Environmental Effects Research Articles

Investigation on the methane emissions from permeation of urban gas polyethylene pipes under the background of hydrogen-mixed natural gas transportation

Methane, a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, aggravates the greenhouse effect of ecological environment through its emissions. When transporting hydrogen-mixed natural gas through urban polyethylene pipes, methane will be emitted due to the permeation characteristic of polyethylene pipe material. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to the methane emissions from permeation of polyethylene pipes for protecting the environment and climate. In this paper, the solubility and diffusion coefficients of methane within hydrogen-mixed natural gas in polyethylene pipe materials are calculated through the Monte Carlo method and molecular dynamics simulation to determine the permeation coefficient of methane. Simultaneously, the methane emissions and equivalent carbon dioxide emissions of the hydrogen-mixed natural gas in polyethylene pipes are investigated. Results indicate the methane solubility coefficient decreases with increasing temperature and hydrogen mixing ratio. The methane diffusion and permeation coefficients increase with the rising temperature and pressure, and decreasing hydrogen mixing ratio. The pressure exerts minor influence while the temperature and hydrogen mixing ratio have more significant impact. That is, the lower the temperature and the higher the hydrogen mixing ratio, the less methane emissions caused by permeation. Therefore, the effective reduction of methane emissions can be achieved by adding the insulation layer to mitigate the impact of high temperature and increasing the hydrogen mixing ratio. For example, for the polyethylene pipe with the operating pressure of 4 bar and the size specification of SDR11, when the temperature drops from 300 K to 260 K, the methane emissions of hydrogen-mixed natural gas with hydrogen mixing ratios of 0 vol%, 20 vol%, 50 vol% and 80 vol% will be drastically reduced by 73.3%, 74.4%, 77.2% and 78.5% respectively, and when 20 vol%∼80 vol% hydrogen are mixed in the natural gas at 260 K, 300 K and 310 K, the methane emissions will be effectively reduced by 26.7%∼85.6%, 23.3%∼82.1% and 23.9%∼82.4% respectively. The findings of this study can serve as guidance for reducing the methane emissions from permeation of polyethylene pipes transporting hydrogen-mixed natural gas.

Exploring the effects of multi-dimensional geographic environment on daily sleep and physical activity based on the Actigraph data

Understanding the interplay between people’s daily sleep and physical activity and how geographic environment influences them are important for developing healthy cities. However, such research has been limited. This study aims to explore the bidirectional and nonlinear relationship between daily sleep and physical activity, and further investigate the comprehensive influences of multi-dimensional geographic environment on these health behaviors. Based on the objective data on sleep and physical activity over seven consecutive days using wrist-based accelerometers in Beijing, China, we developed a series of models to analyze the mutual influences between people’s daily sleep and physical activity, and employed the generalized additive model (GAM) to examine their potential nonlinear relationships and how geographic environment – including meteorological conditions, built environment, and social environment – influences them. The results show that sleep and physical activity exhibit notable bidirectional relationship. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is observed to improve sleep quality, but it decreases sleep duration. In contrast, total sleep time (TST) exhibits an inverted U-shaped pattern with both MVPA and total step counts, with the optimal sleep duration at 5 hours. Furthermore, meteorological factors, built environment characteristics, and social environment have significant linear or nonlinear effects on people’s daily sleep and physical activity. The outcomes of this study offer valuable insights for enhancing residents’ health and developing healthy cities.

The contribution of green technological innovation, clean energy, and oil rents in improving the load capacity factor and achieving SDG13 in Saudi Arabia

This research aims to assess the effects of green technological innovation, renewable energy sources, and oil rents on the load capacity factor in Saudi Arabia from 1988 to 2021. The primary conclusions can be outlined as follows. The combined cointegration and Saikkonen-Lütkepohl cointegration tests reveal long-run relationships between the load capacity factor and the explanatory variables at the 1% significance level. In comparison, the Phillips-Ouliaris test shows evidence of cointegration only at 10%. Moreover, the quantile regression indicates that oil rents adversely impact environmental quality; however, they remain contingent upon environmental conditions. A 1% increase in oil rents results in a decline in environmental quality by 0.025% under poor conditions, 0.036% under moderate/normal conditions, and 0.108% under good conditions. On the contrary, renewable energy consumption and green technological innovation improve environmental quality, irrespective of the prevailing environmental conditions. However, the environmental impacts of renewable energy consumption exceed those of green technological innovation. Results show that a 1% increase in renewable energy consumption leads to a 0.052-0.253% improvement in environmental quality, whereas a 1% increase in green technological innovation results only in a 0.017-0.047% improvement. Finally, population and GDP per capita exert negative and positive implications on the load capacity factor, respectively, while energy intensity has no significant environmental effects. The research findings provide significant insights and suggest policy recommendations to address climate change and meet the targets set out in SDG13.

H2-Rich Gas Production from Gasification of Oily Sludge via Supercritical Water Technology: Synergy Effect of KOH, K2CO3, and Reaction Parameters

Yielding H2 as a sustainable gaseous fuel from oily sludge is of critical importance in mitigating the environmental effects linked with the usage of conventional fossil fuels. The deficiency in the drying of biomass has ensued to the exploration of supercritical water gasification (SCWG) as an effective method for harvesting H2-rich gas. This study utilized a combination of two alkali catalysts (KOH and K2CO3) in supercritical water to generate a H2-rich gas from a conventional oily sludge. The Box-Behnken design was utilized to assess the impact of different operational variables, including temperature (400-600°C), feed concentration (FC) (between 5 and 25 wt.%), residence time (RT) (15-45 min), and catalyst to feed mass ratios (FMR) (0-0.50). The maximum production of H2 at 3.22 mmolg-feed-1 was achieved under optimal conditions of 600°C, 32.76 min, and a KOH to FMR of 0.45 and K2CO3 to FMR of 0.28.

Are SNPs Linked to Somatic Cell Score Suitable Markers for the Susceptibility to Specific Mastitis Pathogens in Holstein Cows?

Mastitis in cattle is often caused by microorganism infections in the udder. The three most common pathogens are esculin-positive streptococci (SC+), coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), and Escherichia coli (E. coli). In a previous study, 10 SNPs were associated with somatic cell score and mastitis in diverse Holstein populations. We tested these SNPs for their effects on individual pathogen presence. Milk and pathogen samples of 3076 Holstein cows were collected from four farms. Samples were excluded if multiple pathogens were present at the same time. Records of the same pathogen within 14 days of each other were counted as one infection. This resulted in 1129 pathogen-positive samples. Cases and controls were in ratios of 20:80 for SC+, 8:92 for CNS, and 11:89 for E. coli. The lasso, backward, and forward methods were used to narrow down SNPs associated with pathogen presence. The suitability of the SNPs to separate the samples into cases or controls for each pathogen was indicated using ROC curves. The Cochran-Armitage (CAT) and the Jonckheere-Terpstra (JTT) tests evaluated the influence of the SNPs on pathogen presence. Finally, a generalised linear mixed model (GLMM) including fixed environmental effects and a random sire effect was fitted to the binary trait of pathogen presence to test for association. In total, six out of the 10 investigated SNPs showed associations with pathogen presence based on the forward method: Two SNPs each for SC+ (rs41588957, rs41257403) and CNS (rs109934030, rs109441194), and three for E. coli (rs109934030, rs41634110, rs41636878). The CAT and GTT tests linked four SNPs (rs41588957, rs41634110, rs109441194, rs41636878) to pathogen presence, two of which were confirmed with the GLMM (rs41634110, rs109441194), with effects on CNS and E. coli. The SNPs linked to CNS and those linked to E. coli explained 13.2% and 13.8% of the variance, compared to 19% and 18.4%, respectively, of the full model with all 10 SNPs. Half of the SNP genotypes previously linked to lower SCS also decreased the probability for pathogen presence and might therefore be targets not just for lower SCS but for a better pathogen resistance. Trial Registration: Not applicable, no new data were collected for this study.

A Real-Time and Interactive Fluid Modeling System for Mixed Reality.

Within the realm of mixed reality, the capability to dynamically render environmental effects with high realism plays a crucial role in amplifying user engagement and interaction. Fluid dynamics, in particular, stand out as essential elements for crafting immersive virtual settings. This includes the simulation of phenomena like smoke, fire, and clouds, which are instrumental in enriching the virtual experience. This work showcases a cutting-edge system developed to produce dynamic and interactive fluid effects that mirror real captured data in real-time for mixed reality applications. This innovative system seamlessly incorporates fluid reconstruction alongside velocity estimation processes within the Unity engine environment. Our approach leverages a novel physics-based differentiable rendering technique, grounded in the principles of light transport in participating media, to simulate the intricate behaviors of fluid while ensuring high fidelity in visual appearance. To further enhance realism, we have expanded our framework to include the estimation of velocity fields, addressing the critical need for fluid motion simulation. The practical application of these techniques demonstrates the system's capacity to offer a robust platform for fluid modeling in mixed reality environments. Through extensive evaluations, we illustrate the effectiveness of our approach in various scenes, underscoring its potential to transform mixed reality content creation by providing developers with the tools to incorporate highly realistic and interactive fluid seamlessly.

The community food environment as an effect modifier of the relationship between racial discrimination and food insecurity among adults in Southern Brazil

BackgroundRacial discrimination is linked to unhealthy food environments and a higher prevalence of food insecurity. However, no study has explored their interrelated effects. We analyzed the relationship between racial discrimination, community food environment, and food insecurity in adults of different socioeconomic status. We also investigated the potential modifying effect of the food environment on the relationship between racism and food insecurity.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 400 adults aged 20–70 years residing in the central area of ​​Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul state. Race and racial discrimination were assessed by self-reported race/skin color using the Experiences of Discrimination scale (EOD), respectively. The food environment was assessed using the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey in Stores (NEMS-S) tool. Food insecurity was assessed using the short version of the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA for short, in Portuguese). Poisson regression with robust variance was employed for the multivariate analysis.ResultsThe prevalence of food insecurity was higher in areas with a poorer food environment (areas 1 and 3; 56.6% and 58.8%, respectively). Racial discrimination was associated with food insecurity, where every 1-point increase in the racial discrimination score increased the likelihood of food insecurity by 7% (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03–1.20). When stratifying the analyses by food environment, racial discrimination was associated with food insecurity only in areas with a poorer food environment (PR 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01–1.10).ConclusionsExperiences of racial discrimination were associated with a higher prevalence of food insecurity in the study population. The community food environment was an effect modifier of this relationship, highlighting the relevance of interventions in the food environment focused on areas with a greater presence of Black people as a way of combating racism and food insecurity.

Isotopic labeling of nanoparticles for the evaluation of their environmental fate in mesocosm experiments.

Mesocosm systems simulating floodplain areas are essential for the understanding of the environmental fate and effects of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs). In such mesocosm studies, the quantification of different types of nanoparticles coexisting in natural systems and containing the same element is often challenging. Such coexistence is expected e.g., for ENPs simultaneously released into the environmental systems. Despite the relevance of the coexistence, little is known about combined behavior and effects of ENPs in the environment. In this study, we developed a method for the quantification and differentiation of silver nanoparticles enriched by 109Ag isotope (109Ag-NPs) and sulfidized silver nanoparticles with natural isotopic distribution (S-Ag-NPs) in water, soil, and sediment and applied it to evaluate the environmental fate of these nanoparticles introduced simultaneously together with gold (Au-NPs) and titanium dioxide (TiO2-NPs) nanoparticles into mesocosms simulating an aquatic-terrestrial transition zone. High nanoparticle recoveries determined in water, sand, and soil spiked with nanoparticle mixtures indicate that the application of isotopically enriched ENPs will allow their differentiation from other nanoparticles containing the same element in environmental compartments even at the concentrations in the range of natural background. The co-accumulation of 109Ag-NPs, S-Ag-NPs, and Au-NPs in the top layer of sediment and soil and in biofilms observed in mesocosm studies suggests that these compartments can act as effective sinks for these ENPs. We suggest that the hetero-aggregation between different co-occurring ENPs and their high affinity to biota are major mechanisms controlling their fate in the aquatic-terrestrial transition zone. A high co-enrichment of 109Ag-NPs, S-Ag-NPs, Au-NPs, and TiO2-NPs in/on algae, biofilms, leaves, and amphipods suggests an enhanced risk of biomagnification. The findings of this study will contribute to a better understanding of the fate of ENPs and their combined effects in environmental compartments, where the simultaneous presence of diverse nanoparticles is expected.

Optimum Use of Recycled Waste Materials as Partial Replacement of Fine Aggregate in Portland Cement Concrete Mixes

This study explored the independent utilization of five common waste materials - rubber, plastic, glass, slag, and sewage sludge ash (SSA) - as partial replacement of fine aggregate in Portland cement concrete (PCC) mixes. The main objective was to determine an optimum substitution range for each waste material that would offer well performing concrete in terms of workability, compressive strength, and durability. To this end, multiple concrete batches were prepared, incorporating each waste material at four different levels: 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% by weight of fine aggregate. Then, concrete samples (100-mm diameter × 200-mm tall cylinders) were cast from each batch and were moisture-cured for 7, 14, and 28 days prior to testing. Also, the chemical composition of each waste material was identified using FTIR spectroscopy to understand its impact on the development of concrete strength. While most waste led to the diminished strength gains at all substitution rates, the addition of glass, slag, and SSA contributed positively to the strength development at specific replacement levels: 5% for glass, 10 - 15% for slag, and 5 – 15% for SSA. Furthermore, these additions of glass and slag exhibited comparable workability and durability although SSA did not exhibit comparable workability and durability. The findings of this study can hold significant implications for environmental sustainability and cost effectiveness in construction projects.

Changes in Nutrient Surpluses and Contents in Soils of Cereals and Kiwifruit Fields

Knowledge of nutrient surpluses in soils is critical to optimize nutrient management and minimize adverse environmental effects. We investigated the nutrient surpluses in soils in two regions over 25 years (1992 to 2017) in the south Loess Plateau, China. One region has cereals as the main crop, whereas in the other region, the main cereal crops was changed to kiwi orchards. The inputs of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) increased rapidly (by 74%, 77%, and 103% from 1992 to 2017 in the cereal region; and by 91%, 204%, and 368% in the kiwifruit region), while the nutrient outputs were relatively stable, which resulted in increasing nutrient surpluses (the annual averaged surpluses of N, P, and K were 178, 62, and 12 kg ha−1 y−1 for the cereal region; and 486, 96, and 153 kg ha−1 y−1 for the kiwifruit region) and lower nutrient use efficiency (NUE). The higher N surplus in the orchard-dominated region caused high nitrate N accumulation (3071 kg N ha−1 of 0–5 m in 11–20 y in the kiwifruit orchard) in deeper soil profiles. Similarly, high P and K surpluses in the orchard-dominated region increased soil available P and K. This highlights that comprehensive measures should be taken to control nutrient surpluses, which will help balance nutrient inputs and outputs and minimize nutrient losses in intensive horticultural crop systems.

Using Bifactor Twin Modeling to Assess the Genetic and Environmental Dimensionality of Adult ADHD Symptoms.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common and heritable neurodevelopmental condition that has been the subject of a wealth of genetics research. Because ADHD has an early age of onset, most of this work has focused on children, meaning that less is known about the genetics of ADHD in adults. Additionally, while much research has assessed the heritability of ADHD as a general dimension, less has assessed the heritability of individual subtypes (inattention, hyperactivity) or symptoms of ADHD. It therefore remains unclear whether the genetic factors underlying ADHD symptoms conform to a unidimensional or multidimensional structure. The aim of this study was to assess the genetic and environmental dimensionality of adult ADHD symptoms. We analyzed data from 10,454 twins of the Twins Early Development Study, who provided self-reports of ADHD symptoms using the Conners scale at age 21 years. The data conformed well to a psychometric bifactor model, providing support for a general dimension of ADHD in addition to secondary dimensions for inattention and hyperactivity. However, a bifactor independent pathway twin model provided support for a general dimension only at the level of non-shared environmental effects and not additive genetic or shared environmental effects. This suggests that symptoms of ADHD cluster together under a general dimension of non-shared environmental effects, although the two subtypes of ADHD (inattention and hyperactivity) are meaningfully genetically distinct. We found the overall heritability of ADHD to be 40%, comparable with previous estimates for adult ADHD symptoms. Our results provide useful insights into the genetic and environmental architecture of specific ADHD symptoms.

The Effect of Work-Life Balance and Work Environment on Employee Job Satisfaction

Job satisfaction is an attitude and a sense of fulfillment that employees feel towards their jobs, which arises from the company's ability to meet all employee needs adequately. Employee job satisfaction is an essential component of human resource organizations and serves as a benchmark that companies need to improve to foster trust in the organization and ensure peak performance. This is also the case with PT. Bank Tabungan Negara Tbk Bintaro Jaya Branch, which has experienced suboptimal work-life balance and work environment conditions, causing employees to feel uncomfortable in their jobs. This study aims to analyze the influence of work-life balance and work environment in enhancing job satisfaction among employees at PT Bank Tabungan Negara Tbk Bintaro Jaya. A sample size of 53 respondents was taken using a non-probability sampling technique with a saturated sample method. This research employs a quantitative method with data analysis conducted using multiple linear regression analysis with the assistance of SPSS version 25.0. The results show that work-life balance has a positive and significant effect on job satisfaction, and the work environment also has a positive and significant effect on job satisfaction.

PEGylated BODIPY Photosensitizer for Type I Dominant Photodynamic Therapy and Afterglow Imaging.

Type I photodynamic therapy (PDT) exhibits outstanding therapeutic effects in hypoxic environments in tumors, but the design of type I photosensitizers (PSs), especially those with simple structures but dramatic properties, remains a challenge. Herein, we report a design strategy for developing type I PSs in one molecule with afterglow luminescence. As a proof concept, a 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) PS (BIP) bearing water-soluble poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG550) chains is synthesized, and BIP can self-assemble into nanoparticles (BIPNs). Interestingly, BIPNs exhibit an O2•--triggered afterglow luminescence, which is scarce, especially for BODIPY derivatives. BIPNs demonstrate outstanding type I dominant PDT at an ultralow dose under both hypoxic and normoxic environments, which can significantly inhibit tumor growth under irradiation. This work highlights a high-performance PS with afterglow luminescence and excellent PDT effects, underscoring the significant potential of versatile PSs in clinical tumor theranostics.

Metabolites augment oxidative stress to sensitize antibiotic-tolerant Staphylococcus aureus to fluoroquinolones.

If left unchecked, infections involving antibiotic-refractory bacteria are expected to cause millions of deaths per year in the coming decades. Beyond genetically resistant bacteria, persisters, which are genetically susceptible cells that survive antibiotic doses that kill the rest of the clonal population, can potentially contribute to treatment failure and infection relapse. Stationary-phase bacterial cultures are enriched with persisters, and it has been shown that stimulating these populations with exogenous nutrients can reduce persistence to different classes of antibiotics, including topoisomerase-targeting fluoroquinolones (FQs). In this study, we show that adding glucose and amino acids to nutrient-starved Staphylococcus aureus cultures enhanced their sensitivity to FQs, including delafloxacin (Dela)-a drug that was recently approved for treating staphylococcal infections. We found that while the added nutrients increased nucleic acid synthesis, this increase was not required to sensitize S. aureus to FQs. We further demonstrate that addition of these nutrients increases membrane potential and the ability to generate harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) during FQ treatment. Chelating iron, scavenging hydroxyl radicals, and limiting oxygenation during FQ treatment and during recovery following FQ treatment rescued nutrient-stimulated S. aureus. In all, our data suggest that while nutrient stimulation increases the activity of FQ targets in stationary-phase S. aureus, the resulting generation of ROS, presumably made possible through metabolic upregulation, is the primary driver of increased sensitivity to these drugs.IMPORTANCEStaphylococcus aureus causes many chronic and relapsing infections because of its ability to endure host immunity and antibiotic therapy. While several studies have focused on the nutrient requirements for the formation and maintenance of staphylococcal infections, the effects of the nutrient environment on bacterial responses to antibiotic treatment remain understudied. Here, we show that adding nutrients to starved S. aureus activates biosynthetic processes, including DNA synthesis, but it is the generation of harmful reactive oxidants that sensitizes S. aureus to DNA topoisomerase-targeting FQs. Our results suggest that the development of approaches aimed at perturbing metabolism and increasing oxidative stress can potentiate the bactericidal activity of FQs against antibiotic-tolerant S. aureus.

Abdominal POCUS Education for Clinicians: A Systematic Review of Teaching Methods for Point-of-Care Abdominal Ultrasonography.

This systematic review examines educational strategies in clinician-performed abdominal point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), a critical skill with increasing relevance in medical care. Analyzing 28 studies, we highlight the strategies as well as advantages and disadvantages of various theoretical and practical components, including, for example, e-learning and simulation in training programs. The findings emphasize the necessity of blending various educational methods to enhance effectiveness and adaptability in training environments. Ultimately, robust training frameworks are essential to maximize diagnostic accuracy and improve patient outcomes in abdominal POCUS.

The Effects of Caffeine on Exercise in Hot Environments: A Bibliometric Study

Background: Caffeine is widely recognized as an ergogenic aid to enhance athletic performance, yet its effects in hot environments remain relatively underexplored. Aims: To provide a comprehensive overview of the research landscape and identify research themes in this field. Methods: We systematically searched the Web of Science (WoS) and SCOPUS databases using keywords related to caffeine (e.g., caffe*), hot environments (e.g., heat, hot, or therm*), and athletic performance (e.g., cardio, endurance, or strength). The Bibliometrix package in R was used for bibliometric analysis and result visualization, while a narrative review was subsequently performed to identify research themes. Results: We found that studies examining the impact of caffeine on exercise in hot conditions are relatively sparse and have progressed slowly in recent years. Research in this domain has predominantly been concentrated within an academic network led by Professor Lawrence Armstrong. Recent contributions have been sporadically made by emerging scholars, with collaborations largely confined to a few research groups and countries. Key research themes identified include exercise performance, thermoregulation, fluid balance, physiological responses, immune responses, synergistic effects with other compounds, and the influence of individual differences. Of these, the first three themes—exercise performance, thermoregulation, and fluid balance—have received the most attention. Conclusions: Caffeine’s effects on exercise performance in hot environments have not been thoroughly studied. The existing research themes are varied, and the conclusions show considerable inconsistencies. Our study highlights the need for further research into the effects of caffeine dosage, administration methods, and population-specific variables. We also call for increased collaboration among research groups to advance scientific understanding and address the gaps in this field.

Interactive Effects of Built Environment and Parking Policy on Car Use: Examining Differences Between Work and Non-Work Trips

Considerable interest has been shown in decreasing car use through planning and policy-making efforts. However, little is known about the interactive effects of built environment (BE) and parking policy on car use, and it is unclear whether and how these effects differ across trip purposes. We conducted a web-based survey in Beijing and collected data from 1036 respondents, including 517 male and 519 female respondents. This study estimates the interactive effects of BE and parking policy on car use for home-based work and non-work trips by employing multilevel logit models. The results show that BE variables at trip origins and destinations are important for shaping car use for both home-based work and non-work trips. Specifically, land use mixture (Coeff. = −0.121), bus stop density (Coeff. = −0.006), and population density (Coeff. = −0.009) at residential locations are negative factors affecting car use for work trips, whereas distance to local center (Coeff. = 0.012) and distance to the city center (Coeff. = 0.019) at residential locations are positive factors. Land use mixture (Coeff. = −0.323), bus stop density (Coeff. = −0.008), road density (Coeff. = −0.002), and population density (Coeff. = −0.007) at residential locations are negative factors of car use for non-work trips. Among BE factors at destinations, land use mixture (Coeff. = −0.319), bus stop density (Coeff. = −0.015), road density (Coeff. = −0.008), distance to the local center (Coeff. = −0.018), and population density (Coeff. = −0.012) are negative factors for car use for work trips, whereas the negative factors for non-work trips are land use mix (Coeff. = −0. 218), bus stop density (Coeff. = −0.038), road density (Coeff. = −0.003), distance to the city center (Coeff. = −0.121), and population density (Coeff. = −0.009). The effects of BE variables can be strengthened or weakened by free parking and parking convenience. Moreover, the results identify significant differences in the effects between work and non-work trips. These findings inform planners and policymakers of how to coordinate the BE and parking policies to decrease car dependence.

All black: a microplastic extraction combined with colour-based analysis allows identification and characterisation of tire wear particles (TWP) in soils

While tire wear particles (TWP) have been estimated to represent more than 90% of the total microplastic (MP) emitted in European countries and may have environmental health effects, only few data about TWP concentrations and characteristics are available today. The lack of data stems from the fact that no standardized, cost efficient or accessible extraction and identification method is available yet. We present a method allowing the extraction of TWP from soil, performing analysis with a conventional optical microscope and a machine learning approach to identify TWP in soil based on their colour. The lowest size of TWP which could be measured reliably with an acceptable recovery using our experimental set-up was 35 µm. Further improvements would be possible given more advanced technical infrastructure (higher optical magnification and image quality). Our method showed a mean recovery of 85% in the 35–2000 µm particle size range and no blank contamination. We tested for possible interference from charcoal (as another black soil component with similar properties) in the soils and found a reduction of the interference from charcoal by 92% during extraction. We applied our method to a highway adjacent soil at 1 m, 2 m, 5 m, and 10 m and detected TWP in all samples with a tendency to higher concentrations at 1 m and 2 m from the road compared to 10 m from the road. The observed TWP concentrations were in the same order of magnitude as what was previously reported in literature in highway adjacent soils. These results demonstrate the potential of the method to provide quantitative data on the occurrence and characteristics of TWP in the environment. The method can be easily implemented in many labs, and help to address our knowledge gap regarding TWP concentrations in soils.

Assessment of Socioeconomic Vulnerability in Selected Villages of Gosaba Block, Sundarban, India Using an Artificial Neural Network

The Indian Sundarban represent an endangered ecosystem with a distinct biogeographical composition. It is susceptible to natural disasters like storms, floods, and cyclones, hence jeopardizing its socioeconomic systems due to environmental stresses. This study aimed to evaluate the present socioeconomic vulnerability, identify key factors that exacerbate this vulnerability, and validate these factors using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) prediction model. Researchers also wanted to validate this evaluation with ANN to promote substantive discussions between researchers, local authorities, and stakeholders. Comprehensive reviews and successful adaption plans will improve. The study conducted in selected villages with 160 households in the Gosaba Block, located on the periphery of the Sundarban. The present study employed an integrated vulnerability approach, calculating the exposure, adaptive capacity, and sensitivity index by weighting the initial eigenvalues of each indicator with a variance percentage through principal components analysis (PCA). Based on this criterion, 156 households (97.5%) exhibited an extremely high vulnerability score, while 4 households (2.5%) displayed a moderate vulnerability grade. The villages of Pakhiralay and Lahiripur exhibit significant vulnerability, with a markedly deficient adaptive capacity. The villages of Mathurakhand, Kumirmari, and Satjelia exhibit vulnerability alongside moderate adaptation capacity. All are priority villages, however, Villages with moderate adaptive capacity may become less vulnerable with adequate interventions Proximity to market strongly affects MLP neural networks' assessment of environmental, economic, and social variables' effects on exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Respondent age, family size, social network, storm surges, supplementary sources of household income Dwelling years, temperature, embankment failure, and income greatly affect model performance. A policy initiative should prioritize the enhancement existing social and financial capital, facilitate access to local government, and promote community-oriented activities. National disaster, social welfare, and resource management strategies need separate action plans. The national government is also encouraged to decentralize governance to enable local governments to achieve their goals.

Assessment of the efficiency of functioning of the environmental management system of enterprises

Purpose. A multifactor model is developed to assess the efficiency level of an enterprise’s environmental management system, depending on the effectiveness of organizational environmental measures. Methodology. The authors’ method for determining a comprehensive criterion for monitoring the effectiveness of the environmental management system, which characterizes the efficiency of operation and determines the level of environmental safety of enterprises, is proposed and used. To solve the tasks, a complex research method was also used, which included the analysis and generalization of literary and patent sources, and analytical, experimental research using computer and mathematical modeling methods. Findings. According to the studies and calculations of the generalized environmental quality indicator – 0.64, 0.66 and 0.66, the largest negative impact on the environment is caused by the activities of enterprises in the Pecherskyi, Podilskyi, and Solomianskyi districts of Kyiv, respectively. The obtained data testify to the relationship between the effectiveness of the implemented environmental measures (saving and rational use of resources, application of environmental technologies, advanced training, and environmental competence of employees) and the level of efficiency of the environmental management system of enterprises. Originality. As a result of the studies conducted using actual data, a system of indicators of the generalized environmental quality indicator has been proposed for the first time, which allows determining the environmental efficiency and effectiveness of the implemented environmental measures to assess the effectiveness of the functioning of the implemented environmental management system of the enterprise. Practical value. Based on the research results, a technique is proposed to assess the effectiveness of the environmental management system of enterprises by determining a generalized environmental quality indicator in terms of reducing the negative impact of the enterprise’s activities on the environment. Such an assessment system will help the management of the enterprise to promptly introduce corrective actions to improve the efficiency of the environmental management system and increase the level of environmental safety.