Scarce Resources Research Articles

Research on the Safety and Stability Evaluation for a New Type of Prefabricated Aqueduct in the Construction Stage

To address the issue of regional water resource scarcity, water diversion projects have been constructed worldwide. As an essential lifeline project, the prefabricated aqueduct is prevalently utilized in cross-regional water transfer and diversion projects. This paper was based on the prefabricated aqueduct project, which adopted fabricated technologies including the connection technology among the gravity pier, the prefabricated arch ribs, and the prefabricated bent frame columns. The PHC piles, bearing platforms, bent frame columns, arch ribs, and groove bodies were all prefabricated components that were transported to the site for installation. The connections of the prefabricated aqueduct employed to link different components were of such crucial significance that their safety and stability determined whether the overall structure would be compromised. Therefore, the main objective of this paper was to examine the stress and deformation of this prefabricated aqueduct to prevent the occurrence of security risks throughout the entire construction stage. The finite element model was established in Midas Civil, and the entire construction stage was simulated and analyzed. Coupled with on-site monitoring, the stress and deformation of the prefabricated aqueduct were evaluated. The results indicated that the tensile stress, the compressive stress, the vertical displacement, and the lateral displacement of each part of the prefabricated aqueduct met the requirements of the standard, suggesting that the overall structure with the applied connection technology was in a safe and stable state throughout the entire construction stage.

Does hospital strategic alliance affect the paediatric service capacity of local hospitals? A difference-in-differences econometric analysis

BackgroundHealth inequality caused by the scarcity and uneven distribution of paediatric service resources is common worldwide. The hospital strategic alliance may improve paediatric service capacity and health equity, but this...

Charting the future of Brazil’s electricity: a multicriteria analysis of northeastern power strategies amidst climate challenge

The article addresses the challenges faced by regions under water stress, such as conflicts over water use, environmental degradation, and water resource scarcity, intensified by climate change. In areas dependent on hydropower generation, these problems are exacerbated, highlighting the need to transition to more sustainable and resilient energy sources. The study emphasizes the importance of multifaceted criteria for an effective transition of the electricity matrix in semi-arid regions, taking into account economic, technical, environmental, and social aspects. Focusing on the São Francisco River basin in Northeastern Brazil, where the energy matrix is predominantly hydroelectric, the study uses the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to evaluate alternative scenarios, analyzing options for wind, solar, and thermoelectric energy. The methodology adopted included the close collaboration of experts in defining and weighting essential criteria, covering economic, technical, environmental, and social aspects. The results show that, within the same group, options that involve greater reductions in hydroelectric generation are more advantageous. Analyzing the ranking among all alternatives, the group that includes higher expansion of wind energy presents the most viable options, followed by the reference strategy (based on average annual generation) and the group with greater expansion of solar capacity. Increasing the share of gas-fired thermoelectric power is considered a less favorable solution according to the criteria used in the model.

The Impact of Megatrends on the Business Environment of EU27 Countries

The global business environment is constantly evolving due to various megatrends. Understanding these shifts is crucial for economies, particularly for managers responsible for decisionmaking in diverse industries. Managers benefit from knowing both, the specific business environment they operate in, or plan to enter, and the interconnected environments of neighbouring countries or economically similar regions. This paper, therefore, analyses how current megatrends impact the quality of the business environment within EU27 countries. This understanding is especially critical for small and medium-sized enterprises. The paper aims to assess the effects of selected megatrends on the business environment quality using regression and correlation analysis. Five prominent megatrends have been identified: M1 - Shift in Economic Power, M2 - Resource Scarcity, M3 - Technological Breakthrough, M4 - Social Change, and M5 - Rapid Urbanization. Each of these trends has been assigned measurable indicators. Regression analysis indicates that three of the five megatrends adversely impact the business environment quality in the EU27. Furthermore, correlation analysis reveals a strong linear dependence between the Shift in Economic Power and business environment quality, along with a moderate negative dependence related to Social Change. This approach clarifies the influence of megatrends on business environments, providing valuable insights for decision-makers aiming to navigate a shifting economic landscape.

Integration of UAVs and FANETs in Disaster Management: A Review on Applications, Challenges and Future Directions

ABSTRACTRapid growth and technological improvement in wireless communication, driven by engineers from various disciplines, have reached significant milestones. Unmanned Aerial vehicles (UAVs) and flying ad hoc networks (FANET) have undergone one of the biggest innovations. UAVs have drawn a lot of attention from research institutions. They are increasingly employed in various application fields, such as real‐time monitoring, precision farming, wireless coverage, military surveillance, climate monitoring, disaster surveillance, and monitoring and rescue operations. The primary characteristics of disasters are their unpredictability and the scarcity of resources in the affected areas. To reduce the loss of lives and livelihoods, disaster management has received much attention. Numerous methodologies and technologies have been developed to predict and handle disasters. UAVs are increasingly being used in disaster management. Additionally, artificial intelligence and collaborative machine learning techniques are gaining prominence among researchers, who are investigating the possibility of their use in disaster management tasks to better cope with the severe and frequently devastating effects of natural catastrophes. This paper provides a review of the relevant FANET research activities in disaster management and emerging artificial intelligence techniques, along with several observations and research challenges. The papers are categorized based on the disaster scenario‐related problems and their proposed solutions. FANET problems are receiving less attention from the research community, and the main challenges with FANETs are also highlighted. Finally, significant insights are presented that can aid in improving research related to the application of FANETs in disaster management.

Qualitative study of paediatricians’ experiences in the care process for preschool children with complex needs: an example of paediatric care in Croatia

ObjectivesPreschool children with complex needs require a multidimensional care model. In such a model, paediatricians are one of the key stakeholders. This study examines Croatian paediatricians’ experiences and perceptions of...

Predicting schedule adherence of engineering changes – a case study on effectivity date adherence prediction using machine learning

Engineering changes (EC), redesigns of components, are common with complex products. Their realisation into production systems is a lengthy process and thorough control is imperative. As with most complex processes, however, this is a resource-intensive task and support is required to direct scarce resources. In other domains, predictive business process monitoring (PBPM) research has demonstrated that complex processes can be monitored using machine learning approaches. However, it is indicated that predictive performance is domain sensitive. Therefore, we investigate and show how PBPM can be applied to the EC process by predicting adherence to planned implementation dates. As the outcome of a case study comparing 30 predictive models, our research indicates that EC effectivity date adherence prediction, and thus pre-emptive EC schedule monitoring, is possible. However, performance comparison hints that shallow learning algorithms outperform deep learning algorithms. Furthermore, as the optimal algorithm depends on the deployment scenario, it is demonstrated how cost curves are better decision criteria for choosing models compared to threshold dependent metrics. Based on these findings, this article offers a blueprint for developing machine learning models for predicting the EC schedule adherence and lays the base for further research towards automatic EC scheduling and control.

Barriers to Smallholder Farmers in Production and Marketing of Wheat in Karatu District, North Tanzania

Smallholder farmers are central to the development of the agriculture sector and they are crucial in contributing to the food security of the majority. Wheat is the fourth most consumed crop in Tanzania. However, the country’s production is only 20% of the consumption demand regardless of the suitable resources for crop productivity. This study aimed to explore the main barriers to smallholder wheat production as the driver in securing national food security and economic development. More specifically, the objectives of this paper were to identify the challenges of Karatu smallholder farmers in the production and marketing of wheat, the extent of the wheat market and the factors that determine farmers' market decisions. Simple random sampling was used to select household respondents from five villages. The collected data from the field, households, and institutions was analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences tool. Estimation of the average yields was done by considering the recorded harvest of farmers and weighing them to a randomly selected number of harvest units. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the level of influence of independent variables on wheat production and marketing by smallholder farmers. The paper derives a significant level of contribution of numerous variables to the farmers’ production and marketing of wheat in the Karatu district. It was found that smallholder wheat production in Karatu is hindered by various challenges while capital and abiotic variables play the most roles. The findings revealed that the amount of yields was less than one tonne per hectare which indicates below average production. Low yields were a result of the intensity of production challenges and constraints. Additionally, wheat price advantage, capital support, and technical and market assurance emerge as the dominant influences on smallholder farmers' market participation. This paper provides useful information for economic development, specifically information for making relevant decisions on the use of scarce agricultural resources in wheat production and reformulation of agricultural development policies through updated wheat production and marketing information

The Art of Chilling Out: How Neurons Regulate Torpor.

Endothermic animals expend significant energy to maintain high body temperatures, which offers adaptability to varying environmental conditions. However, this high metabolic rate requires increased food intake. In conditions of low environmental temperature and scarce food resources, some endothermic animals enter a hypometabolic state known as torpor to conserve energy. Torpor involves a marked reduction in body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and locomotor activity, enabling energy conservation. Despite their biological significance and potential medical applications, the neuronal mechanisms regulating torpor still need to be fully understood. Recent studies have focused on fasting-induced daily torpor in mice due to their suitability for advanced neuroscientific techniques. In this review, we highlight recent advances that extend our understanding of neuronal mechanisms regulating torpor. We also discuss unresolved issues in this research field and future directions.

Combined geophysical approach as a tool to identify spatial groundwater aquifer distribution in structurally complex area. Case study of Kasserine aquifer system (central Tunisia)

Many countries are facing water resource scarcity. The Kasserine region in central Tunisia, is characterized with semi-arid climate and it is one of the most affected areas by drought in the country. Groundwater constitutes the main resource for drinking and irrigation water in Kasserine region. The groundwater aquifer levels are very structured, in this geologically complex zone, and their geometry needs to be well characterized. The present study aims to identify the geometry and the distribution of Campanian to Quaternary main aquifers in the Kasserine hydrogeological basin.In this study, we adopted a combined geophysical approach; we analyzed and interpreted gravity and seismic existent data in addition to acquiring conventional vertical electrical soundings. The gravity data analysis and mapping revealed that the study area is structured in numerous geological blocks. It highlighted the existence of two major negative gravity anomalies associated with the Megdoudech basin and the Kasserine graben. The gravity maps illustrated the role of the NW-SE Kasserine major Fault in the block structuring. The seismic reflection sections have emphasized the same structuring of the basins. They have exposed the fault network responsible for the compartmentalization of geological structures and which plays an important role in the hydrodynamics of the aquifer system in the region. The geoelectrical investigation highlighted the existence of three aquifer units: the sandy to sandy-clay levels of the Plio-Quaternary in the Kasserine graben, the sandstones of the middle Miocene with an average resistivity of 75 Ω m profiled at different depths, and the Campanian limestones with high resistivities in the Kasserine plateau.This combined approach is proven to be very useful to understand groundwater distribution in such geologically complex zones. The results will help the decision makers to ensure the safe management of groundwater resources especially in semi-arid and arid regions.

Food for thought: The impact of short term fasting on cognitive ability.

Growing evidence suggests that resource scarcity can severely impede individuals' cognitive capacity, resulting in sub-optimal decision making. Few experimental studies investigate whether food deprivation as a form of resource scarcity influences decisions in other non-hunger related domains. We examine the effect of short term fasting on cognitive capacity by exogenously manipulating individuals' fasting time in a laboratory experiment. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: 1) 3-hour fast; 2) 12-hour fast; and 3) control, in which participants were not required to fast and consumed a protein shake upon arriving to the lab. Following the manipulation, participants completed the Raven's Progressive Matrices test which measures cognitive function. Although we find null treatment effects on cognitive ability, our results provide evidence that short term fasting does not directly inhibit cognition.

Concrete steps to cementing sustainability: Holcim’s environmental strategy

Research methodology This case study draws on secondary sources as well as my personal experience and industry contacts within the cement sector during my time teaching in Spain, a country where the cement industry plays a significant role in the economy. I have also benefited from conversations with my colleague, Arnaud Blandin, an ESG expert with a deep understanding of the sustainability challenges facing the cement industry, particularly in Asia, where he lived for several years. His contribution is acknowledged in the disclaimer below the title. Case overview/synopsis This case study explores how Holcim, the global leader of the cement industry addresses the sustainability imperatives through a set of structured initiatives and policies. The case focuses on the challenges faced by Holcim at a time when the imperatives of climate change, resource scarcity and stakeholder expectations converged to reshape the very foundations of its business strategy, compelling the firm to reimagine its operations through a lens of environmental, social and governance principles. The case starts with a brief description of the industry of cement, which is, at the same time, one of the most consumed products globally but also a major contributor to global carbon dioxide emissions and then to global warming. Next, the case briefly introduces Holcim and its major competitors. Then, the case presents the major environmental challenges for the cement industry as well as the possible solutions with operational advances, innovation and collaboration within actors. Finally, the case details the ESG strategy of Holcim in 2023 with a first evaluation of its results. Complexity academic level This case study has been written for Master of Business Administration and Master of Science students. The case can be used in multiple courses, including Corporate Strategy, Business and Society, Ethics and Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility and General Management Implementation.

An Investigation of the Ventilation Systems of Whole-Indoor Urban Substations

The electricity load increases significantly with the development of the economy, which raises the issue of scarce land resources; therefore, the application of whole-indoor urban substations has become more and more extensive. However, both the closed environment of indoor substations and their unreasonable ventilation systems mean that the heat dissipation of the equipment cannot be discharged in time. In this study, a combination of natural and mechanical ventilation systems is developed to solve the problem of high indoor temperatures, and corresponding studies are conducted via both numerical simulation and experimental research. Firstly, the ventilation and heat dissipation problem of the whole-indoor urban substation was investigated using numerical simulation technology, and then the feasibility of the ventilation system was determined. Secondly, the experimental platform (including the heat dissipation equipment and ventilation system) was set up, the heat dissipation of the reactor room was analyzed, and the system was tested experimentally. Afterward, the noise generated by the experimental platform was measured and predicted. Finally, via the numerical simulation analysis, it was found that the ventilation effect would be improved regardless of the heat dissipation and that reducing the outdoor temperature or increasing the ventilation volume would reduce the indoor temperature, which could be controlled within 40 °C. The results of this study provide a reference basis and technical guidance for the engineering projects of ventilation systems for indoor substations, which can effectively solve the problem of excessive indoor temperature caused by heat dissipation from substation equipment while providing a favorable guarantee for sustainable operation of the substation.

Synthetic biology‐enhanced microalgae for biofuel production: a perspective

AbstractThe development of microalgae‐based biofuels has emerged as a promising solution to address the pressing global challenges of climate change, resource scarcity, and the need for renewable energy sources. Microalgae possess unique capabilities that make them an attractive feedstock for biofuel production, including their ability to capture and sequester carbon dioxide, their efficient use of water and land resources, and the potential for them to utilize waste streams as nutrient sources. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the environmental and economic implications of microalgae‐derived fuels, highlighting the key benefits and remaining challenges. The integration of synthetic biology to enhance microalgae strains, optimize cultivation and processing, and diversify revenue streams is explored as a means to address the economic barriers to large‐scale commercialization. As research and development in this field continue to progress, the future prospects of microalgae‐based biofuels are discussed, underscoring their potential to reshape the global energy landscape towards a more sustainable and economically viable future.

Climate change and land-use policies exacerbate run-off reduction in a semi-arid inland river basin

Semi-arid regions are characterized by scarce water resources and fragile ecosystems, making them highly sensitive to environmental changes. Assessing the impacts of climate change and human activity on hydrological processes in these areas is crucial for ecological conservation and social development. However, due to data limitations and the complex interactions between climate change and human activities, especially at seasonal scales, accurately quantifying their impacts on hydrological processes poses significant challenges. In the present study, the Budyko framework combined with the elasticity coefficient approach was adopted to assess the contribution of environmental changes to variations in annual and intra-annual runoff in the Xilin River Basin from 1963 to 2020. The results showed that annual runoff exhibited a significant declining trend at a rate of 0.05 mm/a (P < 0.05), with an abrupt change in 2001. The underlying surface characteristic parameters were the most sensitive factors affecting the changes in runoff; however, climate change was identified as the primary cause, accounting for 65.96 % of runoff reduction. Increased temperatures accelerated the melting of ice and snow, such that the highest runoff (36.24 % of the annual total) occurred during April. The impact of human activities on runoff varies across seasons, with the greatest impact observed during the snowmelt season, followed by the irrigation, rainy, and dry seasons, respectively. Based on our findings, we conclude that tailored land-use policies and science-based water management are required to mitigate the impacts of human activities on changes in runoff.

Digital solutions for optimizing the sentencing of criminal penalties in times of war

Relevance. Unlawful acts under martial law carry an increased public danger, destabilizing national security, exacerbating resource scarcity and having an extremely negative impact on society. This requires the criminal justice system to respond as quickly and effectively as possible, including in terms of imposing fair and proportionate penalties. In light of the current foreign policy situation, the relevance of this study is undeniable.Purpose. The purpose of the work is to identify the positive and negative aspects of the application of digital solutions to optimize the assignment of criminal penalties under martial law on the basis of a comprehensive analysis. Objectives: to identify specific factors and challenges affecting the process of sentencing in the context of military conflict, to study the best international experience in the use of digital technologies to improve the effectiveness of judicial determination of criminal sanctions, to analyze the prospects for the use of innovative tools in the imposition of criminal sanctions, taking into account the peculiarities of martial law, to identify the key advantages and limitations of the use of digital technologies in the judicial system to improve the objectivity, speed, and efficiency of the judicial process.Methodology. The work is built on the basis of dialectical general scientific approach, which provided the integrity of the study and substantiation of cause-and-effect relationships. We used general scientific methods - analysis and synthesis, generalization, special legal method - comparative-legal method.Results. Under martial law, the use of digital technologies can increase the objectivity, speed and transparency of sentencing. However, there are risks of errors and system failures, the need for costly investments, problems with information security and citizens' distrust of «soulless» machine solutions.Conclusion. The study identifies both the potential benefits and risks of digital solutions for optimizing criminal sentencing under martial law. In order to improve the effectiveness and reliability of digital solutions, risks related to cybersecurity, personal data protection and resilience to disruptions under emergency conditions need to be carefully assessed. At the same time, it is important to continuously improve and adapt technologies, ensuring their flexibility to dynamically changing wartime realities.

Development of a metabolome-based respiratory infection prognostic during COVID-19 arrival.

In a new respiratory virus pandemic, optimizing allocation of scarce medical resources becomes an urgent challenge. Infection prognosis takes on particular importance when allocating scarce antiviral antibodies and drugs, which are most effective when administered before the onset of severe disease. During arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic to the United States in 2020, we conducted a prognostic biomarker discovery and validation effort based upon metabolomic profiling with a liquid-chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) type used clinically for rapid toxicology. We obtained urine specimens from 163 patients presenting for evaluation. We obtained LC-MS profiles in the initial cohort and used machine learning methods to define a simplified urine metabolomic signature associated with respiratory failure or death by 90 days. This signature was composed of three metabotypes linked to intestinal microbiome metabolism and anticonvulsant use, with a receiver-operator characteristic area under the curve (ROC AUC) of 89.4%. Blinded application of this signature to the subsequent validation cohort yielded a ROC AUC of 81.2%. A model trained on the two baseline metabotypes present before intubation exhibited similar performance in the validation cohort. This study demonstrates the plausibility and promise of rapid metabolome-based prognostic discovery and validation in the opening wave of a pandemic. The approach used here could be used to inform therapeutic and resource allocation decisions early in a future epidemic.IMPORTANCEIn a new respiratory virus pandemic, the ability to identify patients at greatest risk for severe disease is essential to direct scarce medical resources to those most likely to benefit from them. Tools to predict disease severity are best developed early in a pandemic, but laboratory-based resources to develop these may be limited by available technology and by infection precautions. Here, we show that an accessible metabolic profiling approach could identify a prognostic signature of severe disease in the initial wave of COVID-19, when patients presenting for care often exceeded the available doses of convalescent plasma and remdesivir. In a future pandemic, this approach, alongside efforts to identify clinical disease severity predictors, could improve patient outcomes and facilitate therapeutic trials by identifying individuals at high risk for severe disease.

Evaluation of Cathode α-NaFeO2 for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs) are rechargeable batteries that are indispensable to our daily lives, but the supply of lithium-ion batteries is expected to become more difficult as the market expands due to the constraints of lithium being a rare metal and a scarce resource. In recent years, sodium-ion batteries(SIBs) have much attracted attention as a secondary battery that can replace LIBs with less risk to resources and supply. α-NaFeO2 with a simple layered rock salt structure is well known as the cathode active material for SIBs. It does not contain any rare metals, but only iron which is abundant in the earth's crust, so it is expected to be environmentally friendly and low-cost to synthesize. However, a few paper has evaluated sodium ion batteries using α-NaFeO2 cathode, and only basic information such as synthesis methods and reaction potentials have been reported. In this study, we fabricated α-NaFeO2 and investigated the charge-discharge reaction of batteries using α-NaFeO2 in detail. The battery characteristics were evaluated for the prepared SIBs. α-NaFeO2 was prepared by a solid-state reaction from stoichiometric amounts of Na2O2(Sigma-Aldrich Co.) and Fe2O3(Rare-metalic Co.) as starting materials. Weighed powders were mixed using a mortar and pestle without any wet solution. The mixed powder was heated in an electric furnace at 650℃ for 20 h in air. After that, they was taken out from the furnace at 200℃ for preventing water absorption, and then immediately transferred into an argon-filled glove box. X-ray diffraction was carried out for analysis of crystal structure for prepared materials. Positive electrodes consisted of 70wt% α-NaFeO2, 20wt% acetylene black, and 10wt% PVDF, which were mixed with N-methlpyrrolidone and pasted Al foil as a current collector by doctor blade, and then dried at 120℃ in vacuum oven. After preparing cathode sheet, 10mm-diamater circle-shape cathode was prepared using punching machine. Anode sheet was also prepared using hard carbon and was made circle-shape anode with 16mm-diameter. 2032-type coin-cells were assembled in the argon filled glove box to evaluate electrode performance of α-NaFeO2. Electrolyte solution used was 1 mol/L NaPF6 dissolved in ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate (EC:DMC=1:1 vol). The charge-discharge characteristics of the coin-cells were measured using constant-current mode, with a voltage range of 1.5 to 2.8 V. Reversible insertion and desorption of sodium was confirmed over three cycles, and the battery was found to have an average working voltage of about 2.3 V and a discharge capacity of about 40 mAh/g at the first cycle. However, after three cycles, the discharge capacity decreased and the battery no longer functioned as a battery. Compared to the previous study, the average working voltage was about 1 V lower and the discharge capacity was half the value. The reason for the low average working voltage should be the high reaction potential of the hard carbon we used. A possible reason for the low discharge capacity and the inability to function as a battery is that the surface of α-NaFeO2 may have reacted with carbon dioxide and water in the atmosphere under preparing situation, and also is SEI construction at the surface of α-NaFeO2. The XRD results of α-NaFeO2 stored in air and the increased resistance in the impedance results suggest this possibility. We are currently verifying the insertion-desorption potential of hard-carbon and the crystal state of α-NaFeO2 after charging and discharging, and are investigating the cause of the decrease in discharge capacity. We will report the results of these experiments.

Catalytic Combustion Type H2 Gas Sensor Based on Cerium Oxide

Hydrogen gas is the most promising clean energy source, but its use carries an explosion hazard (LEL: 4 vol%). Therefore, the real-time and accurate detection of H2 gas leakage at every emitting site is required with the compact sensor to prevent a critical accident. Among the compact H2 gas sensors proposed, the catalytic combustion type gas sensor using precious metal-loaded γ-Al2O3 such as Pt/Al2O3 as the catalyst is one of the sensors in practical use because of its long life and low-cost features. However, platinum is an expensive and scarce resource, and its use is desired to be reduced. Therefore, for the realization of the coming hydrogen society, the development of novel catalytic combustion type sensor using a noble-metal-free catalysts is important.In this study, we focused on CeO2, Fe2O3, Co3O4, NiO as H2 oxidation catalyst and investigated the sensing performance of these metal oxides. In addition, we applied CeNbO4 +δ [1], having high oxide ion conductivity and redox property, as a promoter for CeO2 catalyst, and the H2 gas sensing performance of the sensor with 4 wt% CeO2/CeNbO4 +δcatalyst was investigated.Among the sensors applied metal oxide (CeO2, Fe2O3, Co3O4, NiO), the sensor with CeO2 showed highest sensor output which is over 2 times higher than the sensors with other metal oxides. This is due to high specific surface area and low heat capacity of CeO2. Although the sensor using CeO2 showed good sensing performance, quantitative detection of H2 required a temperature of 105 °C or higher, which is still high for practical use.To improve the H2 oxidation activity of CeO2, we applied CeNbO4 +δ as a promoter and the sensor with 4 wt% CeO2/CeNbO4 +δcatalyst. Figure 1(a) displays the response curves to H2 gas concentration change for the sensor applied 4 wt% CeO2/CeNbO4 +δ and CeO2. The sensor with 4 wt% CeO2/CeNbO4 +δcatalyst showed about 2.6 times higher sensor output compared to the sensor with only CeO2, indicating that the combination of CeNbO4 +δ improves H2 oxidation activity. Furthermore, the sensor with 4 wt% CeO2/CeNbO4 +δcatalyst was able to detect H2 gas concentration quantitatively even at 75 °C (Fig. 1(b)) with a 90% response time of about 14 seconds. The sensitivity to other gases such as carbon monoxide, methane, ethanol, and acetaldehyde was examined, and the sensor showed excellent selectivity for H2 at 75 °C.[1] Y. Jin, Y. Quan, J. Liu, C. Qui, P. Pan, B. Shan, H. Luo, and P. Yang, J. Solid State Chem., 313, 123318 (2022). Figure 1

Thinking with soil in heritage matters

This paper explores what could be learned ‘by thinking with soil’ in heritage matters, and ‘thinking with heritage’ in soil matters. Soil is connected to major sustainability issues as it is life-essential to a wide range of beings. Soil is rarely thought of as heritage, despite becoming a scarce resource over time. It is argued that heritage as ‘landscapes of human perception’ is not enough to meet the challenges at hand, whereas the alternative ‘heritage as phenomena’ allows for discussing the long-term material/immaterial multi-species interrelations that build up in situated soils. It gives better positions to discuss justice and care between generations and convivial re-generation of landscapes. The paper works with a case study from mid-Sweden to show how different ‘agential-cuts’ of soil give rise to stakeholder tensions as different worlds are produced.