Environment Facility Research Articles

Internal Migration and Urbanization in Nigeria: Implications for Socio-Economic Development

This study is an opinion paper that focuses on internal migration and urbanization in Nigeria: implications on socio-economic development. The purpose is to interrogate the interactions between internal migration and urbanization in Nigeria, pinpointing the implications of the nexus on Nigeria’s socio-economic development. The study was explained using a combination of the theory of self-generated urbanization by Hawley (1981) and the push-pull theory by Lee (1966). The material for this study was generated through secondary sources such as journals, books, book-chapters, and available internet sources. The data were critically analyzed using content analysis. The outcome of the interrogation showed a strong nexus between internal migration and urbanization, as rural-urban migration remains a major factor in urbanization in Nigeria even though there are other factors. Again, the socio-economic development gap between rural and urban areas has incubated internal migration and affected urbanization in Nigeria. With regard to socio-economic development, internal migration, and its resultant urbanization have both good and bad sides. The good side is that internal migration (a key factor in urbanization) holds a lot of benefits for migrants, their dependants at home, and their host communities abroad by increasing educational access, quality of life, and overall living standard. The bad side, on the other hand, is that rapid urbanization, largely orchestrated by rural-urban migration, has continually mounted pressure on the urban environment and infrastructural facilities and is associated with such social problems as urban unemployment, environmental degradation, and urban health challenges. It is, therefore, recommended that government policies on internal migration and urbanization should be balanced- striving to manage the negative effects of the interaction between internal migration and urbanization and, at the same time, harnessing its gains.

Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia in the natural environment and wastewater treatment facilities: A comprehensive review

Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia in the natural environment and wastewater treatment facilities: A comprehensive review

Enhanced crude oil degradation observed in sea ice following bioaugmentation with arctic bacteria.

Petroleum-derived contamination is a growing hazard for the Arctic Ocean and northern marine transportation corridors. In northern settings where the accessibility to oil spills can be limited, natural attenuation is the most promising remediation process. The goal of the presented research is to evaluate the impact of biodegradation on crude oil inside sea ice. To this end, a bioremediation experiment was conducted at the Sea-ice Environmental Research Facility, University of Manitoba. The experiment utilized two mesocosm tanks (Augmented and Native) filled with nutrient-enriched artificial seawater (i.e., biostimulation). The water in the Augmented tank also contained oil-acclimated bacteria enriched from Arctic surface seawater from Cambridge Bay, Canada (i.e., bioaugmentation). The Native tank was not inoculated, but both tanks contained a bacterial community originating with the artificial seawater preparation. Crude oil was added under the naturally formed ice cover within each tank, creating areas that contained different oil concentrations. The Augmented tank contained 22 distinct bacterial genera compared to the Native tank, presumably due to the inoculation. The abundance of distinct bacterial genera was maximal in the water column and in low-contaminated ice core samples (<0.21g oil/L). In these ice cores, bioaugmentation affected the concentration of low-molecular-weight aliphatic compounds (<C18) and naphthalenes (<C5). We also observed a 1% loss per day of n-nonadecane, n-docosane, methylphenanthrene, and tetramethylnaphthalene in the Augmented tank, which we attribute to bioaugmentation by the Arctic bacterial enrichment. In contrast, losses of these same compounds plateaued after day 15 in the Native tank.

The effects of acute operational stress and passive heat stress on physiological and subjective stress responses in military personnel.

Military personnel often encounter situations that can trigger acute stress, which may affect operational performance. Therefore, it is important to examine stress responses in controlled environments to obtain more insights in performance-influencing effects of acute stress. This study investigated the impact of passive heat exposure combined with virtual combat scenarios on cardiovascular and psychophysiological parameters in a controlled setting. Sixty-eight healthy servicemembers were randomized into a low-stress or high-stress condition. Both groups engaged in two virtual combat scenarios. The low-stress group, however, underwent testing under thermoneutral conditions (MTemp=22.4°C, MRelativeHumidity=41.4%) whereas the high-stress group was exposed to passive heat exposure (MTemp=35.9°C, MRelativeHumidity=66.4%) using a portable environmental facility. While virtual combat scenarios alone led to a decrease in heart rate variability (HRV) without affecting heart rate (HR), the addition of passive heat exposure elicited a more pronounced physiological stress response, characterized by significantly higher HR and lower HRV in the high-stress condition. However, no significant changes were observed in respiratory rate, salivary cortisol, or alpha-amylase levels across the conditions, suggesting that there was no activation of either the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal or the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary axis. Furthermore, subjective stress and anxiety scores did not differ between conditions, underscoring the physiological nature of the observed changes. Resultantly, the physiological response was likely a thermal reaction rather than an acute stress response. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating environmental stressors into military training protocols to enhance realism and prepare personnel for operational stressors. However, the mild response observed suggests that higher ambient temperatures and longer exposure times may be necessary to evoke a more robust stress response for effective stress inoculation training.

Effectiveness of Islamic Religious Education Learning in Minority Regional Public Schools in Indonesia: Case Study in Tarutung District, North Sumatra

The research findings provide an explanation that the effectiveness of Islamic religious education learning in public primary schools in minority areas has an impact and influence on the development of (1) character and (2) student learning motivation. The effectiveness of Islamic religious education learning in public primary schools in minority areas is strongly influenced by the following factors: (1) learning, (2) practical activities, (3) reinforcement, (4) tolerance, (5) teacher quality, and (6) environment, and (7) learning facilities. In order for the objectives of Islamic religious education in schools in minority areas to be achieved, it must be done through increasing access and quality of Islamic religious education, especially in schools through (1) the availability of Islamic religious education services in schools, (2) the quality of Islamic religious education services in schools, and (3) the quality of students' understanding and practice of religious teachings. In addition, effectiveness can be achieved through effective programmes and learning and the results to be achieved. In principle, the aspects that need to be considered, namely the effectiveness of learning and teaching, the quality of learning service facilities.

Numerical Simulation Study of Electromagnetic Pulse in Low-Altitude Nuclear Explosion Source Regions

A nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEMP) is the fourth effect of a nuclear explosion, characterized by a strong electromagnetic field that can instantly damage electronic devices. To investigate the spatial field value distribution characteristics of the source region of low-altitude NEMPs, this study employed a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method based on a rotating ellipsoidal hyperbolic coordinate system. Due to intense field variations near the explosion center, non-uniform grids were employed for both spatial and temporal steps, and an OpenMP parallel algorithm was utilized to enhance computational efficiency. Analysis focused on the following two scenarios: varying angles at a constant distance and varying distances at a constant angle, considering both transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) waves. The results indicate that the spatial field value distribution characteristics differ between the two wave types. For TM waves, the electric and magnetic fields share the same polarity, but their waveform polarities are opposite above and below the explosion center. A TE wave is exactly the opposite. Compared with a TM wave, a TE wave has stronger peak electromagnetic fields but narrower pulse widths and lower overall energy. This research provides significant support for the development of nuclear explosion detection technology and offers theoretical foundations for the protection of surrounding environmental facilities.

Effect of Sowing Dates and Planting Densities on Yield and its Components of Three Varieties of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in the Samangan Environment

Background: Sowing date and planting density are the main factors playing a prominent role in determining the yield of crops. Sowing date has the most significant impact on the phonological and growth characteristics of plants compared to other crop traits. On the other hand, in low planting densities, environmental facilities, including light, space, water and soil, are not optimally used, ultimately reducing yield. Sesame yield is highly variable depending upon the growing environment, cultural practices and cultivars. Methods: The study was planned to determine the effect of different sowing date (April 10th, May 10th and June 10th) and planting densities (20, 30 and 40 plants/m2) on three sesame varieties (Balkh, Baghlan and Samangan), during the 2022 and 2023 cropping seasons at the experimental field of Samangan University, Afghanistan. The experiments were conducted as split-plot factorial in randomized complete blocks design with three replications. Result: The results revealed significant effects of sowing date and plant density on all studied traits across both years. The highest seed yield (1.6 t/ha) was achieved with Balkh variety, sown on April 10th and a plant density of 40 plants/m2. Conversely, Baghlan variety, sown on June 10th, at 20 plants/m2, yielded the lowest (0.9 t/ha) in 2022. The study underscores the importance of sowing date and plant density in optimizing sesame yield. Early sowing (April 10th) and higher plant density (40 plants/m2) were associated with superior seed productivity, highlighting their significance for sesame cultivation in the region.

Analysis of factors affecting exercise rehabilitation of mildly disabled elderly in nursing homes

This study explores the key factors influencing participation in exercise rehabilitation among mildly disabled elderly residents in nursing homes. The primary factors identified include the rehabilitation service capacity of nursing homes, individual health characteristics of elderly residents, and levels of government support. Nursing homes with well-trained rehabilitation personnel, adequate equipment, and robust health education programs show greater effectiveness in promoting regular rehabilitation participation. Additionally, individual health factors such as muscle strength, coordination, and the presence of chronic conditions significantly impact the success and acceptance of rehabilitation exercises, emphasizing the need for tailored exercise programs. Government support, including financial aid and policy frameworks, is also essential for enhancing accessibility and sustainability of rehabilitation services. A supportive rehabilitation environment, featuring safe, well-designed, and clean facilities, further encourages resident participation. The findings suggest that a comprehensive approach—considering service capacity, personal health needs, supportive environments, and policy-level interventions—is critical for improving self-care abilities and independence among elderly residents. Continued government support remains pivotal in reducing participation barriers and facilitating broader access to rehabilitation services.

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT FACTORS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ELITE FOOTBALL PLAYERS

This concept paper will discuss the factors that may have an impact on the player's performance in achieving an elite level within the context of football. There are many factors that influence the development and performance of football players in reaching elite levels. These include physical, technical, tactical, psychological and social factors. In terms of social components, parents, siblings, teachers, coaches, training facilities, and the environment are factors that may influence performance. Therefore, the primary aim of this concept paper is to investigate the impact of social and environmental support factors on elite players, particularly in football. Previous research has found that social factors such as parental and coach support may influence the player’s performance in reaching the elite level. Additionally, another factor that is still debated is the role of the training environment for football players. Suitable and conducive facilities and environments have been found to improve the player’s performance in achieving the elite level. The findings obtained will help in producing a conceptual framework of social support factors and training environment facilities that play an important role in influencing athlete performance in football.

The impact of environmental health facilities and maternal behaviors on the incidence of diarrhea among children under five

The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of diarrhea among children under five and assess the relationship between its risk factors related to environmental health facilities and maternal behavior. A prospective case-control community-based study was conducted in the service area of Pasar Ikan Community Health Center, Teluk Segara Subdistrict, Bengkulu City, Indonesia. A total of 140 participants were included, comprising 70 cases and 70 controls. The study found that poor qualification of clean water resources (OR=4.026, p-value=0.000), inadequate utilization of clean water (OR=5.813, p-value=0.000), poor qualification of family latrines (OR=3.574, p-value=0.000), and inadequate utilization of family latrines (OR=3.377, p-value=0.001) were significantly associated with an increased risk of diarrhea prevalence among children under five. Furthermore, unhealthy mothers’ behaviors, including frequent feeding of children outside the home (OR=2.728, p-value=0.000) and poor personal hygiene (OR=3.377, p-value=0.001), were also significantly related to a higher prevalence of diarrhea in this age group. Therefore, both substandard environmental health facilities and unhealthy maternal behaviors were identified as significant risk factors for diarrhea prevalence in children under five. These findings emphasize the critical importance of improving environmental health facilities and promoting positive changes in mothers’ behavior to reduce the incidence of diarrhea in this vulnerable population.

Prospects and Challenges at Kuakata Sea Beach for Sustainable Tourism Development: A Qualitative Analysis

Kuakata sea beach in Bangladesh has seen increased tourist growth since the Padma Bridge opened in 2022. Little is known about the obstacles and opportunities Kuakata has in implementing sustainable tourism. The purpose of this research is to look into the various prospects and challenges of sustainable tourism at Kuakata sea beach. The qualitative methods used in this study consisted of semi-structured stakeholder interviews; thematic analysis identified five key challenges such as environmental degradation, infrastructure and facilities development, socio-cultural issues, behaviour problems, and marketing, monitoring, and evaluation. The most significant obstacle to promoting sustainable tourism in Kuakata is beach erosion. Along with these challenges, this study has identified four new prospects such as exploring new tourist sites, developing community-based tourism, introducing a new tourist route, Payra seaport- new door to possibilities of tourism.

PENGARUH GAYA KEPEMIMPINAN, BUDAYA ORGANISASI, LINGKUNGAN KERJA DAN FASILITAS KERJA TERHADAP KINERJA KARYAWAN HOTEL IBIS PADANG

This study aims to analyze the influence of leadership style, organizational culture, work environment, and work facilities on the performance of employees at Hotel Ibis Padang. This research uses a quantitative method. The population in this study consists of all employees of Hotel Ibis Padang. The number of sample members was determined using the total sampling formula, resulting in 74 respondents. The data collection method used a questionnaire distributed to the employees of Hotel Ibis Padang. The data used in this research is primary data. The hypothesis in this study was tested using multiple regression analysis. The research results show that leadership style has a positive and significant impact on employee performance, organizational culture has a positive and significant impact on employee performance, work environment has a positive and significant impact on employee performance, and work facilities have a positive and significant impact on employee performance. Keywords: Leadership Style, Organizational Culture, Work Environment, Work Facilities, Employee Performance

Analysis of Academic Stress Factors and Their Impact on Academic Achievement of Mathematics Education Students

Changes in the learning system and high academic demands put pressure on first- and second-year bachelor's mathematics education students and, therefore, can affect students' academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to examine academic stress factors and their impact on the educational achievement of mathematics education students in 80 respondents using a descriptive quantitative approach. This study discusses adolescent academic stress factors and covers students' physical and psychological well-being. The data obtained were analyzed using factor analysis. Exploratory factor analysis extracted 30 daily stress factors of students into three specific stress factors: stress on lecture material, environment, and time management. The results of this study indicate that students have moderate levels of stress. Then, Pearson analysis was conducted to see the correlation between stress factors and cumulative grade point average. The results showed that the three factors did not significantly correlate to grades with a correlation power below 0.5. This means that students can manage their academic stress well. Student stress management approaches can focus on each factor separately, depending on individual needs. Internal and external support, strengthening academic literacy, improving conducive learning environment facilities, relevant skills development programs, and strengthening social networks can help reduce student stress.

Is the emphasis on cofinancing good for environmental multilateral funds?

Is the emphasis on cofinancing good for environmental multilateral funds?

Perception of health workers and assessment of tree spp. Composition in adeoyo general hospital, ibadan, oyo state

Trees as a crucial component of forest play a vital role in providing a wide range of products and services including health benefits. The lack of information on tree species composition and diversity around public health care facilities in Ibadan may hinder comprehensive understanding of the ecological value and potential benefits that trees provide to the surrounding environment and public health care facilities. This study assessed the perceptions of health workers and evaluation of trees within the premises of Adeoyo General Hospital, Ibadan. Forty-nine (49) Structured questionnaire was used to derive the perceptions, while total enumeration of all the trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) greater than or equal to 10 cm were identified and enumerated in the study area. Tables and percentages were used to analyze the perception of the health workers while data collected on dbh (cm) and total height (m) were used to compute basal area (m2) and volume (m3). The analysis of socio-demographic data revealed a higher representation of female health workers (61.2%), a concentration of professionals in the 30 to 39 age group (46.9%), and a predominant presence of married individuals with tertiary education. Examining health workers' perceptions, a significant consensus emerges on the positive effects of tree exposure. Workers believed that exposure to trees improve patient clinical outcomes, speeds up recovery, and boosts the immune system (42.9%). There is also recognition of the role of trees in reducing stress levels and enhancing focus for both patients and healthcare workers. The positive correlation between trees around healthcare facilities and increased staff satisfaction is noteworthy. In the study area, Azadirachta indica was the dominant tree species constituting 42.2% of the total population. Terminalia catappa and Gliricidia sepium are also of great significance. Mean diameter, height, basal area, and volume suggest a diverse forest with a wide range of tree sizes. Meliaceae dominated the families with 42.2% while other families like Fabaceae and Combretaceae also contributed to biodiversity and ecological significance. In DBH, Delonix regia had the highest value of 198.3cm while Newbouldia laevis had 15.1 cm as the lowest value. Antiaris africana and Azadirachta indica both had the maximum values of 19.8 m and 51.8 m3 in height and basal area respectively. Species diversity indices indicated a diverse forest ecosystem with 13 identified taxa and 64 individuals. The diversity index (Shannon-Wienner) of 1.89 - though it is low- is within the general limit for tropical forests. It is therefore recommended that integration and management of green spaces in healthcare facility design, development of employee wellness programs, promoting nature exposure, educational initiatives on the benefits of nature and economic valuation studies should be greatly considered.

Customised Methodology to Assess and Measure Effectiveness of Integrated Landscape Management Relevant Multi-Stakeholder Transformative Governance, Incorporating Rights-Based Planning and Tenure Aspects, Applied in Kenya, Nigeria, and Viet Nam

Different thinking and strategies are needed to transform our food systems at different scales. Food systems can be changed towards a more sustainable path through multi-stakeholder transformative governance at the landscape level because that is where national-level visions, objectives, and policies meet with local practice, priorities, and actions. Concrete and practical guidance on how to effectively put a multi-stakeholder transformative governance process into practice is missing. Through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded ‘Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration Impact Programme’, led by the World Bank, countries are supported in integrated landscape management (ILM) to ensure that production systems are embedded within wider landscapes to safeguard the natural capital and ecosystem services on which they depend. A customised methodology to assess and measure the effectiveness of ILM-relevant multi-stakeholder transformative governance, incorporating rights-based planning and tenure aspects, has been developed that makes governance explicit in the ILM process. This methodology aims to improve landscape-level institutional coordination, coherence, and collaboration through enhanced horizontal and vertical coordination and network dynamics. The conceptual framework of the customised methodology and how to operationalise it are explained and illustrated with the application in the country projects in Kenya, Nigeria, and Viet Nam. Making transformative governance explicit within the ILM process at the landscape level will require investments in time and capabilities, but allows governance to act as a catalyst towards more sustainable pathways.

Exploring the Link Between Social Media Engagement, Social Anxiety, and Environmental Preferences in University Students

As mental health issues become increasingly prominent, social anxiety is prevalent among university students and significantly affects their social behaviors and environmental preferences. With the increasing reliance on social media, understanding how these behaviors shape preferences for physical social environments is crucial for designing supportive campus spaces. This study investigates the relationship between social anxiety, social media usage, and environmental preferences in campus settings. We aim to identify the key environmental factors that can promote healthier social interactions for students with varying levels of social anxiety and social media use. Data were collected from university students through a structured questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, online and offline behavior, social media usage intensity, social anxiety level, and environmental preferences. Using K-means clustering, participants were grouped into four clusters based on their social media usage and social anxiety levels. ANOVA and Multivariate Multiple Regression (MMR) were conducted to examine differences in environmental preferences across these clusters. Significant differences in environmental preferences were observed across the four clusters. Gender and grade influenced social anxiety levels, with females and undergraduate students reporting greater anxiety. Individuals with high social media use, regardless of their anxiety levels, generally exhibited stronger preferences for various environmental dimensions, including openness, convenience, facility provision, safety/comfort, and cultural landscape. However, individuals with higher social anxiety tended to prefer enclosed, facility-rich, and more controlled environments. The relationship between social anxiety and preferences for convenience, safety/comfort, and cultural landscape was minimal or non-significant. This study highlights the importance of considering both behavioral and psychological factors when designing university social environments. By identifying specific environmental preferences of students with high social anxiety, the findings offer evidence-based recommendations for creating more inclusive and supportive campus spaces that promote positive social interactions and well-being.

Path of Co-control of Pollution and Carbon Emissions Reduction in Typical Parks of Pharmaceutical and Health Industry in Beijing

The agglomeration of carbon emissions from the pharmaceutical and health industry has been growing gradually in Beijing. Conducting research on the path of co-control of pollution and carbon emission reduction in industrial parks is essential to realize synergy between economic development, pollution reduction, and green low-carbon. Based on the production activity data in 2020 of two typical parks of manufacturing and R&D, we selected six measures for co-control of pollution and carbon emission reduction and set up a synergistic development scenario to explore the collaborative development path of different types of parks. The results showed that： ① The primary carbon emission source in the two parks was energy consumption, such as natural gas and electricity, whereas the major pollution source was from key polluting enterprises. The emissions in the R&D park were significantly lower than those in manufacturing parks, with atmospheric pollutant emissions accounting for 25% of the manufacturing park's emissions. ② Energy structure and intensity, along with pollutant emission reduction measures, contributed 62.6% and 37.4% to pollution and carbon emission reduction for the R&D park and 81.6% and 13.5% for manufacturing park, respectively. ③ Adjusting the energy structure of the park and prioritizing the management of key polluting enterprises could achieve synergistic emission reduction, with the rate of emission reduction primarily reflecting atmospheric pollutants. Reducing energy intensity could also facilitate synergistic emission reduction, with a rapid rate of carbon emission reduction. Optimizing the industrial structure could lead to different degrees of pollution and carbon emissions increasing synergistically or not synergistically, owing to the particularity of the industrial structure of the park. ④ Applying measures to adjust the energy structure and reduce energy intensity and pollutant emissions into the collaborative path should be a priority. The governance scope of key polluting enterprises should be appropriately expanded in manufacturing parks. The synergistic effect of public environmental protection facilities of R&D parks should be focused on, in addition to reducing corporate pollutant emissions. Measures to optimize industrial structure at the park level should be adjusted to local conditions and scientifically guide industrial transformation and the settlement of high-tech enterprises.

Cloud-Based Service for Fingerprint Image Matching

Fingerprint matching is one of the most important services that related to the issue of identifying individuals, as it can be used to verify the validity of contracts, documents or in other security fields such as criminal investigations. Fingerprints are also one of the most common and accurate forms, as they are easy to obtain, it also has a unique features and cannot be identical to any individuals. The proposed service exploits the advantages provided by cloud computing, such as ease of use, availability of the service anytime and anywhere, and no need to own expensive devices with high specifications, in addition to being low cost. In this service, all fingerprint image preprocessing operations and images enhancement, in addition to the matching, verification and decision-making process are done with the help of tools which provided by cloud computing environment. While the client's role in this service is limited to feeding the system with the fingerprint to be matched. The experimental results proved that this service has achieved high accuracy in matching fingerprint images, in addition to greatly facilitating the matching process for the user, and it can be used anytime and anywhere thanks to the cloud environment facilities adopted by this service.

Remote Exercise Engagement Among Individuals With Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review of Barriers and Facilitators.

To systematically review the literature regarding barriers and facilitators to remote exercise among individuals with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Six databases were searched (inception-December 2023). Studies including barriers and facilitators for remote exercise reported by individuals living with CVD were considered. Quality was rated using the Mixed Methods Assessment Tool (MMAT). Results were synthesized following a thematic analysis approach. Characteristics of interventions were reported using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR). From an initial pool of 8543 records, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 13 were qualitative studies, with individual interviews being the most frequent data extraction method. Nine studies received 5/5 MMAT scores (ie, high quality). Twelve studies reported remote exercise interventions, mostly delivered within cardiac rehabilitation, by physiotherapists, nurses, and dietitians, predominantly via telephone calls or videoconferences, with only one study incorporating text messages. Five key themes influencing remote exercise interventions were identified: technology (encompassing access and literacy, self-monitoring/motivation, and security concerns), individual health considerations (health/personal aspects and coronavirus disease-2019), social factors (support from health care team and family/social support), environment (facilities), and logistical factors (time and displacement). Several themes served as both facilitators and barriers. Key insights for remote exercise interventions included mobile accessibility, interactive chat sessions, minimal click interactions, short sessions, personalized feedback, and flexible timing. Results emphasize the importance of promoting social interaction and support between participants and health care teams to mitigate barriers and enhance facilitators in remote exercise interventions for individuals with CVD.