Analysis of dryness in cement-based mixture via spectral imaging and dimensionality reduction.

Dryness in cement-based mixture can be systematically analyzed using hyperspectral imaging and dimensionality reduction techniques. In this study, we captured the spectral images of cement-water mixture in the near-infrared range and obtained the spectrum as a function of time. The temporal evolution of the spectrum data was analyzed using dimensionality reduction techniques to determine the dryness of cement-water mixture.

A comprehensive review of urban microplastic pollution sources, environment and human health impacts, and regulatory efforts.

Microplastic (MP) pollution in urban environments is a pervasive and complex problem with significant environmental and human health implications. Although studies have been conducted on MP pollution in urban environments, there are still research gaps in understanding the exact sources, regulation, and impact of urban MP on the environment and public health. Therefore, the goal of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the complex pathways, harmful effects, and regulatory efforts of urban MP pollution.

An Automatic-Vertical Profile Monitoring System for Fresh-Saline Water Zones in Coastal Aquifer.

Coastal aquifers are complex systems governed by fresh-saline water interactions and ocean tidal effects. The vertical electrical conductivity (EC) and temperature (T) are general indicators for detecting the fresh-saline water interface (FSI) and sea water intrusion in groundwater wells located in coastal aquifers. In this method brief, we developed a cost-effective Arduino-based automatic-vertical profile monitoring system (A-VPMS) to continuously record vertical EC and T in groundwater wells, with the aim of testing its effectiveness in spatiotemporal monitoring of the FSI in a coastal aquifer located in eastern Korea.

Exploring the vertical transport of microplastics in subsurface environments: Lab-scale experiments and field evidence.

Microplastics (MPs) defined as smaller 5 mm plastic particles have received increasing attention due to their global occurrence and potential toxicity. This study investigated the effects of environmental factors (rainfall intensity, 13 and 29 mm/h) and MP characteristics (morphology (fiber, flake, and film), polymer type (polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS)) and size (100-300, 300-500, and 500-1000 μm)) on the vertical transport of MP in unsaturated soil conditions using lab-scale column experiments. Additionally, the occurrence and characteristics of MP detected in soil/sediment (total 13 samples) and groundwater samples (total 6 samples) were explored in the field study.