Environmental Management Research Articles

Spent Lubricating Oil Decreased Vegetative Growth Parameters and Rhizosphere Microbial Abundance of Groundnuts (Arachis hypogea) and Maize (Zea mays)

Research Gap: there are little or no information on effect of oil pollution on groundnuts and maize. Aim: to ascertain effect of spent engine oil (SEO) on plants’ growth, chlorophyll content, growth and survival of rhizosphere microorganisms in the contaminated soil. Study Design: experiment was laid out as a completely randomized design in 3 replications. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun/six months. Methodology: farm top soil was collected and physico-chemical analysis was done. Viable seeds were determined by flotation method. Four treatments of SEO (5, 10, 15, 20ml) were applied to soil with plants at 2 weeks after planting. Shoot length, dry matter, leaf area, chlorophyll content of uprooted plant samples, rhizosphere bacterial and fungal counts were estimated biweekly using standard methods. Results: different responses to SEO concentrations were observed. Leaf area was most affected (20ml SEO) at week 6 for groundnuts (0.0075±0.002m2) and maize (0.583±0.006m2). Application of SEO to soils had reductive effects on dry matter content of all plants; content values for groundnuts and maize at week 6 were 167±0.006g and 368±0.004g while controls were 0.567±0.007g and 0.860±0.002g, respectively. Bacterial counts increased in groundnuts from 1.21 ×105 CFU/g to 1.69×105 CFU/g (5ml), 0.7 x 105 CFU/g- 1.19 ×105 CFU/g (20ml), 2.03×105CFU/g to 2.56 ×105CFU/g (control) at weeks 2 and 6. Counts in maize were 1.35 ×105 CFU/g to 2.25×105 CFU/g (5ml), 0.8 ×105 CFU/g to 1.19×105 CFU/g (20ml), 2.15×105CFU/g to 2.96×105 CFU/g (control), respectively at weeks 2 and 6. There were statistical differences between the monitored parameters and treatments with respects to days. Conclusion: study revealed plants may suffer great growth inhibition and perform poorly when exposed to SEO at early stages of growth. Therefore, enforcement of strict disposal regulations and legislations against irregular and indiscriminate disposal of spent engine oil into the environment is imperative.

Indoor thermal energy environment control and beauty health management based on image encryption algorithm

In today’s society, effective control of indoor thermal environment and beauty and health management are increasingly valued. This study aims to explore effective methods for indoor thermal environment control and beauty health management based on image encryption algorithms, with the aim of improving customer experience and reducing energy consumption. The study introduces the theoretical basis of image encryption algorithms, including image encryption and decryption architecture, chaotic sequence generation, compression encryption, and simulation results. These basic algorithms provide technical means to ensure customer privacy and data security. Subsequently, customer behavior image recognition technology was analyzed for thermal environment control in beauty salons, and the relationship between customer behavior and indoor thermal environment was explored. By analyzing customer behavior data, an intelligent control system was constructed that can dynamically adjust indoor temperature based on real-time changes, thereby optimizing customer comfort and satisfaction. This study designed a beauty and health management system that covers system structure, management functions, and optimization strategies to achieve comprehensive management of thermal environment and beauty and health. Through experiments, it has been proven that the system not only improves customer satisfaction but also helps reduce overall energy consumption, achieving the expected results.

Current environmental management practices in major manufacturing industries of Chattogram, Bangladesh

Current environmental management practices in major manufacturing industries of Chattogram, Bangladesh

Ecosystem service indicators on military-managed drylands in the Western United States.

Lands devoted to military use are globally important for the production of ecosystem services and for the conservation of biodiversity. The United States has one of the largest military land estates in the world, and most of these areas occur in water-limited landscapes. Despite many of these areas receiving intense or sustained disturbance from military training activities, the structure and function of ecosystems contained within their boundaries continue to provide critical benefits to people across spatial scales. The land owned and managed by the Department of Defense is subject to regulation across local, state, and federal governing bodies, constraining and shaping both how land management is conducted and how ecosystem services are prioritized. Here, we explored the supply of ecosystem services from military lands in dryland areas of the United States using key indicators of ecosystem services: biodiversity estimates derived from range maps, ecosystem productivity estimates from satellite observations, and spatially explicit, hierarchical ecosystem classifications. Additionally, we utilized content analysis of the environmental management plans of these areas to describe the unique set of demands and regulatory constraints on these areas. We found that the US military land estate in drylands contains many types of ecosystems and provides a large and diverse supply of ecosystem services, comparable to the sum of services from public lands in these areas. Additionally, the degree to which the ecosystem services concept is captured in environmental management plans is strongly shaped by the language of the governing legislation that mandated the use of environmental management plans in these areas, although these plans do not explicitly address land management using the concept of ecosystem services. Collectively, our findings suggest that military use and management of land represents an important source of ecosystem services, that military land use can be considered a cultural ecosystem service unto itself, and that top-down regulation can affect how these services are identified and valued. Our work highlights the need for the research and conservation communities to quantify ecosystem services from individual military installations so that both services and biodiversity can be safeguarded in an era of military conflict across the globe.

Unveiling Critical Innovation Factors in Sustainable Coffee Production: A Colombian Perspective

Abstract The coffee sector stands as a cornerstone of Colombia’s economy, ranking third in the nation’s export portfolio. Despite the Colombian coffee esteemed global reputation, it has yet to fully exploit its potential for diversification into differentiated products. Present agro-industrial paradigms emphasize trade and sustainable, efficient agricultural practices, underscoring the imperative for innovation across production, marketing, and distribution channels. This study aims to pinpoint the pivotal innovation factors within coffee farm production processes. To this end, a sample of 66 coffee farms was selected through simple random sampling. Drawing from the 2018 Oslo model, innovation types associated with sustainable specialty coffee certifications were delineated. Within this framework, seven fundamental factors emerged for investigation: economic, social, environmental, production, knowledge, technology, and change management. Through cluster analysis, it became evident that economic, environmental, knowledge, technological, and change management factors are indispensable for fortifying the coffee industry.

Intelligent Resource Management in Cloud Computing: AI Techniques for Optimizing DevOps Operations

Efficient resource management is a cornerstone of cloud computing, particularly for DevOps operations where automation and scalability are critical. Traditional resource allocation approaches often fall short in dynamic environments, leading to over-provisioning, under-utilization, or service disruptions. This paper explores how artificial intelligence (AI) techniques can optimize resource management in cloud environments, enhancing the performance and efficiency of DevOps workflows. We examine methods such as predictive analytics, reinforcement learning, and anomaly detection, providing case studies and actionable insights for implementing intelligent resource management systems.

Results From a Randomized Trial of Intensive Glucose Management Using CGM Versus Usual Care in Hospitalized Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: The TIGHT Study.

To evaluate whether continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) could assist providers in intensifying glycemic management in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes. At six academic hospitals, adults with type 2 diabetes hospitalized in a non-intensive care setting were randomly assigned to either standard therapy with glucose target 140-180 mg/dL (standard group) or intensive therapy with glucose target 90-130 mg/dL guided by CGM (intensive group). The primary outcome was mean glucose measured with CGM (blinded in standard group), and the key secondary outcome was CGM glucose <54 mg/dL. For the 110 participants included in the primary analysis, mean ± SD age was 61 ± 12 years and mean HbA1c was 8.9 ± 2.3% (73.8 ± 1.6 mmol/mol). During the study, CGM-measured mean glucose was 170 mg/dL for the intensive group (n = 60) vs. 175 mg/dL for the standard group (n = 50; risk-adjusted difference -7 mg/dL, 95% CI -19 to 5; P = 0.25). Only 7% of the intensive group achieved the mean glucose target range of 90-130 mg/dL. CGM readings <54 mg/dL were infrequent (0.2% for intensive and 0.4% for standard; adjusted treatment group difference -0.1%, 95% CI -0.6 to 0.3). One severe hypoglycemia event occurred in the standard group. The study's glucose management approach using CGM did not improve glucose levels compared with standard glucose management in the non-intensive care unit hospital setting. A glucose target of 90-130 mg/dL may not be realistic in the current environment of insulin management in the hospital.

Parthenium hysterophorus invasive weed valorization into biochar for removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products: Competitive adsorption analysis via batch and fixed–bed column systems

The proliferation of invasive weeds and emergence of new contaminants have become significant global concern, threatening human–health and environment. This investigation assesses performance of Parthenium hysterophorus weed–derived biochar (HPC and KPC) for removing acetaminophen (ACT) and metronidazole (MET) in single (ACT/MET) and multi–component (ACT + MET) systems in batch and column modes. Synthesized HPC and KPC were characterized through SEM, EDX, XRD, porosimetry, TGA and FTIR analyses. HPC displayed micropores, featuring surface area of 166.62 m2/g, while KPC exhibited mesopores with 146.16 m2/g surface area. The investigation in batch study includes exploring operating conditions like contact time (0–180 min), concentration (0.5–20 mg/L), biochar dose (0.25–4 g/L) and pH (2–12). At optimal conditions (1 h, pH 6.5 and 1 g/L dose), HPC achieved maximum sorption capacity 48.72 mg/g for MET and 32.10 mg/g for ACT, and KPC exhibited 18.41 mg/g for MET and 16.54 mg/g for ACT in batch mode. According to findings, pseudo–second–order and Langmuir models provided accurate–fit for batch experimental data. Furthermore, study also investigated influence of column operating conditions such as bed depth (3–9 cm), flow rate (0.25–1.00 L/h) and concentration (5–20 mg/L). In column, HPC outperformed KPC in removing ACT and MET, with breakthrough data fitting Thomas model. Both systems exhibit synergistic effect in simultaneously removing ACT and MET from multi–pollutant mixture. In summary, converting invasive weeds into biochar and employing it to remove emerging contaminants provides sustainable approach to protecting aquatic environment and invasive weeds management.

Internet of things (IoT) for safety and efficiency in construction building site operations

Internet of Things (IoT) technologies present transformative opportunities through connectivity of intelligent devices, environmental sensors, and integrated management systems. This study aims to investigate the benefits and impact of IoT implementation on construction sites by analyzing relationships between key factors and outcomes for safety and efficiency. Hypotheses were developed proposing positive correlations between each factor and effective IoT adoption on construction sites. Structural equation modeling analysis on survey data from construction professionals and site reports strongly validated the research hypotheses. Positive path coefficients and high statistical significance confirmed environmental monitoring (0.38), equipment management (0.343), predictive analytics and maintenance (0.222) and safety monitoring (0.369) as crucial enablers for successful IoT integration leading to safer and more productive construction operations. The findings highlight imperative focus areas and provide actionable insights for construction stakeholders on strategies to effectively leverage IoT capabilities.

Land use and land cover changes in Notwane watershed, Botswana, using extreme gradient boost (XGBoost) machine learning algorithm

ABSTRACT Botswana’s Notwane watershed is crucial for supplying water to Gaborone and surrounding areas. However, urbanization and climate variability threaten its water resources. Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes contribute to climate variability, impacting food security, water supply, and weakening rural economies and socio-cultural structures. This study employs geospatial techniques to model LULC changes and inform sustainable environmental management. This study utilized Extreme Gradient Boost (XGBoost), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Random Forest (RF) algorithms to classify multi-temporal Landsat images from 1984 to 2022. The XGBoost model achieved the highest overall accuracy of 0.81%. Results indicated a 21,239.2% increase in built-up areas between the year, while agricultural land and natural vegetation decreased significantly by 9.38%. These shifts are driven by urbanization, which heightens climate change through increased greenhouse gas emissions and reduced carbon sinks. Variations in water-covered areas were, influenced by dam construction, droughts, and cyclones. A strong correlation between built-up areas and population data highlights the impact of urban expansion. To ensure sustainable urban growth and mitigate negative effects on biodiversity, urban planners must integrate sustainable land use strategies. These findings highlight the necessity for informed decision-making to balance development with environmental sustainability in the Notwane watershed.

Evaluation of the Application of the Neighborhood Impact Study in Jundiaí-SP: Challenges and Potentialities for Urban Environmental Management

Evaluation of the Application of the Neighborhood Impact Study in Jundiaí-SP: Challenges and Potentialities for Urban Environmental Management

The effect of environmental centralization: An assessment of China's environmental vertical management reform below provincial level

To strengthen the top-down supervision over local environmental management, China has gradually initiated environmental vertical management reform (EVMR) below provincial level since 2016, which empowers provincial environmental agency to replace municipal government to directly administrate municipal environmental agencies. As the largest environmental centralization reform in China since the opening and reform, the effect of EVMR below provincial level on environmental quality and the underlying mechanisms remain relatively underexplored. Taking air quality as the indicator, one of the most prominent environmental issues in China, and using panel data of 255 municipalities during 2011–2021 and staggered difference-in-differences model, this research finds that that averagely, the reform reduced municipal annual PM2.5 concentration by about 8.03 %. However, the effect was not significant until the fourth year after the reform. In addition, the reform effects were heterogeneous for cities with different levels of resource endowments, attention of high-level authority, and economic growth pressure. Further analysis shows that the reform has strengthened the working incentive of municipal environmental agency by increasing their budget and enhancing law enforcement power. However, the reform has failed to boost the environmental attention of municipal governments, which are inclined to view environmental agency as an outsider rather than collaborator. Moreover, it is found that in part of cities, the personnel management along with the EVMR is still lagged and municipal environmental agency is still subject to the intervention of municipal government, which negatively affect the working enthusiasm of the environmental officers and thus the reform effect. Finally, this paper proposes corresponding suggestions to further improve the reform effect.

Leveraging digital technologies for health, safety, and environmental (HSE) management in industrial operations

The integration of digital technologies into Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) management has revolutionized industrial operations, offering new opportunities for improving safety outcomes and mitigating risks. This review explores the role of cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), and predictive analytics in enhancing HSE management. These tools provide real-time data, enable predictive risk analysis, and facilitate proactive safety measures, resulting in reduced accidents, improved compliance, and optimized operational efficiency. However, the adoption of digital HSE solutions presents challenges, including data security concerns, integration issues with legacy systems, and resistance from employees and management. This paper addresses these challenges and offers key recommendations for successful implementation, including prioritizing cybersecurity, ensuring system compatibility, fostering employee engagement, and collaborating with regulatory bodies. Ultimately, digital technologies present significant opportunities to advance industrial safety and sustainability in HSE management. Keywords: Digital Technologies, Predictive Analytics, Internet of Things (Iot), Risk Mitigation, Industrial Safety

Исторический обзор гравиметрических работ в Казахстане

The evolution of gravimetric research in Kazakhstan is traced from the 1920s to the present day. This review highlights the progression from initial measurements using variometers to modern complex gravimetric surveys employing absolute and relative equipment. Advancements in accuracy, depth, and breadth of data are emphasized. The current state and prospects of the mentioned research in Kazakhstan are also discussed, including the development of standardized gravity networks and plans for a new national reference frame. This comprehensive overview provides valuable insights into the history and status of gravimetric research in Kazakhstan, underscoring its significance for geosciences and environmental management in the region

DESENVOLVIMENTO DE UM SISTEMA DE GESTÃO PARA CLOUD (INFRAESTRUTURA MULTI-CLOUD)

This work aims to develop a multi-cloud resource management system to simplify the administration of infrastructures distributed across different cloud providers, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). The system was built using Node.js for the backend and Vue.js for the frontend, leveraging generic SDKs for integration with cloud services. The platform enables users to centrally view and manage resources such as computing instances, virtual networks, and object storage efficiently. The project concluded that the system fully met the established functional requirements, highlighting the importance of technological solutions in the modern context of resource management in multi-cloud environments. The developed solution stands out for its robustness and ability to optimize the administration of complex infrastructures, making it essential for companies operating across multiple cloud environments in an integrated manner.

Inclusive Maritime Spatial Planning: Stakes at the Regional Level

The paper focuses on Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) and the importance of incorporating participatory democracy and inclusivity, from a region-wise perspective. Traditionally MSP is a top-down (central government) process. Most responsibilities, competencies and jurisdictions lie at the national level, with usually limited input from local or regional stakeholders. However, the growing complexity of marine activities and the need for sustainable management of the marine environment require more inclusive and collaborative approaches. In other words, it calls for a more bottom-up approach, where local and regional stakeholders are involved in a meaningful way. Drawing on the REGINA-MSP project, the study presented in this paper identifies categories of regional and local stakeholders relevant to MSP. The paper identifies seven categories of MSP stakeholders deriving from the local communities of coastal regions. Following an in depth stakeholder analysis and mapping, fishers were identified as the ones having the lowest level of engagement and degree of representativeness in the MSP process, despite being among the most traditional marine users. The general public is also considered a “weak” MSP stakeholder. Regarding regional authorities/goverments (NUTS 2 level according to the EU classification), their role and voice may also need further strengthening in the—nationally driven—MSP process. Communities of Practice is a tool that may encourage and advance participation and inclusivity in MSP, especially as regards local stakeholders of coastal regions.

Uso de probiótico e redução de pododermatite em frango de corte

Pododermatitis lesions, also known as “foot calluses”, cause pain and discomfort, alter behavior and walking patterns, and can increase aggression among birds, thus compromising animal welfare. The disease also compromises bird performance, as it commonly results in a worsening of feed conversion and an increase in carcass condemnation. Other obstacles include failure to meet the consumer market for chicken feet, especially in Asia, and possible penalties in animal welfare audits. Numerous factors predispose to the emergence of this lesion, such as environmental quality, management, litter quality and humidity, and the presence of ammonia (NH3). The present study evaluated the probiotic efficiency based on Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis, GalliPro® MS, in reducing broilers' incidence of pododermatitis (foot calluses). Chickens that received diets supplemented with GalliPro® MS had more intact paws, probably because the levels of NH3 and Nitrogen (N) in the litter were lower, ensuring a favorable microenvironment and maintaining the integrity of the paws.

A dynamical process-based model for quantifying global agricultural ammonia emissions – AMmonia–CLIMate v1.0 (AMCLIM v1.0) – Part 1: Land module for simulating emissions from synthetic fertilizer use

Abstract. Ammonia (NH3) emissions mainly originate from agricultural practices and can have multiple adverse impacts on the environment. With the substantial increase in synthetic fertilizer use over the past decades, volatilization of NH3 has become a major loss of N applied to land. Since NH3 can be strongly influenced by both environmental conditions and local management practices, a better estimate of NH3 emissions from fertilizer use requires improved understanding of the relevant processes. This study describes a new process-based model, AMmonia–CLIMate (AMCLIM), for quantifying agricultural NH3 emissions. More specifically, the present paper focuses on the development of a module (AMCLIM–Land) that is used for simulating NH3 emissions from synthetic fertilizer use. Other modules, together termed as AMCLIM-Livestock, simulate NH3 emissions from agricultural livestock and are described in Part 2). AMCLIM–Land dynamically models the evolution of N species in soils by incorporating the effects of both environmental factors and management practices to determine the NH3 emissions released from the land to the atmosphere. Based on simulations for 2010, NH3 emissions resulting from the synthetic fertilizer use are estimated at 15.0 Tg N yr−1, accounting for around 17 % of applied fertilizer N. Strong spatial and seasonal variations are found. Higher emissions typically occur in agriculturally intensive countries (such as China, India, Pakistan and the US) and mostly reach the maximum in the summer season. Volatilization rates indicate that hotter environments can result in more N lost due to NH3 emissions and show how other factors including soil moisture and pH can greatly affect volatilization of NH3. The AMCLIM model also allows for estimation of how application techniques and fertilizer type have impacts on the NH3 emissions, pointing to the importance of improving management practices to tackle nutrient loss and of appropriate data gathering to record management practices internationally.

Identification of differences in digestive organ weight, bone mineral concentration, and ileal transcriptomic profiles of low and high weight broiler chicks

Abstract A growth monitoring study (0–7 day of age) was conducted involving 87, one-day old Ross 308 male broilers to evaluate organ weights, bone parameters and ileal transcriptomic profile of broiler chicks as influenced by day 7 bodyweight (BW) grouping. The chicks were raised in a deep-litter house under common controlled environmental conditions and commercial starter diet. Chicks were grouped on day 7 into two distinct BW, super performer (SP) and under performer (UP) with bodyweights &gt;260, and &lt;200 g respectively. Results revealed that the SP chicks had significantly higher bone ash, sodium (Na), phosphorus (P) and rubidium (Rb) concentrations compared to the UP chicks on D7. In contrast, the UP chicks had significantly higher tibial cadmium (Cd), caesium (Cs) and lead (Pb) compared to the SP group; the UP chicks also had proportionally heavier relative gizzard weight than the SP chicks. The ileal transcriptomic data revealed differentially expressed genes (DEG) between the two groups of chicks, with 150 upregulated and 83 down-regulated genes with a fold change of ≥1.25 or ≤ 1.25 in the SP chicks relative to the UP chicks. Furthermore, functional annotation and pathway analysis revealed that some of these DEG were involved in various pathways including calcium signalling, Wnt signalling, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and mucin type O-glycan biosynthesis. This study revealed that chicks of the same breed and of uniform environmental and diet management exhibited differences in digestive organ weights, tibial bone characteristics and ileal gene expression that may be related to BW.

Medición de activos y pasivos ambientales de la reserva natural de Ascochinga

The research project initially focused on improving the environmental management of the Ascochinga Natural Reserve in Córdoba, Argentina, by measuring its environmental assets and liabilities. However, due to the lack of available information, the focus shifted to analyzing preexisting models of non-financial information disclosure at national and international levels, such as GRI and IIRC.The methodology employed is qualitative, based on content analysis.It proposes the inclusion of a Summary Table of Environmental Issues in the Reserve's Management Report, integrating financial, socio-environmental, and environmental information. Additionally, the use of standardized accounting definitions and the inclusion of a glossary to clarify key termsare suggested. This would facilitate the understanding of the reserve's financial and environmental aspects, aligned with sustainability indicators.