Alternative Resources Research Articles

Impacts of Irrigated Water Use on Household’s Income in South Wollo Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Agriculture is the backbone of the Sub-Saharan African economy. Ethiopia's GDP is also shared by 45 from the agriculture sectors. However, it is confronted and challenged by variable rainfall and climate changes. Particularly, in South Wollo zone, agriculture is not exceptional in facing such daunting challenges and effects of variable rainfall and climate change despite there are abundant alternative irrigated water resources. River and groundwater sources have not yet been used as alternative uses for agricultural production. As a result, rural households' income couldn’t meet their minimum food and nonfood requirements. This study, thus, attempted to evaluate the impact of irrigated water use on rural household's income in South Wollo Zone, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia. In pursuit of this, it employed a descriptive type of research design and triangulated research approach that consists of both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Primary and secondary data were collected from small scale irrigated households and secondary sources. Binary logistic regression was used to determine major significant factors that affect households' irrigated water use for agricultural production. A propensity core matching model was employed to evaluate irrigated water use and agriculture on household’s income. This study result (binary logistic regression result) showed that the household’s family size, land size and willingness were significant factors that determined irrigated water use for agricultural production at 95 percent level of significance. The propensity score matching model result also shows that irrigated water use significantly created significant impact on household’s income. It is, thus, keenly important to change and improve the smallholder farmer’s land size, extension services, rural credit, technology, education level, awareness about family size, and willingness to use irrigated water sources, such as, ground and river water for agriculture agricultural production that increase their level of income.

The influence of NaCl on xanthate adsorption on chalcopyrite surface and chalcopyrite flotation

Due to freshwater scarcity, mineral flotation plants have been using alternative water resources including seawater together with water recycling resulting in the accumulation of salts in process water. However, how salts affect the adsorption of xanthates on the surfaces of sulphide minerals and subsequent sulphide mineral flotation is unclear. To address the knowledge gap, this study investigated how NaCl affected the adsorption of potassium amyl xanthate (PAX) on chalcopyrite surface and chalcopyrite flotation. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) tests identified that NaCl increased the oxidation of PAX and its adsorption on chalcopyrite surface due to elevated ionic strength and electrical conductivity of water, facilitating charge transfer among PAX, chalcopyrite surface and oxygen. NaCl also increased chalcopyrite surface oxidation to produce more CuS, facilitating the formation of copper-xanthate complexes. Flotation tests identified that the increased adsorption of PAX by NaCl was only translated into improved true flotation of chalcopyrite at a low PAX concentration such as 50 ppm in NaCl solutions with low and medium concentrations (0.1 and 0.7 M, respectively). At a high PAX concentration such as 150 ppm, the coexistence of high concentrations of PAX and NaCl led to strong froth destabilisation, resulting in a dramatic reduction in water recovery and true flotation recovery of chalcopyrite. The findings from this study will be able to guide the flotation plants to maximise mineral flotation by choosing collector dosage based on the ionic strength of process water.

Phytochemical analysis of different Callicarpa species based on integrating metabolomics and chemometrics.

Traditionally, Callicarpa species have been utilized their anti-inflammatory and hemostatic properties. Prominently featured species in the 2020 Edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia were Callicarpa nudiflora (CN), Callicarpa macrophylla (CM), Callicarpa formosana (CF), and Callicarpa kwangtungensis (CK), which were formulated into several medicinal preparations. Extensive applications led to the significant depletion of CN's wild resources. The management of germplasm resources was significantly disordered. Adulteration issues were also prevalent. It is imperative that the study aims to identify alternative sources for CN and other pharmacopeial varieties and develop methods to distinguish different Callicarpa species. Data were acquired using three mass spectrometry modes: Data Dependent Analysis (DDA), Data-Independent Analysis (DIA), and full mass spectrometry (MS). The DDA mode identified or inferred information on 54 compounds. The Full MS mode identified or inferred 74 compounds, including 20 that were previously unreported in Callicarpa. These compounds were confirmed using standards. The DIA mode did not facilitate identification due to missing precursor ion data. With metabolomics, 19 differential compounds were identified or inferred. Luteolin, chrysoeriol, and quercetin were selected as potential markers, integrating the 10 active compounds from network pharmacology. Based on the relative abundance of these markers, it was proposed that Callicarpa giraldii Hesse ex Rehd. var. (CGHRV) and CM could serve as alternative resource species to CN, while CGHRV and Callicarpa giraldii Hesse ex Rehd. (CGHR) could substitute the pharmacopeial CM. Callicarpa longissimi (CLG) was suggested as an alternative to CK, while Callicarpa cathayana (CC) and Callicarpa rubella (CRL) could replace CF. Furthermore, the absence of certain compounds in CK presented a novel opportunity for the differentiation of various Callicarpa species.

Biochar Weakens the Efficiency of Nitrification Inhibitors and Urease Inhibitors in Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Soil Irrigated with Alternative Water Resources

While previous studies have suggested that biochar, nitrification inhibitors, and urease inhibitors may reduce soil greenhouse gas emissions, their effectiveness in soils irrigated with alternative water resources remains unclear. To compensate for this, reclaimed water and livestock wastewater were utilized as alternative water resources alongside groundwater control. Nitrapyrin and N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide and biochar were applied to the soil either individually or in combination, and a no-substance treatment (NS) was included for comparison. The results revealed that reclaimed water and livestock wastewater irrigation exacerbated the global warming potential. Compared to the NS, all exogenous substance treatments suppressed nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions while increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and affecting methane (CH4) emissions varied across treatments irrespective of the water types. Interestingly, the additional biochar reduced the inhibitory effect of the inhibitors on the greenhouse effect. Using nitrification inhibitors reduced the global warming potential by 48.3% and 50.1% under reclaimed water and livestock wastewater irrigation, respectively. However, when nitrification inhibitors were applied in combination with biochar, the global warming potential was increased by 52.1–83.4% compared to nitrification inhibitors alone, and a similar trend was also observed in the scenario of urease inhibitors, with increases ranging from 8.8 to 35.1%. Therefore, the combined application of biochar and inhibitors should be approached cautiously, considering the potential for increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Simulation of Discovering Market Opportunities Using AI Methods

Due to the strong turbulence that exists in the business environment, the view is sometimes articulated that the time horizon of decisions is no longer a hallmark of strategic management. Opposing views argue that a turbulent environment changes the trajectory of reaching future objectives determined by strategic decisions. Such trajectories require the company to be agile, which is manifested by seizing opportunities. Opportunities arise because the environment is volatile. An example of market opportunity is the unsatisfied demand for products. Buyers are driven by different motives when choosing between products that are alternative to them. From the producer's point of view, the purchase is therefore random. As a consequence, the alignment of the offered product portfolio with the actual purchasing decisions of customers is undetermined. In this article, we address the problem of determining the product portfolio structure expected by customers, i.e. one that is consistent with their future purchasing decisions. We hypothesise that this problem can be represented by a model of flows between alternative resources. Problems of this type are solved using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. In order to discover the expected demand (opportunity), we simulated the flow model we developed using the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm, which is a special case of the MCMC method used in AI. Due to operating on numerical data, such simulations fall under quantitative research. In the article, we present a model of customer flows between alternative products and then the simulation result, which is the expected value of these flows (stationary point). We convert this value into the structure of the product portfolio using a model of customer purchasing decisions that we have developed. The obtained results confirm the effectiveness of our method and have significant practical value, especially for SMEs. It also enables the assessment of the company's product strategy based on real sales data. The application of our methodology is limited to discovering opportunities in situations where purchasing decisions are influenced by variable environmental factors, causing irregular purchases by individual customers. It is useful, for example, in discovering opportunities in markets such as Household Articles, Furniture, Vehicles, Equipment Repairs, Construction, and many others.

Effects of long-term saline water irrigation on soil salinity and crop production of winter wheat-maize cropping system in the North China Plain: A case study

Fresh water shortage is a major problem for grain production in the low plain around Bohai Sea in the North China Plain. Relative abundance of shallow saline groundwater could serve as an alternative water resource for use during dry seasons. A continuous 8-year field study was conducted from 2015 to 2023 to assess the effects of salt content in irrigation water on soil salt accumulation and crop production. Fresh water (FW) with electrical conductivity (EC) at 1.6 dS/m and three levels of saline water (SW) with EC at 4.7 (SW1), 6.3 (SW2) and 7.8 dS/m (SW3) were used for irrigation. Results showed that a single irrigation event at the jointing stage of winter wheat increased grain production averagely by 18.6 %, 22.5 %, 12.9 % and 9.5 % compared with a rain-fed treatment (RF) under FW, SW1, SW2 and SW3, respectively. With an additional irrigation applied at flowering stage, both irrigations using FW increased the yield by 28.6 %, and both irrigations using SW2 increased the yield by 19.3 % compared with RF. Negative effects of salt on winter wheat overshadowed the positive effects of increased water supply under two irrigations both using SW. With an irrigation at maize sowing and the subsequent summer rainy season, the yield of maize following winter wheat was not affected by a one-time SW irrigation to the previous crop, but showed a 5.3 % yield reduction when two irrigations of SW were applied. There was no apparent salt accumulation in the top 1 m of the soil profile, but a slight increasing trend in the salt content in the 1–2 m layer of the soil profile under SW2 and SW3 irrigation. No apparent changes in soil physical properties were observed for continuous application of SW. It was suggested that SW with EC not exceeding 6.3 dS/m should be applied for a single irrigation during the winter wheat season. This practice could alleviate the fresh water shortage in this region and allow for the maintenance of a relatively stable yield of winter wheat and maize without the risk of salt accumulation in the soil.

The impact of Ethno-Realistic Mathematics Education-based e-module in strengthening students’ problem-solving abilities

Mathematics education in Indonesia faces challenges primarily due to the limited problem-solving skills of students, prompting a need for effective teaching materials to enhance classroom learning. Despite this, many educators still rely on conventional methods that are less effective in fostering mathematical understanding. Consequently, there is a demand for alternative resources that can better support mathematics education. This study aims to develop a valid and practical e-module based on Ethno-Realistic Mathematics Education (Ethno-RME) to improve problem-solving abilities among eighth-grade students. Employing a design research approach within the development studies framework, the study includes preliminary and formative evaluation stages. Evaluation tools encompass expert assessments of content and media quality, walkthroughs, documentation, and problem-solving assessments. The outcome is an Ethno-RME-based e-module focused on number patterns, validated through expert reviews and positively evaluated for practicality by students. This research highlights the e-module's potential to significantly enhance students' mathematical problem-solving skills, offering educators an innovative tool to support effective mathematics teaching.

Impact of parent-delivered traditional Thai massage on children with autism spectrum disorder and parenting stress: a randomized controlled trial

Objectives To evaluate the effects of parent-delivered traditional Thai massage (TTM) on children with autism and its potential influence on parenting stress. Methods Forty-eight children with autism (aged 10.32 ± 1.35 years) were enrolled from Haikou Special Education School (Haikou Province, China) and randomly assigned to either the TTM group or control group in a 1:1 ratio. Alongside their regular school routines, the TTM group underwent 16 sessions of 50-min TTM, twice weekly for 8 weeks. The control group continued their usual daily school routines. Intervention effects and parenting stress were measured using the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist and Parenting Stress Index, Fourth Edition Short Form. Results The TTM intervention had a significant positive impact on sociability (p = 0.001, partial ŋ2=0.168) and total scores (p = 0.009, partial ŋ2=0.103). Additionally, the TTM group had significantly reduced parental distress (p = 0.016, partial ŋ2=0.179), parent − child dysfunctional interaction scores (p = 0.008, partial ŋ2=0.206), and total scores (p = 0.001, partial ŋ2=0.179) post-intervention, with a significant rebound observed during the follow-up period. Conclusions Our findings indicate that parent-delivered TTM can effectively improve certain autism symptoms and reduce parenting stress in the short-term. Incorporating parent-delivered massage into family-based interventions offers a convenient, effective, and personalized treatment option for families with limited access to alternative treatment resources. Trial registration Clinical Trials Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2100051355, 2021-09-21

Optimizing Fall Risk Diagnosis in Older Adults Using a Bayesian Classifier and Simulated Annealing.

The aim of this study was to improve the diagnostic ability of fall risk classifiers using a Bayesian approach and the Simulated Annealing (SA) algorithm. A total of 47 features from 181 records (40 Center of Pressure (CoP) indices and 7 patient descriptive variables) were analyzed. The wrapper method of feature selection using the SA algorithm was applied to optimize the cost function based on the difference of the mean minus the standard deviation of the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the fall risk classifiers across multiple dimensions. A stratified 60-20-20% hold-out method was used for train, test, and validation sets, respectively. The results showed that although the highest performance was observed with 31 features (0.815 ± 0.110), lower variability and higher explainability were achieved with only 15 features (0.780 ± 0.055). These findings suggest that the SA algorithm is a valuable tool for feature selection for acceptable fall risk diagnosis. This method offers an alternative or complementary resource in situations where clinical tools are difficult to apply.

Broadband and high-efficiency acoustic energy harvesting with loudspeaker enhanced by sonic black hole

It is well-known that acoustic energy sources can be seen as a promising alternative energy resource by using acoustic energy harvester (AEH) which can transform sound energy into usable electrical power. However, the current AEHs have been restricted by their narrow bandwidths and low energy conversion efficiencies. In this study, a broadband and high efficient AEH is presented. The proposed AEH comprises an open-end sonic black hole (SBH) structure and an electrodynamic loudspeaker. The sound pressure is amplified through the open-end SBH structure, then the loudspeaker is used as electricity generator to convert acoustic energy into electric energy. The open-end SBH is a cylindrical tube with an array of regularly-spaced rigid-walled thin rings. The inner radii of the SBH rings are quadratically decreasing and the SBH effect can be obtained. The model for energy harvesting and sound absorption performance of the proposed AEH is then presented. Finally, the open-end SBH is fabricated by 3D printing apparatus. A prototype of the AEH is designed and tested by using an impedance tube. The energy conversion efficiency and absorption coefficient from calculation and experiment show a reasonable agreement. The proposed AEH can convert 11 % of total incident sound energy from 50 Hz to 800 Hz. The maximum energy conversion efficiency can achieve 65 % at 425 Hz under optimal resistance load. Furthermore, the broadband sound absorption can also be achieved by using the proposed AEH.

A comparative study of the potentials of Oman and UAE in condensate water recovery

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; line-height: 120%; mso-pagination: none; layout-grid-mode: char; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; margin: 12.0pt 0cm 6.0pt 147.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Freshwater is essential for everyday activities including drinking, irrigation, farming and many industrial processes. However, freshwater is less than 1% of the total water resources in the planet and, therefore, it is considered a very valuable commodity. Limited resources and growing needs for freshwater triggered global exploration for alternatives to produce enough freshwater for human needs. Today’s most widely used methods to produce freshwater is desalination. However, critical appraisal of the desalination procedures raised the alarm about </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-font-width: 105%; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">sustainability</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> of desalination and indicated that significant research is needed to develop alternative green resources of freshwater. Countries in the Gulf area such as Oman and UAE experience hot and humid climates and use air-conditioning units to achieve acceptable comfort levels and create a </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-font-width: 105%; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">healthier</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> indoor environment. The cooling process release a large amount of condensate water through cooling coils. This amount of water is usually considered as a problem rather than opportunity and, thus, is wasted into municipal sewerage systems via a system of drainage pipes. This alternative source can be utilized in various drainage, irrigation, and cooling applications to reduce the use of considerable amount of municipal potable water. This source not only takes part in controlling the water scarcity, but also in saving energy and to reducing the carbon footprint. This paper focus on highlighting the opportunities for Oman and UAE to utilize the condensate water from air-conditioning process, as a viable alternative source of green </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-font-width: 105%; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">fresh</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> water. It provides a comparison of the potentials of both countries to collect condensate water, based on meteorological data, location and climate. It was concluded that both countries have great potentials and opportunities to utilize this wasted resource. </span></p>

EKSPLORASI ETNOMATEMATIKA PADA BENTUK JAJANAN PASAR DI DAERAH JEPARA UNTUK PEMBELAJARAN MATEMATIKA SMP

In the cultural context, traditional market snacks in the Jepara area have the potential to integrate ethnomathematics into mathematics learning. Traditional market snacks in Jepara offer various forms of snacks in which there is a geometric concept. The purpose of this study is to find out the concept of geometry in traditional market snacks in the Jepara area. In this study, qualitative methods are used with an ethnographic approach. The objects studied by the researcher were 5 traditional market snacks, with 3 respondent subjects, namely traditional market snack sellers found in Jepara market, Pecangaan market, and Tegalsambi market. Several techniques for collecting data are used in this study, including observation techniques, interviews, and documentation. Based on the research conducted by the researcher, the results were obtained that there are geometric concepts and cultural elements in 5 traditional market snacks in the Jepara area, including a ball-shaped klepon, a rectangular layer, a ball-shaped onde-onde, a triangular prism-shaped banana bongko, and a solid half-ball shaped kintelan. The results of this research are expected to function as an effective alternative learning resource to introduce geometry concepts to students.

IoT-ENHANCED SHALE OIL AND GAS GREEN DEVELOPMENT: STATUS AND FUTURE

Shale oil and gas, deemed as vital alternative resources to conventional oil and gas, have spurred significant interest in information-based exploration and development technologies within the industry in recent years [1]. China boasts extensive shale oil and gas reserves, with the International Energy Agency (EIA) estimating China's shale oil technology capable of extracting approximately 4.393 billion tonnes, ranking third globally. Additionally, China holds shale gas geological resources of about 134.4 trillion cubic meters, ranking first worldwide, showcasing immense development potential. Shale oil and gas, being unconventional resources, are distributed within the pore and fracture systems of organic-rich shale formations. Compared to conventional oil and gas, shale oil and gas exhibit weaker trap control and stronger distribution continuity, typically characterized by poor reservoir physical properties. Conventional extraction methods often struggle to yield industrial oil and gas flow from shale oil and gas resources, necessitating unconventional development technologies such as reservoir monitoring, directional wells, horizontal wells, and segmental fracturing [2]. However, these technologies come with challenges and risks, including complex production operations, high production data density, and environmental concerns such as surface ecological damage and pollutant emissions, further impacting shale oil and gas production. To facilitate the upgrading process of China's shale oil and gas industry, this paper presents the current status of Internet of Things (IoT) application technologies for shale oil and gas development and proposes a research outlook based on the concept of green development. Against the backdrop of energy transformation, it offers a reference framework for the sustainable development of China's extensive shale oil and gas resources.

Molecular analysis of the reactions in Salicornia europaea to varying NaCl concentrations at various stages of development to better exploit its potential as a new crop plant.

Freshwater scarcity demands exploration of alternative resources like saline water and soils. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind NaCl regulation in potential crop plants becomes increasingly important for promoting saline agriculture. This study investigated the euhalophyte Salicornia europaea, analyzing its gene expression, yield, and total phenolic compounds under hydroponic cultivation. We employed five salinity levels (0, 7.5, 15, 22.5, and 30 g/L NaCl) across five harvests at 15-day intervals, capturing plant development. Notably, this design deviated from conventional gene expression studies by recording organ-specific responses (shoots and roots) in plants adapted to long-term salinity treatments at various developmental stages. The highest fresh mass of S. europaea was observed four months after germination in 15 g/L NaCl. Identifying a reliable set of reference genes for normalizing gene expression data was crucial due to comparisons across shoots, roots, developmental stages, and salinity levels. A set of housekeeping genes - ubiquitin c (SeUBC), actin (SeActin) and dnaJ-like protein (SeDNAJ) - was identified for this purpose. Interestingly, plants grown without NaCl (0 g/L) displayed upregulation of certain genes associated with a NaCl deficiency related nutritional deprivation. These genes encode a tonoplast Na+/H+-antiporter (SeNHX1), a vacuolar H+-ATPase (SeVHA-A), two H+-PPases (SeVP1, SeVP2), a hkt1-like transporter (SeHKT), a vinorine synthase (SeVinS), a peroxidase (SePerox), and a plasma membrane Na+/H+-antiporter (SeSOS1). Other genes encoding an amino acid permease (SeAAP) and a proline transporter (SeProT) demonstrated marginal or dispersing salinity influence, suggesting their nuanced regulation during plants development. Notably, osmoregulatory genes (SeOsmP, SeProT) were upregulated in mature plants, highlighting their role in salinity adaptation. This study reveals distinct regulatory mechanisms in S. europaea for coping with varying salinity levels. Identifying and understanding physiological reactions and sodium responsive key genes further elucidate the relationship between sodium tolerance and the obligate sodium requirement as a nutrient in euhalophytes.

Effects of protein grass hay as alternative feed resource on lamb's fattening performance and meat quality

Protein grass hay (PGH) was used as a new feed source for lambs to study its effect on fattening performance and meat quality. Fifty-six male lambs were allotted to four experimental groups and fed for eight weeks either alfalfa hay (AH)-based diet (control) or diets in which AH was replaced with 33 %, 66 %, or 99 % PGH. The inclusion of PGH did not affect final body weight, dry matter intake, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, or carcass weight. Moreover, substituting AH with PGH at any level did not influence the ruminal fermentation or serum biochemical parameters, meat color, water holding capacity, shear force, or amino acid profile. However, relative liver weight was increased with 66 % substitutions. Furthermore, replacing 99 % AH with PGH decreased the meat's pH at 24 h. Higher levels of C18:3n-3, C20:5n-3, and total n-3 PUFA and a lower ratio of n-6: n-3 PUFA were also observed in meat from lambs fed PGH at 99 %. These findings suggest that PGH could be incorporated into the lamb's diet up to 99 % without compromising fattening performance and body health while improving their meat n-3 PUFA deposition.

Ion-Exchange Membranes Extract Lithium From North Sea Oilfield Brines

_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 215585, “Lithium Extraction From North Sea Oilfield Brines Using Ion-Exchange Membranes,” by Botelho Disu, Roozbeh Rafati, and Amin S. Haddad, University of Aberdeen, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed. _ The annual demand for lithium for low-carbon technology applications has been growing exponentially. A necessity exists in the current environment for continuous lithium production from both conventional sources and novel extraction sites from alternative brine resources such as oil fields and geothermal sites. in the complete paper, the lithium potentiality of the UK North Sea is evaluated. Identification of North Sea Lithium-Rich Oil and Gas Fields Maps show lithium-ion concentration diffusing from 55 ppm in the western region into low concentrations in the central, northern, and eastern regions of the UK North Sea. Such estimates suggest lithium enrichment in oilfield brine from the Beatrice, Clymore, Gannet, Cly, Auk, and Flumar fields. However, because such map distribution of lithium is achieved based only on one-third of the imputed data, a correlative evaluation with the entire body of data is needed to provide a much more feasible interpretation. When lithium distribution was evaluated simultaneously with strontium/iron/potassium (Sr/Fe/K) total dissolved solids, the rich brine was primarily located across the central, eastern, southern, and western fields. The central and eastern concentrations were estimated to have a lithium-rich brine with concentrations of up to 40 ppm, with lithium-ion presence gradually increasing toward the east. Most of the fields in this region are oil fields, including Montrose, Arbroath, Ula, Nelson, Brisling, Gyda, Ekofisk, and Bream, with Harald possibly being the only gas field with lithium-enriched brine. On the other hand, the lithium-rich fields in the southern and western regions are all gas fields, including the Esmond, Anglia, Lemman, Ann, and Viking fields. Statement of Theory and Definition The economic feasibility of lithium extraction from brine has been observed to be a function of its initial concentration. For oilfield brines, when using novel direct-lithium-extraction (DLE) technologies, the brine concentration economic feasibility for production is reduced to a cutoff benchmark of 50 ppm. However, ongoing developments in DLE technologies envision a feasible, efficient, and highly selective recovery of lithium from brines with low concentrations, even sea water. Manganese ion-sieve powder is a DLE technology that has gathered growing interest. However, one of the main challenges of its application in continuous industrial processes consists of operational challenges that its original powder form can cause. Therefore, forming is necessary if ion-sieve adsorbents are to have an industrial application. This paper has reported and discussed the experimental results of forming the adsorbent powders into different ion-exchange membranes (foam, flat sheet, and granular spherical beads) and their application for lithium extraction from simulated North Sea brine. The complete paper details the description and application of experimental equipment and processes.

Specifics of Pricing Policy in the Global Energy Market in Context of Energy Transitions

Identifying price fluctuation patterns between traditional, alternative energy resources of raw material origin and the systemic world transformations is vital in understanding the variability of stable and effective functioning of relevant assets at different stages of economic waves in the context of global environmental challenges. This study was aimed at examining the dynamics of irregularity in the prices of various energy resources derived from raw materials in the global economy as investment assets within the framework of global economic changes. The price pattern of conventional and alternative energy resources on the global market were also examined alongside the connection between them and the price of electricity. The study made use of the monitoring method and the comparison method of various energy resources in terms of costs, availability, the influence they have on the market, and how they differ from each other. Secondary data was also collected from monographs and publications by Ukrainians and international experts on the subject matter. The analysis of the structure of energy resources was done in a retrospective manner following the reporting format of international organizations chosen as a base. Results revealed that the price dependency of traditional and renewable energy sources differs. While traditional energy is connected to economic cycles, the price of renewable energy is more influenced by technological advancements and less by global economic cycles. It is interesting to note that the price of renewable energy is mostly unaffected by global challenges and crises. The study recommend the results to be applied in national strategies for forecasting prices and modelling market conditions and consumer demand.

Analisis Nilai-Nilai Pendidikan Pada Novel A+ Karya Ananda Putri Sebagai Bahan Ajar Pembelajaran Sastra Di SMA

The significance of education is a crucial value that is both instructive and practical for one's lifetime. Teachers in school or educators can transmit these ideals to their students. Presently, there is a prevailing belief that the significance of education should be given precedence in response to the declining moral and ethical growth of pupils. There is a significant prevalence of adolescent delinquency among pupils, including behaviors such as bullying, physical altercations, promiscuity, and others. The significance of education in daily life can be elucidated by examining literary works, particularly novels. The purpose of this study was to analyze the educational values present in the novel "A+" by Ananda Putri and to assess the potential use of these values as teaching resources for literary instruction in high schools. The research methodology employed is a qualitative approach utilizing reading techniques and note-taking methodologies. The research findings indicate that the novel A+ by Ananda Putri encompasses 14 educational values, specifically: 1) religious, 2) honest, 3) tolerance, 4) discipline, 5) hard work, 6) democratic, 7) curiosity, 8) respect for achievement, 9) friendly/communicative, 10) love of peace, 11) fondness for reading, 12) social care, 13) responsibility, and 14) independence. Moreover, these findings were utilized as alternative instructional resources in the form of educational value-based learning modules for twelfth-grade high school students. After undergoing validation by multiple experts, this training material achieved a score of 79.88%.

Development of binders based on the СаО–Fe2O3 system

The object of research is the processes of structure formation and modeling of the properties of a specialized binder. The development of new binding materials based on production waste with high early strength indicators could make it possible to speed up construction period and is one of the urgent tasks at present. This study focused on the creation of binders based on the СаО–Fe2O3 system. The developed binder of the СаО–Fe2O3 system has the following composition: limestone – 26 %; red slime – 74 %, which has a dense fine-porous structure and high early strength indicators – 22.5 MPa with a density of 1960 kg/m3. There is also an increase in the average density of samples annealed at a temperature of 1200 ℃ for 60 minutes, ground and mixed with water, in comparison with samples fired at 1100 ℃ for 60 minutes, by 500 kg/m3, due to new formations. The prospect of using modified composite binders with special functional properties has been substantiated. The use of production waste based on the СаО-Fe2O3 system could make it possible to obtain materials with high physical and mechanical properties, which makes them promising for application in various areas of the construction industry. The development of such binders will help reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry, owing to the use of affordable and effective components. This approach will not only contribute to the improvement of the quality of building materials but also help reduce the ecological burden on the environment by using alternative resources and industrial waste. The developed binder could be used for the development of solutions for 3d printing, as well as repair of concrete coatings

Exploring Emotional Vulnerability and Sense of Agency in the Digital Realm: A Three-Year Case Study of an EFL Teacher in South Korea

This study presents the findings from a longitudinal case study on a Korean English teacher’s experience of emotional vulnerability and professional development in online teaching. Grounded in an ecological perspective on teacher agency and emotional vulnerability, the study investigates how and why the teacher exercised agency in navigating her emotional challenges and adapting to the virtual teaching environment. Data were collected from various sources, including interviews, observations, field notes, and artifacts, for three years. The findings showed that the intricate connection between the teacher’s multiple and dynamic emotions, beliefs, and concurrent working environments significantly influences her engagement in digital teaching practices. Furthermore, the teacher’s emotional vulnerability in virtual teaching facilitated her engagement in reflective and action-oriented practices, leading to a more proactive approach to exploring and implementing alternative teaching methods online. The findings highlight the interplay between emotions, agency, and identity development, emphasizing the importance of experiencing, understanding, negotiating, and expressing emotions to discover potential alternative teaching resources and methods in ever-changing teaching environments. This study provides insights into how teachers can leverage their emotions and exercise teacher agency to enhance their professional growth and adaptability in digital learning environments.