Consumer Resource Research Articles

Environmental and resource components in the development of subregions of the tourist territory

This paper examines the institutional and natural resource components in the strategy of socio-economic development of the region. The rationality of the use of natural resources taking into account the resource asymmetry of the region is investigated and the justification of the segmentation of consumers of recreational resources is given. The main problem in the process of development of the region’s tourist orientation is the replacement of the natural component by the economic infrastructure. Thus, the process of development of tourist orientation is accompanied by a steady increase in the number of buildings and recreation, and according to the specifics of tourism in the region are increasingly valuable beach resources. Among all the subregions of Crimea is particularly distinguished by higher rates of recreational development and economic development relative to other subregion of Greater Yalta. Recreational potential of the Big Yalta is just over 18.6% of the potential of the Crimea, with an area of 1.1%. Territorial concentration is 16,9 times higher than in the region. All this creates the need for segmentation of subregions on the basis of resource asymmetry of the region.

Land use composition, configuration and nutrient: Key drivers of benthic metabolism in streams

Benthic metabolism is an essential process which plays a critical role in the carbon and nutrient cycles and in the transfer of material and energy in stream ecosystems. Benthic algae are one of principal primary producers in stream food webs that converts dissolved inorganic carbon to organic matter, and algae are more palatable basal resources for aquatic consumers due to its higher unsaturated fatty acid content than terrestrial carbon. Despite the importance of algae, few studies have investigated how the benthic metabolism is influenced by distal factors, such as upland land use and landscape configuration, and proximal factors, such as stream temperature, nutrient availability, and light availability at various spatial scales. Here, we measured the benthic metabolism and proximal factors at the outlet of 14 selected sub-catchments in a subtropical river. Land use and landscape metrics at the catchment, riparian, and reach scales were processed as distal factors. Using stepwise regression models, we found that the proximal factors, such as water temperature (WT) and total phosphorus (TP), significantly increased primary production, and that nitrate-nitrogen (NO3--N), pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) decreased gross primary production (GPP). Also, TP was positively correlated with respiration (R) while NO3--N negatively impacted R. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that the patch cohesion index negatively affected GPP by restraining WT and TP at the catchment scale while the increased shape index elevated the WT and TP to promote GPP. Our results suggested that stream metabolism is vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbances, such as upland land use and landscape patterns. Thus, land use planning and administration, particularly at catchment scale, should consider how to minimize the influence of human activities on ecosystem function in streams.

A blockchain-based framework for carbon management towards construction material and product certification

As one of the biggest resource consumers and carbon emitters, the construction industry plays a crucial role in global carbon reduction. Carbon certification or labelling schemes are efficient ways to assess and report the carbon footprints of construction materials and products (CMPs), providing the foundation for carbon management at the CMP level. However, existing carbon management for CMP certification relies heavily on traditional centralized data management tools, which suffer from data non-transparency and manipulation problems, making carbon footprints unreliable and hard to track. Therefore, benefiting from the immutability and traceability of blockchain, this paper introduces a distributed solution for transparent and secure carbon management towards CMP certification. Contributions lie in three aspects: (1) a Green Product Chain (GPChain) framework is proposed based on blockchain. This framework provides a distributed and transparent carbon data-sharing environment, enabling reliability and traceability during certification. (2) A blockchain data model is developed considering the privacy of carbon data for CMP certification. Besides, a privacy-preserving carbon data-sharing strategy is designed for pre-processing different sensitive data before being transferred to the blockchain. (3) GPChain smart contracts are developed to granularly control user interactions with blockchain and automatically generate distributed carbon footprint records. Results show that (1) GPChain’s feasibility of supporting carbon management for GMP certification and (2) the acceptable performance of GPChain smart contracts during operations.

Forest management affects ecosystem functioning (predation and herbivory) but not ecosystem constancy: A comparative study across four forest ecosystems around the world

Forest management can affect both the functioning and stability of ecosystems. Constancy and persistence are key factors that contribute to the overall stability of an ecosystem. These factors can be highly variable and change across forest ecosystems. We studied the effects of forest management on the strength of resource–consumer interactions (bird predation and insect herbivory) as important measures of ecosystem functioning, as well as on their constancy in time in four different forested regions globally. Within each region, we selected (i) three heavily managed or plantation forests, and (ii) three urban/peri-urban forests or urban plantings, and paired each of them with pristine/semi-natural forests. Bird predation was estimated using plasticine caterpillars of different colors. Chewer, galler, and miner herbivory on leaves were estimated for 15 plants (shrubs and trees) per study site. Constancy was quantified as the invariability of both predation and herbivory during a period of three (exceptionally two) years. We found no consistent responses of either predation or herbivory to forest management practices across study regions. Bird predation was higher in urban/peri-urban forests than in pristine/semi-natural forests in Patagonian and boreal forest, with intermediate levels of predation in managed or plantation forests. These differences might be explained by the increase of resource availability during the winters and by the higher abundances of generalist predators due to increase of temperatures (i.e., urban heat effect), for those regions where winter temperatures could be a limiting factor. Chewing insect herbivory was lower in urban/peri-urban forests, probably due to the exclusion of certain herbivores in response to warming and the higher predation pressure relative to pristine forests. No differences were found in other types of herbivory, indicating that effects of urbanization are guild-specific. In addition, we consistently found no effects of forest management practices on predation invariability and herbivory, thereby demonstrating the high constancy of ecosystem functioning to different forest management practices across regions. These findings advance our knowledge of the generalized effects of forest management on ecosystem functions and stability by establishing a connection between the ecology and management and conservation of plantations and natural forests.

A REVIEW OF MYCELIUM-BASED BIO-COMPOSITES AND THEIR POSSIBLE APPLICATION IN ARCHITECTURE

Construction industry is one of the largest consumers of natural resources, and so faces enormous difficulties in reducing the environmental impact of existing consumption habits. Growing industry demand for biodegradable or alternative materials and products derived from renewable resources, has recently prompted researchers from diverse fields to work in this area. They are working to find sustainable alternatives and develop natural bio-composites to replace various petroleum-based products in the interest of the environment. One such bio-composite derived from mycelium can provide a renewable and biodegradable alternative to conventional building materials. Mycelium, the fibrous root system of fungi, grows on organic substrates under controlled environmental conditions to produce these biomaterials. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the current research and applications of mycelium-based materials in the field of architecture.

Re-Thinking Hyperkalaemia Management in Chronic Kidney Disease-Beyond Food Tables and Nutrition Myths: An Evidence-Based Practice Review.

Potassium dysregulation can be life-threatening. Dietary potassium modification is a management strategy for hyperkalaemia. However, a 2017 review for clinical guidelines found no trials evaluating dietary restriction for managing hyperkalaemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Evidence regarding dietary hyperkalaemia management was reviewed and practice recommendations disseminated. A literature search using terms for potassium, hyperkalaemia, and CKD was undertaken from 2018 to October 2022. Researchers extracted data, discussed findings, and formulated practice recommendations. A consumer resource, a clinician education webinar, and workplace education sessions were developed. Eighteen studies were included. Observational studies found no association between dietary and serum potassium in CKD populations. In two studies, 40-60 mmol increases in dietary/supplemental potassium increased serum potassium by 0.2-0.4 mmol/L. No studies examined lowering dietary potassium as a therapeutic treatment for hyperkalaemia. Healthy dietary patterns were associated with improved outcomes and may predict lower serum potassium, as dietary co-factors may support potassium shifts intracellularly, and increase excretion through the bowel. The resource recommended limiting potassium additives, large servings of meat and milk, and including high-fibre foods: wholegrains, fruits, and vegetables. In seven months, the resource received > 3300 views and the webinar > 290 views. This review highlights the need for prompt review of consumer resources, hospital diets, and health professionals' knowledge.

The shape of density dependence and the relationship between population growth, intraspecific competition and equilibrium population density

The logistic growth model is one of the most frequently used formalizations of density dependence affecting population growth, persistence and evolution. Ecological and evolutionary theory, and applications to understand population change over time often include this model. However, the assumptions and limitations of this popular model are often not well appreciated. Here, we briefly review past use of the logistic growth model and highlight limitations by deriving population growth models from underlying consumer–resource dynamics. We show that the logistic equation likely is not applicable to many biological systems. Rather, density‐regulation functions are usually non‐linear and may exhibit convex or concave curvatures depending on the biology of resources and consumers. In simple cases, the dynamics can be fully described by the Schoener model. More complex consumer dynamics show similarities to a Maynard Smith–Slatkin model. We show how population‐level parameters, such as intrinsic rates of increase and equilibrium population densities are not independent, as often assumed. Rather, they are functions of the same underlying parameters. The commonly assumed positive relationship between equilibrium population density and competitive ability is typically invalid. We propose simple relationships between intrinsic rates of increase and equilibrium population densities that capture the essence of different consumer–resource systems. Relating population level models to underlying mechanisms allows us to discuss applications to evolutionary outcomes and how these models depend on environmental conditions, like temperature via metabolic scaling. Finally, we use time‐series from microbial food chains to fit population growth models as a test case for our theoretical predictions. Our results show that density‐regulation functions need to be chosen carefully as their shapes will depend on the study system's biology. Importantly, we provide a mechanistic understanding of relationships between model parameters, which has implications for theory and for formulating biologically sound and empirically testable predictions.

Climate Change and Current Adaptation Strategies in the Haor Areas

The haor fishers in Bangladesh may face significant negative effects due to the significant changes in the country's climate; yet, there have been very few research specifically focused on this professional group. Through focus groups and interviews, an effort was made to understand the impact and adaption strategies of the users of the harbor resource. A total of 120 respondents were chosen at random from the Dekhar haor of the Sunamganj District. Climate change vulnerabilities included variations in rainfall and temperature, frequent natural disasters, and the emergence of debilitating diseases. Initially, fishermen were found to be able to support themselves through earnings from illicit fishing, government assistance, and quick loans from non-governmental organizations in the event of disaster. The resource consumers have also changed how they work, lost their jobs, and become more reliant on their family members. Fishermen's perspectives yielded several recommendations for effectively addressing the vulnerabilities caused by environmental changes.

Renewable Energy Transition Task Solution for the Oil Countries Using Scenario-Driven Fuzzy Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making Models: The Case of Azerbaijan

The renewable energy transition of oil- and gas-producing countries has specific peculiarities due to the ambivalent position of these countries in the global energy market, both as producers and consumers of energy resources. This task becomes even more challenging when the share of oil and gas in the country’s GDP is very high. These circumstances pose serious challenges for long-term energy policy development and require compromising decisions to better align the existing and newly created energy policies of the country. The scale, scope, and pace of changes in the transition process must be well balanced, considering the increasing pressure of economic and environmental factors. The objective of this paper is to develop models that allow the selection of the most appropriate scenario for renewable energy transition in an oil- and gas-producing country. The distinguishing feature of the proposed model is that alternatives in the decision matrix are presented as scenarios, composed of a set of energy resources and the level of their use. Linguistic descriptions of the alternative scenarios are formalized in the form of fuzzy statements. For the problem solution, four different Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods were used: the fuzzy simple additive weighting (F-SAW) method, the distance-based fuzzy TOPSIS method (Technique of Order Preference Similarity to the Ideal Solution), the ratio-analysis-based fuzzy MOORA method (Multi-Objective Optimization Model Based on the Ratio Analysis), and the fuzzy multi-criteria optimization and compromise solution method VIKOR (Serbian: VIekriterijumsko Kompromisno Rangiranje). This approach is illustrated using the example of the energy sector of Azerbaijan. The recommended solution for the country involves increasing natural gas (NG) moderately, maintaining hydro, and increasing solar notably and wind moderately.

ЕКОСИСТЕМНІ ПЛАТЕЖІ ТА ЗБЕРЕЖЕННЯ ЛІСОВИХ ЕКОСИСТЕМ УКРАЇНИ: ЗАКОРДОННИЙ ДОСВІД ТА РИНКОВЕ ЦІНОУТВОРЕННЯ

Environmental issues are too important for the modern world, especially for Ukraine. This topic, despite its relevance, is far from complete. One of the most effective methods of solving these problems is environmental taxation, which makes it possible to introduce regulatory levers of influence on consumers of Natural Resources. Different countries have developed their own approaches to the implementation of tax methods in the mechanism of environmental relations between the state and its counterparties. At the same time, other alternative schemes of these relationships are being introduced. Environmental tax rates in Ukraine lag behind European ones (which is an additional, too influential reason for slowing down in solving environmental problems), and given the European choice of Ukraine, it is relevant to review the current environmental tax rates. This is exactly the goal set in this study. The economic interests of the state and its counterparty consist in determining the amount of ecosystem payments for natural resources, the essence of which is their intended purpose ‒ the preservation, reproduction or restoration of ecosystems, their potential and functions. The authors prove that the current procedure for determining the cost of natural resources through their prime cost is fundamentally wrong and erroneous in its essence, since it does not meet their regulatory purpose. The fundamental reform of the sphere of environmental taxation should take into account: first, the presence of state ownership of Natural Resources in Ukraine; second, the definition of environmental payments as the cost of ecosystem services provided by the relevant ecosystems; third, the need to introduce market elements in the pricing system for these services. Using the example of forest resources, the author's own approach is justified and our own methodology for determining ecosystem payments as the cost of ecosystem services provided by these resources to their consumers is proposed. The cost of ecosystem services for forest ecosystems consists of the cost of assimilation services (absorption of harmful substances by forest ecosystems – carbon dioxide) and the cost of oxygen-producing services (generation of oxygen by them). This ensures that not only and not so much the level of cost of Natural Resources is taken into account, but also, importantly, the use value of ecosystem services provided to consumers by ecosystems. However, the cost of Ecosystem Services determined in this way should be considered as the minimum allowable (basic) level of their price. In the future, to respond to the ratio of supply and demand in the ecosystem services market, it is proposed to apply additional elements of the tender pricing procedure, which brings the process of estimating the cost of these services closer to fairer pricing. The authors believe that the mechanism of tender adjustment, provided that the auction price increases above the minimum allowable (basic) level, is a kind of tender protection of the state's interests in establishing these payments.

ENERGY SAVING TECHNOLOGIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES IN THE TERRITORY OF UKRAINE

Purpose. Analysis of the main advantages of innovative technologies of energy efficiency and thermal efficiency of construction and reconstruction of buildings and structures at various stages of construction. Methodology. Along with the spread of organizational processes of technology and construction organization of modern well-known. Construction is one of the largest consumers of energy resources (up to 40%). Construction is one of the most important areas of the country’s economy, which must provide the necessary conditions for saving electricity consumption during construction and the further use of energy-saving and heat-saving technologies, taking into account the environmental consequences of construction and the climatic conditions of the construction site. Energy efficiency and thermal efficiency is becoming one of the main issues for the economic, ecological and social development of construction in Ukraine. Findings. The paper analyzes the use of innovative energy-saving and heat-saving technologies in the construction and reconstruction of buildings and structures, and the material provided can be used by the teacher of construction technologies in practical work for training students. Originality. The factors – architectural, design, construction, materials, which affect the energy efficiency and thermal efficiency of the construction – have been determined, and the provided material can be used by the teacher of construction technologies in practical work for the training of students. Practical value. The thermal properties of the enclosures must ensure a standardized temperature and humidity regime in the room, the permissible value of temperature fluctuations on the inner surface with temperature changes of the outside air. The purpose of carrying out thermal engineering calculation of energy-efficient enclosing structures of buildings is to ensure increased thermal protection of residential buildings and structures for new construction, reconstruction and major repairs.

International Guidelines and Significant Advances in Diagnosis

Objective: To develop and translate rigorous, comprehensive evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis, assessment, and treatment, to improve the lives of those with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) worldwide. Here we will focus on diagnosis. Participants: Extensive health professional and consumer or patient engagement informed the guideline priority areas. International society-nominated panels included consumers, and experts in paediatrics, endocrinology, gynaecology, primary care, reproductive endocrinology, psychology, dietetics, exercise physiology, sleep, bariatric/metabolic surgery, public health, other co-opted experts, project management, evidence synthesis and translation. Evidence: Best practice, evidence-based guideline development involved extensive evidence synthesis and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework covered evidence quality, feasibility, acceptability, cost, implementation and ultimately recommendation strength. Process: Governance included an international advisory board, project board and five guideline development groups with 52 members, consumer, and translation committees. The Centre for Research Excellence in Women’s Health in Reproductive Life, funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), and led by Monash University, partnered with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the Endocrine Society, the European Society of Endocrinology and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Thirty-six organisations collaborated with international meetings over nine months. Fifty-five prioritised clinical questions involved 52 systematic and three narrative reviews, generating evidence-based and consensus recommendations with accompanying practice points. Committee members nominated by collaborating organisations provided international peer review, and evidence expert-reviewed methods and outputs were submitted to NHMRC for independent review. Recommendations: PCOS should be diagnosed using the revised consensus Rotterdam criteria, which are now updated to evidence-based criteria in the International Guideline. In adults this requires the presence of two of i) clinical/biochemical hyperandrogenism ii) ovulatory dysfunction and iii) polycystic ovaries on ultrasound or elevated anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) levels, after other causes of these features are excluded. Where irregular menstrual cycles and hyperandrogenism are present, ultrasound or AMH are not required for diagnosis. In adolescents, both hyperandrogenism and ovulatory dysfunction are required, with ultrasound and AMH not recommended, due to poor specificity. Conclusion: Overall, evidence in PCOS is low to moderate quality. Based on high prevalence and significant health impact, greater priority, funding, and research is recommended. Guideline translation will be extensive including multilingual education outputs and evidence-based resources for consumers (the ASKPCOS app), healthcare professionals and policy makers.

Direct-to-consumer tests advertised online in Australia and their implications for medical overuse: systematic online review and a typology of clinical utility

ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to map the range and variety of direct-to-consumer (DTC) tests advertised online in Australia and analyse their potential clinical utility and implications for medical...

Increasing the efficiency of drying cellulose by ultrasonic influence

Relevance. Significant part of renewable and fossil energy resources is spent to generate heat and electricity needed to implement drying. At the same time, cellulose drying, due to the large-tonnage production, is one of the significant consumers of energy resources. One of the ways to reduce energy costs of drying is ultrasonic vibrations impact. There are practically no studies on ultrasonic exposure during cellulose drying. Therefore, it is necessary to consider possible options for non-contact ultrasonic treatment during convective drying of wood cellulose. Main aim. To identify the most rational options for placing the material to be dried, taking into account the direction of exposure to ultrasonic vibrations and the flow of warm air relative to the layers of the material to be dried at different temperatures. Objects. Non-contact ultrasonic action on wood cellulose. Methods. Mathematical modeling based on the finite element method was used to determine the distribution of oscillation amplitudes of a disk radiator. In the experimental part of the research, a material moisture content was determined by the weight method using verified technical means. Results. When ultrasonic vibrations have parallel direction relative to cellulose thin layers, a 2.5-fold reduction in drying time was shown at a sound pressure level of 162 ±3 dB and a drying agent temperature of 60 °C. The authors have found that temperature decrease of a drying agent makes it possible to increase the relative efficiency of ultrasonic treatment. An assessment of energy efficiency showed that the use of ultrasonic exposure leads to a 2.3-fold decrease in the energy spent on drying compared to only convective drying, all other things being equal. The conducted studies confirmed the effectiveness of the ultrasonic drying method for industrial use and made it possible to recommend options for the most rational placement of the material to be dried when designing the structures of drying chambers.

Spring phytoplankton bloom phenology during recent climate warming on the Bering Sea shelf

High-latitude ecosystems commonly experience large phytoplankton blooms in spring, which provide basal resources for a range of grazers including zooplankton, benthic consumers and fishes. Variation of the timing and intensity of the spring phytoplankton bloom influences the degree of spatial and temporal overlap with consuming organisms. In the Bering Sea, blooms occur in association with ice retreat or as pelagic open-water blooms. In the last few years, the Bering Sea shelf experienced unprecedented and widespread warming. Understanding how those climatic changes subsequently influenced phytoplankton bloom dynamics is critical for evaluating Bering Sea food web responses. We estimate spring bloom timing and type (ice-associated, open-water) across the Bering Sea shelf using a combination of data from the long-running oceanographic moorings on the eastern shelf (M2, M4, M5, M8) and satellite ocean color data from 1998 to 2022. We assess 1) if the Bering Sea shelf experienced noticeable changes in spring bloom timing or type in the last two decades, 2) whether bloom phenology was accentuated by the recent warm period (2018–2019), and 3) what influences do winds and sea surface temperatures have on spring bloom timing and where are these variables influential? Our spatial analyses reinforce the conclusion that ice retreat is the dominant forcing factor of bloom timing for the Bering Sea shelf with some influence of wind for open-water blooms. Overall, bloom timing has not shifted seasonally with climate warming in the last two decades for most of the Bering Sea shelf, except for nearshore areas and mainly in the northern Bering Sea. In warm years when ice retreats early prior to the last week of March, blooms form in open waters and bloom timing on the middle and outer shelf is delayed when wind mixing is prevalent in ice-free springs. In recent years, open-water blooms were more widespread than previously experienced, and even occurred in the northern Bering Sea during 2018–2019. A progression to more open water blooms in a future warmer climate will influence the availability of basal resources for pelagic and benthic consumers.

Our fragile future under the cumulative cultural evolution of two technologies

We derive and analyse a model with unusual features characterizing human activities over the long-run. First, human population dynamics draw heavily on consumer–resource modelling in ecology in that humans must consume biological resources to produce new humans. Second, the model also draws heavily from economic growth theory in that humans do not simply consume biological resources; they also produce the resources they consume. Finally, humans use two types of technology. Consumption technology affects the rate at which humans can extract resources. Production technology controls how effectively humans convert labour into new resources. The dynamics of both types of technology are subject to cumulative cultural evolutionary processes that allow both technological progress and regress. The resulting model exhibits a wide range of dynamical regimes. That said, the system is routinely sensitive to initial conditions, with wildly different outcomes given the same parameter values. Moreover, the system exhibits a basic fragility in the sense that human activities often lead to the endogenous extinction of the human species. This can happen gently, or it can follow periods of explosive human activity with super-exponential growth that ends in collapse. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Evolution and sustainability: gathering the strands for an Anthropocene synthesis’.

Heterogeneous impact of green energy innovation on energy transition in the G7 nations: an aggregated and disintegrated analysis through advanced quantile approach

ABSTRACT The G7 nations is a major global consumers of natural resources and energy. These nations are confronted with substantial obstacles in their pursuit of sustainable growth through energy transition, while upholding their status as global economic leaders. As a result, this current study conducted an aggregated and disintegrating analysis on the heterogeneous role of green energy innovation on energy transition in G7 nations. Green energy innovation was disintegrated into hydro, solar and wind energy. Moreover, the heterogeneous effects of green innovation in solar, hydro and wind on energy transition was investigated, an analysis that has not been previously examined. For the econometric estimation, we adopted the Quantile-on-Quantile Regression (QQR) and the quantile causality method. The results of the QQR indicates that the positive role of green energy innovation on energy transition in all of the G7 nations. However, this positive role is more dominant in five G7 nations, namely Italy, Germany, Japan, the UK and the USA. Additionally, the result also highlights that the connection between green energy innovation and energy transition is differs across the various quantiles for different nations. Moreover, the quantile causality analysis indicates that green energy innovation has the potential to predict future values in energy transition within the G7 nations. The study emphasizes various policy considerations for promoting energy transition through green energy innovation in G7 nation, which help realizing sustainable development.

Let there be light to interact

Light plays a crucial role in ecological dynamics, both as a consumable resource and as an environmental factor. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic photoautotrophs use light as an energy source for photosynthesis, which forms the basis of food chains and determines the flow of energy and matter in ecosystems. Light availability and quality can influence resource complementarity and species coexistence, as well as the stoichiometry of primary producers and the transfer efficiency of food webs. In addition, light serves as an important source of information for organisms, influencing their activities and interactions with the environment. Light shapes biotic interactions, including competition, predator-prey relationships, and mutualistic and antagonistic relationships between photoautotrophs and heterotrophs. Anthropogenic activities affect these photoecological processes, with largely unknown consequences. Hence, understanding the ecological role and control of light is essential for understanding the functioning of ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles.

Suitability of marble powders in production of high strength concrete

A tremendous amount of non-biodegradable waste is created during mining and processing tasks of layered stones like marble. Over time, this has become a global problem because it harms the environment in multiple ways. Hence, it is necessary to find an alternate way to securely dispose and reuse marble wastes. The construction sector is one of the significant consumers of natural resources for the production of material binders and aggregates. As a result, in recent years, number of researchers have carried out studies in which various kinds of marble waste have been incorporated into concrete with the intention of substituting either cement or aggregates or both. This paper presents the effect of two locally sourced waste marble powders Kadapa marble powder (KMP) and Bethamcherla marble powder (BMP) as partial replacement of cement on mechanical and durability properties of high strength concrete (HSC). Their effect at different replacement levels in HSC is evaluated in compressive, indirect tensile and flexural strengths, elastic modulus, chloride penetration resistance and freeze–thaw durability properties. Micro-structural investigation is also conducted to evaluate their impact on the matrix of HSC containing waste marble powders as additional cementitious materials. Results show that the HSC consisting of KMP and BMP content of 10% and 15%, respectively exhibited higher mechanical and durability properties than the control HSC. Micro-structural investigation also supports this finding. It can be concluded that the use of marble powders as partial replacement of cement does not have any adverse impact on the properties of concrete. The use of KMP and BMP reduces the vast amount of energy required to produce cement, cost and time with reduction in environmental hazards.

A Dynamic Game of Strategic Carbon Taxation and Energy Pricing with Green Technology Innovation

This paper uses a dynamic game to investigate the strategic interactions between carbon taxation by a coalition of resource consumers and (wellhead) energy pricing by a producers’ cartel under the possibility of innovation in a cheap carbon-free technology. The timing of innovation is uncertain, but can be affected by the amount spent on R &D. The results show that the expectation of possible innovation decreases both the initial carbon tax and producer price, resulting in higher initial resource extraction and carbon emissions. Though this ’green paradox’ effect triggered by possible innovation also will appear in the cooperative case (without strategic interactions), the presence of strategic interactions between resource producers and consumers can somewhat restrain such an effect. For both the resource consumers and a global planner, the optimal R &D to stimulate innovation is an increasing function of the initial CO2 concentration. However, the resource consumers can over-invest in R &D relative to the investment level that a global planner would choose.