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The concept of sustainable consumption patterns emphasizes the necessity for individuals and communities to shift towards consumption habits that minimize environmental impact, conserve resources, and support long-term ecological balance. In a green economy, consumer behavior plays a pivotal role in driving the demand for sustainable products and services, which in turn influences production systems and business strategies. This paper explores the intersection of consumer choices and sustainability, investigating how factors such as awareness, values, social influence, and policy interventions impact the adoption of eco-friendly behaviors. By highlighting the barriers to sustainable consumption—such as perceived costs, lack of availability, and knowledge gaps—the discussion delves into how consumers can be empowered through education, incentives, and corporate responsibility to foster a green economy. Ultimately, it advocates for a holistic approach, involving stakeholders across sectors to promote behaviors that support sustainability at both individual and societal levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores and substantiates the theoretical and methodological foundations of the environmental component of resource conservation management of agricultural enterprises in the context of ensuring sustainable development. The main directions of the negative impact of the activities of agricultural enterprises on the environment are identified, including: land depletion and loss of soil fertility, soil erosion, soil compaction, loss of biodiversity, groundwater pollution. Indicators characterizing the environmental efficiency of resource conservation management of agricultural enterprises have been determined. It is noted that the culture of resource conservation should become a mandatory element of the general culture of behavior of employees of agricultural enterprises. The article defines the main stages of the formation of organizational culture at an agro-industrial complex enterprise, which contains a component of resource saving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recently, the application in the field of germplasm resource conservation has become an important application of primordial germ cells (PGCs). However, due to the lack of deep understanding of the biological characteristics of PGCs at different time points, there is no systematic scheme for the selection of PGCs at which time points in practical application, which affects the practical application effect of PGCs. This study aims to clarify the differences in PGCs during development. Methods: Here, migration experiment, EdU proliferation assay and cell apoptosis assay were conducted to compare the differences in the migration ability, the proliferation ability and the recovery efficiency among female and male PGCs at E3.5, E4.5, and E5.5, which were explained by the following transcriptome sequencing analysis. Results: We found that there were larger differences between female and male PGCs at different embryonic ages, while smaller differences between female and male PGCs at the same embryonic age. Further comparison showed that the cell migration ability of female and male PGCs decreased gradually during development, so female and male PGCs at E3.5 are more suitable for in vitro allotransplantation. At the same time, the proliferation ability of PGCs gradually decreased during development, and cell adhesion and extracellular matrix communication were weakened, indicating that female and male PGCs of E3.5 are more suitable for in vitro long-term culture cell line establishment. Interestingly, female and male PGCs at E5.5 showed strong DNA damage repair ability, thus more suitable for in vitro long-term cryopreservation. Conclusion: This study provides a theoretical basis for systematically selecting PGCs at suitable developmental time points as cell materials for efficient utilization by analyzing the characteristics of female and male PGCs at different developmental time points based on transcriptome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our article examined the state of solid waste management in five major cities of the Republic of Benin in West Africa. For each major city, we explored the current practices, types of waste, volumes, sources, and disposal methods. Our recommendations can guide adequate and safe solid waste management practices in other low- and middle-income countries in the West African region and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidimensional trait frameworks are increasingly used to understand plant strategies for growth and survival. However, it is unclear if frameworks developed at a global level can be applied in local communities and how well these frameworks—based largely on plant morphological traits—align with plant physiology and response to stress.We tested the ability of an integrated framework of plant form and function to characterise seedling trait variation and drought response among 22 grasses and forbs common in a semi‐arid grassland. We measured above‐ground and below‐ground traits, and survival to explore how drought response is linked to three trait dimensions (resource conservation, microbial collaboration, and plant size) associated with the framework as well as non‐morphological dimensions (e.g. physiological traits) that are under‐represented in global trait frameworks.We found support for three globally‐recognised axes representing trade‐offs in strategies associated with tissue investment (leaf nitrogen, leaf mass per area, root tissue density), below‐ground resource uptake (root diameter, specific root length), and size (shoot mass). However, in contrast to global patterns, above‐ground and below‐ground resource conservation gradients were oppositely aligned: root tissue density was positively correlated with leaf N rather than leaf mass per area. This likely reflects different investment strategies of annual and perennial herbaceous species, as fast‐growing annual species invested in lower density roots and less nitrogen‐rich leaves to maximise plant‐level carbon assimilation. Species with longer drought survival minimised water loss through small above‐ground size and low leaf‐level transpiration rates, and drought survival was best predicted by a principal component axis representing plant size.Contrary to our expectations, drought survival in seedlings did not align with the conservation or collaboration axes suggesting that seedlings with different functional strategies can achieve similar drought survival, as long as they minimise water loss. Our results also show that within local communities, expected trait relationships could be decoupled as some plant groups achieve similar performance through different trait combinations. The effectiveness of species mean trait values in predicting drought response highlights the value of trait‐based methods as a versatile tool for understanding ecological processes locally across various ecosystems. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bath galvanized substructures for rear‐ventilated façades – part 1 Thin‐walled steel components (0.8–2.5 mm) for substructures according to DIN 18516‐1 can be produced using galvanisation. Brackets and support profiles remain warp‐free, the thickness of the zinc layer is above the standard acc. to DIN EN ISO 1461. Flanging on the edges of the holes in the brackets and lateral edging increase the load‐bearing capacity, as do increasing sheet thicknesses. Load‐bearing profiles are also strengthened by lateral edging; U‐ and hat‐profiles are on top. Experimental tests in the climatic chamber revealed a gradation of the perforated brackets; the most favourable design is the bracket with three slotted holes. Thermal and mechanical tests have proven that galvanized components represent a static, thermal and economical alternative to commercially available substructure systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the challenges and limitations faced at the basic level for the recycling of paper in an academic institute. It focuses on encouraging recycled paper use rather than bringing traditional virgin paper to prevent the rate of deforestation for reducing global warming. Data was collected from the academic institute via questionnaire and on-site observation and found that the institute was producing approximately 16 tons of wastepaper in a year. Besides that, another purpose of this research is to estimate the energy and assess the environmental effect by using the life cycle assessment as a tool. The results of this study revealed that traditional virgin paper derived from wood proves to be costly and less environmentally friendly than recycled paper. It also revealed that Traditional virgin paper has greater global warming, human toxicity, smog, acidification, and eutrophication potential than recycled paper. This study concludes that recycled paper does not only prove economically beneficent for any institution, but also beneficial for environment as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UHPFRC Precast Segments for Sustainable and Resource‐Efficient Concrete Bridge Construction Many of the concrete bridges currently in use in Germany are in a deficient condition due to their age or design. However, increased traffic loads also highly contribute to the fact that many of the existing bridges will have to be replaced in the medium term. Due to the many advantages of concrete structures, it can be assumed that concrete bridges will continue to be designed and built in the future. In the light of the increasing consequences of climate change and the pressing need to reduce CO2 emissions also in the building industry as well, there is an urgent need for research into climate‐ and resource‐friendly as well as sustainable but also economical concrete construction methods. A promising approach to fast, effective and resource‐optimized as well as CO2‐efficient construction is the use of high‐performance materials such as UHPFRC in combination with precast segmental construction. In this paper, starting from a monolithic box girder bridge made of normal strength concrete, numerical calculations are used to investigate how much material can be saved in segmented box girder bridges by varying the concrete compressive strength (normal and high‐strength concrete as well as UHPFRC). The life cycle assessment subsequently carried out on this basis for life cycle phases A1 to A3 showed that, when the material is fully utilized, the use of UHPFRC leads to very resource‐efficient and sustainable structures compared with normal‐ and high‐strength concretes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, known as the "Third Pole of the World," has a rich variety of medicinal plants that play an important role in the field of medicine due to its unique geographical environment. However, due to the limited resources of Tibetan medicinal plants and the fragility of the ecological environment of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, more and more Tibetan medicinal plants are on the verge of extinction. As a reservoir of biologically active metabolites, endophytes of medicinal plants produce a large number of compounds with potential applications in modern medicine (including antibacterial, immunosuppressive, antiviral, and anticancer) and are expected to be substitutes for Tibetan medicinal plants. This paper reviews 12 Tibetan medicinal plants from the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, highlighting the diversity of their endophytes, the diversity of their metabolites and their applications. The results show that the endophytes of Tibetan medicinal plants are remarkably diverse, and the efficacy of their metabolites involves various aspects, such as antioxidant, anti-disease and anti-parasitic. In addition, conservation measures for the resources of Tibetan medicinal plants are summarised to provide a reference for an in-depth understanding of the endophytes of Tibetan medicinal plants and to stimulate the scientific community to bioprospect for the endophytes of Tibetan medicinal plants, as well as to provide ideas for their rational exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase and X-ray structure composition of the initial and target products of Ni-Mo ligature and its melting conditions are determined. The optimal values of the content of charge materials during the smelting of a nickelmolybdenum-containing ligature were determine: scale of the alloy 79NM 4.2 - 28 % wt., shavings of power grinding of metal products 79NM 3.8 - 56.1 % wt., calcite molybdenum concentrate KMo 20.5 - 12.5 % wt., technical nickel oxide 13.0 - 22.0 % wt., cyclone silicon dust 3.4 - 7.9 % wt., metallic manganese MR-1 1.0 - 4.7 % wt., soot TGM-33 1.5 - 4.0 % wt., aluminium AK-8 0.8 - 6.0 % wt. Regularities of influence of charge parameters on the content of leading elements of ligature and efficiency of smelting of precision alloys with use of ligature are established. According to the specified method, calculations of economic efficiency of Ni and Mo utilization from man-made wastes of different sources of formation are performed. In order to achieve the optimal properties of the target ligature, taking into account the complex effect of the composition of the ingredients of the charge on reducing the cost of redistribution of the ligature smelting used regression analysis. The developed mathematical model of Ni and Mo burn-up dependences using the ligature on the content of 8 components in the charge for its smelting was tested by the generalized method of least squares on the basis of industrial data. High technical and economic efficiency of use of new alloying and de-oxidizing material at smelting of precision alloys is established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of modern tropical marine ranching is an important means to conserve fishery resources and protect the marine ecological environment in the South China Sea, which has far-reaching significance for the conservation and scientific utilization of fishery resources in the South China Sea. Artificial reefs are one of the important tools to create marine ranching habitats. However,due to the deep water in the South China Sea,conventional reefs are difficult to play a role,whereas floating reefs can make use of the water space in the middle and upper layers,and are the best facilities to create deep water fishing grounds. This study reviews the types,functions,and application scenarios of floating fish reefs,summarizes relevant research and current status both domestically and internationally,and looks forward to the future of floating fish reefs in the South China Sea,including their role in information-based monitoring of ocean ranching,recreational fishing, conservation of upper-middle level fishery resources,and the construction of offshore ocean ranching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background.: U.S. households produce a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions, indicating a potential to reduce their carbon footprints from changing food, energy, and water (FEW) consumption patterns. Behavioral change to FEW consumption is needed, but difficult to achieve. Interactive and engaging approaches like serious games could be a way to increase awareness of possible measures, leading to more sustainable behavior at a household level. This study looks into the experiences and effects of a digital game for homeowners with the potential to reduce FEW resource consumption impacts. Intervention.: In this study, we developed and implemented a digital game to explore its potential to raise awareness of the consumption and conservation of FEW resources and the efficacy of conservation messages. This study aims to measure learning outcomes from game participation and to assess the suitability of the game for informing resource conservation actions. Methods.: We tested a proof-of-concept of a digital four-player game, called HomeRUN, with 28 homeowners. The data collected include homeowners' values and preferences with regard to FEW resources. The patterns of game actions are analyzed with an emphasis on the effectiveness of conservation messaging in informing household consumption behavior. Results.: About 65% of the respondents agree that they gained a better understanding of the greenhouse gas emission impacts of FEW resource consumption after playing the game. Over 57% of the respondents agree that the game experience would influence their future consumption behavior, while a quarter of the respondents are unsure. Overall, we demonstrate the HomeRUN game has potential as a tool for informing conservation efforts at a household level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Almost all intensified RED cannot provide energy savings. • An unexpected discovery of energy-saving intensified RED (i.e., TC-DCRED). • Propose two alternative intensified RED that can provide energy savings. • Combination of thermally-coupled with side stream intensified RED. • Provides energy savings of up to 13 % compared to conventional RED. In contrast to other intensified distillation processes, it has been well-reported that the intensified reactive-extractive distillation (RED) cannot provide any energy savings with respect to its non-intensified counterpart. Motivated by this limitation, this study aims to explore other alternative intensified configurations to improve RED system performance. Specifically, we investigate the combined use of thermally-coupled and side-stream as a hybrid process intensification (PI) technique to enhance energy efficiency, as most existing studies have applied these techniques individually without examining their potential synergy. We begin by selecting a ternary azeotropic mixture that has been previously studied using both RED and intensified thermally-coupled RED (T-DCRED). Using these configurations as base case, we further investigate 2 other alternative hybrid side-stream thermally-coupled RED (ST-DCRED) configurations to evaluate their energy savings potential. During our investigation, we unexpectedly discovered that the T-DCRED could achieve 12 % energy savings compared to the conventional RED, which contradicts with previous studies Additionally, our study into 2 newly proposed ST-DCRED configurations also showed potential energy savings of up to 13 % compared to conventional RED. These results suggest that hybrid ST-DCRED offer a promising alternative to traditional PI methods, such as thermally-coupled or dividing-wall configurations, for improving energy efficiency in RED systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Propose a stockyard allocation model for dry bulk ports. • Integrate resource conservation for spraying operations into the model. • Conduct numerical experiments using data from a major port in China. • Evaluate the model through experiments with rule-based methods. • Assess the model under varying task densities and terminal efficiencies. Stockyard allocation is a crucial segment of operational decision-making in dry bulk ports (DBPs). The stockyard allocation plan determines the storage position and duration of each stockpile to avoid operational delays in stockyards. Spraying operations, a unique operation in DBPs, are significantly influenced by stockyard allocation plans. Port operators regularly conduct spraying operations to prevent dust diffusion during the storage of dry bulk materials in stockyards. The spraying operation system consumes substantial electrical energy to transport the water to the designated material pile and spray large amounts of water onto its surface. Due to the layout constraints of pipelines and spraying nozzles, different stockyard allocation plans lead the varying consumptions of electrical energy and water resources for spraying operations. However, previous studies on the stockyard allocation problem frequently ignore the impacts of the stockyard allocation plan on the resource consumption of spraying operations. To fill this gap, this paper proposes a stockyard allocation model that uniquely considers the resource consumption of spraying operations to balance operation efficiency and resource consumption in stockyards from a global perspective. With the goal of minimizing the total cost, including operation delay penalties in stockyards and the electricity and water costs of spraying operations, a series of comprehensive experiments was conducted based on practical data collected from a major DBP in China under varying stockpile densities and stockyard efficiency properties. The results clearly show significant differences in the stockyard allocation plan and the total cost resulting from considering and disregarding the resource consumption of spraying operations in the stockyard allocation decision-making process. With only a 3.09% increase in average delay time in stockyards, the proposed model can reduce the total cost by 19.26%, the electricity cost by 54.06% and the water cost reduction by 35.09%. Meanwhile, the carbon emissions are reduced 75 tons on average for spraying operations and the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) performs well on large-scale instances. The proposed model can avoid unnecessary resource consumption of spraying operations with acceptable operation delay penalties in stockyards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Omission of reactive stage as optimization variables. • Provides a more realistic approach for optimizing reactive-extractive distillation. • Allow ethylene oxide reaction to take place throughout the column. • Align total stages with reactive stages during optimization process. Existing studies on reactive-extractive distillation (RED) commonly misapply optimization variables by including reaction stages. Given the uncatalyzed nature of ethylene oxide (EO) hydration in RED, where it naturally occurs throughout the column, a more appropriate strategy is to optimize only the total stages, allowing the reactive stage to align accordingly. However, previous attempts to implement this approach faced challenges. Here we introduce an algorithm addressing the variable overlap issue in optimizing RED, exemplified in two case studies. In Case 1, we explored a distinct scenario where the original process designated a specific reaction zone. Adjustments were made to ensure the reaction occurred throughout the entire column but it leads to a 13 % total annual cost (TAC) increase compared to the base case. In Case 2, optimization was applied to a system where reaction were distributed throughout the column without prior optimization, yielding a marginal 3.87 % reduction in the TAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policymakers and firms use behavioral interventions to promote sustainable development in various domains. A correct impact evaluation requires looking beyond the targeted domain and assessing its interactions with similar interventions. Existing evidence in this area is limited, leading to potential misestimation of behavioural interventions and poor guidance on their design. Here, we test the impact of a two-year social information campaign to nudge water conservation through a large-scale randomized controlled trial implemented with a multi-resource company,. We find that the water nudge significantly decreases water and electricity usage, but not that of gas. Spillovers arise for customers who do not receive nudges targeting the other resources. Customers receiving the water report are also significantly less likely to deactivate their gas and electricity contracts, regardless of whether they receive other reports. Our results suggest that multiple nudges strain users' limited attention and ability to enact conservation efforts. Users' constraints in attending to multiple stimuli need to be accounted in designing policy interventions to foster sustainable practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining the optimal soil quality stands a fundamental determinant for sustained yield of rice-wheat system (RWS) in Indo Gangetic plains (IGP) of India. To uphold soil quality, implementing minimum/no tillage along with addition of crop residue are required. To evaluate the long-term (15 years) impact of tillage and residue management experiment (LT&RE) initiated in 2006 on soil quality index (SQI) and to establish the quantitative relationship between the SQI and crops yield under various crop establishment practices. Experiment consisted of six treatment combinations including LT&RE namely, (i) conventional tillage without residue (CT − R), (ii) conventional tillage with residue incorporation (CT + R), (iii) reduced tillage without residue (RT − R), (iv) reduced tillage with residue incorporation (RT + R), (v) zero tillage without residue (ZT − R), and (vi) zero tillage with residue retention (ZT + R). The SQI was used as an instrument based soil physical [bulk density (BD), soil penetration resistance (SPR) and infiltration rate (IR)], chemical [soil pH (pH 1:2), electrical conductivity (EC 1:2), soil organic carbon (OC) available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn)], and biological [microbial biomass carbon (MBC), alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), and dehydrogenase activity (DHA)], properties as these are very useful indicators of soil's functions, fertility and agronomic productivity. Soil samples were collected from 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil depth from each treatment after harvesting of wheat in 2021 and 2022. The ZT + R treatment exhibited the lowest bulk density (1.45 Mg m−3) and soil penetration resistance (1306.02 KPa) at surface soil, resulting in higher infiltration rates (7.80 mm h−1). Adoption of LT&RE led to a notable increase (15.8–25.7%) in soil organic carbon (SOC) stock across all the treatment combinations compared to CT-R. The enhanced SOC and better physical soil conditions increased microbial activities. The ZT + R treatment had the highest levels of MBC (271.63 mg kg−1 soil), alkaline phosphatase (187.08 μmol p-nitrophenol g−1 h−1), and dehydrogenase activity (122.00 μg TPF g−1 24 h−1). Despite a significant increase (3.8 and 6.9%) in wheat yield, a notable decrease in rice yield (10.5 and 16.7%) was recorded, leading to 2.9 and 6.2% yield reduction in RWS under RT and ZT treatments, respectively. Addressing the decline in rice yield, improved management of direct seeded rice (DSR) in RT/ZT system, or the crop diversification of long-term DSR with suitable alternative crops in rainy season under LT&RE are recommended strategies. [Display omitted] • Conservational tillage (reduced/zero) and residue management (incorporation/retention) is necessary to sustain soil health. • Assessed soil quality index (SQI) after 15 years of conservational tillage and residue management. • Derived correlation between crop yield and SQI in RWS for surface and sub-surface soil. • Conservational tillage and residue management enhanced SQI by 82% -178%. • 7.5-16.7% lesser DSR yield suggests more pronounced impact of planting method and crop management rather than soil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable management of critical raw materials is of paramount importance to ensure a steady supply and reduce environmental impact. The application of newly synthesized and environmentally friendly ALG@CS material as a bio-adsorbent for the effective rare earth elements removal from aqueous solution has been presented. The synthesized material underwent FTIR, XPS, EDX, and SEM analysis to determine its suitability for metal uptake. To evaluate the adsorption capacity of ALG@CS for rare earth elements several factors were taken into consideration. These factors included alginate:chitosan ratios, bead size, pH level, composite mass, interaction time, metal ion concentration, and temperature, being all varied during the batch mode evaluation process. Under the optimal conditions, the maximum adsorption capacities were found to be 145.90 mg La(III)/g, 168.44 mg Ce(III)/g, 132.51 mg Pr(III)/g, 128.40 mg Nd(III)/g, 154.36 mg Sm(III)/g, and 165.10 mg Ho(III)/g. The equilibrium data fits well with non-linear three-parameter Sips and Redlich-Peterson isotherm models. The PSO model finds the highest process suitability. The synthesized ALG@CS bio-adsorbent showed excellent regenerative capacity in ten cycles, making it a suitable adsorbent for rare earth elements uptake. The unique bio-adsorbents combination allows for efficient critical raw materials adsorption providing a promising solution for their recovery and recycling. [Display omitted] • Novel low-cost bio-adsorbent was fabricated using alginate and chitosan ionically crosslinked. • La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), and Ho(III) ions sorption onto the bio-adsorbent was successful. • Maximum adsorption capacities of ALG5@CS1 bio-adsorbent were ranged of 128.40–168.44 mg/g. • Three-parameter Sips and Redlich-Peterson isotherm models were suitable to describe the REE adsorption process. • The ALG5@CS1 bio-adsorbent could be used repeatedly after 10 cycles of regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers' interaction with the advisory services providers is much important, especially in the era when agriculture has become more challenging. In this study, we compared the use and effectiveness of different interaction methods used by the public and private sector Extension Field Staff (EFS). This study was conducted in three districts Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan of the Punjab, province. A total of 480 respondents selected at random were interviewed face to face on a structured interview schedule. Collected data were analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). T-statistics were applied to compare the two sectors i.e. public and private EFS. Findings indicated that there was a statistically significant mean difference (P<0.05) regarding interaction methods such as farmer days, field visits, group meetings, demonstrations, seminars and the use of electronic media and social media. Among the different services provided by the public and private sector EFS indicating statistically significant mean difference (P<0.05) were demonstration, use of IPM, less use of pesticides, access to market, conservation of resources, access to inputs and weather forecasting services. Whereas, the public and private sectors had a non-significant mean difference regarding the clean cotton campaign and access to subsidies (P>0.05). the statistics confirmed that overall, the private sector EFS were more effective as compared to the public sector. This study suggests a proper selection of interaction methods to access the farmers. Moreover, the synergy between the two sectors could be more effective in making technical advice effective and paving the way towards environment and resource conservation. Effective integration of ICTs in the communication process is also highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An emphasis on sustainable growth helps decrease the initial capital and reduce the impact of industry on an ecologically sensitive environment through resource conservation. Pinch Analysis serves as a valuable tool to identify the potential for resource conservation, waste minimization, and resource costs. However, there are inherent uncertainties associated with these resource conservation networks. The concept of Pinch Analysis is broadened to multi-objective resource conservation problems incorporating parametric uncertainties in this paper. The objective functions are combined to form a single compound objective function using the weighted sum approach. For the compound objective function, prioritized sequences (or resource combinations) are generated through multi-objective prioritized costs to accommodate parametric uncertainties. The multi-objective prioritized cost vs. weights curve helps determine the unique prioritized sequences for different range of weights to achieve optimal solutions. An exact analytical expression for the maximum number of prioritized sequences is also derived. Furthermore, a method is presented to construct the complete Pareto-optimal front to represent all optimal solutions graphically. Two illustrative examples, the hydrogen conservation problem with two objectives (cost and emission) and the water conservation problem with three objectives (cost, land requirement, and emission), demonstrate the proposed method's utility and efficacy. A multi-objective resource conservation problem under normally distributed parametric uncertainties. [Display omitted] • Included parametric uncertainties in multi-objective resource conservation problems. • Stochastic Pinch Analysis minimizes multiple objectives with multiple resources. • Determined the maximum number of possible prioritized sequences of resources. • Proposed multi-objective prioritized cost to determine the optimal sequence. • Determined Pareto-optimal fronts to represent all the efficient solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) are critical biodiversity areas for the conservation and sustainable use of biological and cultural resources while promoting regional peace, cooperation, and socio-economic development. Sustainable management of TFCAs is dependent on the availability of an eco-agriculture framework that promotes integrated management of conservation mosaics in terms of food production, environmental protection or the conservation of natural resources, and improved human livelihoods. As a developmental framework, eco-agriculture is significantly influenced by existing legal and governance structures at all levels; this study assessed the impact of existing legal and governance frameworks on eco-agriculture implementation in the Lubombo TFCA that cuts across the borders between Mozambique, Eswatini, and South Africa. The assessment used a mixed research method, including a document review, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Although the three countries have no eco-agriculture policies, biodiversity practices are directly or indirectly affected by some policies related to environmental protection, agriculture improvement, and rural development. The assessment found that South Africa has the most comprehensive policies related to eco-agriculture; Mozambican policies mainly focus on equity and involvement of disadvantaged social groups, while Eswatini is conspicuous for explicitly making it the responsibility of each citizen to protect and safeguard the environment. The protection of conservation areas is critical to preserving natural habitats and ensuring the continued provision of ecosystem services. The lack of transboundary governance structures results in the Lubombo TFCA existing as a treaty on paper, as there are no clear processes for transboundary cooperation and collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heritage trees are essential natural resources constituents of ecosystems and important tourism resources in ethnic areas with important carriers of homesickness and cultural memory. There is great significance in the protection and utilization of heritage trees by studying their composition and distribution resources in northern Guangxi. This study focuses on a comprehensive investigation and analysis of the composition and characteristics of ancient tree species in northern Guangxi, by a combination of field investigation and field visits. The results show that 10 923 heritage trees belong to 202 species, 120 genera and 49 families. The dominant species are Liquidambar formosan, Schima superba, Pterocarya stenoptera and Cinnamomum camphora. The dominant families are Fagaceae, Lauraceae, Ulmaceae, Magnoliaceae and Elaeocarpaceae. Heritage trees are mainly distributed at three types of topographic positions, with 31% in the steep slopes, 24. 42% on the slopes and 20. 64% on level ground. For habitats, it is concentrated in two areas. 40. 63% individuals are distributed in the villages and 35. 66% in the forest areas. The third-class heritage trees are the main species (88. 31%). There are relatively few first-class (3.3%) and second-class (8. 39%) ancient trees. Most heritage trees are concentrated in the DBH crown size-class of 4-16 m, and the height-class of 12-28 m, and the size-class of 40- 100 cm. Overall, heritage trees resources in northern Guangxi have high conservation values, due to the rich ancient tree resources, and well preserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Incorporating parametric uncertainties in resource conservation networks. • Stochastic optimization of resource conservation networks with multiple resources. • Generalized prioritized cost to determine appropriate resources to be used. • Comparing Pinch Analysis with numerical optimization. • Sensitivity diagram to represent optimal resource at different cost ratios. Process industries often utilize a large number of valuable resources. To minimize operating costs and to promote sustainability, it is essential to prevent the overuse of resources. In conjunction with the prioritized cost concept, Pinch Analysis helps in achieving cost-optimal multi-resource allocation networks. Previous works were restricted to optimizing resource allocation networks with deterministic parameters without considering uncertainties associated with them. Uncertainties in source and resource parameters are incorporated in this paper through chance-constrained programming and solved through Pinch-based and numerical optimization-based methods. The notion of prioritized cost is extended to include uncertainties in various network parameters. Based on specified reliability for the multi-resource allocation network, the proposed approach determines the optimal operating cost of the network, and the results are verified through Monte Carlo simulations. Two examples from the field of water conservation and material conservation are solved to establish the utility of the proposed method. Optimal combinations of resources are pictorially represented at different cost ratios through a novel sensitivity diagram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the main trends in processing animal products, the development of technologies to improve their quality and technologies to preserve the quality indicators of the product over time. A review of the effects of ultrasound treatment on beef rumen is presented, and the main directions of ultrasound application are determined. The advantages of ultrasonic processing and its influence on the characteristics of raw meat were researched. The modes and parameters (frequency, intensity and duration) of ultrasound treatment of muscle tissue were established based on the results. This study evaluated the effect of ultrasound treatment on beef rumen's physical, microstructural and organoleptic characteristics. The physicochemical, mineral, microbiological, vitamin and amino acid composition of beef rumen and reticulum were also studied. Based on the results of the presented review, it can be concluded that the development of technologies for processing beef rumen with ultrasound is of potential interest. The optimal parameters are 400 and 600 W/m2, with a frequency of 40 kHz, for 50-60 minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource conservation in construction – aspects from planning practice The construction of buildings and structures of the infrastructure is always associated with the use of natural resources and with emissions. As planner in structural, industrial, civil and water engineering the author reports exemplarie from the different areas of practice and describes current and future contributions and fields of action to conserve resources in construction. The focus is on structural aspects from structural and civil engineering without neglecting the holistic consideration of all dimensions of sustainability over the entire life cycle of a building or structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orientation: Working from home eliminated the work-nonwork divide. The lives of employees at home were instantaneously connected to their engagement and productivity at work. The mechanisms and pathways through which an individual's access to and management of nonwork resources and demands influence behaviours and outcomes at work have been scantily investigated. Research purpose: Hinged primarily on the conservation of resources theory, the study examined the influence of the external support, nonwork demands and resources on work engagement and employee productivity. Motivation for the study: Understanding how work-nonwork resources and demands interact(ed) to shape behaviour and outcomes in the work domain could shape cross-domain resource conservation and enhancement efforts. Research approach/design and method: Data were collected from a convenient sample of 185 nongovernmental organisation employees using a standard questionnaire. Structural models, with bootstrapping, were used to evaluate the hypothesised moderating and mediating effects. Main findings: Nonwork resources were positively associated with work engagement. External support moderated the negative relationship between nonwork demands and work engagement. Work engagement mediated the effects of nonwork resources and nonwork demands on employee productivity. Practical/managerial implications: Organizational leaders should appreciate the ecological conditions within which work and nonwork resources are generated and expended. This has implications on desirable, value creating workplace behaviours and related outcomes. Contribution/value-add: The study further exposed the interdependence of the work and non-work domains. Workplaces that enrich both domains will likely enjoy sustained value generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater reuse and recycling will play an increasingly important role in solving future water stress worldwide. Water of high quality and purity is an indispensable raw material for industry in many production steps, so the availability of water is a decisive location factor for industry. Innovative concepts for wastewater reuse and recycling within the framework of operator models based on many years of know‐how lead to the conservation of scarce water resources and to a sustainable and financially attractive water supply. As the presented reference plants show, ecologically and economically advantageous solutions can be created for municipalities, industry, and water suppliers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for hydrogen in refineries and petrochemical plants is challenging these facilities to minimise their hydrogen utility without incurring high capital and operating costs. As environment-related fuel specifications become more stringent, the demand for hydrogen increases, especially for the operation of hydrodesulphurisation in refineries. A P-graph model is developed in this paper for the synthesis of hydrogen networks. The model is capable of generating optimal and near-optimal solutions for the hydrogen network. The proposed methodology is computationally efficient and require minimal understanding of programming language. The developed model includes both direct recycle/reuse and regeneration schemes; and accounts for pressure and impurity constraints in the hydrogen network. In addition, the application of hydrogen header can also be handled by the P-graph model. The methodology is illustrated with three literature examples and the results obtained match those reported in literature. [Display omitted] • A P-graph model is developed for hydrogen networks. • Pressure and impurity constraints are considered. • Direct reuse/recycle and regeneration schemes are included. • Hydrogen networks with headers can be designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• New arrangement of reactive-extractive distillation (RED) for energy-saving. • Rearrange double column RED (DCRED) to extractive-reactive distillation (ED-RD). • New intensified ED-RD provides significant energy-saving. • Old intensified DCRED cannot provide any energy-saving. • Thermally couple ED-RD provides 28 and 27% lower energy and cost relative to DCRED. The concept of reactive-extractive distillation (RED) is not new and has gained significant attention as an innovative approach for separating azeotropic mixtures. Presently, there have been at least 18 studies on RED, exploring variations such as triple column RED (TCRED), double column RED (DCRED), and their intensified configurations like dividing-wall DCRED (DW-DCRED) or side-stream DCRED (SS-DCRED). However, a major drawback observed in all existing intensified RED studies is the inability to achieve energy savings, which contrasts with the outcomes of most conventional distillation system studies. To address this, we propose a new alternative configuration called extractive-reactive distillation (ED-RD) by rearranging the column sequence in DCRED. The ED-RD configuration achieves a substantial 7 % reduction in the total annual cost (TAC) compared to DCRED, primarily due to a reduced number of stages and the utilization of relatively cheaper low-pressure steam in the extractive distillation column (EDC). Furthermore, the intensified thermally coupled ED-RD (TC-ED-RD) configuration demonstrates superior performance, achieving an impressive 21 % reduction in TAC compared to the proposed ED-RD configuration, mainly driven by a significant decrease in total reboiler energy consumption. Overall, the TC-ED-RD configuration excels with a remarkable 28 % reduction in total reboiler energy consumption and a 27 % decrease in TAC compared to DCRED. This reflects the potential of incorporating process intensification techniques to the proposed configuration to achieve substantial energy and cost savings, in contrast to the limitations observed in the conventional RED systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Regional weather variations significantly impact the quality of citrus. • A digital replica of Valencia orange growth process quantifies this weather impact. • Our models predict citrus fruit quality at harvest with about 5 % error. • Warmer regions produce larger and less acidic oranges compared to coastal areas. • Fruit temperature gradients vary across regions, affecting quality upon harvest. The quality of citrus fruit is influenced by various growing conditions, including weather. However, the impact of weather differences between growing regions on citrus quality at harvest is not well understood. This study employs a mechanistic-driven digital replica of the growth process of a Valencia orange from fruit set until harvest to quantify this impact. Measured daily temperature, humidity, rainfall, solar radiation, and wind speed data from various orange growing regions of South Africa, including Citrusdal, Nelspruit, Letsitele, and Sundays River Valley (SRV), inform and drive this digital model. The results suggest that the differences in weather conditions between growing regions significantly affect fruit diameter (FD), fruit weight (FW), rind thickness (RT), rind weight (RW), total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), and °Brix/acid ratio of oranges at harvest. The differences between growing regions led to variations of up to threefold for FD, twofold for FW, RT, RW, TSS, °Brix/acid ratio and up to fourfold for TA upon harvest. Particularly, oranges produced from warmer Letsitele and Nelspruit regions are found to be larger, sweeter and less acidic compared to those from coastal SRV upon harvest. The study also reveals the impact of the fruit growth process on the temperature gradient within the fruit, which varies across growing regions. The maximal temperature difference between the fruit core and surface during the growth process ranges from 4 °C to ∼7 °C. These variations in fruit temperature gradient could lead to variations in temperature-driven quality decay of fruit from different climatic regions at the start of their postharvest journey. These findings provide valuable insights for the citrus industry, aiding to optimize practices, harvest planning, and postharvest logistics. The output of this digital twin will help identify areas needing extra precooling to extend postharvest shelf life and minimize quality decay. Real-world use allows growers to schedule harvests based on regional weather conditions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many renewable natural resources have been extracted beyond sustainable levels. While some resource stocks have recovered, others are still over-extracted, causing substantial economic losses. This paper develops a model motivated by empirical facts about resource use and regulation to understand these patterns. The model is a dynamic model of a dual economy with technological progress, structural change, and costly resource regulation. Based on this model, we show that technological progress explains the initial increase in resource use. Technological progress also induces structural change and a decline in resource users. While the declining number of resource users does not directly lead to resource recovery, it does reduce regulatory costs, paving the way for resource regulation and recovery. Our results show that although technological progress can contribute to resource degradation, it also helps resource recovery through reduced regulatory costs. Our results suggest further that a temporal use beyond sustainable levels can be socially optimal until regulatory costs fall below the benefits of regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effects of five biomodifiers on the aging and rejuvenation of biomodified rubberized bitumen. It further discusses the challenges associated with restoration and reuse of aged bitumen, especially bitumen located in a geographic area with high ultraviolet intensity. Exposing bitumen to oxidation changes its colloidal stability, whereas the content of asphaltene increases, and the content of aromatics decreases as aging progresses. In addition, bitumen's evolution during aging includes oxidation, aromatization, chain scission, and carbonization, which alters bitumen's molecular structure and subsequently its restoration capacity. To revitalize aged bitumen, a need exists to restore bitumen's molecular conformation. The latter becomes more complex when rubber molecules are involved because the presence of polymeric structures and carbon black in tires could have counteracting effects on bitumen's aging. The polymer structure can degrade and act as a sacrificing agent, whereas carbon black might work as an ultraviolet blocker and free radical scavenger. In addition, the presence of other modifiers, such as bio-oils, could alter the evolution of aging. To study the interplay of modifiers on the aging evolution of rubberized bitumen, this study compares the resistance to the ultraviolet aging of various biomodified rubberized bitumens. It further examines the efficacy of a rejuvenator to restore each aged bitumen. This study found that not all biomodified rubberized bitumens had similar restoration capacity. The results indicated that bitumen containing a wood-based modifier has the least signs of aging among all scenarios studied. This finding can be attributed to the presence of a significant content of furfural in the wood-based modifier that helped reduce molecular-level changes. After aging, each specimen was rejuvenated using a biobased rejuvenator. The success of rejuvenation was tracked using the rejuvenating index calculated based on the extent of the changes in the chemical and rheological properties of rejuvenated bitumen. Aged wood-based rubber modifier was found to need the lowest dosage (5.7%) of the rejuvenator to be restored, followed by corn stover (8.3%), miscanthus (8.4%), waste vegetable oil (9.81%), and castor oil-based rubber modifier (10.87%). The study results indicate that the composition of biomodified rubberized bitumen not only affects its evolution during aging but also its rejuvenation capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traits are the primary attributes that distinguish a species niche. Species and higher taxa are part of a structured phylogeny, and variation in plant traits depends on lineage as well as on environmental conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate linkages between taxonomic identity, shared ancestry, and environment for understanding the variation in leaf traits. We investigated the evolutionary relationships, based on multiple gene sequences among 26 plant species sampled along an elevational gradient from 650 to 3600 m a.s.l. in the central Himalaya. We tested for the phylogenetic signal based on three different measures in 10 leaf traits having a significant association with the resource acquisition-conservation trade-offs axis and influencing plant growth, development, and ecological performance. We further assessed the role of elevation and growth forms as the potential drivers of leaf traits variation while controlling for phylogeny. 5 out of 10 leaf traits showed significant phylogenetic signal. Plant species clustered more often by growth forms at the tips of the phylogeny indicating multiple instances of independent evolution. Evergreen taxa showed niche separation with deciduous and incorporated larger trait variation. Trait variations were guided by both growth forms and elevation when accounted for phylogeny. Growth form has a higher contribution to trait variation compared to elevation. Trade-offs were detected between resource conservation and resource acquisition machinery traits (that would maximise carbon gain), differing between growth forms and along elevation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is the core source to both refinery and synthetic plant of chemicals. Refinery consumes high purity hydrogen while synthetic plant of chemicals needs syngas consists of hydrogen and carbon oxides. As main hydrogen production technologies, industrial coal gasification and steam methane reforming based pathways generate H 2 , CO and CO 2 , which is actually the mixture of hydrogen and carbon oxides. Hence, the gases demand of refinery and synthetic plant of chemicals and their supply from hydrogen production can form hybrid hydrogen networks. On the basis of complementary reuse, this paper firstly proposes integration of hybrid hydrogen network for refinery and synthetic plant of chemicals. Superstructures of individual and hybrid hydrogen networks are employed as problem illustration and corresponding linear programming (LP) mathematical models are formulated. Practical refinery and synthetic plant of chemicals cases are employed to demonstrate its application. Compared with individual networks, the natural gas conservation case can recover 8660.4 Nm3·h-1 hydrogen in purge gas, reduce 1386.6 Nm3·h-1 CO 2 emission, equaling to reduction of 278.11 kmol·h-1 natural gas feedstock and 14.8% of total gas production load; the coal conservation case can even waive the total coal consumption and extra 104.1 kmol·h-1 natural gas, recover 8660.4 Nm3·h-1 hydrogen in purge gas, reduce 5255.8 Nm3·h-1 of CO 2 emission and decrease 21.2% of the total gas production load. Furthermore, economic evaluation is also placed to account for the economic advantage of hybrid network. Image 1 • Novel hybrid hydrogen networks for refinery and SPC(HHNRSPC). • Complementary-intensified direct reuse for hydrogen and carbon oxides of CG and SMR. • Novel integration method for resource conservation and carbon emission reduction. • 21.2% of gas production load and 5255.8 Nm3·h−1 of CO 2 emission can be waived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ukraine has a high level of industry, agriculture and consumption. As a result of underutilization of recovered materials and their products into the environment returns significant amount of waste that contaminate soil, water, air. Dumps occupy large areas, long ground beneath them put out of production, they pollute the environment. The main causes of waste, lack of effective processes and capacities of processing residues, spatial and chronological dissociation processes of waste and their use, lack of sufficient market. Of all the organic waste in Ukraine is one of the main places belong chicken droppings. Fresh droppings quickly oxidizes the soil, humus and inhibits microorganisms, disrupting its natural ecosystem biological community. With some preparation and processing of chicken manure is a high quality fertilizer that contains chemical elements (N, P, K), macro- and micronutrients, humic acid and other components that are essential for growth and fertility of different plants. For decontamination litter widely used thermal drying at t = 600 – 800 °C. This product is well kept dry, easily transported, but using traditional drying facilities for its handling used large amount of heat. Today continually created and offered new modern technologies for processing chicken manure. At the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics NAS of Ukraine many years conducted investigations on the creation of modern technologies and equipment for processing organic waste. Analysis of the traditional intensification methods and processes of heat and mass transfer during drying of materials was presented in the paper. The author has proved the promising nature of the method of the combined processes of drying and dispersion using a mechanical rotor to intensify the process of drying of high–moisture thermolabile materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photosynthetic pathway is an important cause of growth rate variation between species such that the enhanced carbon uptake of C4 species leads to faster growth than their C3 counterparts. Leaf traits that promote rapid resource acquisition may further enhance the growth capacity of C4 species. However, how root economic traits interact with leaf traits, and the different growth strategies adopted by plants with C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways is unclear. Plant economic traits could interact with, or act independently of, photosynthetic pathway in influencing growth rate, or C3 and C4 species could segregate out along a common growth rate–trait relationship.We measured leaf and root traits on 100+ grass species grown from seeds in a controlled, common environment to compare with relative growth rates (RGR) during the initial phase of rapid growth, controlling for phylogeny and allometric effects.Photosynthetic pathway acts independently to leaf and root functional traits in causing fast growth. Using C4 photosynthesis, plants can achieve faster growth than their C3 counterparts (by an average 0.04 g g−1 day−1) for a given suite of functional trait values, with lower investments of leaf and root nitrogen. Leaf and root traits had an additive effect on RGR, with plants achieving fast growth by possessing resource‐acquisitive leaf traits (high specific leaf area and low leaf dry matter content) or root traits (high specific root length and area, and low root diameter), but having both leads to an even faster growth rate (by up to 0.06 g g−1 day−1). C4 photosynthesis can provide a greater relative increase in RGR for plants with a 'slow' ecological strategy than in those with fast growth. However, above‐ground and below‐ground strategies are not coordinated so that species can have any combination of 'slow' or 'fast' leaf and root traits.Synthesis. C4 photosynthesis increases growth rate for a given combination of economic traits, and significantly alters plant nitrogen economy in the leaves and roots. However, leaf and root economic traits act independently to further enhance growth. The fast growth of C4 grasses promotes a competitive advantage under hot, sunny conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper proposes a multi-dimensional assessment framework for cropland use stability. • Multi-dimensional cropland use characteristics present significant spatial differentiation. • Cropland stability in Northeast China Plain and Loess Plateau is the highest and lowest. • Urbanization will lead to about 9.31% of high-stability cropland losses in 2030. • Integrating landscape stability and national planning can draft a sustainable-oriented strategy. Shifting to more sustainable use can curb cropland resource degradation and improve production resilience. However, most cropland use assessments are unilaterally focused on biophysical levels and productivity, ignoring the multi-dimensional aspects of degraded cropland. This study attempts to describe cropland use stability in China by proposing a multi-dimensional assessment framework (including quantity, quality, management, service, and risk) to provide a reference for designing land degradation-neutral strategies. Results show that multi-dimensional cropland use characteristics present significant spatial heterogeneity. Western regions are reserve resource agglomerations that can replenish cropland quantity. In contrast, main grain-producing areas cover most current resources with preferably cultivation quality, management efficiency, and ecosystem services, while risk resistance is weak (especially in Middle-lower Yangtze Plain). Generally, the stability of cropland use in Northeast Plain is the highest and in Loess Plateau the lowest. Besides, urbanization will occupy about 9.31% of the high-stability cropland in 2030, of which 70.29% will occur in Northeast Plain and Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. The total potential productivity loss in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain alone will reach 100.1 kt, equivalent to supplying the food demand of 199,200 people annually. Therefore, a sustainable-oriented refined cropland management strategy should be designed according to the hierarchical nested spatial layout of comprehensive planning-stability map-multi-dimensional utilization characteristics to ensure the loss-replenishment balance and stable production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Households play a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, there have been few studies of household conservation from the perspective of the nexus of food, energy, and water (FEW) consumption. This study's objective is to understand the effects of different types of intervention messages for inducing conservation of FEW resources and reducing carbon emissions at the household level in the U.S. Employing a serious-gaming approach, we developed the HomeRUN (Home Role-play for Understanding the Nexus) game, which allows players to act as homeowners and take behavioral and technological upgrade actions in a computer-simulation setting. The types of messages tested include social comparisons and resource-reduction measures across FEW sectors as well as information about the health, economic, and environmental impacts of FEW consumption. A game experiment with U.S. university students finds that social-comparison messages on food and energy consumption, but not on water, lead to significant reductions in household carbon emissions. In addition, messages associated with each type of FEW resource tend to lead to an immediate action corresponding to the particular FEW domain. These insights support a prioritization of intervention messaging for coordinated FEW conservation efforts at a household level. • U.S. households can conserve food, energy, water (FEW) resources to cut emissions. • A serious game is developed to test messages promoting sustainable behavior. • The study is the first to test the effectiveness of messaging across all FEW domains. • Social-comparison messages reduce food and energy emissions the most. • The use of periodic reminders can encourage FEW conservation behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's ecological environment construction has undergone three phases, i.e. the agriculture-based development phase with low productivity not long after the founding of the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.), the industrial development phase after the adoption of reform and opening-up policy, and the phase toward ecological civilization, each of which has its own features, challenges, responsive measures and achievements. From the year 1949 to the adoption of reform and opening up policy, the Chinese society was characterized by farming culture on the whole, facing problems such as frequent natural disasters, shortage in food production and low urbanization level. To jump out of the Malthusian Trap, the founders of the P.R.C. led people to prevent floods by water control, water conservancy projects and reclamation of wasteland, which alleviated but did not solve the problems because China still suffered poverty and backwardness, and failed to shake off the Malthusian Curse. After the adoption of the reform and opening-up policy, the rapid progress in industrialization and urbanization has liberated farmers from land and greatly improved labor productivity; meanwhile, some lands were released from farmers' hand, which not only made the value of land resources much higher but also enabled land rehabilitation and ecological self-restoration. Although rapid industrialization and urbanization enormously boosted productive forces and accumulated immense amount of material wealth, but since the beginning of the 21st century, China's development has been drawn near to the ecological red line, environmental threshold and resources upper limit of industrial development, constantly challenged by sustainable development. After 2010, China has initiated the transformation to ecological civilization, featuring ecological protection, pollution control and resource conservation, aiming to promote the harmonious development between man and nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present theory and research on effort mobilization that is relevant for understanding the role of affect in cognitive control. We posit that cognitive control and effort are closely related and introduce motivational intensity theory and supporting empirical evidence mainly based on cardiovascular measures of effort. Most important, we discuss the role of affect in the context of effort mobilization and cognitive control from different perspectives. We first present theories predicting affective influences on effort, namely the mood-behavior-model and the implicit-affect-primes-effort model, and supporting empirical evidence. Second, we discuss further implications of the resource conservation principle highlighting the aversive aspect of effort and review evidence for the impact of value and its affective component on effort and cognitive control. Finally, we present a recent integration of the neural mechanisms underlying both effort and cognitive control. We conclude that affective processes are necessary and instrumental for both effort mobilization and cognitive control. • Affect systematically influences mental effort and cognitive control. • Positive incentive has to justify the aversive aspect of effortful actions. • Affect is related to conflict detection, value processing, and cost processing. • Affect is necessary and instrumental for the processes that drive control and effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews current literature published on aquaponics, a growing technology which uses aquaculture effluent to grow plants. Aquaponics offers a solution to several sustainability issues, such as, limited water availability, environmental pollution, increasing fertilizer cost, and depletion of fertile soils. The commercial and scientific application of aquaponics is growing; however, there is yet to be a review which holistically analyses scientific literature to indicate what type of system performs optimally, what will be the most dominant horticultural challenges as the commercial sector expands, and what direction of aquaponic research will be most impacting. This review analyzed over 529 publications on aquaponics, from 1978 to 2018. Through a systematic process, 257 of the most constructive publications were further analyzed and organized into varying groups based on content. The review found that in the past three 3 years, over 160 scientific articles have been published on aquaponic technology, detailing numerous trends, technological advancements and challenges associated with the system, consolidating the expansion of aquaponics and the need for a review. From publications investigating trends, it was found that decoupled aquaponic systems are becoming increasingly popular over coupled aquaponic systems, a deep water culture hydroponic component and media bed component are optimal for commercial and research applications, respectively; Tilapia and dark leafy vegetables are the most successful species used and Nitrospira may play a more important role in the aquaponic nitrification process than expected. From publications investigating challenges, it was found that commercial aquaponics will face difficulty growing high value flowering crops such as sweet peppers, tomatoes or cucumber, as a result of suboptimal nutrient ratios in aquaponic solution, specifically the reduced K+, Mg+, and Ca+. Holistically, it was found that the most important aspect of aquaponics that needs future research is the role plant promoting microbes play in nutrient uptake. Considering plant growth promoting microbes are likely the cause of aquaponic plants being able to achieve yields similar to that of hydroponics, despite nutrient levels being significantly lower, future research in this field can be paramount to the beneficial use of microbes in all plant production systems. • Publications on aquaponics have increased exponentially in the past 3 years. • Aquaponic systems are moving from coupled to decoupled systems. • Tilapia paired with dark leafy greens are the commonly used species in aquaponics. • Plant growth promoting microbes play a vital role in the success of aquaponics. • The most prominent horticultural challenge in aquaponics is suboptimal nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recreational fishing provokes conservation concerns given the growing recreational demands on fisheries resources in different countries. Despite the negative impact of recreational fishing on fishery resources, it can contribute to improving resource conditions if appropriate legal and management institutions and understanding anglers' attitudes and behaviors are successfully accomplished. The purpose of this study is to investigate how anglers develop consumptive orientation using the concept and propositions of recreation specialization and to examine how the formation process of consumptive orientation is dissimilar across angler populations between Texas of the United States and Queensland of Australia. Study results suggest that, in some angler populations, increasing specialization may actually increase anglers' level of consumptive orientation; further investigation is needed to better understand the linkages among specialization, experience preferences, and consumptive orientation; and how these linkages can vary between angler populations or population segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internationally, marine spatial planning (MSP) is an integral part of the decision-making protocol for setting up activities in the marine zone, be it the establishment of industries, exploration and mining for oil and minerals, deciding of surface transport, ensuring national security, exploitation of living and non-living resources, or conservation and management of resources and ecosystems. Satellite-based technologies like remote sensing and geographic information system are two powerful tools that provide a common platform to present information on different activities from the marine zone. This would enable the planners and policymakers to interpret the interaction between various factors and derive judicious decisions on the allocation of space and resources to different segments or activities in marine zone. This article reviews how MSP is being used as a decisionsupport tool in various countries for the peaceful coexistence of different stakeholders in the marine zone. It also discusses initiatives in India along with a reminder on the responsibility of the country as a signatory of international organizations to give importance on developing MSP for the conservation of resources as well as marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Consideration of side reactions in hybrid reactive-extractive distillation (RED) • Inevitable formation of higher-level glycols from ethylene oxide hydration. • Supporting and contrary arguments with own perspective. • Thermodynamic analysis of different scenarios for RED's performance. • A preliminary analysis to determine the performance of RED after side reactions. This perspective article provides insights into the emerging field of ethylene glycol (EG) based reactive-extractive distillation (RED) for azeotropic mixture separation, challenging conventional practices in this area. RED has gained popularity for azeotropic separation, with at least 17 studies published since 2020. While it integrates chemical reactions and separation effectively, side reactions can significantly impact performance. Recent studies reveal instances where RED performs poorly with high energy consumption and economic disadvantages. On the other hand, there are instances where it performs worse than the original case without side reactions but still outperforms traditional distillation systems. Here, we share our perspective on the inevitable side reactions that may occur in RED, offering a balanced view that acknowledges both supporting evidence and contrasting opinions. We also propose a novel method using simple thermodynamic analysis to quickly assess whether RED excels, is comparable to, or performs worse than the conventional distillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rainfall and maximum temperature have been decreasing in some regions of Mexico • Rainfall and maximum temperature decreases are associated with different functional trait response • Center and Gulf regions forests have the highest values of SLA (resource-acquisition) • Pacific region forests showed high leaf thickness values (resource conservation) Functional traits represent the adaptive responses of plant species to climatic changes. They are an integrative marker of the general environmental conditions at a location. Testing their patterns may help to understand how the functional traits would track these environmental changes of tropical montane cloud forests (TMCFs). These forests are characterized by the constant presence of clouds, and these are among the most threatened ecosystems by climate change worldwide. One of the main TMCF regions in Mexico is the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB). This region has provided refugia during past climate-change events. We identify three current regions of distribution of TMCF in TMVB, Pacific, Center and Gulf. We used 60 years of climatic information, functional traits and plants databases. We proposed the following aims: to determine whether changes in climatic variation have occurred in the TMVB and how these changes can be related to functional trait variations for dominant tree species across the three TMCF regions, and to know the potential changes as a refuge of the TMCF of the TMVB. We found different rainfall and maximum temperature patterns among and within regions. We identified that the Pacific region forests were characterized by the lowest specific leaf area (SLA), wider leaf thickness and high leaf density, which indicates resources-conservative leaf economics and tolerance to low humidity. Center and Gulf forests were distinguished by the highest SLA, less leaf thickness, and higher leaf density values, which suggests that the leaves of dominant tree species tend to be resources-acquisitive rather than conservative-resources. Finally functional traits were associated with prevailing climatic conditions and suggested that SLA, leaf thickness and leaf density are the main functional traits that could be used to relate them to regional climate. Also, Central and Gulf regions could serve as a refuge for those species of trees demanding humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Agriculture is one of the main assets of Pakistani and Indian economies, employing in both countries about 50% of the total labour force. Thus, improving agricultural sustainability in the Indo-Pak region has important implications for the local population as well as the rest of the world that relies on food imports from these countries. This article investigates the drivers and consequences of changes in crop production sustainability in India and Pakistan from an emergy-based perspective, from 2001 to 2011. However, due to the numerous crops cultivated in these regions, a detailed calculation of unit emergy values (UEVs) for each crop was not possible, therefore the paper presents a balance at country level (based on literature data for the crops' UEVs), rather than a canonical emergy accounting. The emergy perspective was chosen to holistically evaluate and compare the environmental pressures caused by crop production in both countries. Emergy-based indicators were calculated based on the real time series of input renewable and non-renewable sources. The major findings of the work revealed that purchased renewable inputs, such as irrigating water, and purchased non-renewable inputs, such as agricultural labor, are the largest contributors among the total inputs in both countries. Labor accounted for 46.79% and 60.59% of total emergy input for crop production in India and Pakistan respectively. Overall, the production efficiency in India was greater than that in Pakistan. Emergy of crop production in Pakistan witnessed an increase of only 23%, whereas India saw an increase of 42% during the study period. Despite the lack of data on each specific agricultural process, this trend is an evidence of the fact that, if on one side the agricultural activities in the two countries were intensified to supply an increasing population, on the other side, although India performed better than Pakistan, the sustainability of the agricultural practices (from a nature-oriented perspective as assessed with emergy analysis) in both countries did not improve.. Trends of carrying capacity indicated that intensive means of agricultural production are threatening natural resources in both countries. This study empirically demonstrates the need to conserve natural resources, especially water, which have been rapidly declining in these two countries. Since both countries share these resources, this study represents an evidence for the need to cooperate for transboundary natural resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is devoted to the issues of the application of advanced materials in order to ensure safety and resource conservation in the transportation system. The results of the development and introduction of organosilicate composites for use as anticorrosive, antifouling, antifrosting, and other types of coatings in the transport domain are presented. The chemical mechanisms forming the base of these materials' fabrication are investigated. The promising prospects of applying organosilicate materials with the aim of resource conservation and reduction of the environmental impact of the transportation industry are demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is a critical input for productivity enhancement especially of field crops. Its judicious and optimum use is needed utmost for realizing higher resource use efficiency and plugging gaps in production. Resource conservation technologies or key technological interventions, which could alter or rectify the usage pattern or strategies in freshwater utilization in agriculture, are the need of the hour. Tactical or strategic approach in water management could help in conserving and making more-efficient use of scarce water resources through integrated management combined with selected external inputs/technologies. In this context, the scientific interventions on water management involving precision levelling of land, no tillage or reduced tillage systems, furrow irrigated raised bed planting or broad bed furrow systems, management of soil cover and crop diversification and other inclusive technological practices could enforce appropriate water management schedules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]