Environmental Elements Research Articles

Exploring sustaining embodied experience in the built environment: a case study of Seonyudo

ABSTRACT This study adopts a multidisciplinary approach, integrating the embodied experience framework with insights from embodied cognition and contextual design methodology, to investigate human interactions within a sustainable urban park. Focused on a post-industrial setting, it aims to validate the embodied experience process and identify key elements of sustainable urban environments. Through an empirical approach, this research seeks to deepen understanding of human engagement with built environments, enhancing awareness and communication around sustainable design concepts. Findings uncover diverse narratives of embodied experiences, structured by five contextual design models: (1) Flow model, mapping information flow; (2) Sequential model, outlining experience-influencing elements; (3) Artifact model, identifying experience-amplifying mediums; (4) Spatial model, showing relationships between artificial and natural environments; and (5) Cultural model, highlighting environment types in cultural contexts. This approach provides insights into urban sustainability’s experiential aspects, promoting a deeper understanding of embodied experiences and their role in sustainable design. It contributes to designing sustainable urban environments, linking theory with practical applications to improve urban life quality in sustainability initiatives.

Mixed reality for preoperative planning and intraoperative assistance of surgical correction of complex congenital heart defects.

Mixed reality (MixR) is an innovative visualization tool that presents virtual elements in a real-world environment, enabling real-time interaction between the user and the combined digital/physical reality. We aimed to explore the feasibility of MixR in enhancing preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance for the correction of various complex congenital heart defects (CHDs). Patients underwent cardiac computed tomography or cardiac magnetic resonance and segmentation of digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) images was performed. Three-dimensional models were then uploaded into a MixR headset (Microsoft HoloLens 2), displayed as holograms, and used for preoperative navigation of cardiac anatomy and intraoperative assistance of surgical steps. We adopted MixR in 5 different clinical scenarios: minimally-invasive partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection repair of 5 anomalous veins; intra-extracardiac Fontan completion in right atrial isomerism and dextrocardia; arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries with abnormal coronary pattern in situs inversus; complete unifocalization of major aortopulmonary collateral arteries; total artificial heart implantation for failing Fontan. Preoperative MixR allowed a comprehensive understanding of complex anatomical relationships and spatial mapping, using immersive 3D navigation. As a result, the surgeon was able to simulate the surgical approach and plan the best surgical strategy. Intraoperatively, MixR provided a real-time virtual map by overlaying holograms onto the patient's anatomy. MixR represents a promising tool for preoperative planning and 3D visualization in complex CHDs, however, its systematic adoption in the intraoperative setting requires further implementation of current hardware technology and software versatility.

Key environmental predictors as drivers of avifauna assemblages in Ghana’s coastal ecosystems

Avian assemblages are not only influenced by spatial factors but also by temporal variations in environmental conditions, creating dynamic patterns of bird presence in a given area. This study examined environmental elements affecting bird assemblages in Ghana's coastal ecosystems. We conducted point transect sampling along a 15-km coastal stretch, analyzing bird abundance, richness, and diversity in relation to microclimate and urbanization. Humidity and wind speed had a significant negative relationship with bird abundance as well as time of day (morning) having a negative relationship. Mean bird richness, diversity, were significantly higher in natural shoreline areas compared to urbanized ones. Bird abundance and seasonality were positive related where wet season was characterized by higher bird numbers which can be attributed to the favorability of the wet season in terms of food availability and habitat suitability. Indicator Species Analysis identified nineteen species significantly associated specific habitat characterization, with eleven species linked to lagoon adjacent shorelines. These results show the relationship between environmental factors and avian assemblages in coastal ecosystems, highlighting impacts of human disturbance and climate-related factors and the importance of pristine ecosystems in biodiversity conservation.

A nexus between regional welfare and sustainable development: A conceptual model

The relevance of the research stems from the nature of the approaches to the definition and measurement of regional welfare still debated in the extant research. Particular importance attached to this problem is related to the concept of sustainable development, which centres on promoting prosperity while protecting the planet. The paper aims to form an original theoretical model depicting the mutual influence of sustainable regional development and regional welfare. The fundamental propositions of the concept of sustainable development and welfare economics, as well as regional and spatial development theories constitute the methodological basis of the study. The methods used are comparative analysis, synthesis, and conceptual modelling. The findings confirm that regional welfare acts simultaneously as a target due to having the elements identical to the spheres of sustainable development in its struc ture, and as the key factor in the sustainable regional development due to incorporat ing a set of material and non-material, economic and non-economic goods, which build up the economic, social, environmental, and institutional elements ensuring an incessant process of changes in the regional socio-ecological-economic system impacted by interregional, national and international factors of external environment of a region. The proposed conceptual model advances scientific ideas about the main tenance of sustainable regional development, contributes to the theory of welfare, and creates a basis for devising a method to measure regional welfare.

Digital transformation in Cambodian higher education: Current trends and future directions

This paper delves into stakeholder perspectives on the current state and future of digital transformation in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Cambodia. Through online surveys, data were collected from academic staff, management, support personnel, and students across both private and public HEIs. The findings reveal generally positive assessments of the extent and effectiveness of digital transformations in Cambodian higher education. Respondents expressed a collective aspiration for enhanced digital infrastructure, training, and leadership support, while also highlighting persistent disparities in access and digital competence among students. The study underscores the need for a coherent, socially responsive digital strategy that addresses Cambodia’s unique socio-economic factors. Participants recognize the transformative potential of technologies such as AI, gamification, and blended learning in enhancing educational experiences. However, concerns regarding equity must be prioritized to prevent exacerbating existing divides. The findings emphasize the importance of ongoing stakeholder collaboration and strategic leadership from governmental and educational authorities to foster a comprehensive digital ecosystem that promotes equitable access to education. Ultimately, this research offers critical insights for policy-making, institutional planning, and educational practices. It advocates for a balanced approach between technological integration and maintaining essential human elements in learning environments. Further research is recommended to capture a wider range of voices and experiences from diverse educational contexts within Cambodia, enabling a more nuanced understanding of the challenges and prospects of digital transformation in higher education.

Mining and industrial processing wastes of phosphate rocks in Egypt: potentiality of rare earth elements

Abstract Globally, Egypt ranked the eighth position in the production of phosphorus with about 5 million tons annually. Phosphate ore is considered one of the commonest sources of rare earth elements (REEs). Mining and industrial processes (beneficiation) of phosphate ore produce huge amounts of wastes in different sizes. The present study aims to evaluate the potentiality of the phosphate ore wastes as a source of rare earth elements (REEs). The study targeted some phosphate production sites in Egypt, including: Abu Tartur, West and East El-Sebaiya phosphate mines, in addition to the fertilizers factory in Assiut. The collected waste samples, during 2023, were analyzed in terms of mineralogical composition using XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) and chemical composition using XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence). The results of chemical analysis recorded the highest concentrations of Y, Ce, La, Nd, Sc, Sm, U, and Th in Abu Tartur waste samples, while the lowest concentrations were recorded in the fertilizers factory waste samples. These wastes contain higher concentrations of REEs than the Algerian and USA wastes. Furthermore, an enrichment of the mostly environmental hazardous elements As, Cr, Cd, Pb, and Se are detected in Abu Tartur and West and East El-Sebaiya. Thus, the wastes from the industry and mining processing of phosphate represented a vital economic source for the production of REEs. The use of wastes for production of trace and rare earth elements represents an economic and environmental add value for phosphate industry.

Forming innovative work behavior prospective police investigator through self-efficacy and job crafting in the post-COVID-19

This study investigates the relationship between self-efficacy, job crafting, and innovative work behavior in Indonesian prospective police investigators. The research, conducted at the National Police Education and Training Institute, utilized a quantitative approach, gathering data from 448 participants via a structured online questionnaire employing a five-point Likert scale. The analysis was conducted using SmartPLS4. The findings indicate that self-efficacy does not directly affect innovative work behavior. However, job crafting serves as a complete mediator in this relationship, underscoring its essential role in promoting innovation within organized professional environments. This study enhances the current body of literature by applying Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory to law enforcement settings, highlighting the intricate interplay among cognitive, behavioral, and environmental elements. Incorporating job crafting-focused training in police education is recommended to improve adaptability and innovation, thereby addressing the operational challenges faced by law enforcement in the post-pandemic context. Future research should investigate these dynamics across various cultural and organizational contexts to further validate the findings and examine longitudinal changes throughout an officer’s career.

Cross-Regional Elemental Comparison of Mussels Using Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence (TXRF).

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence for multi-element analysis in mussels, focusing on sensitivity, precision, and detection limits. Additionally, it offers a cross-regional comparison of elemental composition in mussels from aquaculture farms in Italy, Spain, and Chile. TXRF, using suspensions of mussel samples, proved effective in detecting minor and trace elements, with recovery rates over 80% for Fe, Cu, Zn, As, and Sr. The research offers a chemical element comparison of Mytilus galloprovincialis and Mytilus chilensis mussels, revealing significant variation based on geographic origin. Correlation matrices demonstrated variable associations between elements, indicating that regional environmental conditions influence bioaccumulation. These findings deepen our understanding of how mussels accumulate elements in different environments. However, further research is needed to develop comprehensive elemental databases and to account for seasonal and temporal variations in mussels' elemental composition. This study may bring insight for food safety and public health monitoring.

Enhancing assessment practices: Incorporating developmental distress in adolescent depression diagnosis

Depression is a prevalent mental health problem, particularly in the middle to late stages of adolescence. There are certain characteristics of depression that make it difficult to diagnose and require a thorough evaluation. Primary care doctors are often the first to see teens and have a critical role in recognizing and treating the symptoms of this condition. In addition, there are groups that advise testing for depression at this time. To summarize, the major objective of this paper is to conduct a comprehensive review of the scientific literature about the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of depression in adolescents, with a particular focus on primary care settings. There are a number of environmental and genetic elements that are related with the development of depression in teenagers, making it a difficult job to comprehend the pathophysiology of this condition. Diagnosing this ailment can be challenging because of its wide range of clinical manifestations, even though there are specific screening tests and diagnostic criteria. Furthermore, it can be mistakenly identified with other mental illnesses, which is why a variety of other differential diagnoses must be used. The feasible options for therapy are determined in part by the severity of the ailment, associated risk factors, and the resources at hand. These substitutes might consist of pharmaceuticals (mostly fluoxetine) and psychotherapies (relationships and cognitive behavioural). Under no circumstances can treatment be completed without psychological education, a supportive attitude, and family involvement. Preventive measures not only have a major impact on reducing the prevalence of this illness, but they also have a major positive impact on community health generally. Because of its unpredictable clinical course and the fact that it is significantly underdiagnosed all over the globe, depression in adolescents is a disorder that is of concern to the medical profession. General practitioners are able to give early diagnosis, the beginning of therapy, and referrals to mental health experts when it is important to do so.

Interaction of Linguistic and Literary Aspects in the Context of the Cultural Diversity of the Turkic Peoples of Central Asia

Abstract The purpose of the study was to investigate the linguistic and literary components within the framework of the cultural diversity of Central Asian peoples of the Turkic ethnic group. The study analysed the linguistic features of the Turkic languages and their mutual influence through literary texts and oral traditions, with an emphasis on the processes of borrowing and adaptation of linguistic elements in a multilingual environment. The study examined scientific sources on linguistics and ethnolinguistics, and compared phonetic, morphological, and syntactic features of the Kazakh, Uzbek, Turkmen, and Kyrgyz languages in a historical context. The analysis of borrowings from Persian, Arabic, and Russian languages, content analysis of literary texts and folklore works, and an assessment of the role of mass media and the Internet in popularising Turkic languages were also included in the study. The results showed that the Turkic languages have gone through a difficult path of evolution under the influence of various cultural and political factors, such as the Mongol conquests and Russification in the Soviet period. The languages were significantly enriched with borrowings from Persian, Arabic, and Russian, which affected their vocabulary and grammar.

The evaluation of the serum levels of vitamin D and interleukin-33 in children with atopic dermatitis and its association with diseases severity.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by increased skin sensitivity to environmental elements, mediated by CD4+ T helper cells (Th2). Interleukin-33 (IL-33) plays a critical role in exacerbating symptoms in inflamed tissues. Conversely, vitamin D has been shown to induce antimicrobial peptides and suppress the inflammatory response. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between serum levels of vitamin D and IL-33 in children with Atopic dermatitis. Blood samples were collected from 51 patients with Atopic dermatitis and 20 healthy control cases. After counting the blood cells, serum was isolated by centrifugation, and the levels of IL-33, Immunoglobulin E (IgE), and vitamin D were measured using ELISA. Statistical analysis of the collected data was performed using SPSS version 26 software. Our findings revealed significant differences in the levels of IL- 33 (p value < 0.001), IgE (p value 0.005), and blood cell parameters including Hemoglobin (HGB) (p value < 0.001), Hematocrit (HCT) (p value < 0.001), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) (p value 0.001), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) (p value < 0.001), lymphocyte count (p value 0.02), and monocyte count (p value < 0.001) in AD patients compared to the control group. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between IL-33, and vitamin D serum levels in AD patients (p value 0.03). The current study has revealed a significant difference in the serum levels of IL-33 and IgE between AD patients and healthy individuals. This suggests a potential role for these variables in the pathophysiology of AD disease.

Analysis of the effect of cypermethrin on the development of Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

ABSTRACT Forensic entomotoxicology examines the impact of toxicants on insect development, their presence in carcass-feeding insects, and their bioaccumulation to determine the post-mortem interval (PMI). Incorporate environmental elements to obtain precise estimates of the post-mortem interval. This study examined how cypermethrin affected the fly, Lucilia sericata, throughout various developmental stages. Larvae were grown on pork tissues (liver and muscle) spiked with cypermethrin at various temperatures (20, 25, and 30°C). The study further explored how cypermethrin affected the development rate of L. sericata. The findings revealed that cypermethrin in pork liver and muscle accelerates the growth of Lucilia sericata compared to control samples. This change was constant across all temperature regimes. At 30°C, the average duration from 1st instar to pupae was 172 ± 1.54 hours, at 25°C it was 261.1 ± 1.9 hours, and at 20°C it was 366.2 ± 0.75 hours in pork liver. The average duration from 1st instar to pupae for cypermethrin-treated pork muscle was 169.7 ± 1.45 hours, 261.5 ± 0.65 hours, and 359.7 ± 0.55 hours at 30°C, 25°C, and 20°C, respectively. PMI estimates were impacted by differences in L. sericata larval stage: cypermethrin changed the morphology and the larvae could remain at 30°C for up to 7 hours in pork liver and 4 hours in pork muscle.

A STUDY OF ECOLOGICAL ELEMENTS IN AN URDU TRANSLATION OF THE DRAMA EIDIPUS REX

"Oedipus Rex" is a world-renowned tragedy drama originating from Greece. In terms of tone, it is a tragedy based on the rebellion of human nature and sexual imbalance. Various studies on this play have emerged, among which social and psychological studies are the most prominent. Due to the uniqueness of the play's theme, it has been translated into several languages, including Urdu. Regarding the study of drama and translation, it appears that there has been no sound study on the environmental elements presented in the play. Based on this point, this paper presents a study on the reflection of environmental elements in an Urdu translation of the drama.

Research on the spatial state and electrical distance variation of overhead transmission lines with changes in foundation

This article conducts a thorough investigation into the spatial state variations of overhead lines in response to foundational changes, as well as alterations in the electrical distance between the conductor and both the ground and tower structures. These changes are crucial for maintaining the stability and safety of the power system. By establishing an appropriate coordinate system and analyzing how tower sinking affects the position of overhead lines, this study examines the combined effects of multiple factors on the position of overhead lines. These factors include the degree of tower sinking, the elasticity and tension of the overhead lines, the positions and heights of adjacent towers, wind force, temperature, and other environmental elements. A mathematical model was developed to describe the positional changes of overhead lines following tower sinkage, and formulas were used to calculate the new suspension point positions and electrical distance variations of the wires. In addition, the effects of wire oscillations due to wind forces on the electrical clearance at tower heads and the impact of insulator string deviation on wire stability and safety were analyzed. Finally, a series of measures were proposed to ensure the safe operation of the power system.

Depression or recovery? A study of the influencing elements of urban street environments to alleviate mental stress

Depression or recovery? A study of the influencing elements of urban street environments to alleviate mental stress

What Factors Influence the Financial Risk Tolerance - A Further Examination on the Nexus Between Financial Risk Tolerance and Financial Environmental Factors

The consideration of risk tolerance plays a crucial role in the process of making optimal portfolio selections. In particular, the level of financial risk that an investor is willing to take, known as their financial risk tolerance (FRT), is sometimes regarded as the single most essential characteristic for the prediction of investor behaviour. In spite of this, it is a challenging endeavour since it is dependent on a wide variety of financial environment elements. For this reason, evaluating financial risk tolerance and identifying the elements that influence individual investors’ views of the financial risks they face have been interest of research and investigations for significant years. This study investigates the relationship between the financial risk tolerance of individual equity investors and financial environmental factors. For this purpose, four indicators namely “financial anxiety, money ethics, financial stress, and financial satisfaction” were used to check the impact of financial environmental determinants on FRT. The present study was executed in the state of Kerala, and the information was collected from individual retail investors through the use of a predesigned questionnaire. The Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) technique was utilised to evaluate the model. The results indicate that financial anxiety, money ethics, financial stress, and financial satisfaction exert significant positive effects on FRT. The findings of the current study may offer important assistance to state and national policymakers in the process of creating investment policies.

Advances in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry: Bridging Mental and Physical Health Care

It is one of the fundamental theories. in this discipline. According to this paradigm, interventions should focus on improving perceived susceptibility and severity while removing barriers to change. It also emphasizes the importance of perceived threats and benefits in influencing health behaviors. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), which adds the idea of perceived behavioral control to the earlier Theory of Reasoned Action, is another important theory. According to TPB, behavioral intentions are a reliable indicator of current behavior, as they are determined by attitudes toward the activity, subjective norms, and perceived control. This theory suggests that effective interventions should focus on both personal and environmental elements, emphasizing the role of external constraints and human control in determining health behavior. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) presents the idea of self-efficacy, or the belief that an action can be performed successfully. Increasing self-efficacy can increase people's motivation to adopt and maintain healthy behaviors, according to SCT, which places strong emphasis on the roles that imitation, reinforcement, and observational learning play in behavior change.

An interpretable schizophrenia diagnosis framework using machine learning and explainable artificial intelligence

Schizophrenia is a complicated and multidimensional mental condition marked by a wide range of emotional, cognitive, and behavioural symptoms. Although the exact root cause of schizophrenia is unknown, experts believe that a complex interaction of genetic, environmental, neurobiological, neurodevelopmental, and immune system dysfunctional elements are the contributing factors. In healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI) is used for analysing big datasets, enhance patient care, personalize treatment regimens, improve diagnostic accuracy, and expedite administrative duties. Hence, ML has been used to diagnose Schizophrenia in this study. The term ‘explainable artificial intelligence' (XAI) describes the development of AI systems that are able to provide understandable explanations for their choices as well as behaviours. In our research paper, we harnessed the power of five diverse XAI methodologies: LIME (Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations), SHAP (Shapley Additive exPlanations), ELI5 (Explain Like I'm 5), QLattice, and Anchor. According to (XAI), the most significant attributes include age range, sex, the presence of a triradius on the left thumb, the total number of triradii, and the left thenar region's palmar pattern. By enabling early intervention, automatic identification of schizophrenia using XAI can benefit patients, assisting doctors in making precise diagnoses, assisting medical personnel in maximizing resource allocation and care coordination.

Research on Design Methods for Immersive Games Based on Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) technology has rapidly advanced, offering immersive gaming experiences previously unattainable. However, creating truly immersive VR games remains a challenge despite improved hardware. This study investigates effective VR game design with a focus on environment design, interaction mechanics, and narrative and user interface (UI) design. The paper highlights that detailed environments enhance immersion but must balance visual quality with performance to avoid discomfort. It emphasizes the necessity of natural interaction mechanisms while considering system constraints and explores the importance of combining narrative depth with intuitive UI design. The findings suggest that successful VR game design requires a multifaceted approach that integrates detailed environmental elements, natural interactions, and a cohesive narrative. Additionally, the study underscores the significance of audio design and its role in enhancing realism and immersion. These design strategies are essential for achieving high levels of immersion and meeting the growing demand for engaging VR experiences. The research also points out the importance of testing and iterative refinement to ensure that the final product is both functional and enjoyable for users.

AGING IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Abstract Aging in sub-Saharan Africa is a relatively neglected area of research despite the increasing proportion of the population aging. This collection of papers highlights how the varied cultures in sub-Saharan Africa shape development in later adulthood and emphasizes the critical need for research on aging to consider the sociocultural context. First, Chukwuorji and colleagues focus on how health behaviors and self-esteem explain the association between social support and successful aging among Nigerian retirees. Second, Porter and colleagues present a collaboration between scientists and older adults in knowledge generation. They find that access to both social and physical environmental elements are necessary to promote physical activity in their communities. Third, Burns and colleagues explore how place and gender interact when examining disability prevalence among older adults in Ghana. Fourth, Silverstein and colleagues report that culture and religion play an important role in shaping how palliative care is perceived. For example, a cultural norm for medical secrecy and a hesitancy to talk about death present unique barriers for palliative care. Fifth, in a qualitative study examining how older chronically ill Nigerians cope with their diagnosis, Mahmoud and colleagues report that older Nigerians do not want individuals outside their close family circle to know that they are ill. Individuals conceal their illness because they fear discrimination and want to maintain normalcy when interacting with others. All the papers presented in this symposium highlight the importance of considering the sociocultural context to understand the aging experience.