Prepolymers containing isocyanates must be prevented from curing when exposed to moisture, which can be achieved by blocking the isocyanate groups with a suitable agent. The study carefully examines several blocking agents, including methyl ethyl ketoxime (MEKO), caprolactam, and phenol, and concludes that methyl ethyl ketoxime is the best choice. Spectroscopic and thermal analyses, as well as oven curing studies, are conducted with various blocking agents and isocyanate prepolymer to castor oil ratios, revealing MEKO to be the most effective blocking agent which gets unblocked at higher temperatures.

Low enrollment intention threatens the funding pools of rural insurance schemes in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to investigate how social capital enhances the enrollment of health insurance among rural middle-aged and elderly. We propose that social capital directly increases health insurance enrollment, while indirectly influences health insurance through health risk avoidance. We used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (wave 4) dating the year of 2018, instrumental variable estimation was introduced to deal with the endogeneity problem, and the mediation analysis was used to examine the mechanism of social capital on insurance enrollment. The results show that social capital is positively related to social health insurance enrollment, and the relationship between social capital and social health insurance enrollment is mediated by health risk avoidance.

Given the eclectic and localized nature of environmental risks, planning for sustainability requires solutions that integrate local knowledge and systems while acknowledging the need for continuous re-evaluation. Social-ecological complexity, increasing climate volatility and uncertainty, and rapid technological innovation underscore the need for flexible and adaptive planning. Thus, rules should not be universally applied but should instead be place-based and adaptive. To demonstrate these key concepts, we present a case study of water planning in Texas, whose rapid growth and extreme weather make it a bellwether example. We review historic use and compare the 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017 and 2022 Texas State Water Plans to examine how planning outcomes evolve across time and space. Though imperfect, water planning in Texas is a concrete example of place-based and adaptive sustainability. Urban regions throughout the state exhibit a diversity of strategies that, through the repeated 5-year cycles, are ever responding to evolving trends and emerging technologies. Regional planning institutions play a crucial role, constituting an important soft infrastructure that links state capacity and processes with local agents. As opposed to “top-down” or “bottom-up”, we frame this governance as “middle-out” and discuss how such a structure might extend beyond the water sector. 

Dredging and reclamation operations are pivotal aspects of coastal engineering and land development. Within these tasks lie potential hazards for personnel operating dredging machinery and working within reclamation zones. Due to the specialized nature of the work environment, which deviates from conventional workplace settings, the risk of workplace accidents is significantly heightened. The aim of this study is to conduct a comprehensive risk analysis of the safety aspects related to dredging and reclamation activities, with the goal of enhancing safety and minimizing the frequency and severity of potential dangers. This research comprises a thorough risk analysis, integrating meticulous hazard identification from sample projects and literature reviews. It involves risk assessment by gathering insights from experts with direct working experience and aims to assess potential risks. The study focuses on defining effective risk management strategies, exemplified through a case study of a nearshore construction project in Thailand. The study identified numerous high and very high-risk factors in the assessment and analysis of occupational safety in dredging and reclamation work. Consequently, a targeted response was implemented to control and mitigate these risks to an acceptable level. The outcome of this study will provide a significant contribution to the advancement of guidelines and best practices for improving the safety of dredging and reclamation operations.