Environmental Aspects Research Articles

Examining the impact of board gender diversity and regional differentiation in the ESG‐corporate performance nexus: Evidence from financial service industry

AbstractThis study explores the impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors on corporations by investigating how board gender diversity moderates the relationship between ESG practices and corporate performance across different regions. Using traditional data envelopment analysis (DEA) and chance‐constrained DEA models, the study analyzes 225 financial service firms over an 11‐year period (2011–2021). Results indicate that high (low) board gender diversity levels significantly influence the connection between the environmental (social) aspects of ESG practices and corporate performance. Thus, the roles of stakeholder engagement and regional distinctions are highlighted in achieving sustainable development goals.

Mining Heritage Reuse Risks: A Systematic Review

Mining heritage reuse refers to the practice of repurposing former mining sites and their associated structures, landscapes, and communities for new uses, which plays a critical role in the green transformation of countries that are heavily reliant on mining resources. Nonetheless, repurposing closed mining sites comes with its own set of risks. Given these complexities, conducting a comprehensive risk analysis is imperative. Adhering to the PRISMA guidelines, this study established a systematic review for assessing risks in mining heritage reuse. We meticulously screened literature from Web of Science (WoS), Engineer Village (EI), and Wiley, ultimately focusing on 12 pertinent articles. Our findings categorize the repurposing of mining heritage into six distinct sectors: renewable energy, agriculture, residential developments, tourism, forestry, and underground laboratories. Analysis of the extant literature reveals a predominant focus on the environmental and technical aspects of risks, with less attention paid to the social dimensions of risks. A key contribution of this review is the introduction of the Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model and a multi-hazard approach to examining risks associated with mining heritage reuse. Consequently, future research on the risks of repurposing mining heritage is recommended to incorporate assessments of social-level risks and the interplay among various risk factors.

Work stress and caring intention among health care workers in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Background Healthcare workers may feel stress when caring for patients suspected as having a highly infectious and novel disease, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Objectives This study aimed to identify the psychological responses and factors affecting these responses among healthcare workers in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Healthcare workers regardless of their experience in caring for COVID-19 patients in our hospital voluntarily participated in this cross-sectional study in April 2021. We used a self-assessment questionnaire with 70 items to identify the psychological responses and affecting factors. Results The experience of caring for COVID-19 patients was significantly associated with eight stressors, including “frequent modification of infection control procedures,” “worrying about being negligent and endangering coworkers,” “worrying about lack of manpower,” “being without a properly fitted environment,” “protective gears being a drag in providing quality care,” “protective gears causing physical discomfort,” “worrying about inflicting COVID-19 on family” and “worrying about nosocomial spread.” Using multivariate logistic regression, “switching thoughts and facing the situation with positive attitudes” (odds ratio: 2.974, P = 0.011), “ever caring COVID-19 patients” (odds ratio: 1.990, P = 0.018), “I felt scared” (odds ratio: 0.180, P < 0.001), and “I thought it is unlucky” (odds ratio: 0.492, P = 0.029) were identified as independent factors for the healthcare workers’ willingness to participate in future missions regarding infectious respiratory diseases. Conclusion The experience of caring for COVID-19 patients was significantly associated with several stressors related to psychological, practical, and environmental aspects, but not with immediate reactions to the mission. Experiences in caring for COVID-19 patients and positive attitudes could increase the healthcare workers’ willingness to participate in future missions regarding infectious respiratory diseases, and feeling scared and unlucky can reduce this willingness.

Link between obesity and growth in children and adolescents

Background: The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity is a global problem. Childhood obesity is associated with an increased risk of several metabolic complications such as insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Moreover, childhood obesity plays a significant role in growth patterns.Current Concepts: Growth during childhood and adolescence is influenced by multiple factors, including genes, hormones, and environmental aspects. Excess adiposity can influence growth velocity and final adult height owing to changes in several hormonal parameters such as insulin, leptin, and ghrelin.Discussion and Conclusion: Obese children typically exhibit a tall stature during the prepubertal and pubertal periods, which resolves later in adolescence. In addition, increased obesity in children precedes advancements in skeletal maturation and leads to earlier onset of puberty. Although potential mechanisms have been hypothesized, those underlying the putative association between childhood obesity and growth remain unclear. Further studies are required to gain insight into the mechanisms underlying the growth patterns in children and adolescents with obesity.

Utilizing Biofertilizer for Achieving Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy towards Vision 2040, Oman

Utilizing Biofertilizer for Achieving Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy towards Vision 2040, Oman

Analysis of the sustainability index for ecologically low-input integrated farming: A comprehensive assessment of environmental, economic, and social impact

A comprehensive sustainability index was designed in this study to evaluate the effectiveness and environmental impact of ecologically low-input integrated farming systems. By integrating diverse agricultural practices while minimizing reliance on external, non-renewable resources, this approach aims to enhance ecological harmony and sustainability. The index provides a multi-dimensional assessment, encompassing environmental, economic, and social aspects, to gauge the overall sustainability of these integrated farming practices. The procedure involved defining critical sustainability criteria across environmental, economic, and social dimensions, collecting relevant data on farming practices, and constructing a model to assess and score these practices. The index was validated through real-world applications and engaged with various stakeholders for insights and practical verification. Environmental data involves measuring soil nutrients (5 %), water usage (500 gallons/acre), and biodiversity (30 species/acre) to assess the ecological impact of farming practices. Economic data focuses on recording crop yields, input costs, and market prices to evaluate the financial viability of these practices. Social data is collected through surveys on labor practices, job satisfaction, and community impact, providing insights into the social implications and acceptability of the farming methods. The data revealed that the farming system aligned well with sustainability benchmarks, exhibiting no deviation from optimal levels in soil nitrogen content and water usage. Strong profitability and input cost efficiency were observed in the economic dimension, with a net income per acre of $400/acre and an input cost efficiency of 50 %. In the social aspect, although reasonably scored, specific labor metrics and regional/industry standards were lacking for a comprehensive evaluation. Overall, the farming system demonstrated commendable sustainability practices, with an environmental score of 7.5/10, an economic score of 8/10, and a social score of 7/10, suggesting potential for further improvements, particularly in addressing social sustainability factors.

How Does The Public Respond To The Impact Of Carbon Tax Implementation Planning In DKI Jakarta?

Implementing a carbon tax is a policy to overcome the impact of carbon emissions on the decline in environmental quality. Implementing carbon tax policies can have complex impacts in various fields, such as economic, environmental, social, and political. This research analyzes the public's open response to the impact of carbon tax implementation. The research uses a qualitative and S-O-R method to analyze the public's response to the carbon tax. Data collection methods are carried out through interviews, observation, and documentation. The criteria for selecting sources (informants) in this research are people in DKI Jakarta who have an NPWP (Tax ID number), owners, and users of motorized vehicles, as well as academics in the field of taxation. Data analysis was done in data reduction, display, and conclusion. The analysis results in this research show that most people respond to implementing the carbon tax by agreeing with income redistribution as a reduction in rates for other types of taxes. In the environmental aspect, there is a positive response to implementing a carbon tax in reducing the impact of carbon emissions. Various responses highlighted the principles of justice regarding social inequality between social groups and the need to evaluate policy instruments in socio-political aspects. Public approval for implementing a carbon tax considering economic changes and environmental awareness still underlines the need for a fairer socio-political approach.

Natural ventilation to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) in existing homes: The development of health-based and context-specific user guidelines

Acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) is one of the most relevant aspects of a healthy home environment. Despite advances in mechanical and hybrid ventilation systems, natural ventilation still constitutes a crucial intervention to improve IAQ in existing homes; especially in older and/or vulnerable ones. The challenge, however, is optimizing natural ventilation strategies so IAQ is reached while thermal discomfort (and potentially associated energy consumption) is minimized.The complexity of identifying factors that may determine the possibilities of natural ventilation in existing homes has traditionally hindered the efforts from the scientific community to communicate straightforward answers for end-users. This work develops a methodology that, based on real case studies and through a series of simulations, provides simple, context-specific criteria and recommendations in order to reach acceptable IAQ through natural ventilation strategies in existing homes. The use of a minimum ventilation time (MVT) indicator, alongside considerations for different seasons and housing types, are translated into step-by-step guidelines aimed at helping the end-user to (i) gain knowledge regarding the opportunities and limitations for natural ventilation in the dwelling, and (ii) identify which specific actions should be carried out under different conditions to maintain minimum IAQ.The conceptual framework and methodology presented, while illustrated for the case of Barcelona, can be replicated for different cities or regions with differing housing characteristics and climatological conditions, and can easily accommodate other locally relevant factors.

Assessing the Healthfulness of University Food Environments: A Systematic Review of Methods and Tools.

The availability, promotion, and price of healthy foods within the university food environment may impact students' dietary choices. This systematic review summarizes the tools and methods used to assess the healthfulness of university food environments where many students spend a significant portion of their emerging adulthood. Thirty-six global studies published between 2012 and 2022 were sourced from PubMed (NNLM), Cochrane Library (Wiley), Web of Science (Clarivate), APA PsycInfo (EBSCO), CINHAL Complete (EBSCO), ProQuest Nursing, and Allied Health, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Of the included studies, 58% were institutional-level audits, 17% examined individual-level perceptions, and 25% combined both. Most institutional-level audits focused on one aspect of the food environment (e.g., eateries, vending machines). For studies examining multiple spaces within the campus environment (38%), comprehensive assessments were limited, and most studies had to employ a combination of assessment tools. Surveys were most often used to gather individual perceptions about the food environment. The Nutrition Environment Measures Survey (NEMS) was the most commonly used tool across all studies. This review highlights the need for a standardized tool, method, or a "healthy" benchmark for specific use at universities to improve methodological rigor and comparability of findings across institutions.

Edible insects as a sustainable protein source: a meta-analysis

Abstract With the global population set to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, posing a potential 75% increase in food demand, this study examined the viability of edible insects as a sustainable protein source compared with beef. Employing a meta-analysis approach, data were synthesized from studies conducted over the past 13 years, using Hedges’ d effect size and mixed model methods. The parameter values included the nutritional, environmental, and economic aspects of edible insects. Out of 10,119 articles screened, 222 were selected for analysis, revealing 135 different species. Subsequently, 10 species were selected, based on the most comprehensive data available, for mixed model analysis. Although the protein content of these 10 edible insect species was generally lower than that of beef, certain species exhibited amino acid scores surpassing those of beef. Edible insects also exhibited significantly higher calcium, iron, and zinc content compared with beef. Environmental aspects may enhance the value of edible insects as they exhibited greater advantages compared with beef. Despite some identified risks in incorporating edible insects into the diets of humans and animals, there remain potential areas for further investigation and development, such as addressing fat content, indigestible carbohydrate, availability, and sustainability aspects. Further research is required to promote local edible insect products as nutritious food and feed.

Melatonin in Human Breast Milk and Its Potential Role in Circadian Entrainment: A Nod towards Chrononutrition?

Breastfeeding is the most appropriate source of a newborn’s nutrition; among the plethora of its benefits, its modulation of circadian rhythmicity with melatonin as a potential neuroendocrine transducer has gained increasing interest. Transplacental transfer assures melatonin provision for the fetus, who is devoid of melatonin secretion. Even after birth, the neonatal pineal gland is not able to produce melatonin rhythmically for several months (with an even more prolonged deficiency following preterm birth). In this context, human breast milk constitutes the main natural source of melatonin: diurnal dynamic changes, an acrophase early after midnight, and changes in melatonin concentrations according to gestational age and during the different stages of lactation have been reported. Understudied thus far are the factors impacting on (changes in) melatonin content in human breast milk and their clinical significance in chronobiological adherence in the neonate: maternal as well as environmental aspects have to be investigated in more detail to guide nursing mothers in optimal feeding schedules which probably means a synchronized instead of mistimed feeding practice. This review aims to be thought-provoking regarding the critical role of melatonin in chrononutrition during breastfeeding, highlighting its potential in circadian entrainment and therefore optimizing (neuro)developmental outcomes in the neonatal setting.

Environmental and Technological Aspects of the Functioning of Municipal Solid Waste Recycling Complexes (on the Example of the Moscow Region)

The existing scheme, key operations and technologies used in the company for sorting and processing municipal solid waste in the Moscow region have been considered. The features of waste streams entering the waste processing system have been studied, quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the morphological composition have been presented, actual data on the composition of pollutant emissions generated at different stages of waste sorting and processing have been analyzed, the most problematic areas and priority eco-toxicants have been identified.

Incorporating plastic waste fibres for sustainable sandy soil

The increase in urbanization has led governments to build on sites with certain geotechnical ‎hazards, such as liquefaction, ‎low bearing capacity, etc. In recent decades, as governments ‎have focused their efforts on the environmental and ‎economic aspects, researchers have ‎emphasized the need to use suitable alternative materials for the best design features, also the issue of plastic pollution is a significant global problem that requires urgent attention, current initiatives focus on the use of technical solutions to integrate non-biodegradable plastics into ‎the construction of buildings and road pavement.‎ ‎In this ‎paper, a series of direct shear tests were performed to evaluate the benefits of plastic wastes, ‎such as polypropylene ‎‎(PP) pots, and the engineering properties of sand reinforced with such ‎materials. To highlight the contribution of the ‎reinforcement to the shear strength, the ‎tests were carried out on sand reinforced with variable fibre contents (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, ‎and 0.8%) ‎for loose-density sand and medium-density sand. ‎ The experimental results showed that the increase in shear ‎strength is relatively more significant for specimens prepared with dry deposition mode as compared to those prepared ‎with wet deposition mode and it is increased with the fibre content. The inclusion of randomly distributed fibres has a significant effect on the shear strength and dilatation of sandy soils. Furthermore, the recycling fibre used in this study ‎shows a better performance in terms of shear strength. In conclusion, the use of plastic waste as ‎reinforcement would lead ‎to at least two solutions: soil reinforcement and reducing the ‎environmental impact of waste.

ORGANIZACIONES SOSTENIBLES? LA PERCEPCIÓN DE LOS ESTUDIANTES DE UNA INSTITUCIÓN DE EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR

The role of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as opinion and behavior makers has long been recognized and this affects relevant issues between society and organizations such as sustainability. Studying how university students perceive sustainability in organizations can reveal guidelines for decision-making and actions in HEIs. There fore, the objective of this study is to verify which factors and variables impact the perception of students about the sustainability of organizations. A Survey was conducted with students of an HEI in south of Brazil. Data collection was performed through a questionnaire and a valid sample of 895 respondents was obtained. The results show the positive impact of the factors Environmental and Sustainable Aspects, Social, Ethical and Corporate Governance. It is concluded that the elements that form these factors generate guidelines for theim provement of sustainability practices.

Hyperglycemia as a gestational factor associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a review of the literature

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. The etiology, which has been the subject of studies, is influenced by a range of factors, including genetic, environmental, and gestational aspects. Methods: This article aims to review the literature, exploring the gestational causes associated with ASD, concentrating on intrauterine hyperglycemia. Results: The analysis reveals a scarcity of empirical studies, highlighting the need for additional research, especially in the Brazilian context. Conclusion: The results show that hyperglycemia during pregnancy can increase the risk of ASD, highlighting the importance of further research in this area.

A challenge to the expected: Lack of longitudinal associations between the early caregiving environment, executive functions in toddlerhood, and self-regulation at 6 years.

Previous research and theory indicate an importance of the quality of the early caregiving environment in the development of self-regulation. However, it is unclear how attachment security and maternal sensitivity, two related but distinct aspects of the early caregiving environment, may differentially predict self-regulation at school start and whether a distinction between hot and cool executive function is informative in characterizing such predictions through mediation. In a 5-year longitudinal study (n=108), we examined these associations using measures of maternal sensitivity and attachment security at 10-12 months, executive function at 4 years, and self-regulation at 6 years. Surprisingly, and despite methodological rigor, we found few significant bivariate associations between the study variables. We found no credible evidence of a longitudinal association between maternal sensitivity or attachment security in infancy and self-regulation at 6 years, or between executive function at 4 years and self-regulation at 6 years. The lack of bivariate longitudinal associations precluded us from building mediation models as intended. We discuss our null findings in terms of their potential theoretical implications, as well as how measurement type, reliability, and validity, may play a key role in determining longitudinal associations between early caregiving factors and later self-regulation and related abilities. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The early caregiving environment has been implicated in the development of later self-regulation, which includes more basic skills, such as hot and cool executive functions (EF). In a 5-year longitudinal study, with a sample of 108 children, we rigorously measured aspects of early caregiving, EF, and self-regulation. We found no significant longitudinal associations between early caregiving and self-regulation at 6 years, nor between EF at 4 years and self-regulation at 6 years. These null results highlight the complexity of modeling self-regulation development and raise critical questions about general methodological conventions within self-regulation development research.

Assessing child satisfaction and expectations for developing a child-friendly environment at the pediatric department in a general hospital in Qatar.

"Patient-centered" care positions the patient at the core and emphasizes fulfilling their unique needs, preferences, and values. This approach is particularly significant in the context of children. Although widely recognized as necessary, this approach is not universally implemented. The children find themselves in hospital wards where they are required to follow protocols and systems designed primarily for adults. In the appropriate atmosphere, children often express themselves more effectively through words, body language, and play, leading to a richer understanding of their needs. There is growing recognition of the importance of addressing children's concerns regarding hospital environments. This study investigates children's satisfaction with the physical aspect of the hospital environment. Insights from this exploration could provide valuable input for creating hospital environments centered around children's needs and preferences. This mixed-methods study involves children aged 6-14 years with parental consent from a premiere healthcare provider in the state of Qatar. The survey used nine items to gauge satisfaction with the existing hospital environment as a "child-friendly hospital" and another nine items to explore their expectations for such environments. The Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests as well as thematic analyses were employed to assess the statistical significance of differences in satisfaction levels and children's expectations of the hospital's physical environment. A total of 398 children participated in the study. Of them, 40.3% were aged 6-8 years; 60.3% had experienced two to five hospital visits; 55.8% of children participated during their outpatient service visit; and 31.7% were Asian. Children's satisfaction levels with various aspects of the hospital environment-including its physical appearance, signage, lounge, consultant rooms, corridors, bedrooms, TV content, toys, and staff uniforms-were in the range of 42.9%-59%. The children expressed a desire for a hospital environment that is spacious, colorful, attractive, and filled with cartoon characters and toys in the children's hospital from the front lounge to the inpatient units. The findings underline the importance of considering the perspectives of children in evidence-based healthcare design. The study reveals that children's satisfaction with the hospital environment is generally average or below average. Ultimately, a "child-friendly hospital environment" integrates children's rights into healthcare to significantly improve outcomes.

Sustainability in a broad sense: An essential aspect of scientific conferences.

This article reflects on sustainability in the context of scientific conferences with emphasis on environmental, diversity, inclusivity, and intellectual aspects. We argue that it is imperative to embrace sustainability as a broad concept during conference organization. In-person conferences have an obvious environmental impact but mitigating strategies can be implemented, such as incentivizing low-emission travel, offering fellowships to support sustainable traveling, and promoting use of public transport or car-pooling. Utilizing eco-conscious venues, catering, and accommodations, along with minimizing resource wastage, further reduces environmental impact. Additional considerations include facilitating hybrid format conferences that allow both in-person and online attendance. Hybrid conferences enhance global participation whilst reducing resource consumption and environmental impact. Often-overlooked benefits can arise from the simple recording of talks to enable asynchronous viewing for people unable to attend in person, in addition to providing a legacy of knowledge that, for example, could support the training of early career researchers (ECRs) or newcomers in the field. The longevity of a research field, intellectual sustainability, requires an inclusive conference atmosphere, offering optimal opportunities for ECRs, minority groups, and researchers from emerging countries. Diversity and inclusivity not only enrich conference experiences but also enhances creativity and innovation.

Effectiveness of Soil-amended Biochar in Improving Crop Production, Soil Health and Environmental Aspects

Effectiveness of Soil-amended Biochar in Improving Crop Production, Soil Health and Environmental Aspects

Decreasing the energy demand in public buildings using nature-based solutions: case studies from Novi Sad (Republic of Serbia) and Osijek (Republic of Croatia)

BackgroundNature-based solutions (NBS) in urban areas offer an opportunity to improve environmental conditions and to reduce CO2 emissions towards establishing climate-neutral cities in the next few decades. Furthermore, the implementation of NBSs—vertical or horizontal green infrastructures on public facilities—could in particular improve both climate, including outdoor thermal conditions on a micro-scale (especially during the summer season) and the energy demand of buildings as well as save heating energy during the winter period.ResultsOn both selected buildings, extensive green roofs were implemented as an NBS intervention. The analysed data were obtained using the monitoring systems (from 2019 to 2022) installed on two public buildings in Novi Sad (Republic of Serbia) and Osijek (Republic of Croatia), with a focus on climate/bioclimate characteristics and thermal transmission capacities. Four automatic weather stations (AWS) were used for microclimate monitoring, along with the heat flow meter (HFM) method, to measure the alterations in the thermal transmittance (U value) of a flat concrete roof before and after energy refurbishment and the installation of a green roof. The outcomes of this study show that the air temperatures (Ta) and globe temperatures (Tg) near the green roof are lower by 0–3 °C for Ta and by 0–16.5 °C for Tg than the values captured by the AWSs at other locations. An even more interesting fact is that the green roof has a constant cooling potential during tropical nights, and based upon this research, the cooling value is around 2 °C for Tg (the Ta value is not distinct). The thermal transmittance results show that more savings can be achieved by applying a green roof with an 8 cm thick substrate: U values decreased by 50–69%, as measured by two different heat flux sensors.ConclusionsNature-based solutions, such as the implementation of an extensive green roof, have positive effects on diverse aspects of urban environments and building energy savings, which are particularly evident in extreme seasons, both summer and winter. Applying the proposed monitoring and assessment system could help local communities in their efforts to reduce carbon-based emissions. This paper provides a good example of the implementation of NBSs on a local- and a micro-scale.