Abundant Resources Research Articles

The making of a dissonant heritage: the Foro Italico in Rome

ABSTRACT Italy’s long and stratified history offers abundant heritage resources, with Rome serving as a showcase for the architectural embodiment of political and ideological changes over time. Among these periods, the Fascist regime under Benito Mussolini initiated extensive urban and architectural renewal projects, notably exemplified by the Foro Italico, a monumental sports complex that is still actively used. The present contribution retraces the elements constituting Fascist architectural heritage in Italy and explores how Italian people comprehend and interpret the dissonant heritage site of the Foro Italico. Departing from previous approaches, this research employs a conservation perspective, exploring, among others, architectural and socio-cultural values associated with the complex. By analysing the motives underlying its unceasing use, this study seeks to understand why citizens continue to create new experiences and memories at the site despite its contentious ideological symbolism, without undergoing modern damnatio memoriae or de-commemoration processes, thus contributing to ongoing debates on heritage management and the politics of memory.

Inter-basin groundwater flow in the Ordos Basin: Evidence of environmental isotope and hydrological investigations

The Ordos Basin, located in arid and semi-arid region of China, is famous for its abundant groundwater resources and artesian features. The source of groundwater recharge, whether from local precipitation or external sources, has been debated. This study aims to elucidate the groundwater circulation mechanism in the Ordos Basin through scientific expedition, environmental isotope method, and hydrological drilling exploration, providing valuable insights for other artesian basins. Comprehensive analysis indicates that groundwater in the Ordos Basin is recharged by modern precipitation, primarily from high-elevation areas outside the basin. Deep groundwater from these external sources ascends to the aquifer through basement fault zones. Evidence from hydrogen and oxygen isotopes, hydraulic gradients, and water quantities suggests that the Tibetan Plateau is the most potential recharge source. Based on the distribution of Cenozoic basalt and data from seismic observation wells, we propose that leakage water from the Tibetan Plateau rift valley is transported to the Ordos Basin through fast channels, possibly lava tubes, and then upwelling through basement fault zones. This work provides a new perspective on the mechanism of inter-basin groundwater circulation.

Fed-Batch Strategy Achieves the Production of High Concentration Fermentable Sugar Solution and Cellulosic Ethanol from Pretreated Corn Stover and Corn Cob.

The bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass, which are abundant and renewable resources, into liquid fuels and bulk chemicals is a promising solution to the current challenges of resource scarcity, energy crisis, and carbon emissions. Considering the separation of some end-products, it is necessary to firstly obtain a high concentration separated fermentable sugar solution, and then conduct fermentation. For this purpose, in this study, using acid catalyzed steam explosion pretreated corn stover (ACSE-CS) and corn cob residues (CCR) as cellulosic substrate, respectively, the batch feeding strategies and enzymatic hydrolysis conditions were investigated to achieve the efficient enzymatic hydrolysis at high solid loading. It was shown that the fermentable sugar solutions of 161.2 g/L and 205 g/L were obtained, respectively, by fed-batch enzymatic hydrolysis of ACSE-CS under 30% of final solid loading with 10 FPU/g DM of crude cellulase, and of CCR at 27% of final solid loading with 8 FPU/g DM of crude cellulase, which have the potential to be directly applied to the large-scale fermentation process without the need for concentration, and the conversion of glucan in ACSE-CS and CCR reached 80.9% and 87.6%, respectively, at 72 h of enzymatic hydrolysis. This study also applied the fed-batch simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation process to effectively convert the two cellulosic substrates into ethanol, and the ethanol concentrations in fermentation broth reached 46.1 g/L and 72.8 g/L for ACSE-CS and CCR, respectively, at 144 h of fermentation. This study provides a valuable reference for the establishment of "sugar platform" based on lignocellulosic biomass and the production of cellulosic ethanol.

Assessing cost-effectiveness of dissuasion techniques targeting waterbirds in rice fields

In a scenario of global wetland loss, rice fields are becoming vital habitats for waterbirds, often offering abundant and predictable food resources. However, the increasing presence of waterbirds in rice fields is exacerbating human-wildlife conflicts, as birds are seen as pests by farmers due to the damage they perceive the birds inflict to the crops. To tackle this situation, farmers use dissuasion methods like propane gas cannons, but its effectiveness in reducing damage is often not quantified. In this study we evaluate the cost-effectiveness of propane gas cannons in deterring waterbirds from rice fields and test if there is a correlation between bird abundance in a given field during rice growth and rice yield in the same field. Waterbird counts were conducted before and after dissuasion actions targeting Glossy ibis and White stork in a major rice production area in Portugal. To assess the potential magnitude of damage reduction gained through dissuasion, we estimated the time elapsed between dissuasion events and the reestablishment of bird numbers in the disturbed fields. The economic cost of dissuasion was compared with the estimated gains from reduced damage. Results showed that on average, waterbird numbers recovered ca. 30 min after dissuasion, leading to an estimated 0.78% reduction in crop damage. The final yield of rice production was modelled considering all gains and costs involved in dissuasion actions in relation to an increase in dissuasion efforts for 11 scenarios of potential waterbird damage (0–20%). For dissuasion to be cost-effective, waterbirds would need to destroy at least 17% of the crops, far more than any damage previously recorded in Europe. Also, we found that the abundance of waterbirds in a rice field does not affect rice yield. We suggest that efforts to reduce damage should shift to more cost-effective and environmentally friendly methods, such as diversionary fields or economic compensations to farmers. This can enhance the economies of rice-dependent countries and reduce conflicts, ultimately reconciling rice agriculture with biodiversity conservation.

High-Resolution Remotely Sensed Evidence Shows Solar Thermal Power Plant Increases Grassland Growth on the Tibetan Plateau

Solar energy plays a crucial role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in the context of global climate change. However, its deployment for green electricity generation can significantly influence regional climate and vegetation dynamics. While prior studies have examined the impacts of solar power plants on vegetation, the accuracy of these assessments has often been constrained by the availability of publicly accessible multispectral, high-resolution remotely sensed imagery. Given the abundant solar energy resources and the ecological significance of the Tibetan Plateau, a thorough evaluation of the vegetation effects associated with solar power installations is warranted. In this study, we utilize sub-meter resolution imagery from the GF-2 satellite to reconstruct the fractional vegetation cover (FVC) at the Gonghe solar thermal power plant through image classification, in situ sampling, and sliding window techniques. We then quantify the plant’s impact on FVC by comparing data from the pre-installation and post-installation periods. Our findings indicate that the Gonghe solar thermal power plant is associated with a 0.02 increase in FVC compared to a surrounding control region (p < 0.05), representing a 12.5% increase relative to the pre-installation period. Notably, the enhancement in FVC is more pronounced in the outer ring areas than near the central tower. The observed enhancement in vegetation growth at the Gonghe plant suggests potential ecological and carbon storage benefits resulting from solar power plant establishment on the Tibetan Plateau. These findings underscore the necessity of evaluating the climate and ecological impacts of renewable energy facilities during the planning and design phases to ensure a harmonious balance between clean energy development and local ecological integrity.

Innovative Technologies in Education for Socio-Economic Development in Africa

The continent of Africa faces numerous socio-economic challenges that impede her development. Despite the abundance of natural and mineral resources, Africa has over 2000 tertiary institutions, with Nigeria alone having over 200 universities, polytechnics, colleges of agriculture, and colleges of education. All these tertiary education institutes in Africa/Nigeria boast of having well over 4000 professors. In spite of all these educational establishments, only a few of these innovative technologies emanate from Africa. This paper presents a working definition of the term innovative technology and how it stands as a promising hope for addressing these challenges and fostering socio-economic development. Innovations such as e-learning platforms, learning management systems, mobile learning, virtual and augmented reality, open educational resources, blockchain for credentials, and renewable energy solutions offer potential solutions to improve educational access and quality. The successful implementation of these technologies can enhance educational outcomes, reduce poverty, and support sustainable development across the continent. This review also identifies the barriers to the full realization of these technologies, such as poor infrastructure, digital divides, and socio-economic disparities. It offers suggestions for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders on how to leverage technology for sustainable socio-economic growth. The ultimate goal is to foster an inclusive and equitable educational environment that empowers all African learners and contributes to the continent's overall development. Keywords: Innovative Technologies, Education, Socio-economic Development in Africa.

STI or DUI modes of innovation: Evidence from comprehensive evaluation of four cities in China

The Science and Technology Innovation Center holds a pivotal position in the national science and technology innovation system, and a scientific evaluation of the “Sci-tech Innovation Center” will guide its construction direction. This study found the advantages and disadvantages of the four cities through comparison; Hence improvement suggestions were proposed for the weaknesses of the four cities. There are two main paths for the government to drive technology innovation: STI (Science and Technology Innovation) mode and DUI (Doing, Using, Interacting) mode. With the aid of the evaluation index system of the Sci-tech Innovation Center, this article uses fuzzy sets, rough sets and fuzzy dynamic clustering methods to comprehensively evaluate the effects of driving technology innovation in the four cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. The results found that Shenzhen has a significant effect in DUI, and Beijing has a significant effect in STI. The choice of path is related to the abundance of innovation resources.

Essence of the Public Interest Principle in Petroleum Mining According to the Constitution

Indonesia is a country that has abundant natural resources, but Indonesia faces challenges in regulating petroleum mining so that it can always improve people's welfare. Therefore, this research will focus on examining the actual role of the state in implementing the principle of public interest in the field of petroleum mining as mandated by the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. This principle of public interest is intended to ensure that petroleum resources are considered strategic. by the state can be managed for the greatest prosperity of the people so that it is in line with the objectives of the constitution, namely justice, expediency and legal certainty. To achieve this, the state must be able to provide parameters regarding the extent to which the regulation concerns the public interest so that it can be used as a guide in interpreting state control over natural resources and ensuring their utilization for the greatest prosperity of the people. stated in the law. constitution. This principle has actually been tested and enforced through various legal frameworks and Constitutional Court decisions, thereby further emphasizing the role of the state in prioritizing community welfare in petroleum mining activities.

Need for ICT adoption in the teaching of Christian religious education at the basic education level in Nigeria

The acquisition of essential skills and knowledge is considered a primary aim of education to effectively navigate and succeed in various aspects of life. In modern times, the role involves proactive engagement in a society that is rich in information, where knowledge is considered the primary driver for the socio-cultural and politico-economic progress of nations. The teaching and learning of religious education has not fully utilized the abundant resources available in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) era, owing to several limitations. This study analyzed the current status of religious education during this era, as well as the factors that facilitate, inhibit or hinder the integration of ICT in Nigerian basic education level. The research provides recommendations for the effective integration of ICT initiatives in the teaching of Christian religious education within Nigerian basic education level in the contemporary era. The study employed quasi-experimental design. The research suggests that it would be beneficial for Nigerian basic education level to be equipped with contemporary computer laboratories by the appropriate authorities, for the benefit of both basic education level students and teachers.

Millet bran dietary fibres treated by heating, dual enzymolysis united with acrylic-grafting or hydroxypropylation: effects on the properties of heat-induced egg white protein gel

IntroductionMillet bran is an abundant dietary fibre resource, but it is rarely used in Foods.MethodsTo enhance the functional properties and applications of foxtail millet bran dietary fibre (MBDF), MBDF modified by heating, cellulase and xylanase hydrolysis combined with acrylic-grafting (MBDF-HDEAG) or hydroxypropylation (MBDF-HDEH) were prepared, and the effects of these modified MBDFs on heat-induced egg white protein gel (H-EWPG) were studies.Results and discussionThe results showed that heating and enzymolysis united with acrylic-grafting or hydroxypropylation both enhanced the surface area, soluble fibre content, water-retention and expansion abilities of MBDF. The addition of unmodified MBDF, MBDF-HDEAG and MBDF-HDEH increased the β-sheet content of H-EWPG and made its microstructure denser and granular. Compared with MBDF, MBDF-HDEAG and MBDF-HDEH more effectively improved the gel and texture properties of H-EWPG including water-holding ability (from 20.45 to 34.63 g/100 g), pH (from 4.53 to 7.66), hardness (from 63.92 to 104.53 g), chewiness (from 57.97 to 122.84 g), and gumminess (from 63.92 to 118.18), and a reduction in transparency and springiness (p < 0.05). MBDF showed the highest reducing effect on the freeze-thaw dehydration of H-EWPG (from 39.02 to 21.62%). Therefore, addition of MBDFs modified by heating, enzymolysis united with acrylic-grafting or hydroxypropylation can improve gel properties of H-EWPG.

Effect of Synthesis Temperature on Performance of Phenazine-Based Cathode for Sodium Dual-Ion Batteries.

Organic materials have attracted much attention in the field of electrochemical energy storage due to their ecological sustainability, abundant resources and structural designability. However, low electrical conductivity and severe agglomeration of organic materials lead to poor discharge capacity and reaction kinetics in batteries. Herein, the morphology of the phenazine-based organic polymer poly(5,10-diphenylphenazine) (PDPPZ) was modified by varying the synthesis temperature. PDPPZ-165 °C with an exceptional porous structure provides abundant reaction channels for rapid charge transfer and diffusion that improves the reaction kinetics in sodium dual-ion batteries. Therefore, PDPPZ-165 °C cathode possesses excellent rapid charge-discharge capability delivering a specific capacity of 119.2 mAh g-1 at 40 C. Furthermore, a high specific capacity of 124.7 mAh g-1 can be provided even at a high loading of 16 mg cm-2 at 0.5 C with a capacity retention of 86.4 % after 500 cycles. This work could afford new insights for optimizing the performance of organic cathode materials in sodium dual-ion batteries.

Analysis of the high-quality development path of China's tea export.

As globalization and economic development accelerate, Chinese tea has emerged as an essential export commodity in the international market. China boasts abundant tea resources, which have significantly promoted economic growth through tea exports. This study analyses the relevant literature and the prevailing state of China's tea export trade. Using statistical data on tea exports and empirical research methodologies, this investigation examines the key determinants influencing the high-quality development of China's tea export sector. The research integrates relevant frontier theories from management science and engineering to propose tailored recommendations. The study reveals that while the industry has demonstrated robust economic growth, it is confronted with challenges such as the need for enhanced brand visibility and adherence to international quality benchmarks. The research findings highlight the positive influence of the "Belt and Road" initiative on the tea export trade, which advocates for strategic international collaboration. This study concludes with policy recommendations that underscore the importance of bolstering the international dissemination of Chinese tea culture, standardizing export practices, and fostering global cooperation to augment the industry's high-quality development trajectory. The findings aim to enhance the export capabilities of Chinese tea and foster the robust growth of the tea export industry.

Exploring Recent Advances in Lignocellulosic Biomass Waste Delignification Through the Combined Use of Eutectic Solvents and Intensification Techniques

Growing awareness of resource sustainability and waste management has driven the search for circular-economy solutions. Lignocellulosic biomass waste, the most abundant renewable carbon resource, offers green potential as an alternative to declining non-renewable fuels. However, due to its recalcitrant nature, it requires pre-processing to convert it into valuable products like energy and chemicals. Biorefineries play a key role in this process by promoting the integral use of biomass, by finding ways to utilize lignin, previously treated as waste. Common pretreatment methods are unsustainable, prompting research into eco-friendly solvents and advanced techniques like ultrasound- and microwave-assisted methods. Recent approaches have also explored the use of eutectic solvents, which, when combined with these intensification techniques, offer promising results. These green technologies improve delignification efficiency, which in turn improves the saccharification process, reduces solvent use, and minimizes environmental impact. Despite progress, challenges remain in making these methods economically viable and adaptable to diverse biomass types. This review article highlights recent advances in sustainable treatment technologies, including the combined use of eutectic solvents and process-intensification techniques, and the potential of the obtained lignin in various industrial applications. It also discusses future prospects for more environmentally friendly processes in biomass utilization.

Creating and using Exclusive Technologies to Gain a Competitive Edge in the Southern Region of Nigeria

This article examined the crucial significance of proprietary technologies in promoting competitive advantage among enterprises in South-South Nigeria, an area of economic importance renowned for its abundant natural resources and growing industries. The study underscores the significance of technical advancement in crucial industries such as oil and gas, agriculture, and manufacturing while drawing attention to the distinct obstacles and prospects in the area. Despite making progress, the southern region of Nigeria, known as the South-South, still encounters major obstacles such as insufficient financing for research and development, restricted availability of state-of-the-art technology, a scarcity of highly qualified personnel, and ineffective frameworks for protecting intellectual property rights. The research examined the present condition of proprietary technology development, identify key barriers, and evaluate the effect on competitive advantage. Research indicates that increasing investment in research and development, boosting technical infrastructure, aligning educational curricula with industrial requirements, and strengthening the intellectual property rights framework are crucial measures for fostering technological innovation and creating economic diversity in the area. Keywords: Advancements in technology, Exclusive Technologies, Strategic advantage over competitors, Research and Development, Intellectual Property Rights.

Resource shocks, firm obstacles, and local business in Africa

AbstractThe negative correlation between growth and natural resource abundance is widely studied in the resource curse literature. We add to this literature by examining the heterogeneous effect of resource rents on the obstacles faced by different sized firms. We find small firms experience more setbacks across a range of categories—including corruption—in response to positive exogenous resource shocks while large firms tend to benefit. These results are robust across a number of specifications as well as a placebo analysis where resource shocks are randomly assigned. Our findings contribute to our understanding of how resource rents exacerbate the existing difficulties faced by small firms in the developing world.

Reductive Transformation of CO2 to Organic Compounds.

Carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas and a safe, abundant, easily accessible, and renewable C1 resource that can be chemically converted into high value-added chemicals, fuels and materials. The preparation of urea, organic carbonates, salicylic acid, etc. from CO2 through non-reduction conversion has been used in industrial production, while CO2 reduction transformation has become a research hotspot in recent years due to its involvement in energy storage and product diversification. Designing suitable catalysts to achieve efficient and selective conversion of CO2 is crucial due to its thermodynamic stability and kinetic inertness. From this perspective, the redistribution of charges within CO2 molecules through the interaction of Lewis acid/base or metal complexes with CO2, or the forced transfer of electrons to CO2 through photo- or electrocatalysis, is a commonly used effective way to activate CO2. Based on understanding of the activation/reaction mechanism on a molecular level, we have developed metal complexes, metal salts, inorganic/organic salts, ionic liquids, as well as nitrogen rich and porous materials as efficient catalysts for CO2 reductive conversions. The goal of this personal account is to summarize the catalytic processes of CO2 reductive conversion that have been developed in the past 7 years: 1) For the reductive functionalization of CO2, the major challenge lies in accurately adjusting reaction parameters (such as pressure) to achieve high catalytic efficiency and the product selectivity; 2) For photocatalytic or electrocatalytic reduction of CO2, how to suppress competitive hydrogen evolution reactions and improve catalyst stability are key points that requires continuous attention.

Three New Species and Five New Host Records from Chaetomiaceae with Anti-Phytopathogenic Potential from Cover Crops Astragalus sinicus and Vicia villosa.

Cover crops, typically planted during off-seasons and requiring less agronomic manipulation, may provide abundant fungal resources. Certain species of Chaetomiaceae could serve as potential agents for controlling plant diseases and developing bioorganic fertilizers. Eight species from five genera of Chaetomiaceae were identified from healthy Astragalus sinicus and Vicia villosa, two major cover crops, through multigene phylogenetic analysis, morphological identification, and pairwise homoplasy index testing. The identified species comprise three new species: Achaetomium astragali, Subramaniula henanensis, and S. sichuanensis, as well as five known but new host record species: Botryotrichum murorum, Chaetomium coarctatum, C. pseudocochliodes, C. pseudoglobosum, and Collariella pachypodioides. Dual culture tests revealed that isolates of all eight Chaetomiaceae species exhibited antagonistic effects on multiple phytopathogens. Among the identified fungi, the NSJA2 isolate, belonging to C. coarctatum, exhibited significant relative inhibition effects on 14 out of 15 phytopathogens tested in this study, indicating its broad-spectrum antagonistic effects. Additionally, NSJA2 exhibited excellent salt tolerance. Overall, our study has identified multiple fungi with anti-phytopathogens potential, among which NSJA2 exhibits high potential for practical application. This finding paves the way for further exploration and exploitation of NSJA2 as a promising biocontrol agent.

Carbon-Encapsulated Bimetallic Fe-W-Based Selenides with Abundant Heterogeneous Conductive Network for Superior Potassium Ion Storage.

Potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) are one of the most promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high ion mobility, abundant resources, and low cost. However, the problems of low capacity and poor cycling stability of KIBs remain unsolved; therefore, it is crucial to explore alternative electrode materials suitable for reversible insertion and extraction of K+. Herein, carbon-encapsulated Fe3Se4/WSe2 microsphere material assembled from nanosheets with abundant heterogeneous interfaces and expanded interlayer spacing (denoted as FWSC) is designed as an anode material for superior potassium ion storage. The microspheres assembled from nanosheets, the outer carbon coating, and the expanded layer spacing can expose more active sites and improve the electronic conductivity and structural stability of the material. The abundant heterogeneous conductive network not only improves the conductivity of the material but also enhances the reversibility of the electrochemical reaction. As a result, the FWSC exhibits outstanding cycling stability, excellent rate performance (the capacity retention is 53% when the current density is from 0.5 to 1.0 A g-1), and stable long-term cycle performance (a capacity of 209 mAh g-1 at 1.0 A g-1 over 1000 cycles).

The Research About Anode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Sodium-ion batteries are replacing lithium-ion batteries due to their lower cost and more abundant resources. The sodium-ion battery anode, including carbon-based materials, alloy materials, and organic materials, plays a key role in improving battery performance but also faces problems such as poor conductivity, which limits sodium storage capacity attenuation and irreversible volume expansion. To solve these problems, researchers have proposed a variety of solutions, such as chemical activation, element doping, micro-nanostructure design, composite material preparation, surface coating application, and buffer medium introduction. This article summarizes these strategies and points out the direction of future research, including the development of innovative anode materials with better conductivity and sodium storage capacity, and improved manufacturing processes. Further research and development of sodium-ion batteries anode is expected to make important contributions to the new energy field.

Challenges and Modification Strategies on High-Voltage Layered Oxide Cathode for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted great attention due to their advantages on resource abundance, cost and safety. Layered oxide cathodes (LOCs) of SIBs possess high theoretical capacity, facile synthesis and low cost, and are promising candidates for large scale energy storage application. Increasing operating voltage is an effective strategy to achieve higher specific capacity and also high energy density of SIBs. However, at high operating voltages, LOCs will undergo a series of phase transitions in bulk phase, leading to huge change of volume and layer spacings accompanied by severe lattice stress and cracking formation. Degeneration of surface also occurs between LOCs and electrolytes, resulting in sustained growth of cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) and release of O2 and CO2. These induce structural destruction and electrochemical performance degradation in high voltage regions. Recently, many strategies have been proposed to improve electrochemical performance of LOCs under high voltages, including bulk element doping, structural design, surface coating and gradient doping. This review describes pivotal challenges and occurrence mechanisms at high voltages, and summarizes strategies to improve stability of bulk and surface. Viewpoints will be provided to promote development of high energy density SIBs.