Assessment Of Environmental Factors Research Articles

HANDWRITING ASSESSMENT FOR CHILDREN WITH AGE RANGE (4- 12 YEARS OLD): A SCOPING REVIEW

This scoping review aims to explore the existing literature on handwriting assessment in children with developmental disabilities compared to typically developing children, using the Handwriting Frame of References (FOR) as a framework. The study follows the PRISMA-Scoping Review guidelines and retrieves evidence published between 2011 and July 2021 from four databases, including EBSCO, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science. The selected articles are evaluated using the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool (CCAT) for quality, and 30 articles are ultimately included in the study, with CCAT scores ranging from 58% to 88%. The study finds that only three out of the fifteen handwriting assessments align with the handwriting FOR. The selected articles are categorized based on the Handwriting FOR’s domain for handwriting performance. The findings reveal that further research is needed to explore the impact of environmental factors on handwriting performance in children. Despite the limitations of this study, such as the restricted search criteria and the use of only one FOR, it provides a comprehensive overview of the existing literature on handwriting assessment in children with developmental disabilities compared to typically developing children. This review highlights the need for standardized handwriting assessments that are in line with the handwriting FOR and suggests that the assessment of environmental factors should be considered when evaluating handwriting performance in children.

Crop water use efficiency from eddy covariance methods in cold water-limited regions

Crop–water interactions define productivity in water-limited dryland agricultural production systems in cold regions. Despite the agronomic and economic importance of this relationship there are challenges in quantifying crop water use efficiency (WUE). To understand dynamics driving crop water use and agricultural productivity in these environments, observations of evapotranspiration, carbon assimilation, meteorology, and crop growth were collected over 17 site-years at 5 agricultural sites in the sub-humid continental Canadian Prairies. Eddy-covariance (EC) derived water and carbon fluxes provided a means to comprehensively assess the WUE of current agricultural practices by both physiological (WUEP: g C kg−1 H2O) and agronomic (WUEY): kg yield mm H2O−1 hectare−1) approaches. Mean field scale WUEY for grain yields were 10.4 (Barley), 10.2 (Wheat), 6.0 (Canola), 19.3 (Peas), 12.2 (Lentils) and for silage/forage crops were 23.0 (Barley), 11.9 (Forage), and 20.7 (Corn) (kg yield mm H2O−1 hectare−1). An assessment of environmental factors and their covariance with WUE, utilising a conditional inference tree approach, demonstrated that WUE decreased when crops were under greater evapotranspiration demands. EC-based areal WUE approaches, measuring fluxes over footprints of hundreds of square metres, were compared with more commonly reported point-scale water balance residual approaches (WUEWB) and demonstrated consistently smaller magnitudes. WUEWB was greater than EC-estimated WUEY by an average of 52% and 65% for grain and forage/silage crops respectively. WUEWB also had greater variability than EC estimates, with standard deviations 188% and 128% greater than Barley and Wheat crops, respectively. This comparison highlights the scale dependency of WUE estimation methods, demonstrates considerable uncertainty in point scale water balance approaches due to spatial variability in crop–water interactions, and shows how this variability can be accounted for by EC observations. This improves the understanding of WUE and quantifies its variability in cold continental water-limited climates and provides a means to diagnose improved agricultural water management.

Exploring the Association Between the Healthcare Design Elements and Physician Well-Being: A Scoping Review.

To evaluate the association between elements of the built environment and physician well-being using a scoping review. Physicians currently report low work satisfaction, high burnout and depression. The built environment has been shown to affect well-being in the general population, but its relationship to physician well-being is not well understood. Gaining a better understanding of this relationship will allow for better evidence-based design for physician well-being. A scoping review of the literature was conducted of Scopus and PubMed databases using key words for (1) environmental variables such as "environmental design"; (2) physician terms, such as "doctor"; and (3) outcome measures of well-being, such as "burnout." Studies were included if they had at least one measure of the built environment and one measure of physician well-being. Of 1,723 abstracts screened, 146 full-text articles were reviewed, leaving 16 articles to be included for data extraction. Included studies were from all around the world, except for, notably, the United States. Robust interpretation of the data was challenging because of the lack of standardization in the assessment of environmental factors and physician well-being. Excessive noise was the variable most linked to well-being. Suitable surroundings, including lighting, furniture, and art, were also linked with satisfaction, but it was unclear whether there was an association with well-being. Understanding how environmental factors affect physician well-being is paramount but considerably understudied. Standardization of research approach should be developed in order to produce more robust research to create evidence-based designs for physician well-being.

Assessment of Environmental Factors on Corrosion in Reinforced Concrete with Calcium Chloride

Corrosion of steel in reinforced concrete causes severe damage in durability as weakness support of reinforced elements. We investigate impacts of cement fraction and curing method on corrosion progression. Corrosion level is evaluated by measuring carbonation penetration and electrical conductivity in concrete plots as indicators of corrosion. Two types of cement were used, Normal and quick setting. For each cement type, two concrete mixes were used (3% and 8% C3A are designed). Six levels of CaCl₂ ranging from 0.5 % to 3% were used to simulate corrosion. Also, two curing methods are compared, liquid water and steam application are used. Chloride ion in low alumina cement mortar progressed faster than high alumina. The results show significant increase in carbonation depth for (less cement) compared to (more cement) mixes. Also, steam curing showed less penetration than normal water setting method. Variation in carbonation penetration for 0.5 and 1 % CaCl₂ is high close to double. Electrical potential of steel in cement mortar is negatively related with increasing calcium chloride content and with increasing cement content. Also, normal setting cement shows better corrosion protection as demonstrated by higher measured EC.

Changing environments and human interaction during the Pleistocene–Early Holocene from the shallow coastal area of Dor, Israel

AbstractThe protected Tel-Dor coastal embayment in the eastern Mediterranean preserves an unusually complete stratigraphic record that reveals human–environmental interactions throughout the Holocene. Interpretation of new seismic profiles collected from shallow marine geophysical transects across the bay show five seismic units were correlated with stratigraphy and age dates obtained from coastal and shallow-marine sediment cores. This stratigraphic framework permits a detailed reconstruction of the coastal system over the last ca. 77 ka as well as an assessment of environmental factors that influenced some dimensions of past coastal societies. The base of the boreholes records lowstand aeolian deposits overlain by wetland sediments that were subsequently flooded by the mid-Holocene transgression. The earliest human settlements are submerged Pottery Neolithic (8.25–7 ka) structures and tools, found immediately above the wetland deposits landward of a submerged aeolianite ridge at the mouth of the bay. The wetland deposits and Pottery Neolithic settlement remains are buried by coastal sand that records a middle Holocene sea-level rise ca. 7.6–6.5 ka. Stratigraphic and geographic relationships suggest that these coastal communities were displaced by sea-level transgression. These findings demonstrate how robust integration of different data sets can be used to reconstruct the geomorphic evolution of coastal settings as well as provide an important addition to the nature of human–landscape interaction and cultural development.

Features of instrumental support of business analysis of tax solvency of organizations

The paper substantiates the significance of the business analysis of tax solvency as a necessary element of the tax management of service organizations under conditions of increased turbulence of factors and conditions of the business environment caused by the development of digital and information technologies. Instrumental support of business analytical procedures involves the selection of methods and the development of tools - techniques and information support, which together represent a methodological justification (algorithm) for assessing tax solvency. The algorithm includes five stages: assessment of environmental factors and conditions, indicators of the results and effectiveness of economic activity, absolute and relative indicators of the tax burden, key indicators of the level of tax solvency. In order to eliminate contradictions and shortcomings in the existing traditional methods, it is proposed to use the indicative approach, which is implemented in the form of four stages, during which key indicators are determined (16 in total). The advantage of the indication approach is its unique factual analytical capacity, which allows low-cost financial instruments to obtain summarizing information for making managerial decisions of a service that is proactive and to ensure proper tax consistency.

Problem of environmental safety during construction (analysis of construction impact on environment)

The article provides an analysis of construction influence on the environment, the environment-forming function of the construction activity has also been studied. The assessment of environmental factors has been made on the basis of interdisciplinary approach. The conducted assessment of state and dynamics of eco-economic interaction between the construction activity and the environment, the basis of sustenance of the urban and agricultural economy in Russia, has demonstrated the investment potential of production of the construction materials. However, the raw materials are mined by the open pit; the lands of agricultural purpose get requisitioned for the pits. All this shows an ecological inefficiency of the construction industry growing from year to year. A direct demolition of natural eco-systems in the local areas contradicts the attractiveness of ecological construction in the framework of movement to the sustainable development of the country. The system “construction – vital activities environment” has been reviewed as an eco-economic equilibrium, as a criterion of the authentic system-level development. It is necessary to increase the quality of ecological monitoring. The performed analytical helps to come to a conclusion that notwithstanding the developed basic provisions of institutional policy a negative impact of construction on the environment impedes the development of ecologically-oriented investment and construction activity and sustainable development of the country.

The impact assessment of environmental factors on ascariasis incidence

In order to make effective managerial decisions regarding sanitary-epidemiological and preventive measures, the environmental factors potentially affecting the ascariasis epidemic process in the Vladimir region (Russia) have been searched. The archived statistics on ascariasis incidence among the population has been analyzed concerning the state of the environment, socio-economic situation, as well as climate indicators in region. Statistical data processing and correlation and regression analysis have been performed using the STATISTICA software. The maps have been compiled and edited using ArcView 3.1 GIS and standard Paint computer programs. The study showed that climatic environmental parameters determining the possibility of ascaris developing eggs in the environment reaching the infective stage retain the leading role in ascariasis epidemiology in the Vladimir region. The regional factor influencing the epidemic process is air pollution from stationary objects. The mathematical equation was made to forecast the morbidity level in the region. The obtained data can be used for risk assessment of ascariasis infection in order to ensure biological safety in the region.

Innovative approach to the assessment of moisture content of forest areas within the framework of the fundamental multi-layered concept

Modern methods of assessing the state of forests are verbal (descriptive). They are usually based on the assessment of environmental factors (air and soil pollution, meteorological data, etc.). The models are deterministic or probabilistic in nature (sometimes the combination of these approaches is observed). Forests are multi-tiered complex systems. The study of such complex systems is poorly designed and fragmentary at the moment. The simulation does not have a serious fundamental concept. The reasons are due to the lack of experimental methods for measuring the main characteristics of the state of forests with controlled accuracy. The fundamental concept of multi-layered representation of forests is justified in the article. The concept enables to develop a formalized model for assessing the relative moisture content in each layer at any time. The current state parameters have a transparent physical meaning. The concept takes into account the impact of the object of such natural factors as rainfall and evaporation rate on the state of the object. The potential difference measured along the radius of the tree trunks with changes in ambient temperature can be an indicator of the moisture content of tree trunks.

Assessment of Environmental Factors on Secondary Metabolites and Toxicological Effects of Datura metel Leaves Extracts

Abstract This study evaluated the chemical composition, physicochemical properties, toxicological and environmental potentials of the Datura metel (D. metel) leaves extracts. Fresh leaves of D. metel were harvested at three different times of the day (morning, afternoon and evening), extraction done in succession using n-hexane and ethanol solvents respectively. Preliminary phytochemical screening, physicochemical analysis for specific gravity, pH, colour, total ash and moisture contents of the dried extracts were determined. The characterisation of the bioactive compounds using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, showed the presence of different compounds at the three different times of the day, out of which phytol and 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid were present at all times. These results confirmed that some bioactive compounds present in this plant are dependent on environmental factor , time of harvest and the choice of solvent used while the presence of others are independent on these factors. Each extract was administered orally to Wistar rats for two weeks. There were significant difference (p < 0.05) in activities of AST (serum and heart), ALT (liver and serum) and ALP (Serum, liver and kidney), as well as the concentrations of albumin and protein in the liver and serum and urea in the serum of experimental rats given n-hexane and ethanolic extracts of D. metel. Generally it also suggest that the leaf extracts collected at three different times of the day had some significant toxicological effect, thus may not be totally safe for consumption at the dosage indicated since tissues membranes integrity of the Wistar rats were not potentially preserved.

Гигиеническая оценка факторов среды обитания, формирующих нарушения обеспеченности витаминами детей дошкольного возраста

Гигиеническая оценка факторов среды обитания, формирующих нарушения обеспеченности витаминами детей дошкольного возраста

Environment and Big Data: Role in Smart Cities of India

The intention of India’s Smart City Mission program is to achieve better living conditions in a sustainable environment with smart solutions. This program identifies the key challenges of urbanization and the environment. The mitigation of these challenges depends on the monitoring and assessment of multiple factors, including demography, education, health, and the environment; however, the inclusion of environmental factors are limited. The monitoring and assessment of environmental factors will continuously generate big data and hence would require scientific and technological innovation for a sustainable management plan. This study identifies six environmental factors, which should be integrated in the development of smart cities. These environmental factors include indicators of landscape and geography, climate, atmospheric pollution, water resources, energy resources, and urban green space as a major component of the environment. This paper also discusses the importance of these environmental components and the maintenance of big data in the management of smart cities.

Utilizing Whole-Exome Sequencing to Characterize the Phenotypic Variability of Sickle Cell Disease.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a monogenic disease that has wide variety of phenotypes with both and environmental factors contributing to its severity. We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) in 22 Saudi SCD patients to identify variants that could explain differences in disease phenotypes. All variants, except those that were benign and likely benign, described in the ClinVar database, were considered in our analysis. Gene-based association testing using sequence kernel association optimal unified test (SKAT-O) with small sample adjustment was performed to evaluate the effect of multiple variants in genes on SCD phenotypes. The mean age of participants was 28 (range, 10-48 years). All patients were homozygous for the sickle cell mutation. The Benin haplotype was present in 15 patients and the Arab-Indian haplotype in 7 patients. One patient who had both SCD and CHARGE association was heterozygous for pathogenic mutation p.Arg987Ter in the CHD7 gene. One SCD individual who had a stroke was a carrier of the pathogenic variant p.Asp36Tyr in the VKORC1 gene which is, associated with warfarin resistance. Two patients with steady hemoglobin levels of 7.5 and 7.1 g/dL were carriers of the pathogenic mutation p.Gly140Ser in the RPL5 gene that is associated with Diamond-Blackfan anemia. None of the patients were transfusion dependent. A heterozygous pathogenic mutation in the LDLR gene associated with autosomal dominant familial hypercholesterolemia was present in one patient with deep venous thrombosis, although their cholesterol level was normal. One individual with stroke was a carrier for the p.Arg284Ter variant in the NLRP12 gene, which is associated with familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome 2. Another patient with stroke and a pulmonary embolism was heterozygous for the p.Pro106Leu variant of the MPL gene, which has been associated with thrombocytosis. Coding variants in the GOLGB1, ENPP1, and PON1 genes showed no association with stroke in our study. SKAT-O analysis did not explain SCD heterogeneity. WES provided limited information to explain the severity of SCD. Whole genome sequencing, epigenetic studies, and assessment of environmental factors might expand our knowledge of SCD heterogeneity.

Seed size in mountain herbaceous plants changes with elevation in a species-specific manner

Research devoted to investigating the relationship between elevation and seed size in alpine plants gives contradictory results. Some studies document a positive correlation between seed size and elevation, whereas in others a negative correlation is reported. We propose a novel approach to the problem by looking at the whole strategy of seed production, including seed number, and by focusing on a range of environmental variables. In the Tatra Mountains (southern Poland), we selected 73 sites at which seeds of six widely occurring mountain herbaceous species were collected. Each site was characterized by 13 parameters that included climatic and physicochemical soil variables. For each parameter, residuals from a linear regression against elevation were calculated and the residuals were used in a factor analysis. The obtained factors, together with elevation, were used as independent variables in a multiple regression analysis. Elevation affected seed size in four species: in two species the correlation was positive, and in two others it was negative. In three species seed number was related to elevation, and the correlation was negative in all cases. Our results indicate that elevation-dependence of seed production is specific to the species and reflects different resource allocation strategies. Diverse correlations of plant characteristics with elevation may also result from area-specific patterns, because different mountain ranges may exhibit different correlations between elevation and environmental factors. Only by attaining a reproductive allocation perspective and thorough assessment of environmental factors, a full understanding of elevational variation in seed size is possible.

Strategic Marketing Management with Japanese Management Approach

<p>Extensive and comprehensive political, economics, technological differences and related crisis have caused organizations to encounter many challenges in directing activities and maintaining their position in a competitive environment. Strategic management is known as an efficient solution for institutes in dynamic environments.</p><p>Strategic marketing management determines and plans marketing strategies and implements them with a clear understanding of the organization`s mission, the assessment of environmental factors, checking the organization’s situation, and exploring opportunities in the market.</p>Strategic management process is a guidance to execute organization activities besides organization type or size. This process can be used by organizations in terms of marketing. The basic steps of strategic marketing management are similar for all types of organizations like organizations related to manufacturing industries, while importance of each step is different to others depending on effective environmental factors on the institute. In the present paper, these steps and some examples of their application are explained.

Mass spectrometry in epidemiological studies: What are the key considerations?

Mass spectrometry in epidemiological studies: What are the key considerations?

Assessment of environmental factors causing wetland degradation, using Fuzzy Analytic Network Process: A case study on Keoladeo National Park, India

Different factors play important roles in sustaining ecological balance and socio-economic stability of a region. Wetlands have crucial impact on preserving the ecology of a particular region. Wetland ecosystem is influenced by many factors that affect the bio-diversity and ecological balance to different degrees. The most common threats to wetlands are generally water scarcity, changing biodiversity and human intervention. Assessing the condition of a wetland involves the impact of environmental, ecological and socio economic factors which are mostly imprecise and uncertain in nature. Opinions of experts in several related fields are considered and subsequently importance of a particular environmental process in the wetland biosphere is expressed linguistically. Fuzzy Analytic Network Process (FANP) is one of the well-known procedures to assess the relative importance of different factors. In this paper, a model is developed using different wetland factors and sub-factors responsible for ecological degradation of Keoladeo National Park (KNP), India. Fuzzy Analytic Network Process (FANP) is applied to assess the relative importance of different factors responsible for preservation and restoration of ecological balance of KNP. The strategies of preservation and restoration of wetlands are sub-divided into several sub-goals. The network analysis of different factors explains their relative degrees of influence on the ecological system of KNP. Based on these findings, this paper suggests further enhancing the water supply, optimizing the land use structure and strengthening wetland protection laws.

Mating behavior of Daphnia: impacts of predation risk, food quantity, and reproductive phase of females.

High predation risk and food depletion lead to sexual reproduction in cyclically parthenogenetic Daphnia. Mating, the core of sexual reproduction, also occurs under these conditions. Assessment of the environmental conditions and alteration of mating efforts may aid in determining the success of sexual reproduction. Here, we evaluated the impacts of predation risk, food quantity, and reproductive phase of females on the mating behavior of Daphnia obtusa males including contact frequency and duration using video analysis. Mating–related behavior involved male–female contact (mating) as well as male–male contact (fighting). Mating frequency increased while unnecessary fighting decreased in the presence of predation risk. In addition, low food concentration reduced fighting between males. Males attempted to attach to sexual females more than asexual females, and fighting occurred more frequently in the presence of sexual females. Duration of mating was relatively long; however, males separated shortly after contact in terms of fighting behavior. Thus, assessment of environmental factors and primary sexing of mates were performed before actual contact, possibly mechanically, and precise sex discrimination was conducted after contact. These results suggest that mating in Daphnia is not a random process but rather a balance between predation risk and energetic cost that results in changes in mating and fighting strategies.

Molecular genetics and antisocial behavior: where do we stand?

Over the last two decades, it has become increasingly evident that control of aggressive behavior is modulated by the individual genetic profile as well. Several candidate genes have been proposed to play a role in the risk to develop antisocial behavior, and distinct brain imaging studies have shown that specific cortical areas may be functionally and/or structurally impaired in impulsive violent subjects on the basis of their genotypes. In this paper, we review the findings regarding four polymorphisms-MAOA (Monoamine oxidase A) uVNTR, SLC6A4 (solute carrier family 6 (neurotransmitter transporter), member 4) 5HTTLPR, COMT (Catechol-O-methyltransferase) Val158Met and DRD4 (dopamine D4 receptor) VNTR 1-11-that all have been found to be associated with an increased vulnerability for antisocial and impulsive behavior in response to aversive environmental conditions. These results, however, have not been replicated by other studies, likely because of crucial methodological discrepancies, including variability in the criteria used to define antisocial behavior and assessment of environmental factors. Finally, it has been recently proposed that these genetic variants may actually increase the individual susceptibility not merely to the negative environmental factors, but to the positive ones as well. In this view, such alleles would play a wider modulatory role, by acting as "plasticity" rather than "vulnerability" genes. Overall, these findings have potential important implications that span well outside of neuroscience and psychiatry, to embrace ethics, philosophy, and the law itself, as they pose new challenges to the very notion of Free Will. Novel properly controlled studies that examine multi-allelic genetic profiles, rather than focusing on distinct single variants, will make it possible to achieve a clearer understanding of the molecular underpinnings of the nature by nurture interaction.

Environmental Assessment in Manuscripts Library and Storages of Semi-Active Record at Sultanate of Oman

Indoor environmental factors have been associated with deterioration of vital library and archival assets. The assessment of environmental factors affecting the library and document collections due to their inappropriate levels was the main objective of current study. In order to fulfill this objective the measurements of indoor environmental parameters were taken in manuscripts library and documents storage buildings of various Ministries of Sultanate of Oman. The measured values of these parameters were compared with the permitted values defined in various international standards/guidelines. The results of the study showed that the observed levels of environmental factors inside these buildings were not within the stipulated limits. The quality of indoor air at the studied locations was not appropriate for long term protection and preservation of their precious collections. Hence some preventive measures must be taken to safeguard these documentary assets. Practical implications - The indoor environments of library and archival collection buildings are very important for the protection and preservation of documentary assets. The study provides very useful information about the harmful indoor environmental factors and their effects on vital library and archival collections. This work would definitely help the concerning authorities to take remedial measures to control the inappropriate levels of these factors.