Potential Economic Benefits Research Articles

Regulation of carbon metabolic fluxes to enhance lipid and succinate production in oleaginous fungus Mortierella alpina.

Mortierella alpina is popular for lipid production, but the low carbon conversion rate and lipid yield are major obstacles for its economic performance. Here, external addition of organic acids involved in tricarboxylic acid cycle was used to tune carbon flux and improve lipid production. Citrate was determined to be the best organic acid that can be used for enhancing lipid production. By the addition of citrate, the lipid titer and content were approximately 1.24 and 1.34 times higher, respectively. Meanwhile, citrate supplement also promoted the accumulation of succinate, an important value-added platform chemical. Owing to the improved lipid and succinate production through adding citrate, the carbon conversion rate of M. alpina reached up to 52.17%, much higher than that of the control group (14.11%). The addition of citrate could redistribute carbon flux by regulating the expression level of genes related to tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolism. More carbon fluxes flow to lipid and succinate synthesis, which greatly improved the carbon conversion efficiency of M. alpina. This study provides an effective and straightforward strategy with potential economic benefits to improve carbon conversion efficiency in M. alpina.

Realizing of Earth-Abundant, Mn-Rich Cathodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

The development of sustainable materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIB) is of critical importance, especially considering the significant, ever-growing demand for energy storage technologies. Lithium- and manganese-rich (LMR) oxides are of great interests because of their inherently high capacities/energies and the potential economic benefits associated with earth-abundant manganese-based compositions. However, despite their attractive properties, LMR commercialization has been hindered by several challenges.In this presentation we will explore these challenges across length-scales, spanning from the atomic to the cell level, and consider the correlated effects observable in electrochemical cells. Detailed synthesis studies will be presented concerning morphological control of LMR cathode precursors; complex local structure will be discussed and linked to properties that are unique to this class of cathodes; and finally, techno-economic modeling will be used to evaluate the potential of an LMR system – developed at Argonne National Laboratory – for practical implementation in large-format EV cells.The work presented herein represents research and development efforts led by Argonne National Laboratory within the Vehicle Technologies Office, Earth-abundant Cathode Active Materials (EaCAM) consortium. This effort endeavors to bridge the knowledge gap across various length-scales, from atomic-level intricacies to broader cell-level implications, to innovate, and enhance the sustainability of energy storage technologies.

Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in the Ambulatory Surgery Center: A Narrative Review.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication of ambulatory surgery, leading to numerous deleterious effects such as decreased patient satisfaction, prolonged recovery unit stays, and rarely, more serious complications such as aspiration pneumonia or wound dehiscence. In this paper, we present a narrative review of the literature regarding common risk factors for PONV including patient factors, surgical factors, and anesthetic factors. We then will review anesthetic techniques and antiemetic drugs demonstrated to mitigate the risk of PONV. Finally, we discuss the potential economic benefits of PONV prophylaxis in the perioperative ambulatory setting.

Waste Biomass Pretreatments for Biogas Yield Optimization and for the Extraction of Valuable High-Added-Value Products: Possible Combinations of the Two Processes toward a Biorefinery Purpose

Second- and third-generation biorefineries enable the sustainable management of biomasses within the framework of circular economy principles. This approach aims to minimize waste biomass while generating high-value molecules and bio-energy, such as biogas. Biogas production is achieved via anaerobic digestion, a process where microorganisms metabolize organic compounds in the absence of oxygen to primarily produce CO2 and CH4. The efficiency of this process is closely linked to the composition of the biomass and, sometimes, characteristics of the initial matrix can impede the process. To address these challenges, various pretreatments are employed to enhance digestion efficiency and mitigate issues associated with biomass complexity. However, the implementation of pretreatments can be energy-intensive and costly. The extraction of valuable molecules from biomass for various applications can represent a form of pretreatment. This extraction process selectively removes recalcitrant molecules such as lignin and cellulose, which can hinder biodegradation, thereby adding new value to the biomass. These extracted molecules not only contribute to improved anaerobic digestion efficiency but also offer potential economic benefits by serving as valuable inputs across diverse industrial sectors. This article presents a detailed state of the art of the most widespread biomass pretreatments and specifies when biomass is pretreated to improve the biogas yield and, in contrast, when it is treated to extract high-added-value products. Finally, in order to define if the same treatment can be simultaneously applied for both goals, an experimental section was dedicated to the production of biogas from untreated olive mill wastewater and the same biomass after being freeze-dried and after the extraction of polyphenols and flavonoids. The use of pretreated biomass effectively improved the biogas production yield: the untreated olive mill wastewater led to the production of 147 mL of biogas, while after freeze-drying and after polyphenols/flavonoids extraction, the production was, respectively, equal to 169 mL and 268 mL of biogas.

Identifying opportunities for blue economy exports in caribbean small states

ABSTRACT The blue economy balances oceanic economic activity with sustainable development. It includes harvesting and extractive industries, such as fishing, resource generation (energy and water), trade and health. Existing literature has linked the blue economy to positive economic growth when its potential is maximised. Despite the importance of the subject, there are few studies on the economic benefits and opportunities that Small States can derive from the blue economy. This paper uses the case of the CARICOM region, whose combined exclusive economic zones is 4.5 times larger than the land area. This study analysed the potential economic benefits of the blue economy in CARICOM by investigating the comparative advantages of blue exports in ocean goods traded for the region and the individual member states. The results suggest that CARICOM countries have a comparative advantage in their traditional industries and opportunities to exploit many other blue industries.

A case study of economic development through sanitation interventions in African countries

AbstractThe novelty of the study is based on the empirical examination of the impact of water and sanitation improvements on economic development outcomes in selected African countries. While previous research has primarily focused on the macroeconomic effects of water resources or broad development indicators, this study takes a more granular and comprehensive approach to unpack the nuanced relationship between various water and sanitation variables and a range of economic development outcomes. This study's aim is threefold: first to examine the influence of different dimensions of water and sanitation improvements (e.g., access, quality, reliability) on economic development; second; focus on the potential mediating factors that water and sanitation interventions affect economic development; finally, propose policy implications for designing sustainable water and sanitation programs to promote inclusive and resilient economic growth in less developed countries. By addressing these questions, the findings of this research paper contribute significantly to the academic understanding of the water‐sanitation‐economic development nexus, particularly in the understudied African context. The study provides valuable, context‐specific insights that can inform policymakers, practitioners, and researchers seeking evidence‐based strategies to foster sustainable development through targeted water and sanitation interventions. This research highlights the positive association between water and sanitation improvements and a range of economic development outcomes, including GDP, employment, foreign investment, and tourism. The results underscore the substantial potential economic benefits of investing in sanitary infrastructure and reliable sanitation systems, making a stronger case for prioritizing water and sanitation as key drivers of sustainable development in less developed countries. Overall, this research paper fills an important gap in the literature and offers crucial insights to promote inclusive and resilient economic growth through water and sanitation interventions in Africa and beyond.

Climate change alters social-ecological trade-offs in achieving ocean futures' targets.

The effects of climate change on marine ecosystems are causing cascading impacts on livelihood, food security, and culture through fisheries. Such impacts interact and exacerbate the effects of overfishing on marine social-ecological systems, complicating the rebuilding of ecosystems to achieve desirable and sustainable ocean futures. Developing effective pathways for ecosystem rebuilding requires consideration of the co-benefits and trade-offs between ecological and social dimensions and between fishing sectors. However, the effects of intensifying climate change on such co-benefits or trade-offs are yet to be well understood, particularly in regions where ecosystem rebuilding is urgently needed. We applied a numerical optimization routine to define the scope for improvement toward the Pareto-frontier for ecological robustness and economic benefits of the northern South China Sea (NSCS) and the East China Sea (ECS) ecosystems. These two ecosystems were used to represent over-exploited low- and mid-latitude systems, respectively, and the optimization aimed to improve their status through fisheries management. We find that the ECS ecosystem has the possibility of increasing the economic benefits generated by the fisheries it supports under climate change by 2050 while increasing the uncertainty of achieving biodiversity objectives. Nevertheless, climate change is projected to reduce the scope to restore ecosystem structures and the potential economic benefits in the NSCS ecosystem. This study highlights the contrasting impacts of climate change on the co-benefits/trade-offs in ecosystem rebuilding and the benefits obtainable by different fishing sectors even in neighboring ecosystems. We conclude that consideration at the nexus of climate-biodiversity-fisheries is a key to developing effective ecosystem rebuilding plan.

Zone Model Predictive Control with Ellipsoid Softing Target in Chemical Processes

A zone control algorithm is proposed that considers both economic performance indicators and control performance indicators. Unlike classic set point control, zone control expands the control target into a convex set. In this study, an ellipsoid is used as the control target, and the advantages of the ellipsoid target are explained in terms of overall stability and computational load. After defining the distance measurement function and appropriate terminal constraints, an objective function that considers both control performance and optimization performance is constructed. A theoretical analysis shows that the proposed control algorithm satisfies the Lyapunov stability criterion. The superiority of the ellipsoid control target in handling complex multivariable control tasks is also demonstrated. This method has significant potential value in practical industrial applications, helping to unleash the potential control performance and economic benefits of zone control systems. Finally, the feasibility and stability of the algorithm are verified through a typical chemical process simulation.

Comparative study on the behavior of ordinary and lightweight concrete using natural pozzolan aggregates

This study is part of a comprehensive research project focused on exploring the integration of natural pozzolans into concrete production. It investigates how these materials enhance the physical properties and mechanical behavior of concrete, with a specific emphasis on improving economy, strength, and overall performance. Key objectives include evaluating workability and compressive strength through comparative tests across various concrete formulations. Special attention is given to analyzing the influence of the water-to-cement ratio and concrete age on compressive strength, particularly in comparing ordinary and lightweight concrete mixes. The findings indicate significant enhancements in concrete characteristics with the inclusion of natural pozzolans, particularly beneficial for applications prioritizing thermal insulation over high mechanical strength. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing concrete mix designs tailored to specific construction needs. Furthermore, the research underscores the potential environmental and economic benefits of incorporating natural pozzolans, promoting sustainable construction practices. By demonstrating the feasibility and advantages of these materials in concrete applications, this study contributes to advancing materials science and engineering solutions for resilient and efficient built environments.

A novel intelligent stereo vision approach for blast-induced fragmentation size distribution: Case study at Golgohar open-pit mine, Iran

Rock fragmentation assessment is a critical aspect of evaluating blasting operations in the mining industry, offering insights for optimising procedures and subsequent mining processes. Traditional methods, such as sieving, while accurate, are costly and time-consuming. Digital image analysis methods have emerged as alternatives, yet they face challenges in accurately handling fragments of varying sizes. Recent advancements in computer vision, particularly deep learning techniques, offer promising solutions to automate and refine fragmentation analysis. This paper introduces a novel intelligent stereo vision approach utilising YOLOv8, an advanced deep learning model, for blast-induced fragmentation size distribution assessment at the Golgohar open-pit mine in Iran. By training YOLOv8 with an automated self-labelled dataset and evaluating its performance against real mine site data, this research aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of blast fragmentation analysis. The proposed method leverages stereo images and machine learning to provide precise measurements, leading to improved optimisation of blasting parameters and potential economic benefits compared to traditional methods. Through rigorous validation processes and case studies across diverse scenarios, the proposed approach demonstrates robustness and reliability in assessing blast fragmentation, offering a practical and efficient solution for the mining industry’s evolving needs.

Maize migration mitigates the negative impact of climate change on China’s maize yield

Crop migration as an adaptation to modulate climate change’s impact on crop yields presents both benefits and risks. We explored how maize migration in China modulates yield responses to climate change and quantified the potential economic benefits of maize migration as an adaptation strategy. We employed a panel data model to identify and measure the factors driving the relocation of maize area, linear regression to quantify the effects of maize migration on climate exposure and irrigated area, and an econometric model to estimate the effects of maize migration on yield. The results show that rise in temperature has a significant negative effect on maize area and that precipitation has a significant positive effect. The migration of maize area is driven by socio-economic factors including agricultural gross domestic product, power of farming machines, and fertilizer input. Moreover, expanded irrigation reduces the adverse effects of high temperatures on maize yield, thereby influencing adaptive crop migrations. The beneficial effects of maize migration are primarily achieved by reducing the adverse effects of extreme heat and strengthening the positive effects of irrigation. However, the extent of this adaptation is jointly affected by agricultural policies, irrigation infrastructure, and economic factors. Current market-oriented agricultural policies may be effective in guiding spatial shifts in maize distribution to align with climate-driven changes, potentially decreasing the vulnerability of China’s maize yield to the impact of climate change. China’s food security policies need to consider climate-driven spatial shifts in crop cultivation and enhance food subsidy policies to highlight the benefits of investment in climate change adaptation, such as adjusting cropping acreage and irrigation to farmers in North China.

Economic and Cultural Partnership Opportunities between Kupang and Chiba Cities through Sister City Cooperation

The Kupang city government has officially proposed a sister city partnership with Chiba, Japan, through representatives of the Japanese government in Bali. This proposal, currently in the initial stages, aims to explore the potential economic and cultural benefits of such a collaboration. This cooperation involves the governments of Kupang City and Chiba City in enhancing economic and cultural cooperation between the two, with the aim of increasing cooperation in trade, investment, and culture, as well as increasing cooperation in education, technology, and infrastructure. This research identifies Chiba as an ideal partner for Kupang, given their various economic and cultural similarities and complementary potentials. By employing qualitative research methods, this study comprehensively examined the prospective advantages of the sister-city relationship. The findings revealed significant opportunities for both cities, including the establishment of an international trade route between Kupang and Chiba and the creation of a central institution dedicated to the research and preservation of their cultures. Based on these insights, the study recommends that the city governments of Kupang and Chiba initiate negotiations and formalize their sister city cooperation, as the anticipated benefits would substantially enhance the development and prosperity of both cities.

Effects of urbanization and international trade on economic growth, productivity, and employment: Case of selected countries in Africa

The rapid urbanization taking place in Africa is resulting in the emergence of large urban agglomerations. Despite the potential and typical economic benefits associated with the emergence of such agglomerations elsewhere, not much can be said of Africa's urbanization. With urbanization projections pointing to a continued increase, there is a need to understand the urbanization and economic dynamics relationship in order to exploit the full potential of this wave. Using a panel data set of urbanization rate, trade, economic growth, productivity and employment in six African countries for the period 1991–2019, we explore this relationship by adopting the cross-sectional augmented autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) approach using data from six African countries. The findings show that there is a significant relationship between urbanization, international trade, economic growth, productivity, and employment. they also show a causal relationship between the variables studied. In addition, the findings of this study reveal that international trade contributes, significantly, to improving the productivity in long run and the economic growth and employment increase the productivity in short run and employment in the selected African countries. This research study, therefore, contributes to the critical argument that African urbanization and international trade have significant economic potential and therefore need to be encouraged and managed effectively. This provides evidence for planners and policy-makers to back policy geared toward sustainable urbanization and diversified international trade that will contribute to the structural transformation of African countries.

Effect of blanching conditions and solar drying on selected nutritional, anti-nutritional and bioactive components of formulated avocado seed powder

Avocado (Persea americana Mill) seeds are mainly considered as waste by-products of avocado fruit processing in many countries, including Tanzania despite their potential health and economic benefits. The present work investigated the effect of hot water blanching and solar drying treatments on nutritional, bioactive, and cyanogenic glycosides of avocado seed samples in an attempt to develop quality avocado seed powders (ASPs) by using solar drying technology. Results showed that total ash, crude protein, crude fiber, total phenolic, proanthocyanidins, and cyanogenic glycosides contents showed a significant reduction in avocado seed powders with respect to increased blanching temperature and time. On the other hand, crude fat and total carotenoids contents, showed a decline with respect to increased temperature only. Blanching treatment at 85 °C for 10 minutes retained a significant amount of total ash (86.9%), crude fat (100%), crude protein (78.8%), crude fiber (91.6%), total carotenoids (43.6%) and total phenol contents (47.0%) in developed avocado seed powder. Cyanogenic glycosides were highly reduced at 95 °C for 20 minutes (81.1%) than at 85 °C for 10 minutes (58.5%). However, the level of cyanogenic glycosides in all avocado seed powders are far below the lethal dose (36 mg/100 g) of hydrocyanic acid. The significant high losses of nutrients and phytochemicals was observed at a blanching treatment of 95 °C for 20 minutes. This could be due to prolonged leaching of soluble compounds to hot water and degradation of heat-sensitive bioactive compounds. The aforementioned results revealed that, different temperatures and times during hot water blanching significantly influence the quality of formulated avocado seed powder. Therefore, hot water blanching treatment at 85 °C for 10 minutes and solar drying technology could be employed to produce a nutrient-rich and palatable avocado seed powder that can find its use in normal food consumption and food processing industries, particularly in low income settings. Key words: Avocado seed, avocado seed powder, solar drying, hot water blanching, utilization

Sustainable Central Asia: Impact of fintech, natural resources, renewable energy, and financial inclusion to combat environmental degradation and achieving sustainable development goals

The prime objective of the current study is to investigate the impact of financial inclusion, fintech, natural resources rent and renewable energy consumption on the CO2 emission of Cemental Asian countries. The study is carried out on the sample of Central Asian Countries over the period of 20 years from 2000 to 2019.The Central Asian states predominantly rely on coal as their primary fuel source for electricity generation. Coal served as the predominant fuel for power generation in Kazakhstan during the year 2020. Over 50% of Kyrgyzstan's electricity needs are met by coal. Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are coal-producing nations. The study has employed the NL-ARDL estimate to examine the hypothesis relationships, and the results of the study reveal that factors such as financial inclusion, Fintech, natural resource rent and renewable energy has significant impact on CO2 emission. The findings of the study also have a significant impact on the policy implications and long-term viability of Central Asian nations. These policies should be in accordance with SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and 13 (Climate Action). Central Asia's policymakers should balance economic benefits with environmental risks when extracting natural resources, emphasizing responsible resource management in line with SDG 15 (Life on Land), ensuring a balance between potential economic benefits and environmental risks.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BIODIESEL PROPERTIES DERIVED FROM WASTE MUSTARD OIL AND FRESH MUSTARD OIL

This study investigates the production of biodiesel from waste mustard cooking oil and fresh mustard oil, focusing on their comparative properties. Biodiesel, a renewable energy source, offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, mitigating environmental concerns and enhancing energy security. The production process involves transesterification, converting triglycerides into fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), the primary constituents of biodiesel. Waste cooking oil, often discarded improperly, poses environmental challenges due to its disposal. Utilizing it for biodiesel production presents an eco-friendly solution while addressing waste management issues. Mustard oil, a common edible oil, serves as a viable feedstock for biodiesel production, offering potential economic benefits and reducing dependency on fossil fuels.

Converting Carbon Dioxide into Carbon Nanotubes by Reacting with Ethane

AbstractThe urgency to mitigate environmental impacts from anthropogenic CO2 emissions has propelled extensive research efforts on CO2 reduction. The current work reports a novel approach involving transforming CO2 and ethane into carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using earth‐abundant metals (Fe, Co, Ni) at 750 °C. This route facilitates long‐term carbon storage via generating high‐value CNTs and produces valuable syngas with adjustable H2/CO ratios as byproducts. Without CO2, direct pyrolysis of ethane undergoes rapid deactivation. The participation of CO2 not only enhances the durability of the catalyst, but also contributes about 30 % of the CNTs production, presenting a viable solution to CO2 challenges. The CNT morphology depends on the catalyst used. Co‐ and Ni‐based catalysts produce CNT with a 20 nm diameter and micrometer length, whereas Fe‐based catalysts yield bamboo‐like structures. This work represents a pioneering effort in utilizing CO2 and ethane for CNT production with potential environmental and economic benefits.

Converting Carbon Dioxide into Carbon Nanotubes by Reacting with Ethane.

The urgency to mitigate environmental impacts from anthropogenic CO2 emissions has propelled extensive research efforts on CO2 reduction. The current work reports a novel approach involving transforming CO2 and ethane into carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using earth-abundant metals (Fe, Co, Ni) at 750 °C. This route facilitates long-term carbon storage via generating high-value CNTs and produces valuable syngas with adjustable H2/CO ratios as byproducts. Without CO2, direct pyrolysis of ethane undergoes rapid deactivation. The participation of CO2 not only enhances the durability of the catalyst, but also contributes about 30 % of the CNTs production, presenting a viable solution to CO2 challenges. The CNT morphology depends on the catalyst used. Co- and Ni-based catalysts produce CNT with a 20 nm diameter and micrometer length, whereas Fe-based catalysts yield bamboo-like structures. This work represents a pioneering effort in utilizing CO2 and ethane for CNT production with potential environmental and economic benefits.

Consumer acceptance and sensory perception of roasted American-European hybrid hazelnuts.

Interspecific American-European hazelnut (Corylus americana × C. avellana) hybrids are being developed for the Upper Midwest region of the United States, which have potential economic and ecological benefits. Currently, researchers are working on pre-commercialization initiatives to create a local hazelnut industry. However, a lack of knowledge on the sensory characteristics and consumer acceptability of the hybrid hazelnuts have been identified as potential limitations to production. This study investigated consumer responses to hybrid hazelnuts, employing hedonic ratings and check-all-that-apply (CATA) questions. Twelve roasted hazelnut hybrids were subjected to consumer evaluation for liking (aroma, color, flavor, texture, and overall) and aroma and flavor descriptors. Consumers also evaluated two European hazelnut varieties for comparative purposes. Liking scores were significantly different (p<0.05) across different hybrid varieties and when comparing specific hybrids with European varieties. CATA sensory profiles specific to different varieties were also observed and discriminating attributes were identified using multiple-response methodologies. Penalty analysis based on CATA further identified the attributes roasty, hazelnut-like, caramel-like, chocolate-like, sweet, and salty as primary drivers of aroma/flavor liking, while earthy, burnt, and bitter were identified as primary drivers of disliking. Overall, unique flavors that impacted liking were found in hybrid hazelnuts and, when compared with European hazelnuts, provided insights for breeding and post-processing strategies to optimize product quality.

The identification and treatment of alcohol problems in primary care (iTAPP) study: protocol for a stepped wedge cluster randomized control trial testing the 15-method in a primary care setting

BackgroundThe 15-method is a targeted screening and treatment approach for alcohol problems in primary care. The 15-method used in primary care has proven as effective as specialized treatment for mild to moderate alcohol dependence in Sweden. A feasibility study of the 15-method in Danish primary care found the method acceptable and feasible.AimsTo evaluate the effectiveness of the 15-method in a Danish primary care setting in (1) lowering the proportion of patients exceeding the Danish low-risk alcohol consumption limit of ten standard units per week and a maximum of four standard units on a single day for men and women, and (2) increasing the likelihood of alcohol use being addressed during a consultation in general practice. Further, the rate of prescribed pharmacological treatment for alcohol problems (Disulfiram, Naltrexone, Acamprosate, and Nalmefene) will be measured along with the use of the biomarkers Alanine Transaminase and Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase.MethodsStepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial in sixteen general practices in the Region of Southern Denmark. Following a three-month baseline, the practices are randomly assigned to launch dates in one of four clusters. General practitioners and nurses receive three hours of training in the 15-method before launch. Patient questionnaires will collect data on alcohol consumption levels among patients affiliated with the practices. The healthcare professionals will register consultations in which alcohol is addressed in their patient filing system. Pharmacological treatment rates and the use of biomarkers will be collected through Danish national registries. The study follows the Medical Research Council’s guidelines for developing and evaluating complex interventions.DiscussionFrom the patient’s perspective, the 15-method may help identify alcohol-related problems at an earlier stage with flexible treatment offers in a familiar setting. For healthcare professionals, it addresses a traditionally challenging topic by equipping them with concrete tools, communication training, and clear treatment directives. From a societal perspective, primary care holds a unique position to identify hazardous and harmful alcohol use across different age groups, with potential public health and economic benefits through early identification and intervention.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT05916027. Retrospectively registered 22 June 2023.