External Environmental Constraints Research Articles

Corporate green technology innovation under external pressure: a public and media perspective

The presence of external environmental constraints has the potential to impact corporate decision-making behavior regarding production and spur innovative activities. This study focuses on a sample of Chinese A-share-listed corporations to investigate the influence of public environmental concerns (PEC) on corporate green technology innovation (GTI) within the framework of public participation in environmental governance. Moreover, this study explores the synergistic effects of media concerns and PEC. The main conclusions of this study are as follows: (1) PEC is a driving force for corporate GTI. Endogeneity and robustness tests support this finding. (2) Government environmental regulation and corporate environmental responsibility are critical mediating variables. (3) Heterogeneity analysis shows that PEC significantly impacts the GTI of state-owned corporations, high-tech corporations, and corporations that have obtained ISO 14001 certification. (4) Media concerns enhance GTI and exhibit a strong synergistic effect with PEC. Positive media news strengthens the “incentive effect” of PEC, while negative news plays a “pushing role.” This study provides theoretical and empirical support for constructing an environmental governance mechanism for the public, media, corporations, and government.

Potential implications of sperm DNA methylation functional properties in aquaculture management

AbstractThe biology of fish sperm, an important topic in the research of reproduction and fisheries from basic science to evolutionary and applied aspects, has implications for aquaculture management, fish breeding and biological conservation. The quality of spermatozoa plays a vital role in fish fertility, and directly affects the health and performance of offspring. Environmental factors that affect determinants of spermatozoa quality usually reflected in the DNA methylation pattern of the spermatozoa epigenome, which may change offspring's performance. The aim of the present study was to conduct a review on existing data about DNA methylation in fish spermatozoa as a biological tool for identifying the quality of offspring based on their phenotypes and performances. Furthermore, this study provides valuable knowledge from fundamental to applied sciences dealing with enhancement of breeding selection, fish reproduction and environmental adaptation. The review also describes the individual parts related to DNA methylation in fish, including overview of the methods which can be used to study DNA methylation, DNA methylation dynamics and epigenetic inheritance; identification of DNA methylation changes in sperm function in response to internal and external environment constraints, and potential relationships between DNA methylation and physiological regulation of spermatozoa quality determinants. Overall, the present study revealed that our knowledge about intergenerational inheritance of the performance and adaptability of fish through sperm DNA methylation is very limited, and no general conclusion could be approached from literature mostly due to non‐standardized experimental protocol or analytical tools.

Factors Limiting Knowledge Management among Construction Small and Medium Enterprises

The construction industries of both developed and developing countries are dominated by construction small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The industry is project-based and requires knowledge workers for performance. Construction SMEs contribute significantly to employment generation, economic growth and prosperity, innovation diffusion, among others. They, however, are faced with poor productivity and performance, especially in the area of time, cost, quality and safety. This is hinged on their rigidity and inflexibility to the adoption of modern management techniques, amidst other external environmental constraints. Knowledge is a vital asset of organisations and knowledge management (KM) is a critical strategic and tactical management tool for improving organisations productivity, competitiveness and survival. This study aims to assess the factors limiting a full-scale implementation of effective KM practices among construction SMEs, especially on construction projects in the south-south region of Nigeria. This study leverages an electronic questionnaire and snowballs sampling technique to gather data from the SMEs' construction professional employees in the study. The collected data were analysed using factor analysis and the Mann-Whitney U test. The study found that technology-related barriers, cultural and management barriers, motivation and time barriers, awareness and communication barriers, and insecurity barriers, were the major cluster of factors limiting effective KM implementation by SMEs. Furthermore, no significant statistical difference in the perception of the small and medium-sized organisations was also found. It is recommended that adequate government and top management supports are needed to overcome the barriers and entrench KM practices as the key tactical and strategic tool for improving productivity and performance and ensuring the sustenance and survival of the construction SMEs.

Environmental Protection Interview, Government Environmental Protection Subsidies and Enterprise Green Innovation

Development at the expense of the environment has led to severe environmental problems in China. Faced with the increasing demand for green from the masses, environmental pollution is not only a health issue but also a political issue. In order to achieve the dual goals of “economic growth” and “ecological protection”, the state vigorously advocates green innovation. In order to solve the problem of ineffective local environmental governance and official inaction, the environmental protection interview system came into being. After the region was interviewed for environmental protection, the government strengthened environmental governance and greatly increased the environmental costs of enterprises through stricter environmental regulations, reduction of environmental protection subsidies, and increased tax penalties. So, under the theme of green development, does environmental protection interview increase the willingness of enterprises to innovate and stimulate the improvement of the level of enterprise green innovation? What is the role of government subsidies? As an exogenous event, the implementation of the New Deal for Environmental Protection Interview in 2014 provides a good environment for us to test the effect of environmental protection interview policies. Based on the corporate citizenship theory and the planned behavior theory, this paper uses the DID method to explore the impact of environmental protection interview on enterprise green innovation, as well as the regulatory role of government environmental protection subsidies. The results show that: （1） Environmental protection interview has significantly improved the level of enterprise green innovation in interviewed regions, especially the level of practical green innovation. （2） Government environmental protection subsidies have a significant impact on the effect of environmental protection interview policies; and the lower the government environmental protection subsidy level, the stronger the role of environmental protection interview in promoting enterprise green innovation. （3） The driving force for enterprises in interviewed regions to carry out green innovation comes from internal self-regulation and external environmental constraints. The contribution of this paper lies in that: （1） In the research of environmental protection interview and green innovation, few scholars start from government support, considering the regulatory role of government environmental protection subsidies in this impact path. At the same time, no scholar eliminates the “noise” of non-environmental protection subsidies, and studies the impact of government environmental protection subsidies on the effect of environmental protection interview policies. （2） Existing studies mostly examine the impact of environmental protection interview on regional environmental governance and corporate behavior, but few pay much attention to the impact of government behavior on the effect of environmental interview policies. （3） Existing studies mostly examine the usefulness and adaptability of green innovation, ignoring the social attributes of enterprises, the necessity of corporate citizenship behavior, and the behavioral intention of enterprises. Based on the corporate citizenship theory and the planned behavior theory, this paper reveals the role of environmental protection interview and government environmental protection subsidies on enterprise green innovation strategies. （4） Incorporating government environmental protection subsidies into the theoretical analysis framework explains the impact of government environmental protection subsidies on environmental protection interview and enterprise green innovation, which is an important supplement to the effect of environmental protection interview policies in the context of China’s green development in the new era. It is a good reference for government departments to use government support to serve the environmental protection interview system, improve the effectiveness of environmental protection interview policies, and extend the timeliness of the effectiveness of environmental protection interview policies.

Biophotothermal applications boosted by intramolecular motions from aggregates

<p indent="0mm">Motion is one of the basic attributes of matter. Research on molecular motion has a long history, and most studies have been conducted in the isolated state, gas phase, or solution state. Molecular motions in aggregate states are always hampered by steric effects. For example, the aggregation-induced emission phenomenon can be attributed to the idea that the motion of luminogens is more easily prohibited in the aggregate state than in the solution state. Because molecular motions may noradiatively annihilate excitons, emissions are enhanced upon aggregation owing to the enhanced suppression of such a process. However, photothermal conversion can be achieved based on the intramolecular motions in the aggregates, which is extremely desirable in the energy, seawater desalination, and nanomedicine fields. Recently, the research groups of Tang and Ding have achieved remarkable progress in aggregate-state intramolecular motions. They proposed “intramolecular motion-induced photothermy” and “intramolecular bond stretching vibration-induced photothermy” mechanism. However, robust intramolecular motions can proceed even in an aggregate state, thereby achieving efficient photothermal conversion by engineering the molecular flexibility and aggregate-state behavior. The above methods are more direct and efficient when compared with the conventional photothermal conversion approaches, including introducing photoinduced electron transfer and energy transfer between fluorogens and quenchers and inducing intermolecular π-π stacking effects. This research shows value in both theoretical research and practical application. This research has also attracted the attention of researchers belonging to other groups, resulting in more interesting studies. For example, the research group of Peng from the Dalian University of Technology observed that barrier-free rotation of trifluoromethyl group can be achieved by introducing trifluoromethyl groups into BODIPY to effectively transform the energy absorbed by a molecule into heat in the aggregate state. The photothermal conversion efficiency was recorded to be as high as 88.3%, fully proving the huge potential of realizing photothermal conversion by utilizing the intramolecular motion in the aggregate state. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances based on the intramolecular motion in the aggregate state. Such motion can be easily achieved by introducing motion factors into molecules via molecular engineering. The motions of functional groups, including the rotations of phenyl rings and trifluoromethyl groups and the twisting of double bonds, are introduced. Additionally, twisted intramolecular charge transfer can occur along with environmental changes to cause motions between the electronic donor and acceptor units; this is also a powerful phenomenon in the aggregate state. However, the additional factor of molecular gap obtained by decreasing the intermolecular interactions must be considered because such motions require a certain space. In contrast, the intramolecular bond stretching vibration occurs within a short distance. It is spontaneous, vigorous, and less sensitive to the external environmental constraints. Thus, compounds with high photothermal efficiencies can be obtained by considering the above factors in molecular design. Furthermore, designing polymers when considering these factors can improve the practical photothermal conversion because such polymers exhibit a high light-harvesting ability owing to large molecular conjugation. The biological applications in photoacoustic imaging, thermal infrared imaging, and photothermal therapy have been well studied based on the vigorous molecular motions and excellent photothermal conversion in the aggregate state. With this review, we hope that such topics will draw more attention from readers belonging to multidisciplinary fields, and more interesting research and influential applications will be stimulated in the future.

Analysis of the Difficulty of College Students' Employment from the Perspective of Energy-enhancing

In recent years, as the situation continues to be severe, college students have shown a weakness in employment, making them forced to a employment is difficult dilemma. As an important field of social work, energy enhancement theory pays more attention to the internal efficiency of individuals and the use of external resources. Therefore, this article explores the main reasons for the difficulty of college students ’employment from the perspective of empowerment, including low personal efficacy, lack of interpersonal network support, and external environmental constraints, and combines individual, peers, families, schools, employers and other forces to energize college students and better promote college students' employment.

A Novel Collision-Free Navigation Approach for Multiple Nonholonomic Robots Based on ORCA and Linear MPC

In the study of collision-free navigation methods of multirobots, much attention has been paid to the constraints of external environment. However, most of the wheeled mobile robots are subjected to nonholonomic constraints. A collision between robots may occur if the nonholonomic constraints are neglected. This paper presents an improved approach to collision-free navigation for multi-nonholonomic robots. This approach combines the Optimal Reciprocal Collision Avoidance (ORCA) algorithm and Model Predictive Control (MPC) strategy. ORCA used a simple robot model, in which kinematics and dynamics are ignored. To cope with this problem, the MPC controller is introduced. In each ORCA step, the reference trajectory, reference control inputs, and “safe zones” are generated based on the new velocity. Consequently, the derived safe zone is transformed into the constraints of decision variables for a MPC controller. Finally, quadratic programming is used to solve the MPC problem by successive linearization of an error model of the mobile robot. Simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Trajectory optimization for parafoil delivery system considering complicated dynamic constraints in high-order model

Trajectory optimization is essential for all unmanned aerial vehicles, especially the parafoil delivery system, as the optimized trajectory must be practical and realizable. However, with the traditional 3-degree of freedom (DOF) model used in trajectory optimization, the realizability of the optimized trajectory is largely reduced without consideration of its dynamic constraints. Moreover, the landing and tracking precision of the system will also be reduced. To solve this problem, in this paper, a novel trajectory optimization method is explored. Different from existing research, trajectory optimization is achieved with a complete 6-DOF dynamic model of the parafoil delivery system. When this is combined with the Gauss pseudospectral method, complicated dynamic constraints can be taken into account in the trajectory optimization. In addition to achieving a global optimal control objective under dynamic constraints, the proposed method also can include multiple external environment constraints, such as terrain, wind disturbance and flared landing. Finally, our results show that the proposed method can achieve all the control objectives successfully. The optimized trajectory is smooth and realizable. Compared with other trajectory optimization methods that use a 3-DOF model, the advantage of the proposed method is clear. Considering the complicated dynamic constrains of the system, it has much better realizability and is more consistent with reality.

DeepDynamicHand: A Deep Neural Architecture for Labeling Hand Manipulation Strategies in Video Sources Exploiting Temporal Information.

Humans are capable of complex manipulation interactions with the environment, relying on the intrinsic adaptability and compliance of their hands. Recently, soft robotic manipulation has attempted to reproduce such an extraordinary behavior, through the design of deformable yet robust end-effectors. To this goal, the investigation of human behavior has become crucial to correctly inform technological developments of robotic hands that can successfully exploit environmental constraint as humans actually do. Among the different tools robotics can leverage on to achieve this objective, deep learning has emerged as a promising approach for the study and then the implementation of neuro-scientific observations on the artificial side. However, current approaches tend to neglect the dynamic nature of hand pose recognition problems, limiting the effectiveness of these techniques in identifying sequences of manipulation primitives underpinning action generation, e.g., during purposeful interaction with the environment. In this work, we propose a vision-based supervised Hand Pose Recognition method which, for the first time, takes into account temporal information to identify meaningful sequences of actions in grasping and manipulation tasks. More specifically, we apply Deep Neural Networks to automatically learn features from hand posture images that consist of frames extracted from grasping and manipulation task videos with objects and external environmental constraints. For training purposes, videos are divided into intervals, each associated to a specific action by a human supervisor. The proposed algorithm combines a Convolutional Neural Network to detect the hand within each video frame and a Recurrent Neural Network to predict the hand action in the current frame, while taking into consideration the history of actions performed in the previous frames. Experimental validation has been performed on two datasets of dynamic hand-centric strategies, where subjects regularly interact with objects and environment. Proposed architecture achieved a very good classification accuracy on both datasets, reaching performance up to 94%, and outperforming state of the art techniques. The outcomes of this study can be successfully applied to robotics, e.g., for planning and control of soft anthropomorphic manipulators.

Internal and external regulation of plant organ stoichiometry

Internal differences between plant organs are caused by the functional differentiation of plant tissue, whereas external supply rates of elements constrain nutrient uptake. Previous studies have concentrated on foliar or whole-plant stoichiometric response to the environment, whereas investigation of organ-specific comparisons is still pending. We explore C:N:P ratios of stems, leaves, diaspores and belowground organs in marsh plants, and evaluate the influence of environmental constraints using standardised major axis regression (SMA). For a pooled dataset, SMA resulted in distinct patterns of isometric and anisometric slopes between plant organs. Bivariate line-fitting for a split dataset of four ecological groups revealed that species of the frequently inundated marsh had higher N:C ratios than those of the infrequently inundated marsh. The influence of nutrient availability was detectable in decreased P:C and increased N:P ratios in P-poor sites. Across ecological groups, leaves and diaspores showed higher elemental homeostasis than stems and belowground organs. Any change in N:C ratios of belowground organs and diaspores in response to the environment was accompanied by an even stronger internal change in stem N:C ratios, indicating a pivotal role of stems of herbaceous plants in ecosystem processes. We found distinct patterns of C:N:P ratios in plant organs related to their internal function and external environmental constraints. Leaves and diaspores showed a higher degree of homeostasis than stems and belowground organs. We detected a clear external signal in element:element ratios of plant organs, with low soil P translating into lower tissue P:C ratio and stronger N retention in leaves as a response to salt stress.

Effects of social intention on movement kinematics in cooperative actions

Optimal control models of biological movements are used to account for those internal variables that constrain voluntary goal-directed actions. They, however, do not take into account external environmental constraints as those associated to social intention. We investigated here the effects of the social context on kinematic characteristics of sequential actions consisting in placing an object on an initial pad (preparatory action) before reaching and grasping as fast as possible the object to move it to another location (main action). Reach-to-grasp actions were performed either in an isolated condition or in the presence of a partner (audience effect), located in the near or far space (effect of shared reachable space), and who could intervene on the object in a systematic fashion (effect of social intention effect) or not (effect of social uncertainty). Results showed an absence of audience effect but nevertheless an influence of the social context both on the main and the preparatory actions. In particular, a “localized” effect of shared reachable space was observed on the main action, which was smoother when performed within the reachable space of the partner. Furthermore, a “global” effect of social uncertainty was observed on both actions with faster and jerkier movements. Finally, social intention affected the preparatory action with higher wrist displacements and slower movements when the object was placed for the partner rather than placed for self-use. Overall, these results demonstrate specific effects of action space, social uncertainty and social intention on the planning of reach-to-grasp actions, in particular on the preparatory action, which was performed with no specific execution constraint. These findings underline the importance of considering the social context in optimal models of action control for human–robot interactions, in particular when focusing on the implementation of motor parameters required to afford intuitive interactions.

Developing an asset management value improvement model (a‐VIM) approach for an airport operational engineering environment

PurposeA previous attempt to implement the use of historical measures of asset management effectiveness – as part of a value improvement model (VIM) for repetitive processes – had not been 100 percent successful within an airport operational engineering environment. Taking into account the more holistic approach realised through applying a soft systems methodology (SSM), the purpose of this paper was to use the CATWOE (Customers, Actors, Transaction, World View, Owner and Environment) tool to gain an understanding of the root definition of the problem statement developing a conceptual model used to facilitate an improvement to the implementation process.Design/methodology/approachThe research methodology taken incorporated an action research approach combining case study research with an action research process of planning, observing and reflecting summarized as taking an action case research design.FindingsThis research has developed a visual and systematic framework that enables managers to understand, analyse and improve value in their asset management repetitive processes. The CATWOE root definition tool has been used to create a conceptual model of the problem area providing a holistic view of the stakeholders and the internal and external environmental constraints that the VIM for asset management sits within.Research limitations/implicationsThe research was completed in‐situ at a single airport focused on a single group of assets managed by a single group of stakeholders. Future research should look to further develop the VIM and CATWOE approach in other asset management environments such as manufacturing as well as asset intensive service industries.Originality/valueThis research has taken a soft systems approach and successfully applied it to the implementation of hard systems measurements of asset management effectiveness within an airport operational engineering environment. Other managers with asset management responsibilities will find this approach useful in achieving their core objective to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their assets and the teams employed to maintain them at minimal total cost.

Isolation-by-Distance and Outbreeding Depression Are Sufficient to Drive Parapatric Speciation in the Absence of Environmental Influences

A commonly held view in evolutionary biology is that speciation (the emergence of genetically distinct and reproductively incompatible subpopulations) is driven by external environmental constraints, such as localized barriers to dispersal or habitat-based variation in selection pressures. We have developed a spatially explicit model of a biological population to study the emergence of spatial and temporal patterns of genetic diversity in the absence of predetermined subpopulation boundaries. We propose a 2-D cellular automata model showing that an initially homogeneous population might spontaneously subdivide into reproductively incompatible species through sheer isolation-by-distance when the viability of offspring decreases as the genomes of parental gametes become increasingly different. This simple implementation of the Dobzhansky-Muller model provides the basis for assessing the process and completion of speciation, which is deemed to occur when there is complete postzygotic isolation between two subpopulations. The model shows an inherent tendency toward spatial self-organization, as has been the case with other spatially explicit models of evolution. A well-mixed version of the model exhibits a relatively stable and unimodal distribution of genetic differences as has been shown with previous models. A much more interesting pattern of temporal waves, however, emerges when the dispersal of individuals is limited to short distances. Each wave represents a subset of comparisons between members of emergent subpopulations diverging from one another, and a subset of these divergences proceeds to the point of speciation. The long-term persistence of diverging subpopulations is the essence of speciation in biological populations, so the rhythmic diversity waves that we have observed suggest an inherent disposition for a population experiencing isolation-by-distance to generate new species.

Analysing Deprivation and Local Authority Performance: The Implications for CPA

This article uses regression analysis to explore the statistical relationship between deprivation and the performance indicators used for the first round of Comprehensive Performance Assessments (CPAs) for English local authorities. The statistical significance of the results is described and analysed in light of the Audit Commission's decision to exclude deprivation from the CPA framework. For over one third of the PIs tested, deprivation had a statistically significant adverse effect on performance. The author shows that external environmental constraints on local authority performance must be recognized for accurate and equitable performance assessments.

Parasite adaptation to extreme conditions in a desert environment

Deserts represent universally recognized extreme environments for animal life. This paper documents the highly specialized adaptations of Pseudodiplorchis americanus, a monogenean parasite of the desert toad, Scaphiopus couchii. Building on a long-term record of parasite population ecology (continuing since the early 1980s), field studies focus on the effects of severe drought in the Sonoran Desert, Arizona, in the mid 1990s. This provides a test of the ability of the host-parasite system to tolerate exceptional perturbation. The analysis provides new insight into parasite infection dynamics in a natural wildlife system through integration of host and parasite population age structure. The environmental check interrupted host recruitment in 1993-95 and parasite recruitment in 1995-97. This produced an imprint in age structure and infection levels recognizable over several years: parasite recruitment failure reduced transmission 2-3 years later. The host (maximum life span 17 years) tolerated the disruption but the impact was more serious for the parasite (life span 3 years) leading to extinction of some previously stable populations. Despite this demonstration of a rare event exacerbating external environmental constraints, experimental studies suggest that the internal (host) environment normally creates the most severe conditions affecting P. americanus. Only about 3% of parasites survive from invasion until first reproduction. Post-invasion factors including host immunity, characteristic of most parasite life cycles, constitute a greater constraint upon survival than external conditions, even in a desert environment.

The Rhythm of Life on the Amazon Floodplain: Seasonality and Sociality in a Riverine Village

This article explores the relationship between seasonality and sociality in a village of caboclos (Portuguese-speaking peasants of mixed descent) on the banks of the River Amazon. The aim is to revive Mauss's initial attempt to treat seasonality as intrinsic to the current and quality of social life, rather than simply as part of a framework of external environmental constraints. However, Mauss's argument was stuck in the contradictions generated by a strong nature/culture dichotomy. Contemporary dissolutions and revisions of this dichotomy provide the opportunity to return to Mauss. I shall argue that in the case of floodplain dwellers of the Brazilian Amazon, seasonality is constituted by the movements of people and the rhythmic structure of their social activities, which resonate with and respond to periodic changes in their floodplain environment. I conclude that this environment can be seen as work in motion, in which people's activities are a crucial part of that work, and seasonality is the periodicity of the creative movement itself. This article examines the seasonal rhythm of social life in a community of Portuguese-speaking floodplain dwellers (caboclos) on the River Amazon. My aim is to show that social life in this community has an intrinsic rhythmic character which is embodied in the history of practices and social relations in the environment. This undertaking is inspired by Mauss's brilliant study of the Eskimo (1979), in which he attempted to treat seasonality as inherent in the stream of social life rather than as part of a framework of external environmental constraints. My argument here is that the full force of this analysis has virtually been ignored in subsequent analyses of seasonality (see Evans-Pritchard 1940, for example), and in recent revisions and attempted dissolutions of the naturesociety dichotomy (see for example Croll & Parkin 1992; Descola & Palsson 1995). Like Mauss, I focus on a region where seasonality takes a pronounced and dramatic form. The floodplain of the Brazilian Amazon is a site of considerable economic, social and political importance in the area's history (Meggers 1971; Ross 1978). The middle reaches of the Amazon river (from Parintins to Santarem) are estimated to have a floodplain forty kilometres across. The variation in river height is about six to ten metres from wet to dry seasons. The whole area is more or less covered every flood, as it is an immense and flat landscape. These changes are not just visually dramatic, for they clearly have a profound influence on the ways in which people organize their annual activities.

Transformation of Morphomechanical constraints into generative rules of Organic Evolution

Abstract From the very beginning of their evolutionary history the primitive organisms have been confronted with the numerous constraints of external environment, and among them the mechanical ones, associated with the increase of intracellular osmotically‐driven hydrostatic pressure. In order to withstand it, the organisms had to develop a set of stress‐dependent reactions directed to the decrease of cell surface tension. Due to robustness of these reactions, they could led to the development of a surface pressure. The main idea of this paper is that such an initially adaptive reaction may create a basis for a large category of morphogenesis which result in the formation of structurally stable and biologically realistical shapes out of geometrically simple configurations. The attempt is made to embrace a whole set of stress‐dependent reactions by a principle of hyperrestoration, suggesting a tissue tendency to “hyperrestore” its initial mechanical stresses after any disturbances. The evolutionary formati...

EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS AND JOB‐RELATED STRESS ON SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

With data secured from 256 school principals in Manitoba, the study examined the impact of external environmental constraints upon the various types and sources of job‐related stress. Results indicated external pressures triggered extra‐organizational, intra‐organizational as well as the less obvious intrapersonal stress. Constraints from external sources therefore constitute a major dimension that cannot be ignored in understanding the complex phenomenon of school administrators' stress.