Which qualities should built environment possess to ensure satisfaction of higher-education students with remote education during pandemics?

The COVID-19 pandemic has suddenly switched most education processes from face-to-face to remote mode, obliging millions of students to utilize their residences as study spaces. However, the characteristics of their residential built environments differ in terms of regional, social, cultural, and technological aspects. These differences should impact the students' performance and satisfaction which needs to be measured and studied.

Biodegradable Polymer Matrix Composites Containing Graphene-Related Materials for Antibacterial Applications: A Critical Review.

For the first time, the present review critically evaluates biodegradable polymer matrix composites containing graphene-related materials (GRMs) for antibacterial applications while discussing their development, processing routes, mechanical properties, and antibacterial activity. Due to its suitable biological properties and processability, chitosan has been the most widely used biodegradable polymer for the fabrication of GRM-containing composites with antibacterial properties. The majority of biodegradable polymers (including cellulose-, gelatine-, PVA-, PCL-, and PHA-based polymers) exhibit little to no antibacterial effect alone; however, they show significant antibacterial activity (>70%) when combined with GRMs.

Effects of the residential built environment on remote work productivity and satisfaction during COVID-19 lockdowns: An analysis of workers' perceptions.

COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to stay home and switch to the remote working mode, which - reportedly - affect job satisfaction and productivity. The present study investigates the relationship between the residential environment and worker's job satisfaction and productivity in the remote working mode during the COVID-19 pandemic. A hypothetical structural equation model (SEM) of the influencing factors is constructed based on a literature review and experts' opinions.

Assessment method for new sustainability indicators providing pandemic resilience for residential buildings.

The method presented in this paper aims to support the sustainability assessment methods of residential buildings under pandemic conditions. The main purpose of the study is to review existing criteria of the well-known assessment tools and then to suggest a set of assessment measures for the emerging pandemic-resilient indicators. Current sustainability assessment methodologies mostly focus on the conventional sustainability pillars (Environmental, Social, Economic), whereas the proposed emerging sustainability assessment indicators include changes in sustainability requirements brought by the current pandemic.

Modification of Surface and Subsurface Properties of AA1050 Alloy by Shot Peening.

AA1050 Al alloy samples were shot-peened using stainless-steel shots at shot peening (SP) pressures of 0.1 and 0.5 MPa and surface cover rates of 100% and 1000% using a custom-designed SP system.

Stakeholder based weights of new sustainability indicators providing pandemic resilience for residential buildings.

During COVID-19, the building and service characteristics of residential buildings turned out to be more critical due to lockdowns. The present research assesses the importance of new sustainability indicators for residential buildings in three categories (e.g.

Mercury (Hg) Contaminated Sites in Kazakhstan: Review of Current Cases and Site Remediation Responses.

Mercury (Hg) emissions from anthropogenic sources pose a global problem. In Central Asia, Kazakhstan's central and northern regions are among the most severely Hg-contaminated territories. This is due to two former acetaldehyde (in Temirtau) and chlor-alkali (in Pavlodar) plants, discharges from which during the second half of the 20th century were estimated over 2000 tons of elemental Hg.

Indicator rating methodology for Rapid Sustainability Assessment Method (RSAM) for existing residential buildings using opinions of residents.

The presented method provides the details for how each indicator in "RSAM: A Rapid Sustainability Assessment Method" is scored using a residents' opinions-based sustainability assessment procedure that is specifically designed for the assessment of existing residential buildings. Existing methods in the literature mostly suggest indicator scores in construction sustainability assessments using highly technical data and require a high level of engineering and management expertise. This makes them elaborate but labor-, time-, and cost-intensive; and thus, their use is more frequently favored in new projects.

Surface, Subsurface and Tribological Properties of Ti6Al4V Alloy Shot Peened under Different Parameters.

Ti6Al4V alloy was shot peened by using stainless-steel shots with different sizes (0.09-0.14 mm (S10) and 0.

Potentially toxic elements in toys and children's jewelry: A critical review of recent advances in legislation and in scientific research.

Contamination by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in children's toys and jewelry is an ongoing problem where PTEs can become bioavailable especially via oral pathway (ingestion as a whole or of parts, and mouthing) and may cause adverse health effects for children. In the present review, legislation updates from the last decade in the United States (U.S.

Contamination by eleven harmful elements in children's jewelry and toys from Central Asian market.

Contamination by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in children's toys and jewelry is an ongoing problem, and there is evidence in the literature that the issue is shifting towards developing countries and small markets. The present research aims (1) to characterize total concentrations of eleven PTEs (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn) in children's jewelry and toys purchased from the Central Asian market (n = 65), and (2) to investigate the relationship between the extent of contamination and sample categories/properties. The laboratory analyses showed that the majority of the samples had PTEs above the total and soluble limits for PTEs stated in the USA, Canadian, and the EU legislation.

Detailed municipal solid waste composition analysis for Nur-Sultan City, Kazakhstan with implications for sustainable waste management in Central Asia.

A detailed characterization of municipal solid waste (MSW) beyond a standard compositional analysis may offer insights useful for improving waste management systems. The present paper contributes to the scarce literature in the field by presenting new data from a rapidly developing Central Asian city, the capital of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan. Three sampling campaigns (each 1 week long) have been conducted at the city landfill over a 1-year period (2018-2019), and a detailed characterization for selected waste components and sub-components has been performed.

Contamination by As, Hg, and Sb in a region with geogenic As anomaly and subsequent human health risk characterization.

Arsenic (As) is among the most harmful toxic elements to human health with severe carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects. The present study aims to (1) characterize a site with geogenic As anomaly (Emet basin) in Kutahya, Turkey via soil (urban, agriculture, forest; n = 53 total), water (n = 11), and agricultural product (n = 19) samples; and, (2) characterize human health risks for different receptors under specific exposure scenarios. Soil As levels were very high (range, 22.

Comparison of five artificial skin surface film liquids for assessing dermal bioaccessibility of metals in certified reference soils.

Dermal exposure to metals has previously received less attention than oral/inhalation exposure. Nonetheless, human health risk is significant for certain contaminants and exposure scenarios. The present study aims to (1) characterize two certified reference soils (SQC001, BGS 102); and (2) assess Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn dermal bioaccessibility via in vitro assays using three synthetic sweat formulations (EN 1811, pH 6.

In vitro dermal bioaccessibility of selected metals in contaminated soil and mine tailings and human health risk characterization.

Dermal exposure to contaminated sites has generally received less attention than oral/inhalation exposure due to limited exposure scenarios and less perceived potential for toxicity, however, the risk can be significant for specific contaminants and scenarios. The present study aims to (1) measure Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn contamination in soil and mine tailings samples (n = 7), (2) determine the dermal bioaccessibility of these metals via in vitro tests using two synthetic sweat formulations (EN 1811; NIHS 96-10), and (3) obtain dermal absorbed doses (DADs) for children's and adults' exposure scenarios and compare them to derived dermal reference values. The NIHS 96-10 formulation yielded higher bioaccessibility values for all metals than EN 1811, possibly due to its lower pH.

Lung bioaccessibility of As, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in fine fraction (<20μm) from contaminated soils and mine tailings.

The present study aims (1) to characterize contaminated soils (n=6) and mine tailings samples (n=3) for As, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn content; and (2) to assess elemental lung bioaccessibility in fine fraction (d<20μm which might contribute to airborne particulate matter (PM) and thus be inhaled) by means of in vitro tests using Gamble's solution (GS) and an artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF). Elemental concentrations were high in the majority of samples, particularly for As (up to 2040mg·kg), Fe (up to 30.7%), Mn (up to 4360mg·kg), and Zn (up to 4060mg·kg); and elemental concentrations (As, Cu, and Ni) in the sieved fraction (d<20μm) obtained from contaminated soils were significantly higher than in the bulk fraction (<160μm).

Lung bioaccessibility of contaminants in particulate matter of geological origin.

Human exposure to particulate matter (PM) has been associated with adverse health effects. While inhalation exposure to airborne PM is a prominent research subject, exposure to PM of geological origin (i.e.

Valorization of a treated soil via amendments: fractionation and oral bioaccessibility of Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn.

The present study aims to transform a treated soil (TS) into a more desirable resource by modifying physico-chemical properties via amendments while reducing toxic metals' mobility and oral bioaccessibility. A hydrocarbon-contaminated soil submitted to treatment (TS) but still containing elevated concentrations of Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn has been amended with compost, sand, and Al2(SO4)3 to render it usable for horticulture. Characterization and sequential extraction were performed for TS and four amended mixtures (AM1-4).

Impact of deforestation on soil carbon stock and its spatial distribution in the Western Black Sea Region of Turkey.

Land use management is one of the most critical factors influencing soil carbon storage and the global carbon cycle. This study evaluates the impact of land use change on the soil carbon stock in the Karasu region of Turkey which in the last two decades has undergone substantial deforestation to expand hazelnut plantations. Analysis of seasonal soil data indicated that the carbon content decreased rapidly with depth for both land uses.

Estimating children's exposure to toxic elements in contaminated toys and children's jewelry via saliva mobilization.

Children's potential for exposure to potentially toxic elements in contaminated jewelry and toys via mouth contact has not yet been fully evaluated. Various toys and jewelry (metallic toys and jewelry [MJ], plastic toys, toys with paint or coating, and brittle/pliable toys; n = 32) were tested using the saliva extraction (mouthing) compartment of the DIN and RIVM bioaccessibility protocols to assess As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Se mobilization via saliva. Total concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Sb were found elevated in analyzed samples.

Children's exposure to harmful elements in toys and low-cost jewelry: characterizing risks and developing a comprehensive approach.

Contamination problem in jewelry and toys and children's exposure possibility have been previously demonstrated. For this study, risk from oral exposure has been characterized for highly contaminated metallic toys and jewelry ((MJ), n=16) considering three scenarios. Total and bioaccessible concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Pb were high in selected MJ.

Bioaccessibility of As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Sb in toys and low-cost jewelry.

Children can be exposed to toxic elements in toys and jewelry following ingestion. As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Sb bioavailability was assessed (n = 24) via the in vitro gastrointestinal protocol (IVG), the physiologically based extraction test (PBET), and the European Toy Safety Standard protocol (EN 71-3), and health risks were characterized. Cd, Cu, Ni, and Pb were mobilized from 19 metallic toys and jewelry (MJ) and one crayon set.

The impact of hazelnuts in land-use changes on soil carbon and in situ soil respiration dynamics.

Our study assessed the impact of hazelnuts (Coryllus avellena L.) in land-use conversion from forest (F) to agricultural land (AL) on various attributes of soil respiration dynamics, such as soil elemental carbon (C%) content, microbial respiration, bulk density, soil pH, electrical conductivity, and seasonal variations. We developed soil C% models to compare soil C% between F and AL soils.