No abstract available

[en] Uranium has long had a losing position in the international metal markets. Sales were not in tonnes but in lbs, i.e. English pounds. Not long ago, the market price was near the limit of the production cost. This has changed with the impending climate crisis. (orig.)

[en] With increasing humanistic spirit, health concepts and environmental awareness in human beings, ceramic materials, with its strength, are increasingly applied in murals in architectures. As innovative breakthroughs are constantly taking place in terms of ceramic materials and workmanship, greater satisfaction of people’s aesthetic needs for architectural environmental decoration are being realized. Focusing on the expression forms of ceramic materials in architectural murals, the paper analyses the practical application of modern ceramic materials in architectural murals from the perspective of color and texture. The paper also explores the innovative development of ceramic murals in hope of promoting the application of ceramic materials in relevant fields. (paper)

No abstract available

[en] This study focuses on the role of youth as an agency of sustainable waste management. Indonesia faces big problems in processing plastic waste. For this reason, the presence of students as an agent is very necessary. The research aims to determine the extent of planned behavior theory can influence students to participate in waste separation. This study applies the planned behavior theory. This theory has several items such as motivation, situational factors, attitude, environmental awareness, subjective norms, intention and behavior, perceived behavioral control, and moral obligation. These factors influence students to participate in sustainable waste management. (paper)

[en] Canada has significant radon issues due to the underlying geology, extreme climate, and building construction. Canadians love the outdoors and value clean fresh air, but the indoor environment has the potential for high levels of radon in both homes and workplaces. However, Canada has robust programs in place to raise radon awareness, train radon professionals, and effectively reduce radon levels in all types of buildings. (author)

[en] Environmental experts support the existence of a new science that includes the environment in its entirety, which try to biosphere, the planet as a whole, and that is directed to the preservation of life with an adequate quality. Within this proceeding we can include the work of a number of inventors, engineers (with wit) and brilliant minds that have been dedicated to create objects and materials intended for improving our quality of life while, at the same time, preserving the environment.

[en] This paper explores the empirical evidence of the link between residents’ low-carbon awareness and their behaviors in China. A questionnaire measuring seven dimensions (including low-carbon knowledge, low-carbon value, low-carbon attitude, private low-carbon behavior, public low-carbon behavior, barrier and motivator) was distributed to the residents of Tianjin, yielding 354 valid responses. The results indicated that there was a low-carbon awareness–behavior gap. In particular, the level of behavior was higher than awareness because the motivators were stronger than the barriers. Second, in exploring the affects of motivators versus barriers on the residents’ private and public low-carbon behaviors, we found that motivators promoted both private and public low-carbon behaviors while barriers significantly inhibited public low-carbon behaviors. Third, Chinese social and cultural factors are discussed to inform our exploration of the mechanisms forming the residents’ awareness–behavior gap. - Highlights: • There was a low-carbon awareness–behavior gap. • The level of behavior was higher than awareness. • The motivators promoted both private and public low-carbon behaviors. • The barriers significantly inhibited public low-carbon behaviors

[en] The increase in social awareness, politics and environmental regulation, the scarcity of raw materials and the desired “green” image, are some of the reasons that lead companies to decide for implement processes of Reverse Logistics (RL). At the time when incorporate new RL processes as key business processes, new and important decisions need to be made. Identification and knowledge of these decisions, including the information available and the implications for the company or supply chain, will be fundamental for decision-makers to achieve the best results. In the present work, the main types of RL decisions are identified. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is based on the analysis of mathematical models designed as tools to aid decision making in the field of RL. Once the types of interest work to be analyzed are defined, those studies that really deal about the object of study are searched and analyzed. The decisión variables that are taken at work are identified and grouped according to the type of decision and, finally, are showed the main types of decisions used in mathematical models developed in the field of RL.The principal conclusion of the research is that the most commonly addressed decisions with mathematical models in the field of RL are those related to the network’s configuration, followed by tactical/operative decisions such as the selections of product’s treatments to realize and the policy of returns or prices, among other decisions. Originality/value: The identification of the main decisions types of the reverse logistics will allow the managers of these processes to know and understand them better, while offer an integrated vision of them, favoring the achievement of better results.

[en] A number of adsorbents are available commercially as coatings for SPME fibers but some analytical methodologies might demand specific properties for the extraction of selected compounds, special coatings that have particular volume and a selectivity towards particular analytes. This paper presents a simple, fast, effective and environmental friendly methodology for the determination of accelerants in arson samples using headspace solid-phase micro extraction coupled to gas chromatography. A new fiber prepared by sol-gel method, containing 1:1 molar ratio of octyltriethoxysilane (C₈-TEOS): methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMOS) was employed in this technique. The efficiency of the new fiber coating prepared by sol-gel technology for the determination of accelerants was compared to that of commercial PDMS/ DVB fibers. Poly dimethylsiloxane divinylbenzene (PDMS/ DVB) is the most common fiber coating for the extraction of hydrocarbon compounds. Compared with commercial PDMS/ DVB fiber, the new homemade fiber exhibited higher extraction capability and good selectivity for accelerants. The homemade fiber was also applied for the simulated arson samples. The home-made SPME adsorbent was shown to be a good alternative to commercially available fiber for the determination of accelerants in arson cases. (author)