Environmental Effects Research Articles

Calculating absorption and fluorescence spectra for chromophores in solution with ensemble Franck-Condon methods.

Accurately modeling absorption and fluorescence spectra for molecules in solution poses a challenge due to the need to incorporate both vibronic and environmental effects, as well as the necessity of accurate excited state electronic structure calculations. Nuclear ensemble approaches capture explicit environmental effects, Franck-Condon methods capture vibronic effects, and recently introduced ensemble-Franck-Condon approaches combine the advantages of both methods. In this study, we present and analyze simulated absorption and fluorescence spectra generated with combined ensemble-Franck-Condon approaches for three chromophore-solvent systems and compare them to standard ensemble and Franck-Condon spectra, as well as to the experiment. Employing configurations obtained from ground and excited state abinitio molecular dynamics, three combined ensemble-Franck-Condon approaches are directly compared to each other to assess the accuracy and relative computational time. We find that the approach employing an average finite-temperature Franck-Condon line shape generates spectra nearly identical to the direct summation of an ensemble of Franck-Condon spectra at one-fourth of the computational cost. We analyze how the spectral simulation method, as well as the level of electronic structure theory, affects spectral line shapes and associated Stokes shifts for 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl and Nile red in dimethyl sulfoxide and 7-methoxy coumarin-4-acetic acid in methanol. For the first time, our studies show the capability of combined ensemble-Franck-Condon methods for both absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy and provide a powerful tool for simulating linear optical spectra.

Understanding the Effect of Environment- and Organization-Specific Factors on Sustained Crowdsourcing Contest Participation

ABSTRACT Crowdsourcing contests are vital for organizational problem-solving and decision-making. Continued participation in these contests ensures platform success, yet environment- and organization-specific factors are underexplored. This study addresses this gap by examining how team ties, organization exposure, and experience with the organization impact sustained participation in crowdsourcing contests. An empirical study of 9,596 individuals across 138 Kaggle.com contests reveals these factors significantly influence ongoing participation. To foster collaboration and long-term engagement, platforms should highlight information about sponsoring organizations. These findings enhance understanding of leveraging environment- and organization-specific factors for sustained crowdsourcing success.

The beyond-halo mass effects of the cosmic web environment on galaxies

ABSTRACT Galaxy properties primarily depend on their host halo mass. Halo mass, in turn, depends on the cosmic web environment. We explore if the effect of the cosmic web on galaxy properties is entirely transitive via host halo mass, or if the cosmic web has an effect independent of mass. The secondary galaxy bias, sometimes referred to as ‘galaxy assembly bias’, is the beyond-mass component of the galaxy–halo connection. We investigate the link between the cosmic web environment and the secondary galaxy bias in simulations. We measure the secondary galaxy bias through the following summary statistics: projected two-point correlation function, $w_{\mathrm{p}}(r_{\mathrm{p}})$, and counts-in-cylinders statistics, $P(N_{\mathrm{CIC}})$. First, we examine the extent to which the secondary galaxy bias can be accounted for with a measure of the environment as a secondary halo property. We find that the total secondary galaxy bias preferentially places galaxies in more strongly clustered haloes. In particular, haloes at fixed mass tend to host more galaxies when they are more strongly associated with nodes or filaments. This tendency accounts for a significant portion, but not the entirety, of the total secondary galaxy bias effect. Secondly, we quantify how the secondary galaxy bias behaves differently depending on the host halo proximity to nodes and filaments. We find that the total secondary galaxy bias is relatively stronger in haloes more associated with nodes or filaments. We emphasize the importance of removing halo mass effects when considering the cosmic web environment as a factor in the galaxy–halo connection.

The Prisoner’s Dilemma game as a tool to investigate cooperation and undergraduate education in evolution

Evolutionary theory is based on the conflict that arises when certain heritable variants out-compete others. Given this foundational conflict, a central question for evolutionary biologists concerns the presence of cooperation found throughout all levels of biological organization; from biochemical pathways to complex animal societies. Human behavior is often distinguished from other animal behavior by the presence of acts of cooperative behavior called altruism. Altruism is a cooperative act that penalizes the actor for actions that benefit the recipient. Any other form of cooperation, one that does not penalize the actor, is formally not considered altruistic. How can costly altruistic behavior evolve? This question was the basis for development of a web application tool incorporating a game theory model to investigate conditions affecting cooperative behavior. The game theory model described as Prisoner’s Dilemma incorporates acts of cooperation and non-cooperation (defection). Computer simulations of Prisoner’s Dilemma were developed and online applications were administered for five semesters at Georgia Gwinnett College, using two simulation environments referred to as Random and Non-random. Data collected from simulation runs were used to evaluate the effect of environment on student cooperative behavior and actively engage students in concepts associated with the evolution of cooperation and game theory. Results from student game play suggest group simulation environment played a significant role in the likelihood of observing cooperative behavior. Educational content and attitudinal surveys suggested that PD game play in the undergraduate evolution class at Georgia Gwinnett College improved student knowledge and self-confidence.

Pengaruh Lingkungan Kerja Dan Motivasi Kerja Terhadap Kinerja Karyawan pada PT. Federal Internasional Finance (FIFGROUP) Cabang Duren Jaya Bekasi

The Effect of Work Environment and Work Motivation on Employee Performance at PT. FIFGROUP Duren Jaya Bekasi Branch. This research aims to measure the influence of the work environment and work motivation on employee performance at PT. FIFGROUP Duren Jaya Bekasi Branch. The sampling technique used in this research used saturated samples. The data collection tool in this research used a questionnaire with 52 respondents. The design used in this research is testing using SPSS for Windows version 26. The results of this research show that the work environment has a significant effect on employee performance, work motivation has a significant effect on employee performance the work environment and motivation work has a significant effect on the performance of PT FIFGROUP employees This research provides suggestions to PT. FIFGROUP Duren Jaya Bekasi Branch to be able to pay more attention to work space facilities, and provide work motivation to its employees so that employee performance increases.

Built Environment Effect on Metro Ridership in Metropolitan Area of Valparaíso, Chile, under Different Influence Area Approaches

Built Environment Effect on Metro Ridership in Metropolitan Area of Valparaíso, Chile, under Different Influence Area Approaches

Environmental effects on low surface brightness galaxies in the IllustrisTNG simulation

Environmental effects on low surface brightness galaxies in the IllustrisTNG simulation

Research on the thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling simulation and deformation spatiotemporal evolution for the entire process of oil shale in-situ mining

The ground surface deformation (GSD) caused by oil shale in-situ mining poses a threat to land resources and human's lives and property. This study, for the first time, conducts a full stratum simulation of the Fuyu oil shale in-situ pyrolysis pilot base, analyzing the evolution characteristics of the temperature field, stress field, and deformation field of the entire stratum profile during the heating and cooling processes of convective heating mining. Considering the changes in the pore structure, thermophysical, and mechanical properties of the stratum, the environmental geological effects of rock deformation during in-situ mining were identified. Simulation results show that after heating, the temperature within 80 cm of the heating well reaches above the initial pyrolysis temperature of 350 °C for oil shale organic matter, and there is a significant stress concentration near the heat source. In the simulation, ground displacement rises in a wave-like manner during heating, quickly subsides after cooling, and finally stabilizes. Eventually, the entire stratum exhibited subsidence, with a subsidence amount of 0.59 cm. The spatiotemporal deformation trend obtained from SBAS-InSAR real-time monitoring results is similar to the simulation results. By comparing the monitoring results with the simulation results, the synergistic deformation mechanism of underground and ground surface co-deformation during in-situ mining of geochemical reactions in the study area was analyzed. The deformation rate is determined by the thermal hysteresis phenomenon and the temperature difference between the heated fluid and the rock layer. This provides scientific support for the geological effect evaluation of oil shale in-situ mining, which helps to improve mining safety and efficiency.

Literature review on the sustainable implementation of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in medical and healthcare administrative services

The healthcare sector as a whole has a high administrative burden. Whether through doctors, nurses, laboratories, financial departments, accounting, pharmaceutical departments, among other entities, it is essential that everyone connects to monitor the patient. However, the administrative burden associated with these processes is extremely high which makes the tasks of the health sector more difficult to carry out. It is in this sense that the implementation of a technology such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA) allows all these routines but necessary tasks to be performed by capable software "robots" that respect rules that will allow to respond to all needs. It was found in the literature that there are few works related to the implementation of RPA in medical and healthcare services. The objective of this work is focused on a literature review to identify how RPA contributes to medical and health services in a context of sustainability. This work analyzes some studies available in the literature, analyzing them from the perspective of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) related to environmental, social and economic effects. Regarding the results of this study, it appears that there is still a lot of room to improve research in this area, for example, with regard to the development of implementation models, governance and also to optimize the efficiency of RPA, in medical and healthcare administrative services, taking into account the TBL of the concept of sustainability.

Continuous-flow synthesis of CsPbI3/TiO2 nanocomposites with enhanced water and thermal stability.

The inherent poor stability of CsPbI3 nanocrystals hinders the practical application of this material. Therefore, it is still a challenge to improve the stability of CsPbI3 nanocrystals and realize their large-scale continuous preparation. In this work, we report the preparation of CsPbI3/TiO2 nanocomposites with high stability by a microfluidic method. After the combination of CsPbI3 nanorods with TiO2, the PL intensity increased by 1.3 times under excitation at 577 nm due to the passivating effect of TiO2 on the surface of CsPbI3 nanorods and its carrier transport characteristics. Meanwhile, due to the coating of TiO2, the surface exposure area of CsPbI3 nanorods is reduced, which blocks external environmental effects to some extent and effectively improves the stability of CsPbI3 nanorods. Finally, an LED with a color gamut of 142% NTSC and a color temperature (CCT) of 3952 K was obtained by combining CsPbI1.5Br1.5/TiO2 and CsPbBr3/TiO2 nanocomposites with a blue light chip (455 nm). This study shows that the continuous and controllable synthesis of all inorganic halide perovskite nanocrystals by a microfluidic method is of great significance in the fabrication of high-performance optoelectronic materials and display devices.

A self-supervised learning method for fault detection of wind turbines

Abstract As promising solutions to condition-based maintenance of wind turbines, artificial intelligence-based techniques have drawn extensive attention in the era of industry 4.0. However, accurate fault detection is still challenging owing to volatile operating conditions in real-world settings. To handle this problem, a novel method is proposed for fault detection of wind turbines. Specifically, a data augmentation scheme is developed to simulate the effects of time-varying environments and noise. Then, a self-supervised proxy task of variant prediction is designed and conducted. In this way, valid data representations can be extracted to represent the health status of wind turbines. Additionally, the compactness of data representations is guaranteed by the directional evolution, which can relieve the confusion of health conditions. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified with actual measurements. Using the proposed method, several faults can be detected more than 10 days earlier, and blade breakage can be identified more than 22 hours earlier. Furthermore, the developed method outperforms several benchmark approaches.

The impact of digital inclusive finance on environmental pollution: A case study of air pollution.

This study delves into the impact of digital inclusive finance on environmental pollution, with a specific focus on air pollution. Utilizing data from 265 Chinese cities, advanced econometric methods such as the bi-directional fixed effects model, threshold model, spatial Durbin model, and multi-period difference-in-differences model are employed, incorporating a variety of control variables. The empirical findings indicate that digital inclusive finance significantly reduces air pollution. This mechanism chiefly operates through enhancing public environmental consciousness and fostering green technological innovation. The study also uncovers the spatial spillover effect and non-linear characteristics of digital inclusive finance on air pollution, along with its interactive effects with specific policies (e.g., smart city pilot policies and the "major protection, no major development" initiative). Moreover, heterogeneity analysis reveals regional variations in the environmental effects of digital inclusive finance. These insights provide a novel perspective on the relationship between financial technology and environmental protection and offer crucial guidance for policymaking.

Stochastic optimal pricing for retail electricity considering demand response, renewable energy sources and environmental effects

Stochastic optimal pricing for retail electricity considering demand response, renewable energy sources and environmental effects

Genotype and Year Effects on Some Production Characteristics in Three Blueberry Cultivars (Vaccinium corymbosum L.)

AbstractThe current trend of expanding blueberry plantations requires studies on the production capacity of blueberry cultivars in different cultivation areas. The paper’s aim was to follow the effect of genotype and environment on some production characteristics of three blueberry cultivars (‘Duke’, ‘Hannah’s Choice’ and ‘Elliott’) grown in the Banat region of Romania. The average fruit weight, production per bush and production per hectare were calculated. The analysis of obtained data highlighted a variability from one cultivar to another, and within the cultivar from one year to another. The simulated models have highlighted the highly significant influence of considered factors combined (cultivar*year) on production features. ‘Duke’ and ‘Elliott’ cultivars have the best results in the study area, that is, ‘Duke’ cultivar can provide blueberries for market early (from June) and ‘Elliott’ cultivar provides blueberries during the summer–autumn time interval. The outputs are very useful, bearing in mind the low amount of available information from the literature.

Investigation of Reynolds number effects on flow stability of a transonic compressor using a dynamic mode decomposition method

With the continuous increase in aircraft flight altitude, low Reynolds number effects in high-altitude environments significantly impact the stability of compressor operation. In this study, dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) of the flow field at various time instances near stall conditions in a transonic compressor was performed to investigate the influence of Reynolds number (Re) effects on critical flow characteristics and instability mechanisms. The results indicate that under different Reynolds number index (RNI) conditions near stall conditions, the frequency of tip leakage flow varies. Under high RNI condition, the influence of tip leakage flow is concentrated mainly from the leading edge to the mid-chord. The stall mode is primarily caused by the interaction of shock with the Tip Leakage Vortex, resulting in the breakdown of the vortex. The development of vortex structures inside the passage leads to a delay in the flow field response to blade passing. Under low RNI condition, the tip clearance leakage flow is stronger, with a relatively reduced influence from the leading edge to the mid-chord and an increased impact from the mid-chord to the trailing edge. The main cause of the stall mode is the circumferential movement of vortex structures, causing secondary leakage over adjacent blade tip clearances. The blockage formed by vortex structures within the passage is weaker, and the flow field response to blade passing remains consistent with the blade passing frequency. However, as stall develops further, the flow field response significantly decreases.

Enhancement of Biodegradation and Detoxification of Methylene Blue by Preformed Biofilm of Thermophilic Bacilli on Polypropylene Perforated Balls

Microbial degradation represents an eco-friendly alternative to traditional physicochemical treatments in removing persistent and toxic environmental pollutants, including synthetic dyes (i.e., methylene blue, MB) employed in different industries. The exploitation of thermophilic bacilli, such as those isolated from the shallow hydrothermal vents of the Eolian Islands (Italy), could provide valuable resources for the treatment of warm, dye-containing wastewater. In this study, we evaluated the ability of preformed biofilms on polypropylene perforated balls (BBs) of fifteen thermophilic bacilli, to decolor, degrade, and detoxify MB in aqueous solutions. Among them, BBs of Bacillus licheniformis B3-15 and Bacillus sp. s7s-1 were able to decolorize MB more than 50% in saline solution (NaCl 2%), incubated in static conditions at 45 °C for 48 h. At optimized initial conditions (10 mg L−1 MB, pH 5.2 for B3-15 or pH 4 for s7s-1), the two strains enhanced their decolorization potential, reaching 96% and 67%, respectively. As indicated by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, the treatment with BB B3-15 was the most efficient in degrading the Cl–C and –NH groups of MB. This degraded solution was 40% less toxic than undegraded MB, and it has no impact on the bioluminescence of Vibrio harveyi, nor the growth of the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Biofilm formed by strain B3-15 on polypropylene perforated balls could be proposed as a component of bioreactors in the treatment of warm, dye-containing wastewater to concomitantly remediate MB pollution and simultaneously counteract harmful effects in aquatic environments.

Neurophysiological evidence for the overview effect: a virtual reality journey into space

The Overview Effect is a complex experience reported by astronauts after viewing Earth from space. Numerous accounts suggest that it leads to increased interconnectedness to other human beings and environmental awareness, comparable to self-transcendence. It can cause fundamental changes in mental models of the world, improved well-being, and stronger appreciation of, and responsibility for Earth. From a cognitive perspective, it is closely linked to the emotion of awe, possibly triggered by the overwhelming perceived vastness of the universe. Given that most research in the domain focuses on self-reports, little is known about potential neurophysiological markers of the Overview Effect. In the experiment reported here, participants viewed an immersive Virtual Reality simulation of a space journey while their brain activity was recorded using electroencephalography (EEG). Post-experimental self-reports confirmed they were able to experience the Overview Effect in the simulated environment. EEG recordings revealed lower spectral power in beta and gamma frequency bands during the defining moments of the Overview Effect. The decrease in spectral power can be associated with reduced mental processing, and a disruption of known mental structures in this context, thereby providing more evidence for the cognitive effects of the experience.

Effect of Packaging Method and Storage Environment on Activity of Magnesium Oxide and Mechanical Properties of Basic Magnesium Sulfate Cement

As one of the raw materials of basic magnesium sulfate cement (BMSC), the activity of light-burned magnesium oxide (MgO) has an important effect on the hydration rate, hydration products, and mechanical properties of BMSC. To reveal the influence of packaging method, storage environment, and storage time on the activity of MgO and the mechanical properties of BMSC, an experiment was conducted by using ordinary woven bags, peritoneal woven bags, and plastic and paper compound bags to store the finished BMSC and the raw materials (light-burned MgO, MgSO4·7H2O, fly ash, and a chemical additive) under the conditions of natural environment, sealed environment, and wet environment, respectively. Comparative analysis of the effects of packaging method, storage conditions, and storage time on the activity of MgO and the mechanical properties of BMSC was performed through the mechanical strength test of mortar specimens. The results showed that in a sealed environment, the loss of a-MgO content in light-burned MgO was minimized, which was more conducive to keeping the mechanical properties of BMSC stable. In the wet environment, the mechanical strength of BMSC was significantly reduced in the early stage (1 day) due to the significant reduction in the activity of MgO, and the mechanical strength of the finished BMSC and prepared BMSC after 120 days of storage was still lost, regardless of the packaging method. However, the storage environment and packaging method had relatively little effect on the late mechanical strength (28 days) of BMSC. It is advisable to use ordinary woven bags for packaging in natural and sealed environments as this is more economical for engineering applications. Plastic and paper compound bags are superior to ordinary woven bags and peritoneal woven bags in wet environments.

Do smart city policies improve energy efficiency? Evidence from China

To address air pollution and offer a convenient and comfortable living environment, the Chinese government launched a smart city pilot (SCP) project in 2012, accompanied by a comprehensive set of environmental and energy-related laws and regulations. Although academic interest in smart cities has surged, there remains a notable gap in empirical research exploring the economic, environmental, and energy effects of such initiatives. Taking 232 prefecture-level cities from 2003 to 2017 as research subjects, this study measures energy efficiency by using energy consumption per unit of GDP and adopts a difference-in-differences (DID) analysis to investigate the impact of SCPs on energy efficiency. The empirical results indicate that SCPs improved energy efficiency by promoting urban technological innovation capabilities and green total factor productivity, and this effect was more pronounced in cities that were more dependent on traditional fossil fuel energy sources and had more developed fiscal and financial levels. Studying the impact of smart city construction on energy utilization efficiency in developing countries, such as China, is not only significantly enlightening for China’s green and low-carbon transition but also provides reference opinions for constructing smart cities and the path to enhancing energy efficiency in other developing countries. The findings provide valuable insights into the global development of smart cities, urban sustainability, and high-quality economic growth.

Social and physical environment effects on toileting disability among older adults in India

BackgroundTo examine the prevalence of toileting disability among older adults in India and its association with broad aspects of the physical and social environment.MethodsWe use data from the inaugural wave of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India and focus on adults aged 65 and older (N = 20,789). We draw on the disablement process model and existing frameworks to identify environmental factors and other risk factors that may be associated with toileting disability. Hierarchical logistic regressions are implemented to analyze the health impacts from physical and social environment characteristics.ResultsOne in five older Indian adults had difficulties with toileting, and the prevalence rate of this functional disability varied across sub-national regions. We find that low neighborhood trust was associated with an increased likelihood of toileting disability, as was the use of assistive mobility devices. The negative effects of these social and external environment characteristics hold when we stratified the sample by rural and urban residency. Also, older adults in urban areas without access to toilets and using shared latrines had higher odds of being disabled in terms of toileting. Other factors important in explaining toileting disability among older adults included poor self-rated health, arthritis, currently working, living in the East or West region, and having functional limitations.ConclusionsPoor person-environment fit can compromise older adults’ ability to perform self-care tasks. Policymakers need to look beyond the physical environment (e.g., dedicating resources to construct toilet facilities) to adopt a more holistic, multi-faceted approach in their sanitation policies. Improving the safety of neighborhood surroundings in which shared latrines are located and the availability of accessible toilets that cater to those with mobility impairments can help improve independence in toileting among older adults.