakia. The next goal is to assess the trend in compared with the EU's situation. The presented research presents a continuation of previous research in the area of waste recycling in Slovakia, pointing to the waste and landfilling, which is deserving of analysis from a long-term perspective. The research is carried out via data collection at the EU level by recording continuously published values. The paper's results are processed in statistical software. Considering regional development, landfilling in Slovakia is followed up according to the geographical units of the entire country. The results shown here show that a higher recycling capacity is required and Slovakia should decrease its level of landfill. Such results can be used in the waste treatment area, protection of the living environment and sustainable development of regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a special issue on aerobic granular sludge (AGS) in environmental protection. AGS is an innovative wastewater treatment technology that uses self-immobilized biofilms without the need for carrier media. It has unique properties that make it resilient against toxic compounds and adaptable to fluctuating organic loading rates. The special issue covers various topics related to AGS, including different types of wastewater, operation modes, and process configurations. The studies demonstrate the robustness of AGS in treating different types of wastewater and highlight its potential for widespread application. The importance of controlling the solid retention time (SRT) of granules to maintain their stability is also discussed. Additionally, a review paper compares the digestibility and biogas production potential of AGS with activated sludge. Overall, the special issue provides valuable insights into the current research on AGS and its application in environmental protection. [Extracted from the article]