Space Resources Research Articles

Exploring diverse interests of collaborators in smart cities: A topic analysis using LDA and BERT

Smart cities have emerged as a promising solution to the problems associated with urbanization. However, research that holistically considers diverse stakeholders in smart cities is scarce. This study utilizes data from four types of collaborators (academia, public sector, industry, and civil society actors) to identify key topics and suggest research areas for developing smart cities. We used latent Dirichlet allocation and Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers for topic extraction and analysis. The analysis reveals that sustainability and digital platform have received similar levels of interest from academia, industry, and government, whereas governance, resource, and green space are less frequently mentioned than technology-related topics. Hype cycle analysis, which considers public and media expectations, reveals that smart cities experienced rapid growth from 2015 to 2021, but the growth rate has slowed since 2022. This means that a breakthrough improvement in the current situation is required. Accordingly, we propose resolving the unbalanced distribution of topic interests among collaborators, especially in the areas of governance, environment, economy, and healthcare. We expect that our findings will help researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders in understanding which topics are underdeveloped in their fields and taking active measures for the future development of smart cities.

Pruning Deep Neural Network Models via Minimax Concave Penalty Regression

In this study, we propose a filter pruning method based on MCP (Minimax Concave Penalty) regression. The convolutional process is conceptualized as a linear regression procedure, and the regression coefficients serve as indicators to assess the redundancy of channels. In the realm of feature selection, the efficacy of sparse penalized regression gradually outperforms that of Lasso regression. Building upon this insight, MCP regression is introduced to screen convolutional channels, coupled with the coordinate descent method, to effectuate model compression. In single-layer pruning and global pruning analyses, the Top1 loss value associated with the MCP regression compression method is consistently smaller than that of the Lasso regression compression method across diverse models. Specifically, when the global pruning ratio is set to 0.3, the Top1 accuracy of the MCP regression compression method, in comparison with that of the Lasso regression compression method, exhibits improvements of 0.21% and 1.67% under the VGG19_Simple and VGG19 models, respectively. Similarly, for ResNet34, at two distinct pruning ratios, the Top1 accuracy demonstrates enhancements of 0.33% and 0.26%. Lastly, we compare and discuss the novel methods introduced in this study, considering both time and space resource consumption.

Drought response and urban-pollinator attractiveness of ornamental plant species

Faced with pollinator declines, cities could serve as refuges for biodiversity conservation by managing floral resources in public green spaces. Ornamental plants could play an important role in attracting pollinators because they form part of urban floral management. However, knowledge of how their floral traits respond to drought is lacking, and it is unknown whether they will be suitable for pollinators under future climates. The main objective of this study was to determine the covariation of floral traits of ornamental plant species and effects of drought on them. To this end, in a city greenhouse we measured floral traits of eight ornamental species commonly used in urban green spaces in France. We subjected the plants to a control treatment or a drought treatment, reducing the volume and frequency of watering. We observed interspecific variability in floral traits among these species and a change in covariation between the traits pollen quantity and nectar quantity in the drought treatment. Drought influenced morphological traits related to floral display more than other floral traits, with mean decreases of 28 % in floral height, 35 % in floral area and 58 % in the number of floral units. Ornamental plants seemed attractive to different morphotypes of pollinators depending on their floral unit number, nectar sugar concentration or nectar tube depth, with most visits made by Hymenoptera. These results are expected to encourage green-space managers to select urban plants according to their functional characteristics and adapt their choice of plants to climate change.

Influence of habitat features on the colonisation of native and non-indigenous species

Marine artificial structures provide substrates on which organisms can settle and grow. These structures facilitate establishment and spread of non-indigenous species, in part due to their distinct physical features (substrate material, movement, orientation) compared to natural habitat analogues such as rocky shores, and because following construction, they have abundant resources (space) for species to colonise. Despite the perceived importance of these habitat features, few studies have directly compared distributions of native and non-indigenous species or considered how functional identity and associated environmental preferences drive associations. We undertook a meta-analysis to investigate whether colonisation of native and non-indigenous species varies between artificial structures with features most closely resembling natural habitats (natural substrates, fixed structures, surfaces oriented upwards) and those least resembling natural habitats (artificial materials, floating structures, downfacing or vertical surfaces), or whether functional identity is the primary driver of differences. Analyses were done at global and more local (SE Australia) scales to investigate if patterns held regardless of scale. Our results suggest that functional group (i.e., algae, ascidians. barnacles, bryozoans, polychaetes) rather than species classification (i.e., native or non-indigenous) are the main drivers of differences in communities between different types of artificial structures. Specifically, there were differences in the abundance of ascidians, barnacles, and polychaetes between (1) upfacing and downfacing/vertical surfaces, and (2) floating and fixed substrates. When differences were detected, taxa were most abundant on features least resembling natural habitats. Results varied between global and SE Australian analyses, potentially due to reduced variability across studies in the SE Australian dataset. Thus, the functional group and associated preferences of the highest threat NIS in the area should be considered in design strategies (e.g., ecological engineering) to limit their establishment on newly built infrastructure.

Research on the path of local colleges participating in community education of affordable rental housing in industrial parks

The affordable rental housing community in industrial parks has become a large-scale community, but little attention has been paid to this type of community education. Therefore, based on the concept of educational equality, this project aims to explore the path of local colleges participating in community education for affordable rental housing in industrial parks. With convenient samples, empirical research is conducted on the current situation and residents’ needs of affordable rental housing community education in the Qianwan New Area Industrial Park. And it has been found that community residents have a high willingness to learn on one hand, however, on the other hand, there are few types of community education to meet their demand; Although there are many public space resources, the utilization of scene spaces is far from sufficient. Based on these findings, this research explores and proposes the paths for local colleges to participate in community education for affordable rental housing in industrial parks through resource sharing models, in-depth community services for all-age residential groups, the cultivation of application-oriented talents to promote the integration of industry and education and enriching spiritual connotation of community education content. By enhancing the quality of all-age residents, namely, the new citizens including industrial workers and their relatives, it can promote the construction of a learning-oriented society and contribute to the realization of common prosperity. This study has certain theoretical and practical significance in enriching the research field of community education, promoting social integration of new citizens, and helping to achieve common prosperity.

Preliminary Safety Analysis of Megaconstellations in Low Earth Orbit: Assessing Short-Term and Long-Term Collision Risks

The deployment of megaconstellations in low Earth orbit (LEO) poses significant collision risks with space debris. This paper focuses on analyzing the short-term and long-term collision probabilities of megaconstellations to assess their collision risk. Firstly, a short-term collision risk evolution model is developed to accurately address rendezvous collisions. Secondly, a long-term collision risk evolution model is established by considering space object density, space debris attenuation, space target disintegration, and the distribution of disintegration targets. Through simulations conducted on the Starlink Phase I constellation, the results demonstrate a 30–40% increase in short-term collision probability within the constellation shell, a 70.2% probability of at least one collision during the constellation’s lifetime, and a 25.3% increase in secondary collisions following a collision event. This study provides a reference and application for analyzing the orbital safety of LEO megaconstellations and for promoting the sustainable development and utilization of space resources.

A multi-surrogate genetic programming hyper-heuristic algorithm for the manufacturing project scheduling problem with setup times under dynamic and interference environments

In this study, in order to cope with the uncertain environments and space interference scenarios encountered in the production process for a class of manufacturing projects, we propose a novel manufacturing project scheduling problem with setup times under dynamic and interference environments (MPSPST-DIE), and design a novel multi-surrogate genetic programming hyper-heuristic (HH-MGP) algorithm to address it. Firstly, MPSPST-DIE is required to make decisions on the activity schedule, resource setup and space allocation. Therefore, we modify the traditional resource based policy class that only contains the activity schedule and simulate the entire scheduling process. Secondly, a new hyper-heuristic genetic programming algorithm is designed to automatically evolve activity rules, resource setup rules and space allocation rules simultaneously. Moreover, the multi-surrogate is devised to improve the performance of the basic genetic programming (GP) algorithm. In addition, a new evolutionary learning mechanism is embedded in the multi-surrogate. Different surrogates learn from each other to complement each other’s strengths. Finally, numerical instances of the MPSPST-DIE are generated by configuring specific parameters of spatial resources and extensive numerical experiments are performed. At the same time, we implement the Taguchi experiment for the sensitivity analysis of parameters. The comparative analysis between the HH-MGP and traditional rules is performed. Further, the performance comparison between the multi-surrogate and other surrogates is also conducted. The experimental results show that the evolved rule of the HH-MGP performs better than the traditional rules for the MPSPST-DIE. The performance of the multi-surrogate model added to the GP algorithm are generally better than the single-surrogate model and no-surrogate.

Unlocking the future of space resource management through satellite remote sensing and AI integration

This scientific study investigates how artificial intelligence (AI) and satellite remote sensing could work together to transform space resource management. As human activity in space continues to expand, the effective and sustainable utilization of celestial resources is of paramount importance. It begins by highlighting the evolution of space exploration and the growing interest in resource extraction beyond Earth's boundaries. It emphasizes the critical role of resource management for the success of future space missions.Advances in technology in recent times, including the implementation of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and self-governing mining systems, have significantly enhanced the possibility of extracting resources from celestial entities. While the economic feasibility of space mining is compelling, environmental concerns, sustainability, and intricate governance challenges necessitate careful examination.An approach for comprehending the complex field of space resource management is presented in this research. It delineates a clear roadmap of its content, offering a succinct summary of key objectives and sections, facilitating reader comprehension. The methodology includes a literature review of relevant research materials from Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar sources. It investigates celestial bodies' resource potential, main challenges, and environmental implications.Preliminary contributions include one analysis of the potential applications of satellite remote sensing and AI technologies in mitigating these challenges, highlighting their pivotal roles in resource identification and management, proposing terrestrial solutions applicable to space resource management. The integration of AI into space resource management is discussed, emphasizing its potential to enhance safety protocols, resource allocation, and overall efficiency. Furthermore, it discusses international agreements and treaties governing space exploration and resource utilization while advocating for cooperation among space-faring nations and stakeholders. It concludes discussing the implications, benefits, challenges, areas requiring further attention, and future directions of integrating these technologies in space resource management.

The Carbon Emission Reduction Effect and Spatio-Temporal Heterogeneity of the Science and Technology Finance Network: The Combined Perspective of Complex Network Analysis and Econometric Models

With the active promotion of the “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” goals, science and technology finance (STF) is the important driving force of low-carbon development, and financial networks facilitate the aggregation and transformation of resources in space, so it is of great theoretical and practical significance to investigate the impact of science and technology finance networks (STFN) on carbon emissions (CE). Based on the 30 provinces of China from 2011 to 2019, this article used the STF development level in each province as the main indicator to construct the STFN. The complex network analysis and econometric models are combined, with the weighted degree values and betweenness centrality selected as typical network structure indicators incorporating into the econometric model to explore their impact on CE. Then, the Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) model is applied to analyse the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of influencing factors. The results show the following: (1) From 2011 to 2019, the spatial structure of China’s STFN has changed significantly, and the status of the triangle structure consisting of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH)–Yangtze River Delta (YRD)–Pearl River Delta (PRD) is gradually consolidated in the overall network, and the network structure tends to be stable. (2) The results of the benchmark regression show that the weighted degree value of the STFN has a significant inhibitory effect on CE, while betweenness centrality shows a certain positive effect on CE. (3) The weighted degree value has a more significant effect on CE reduction in the eastern region, while the betweenness centrality has a more significant effect on CE reduction in the central and western regions, but shows a significant promotion effect in the eastern region. (4) There is spatio-temporal heterogeneity in the effects of residents’ affluence, energy consumption, industrial structure, and environmental pollution on CE.

Abstract 2940: A comparative analysis of library preparation technologies for RNA sequencing from FFPE samples

Abstract Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples are an invaluable resource in the oncology space, providing access to a vast library of archived diseased tissue samples paired with relevant donor information. Despite the broad utility of these samples, RNA extracted from FFPE tissue is typically difficult to process due to the presence of residual crosslinks and its degraded nature. Further, these samples often vary widely in performance, as the fixation process, block age, block storage, and extraction method can impart large impacts on resulting template quality. As a result, robust and reproducible RNA sequencing from FFPE-derived RNA remains a challenge with unpredictable and high failure rates. We evaluated four commercially available WTA solutions to determine which performed best with this challenging sample type with respect to library complexity, inter-input and intra-sample concordance, and overall reproducibility. Matched fresh frozen and FFPE liver samples were used such that the fresh frozen data set serves as a comparative truth set for the FFPE data. RNA-Seq libraries were prepared from each sample at both 10 ng and 100 ng inputs. The higher input serves as a control while the lower input reflects achievable inputs from very challenging FFPE samples. For 10 ng FFPE-derived RNA, the Watchmaker RNA Library Prep Kit with Polaris Depletion detects more unique genes than other chemistries and has a much higher percentage of genes that overlap with the fresh frozen control libraries. Additionally, differential expression analysis between 10 ng and 100 ng FFPE libraries demonstrates that the Watchmaker solution better preserves the gene expression profile at low inputs, as fewer differentially expressed genes are identified. The Watchmaker chemistry includes a number of features aimed at improving library complexity, including a novel FFPE decrosslinking step, a reverse transcriptase specifically engineered to improve conversion of RNA to cDNA, and fewer bead purification steps to prevent sample loss. The concordance between FF and FFPE samples at variable input masses observed when using the Watchmaker solution promotes a higher degree of confidence when making decisions based on lower quantity and quality samples and enables researchers to access more meaningful biological information. Citation Format: Jennifer Pavlica, Travis Sanders, David Gelagay, Kailee Reed, Thomas Harrison, Giulia Corbet, Josh Haimes, Ariele Hanek, Kristina Giorda, Brian Kudlow. A comparative analysis of library preparation technologies for RNA sequencing from FFPE samples [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2940.

Agile earth observation satellite constellations scheduling for large area target imaging using heuristic search

Demand for imaging of large area targets by space-based assets such as constellations of Earth Observation Satellites (EOS) is on the rise for different applications. The area targets coverage cannot be achieved by a single satellite in a single observation opportunity, as the region for imaging spreads wider than the coverage swaths of imaging sensors. Hence, the imaging satellites are scheduled in a cooperative way to achieve maximum coverage of the area in a given planning time horizon. The scheduling algorithms also aim to maximize or minimize some specific objectives of interest while simultaneously complying with all resource constraints for an efficient use of precious space resources. As the current generation satellites are highly agile, there are many ways of choosing an imaging location in the target area for each single observation opportunity of a satellite. Even though the possible imaging region in continuous space is discretized into a finite number of strips for each observation, the huge combinatorial search space formed with all satellites’ imaging opportunities makes the problem intractable. Thus, the area target imaging scheduling is a complex combinatorial NP-hard optimization problem. Many exact and heuristic methods were evolved to provide a solution to this scheduling problem. Even though the exact methods solve the problem to optimality, they are limited to smaller problem instances because of the high computational complexities involved in those methods. More focus is seen in the literature on heuristic approaches as they guarantee scheduling performance with feasible solutions within an acceptable computational complexity. This paper presents our efficient heuristic approach proposed for the scheduling problem for imaging a large area target using a constellation of multiple satellites. Our approach is an extension of a widely used greedy approach in combination with insights from dynamic programming. In this paper, first we addressed the scheduling problem by describing it in detail and formulating it into a non-linear integer programming problem, considering the multi-objectives of achieving maximum coverage and minimum imaging resolution. The solution to the problem comprises two phases, namely the area decomposition phase and the scheduling phase. In the area decomposition phase, the area target is divided into strips dynamically for each observation opportunity of a satellite. Then exact observation period of each strip is computed using a simplified semi-analytical computational method. In the scheduling phase, we applied our heuristic search strategy, namely Forward and Backward Heuristic Search (FBHS) to obtain a near optimal solution within an acceptable computational time. Through the extensive simulations conducted under various scenarios, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified in comparison with the baseline greedy approach.

Integrating outer space as a global commons with private property rights to outer space resources

Inspired by the US government’s denial that outer space is a global commons, and the heated discussion in China regarding property rights in outer space resources, this article looks at this controversial term: “global commons”. It finds that this term was mostly adopted as a political, rather than legal, term. As a result of the over-emphasis on the implications of global commons on the property rights to outer space resources, states that plan to develop private space mining may avoid calling outer space a global commons. This article argues that this response may not be necessary. It then examines the real purpose of the global commons discourse by analogizing the tragedy of commons and thus puts forward the suggestion to adopt the non-exclusive use standard to govern the activities of space resource extraction by private parties. This solution will allow countries to continue to view outer space as a global commons while liberalizing private parties’ activities in outer space resource development and extraction. Moreover, China’s initiative of the global community of shared future possesses the potential to serve as the overarching concept to govern its future outer space activities, including space mining.

Linking neighborhood green spaces to loneliness among elderly residents—A path analysis of social capital

Population aging poses a central challenge to human society in the 21st century, and a notable correlation has been found between loneliness and age, particularly old age. Loneliness not only substantially impacts the physical and mental well-being of elderly residents but also escalates the burden of old-age care and medical services. As the global trend of aging continues to intensify, tackling population aging and its associated problems has become a common strategic choice of nations worldwide. Grounded in the mediating effect of social capital, this paper explores both the impact and mechanism by which the use of neighborhood green spaces mitigates loneliness among elderly residents. The findings show that, in terms of overall effects, the use of neighborhood green spaces effectively mitigates negative living conditions and psychological problems, thereby fostering the alleviation of loneliness in elderly residents. From a mediating effects perspective, relationship networks, interpersonal trust, and reciprocity norms within social capital play distinct roles in the relationship between the use of neighborhood green spaces and the reduction of loneliness in elderly residents. The direct effect is not statistically significant, which implies a comprehensive mediating role of social capital. In aging neighborhoods, it is imperative to recognize the role of green spaces in promoting elderly well-being and to ensure ample provision of such spaces. Additionally, considering the decline in physical functions among elderly residents, it is crucial to acknowledge their unique sensory thresholds and usage characteristics and compare these to other age groups. Thus, implementing appropriate aging-friendly reforms in green space planning becomes essential to align the allocation of green space resources with the specific needs of elderly residents while catering to the broader population.

Assessing benefits and risks between the space economies and the sustainable development goals

As humanity’s presence in space continues to advance, it is important to consider the positive and negative effects of space activities on sustainable development. This paper presents the findings from an expert elicitation process to assess the benefits and risks of the Earth-for-space, space-for-Earth, and space-for-space economies for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Significant benefits and risks exist, with SDGs 6, 9, 12, 14, and 16 exhibiting numerous benefits, and SDGs 6, 8, 11, and 15 exhibiting various risks from activities across the space economies. Multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary experts have identified benefits including space as a means to facilitate international agreement and cooperation, insights from space-based Earth observation, and advances in economic and technological development. Conversely, they identified risks of space advancement resulting in inequality, overexploitation of space resources, and the increase of global geopolitical tensions. These findings were used to suggest an SDG 18 for space, consisting of seven targets that address the concerns raised in the process.

The Impact of Epistemic Communities on the Development of Future International Legal Regulation of Lunar Activities

Every human culture has reflected the Moon’s influence in its cosmology, spirituality, science, creative and social life. For these reasons, the exploration and use of the Moon should be done thoughtfully and carefully, and possible resource extraction should not harm the Earth's only satellite and its environment as a whole. The adoption by some States of national legislation affecting the commercial exploitation of space resources, as well as the resumption of lunar programs by several leading spacefaring nations at a time, prompt the need for legal regulation in this area. However, to develop a detailed international legal regime for lunar exploration, the efforts of the States parties to the UN COPUOS alone are not sufficient since in practice other actors in international relations, including the so-called epistemic communities representing various types of non-governmental organizations, are also active participants in space activities. Such communities offer their own vision of the international legal regulation of relations arising in the framework of the exploration and use of the Moon basing on the norms of international space law and involving active participation of non-governmental legal entities, considering the interests of present and future generations, as well as of emerging space nations. The study presents a comprehensive analysis of the influence of epistemic communities on the development of the future international legal regime for lunar exploration. The authors consistently review the activities of non-governmental organizations within the UN COPUOS since its formation. Special attention is paid to the contribution of such communities to the progressive development of international space law and its codification, including the legal nature of the documents developed by such communities. The study concludes with a comprehensive international legal assessment of the activities of the epistemic communities.

Joint optimization of headway and number of stops for bilateral bus rapid transit.

The bilateral Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is a kind of BRT system in which the stops are located in the middle of the transit lane. By simultaneously serving transit lines in opposite directions, it is particularly designed to save space resources and enhance service quality. To improve the operational efficiency of the bilateral BRT, this paper optimizes the operational performance of bilateral BRT with elastic demand. The objective is to minimize the generalized time cost per passenger of the system by jointly optimizing the headway and number of stops of bilateral BRT. The cost includes the agency operating and user travel. The optimal design model is formulated as a mixed-integer program and solved using a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and a genetic algorithm (GA). We conduct a case study and sensitivity analysis to show the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed approach. We conclude that the optimized minimum generalized cost per passenger is lower than the actual case for all demand levels, especially at off-peak hours, by about 22.5%. In addition, we find that the weights of agency and user costs have the most significant impact on headway, whereas the influence of walking, vehicle speed, and route length is minimal. In contrast, the optimal number of BRT stops is mostly influenced by the route length, and walking speed has essentially no effect on the optimal number of stops. Finally, we find that the generalized cost per passenger at peak hours is 10% to 15% smaller than at off-peak hours in various scenarios.

The publicness of voluntary action during crisis: From resilience mechanisms to resistance tactics

ABSTRACT Although the volunteerism approach is regarded as a helpful strategy, critical concerns arise regarding the dynamics of vulnerability and the publicness of disaster-affected communities’ collective action. This study aims to examine the publicness meaning of public interest and its function in enhancing resilience capacity through voluntary action. Using a hermeneutic approach, this study investigates the collective action of “Canthelan” food sharing within the environmental structure of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, during the COVID-19 outbreak. The findings indicate that voluntary action in the context of “Canthelan” is a response to crises accumulated by the pandemic’s socioeconomic threat, the emergence of societal vulnerabilities, and the failure of social protection policies. Voluntary action functions as an alternative resilience mechanism for vulnerable and disadvantaged communities by providing access to and control over food resources in an egalitarian interaction space. Simultaneously, the constructed mechanisms become structurally aggregated knowledge narratives and manifestations of contestation concerning the development of resilience. Voluntary action mechanisms contribute to the development of social resilience through the mediation process, which is a process of mutual support and interaction to face and adapt to threats. However, the deterministic view of power authority hinders the transformative capacity of voluntary action.

Workflow-Induced Uncertainty in Data-Driven Mineral Prospectivity Mapping

The primary goal of mineral prospectivity mapping (MPM) is to narrow the search for mineral resources by producing spatially selective maps. However, in the data-driven domain, MPM products vary depending on the workflow implemented. Although the data science framework is popular to guide the implementation of data-driven MPM tasks, and is intended to create objective and replicable workflows, this does not necessarily mean that maps derived from data science workflows are optimal in a spatial sense. In this study, we explore interactions between key components of a geodata science-based MPM workflow on the geospatial outcome, within the modeling stage by modulating: (1) feature space dimensionality, (2) the choice of machine learning algorithms, and (3) performance metrics that guide hyperparameter tuning. We specifically relate these variations in the data science workflow to the spatial selectivity of resulting maps using uncertainty propagation. Results demonstrate that typical geodata science-based MPM workflows contain substantial local minima, as it is highly probable for an arbitrary combination of workflow choices to produce highly discriminating models. In addition, variable domain metrics, which are key to guide the iterative implementation of the data science framework, exhibit inconsistent relationships with spatial selectivity. We refer to this class of uncertainty as workflow-induced uncertainty. Consequently, we propose that the canonical concept of scientific consensus from the greater experimental science framework should be adhered to, in order to quantify and mitigate against workflow-induced uncertainty as part of data-driven experimentation. Scientific consensus stipulates that the degree of consensus of experimental outcomes is the determinant in the reliability of findings. Indeed, we demonstrate that consensus through purposeful modulations of components of a data-driven MPM workflow is an effective method to understand and quantify workflow-induced uncertainty on MPM products. In other words, enlarging the search space for workflow design and experimenting with workflow components can result in more meaningful reductions in the physical search space for mineral resources.

Sludge dewaterability improvement with microbial fuel cell powered electro-Fenton system (MFCⓅEFs): Performance and mechanisms

Throughout the entire process of sludge treatment and disposal, it is crucial to explore stable and efficient techniques to improve sludge dewaterability, which can facilitate subsequent resource utilization and space and cost savings. Traditional Fenton oxidation has been widely researched to enhance the performance of sludge dewaterability, which was limited by the additional energy input and the instabilities of Fe2+ and H2O2. To reduce the consumption of energy and chemicals and further break the rate-limiting step of the iron cycle, a novel and feasible method that constructed microbial fuel cell powered electro-Fenton systems (MFCⓅEFs) with ferrite and biochar electrode (MgFe2O4@BC/CF) was successfully demonstrated. The MFCⓅEFs with MgFe2O4@BC/CF electrode achieved specific resistance filtration and sludge cake water content of 2.52 × 1012 m/kg and 66.54 %. Cellular structure and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were disrupted, releasing partially bound water and destroying hydrophilic structures to facilitate sludge flocs aggregation, which was attributed to the oxidation of hydroxyl radicals. The consistent electron supply supplied by MFCⓅEFs and catalytically active sites on the surface of the multifunctional functional group electrode was responsible for producing more hydroxyl radicals and possessing a better oxidizing ability. The study provided an innovative process for sludge dewaterability improvement with high efficiency and low energy consumption, which presented new insights into the green treatment of sludge.

Center for historical education as a condition for the spiritual and moral development of the student’s personality

The article discusses the creation and mechanisms of approbation of the center for historical education in the system of basic education at the site of an educational organization. The strategic objectives of the center are the formation of a resource space for the preservation of historical memory and the development of educational activities of students. The peculiarities of the center’s formation are highlighted: the organization of extracurricular activities and the development of additional general education programs, the preparation of educational events on a given topic, and the approbation of a system of cultural events. A distinctive feature of the center is its positioning as part of the ecosystem of an educational organization. A conceptual diagram of the structure of the center and its functional parts is presented. The presented model can be used as a theoretical and methodological basis for designing educational events, as well as for developing models of historical education centers. The materials make it possible to further evaluate the choice of ways of spiritual and moral development of students through the implementation of functional learning outcomes, as well as through productive and practice-oriented forms of learning. A separate area of the center can be considered the involvement of social partners and media in the ecosystem of the educational organization to expand educational tasks.