Product Changes Research Articles

EXPRESS: When a Mighty Competitor Comes to Town, Can Adjusting Product Variety Shield Incumbent Stores from Sales Loss? Insights from Retail Collocation, Category, and Pre-Existing Competition

When a competitor enters a market, incumbent retail stores often adjust their product variety to maintain sales. However, no empirical evidence has been provided in the literature to justify the value of such product variety adjustments after a rival’s entry. One difficulty is that the change in consumer demand due to rival’s entry and changes in product variety simultaneously affect incumbents’ sales. When changes in sales at incumbent stores are observed after rivals’ entries, it is unclear whether the sales changes result from product variety adjustments or changes in consumer demand directly resulting from the entry. Even if adjusting product variety can potentially mitigate sales loss due to rivals’ entries, it is unclear whether such product variety adjustments provide a universal solution to all incumbent stores. This paper applies the difference-in-difference research design to develop a system of equations for product variety and sales at incumbent stores after rivals’ entries by exploiting the entries of warehouse clubs. The findings reveal that, on average, product variety at incumbent stores increased after the entries. This increased product variety mitigates the sales decreases caused by the entries with a diminishing return. After the entry of a warehouse club store, incumbent stores collocated with the new store have less sales loss than the non-collocated stores due to the trade-off between the substitution and agglomeration effects. Product variety adjustments at collocated incumbent stores experience greater sales benefits than non-collocated stores. Moreover, the sales loss that was mitigated by increased product variety at incumbent stores within the retail category of entrants is larger than others after the entry of a warehouse club store. Interestingly, the mitigation effect is not significant for certain incumbents, such as convenience and drug stores, which belong to different retail categories from entrants. This study also explores the heterogeneous effects by investigating pre-existing competition and different warehouse club chains. The empirical findings offer valuable insights to managers of incumbent stores on how to adjust product variety to reduce sales loss resulting from a rival’s entry.

Determination of O-isobutylmethylphosphonate in industrial emissions by gas chromatography using pulsating flame photometric detector

A procedure for gas chromatographic determination of O-isobutylmethylphosphonate micro-quantities in industrial emissions with a concentration range from 0.5 to 50 mg/m3 has been developed. The target analyte was collected and concentrated using an aspirator of the required volume of the test medium taken from sources of industrial emissions through sampling tubes equipped with ready-made filter materials, two layers of filters of the PFC (Petryanova filter cloth) type, 12 mm in diameter, two layers of filters of the appropriate size, washed in ethyl alcohol and dried in air, made of dense cotton material «moleskin». Recovery of concentrated substances from the sample tubes was performed by extraction with isopropanol. Methylation with diazomethane was carried out to convert the desired substance to a volatile product for subsequent chromatography, by a method improved to obtain micro-quantities of dialkyl esters of MPA and its monoesters. The high efficiency of the proposed methylation method as a factor for obtaining solutions with a low content of impurities of both starting reagents and non-target reaction products has been experimentally proven, which leads to higher accuracy of microconcentration measurements. Trace impurities, including diazomethane residues, were removed by vacuuming the methylated solution for 2 – 5 min. The use of other methods to remove excess diazomethane does not give positive results: blowing diazomethane from the solution with an inert gas does not lead to noticeable changes even for 15 – 20 min, during which time part of the solvent is removed and, therefore, the concentration of the target product changes; the addition of additional chemicals, for example acetic acid, leads to contamination with two products at once-excess acetic acid and methyl acetate, in addition, the addition of excess competing reagent can lead to transalkylation with the participation of the target product and, as a result, to incomplete progress of the target reaction. Quantitative data were obtained by gas chromatography using a Varian CP-3800 gas chromatograph equipped with a pulsed flame photometric detector, the mixture was separated on a CP WAX CB capillary column. The methodology was tested at real control facilities, appropriately certified and implemented in environmental control and monitoring programs.

Cardiovascular Reactivity to Mental Stress and Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.

Acute psychological stress may induce physiological changes predisposing individuals to adverse health outcomes through hemodynamic and vascular effects. We studied the association between the aggregated stress-induced changes in hemodynamic and vascular function tests with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease, after adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors. Individuals with stable coronary artery disease from 2 prospective cohort studies were studied. Hemodynamic reactivity, changes in endothelial function, and vasoconstriction during mental stress were evaluated using changes in rate-pressure product, brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation, and peripheral arterial tonometry, respectively. A cardiovascular reactivity risk score was calculated by allotting 0 to 3 points for each quartile of increasing abnormality for each of the 3 reactivity responses and summing the quartile points from the MIPS (Mental Stress Ischemia Prognosis Study) to yield a cardiovascular reactivity risk score ranging from 0 to 9. The outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and heart failure hospitalizations during follow-up. A total of 629 participants were included. After adjustment for demographic and traditional risk factors, a blunted hemodynamic response, a greater decrease in flow-mediated vasodilation, and a greater degree of peripheral vasoconstriction to mental stress were all independently associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes in both cohorts. By adding the cardiovascular reactivity risk score, the C-statistic increased significantly by 10% (P<0.001). Among individuals with stable coronary artery disease, a risk score derived from cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress was predictive of adverse cardiovascular outcomes beyond traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Quantile regression of tobacco tax pass-through in the UK 2017–2021: how have manufacturers passed through tax changes for different tobacco products in small retailers? Analysis at the national level and by neighbourhood of deprivation

BackgroundThe effectiveness of tax increases in reducing tobacco consumption relies on the tobacco retailers and producers passing on increases to consumers (tax pass-through). Previous UK research on supermarkets found heterogeneous...

In Situ Infared Optical Fiber Sensor Monitoring Reactants and Products Changes during Photocatalytic Reaction.

An in situ monitoring reaction can better obtain the variations during the progression of the photocatalytic reaction. However, the complexity of the apparatus and the limited applicability of substances are the common challenges faced by most in situ monitoring methods. Here, we invented an in situ infrared optical fiber sensor to monitor the reactants and products during photocatalytic reaction. The sensor, which has four tapered regions, demonstrates the best sensitivity of 0.71 au/vol %, 70 times higher than that of the fiber sensor without a tapered region. Then, this sensor was successfully used to in situ monitor the photocatalytic reaction between benzaldehyde and ethanol under the UV light and TiO2. The calibration plots of the reactants and products were established by sensing a series of designed concentration solutions. Based on the calibration plots, the real-time concentrations of four substances could be derived by converting the absorbance values, and the concentration changes of the reactants and products followed the first order kinetic mode. The equilibrium concentrations of reactants and products could be obtained from the fitting curves. With the increase in the UV light intensity, this sensor could detect a gradual increase in the rate of this photocatalytic reaction. The results show that this in situ infrared fiber sensor can monitor the progression of the photocatalytic reaction in real time, which will be helpful for unveiling the photocatalytic mechanism.

Reusable menstrual hygiene products may lead to underdiagnosis of heavy menstrual bleeding: a randomised trial

BackgroundClinical diagnosis of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is dependent on patient report of menstrual product usage of pads and tampons, but it is unknown if newer reusable menstrual products (cup...

Engineering a prototype for a next-generation stock assessment modeling platform

Environmental and anthropogenic processes have led to widespread changes in productivities and spatial distributions of marine fishery resources. As geographic distributions of fish stocks and subsequently fishing fleets shift, improved spatiotemporal data and spatial modeling will become necessary to estimate abundance and productivity. The goal of this paper is to propose a strategy for engineering a modeling platform for spatially explicit, next-generation stock assessment models. We recount our approach for developing a system prototype, the Metapopulation Assessment System (MAS), that is easy to use, modular, and extensible. The MAS prototype was designed to support complex metapopulation modeling, which includes handling multiple populations, areas, fleets, and surveys and sex differentiation. We describe the components of the software life cycle, engineering, and infrastructure design to support a spatially explicit, next-generation stock assessment system. Software infrastructure was designed and implemented with 3 components: GitHub for collaboration, version control, and code organization; the C++ language for coding fishery system dynamics and estimation modeling; and the R language for coding the input-output interface and systematic testing. Systematic testing was a key component of the MAS development life cycle and was applied to guarantee that system requirements, such as accurate estimation of quantities of interest, are successfully implemented. We conclude with a discussion of some lessons learned and future challenges for ongoing efforts to implement a next-generation stock assessment platform.

Does United Kingdom’s focus on Climate Technologies, Municipal Waste Treatment, and Economic Development aligns with its 2030 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)?

The study uses a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to examine the dynamic impacts of municipal waste recycling, climate technologies, and economic growth on greenhouse gas emissions in the United Kingdom using data collected in time series from 1995 to 2020. We ran tests for impulse response, variance decomposition, stationarity, cointegration, and residuals. Greenhouse gas emissions in the United Kingdom, economic growth, climate technology, and municipal waste recycling, are all found to be cointegrated. The previous year’s deviation from long run equilibrium is corrected in the current period at an adjustment speed of 80%. Consequently, it takes around 1 year and 5 months to reach a stable condition. Municipal waste recycling and climate technologies has been found to promote reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the United Kingdom in both short-run and long-run. However, climate technology is more effective at lowering emissions of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gas emissions do go down in the long run, even though they go up at initial stages due to economic growth. Majority of the fluctuation in greenhouse gas emissions over both the short and long durations is explained by greenhouse gas emissions own shocks or innovations, rather than any external factors. Among the predictor variables, greenhouse gas variations in the short and long run are mostly attributable to changes in gross domestic product, with climate technology and municipal waste recycling following closely behind. The empirical analysis supports policy recommendations that the government and other stakeholders should improve their governing policies and methods on these variables to further succeed in regulating environmental pollution. Greenhouse gas emissions tend to rise in tandem with expanding economies, leading to substantial long-term volatility. Therefore, the economic management team of the United Kingdom government should establish legislation to limit economic activity that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and instead provide support and funding for projects that are green and low-carbon. They want to cut emissions by 68% by 2030 as part of their National Determined Contribution (NDC), and this will get them there.

“Wake up, Boo”: race and the performance of wokeness in Big Brother 22

ABSTRACT Through a critical reading of the twenty-second season of CBS’ Big Brother (BB22), this essay outlines how the series performs wokeness and examines the significance of these performances for contemporary understandings of race. I argue the series performs wokeness through enacting microreparations and promoting allyship, but simultaneously preserves the racial status quo. This double maneuver highlights the battle for dominance that is being waged between post-racialism and wokeness – two key racial ideologies in the United States. Ultimately, BB22 demonstrates that wokeness, if fully mobilized, holds the potential to spark productive change – in the BB house and in everyday life.

Racial inequality in the production of fresh vegetables and cut flowers in Argentina: an analysis in Greater La Plata

This study aims to analyze the configuration of inequalities in one of Argentina's most significant production zones for fresh vegetables and cut flowers, located in Greater La Plata, Buenos Aires Province. This ongoing anthropological research, initiated in 2021, employs methods such as participant observation, interviews, food mapping, and digital ethnography. Among the main findings, we highlight that this production zone exhibits, in both its origins and daily operations, certain racist dynamics that are not solely generated by the host society toward migrants but are disseminated throughout the social fabric, including by migrant producers themselves. Positive valuations of ultra-processed foods by those living and working in the area reflect the importance of belonging to the host society, running parallel to strategies for preserving food preparations from before migration. These include the recreation of a "food identity" and the proliferation of "legumbrerías" (legume shops) and "paisano eateries" (restaurants serving traditional food). These transformations are intertwined with the productive changes migrants have experienced, shifting from peasant economies in their places of origin to intensive production in Greater La Plata.

Societal change and psychodynamic challenge: Vision, delusion, and reality in a major environmental initiative

This article explores the question in an organisational setting of the interrelationship between vision, delusion, and reality. The urgent need for societal change on a number of fronts, not least in regard to the environment, suggests the importance of advancing the understanding of designing productive societal change efforts from the outset, and, critically, driving adaptations and corrections as efforts unfold. Using a case of an evaluation of an environmental initiative, the dynamic interplay between the driving vision, delusion, and reality as experienced by the consultant, by key client participants, and by important system stakeholders, is described in some depth so as to convey an impression of their workings. Clues to recognising dysfunction, to functioning amidst the circumstances, and to fostering some reconnection with reality are offered. This article closes with some further reflection on additional questions related to the project dynamics and to broader considerations.

EDUKASI NILAI-NILAI ISLAM DALAM MENCEGAH PERMASALAHAN SOSIAL DI DESA KARANGREJA KECAMATAN PEBAYURAN

The increasingly widespread moral crisis, especially among teenagers, requires a strategic solution to save the character of the nation's next generation. One effective effort is through Islamic values education and the active role of parents in shaping noble morals. This service aims to educate the people of Karangreja Village about the importance of studying as a Muslim obligation in order to create individuals who are morally upright and able to make a positive contribution to the surrounding environment. The service method used is an educational approach through counseling activities, group discussions, and training based on Islamic values. This program involves various elements of society, especially teenagers, to understand the essence of knowledge in distinguishing between good and bad, and encourages them to share useful knowledge as recommended by Islam. The results of the service showed an increase in community awareness about the importance of knowledge in building a strong character and preventing social problems. Youth in Karangreja Village began to actively participate in faith-based activities, and showed more positive and productive behavioral changes. This program not only strengthens Islamic values, but also instills collective awareness of social responsibility in maintaining the morals of the younger generation. This effort is expected to contribute to creating a harmonious and religious community environment.

Influence of cavity crystal defects on the thermal ecomposition mechanism of NTO

Abstract The impact of cavity crystal defects on the thermal decomposition process of 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) was examined utilizing the reaction molecular dynamics method. A perfect crystal model of NTO and crystal models with cavity defects at concentrations of 0.78%, 1.17%, 2.34%, 3.13%, and 5.10% were constructed, and the potential energy and product changes in the isothermal mode at 2500 K were calculated. The impact of cavity defects was analyzed for the initial reaction stages, and the thermal decomposition reaction rate of 2500 K was calculated. The results demonstrate that at 2500 K, the complex reaction of NTO is enhanced, with the denitration reaction emerging as the dominant initial reaction type, followed by the ring-breaking reaction, and the proton transfer reaction occurring with a lower frequency. The principal intermediate products were CO2, NO2, HON, etc. The final products included N2, N4, H2O, HO2, and O2. In the range of 0.78% to 2.34% cavity content, the initial chemical reaction rate of NTO exhibited a slowing down trend with the increase of hole concentration. A collapse in the crystal structure accompanied this. Conversely, an acceleration was observed in the initial chemical reaction rate of NTO when the cavity concentration exceeded 2.34%.

Mechanical properties and multiscale structure evolution of cement mortars under temperature cycling and low-humidity coupled condition

The degradation of concrete induced by wide temperature differences and drying significantly impacts the durability of constructions in plateau regions. This study systematically investigated the mechanical properties, the structure evolution from nanoscale to macroscale, and the hydration product changes under temperature cycling with low relative humidity (5–60°C cycling, 30±5 % RH). Damage gradients were meticulously discussed based on the experimental measured thermal gradient and mechanical failure modes. Pore coarsening and microcracks which increased with w/c mainly occurred between 50 nm and 50 μm, becoming key factors contributing to the mechanical degradation. Nevertheless, the relatively small damages enable the mortar to maintain much stable mechanical properties than cement paste and concrete. The hydration and the small amount of decomposition had little effect on the structure. Overall, the strength increased until a certain time window followed by a decreasing trend because of two contradictory factors: enhancement led by the increase of capillary pressure and surface energy and degradation driven by the gradient damage.

Extending Electrochemical Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy to High-pH Aqueous Alkaline Battery Research: Opportunities and Challenges

In the pursuit of more sustainable, lower cost and higher performance battery technology, alkaline metal-air batteries (AMABs) are considered promising candidates for future electrical energy storage due to their cost effectiveness, natural abundance of electrode materials, high specific capacity, and safety [1-2]. It is also believed that this battery technology has the potential to help decarbonize our energy grid. However, our knowledge of the phase and compositional changes that occur on the electrode in a working AMAB is limited, and the degradation mechanism of AMABs during repeated cycling have yet to be fully elucidated. To fill these knowledge gaps, advanced operando imaging techniques capable of nanoscale resolution are required to monitor interfacial electrochemical reactions during battery operation [3]. Operando imaging techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear magnetic resonance, diffraction, and microscopy methods, have developed dramatically in recent years. They have yielded considerable insights into battery failure, as well as electrode and electrolyte degradation mechanisms, information that is critical to the design of batteries with improved lifetime and performance [3]. Among the operando imaging techniques, electrochemical liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (EC-TEM) holds significant advantages. It offers unique capability to directly image material transformations at the electrode-electrolyte interface in real-time at the nanoscale, while also acquiring quantitative electrochemical signals [4]. However, the use of EC-TEM in battery research has been limited to aqueous battery systems with neutral and mildly acidic electrolytes, leaving its application to alkaline environments unexplored. This is mainly due to chemical incompatibility concerns between alkaline electrolytes and the EC-TEM hardware (e.g. the holder and silicon-based chips). Given the practical significance of AMABs and the scientific opportunities presented by this battery system, it is imperative to advance the frontiers of EC-TEM to include application to alkaline systems.Here we describe EC-TEM investigation of metal electrode behaviors in alkaline environments under realistic battery conditions. Using Fe, Al, and Zn negative electrodes in an alkaline solution as model systems, we assess the feasibility and potential benefits of performing EC-TEM experiments with a pH of up to 14. We outline our approaches to obtaining reproducible cyclic voltammograms within the liquid cell, across a variety of counter electrode designs, and compare the results to those from traditional benchtop experiments. Furthermore, we highlight the challenges associated with electrolyte depletion and ion diffusion limitations within the liquid cell during battery discharge. Finally, we present observations of redox product changes at the electrode as captured by EC-TEM, and discuss the potential effects of electron beams on EC-TEM results. Our work is expected to provide new opportunities for investigating electrochemical processes in other key alkaline systems [5].

Comparison of Intraoperative Fentanyl Usage and Waste After Transition from 100-μg Vials to 50-μg Preloaded Syringes: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

The rapidly acting opioid fentanyl commonly used in the perioperative setting, has traditionally been packaged in 100 or 250-μg vials. In September 2021, our institution implemented a change from fentanyl 100-μg vials to 50-μg preloaded syringes in our operating rooms. The objective of this study was aimed at assessing the association of the fentanyl product change on reducing medication waste and the amount of fentanyl administered during surgery. This single-center, retrospective study entailed a review of anesthesia records from September 2020 to September 2022 of adult patients who underwent general anesthesia and received fentanyl for surgery at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The data set was divided into a control period (CP) using 100-μg vials and a post transition period (PT) using 50-μg preloaded syringes. The primary outcome measures were the average amounts of fentanyl used and wasted per case. Secondary outcome measures consisted of intraoperative analgesic use as well as postoperative pain scores. Among the 33,405 cases included in this study, the mean amount of fentanyl used per surgical case was higher in the CP group than in the PT group (133μg vs. 102μg; p<0.001). Additionally, fentanyl waste occurred in a higher percentage of cases in the CP group than in the PT group (13.9% vs. 2.9%; p<0.001). We did not observe a significant difference in post-anesthesia care unit pain scores between the CP and PT groups. Transitioning to preloaded fentanyl syringes decreased medication waste and overuse of opioids intraoperatively. Simultaneously, the transition did not adversely affect patient analgesia in the post-anesthesia care unit.

Preparation of β-AlF3 from fluorine-containing wastes: Leaching with fluorosilicic acid and crystallization

Numerous fluorine-containing hazardous solid wastes from the electrolytic aluminum process pose a serious threat to the ecosystem and human health. Currently, in the study of leaching on these wastes, Al and F are usually recovered by adjusting the pH of the leaching solution to precipitate aluminium hydroxyfluoride hydrate, which can be used to produce aluminum fluoride by roasting. However, aluminium hydroxyfluoride hydrate is often mingled with cryolite and other impurities when precipitating, which ultimately affects the purity of obtained aluminum fluoride by calcination. Interestingly, herein, the aluminium hydroxyfluoride hydrate residue was digested by fluorosilicic acid to effectively remove impurities and obtain a pure aluminum fluoride solution, from which the β-AlF3 product was produced by crystallization at a high-temperature. The results show that under the conditions of a temperature of 60 °C, time of 35 min, initial fluorine-aluminum molar ratio of 3:1 and initial concentration of fluorosilicic acid of 18 %, the gross yield of fluorine is 86.2 %, and the recovery of silicon in the form of SiO2 is 95.2 %. During crystallization, the product changes from AlF3·3H2O to β-AlF3 with the increase of temperature. Under the conditions of a crystallization temperature of 150 °C, an initial concentration of aluminum fluoride of 191.10 g/L and a stirring speed of 200 rpm, β-AlF3 of an average particle size of 43.22 μm was obtained by adding 5 % seed. The contents of Al and F in β-AlF3 products are 32.57 % and 61.49 % respectively, which meet the requirements of GB/T 4292–2017 (AF-0) about National Standards of China. According to DFT calculation, the β-AlF3 tends to adsorb two or three water molecules in its cavity structure, which explains why the crystallized β-AlF3 contains water of 5.10 % at 180 °C.

IMPACT OF E-COMMERCE AND INTERNET USERS ON INDONESIA'S ECONOMIC GROWTH

Economic growth refers to the expansion of economic activities that enhance the production of goods and services, ultimately improving societal welfare. It serves as a crucial indicator for analyzing a country's economic development, typically measured by the change in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between consecutive years. Various indicators can assess Indonesia's economic condition, with national income being a significant metric supported by accurate GDP data, categorized into current and constant prices. Over time, developments have transformed the Indonesian economy, with electronic media becoming increasingly prevalent. The rise of electronic media has facilitated broader and more effective transactions through e-commerce. Identifying the impact of these transactions is essential to understand their relationship with economic growth, which is vital for enhancing the welfare of Indonesia's population. Additionally, the growth of internet users significantly influences the economy. As internet user numbers rise annually amid digitalization, the government is expected to promote wider internet access across the nation. The internet allows individuals to access vital information for business, education, and recreation, contributing to economic growth. Thus, this research analyzes the impact of e-commerce transaction value and internet users on Indonesia's economic growth from 2013 to 2023, using quantitative secondary data and multiple regression analysis.

Industry specialisation of the Kemerovsk region – Kuzbass: trends and problems that affect economic growth and development of the region

The article is devoted to studying the influence of industry specialisation of the Kemerovo region – Kuzbass on the economic growth of the entity. The purpose of the study is to identify the most significant trends and problems of the industry specialisation that affect the development of the region. Using methods of scientific knowledge – description, synthesis and generalisation of the data obtained; literature review, graphical method – the following has been conducted: analysis of the dynamics of structural changes in the gross regional product (hereinafter referred to as GRP) of the Kemerovo region – Kuzbass; assessment of trends in the movement of main industry indicators and indicators of regional industry. The information base of the study consists of foreign and domestic publications devoted to the analysis of the GRP sectoral structure; statistical data from the Federal State Statistics Service and its territorial authority for the Kemerovo Region – Kuzbass. Based on the analysis of the structural changes dynamics, an increase in the contribution of the raw materials sector to the country’s gross domestic product and an increase in the share of mineral extraction in the industry structure of the GRP of the Kemerovo region – Kuzbass have been revealed. The trend of decrease in the industrial production index is analysed, it is shown that it has a trend similar to the dynamics of the decline in mining production, and the reasons for the decline are described. The strengthening trend of economic growth in the Kemerovo region – Kuzbass based on the raw model has been determined. East Asian models of economic growth are considered. The expediency of using international experience in the design of high-tech industries on the basis of private investment in the research and development sector, and its adaptation to the realities of the development of Russian regions is indicated. A conclusion is drawn about the need to support the technological sovereignty of the country and the transition of the development of the Kemerovo region – Kuzbass to a non-primary model.

To Hear or Not to Hear: Cognitive Load Theory and Learning

ABSTRACT Background: Cognitive load is the amount of information one’s working memory can process at any given time. Key components of cognitive load include germane load, intrinsic load, and extraneous load. Learning is hindered if overload occurs, thus reducing cognitive performance. This study addresses the impact of auditory stimulation on cognitive load through repeated recognition tasks. Methods: Twenty-eight Queen’s University students were recruited and randomly allocated to control and experimental groups who completed the experiment with noise-cancelling headphones and with ambient noise, respectively. The experiment consisted of learning and testing phases. The learning phase involved memorizing a series of words. Subsequently, the testing phase required participants to recall words from the list. Each trial consisted of one learning and one testing phase, with three trials per participant. Cardiovascular measurements were taken prior to the experiment, at the beginning of each phase, and after each trial was completed. Results: Primary outcomes demonstrated that the experimental group experienced greater percent changes in heart rate and rate pressure product, higher perceived mental effort, and greater within-group variation for heart rate compared to controls. Scores decreased as trials progressed. Secondary outcomes showed that the top 33% of participants were less susceptible to changes in heart rate and blood pressure. Overall, four heart rate or blood pressure responders were identified. Conclusions: Exposure to 70 decibels of ambient noise contributes to cognitive load as noted by elevated cardiovascular measure and perceived mental effort. Results can inform educational platforms and hospital logistics.