Environmental Instability Research Articles

Topological conditions drive stability in meta-ecosystems

On a global level, ecological communities are being perturbed at an unprecedented rate by human activities and environmental instabilities. Yet, we understand little about what factors facilitate or impede long-term persistence of these communities. While observational studies indicate that increased biodiversity must, somehow, be driving stability, theoretical studies have argued the exact opposite viewpoint instead. This encouraged many researchers to participate in the ongoing debate. Within this context, however, there has been a severe lack of studies that consider spatial features explicitly, even though nearly all habitats are spatially embedded. To this end, we study here the linear stability of meta-ecosystems on networks that describe how discrete patches are connected by dispersal between them. By combining results from random-matrix theory and network theory, we are able to show that there are three distinct features that underlie stability: edge density, tendency to triadic closure, and isolation or fragmentation. Our results appear to further indicate that network sparsity does not necessarily reduce stability, and that connections between patches are just as important, if not more so, to consider when studying the stability of large ecological systems. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Modification Strategies and Prospects for Enhancing the Stability of Black Phosphorus.

Black phosphorus is a two-dimensional layer material with promising applications due to its many excellent physicochemical properties, including high carrier mobility, ambipolar field effect and unusual in-plane anisotropy. Currently, BP has been widely used in biomedical engineering, photocatalysis, semiconductor devices, and energy storage electrode materials. However, the unique structure of BP makes it highly chemically active, leading to its easy oxidation and degradation in air, which limits its practical applications. Recently, researchers have proposed a number of initiatives that can address the environmental instability of BP, and the application of these physical and chemical passivation techniques can effectively enhance the environmental stability of BP, including four modification methods: covalent functionalization, non-covalent functionalization, surface coordination, physical encapsulation and edge passivation. This review highlights the mechanisms of the above modification techniques in addressing the severe instability of BP in different application scenarios, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each method. This review can provide guidance for more researchers in studying the marvellous properties of BP and accelerate the practical application of BP in different fields.

Quantifying paleoecological impact of the OAE1a on shallow marine ecosystems from southeastern France

Climate and environmental instability during the early Aptian culminated with the unfolding of the Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE) 1a, which resulted in the deposition of black shales in deep marine settings and a typical negative spike followed by a positive excursion in δ13C values. In Vercors (southern France) the Urgonian platform developed prior to and coeval to the OAE1a, but the impact of this paleoenvironmental crisis on the ecology of benthic ecosystems is yet to be quantified. We gathered field and petrographic data to identify sequence boundaries and maximum flooding surfaces that are biostratigraphically dated and correlated between four localities within the study area. A composite δ13C curve is built where the C3 to C7 isotope segments from the literature are identified, pinpointing the onset of the OAE1a above the last episode of deposition of Urgonian facies rich in rudist bivalves. Furthermore, thin section point counting data are used to quantify the proportion of allochems in samples and to trace changes in the ecology of ecosystems. The principal component analysis of point counting data helps define ecological tiers: a diversified, photozoan association with rudists, green algae, and benthic foraminifera dominated ecosystems before the OAE1a and up to the C7 segment, while a less diversified heterozoan association with bryozoans and crinoids developed after the OAE1a. To explore the triggers for this change, the principal component analysis of elemental geochemical data highlights an increased nutrient and detrital input as major triggering mechanisms for ecological adjustments and changes in the biodiversity of ecosystems. In particular after the OAE1a, an increase in detrital and nutrient input leads to the replacement of photozoan by heterozoan assemblages more adapted to these stressful conditions. This research directly links paleoenvironmental deterioration to paleoecological changes and quantifies the amount of adaptation of ecosystems.

CREDIT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY TO ENSURE THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF PACKAGING INDUSTRY ENTERPRISES

The article examines the possibilities of increasing the efficiency of credit resource management to ensure the financial stability of enterprises in the packaging industry. It was found that in modern conditions, the study of the assessment of the financial stability of the enterprise was not of a comprehensive nature, but was based, mainly, on the use of the coefficient method, which took place on a static basis and did not take into account the specifics of the industry, did not make it possible to assess the ability of the enterprise to generate cash flows for the implementation of activities. It has been proven that the problem of ensuring financial stability and financial balance of packaging industry enterprises is now an important one, especially in the conditions of uncertainty and instability of the economic environment caused by the war. On the basis of the conducted research, the key factors on which an effective credit management strategy should be based have been determined. In this context, the special importance of a timely and objective assessment of the financial stability of enterprises in the packaging industry, regardless of the forms of their ownership, is emphasized, which should be aimed at finding ways and opportunities to increase profits by means of a timely analysis of the financial state of enterprises. Eleven factors are proposed that should be taken into account when choosing a financial credit institution. A systematic analysis of the financial condition of the enterprise, its solvency, liquidity and financial stability is also necessary because the profitability of any enterprise largely depends on its solvency. Based on the balance sheet plan of the necessary resources, we forecast the sources of their formation, taking into account the level of financial leverage and the funds saved as a result of this at the time of taxation. Choosing the most profitable parameters, the enterprise can immediately determine the directions of saving its own monetary and financial resources, as well as optimize the use of already received ones. It has been established that in modern conditions, the relevance of effective financial management as a system of timely methods and techniques capable of preventing a financial crisis and avoiding risks of loss of financial stability of the enterprise in the future is objectively increasing. The lack of a clear definition of financial stability as an economic category and a system of indicators for its assessment, which requires further theoretical development of the problem.

Technological and Dietary Responses to Holocene Climate Events in the Northern Great Basin

ABSTRACT Environmental instability caused by extended periods of drought no doubt impacted past human populations by limiting economic options and driving changes in social and technological organization. Here we examine two sets of Great Basin sites with occupations spanning the middle and late Holocene droughts: one associated with lowland springs and another with upland springs. We use dietary markers retrieved via starch granule analysis to evaluate whether artifact form relates to resources processed, how changes in tool form might be related to past changes in climate, environment, and social organization, and what, if any, differences mark upland vs. lowland resource use. Our data suggest that changes in tool form track with environmental fluctuations and that in both upland and lowland settings diets focused primarily on tubers and high-return seeds and that these profitable and stable food sources likely anchored populations during periods of drought.

MOF-derived metal oxides with hollow porous nanocube structure realize ultra-wideband, lightweight, and anticorrosion microwave absorber

High density, skin effect, and environmental instability are significant limitations that restrict the application of metal-based microwave absorbers in achieving lightweight, high performance, and long service life. This study broke from traditional methods for preparing a microwave absorber Mn2O3-Fe3O4@PPy (polypyrrole) by employing an innovative annealing process to convert metal into metal oxide by the introduction of metal organic framework (MOF), which effectively achieving a more lightweight absorber material with hollow porous nanocube structure. Subsequently, PPy was coated onto the metal oxide surface to form a core-shell structure by a situ chemical oxidation synthesis method. The combination of metal oxide of the hollow porous nanocube structure and the core-shell structure formed by highly conductive PPy shell significantly enhanced heterogeneous interfaces and electromagnetic (EM) wave reflection. Excellent dielectric loss and impedance matching contributed evidently to the ultra-wideband EM wave absorption performance. It was demonstrated that, with a filling amount of only 20 wt%, the prepared Mn2O3-Fe3O4@PPy achieved an effective bandwidth (EAB) of 10.0 GHz at a thickness of 3.08 mm, with EABmax reaching 13 GHz. At a filling amount of only 10 wt%, the reflection loss (RL) was −62.13 dB, achieving an EAB of 7.4 GHz at 2.98 mm thickness, with EABmax reaching 11.4 GHz. Furthermore, the proposed strategy incorporating metal oxide and PPy enhanced corrosion resistance with higher charge transfer resistance.

Development of the Methodology for Analysing the Social Activity of Companies Based on the Sustainability Report

Modern business conditions in the period of globalisation and instability of the external environment are characterised by the need to pay special attention to the issues of corporate social responsibility and social activity of companies. In times of crisis, it is companies, along with the state, that should act as a pillar for society. The aim of the research is to analyse the social activity of organisations and assess the level of their involvement in the sustainable development strategy on the example of companies in the Russian oil and gas sector. The study pays special attention to the issues of regulatory and legal support for the preparation of non-financial reporting. The analysis led to the determination that the extent of companies’ engagement in the execution of the sustainable social development strategy is markedly deficient. Currently, the disclosure of a company’s social investments in non-financial reporting is undertaken on a voluntary basis. As a consequence, variances exist in the formats employed, the frequency of reporting, and the alignment with the corporate interests of the organisation. This approach hinders the establishment of a dependable evaluation and comparison of data, as well as impedes the thorough analysis of the influence exerted by companies on social development. The novelty of this study centres around conducting a thorough evaluation of social activity and corporate engagement in the execution of sustainable development strategies. Moreover, the authors have contributed by identifying a set of recommended indicators for mandatory disclosure in non-financial reporting.

Nanofiber Space-Confined Fabrication of High-Performance Perovskite Films for Flexible Conversion of Fluorescence Quantum Yields in LED Applications.

Perovskite is an advanced optoelectronic semiconductor material that has garnered significant attention in recent years. However, its drawback lies in its environmental instability, limiting its practical applications. To tackle this issue, this research delved into the idea of creating a space-confined structure and used electrospinning to produce a film of perovskite nanocomposite fibers. By effectively encapsulating perovskite nanocrystals into a polymer matrix, the perovskite could be shielded from water and oxygen in the environment, thereby reducing the likelihood of perovskite decomposition and enhancing the stability of its structure and properties. This study examined the influence of material composition and the spinning process on the nanofiber structure to create good spatial confinement. This strategy resulted in a high photoluminescence quantum yield of over 80% and a long-term environmental stability of as long as 1000 h over 90% of the original PLQY. By harnessing the flexibility of the composite fibers, this study demonstrated the potential applications and performance of this nanocomposite film in flexible quantum fluorescence conversion for LED applications.

Multi-proxy record of Late Holocene climate events and westerly winds in Maxwell Bay, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Glacial expression of climate change during the Holocene was neither uniform geographically nor synchronous in Antarctica, highlighting the influence of regional drivers and local feedbacks on environmental change. Here, we present new data from sediment cores collected in Maxwell Bay, a broad open bay located in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. We reconstruct past intervals of glacial marine conditions using diatom assemblage and stable isotope proxy data from the sediment cores. These data suggest that there were episodes of stronger westerly winds in the South Shetland Islands, evidenced by the increased presence of the offshore diatom Fragilariopsis kerguelensis and increased abundance of planktonic foraminifera that are associated with low sea-ice concentration and presence of relatively warm water masses. With an expanded sedimentary archive from the proximal bay, we reconstruct the last 2500 years of environmental conditions in Maxwell Bay and interrogate the record within the context of over a dozen published records in the region. Four major climate intervals are identified: (1) relatively stable, cold climate with high productivity from ∼2500 to ∼1850 calibrated years Before Present (cal yr BP), followed by (2) environmental instability until ∼900 cal yr BP, (3) a prominent Medieval Climatic Anomaly from ∼875 to ∼475 cal yr BP, and (4) cooling during the Little Ice Age between ∼475 and ∼ 60 cal yr BP. More recently, the Antarctic Peninsula experienced rapid regional warming during the second half of the Twentieth Century, followed by a regional reversal since the late 1990s; it is imperative to understand the glacial response to past climate events like this to inform models of future change.

Changes in behavioral flexibility to cope with environment instability: theoretical and empirical insights from serial reversal learning experiments

Changes in behavioral flexibility to cope with environment instability: theoretical and empirical insights from serial reversal learning experiments

Meta-analysis of gut microbiota biodiversity in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome based on medical images

PCOS is thought to be associated with metabolic disorders, endocrine disorders, and reproductive system problems. By collecting relevant literature and conducting meta-analyses, we integrated data from multiple studies to enhance the reliability of the analysis results. Studies with medical image data were selected to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the studies. A statistical framework was employed to examine the biodiversity indicators associated with the gut microbiota. These findings provide robust support for the notion that PCOS is intricately linked to notable alterations within the gut microbial community. The utilization of a statistical approach and the systematic synthesis of research findings in this meta-analysis contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the substantial impact of PCOS on the gut microbiota landscape. PCOS patients showed significant changes in the relative abundance of certain bacteria in their gut microbiota. This imbalance will lead to the instability of intestinal microecological environment, and then affect the health of the body.

Managing the transformation of foreign economic activity in an unstable macroeconomic environment

In modern conditions of chaoticization of the system of international economic relations and foreign economic activity of business entities, the tasks of improving the management of foreign economic activity of enterprises by the state and the formation of its embedded mechanisms to ensure the protection of state security in the world market are actualized. The purpose of the article is to analyze the topical issues of foreign economic activity transformation in the context of global instability. According to the author, in the system of state regulation of foreign economic activity of an enterprise, the implementation of an integrated foreign economic activity management system will be timely, which will significantly offset the problems existing in subjects of foreign economic activity related to external factors. However, it is impossible to quickly adjust to dynamically changing conditions and ensure management consistency, increase the efficiency of foreign economic activity of domestic enterprises and protect state economic security. The main goal of the transformation, according to the author, is to provide the necessary transparency and flexibility in the management system of foreign economic activity both at the state level and at the level of a specific subject of foreign economic activity, which is very important in the context of growing instability of the macroeconomic environment. Priorities in the context of growing global instability are to increase the efficiency of foreign economic activity, the competitiveness of the economy and the protection of economic security.

Self-assembly polysaccharide network regulated hydrogel sensors with toughness, anti-freezing, conductivity and wide working conditions

Ionic conducting hydrogel acted as a promising candidate in flexible electronic device, however, the intrinsic properties of weak mechanical strength, conductivity and environmental instability still are the challenging task. Herein, an assembled polysaccharide network (acetylated distarch phosphate) regulated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA/ADSP) hydrogel is fabricated via one-step freeze–thaw method, the stress, elongation at break, elastic modulus, and toughness could reach 2.26 MPa, 818.60 %, 0.95 MPa, and 12.23 kJ/m3, respectively. At the same time, the binary solution interlocked structure and salt are introduced into the PVA/ADSP hydrogel realizing the great environmental stability (water-retention and anti-freezing) and conductivity (3.59 S/m). PVA/ADSP hydrogel act as strain sensor presenting the great responsibility (128 ms), strain sensitivity (GF=1.82 at 350–500 % of strain) and durability. On account of the excellent sensing characteristics, the PVA/ADSP hydrogel could reliably, accurately and consistently detect most of human exercises and subtle physiological activities (electrocardiography) in real-time. Moreover, PVA/ADSP hydrogel is also utilized to control robotic hand realizing the human–machine interaction. This work provides a novelty regulated approach for conducting hydrogel via self-assembled polysaccharide network, which contributes to the innovative advancement of flexible wearable electronics.

Effect of Genotype × Environment Interactions on the Yield and Stability of Sugarcane Varieties in Ecuador: GGE Biplot Analysis by Location and Year

Yield and stability are desirable characteristics that crops need to have high agronomic value; sugarcane stands out globally due to its diverse range of products and by-products. However, genotype-environment (G × E) interactions can affect the overall performance of a crop. The objective of this study is to identify genotypes with the highest yield and stability, as well as to understand their independent and interactive effects. A collection of 10 sugarcane varieties was evaluated, including Colombian, Dominican, Ecuadorian lines, and a group of clones planted across five different locations from 2018 to 2020. A two-way ANOVA along with the GGE biplot technique were used to analyze yield and stability. The ANOVA model shows highly significant effects in all cases (p < 0.001) except for the genotype by year and sector interaction (G × Y × S); however, the decomposition by sectors reveals a significant triple interaction in sector 04 (p < 0.05). The GGE biplot model accounted for up to 74.77% of the total variance explained in its PC1 and PC2 components. It also highlighted the group of clones as having the highest yield and environmental instability, and the Ecuadorian varieties EC-07 and EC-08 as having the best yield-stability relationship. We conclude that the combined results of the ANOVA and GGE biplot models provide a more synergistic and effective evaluation of sugarcane varieties, offering theoretical and practical bases for decision-making in the selection of specific varieties.

Cyberbullying Terhadap Kesehatan Mental Remaja Wanita Dengan Latar Belakang Broken Home

Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that occurs in cyberspace and can have a negative impact on the mental health of victims. This study aims to analyze the effect of cyberbullying on the mental health of female adolescents who have a broken home background. The research method used is qualitative with a case study approach. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews and observations of ten female adolescents who met the criteria. The results showed that female adolescents with a broken home background are more vulnerable to experiencing mental health disorders due to cyberbullying, including anxiety, depression, and decreased self-esteem. Factors such as lack of emotional support from family and instability of the home environment contribute to this vulnerability.

Risks and challenges of living in Institutions: Voices from young people with care experience in China

Amid global shifts towards family-based alternatives, China persists with prevalent institutional care, drawing attention to concerns surrounding caregiving practices. Official data indicates a substantial population, approximately 27.36% of all childcare recipients, living in state-funded care institutions, prompting an exploration of the risks factors faced by these young individuals. This study focuses on exploring risk factors of living in institutions, providing a unique perspective often absent in existing literature—the voices of the care-experienced youth themselves. It included 34 young people who had lived experiences in institutional care. Participants were interviewed to gather their experiences of living in care. Thematic analysis reveals that the overriding risk factors during young people’s living in care range from care identity and parental absence to substandard living conditions, unqualified caregiving, excessive domestic responsibilities, institutional neglect of education, environmental instability, and physical impairments. These challenges contribute to unfavourable outcomes during the transition to adulthood. Therefore, this study concludes that institutional care is suboptimal for children and young individuals in need of genuine care. Based on the findings, practical implications are provided for policymakers and practitioners to make improvements. Nonetheless, ongoing research is essential to contextualise care experiences within current policies, ensuring lessons from historical accounts guide future efforts to enhance the lives of young people in care.

The Impact of Information Distortions on Decision-Making: A Case Study in Land–Sea Transport Chain Planning

Management based on reliable, complete, and up-to-date information is key to increasing a transport chain’s effectiveness and sustainability. The instability of the business environment and the increase in competition have contributed to the growth of challenges faced by managers of transport and logistics companies who make decisions using low-value information exposed to significant distortions. This article aims to investigate the impact of information distortions on decision-making quality and to determine the probability of making trustworthy decisions in freight land–sea transport chain planning. The research was carried out in several stages, which included the formulation of rules for detecting information distortions, as well as distortion clustering and evaluation of their impact on decision quality. A methodology to assess the probability of making trustworthy decisions was developed. It was shown that information value directly impacts the quality of decisions related to transport chain planning for both traditional and unique/occasional freight. In the case of significant information distortion, the manager’s ability to assess available information considerably increases, especially in crises, when the lack of time to verify information threatens the accuracy of decisions. This study’s results may be useful for transport and logistics companies’ managers, who make decisions using information obtained from various sources.

The impact of blockchain adoption in supply chain systems on corporate performance: a technology–organization–environment framework

The instability of the international political environment and frequent occurrence of unpredictable events have introduced greater uncertainty to the external environment of supply chains. Consequently, supply chain operations and development face increasing challenges. With a decentralized architecture, blockchain technology has emerged as an innovative solution capable of addressing various supply chain management issues. However, existing research on the adoption and impact of blockchain technology on corporate performance is limited, particularly within the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework. Drawing from relevant studies, this study identifies traceability, information sharing, transparency and decentralization as the four perceived benefits of blockchain technology, and proposes a model to evaluate the impact of blockchain technology on corporate performance. Additionally, it examines the moderating effects of technological uncertainty, corporate social responsibility (CSR) orientation, and market uncertainty on the blockchain adoption within the TOE framework.

Investigating the Impact of Information Distortions on the Resilience of Land-sea Transport Chains Under Business-environment Instability Conditions

Possessing reliable information is the basis for making accurate decisions when planning land-sea transport chains. Modern transport chains create increasingly complicated networks, which affect the decisions made when planning these chains. It should be noted, however, that information distortions may arise at individual stages of the transport process within complex transport chains. The article aims to examine the sources of hazards and risks occurring in land-sea transport chains, to determine the information distortion indicators that may be processed by transport and logistics industry enterprises under conditions of business environment instability, as well as to determine the levels of these chains' resilience to possible information distortions. The article presents the selected types of managerial decision errors. An approach to assessing the impact of distorted information on the decision-making process has been proposed. Information distortion indicators processed by transport and logistics industry enterprises in conditions of business-environment instability were also identified. An attempt was made to determine the possible levels of resilience of these chains to the symptoms of business-environment instability. It was found that, depending on the degree of distortion of the information used by the manager, their decision may be erroneous to a varying degree, while the degree of managerial decisions' incorrectness can be assessed by the number of decision-making cycles required to make and implement an effective decision.

Childhood Environmental Instabilities and Their Behavioral Implications: A Machine Learning Approach to Studying Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) include a range of abusive, neglectful, and dysfunctional household behaviors that are strongly associated with long-term health problems, mental health conditions, and societal difficulties. The study aims to uncover significant factors influencing ACEs in children aged 0-17 years and to propose a predictive model that can be used to forecast the likelihood of ACEs in children. Machine learning models are applied to identify and analyze the relationships between several predictors and the occurrence of ACEs. Key performance metrics such as AUC, F1 score, recall, and precision are used to evaluate the predictive strength of different factors on ACEs. Family structures, especially non-traditional forms such as single parenting, and the frequency of relocating to a new address are determined as key predictors of ACEs. The final model, a neural network, achieved an AUC of 0.788, a precision score of 0.683, and a recall of 0.707, indicating its effectiveness in accurately identifying ACE cases. The model's ROC and PR curves showed a high true positive rate for detecting children with two or more ACEs while also pointing to difficulties in classifying single ACE instances accurately. Furthermore, our analysis revealed the intricate relationship between the frequency of relocation and other predictive factors. The findings highlight the importance of familial and residential stability in children's lives, with substantial implications for child welfare policies and interventions. The study emphasizes the need for targeted educational and healthcare support to promote the well-being and resilience of at-risk children.