Environmental Transformation Research Articles

The limits of learning engagement and academic leadership within the higher education digitalization process - analysis by using PLS SEM.

There is convincing evidence that the learning environments digitalization of tools and equipment ultimately results in the speed and depth learning involvement of academia members, by raising attainment of each of the digital learning experiences. The majority of the research that was conducted on the topic of enhancing the digital skills of learners, which would ultimately lead to an increase in their active engagement, was conducted on students in primary and secondary education, leaving members of higher education outside of the scope of the study. Given the uninterrupted search for academic performance and innovation, the current research considers the technological changes that lead to the transformation of the traditional academic learning environments as previously known. The current paper considers the changes in the learners' engagement in the context of the dually digital transformation of the higher academic multi-institutional digitally-learning enhancements. An important factor to be considered regards the leadership evolution (in terms of teaching) that over time, led to a different speed contextual shift, according to its effectiveness, leading to higher or lower students learning (dis)engagement. The current manuscript aims to examine how the higher education digitalization levels could affect the student's learning engagement, under the close monitoring of the academia leadership styles practice. Data collection and analysis implied at first a qualitative approach by issuing an online-distributed survey that resulted in a number of 2272 valid responses. After performing structural equation modelling and proving a valid assessment tool, the analysis resulted into statistically proving the validity of two main hypotheses according to which students learning engagement has a positive effect on the practice of academic leadership. Additionally, results emphasized the fact that higher education digitalization has altogether a negative effect of students learning engagement. Consequently, the current study stresses on the importance of different peers' categories in the context of higher education institutions performance, with an emphasis on the different levels of students' engagement and the leadership styles evolution and practice, aspects uniformly developing within a continuously digitally transformation of the higher education environment.

Lecturer Performance: The Influence of Transformational Leadership Style, Work Environment, Compensation, and Institutional Transformation

This study aims to test and analyze the influence of transformational leadership style, work environment, compensation, and institutional transformation on the performance of lecturers at the Mandala Institute of Technology and Science. This study uses a quantitative approach. Data analysis uses descriptive statistical analysis and inferential statistical analysis that describes a certain characteristic or feature of a phenomenon that occurs and makes conclusions or generalizations about the population based on sample data. The sample used was 48 lecturers at the Mandala Institute of Technology and Science. The results of the study indicate that compensation affects lecturer performance, while transformational leadership style, work environment, and institutional transformation do not affect lecturer performance. The implications of this study indicate that increasing compensation can significantly improve lecturer performance at the Mandala Institute of Technology and Science, so it is important for institutions to focus on fairer and more adequate compensation policies. Conversely, improvements in transformational leadership style, work environment, and institutional transformation need to be adjusted to the specific context and needs of lecturers in order to have a more significant impact on performance.

Multidisciplinarity in Geoscientific Research

The multidisciplinary approach of geoscientific research in the academic setting underscores the increasing necessity of integrating diverse fields of knowledge to tackle complex interconnected issues. This multidisciplinary field seeks to uncover the complex operations of the Earth, encompassing the analysis of its past movements of tectonic plates, historical climates, and valuable natural resources like minerals and hydrocarbons. In this context, geospatial intelligence plays a crucial role by enabling the effective analysis and interpretation of extensive geographic datasets, thus enhancing our understanding of environmental dynamics. Nevertheless, advancements in technology, globalization, and the difficulties posed by environmental and climatic transformations demand an even more profound collaboration among various disciplines, facilitating an expansive viewpoint and yielding more holistic solutions to contemporary predicaments.

Shifting Paradigms: Semiotic Reading of the Built Environment Transformations in Lithuania 1986–2004

Summary The research delves into the complex and multi-layered transition of Lithuania from a Soviet to a post-Soviet society, focusing on the architectural landscape as a reflection of ideological shifts. It explores the period from Gorbachev’s initiation of perestroika in 1986 to the Baltic States’ entry into the EU and NATO in 2004, a time marked by significant transformations within the architectural, social, and political realms. First, using Greimasian Square, the study categorises and analyses the reactions toward Soviet Modernist architecture, observing the gradual shift from a representation of state ideology to a canvas reflecting a myriad of individual and collective experiences, also assuming the artistic value of the architects’ output. Second, utilising frameworks from Western architectural criticism figures such as Peter Blake, Robert Venturi and the Situationists, the study contextualises and collates with architectural trends in public interiors or private constructions in Lithuania. Additionally, presumptions are correlated with a crisis in the architectural profession, characterised by a rise in private constructions without architects. Through semiotic view architectural discourse becomes a vital element in understanding the broader cultural and political shifts in post-Soviet Lithuania.

Divergent Responses of Organic Carbon to Sedimentary Environment Transformation in a River‐Dominated Marginal Sea

AbstractThe fate of organic carbon (OC) in most river‐dominated ocean margins (RiOMars) has undergone a noticeable transformation with the increased sediment retention engineering in watersheds. In the East China Sea (ECS), transformation in sediment and the influence of bulk OC have been broadly studied. However, the response of different mechanisms of OC protection under transformation has not been investigated, hindering our understanding of the factors that control OC deposition. In this study, we isolated different OC fractions, analyzed the basic parameters of the sediments, and compared the previous study's data to reveal how OC deposition responded to transformation. Our research indicates that transformation leads to the reduction of OC associated with minerals and sorting of OC occluded by plant debris and OC associated with minerals resulting in increased decomposition and mineralization of OC. The transformation affects the mechanism of OC binding with reactive iron (FeR), increasing FeR‐protected OC content. Still, the co‐precipitation mechanism and the intense redox environment in the mud deposit decrease the FeR‐protected OC stability. Taken together, the impact of transformation is to increase the risk of OC decomposition and to weaken the OC preservation ability in RiOMars as carbon sinks. This study has implications for river‐dominated passive margins subject to increased sediment retention engineering in watersheds worldwide and deserves more attention.

Digital transformation: literature review and research outlook

The fast development of emerging technologies such as cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT), has provided robust technical support for the digital transformation of corporations. Concurrently, the literature on digital transformation is also increasing, reflecting the gradual progress of this phenomenon. A systematic review and summary of digital transformation is presented in this paper, based on a sample of 54 papers published in UTD24 and FT50. The results of the research are as below: (1) the number of published papers on digital transformation shows a dynamic growth trend; (2) resource, organizational, and environmental factors trigger and shape digital transformation; (3) the influence mechanism of digital transformation mainly includes innovation and integration; (4) digital transformation is a double-edged sword, and its impact consequences include positive and negative effects. Finally, a research framework for digital transformation is constructed, and ideas for future research are provided.

No Eye for the I-Word: The State of Research on Intelligence in India

Intelligence forms a core research area of Strategic Studies. The dynamic security environment and technological transformations demand cross-disciplinary insights from cognate fields to develop a nuanced understanding in intelligence studies. The scholarly reflection is largely confined to the West whereas research from the Global South remains abysmal. This article explores factors hindering the emergence of Intelligence Studies in India, both as an academic discipline and a potential research area, by analysing course syllabi of select universities and legal provisions. It reiterates the need for a systematic study of the subject to develop academic analytical precision and cater to new demands of policymaking.

The Symbolic Meaning and Cultural Consumption of Virtual Celebrities in the New Media Environment: A Case Study of White Snake: Afloat

With the transformation of the media environment, the star system is also evolving, and virtual celebrities are increasingly visible in the public eye, playing dual roles. The relationship between virtual celebrities and new media is mutually beneficial: new media provides stable channels for promoting virtual celebrities, while the cultural and economic benefits brought by virtual celebrities inspire research into the creation and use of new media. The virtual celebrities in the film White Snake: Afloat offer a typical case for studying the symbolic meaning and cultural consumption of virtual celebrities. By analyzing the role of virtual celebrities in White Snake: Afloat, we can understand the relationship between the star system and media development, how virtual celebrities expand the fan economy in the market, promote the long tail effect in the film industry, and the reasons behind virtual celebrities as a symbol of mass aesthetics, thereby advancing the inheritance and development of traditional culture.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Role of Ethical Leadership in Sustainable Performance: An Analytical Research from the Perspective of Al-Muqdadiya Hospital Employees.

Purpose: This research seeks to identify ethical leadership and sustainable performance from a theoretical perspective. Theoretical Framework: Based on what researchers (Kyalo, 2019) reported, these organizations must adopt one of the leadership styles that helps them enhance their reputation from an ethical standpoint in the society within which they operate. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study analyses hospital data (2023-2024), using the ethical leadership model with its three components (justice, power sharing, and role clarification) in enhancing sustainable performance with its three components (social performance, economic performance, and environmental performance). Findings: The results confirmed the existence of a vital role for ethical leadership in enhancing the sustainable performance of Al-Muqdadiya Hospital, and therefore the hypotheses of this research (main and subsidiary) were accepted. Research Implications: The results confirm the need for Al-Muqdadiya Hospital to form a work team of leaders who are distinguished by ethical principles and adhere to them when carrying out the tasks and duties assigned to them, in a way that enhances their role in investing the resources available to the hospital when meeting the standards and indicators of sustainable performance that it seeks. Originality/Value: This study confirms that modern business organizations of all types, as well as the sector in which they operate, need to strengthen their relationship with the environment in which they operate, due to the wide wave of environmental transformations, as well as the rapid changes that the world is witnessing, specifically in the ethical and social aspects. JEL Classification: M10, M12, M15, M19. Authors’ individual contribution: Conceptualization — A.H.A.I..; Methodology — A.H.A.I..; Formal Analysis — A.H.A.I..; Investigation — A.H.A.I.; Data Curation — A.H.A.I..; Writing —Original Draft — A.H.A.I..; Writing — Review & Editing — A.H.A.I.; Visualization — A.H.A.I.; Supervision — A.H.A.I.; Project Administration —A.H.A.I. Declaration of conflicting interests: The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

«Зеленая» экономика в контексте международных инвестиционных соглашений

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

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

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

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

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

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

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