Environmental Transformation Research Articles

The impact of digital policies on urban economic resilience under the low-carbon background: A deep identification based on environmental regulation and industrial digital transformation

With over exploitation and increasingly severe environmental pollution, traditional economic growth models are no longer able to promote high-quality regional economic development. Especially in recent years, the limitations of resources and environment, global geopolitical conflicts, and other factors have brought enormous uncertainty to the economic development of each country. To cope with the uncertainty of economic development, it is necessary to use the digital economy formed by the new generation of information technology to strengthen the economic resilience of various regions. This study collected panel data from 30 provinces and cities in China from 2013 to 2022, using the PSM-DID model to examine the subtle relationship between the formulation of digital policies in different cities and their economic resilience. Specifically, environmental regulations and industrial digital transformation play an important role in the process of urban digital policies affecting economic resilience. The research findings of this article emphasize the crucial role of digital policies in addressing the current challenges of economic uncertainty. Through empirical research, the results show that the strategic implementation of digital policies can not only effectively promote the digital transformation of traditional industries, but also strengthen the role of environmental regulations in promoting sustainable development of industries. The digital transformation of industries and sustainable development will significantly enhance regional innovation capabilities and ultimately strengthen regional economic resilience.

Mechanization of artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Guinea: Socio-technical trajectory of a rural mining site in Upper Guinea

Since the beginning of the 21st century, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in West Africa has undergone intensification and significant development due to the introduction of increasingly mechanized extraction and processing method. Mechanization generates significant transformations in the socio-technical dynamics of artisanal gold mining. In the specific context of ASGM in Upper Guinea, the article argues that small-scale innovations (ie. ‘low noise’ or ‘low technological level’ innovations) are leading to a profound socio-economic transformation of the rural environment over a long period of time. We begin by describing and analyzing the impact of the introduction of minor innovations (metal detectors, solonins and fan motors) on ASGM practices. We then examine the political, social and economic changes brought about by the adoption of these new mechanized practices, again at the rural level. Finally, we discuss the transition toward a new socio-technical regime, questioning the reshaping of local governance and its impact on new configurations of land ownership and use in rural areas.

Study on the source identification and migration and transformation characteristics of heavy metal pollution in sediments of Chaohu Lake Tongyang River Basin.

Heavy metal pollution in soil and groundwater is difficult to detect in time because of its long-term accumulation. This poses a severe hazard to the ecosystem security in polluted areas. Considering the Tongyang River Basin of the Chaohu Lake water system as the research object, various pollution evaluation methods, Geographic Information System (GIS) source analysis models, adsorption and desorption experiments, and mathematical models were used. Based on the data of the heavy metal content in the soil and river sediments in the study area, regional heavy metal pollution evaluation, spatial distribution characteristics, source identification, and lake loss analysis were conducted to evaluate the current situation of environmental pollution, pollution sources, and migration and transformation of heavy metals in the basin. The results show that the heavy metals in the soil of the basin are mainly distributed from the southwest to the northeast and the island distribution to the east of Tongyang Town. The Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb concentrations are higher in the sediment than in the soil. The Unmix analytical model was established. The natural source of heavy metals in the Tongyang River Basin and the composite pollution source of traffic-production and life showed a high correlation. According to the one-dimensional steady-state model, the concentrations of the heavy metals are in the following descending order: Zn, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni, and Cd. The amounts of these elements entering the lake annually are 1993.04, 1028.1, 372.47, 301.72, 308.80, and 19.46 kg, respectively (a total of 4023.6 kg).

Can Environmental Protection Tax Promote Urban Green Transformation? Experimental Evidence from China

Can Environmental Protection Tax Promote Urban Green Transformation? Experimental Evidence from China

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) as Catalysts of Educational Transformation in the Higher Education Sector of Sri Lanka: A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic literature review evaluates the transformative effects of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in Sri Lanka’s higher education and library services. It explores how MOOCs democratize education by broadening access to previously costly and limited educational infrastructure and integrating them into library practices for enhanced access and professional development. The review synthesizes various sources to assess MOOC utilization, challenges like low completion rates, inconsistent quality, and digital divides. Strategic improvements are proposed to align MOOCs with educational and socio-economic goals in Sri Lanka. The findings highlight MOOCs’ current uses, barriers, and potential as supplements to traditional education, aiming to optimize learning outcomes and support educational transformation in both academic and library environments.

Age-Friendly Environment Design of High-Speed Railway Stations from a Healthy Ageing Perspective: A Case Implementation in Nanjing, China

China stands out as one of the countries with the largest and fastest-growing elderly populations. Elderly requirements for the quality of high-speed railway stations environment are increasing. The relationship between the built environment of high-speed railway stations and elderly health has become an urgent problem to be solved. The challenge necessitates a systematic approach to age-friendly design. Based on the practical experience of the authors in an age-friendly design of an indoor environment at Nanjing South Railway Station, questionnaire surveys and user interviews were employed to profile four types of typical elderly passengers. Data collection methods were used to create behavior maps. (1) This study identifies the age-friendly needs of elderly passengers, pinpointing the key environment issues. (2) It proposes age-friendly design strategies for various functional areas of Nanjing South Railway Station. (3) It introduces an age-friendly module combination design system, which including basic type I, enhanced type II, and optimized type III, in order to meet the demands for six levels of high-speed railway stations in China. This study promotes the age-friendly transformation of environments at a high-speed railway station, offering theoretical foundations and methodological references for constructing an age-friendly environment from a healthy ageing perspective.

Development of Entrepreneurial Activity Using the Integration of Human Capital and Green Technologies to Optimize the Sustainable Development of the Tourism Sector (A Case Study of the Republic of Kazakhstan)

The development of the tourism sector faces serious challenges, which are related to its environmental transformation, digitalization, and integration of new technologies, as well as competitiveness. Tourists’ behavior is also changing. The future demand for tourism is likely to be driven by growing environmental awareness, increased use of digital services and new technologies, a shift towards a more personalized travel experience, and ensuring well-being and better engagement with local communities and culture. Meeting the requirements of the modern tourism industry is a problem not only for the Republic of Kazakhstan but also for other countries that strive for sustainable development of the tourism sector. The purpose of the study is to identify ways to develop entrepreneurial activity by integrating human capital and green technologies to optimize the sustainable development of the tourism sector. The paper examines the basic theoretical concepts of the essence and forms of sustainable tourism and presents the concept of the integration of human capital and green technologies to achieve the principles of sustainable development. Based on an expert survey, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis, and statistical methods, the main ways of promotion and development of sustainable tourism, as well as measures to integrate human capital and green technologies into entrepreneurial activities in the tourism sector in the East Kazakhstan Region, have been identified. The authors have concluded that the introduction of green technologies and the integration of human capital with them provide new standards for the quality of tourist services while preserving the natural resources of the region.

Chemical Characteristics of Zirconium Chloride and Zirconium Oxide Nanoparticles Driving Toxicity on Lemna minor

The increasing global production and utilization of zirconium (Zr) compounds, including zirconium chloride (ZrCl4) and zirconium oxide nanoparticles (NPs-ZrO2), raises concerns about their potential environmental impact. This study investigated the toxicity mechanisms of ZrCl4 and NPs-ZrO2 on the aquatic plant Lemna minor. The physicochemical properties of NPs-ZrO2 in the test medium were characterized, revealing concentration-dependent changes in the hydrodynamic diameter, zeta potential, and solubility over time. The analysis of Zr speciation showed the predominance of Zr(OH)4(aq) species from ZrCl4. Plants of L. minor exposed to ZrCl4 and NPs-ZrO2 exhibited differential Zr bioaccumulation, growth inhibition, oxidative stress, and antioxidant responses. ZrCl4 induced a higher toxicity than NPs-ZrO2, with bioaccumulation strongly correlating with adverse effects. The differential toxicity impact between these two Zr-compounds was also determined by the lowest observed-effect doses for growth and biochemical parameters. The scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed internalization of NPs-ZrO2 and Zr uptake in the L. minor plant. Therefore, these findings highlighted the importance of chemical speciation, environmental transformations, and biological responses in assessing the ecological impact of Zr-compounds for effective risk assessment and management strategies for protecting aquatic ecosystems.

«Зеленая» экономика в контексте международных инвестиционных соглашений

The matters of green economics within the framework of the environmental transformation of the energy sphere (the energy transition), reduction of the anthropogenic impact on the environment in the course of socioeconomic development, give investment opportunities for international business but at the same time pose specific systemic and structural challenges to investors, states that receive investments, researches and individuals that witness the consequences of the dynamic change of the environment in the contemporary conditions. The presented article studies the evolution of approaches to international law regulation of investment activities from the standpoint of solution of environmental protection and conservation tasks in order to analyze opportunities with regards to the named challenges. Such analysis is used as a basis to conclude that the historical and legal method of studying the problems in question gives an opportunity for a systemic and structural evaluation of the original prerequisites for the logic of development of the international law architecture of regulation of investment activities in respect of goals and tasks of publicly significant environmental protection and conservation interests including the sphere of green economics and minimization of negative consequences of the anthropogenic impact as a result of investment activities, and evaluate the logic and limits of application of international investment agreements to achieve the environmental protection and conservation goals.

Long-Term Photochemical and Microbial Alterations Lead to the Compositional Convergence of Algal and Terrestrial Dissolved Organic Matter.

Lakes are expected to become more active in processing dissolved organic matter (DOM), but the fate of DOM with different origins remains poorly constrained. We conducted long-term incubation experiments (∼1 year) with sole light, sole microbial, and combined light and microbial treatments using DOM from algal and terrestrial sources (DOMa and DOMt, respectively). Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry and 16s rRNA were used to analyze the DOM molecular composition and bacterial community, respectively. We observed that DOMa and DOMt converged toward a similar composition under the combined light and microbial treatment, driven by the removal of source-specific compositions along with the production of refractory, carboxylic-rich alicyclic molecules (CRAM). For CRAM enrichment, microbial processes played a greater role for DOMa, while phototransformation was more important for DOMt. The co-occurrence patterns between DOM molecules and bacteria showed that DOM molecular composition influenced the bacterial community. More complex DOM-bacteria interactions were observed for DOMt compared to DOMa, suggesting that greater bacterial cooperation was necessary for transforming DOMt. Collectively, these findings offer new insights into the mechanisms underlying the uniformity of DOM from various sources through prolonged environmental transformations in lakes.

Implementation of Real-Time Audio-to-Text Conversion and Processing for Seamless Transformation in Classroom Environment

In modern educational settings, ensuring that all students effectively comprehend lecture content is a significant challenge, particularly when language barriers and varying levels of cognitive processing ability come into play. Traditional classroom instruction often fails to accommodate the diverse needs of all learners, leading to gaps in understanding and academic performance. This research explores the implementation of a real-time audio transcription system as a solution to enhance classroom inclusivity and comprehension. By leveraging mobile technology, students can access live speech-to-text transcriptions of lectures directly on their devices. This system is designed to assist students who struggle with listening due to language differences, hearing impairments, or other cognitive challenges. The study delves into the technological framework of the transcription service, evaluating its accuracy, latency, and usability. It also considers the practical implications of integrating such technology into various classroom settings, from elementary schools to higher education institutions. Through surveys and interviews with students and teachers, the research assesses the impact of live transcription on student engagement, participation, and academic performance. Preliminary findings suggest that live audio transcription can significantly bridge the comprehension gap, offering a practical tool to foster a more inclusive and effective learning environment. Additionally, the study explores potential challenges and solutions for widespread implementation, aiming to provide a comprehensive analysis of the benefits and limitations of this innovative educational tool.

Archaeal community from the Northern Hangzhou Bay to the East China Sea: biogeography, ecological processes, and functional potential

IntroductionArchaeal communities play a crucial role in marine ecosystems, yet our understanding of their ecological and functional traits remains incomplete. This study focuses on northern Hangzhou Bay to fill gaps in knowledge regarding the biogeography and functionality of archaeal groups.MethodsWe utilized a high-throughput sequencing dataset based on the 16S rRNA gene to characterize the archaeal community, aiming to identify biogeographic patterns and assess the influence of environmental factors on community structure.ResultsThe predominant phyla identified were Woesearchaeota, Thaumarchaeota, Euryarchaeota, and Crenarchaeota. Archaeal community structure in sediments showed a geographical pattern along the environmental gradient, influenced by factors such as salinity, ammonium, total phosphorus, pH, and total nitrogen content. Network analysis revealed nonrandom co-occurrence patterns, with associations changing along the salinity gradient. Additionally, this study directly proved the existence of dispersal limitation in this strongly connected marine ecological system through null model analyses. Variation in the archaeal community was attributed to both environmental constraints and stochastic processes due to dispersal limitation. Furthermore, our results revealed that the key biogeochemical functions of the archaeal community also exhibited a clear salinity gradient, the functional differences appear to be influenced by salinity, and the critical roles of archaeal diversity were highlighted.DiscussionAll these findings enhance our understanding of microbial ecology and element transformation in estuarine environments. The highlighted roles of archaeal diversity and the influence of environmental factors on community structure and function underscore the complexity of marine microbial ecosystems.

Empowering NGOs with Remote Sensing and CNN-LSTM Models for Social and Environmental Transformation

Empowering NGOs with Remote Sensing and CNN-LSTM Models for Social and Environmental Transformation

Molecular fractionation mediates genotoxicity evolution of hydrochar-derived dissolved organic matter at the iron oxyhydroxides-water interface

Adsorption fractionation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) induced by soil minerals is a common geochemical process, which has been widely documented on natural DOM. Hydrochar is a promising functional material in soil remediation but can continuously release abundant endogenic DOM with potential biotoxicity. However, adsorption fractionation at molecular level and its influence on toxicity evolution of hydrochar-derived DOM (HDOM) at genetic level at the soil-water interface remain poorly understood. Herein, we investigated the molecular fractionation of HDOM on three typical soil iron minerals (i.e., ferrihydrite, goethite, and hematite). Results from ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrum showed that HDOM molecules with high molecular weight and high contents of unsaturated oxidized or aromatic structures (e.g., unsaturated phenolic compounds, polyphenols, and organic acids) were preferentially absorbed by iron oxyhydroxides, while aliphatic molecules and poorly oxygenated compounds (e.g., hydrocarbon, phenols, and alcohols) were retained in aqueous phase. Furthermore, we quantitatively evaluated their genotoxicity variation using a toxicogenomics assay using green fluorescence protein-fused whole-cell array, and results showed that oxidative, protein, membrane, and DNA stresses were primary responses upon exposure to original HDOM. Interface fractionation induced by iron oxyhydroxides significantly reduced genotoxicity of HDOM, especially for oxidative, membrane and DNA stresses. Overall, the selective absorption of HDOM molecules by iron oxyhydroxides shifted its biotoxicity, which might change the ecological effects of hydrochar amendment, e.g., microbial community structure, environmental pollutant transformation, and even the ecological function of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. These findings would contribute to unraveling the environmental geochemistry process of HDOM in the natural soil-water interface and provide a new insight into the biotoxicity of hydrochar usage to terrestrial and aquatic environments.

Cultural Aspects of the Transformation of t he Term Podcasting

This article presents the results of a study of the transformation of the very concept of podcasting in domestic scientifi c discourse, in the Russian media fi eld from a cultural point of view. Podcasting is a form of transmission of mainly audio or video materials (VODcasts) to the Internet, which has existed in the world for about twenty years. Today, podcasts are associated not only with spoken audio content, but also with video interviews, and even with voice messages on the social media Telegram. Moreover, a podcast can be understood as almost any work in the digital media space, even text. This work was carried out in 2023 as part of a comprehensive study of the transformation of the audiovisual environment on new technological platforms, which has been carried out by the Department of Television and Radio Broadcasting of the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University since 2017. The purpose of this stage was to determine what is currently understood by the word podcasting and an attempt to capture its distinctive format features, cultural aspects of the evolution of the concept. The methods used were conceptual and contextual types of analysis. The cognitive approach made it possible to consider the verbalized key concepts of scientifi c discourse. The defi nitions given to podcasting by domestic and foreign researchers, practitioners, market participants in the process of development and formation of the industry, as well as a control group of listeners were analyzed. The authors of this article make an attempt to give the most relevant cultural interpretation of the concept of podcasting. The main conclusion is that Russian-language podcasting, for a number of reasons, is developing along a trajectory that is largely different from the world one, in particular the American one. But its development is complicated by a number of factors, including geopolitical and cultural ones. The concept of “podcasting” will most likely continue its evolutionary movement in search of a more solid position in the sociocultural space. Keywords: podcasting, media system, audiovisual content, social media, broadcasting, formats, genres

Assessing the environmental transformation of alternative chemicals using in silico tools, (bio)degradation testing and suspect screening – a case study of emerging alternative plasticizers

Chemical safety assessment requires the inclusion of information on potential transformation products. Such information is often lacking for chemicals considered as alternatives making a comprehensive safety assessment for chemical substitution challenging. To address this challenge a methodological framework for investigating the environmental transformation of alternative chemicals is presented. The developed methodology involves the combined use of in silico tools, biodegradation testing and suspect screening analysis for the prediction and identification of environmental transformation pathways and products. The proposed framework was applied on three emerging alternative plasticizers to phthalate esters (i.e., DINCH, DEHA and ATBC) under which major first-, second- and third-step transformation products predicted in silico were also successfully identified experimentally. This allowed for a preliminary evaluation of the performance of in silico tools in terms of the predicted transformation pathways and their likelihood of occurrence. At the same time the fast chemical degradation method showed good potential in identifying the key transformation products. The proposed framework can be used to support safety assessments for chemical substitution. Further application of the developed methodology on different chemical groups along with proper optimization of the individual method components is recommended to showcase its efficacy over a larger application area.

Ocular disorders and compliance to protective eyewear among quarry workers in Akamkpa local government area of cross river state, Nigeria

The quarry industry over time has played a pivotal role in the transformation of the physical environment but with attendant negative effects on workers. This study ascertained the pattern of work related ocular disorders and compliance to protective eye devices among quarry workers in Akamkpa LGA, Cross River State Nigeria. This descriptive cross sectional study employed the use of a structured interview followed by a comprehensive external examination of the eyes of the subjects by qualified eye care practitioners. Data generated was analysed using the Statistical Product for Service Solution (SPSS) version 25.0. Results were presented descriptively using tables and figures. The study took place in 8 quarry sites located in 4 communities randomly selected and involved 184 subjects randomly selected comprising of 140 (76.09%) males and 44 (23.91%) females. The age of the participants ranged from 18-60 years with a mean age of 32.03±2.23 (SD). The study revealed that predominant ocular symptoms experienced were blurry vision (31.5%), itchy eyes (27.94%), ocular irritation/ grittiness (15.55%), eye/ headaches (12.46%) and discharges (9.61%). The most common ocular surface anomalies observed were pterygium (41.80%), corneal scar/ ulceration (18.03%) and allergic conjunctivitis (16.39%), while the most frequent type of eye injuries reported were superficial foreign bodies, blunt trauma and superficial ocular abrasion accounting for 50.92%,30.06% and 11.04% respectively. Injuries due to quarrying activities were more common among labourers (41.10% and 29.45% among stone crushers and stone processors respectively), while workers with less than 5 years work experience reported more work related eye injury (74.85%) with broken stones (80.39%) accounting for most of the injuries. Similarly, a majority (94.7%) of the participants had knowledge of Personal Protective Eye Devices (PPEDs) only 26.44% had the appropriate PPEDs and just 30.43% of them complied regularly with their usage during work. There was a statistically significant association between work experience and the occurrence of work related ocular injuries (p>0.001) but the use of PPEDs has no statistically significant association with the occurrence of eye injuries. The study concluded that workers at the Akamkpa quarry, Nigeria suffered various types of work related ocular anomalies and while a majority of them had prior knowledge of the benefits of PPEDs, the level of availability and utilization is relatively low and recommended health education and strict enforcement of safety regulations.

P-Phenylenediamines and p-phenylenediamine quinone derivatives in rubber consumer products and typical urban dust: Sources, transformation profiles, and health risks

N,N′-Substituted p-phenylenediamines (PPDs) are widely used as antioxidants in the rubber industry and are released into the environment in large quantities during the production and use of rubber products. We quantified PPDs and PPD quinone derivatives (PPD-Qs) in rubber consumer products, including car tires, rubber belts, rubber gloves, rubber cables, and rubber hoses, to obtain information on the degree of weathering over time during their use. Additionally, we investigated the occurrences and sources of PPDs and PPD-Qs in dust samples collected from four typical urban environments (roads, parking lots, automotive repair shops, and residences). The detected compounds included the highly toxic N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine quinone, which can cause acute mortality of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Concentrations of PPDs in the automotive repair shops reached 56.0 μg/g, and were much higher than in the other environments, while the residential samples had the lowest contaminant concentrations. In road and residential samples, N,N′-di-2-naphthyl-p-phenylenediamine accounted for 17 %–30 % of the PPDs, and may have originated from different sources. We preliminarily identified 32 transformation products, and 11 of these were N,N′-di-2-naphthyl-p-phenylenediamine transformation products. The average daily intakes of PPDs and PPD-Qs were calculated to assess the health risks of dust exposure in each environment. Workers had high total intakes of PPD [60.3 ng/(kg day)] and PPD-Qs [20.1 ng/(kg day)], and were at some risk of occupational exposure. These results improve our understanding of the environmental occurrences, sources, transformation, and health risks of PPDs and PPD-Qs.

Aspects of information and spiritual similarity of real and virtual spaces

The results of numerous studies demonstrate the possibility of using the same approaches to studying real and virtual space in the context of their spatial perception. The study of virtual space can be carried out using the same parameters as physical space, and they should be considered equivalent. Virtual space is only one of the strategies for information copying of real space, the result of an irresistible human need to expand the horizons of research. Virtual space does not pose any threat to reality if we interpret the virtual environment as a transformation of the real environment, a new way of studying the mutual penetration of the virtual and real worlds. Learning to navigate in virtual space leads to safer life in real space.

The E-leadership transformation in corporate environment: A bibliometric study

BACKGROUND: This study delves into the academic literature regarding the significance of e-leadership transformation within corporate environments. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective is to analyze and synthesize existing research on e-leadership transformation, identifying key trends, contributors, and thematic clusters. The study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the processes and impacts associated with e-leadership, as well as highlight areas for future research. METHODS: We used a dual-method approach incorporating bibliometric analysis as a part of the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to examine 269 journal articles published between 2010 and 2024, with a focus on the period from 2019 onwards. RESULTS: The analysis identifies significant trends, influential articles, top journals, authors, and leading countries in the field. We identify thematic clusters such as digital leadership and strategic transformation, organisational communication and performance frameworks, behavioural dynamics, and transformational leadership strategies. IMPLICATIONS: Insights from this study offer a deeper understanding of e-leadership transformation’s relevance in corporate settings, highlighting future research prospects and avenues for further exploration in this dynamic and evolving field.