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Most polyurethanes (PU) are currently produced through the polyaddition reaction of polyisocyanates with polyols and chain extenders, using components of petrochemical origin. From an environmental and geopolitical point of view, and with regard to the problems of oil supply and processing, the replacement of petrochemical PU raw materials with renewable resources is highly desirable. It is also one of the principles of sustainable development and an important challenge for chemical companies and market competitiveness. Current research studies focus mainly on the use of bio-based polyols for PUs, while other PU components, in particular polyisocyanates, remain of petrochemical origin. In this work, a series of PUs have been synthesized by polyaddition reactions of different types of renewable polyols and bio-based polyisocyanates. The effects of the bio-derived components on the structure, thermal stability and phase transformations of the PU were studied using FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, SWAXS, TGA, DSC, DMTA and TGA-FTIR. A full conversion of the bio-based monomers was achieved in all cases, indicating good compatibility and reactivity of all bio-based components. It was observed that bio-based PU exhibited a lower degree of phase separation and slightly lower thermal stability compared to PUs from petrochemical monomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid advancement of digital technologies in China, America, India, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Indonesia, Germany, Iran, South Korea, and Russia presents both significant opportunities and challenges for achieving sustainable development, particularly in balancing economic growth with environmental conservation. This study rigorously assesses the impact of digital government initiatives on sustainable innovations and emission reduction policies from 2002 to 2022, focusing on their ability to balance ecological and economic influences. By employing a sophisticated model that integrates second‐generation tests to confirm cross‐sectional dependence and gradient variation, this research ensures the precision of its findings. The analysis reveals that digitalization, clean energy adoption, and the utilization of these countries' abundant natural resources over this two‐decade period have contributed substantially to reducing their ecological footprints. However, the study also identifies structural discontinuities in the linear trends and intercepts due to the integration of these technologies. By incorporating variables such as e‐commerce, income from natural resources, economic growth, conservation‐friendly technologies, sustainable energy sources, and carbon dioxide emissions, the model provides a comprehensive evaluation. The results highlight a consistent decline in ecological impact driven by technological and economic advancements. The policy implications are clear: to sustain and enhance these positive trends, governments must continue to promote digitalization and innovation while carefully managing the integration of new technologies to prevent potential disruptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Most polyurethanes (PU) are currently produced through the polyaddition reaction of polyisocyanates with polyols and chain extenders, using components of petrochemical origin. From an environmental and geopolitical point of view, and with regard to the problems of oil supply and processing, the replacement of petrochemical PU raw materials with renewable resources is highly desirable. It is also one of the principles of sustainable development and an important challenge for chemical companies and market competitiveness. Current research studies focus mainly on the use of bio-based polyols for PUs, while other PU components, in particular polyisocyanates, remain of petrochemical origin. In this work, a series of PUs have been synthesized by polyaddition reactions of different types of renewable polyols and bio-based polyisocyanates. The effects of the bio-derived components on the structure, thermal stability and phase transformations of the PU were studied using FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, SWAXS, TGA, DSC, DMTA and TGA-FTIR. A full conversion of the bio-based monomers was achieved in all cases, indicating good compatibility and reactivity of all bio-based components. It was observed that bio-based PU exhibited a lower degree of phase separation and slightly lower thermal stability compared to PUs from petrochemical monomers.

The study uses general scientific and special methods, the main of which are: abstract-logical, deductive, inductive, historical, modelling and forecasting, methods of system-structural, system-functional analysis, economic and statistical (grouping, comparison, etc.). The use of system analysis methods made it possible to structure the constituent elements of the regulatory and legal support of public administration in the field of protection of atmospheric air and airspace of Ukraine. The purpose of the article is to characterise the protection of atmospheric air and airspace of Ukraine in the regulatory, legal, environmental and economic aspects. It is determined that the regulatory framework for regulating the principles of atmospheric air safety is a component of the mechanism for ensuring environmental safety. The article emphasises that for the first time the principles of environmental safety were enshrined in the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine, where the principles of environmental safety were established at the level of a separate section. It is emphasised that the functional content of the administrative and legal protection of atmospheric air includes: ensuring air pollution within the limits of the maximum permissible emission standards in order to ensure the right of a person to a safe and quality environment; greening of production; introduction of ecological fuel quality standards; greening of the energy cluster of the economy, including through the introduction of the principles of decentralisation of the country's energy system; establishment of information interaction between the participants of legal relations in order to ensure the transparency of economic activities related to environmental pollution; formation of a high level of environmental legal awareness, etc. The article draws a conclusion that ensuring proper quality of atmospheric air is a component of the mechanism for ensuring environmental safety. The authors underline that the understanding of the system of regulatory and legal regulation of atmospheric air and airspace protection should be functionally aimed at ensuring compliance with environmental standards for the operation of such facilities in accordance with economic feasibility and social justification. The paper concludes that atmospheric air safety and airspace safety are part of the national security system, where the former is a component of environmental safety and the latter is a component of state security, and should be understood as the state of atmospheric air and the integrity of the air environment, for which physical, chemical and biological properties are established which create favourable and sufficient conditions for the vital activity of people and settlements.

Abstract Africa began implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 emphasizing on sustainable management and effective use of natural capital to spur economic growth (Goals 12, 14, and 15). This study using World Bank data sets from 46 African countries selected for the years 2000 to 2022, examined the nexus between natural resource endowments and economic growth in Africa. We used the system generalized method of moments (sys-GMM) and dynamic panel threshold regression (DPTR) to analyze the data. The findings of the two-step sys-GMM estimation using 'xtabond2' revealed that when the institutional quality variable is added and excluded from the model, natural resource dependence negatively impacts economic growth, but the impact is greater when the institution is excluded. In the estimation of the interaction variable of natural resource dependence and institutional variable included in the model, natural resource dependence positively impacts economic growth. The results of the DPTR using "xthenreg" showed that when the threshold value of natural resource dependence is ≤ 1.73% of gross domestic product, natural resource dependence has a positive impact on economic growth and a negative impact when the threshold value is above 1.73%. Similarly, when the institutional quality threshold is ≤ 0.277, natural resources dependence impacts economic growth negatively; above the threshold (0.277), the impact is positive. In conclusion, natural resource endowment is a curse with no or low-quality institutions and a blessing with high-quality institutions. Thus, building strong institutions and proper utilization of natural resources helps to minimize the adverse impact of resource endowments on economic growth.

Africa began implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 emphasizing on sustainable management and effective use of natural capital to spur economic growth (Goals 12, 14, and 15). This study using World Bank data sets from 46 African countries selected for the years 2000 to 2022, examined the nexus between natural resource endowments and economic growth in Africa. We used the system generalized method of moments (sys-GMM) and dynamic panel threshold regression (DPTR) to analyze the data. The findings of the two-step sys-GMM estimation using 'xtabond2' revealed that when the institutional quality variable is added and excluded from the model, natural resource dependence negatively impacts economic growth, but the impact is greater when the institution is excluded. In the estimation of the interaction variable of natural resource dependence and institutional variable included in the model, natural resource dependence positively impacts economic growth. The results of the DPTR using "xthenreg" showed that when the threshold value of natural resource dependence is ≤ 1.73% of gross domestic product, natural resource dependence has a positive impact on economic growth and a negative impact when the threshold value is above 1.73%. Similarly, when the institutional quality threshold is ≤ 0.277, natural resources dependence impacts economic growth negatively; above the threshold (0.277), the impact is positive. In conclusion, natural resource endowment is a curse with no or low-quality institutions and a blessing with high-quality institutions. Thus, building strong institutions and proper utilization of natural resources helps to minimize the adverse impact of resource endowments on economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To guarantee the reliable and economical operation of standalone microgrids, the optimal configuration of power capacity must be determined during the planning phase. The selection of power source types and power capacities of standalone microgrids is affected by internal load levels and the unique natural resource conditions such as wind, photovoltaic (PV), water and storage potential of the respective regions. This paper investigates the comprehensive natural resource conditions of "wind/PV/water/storage" across different regions and establishes a multi-objective optimization model aimed at minimizing the annual generation cost, while considering the reliable power supply and environmentally friendly power generation. Constraints related to electric power and energy balance are incorporated into the optimization model, which is solved via a linearization algorithm. To address the uncertainty in the output of wind, PV and water power, we employ Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to simulate multiple scenarios, which are then reduced via an improved K-Medoids clustering algorithm, thereby enhancing the computational efficiency. Furthermore, an index evaluation system is constructed to analyze the characteristics of wind, PV and water resources, and the natural resource levels of 31 provincial-level administrative regions in China's mainland are obtained using a fuzzy evaluation method. By comparing the power capacity configurations of standalone microgrids in 5 representative regions with varying natural resources, this study validates the feasibility and rationality of the proposed approach, and provides valuable insights for the planning of standalone microgrid system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Resources Development & Market is the property of Sichuan Resource Development & Market Magazine Co., Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Rapid urbanization and economic growth in OECD member nations have intensified environmental challenges, notably the rise in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Despite significant research on urbanization and growth, there is little knowledge of how these factors interact with green innovation to affect CO2 emissions. This study addresses this gap by exploring the impacts of urbanization, green innovation, and green growth on CO2 emissions in OECD countries. Using panel data analysis from 1996 to 2022, this study employs a robust econometric approach, including the Breusch–Pagan and Pesaran tests for cross-sectional dependency, the CIPS unit root test, and cointegration tests by Kao and Westerlund. The results confirm the complex interrelations of the variables by revealing notable cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity among them. Both the Driscoll–Kraay and System GMM estimations demonstrate that green growth (GreG) and green innovation (GrI) significantly reduce CO2 emanations, while urbanization (U) has a notable inverse effect. Renewable energy consumption (REnC) also contributes to lower pollution emanations, whereas energy consumption (EnC) and natural resource dependency (NrD) worsen environmental degradation. The study emphasizes the need for green economic policies and innovations to slow climate change, support sustainable growth, and improve environmental quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic development accelerated by natural resource use has caused many undesirable environmental consequences such as reducing the living standards of individuals and threatening human health. Therefore, whether natural resource abundance is a curse for individuals' welfare and environmental sustainability is one of the crucial topics in the literature. This study investigates the impact of natural resources on environmental sustainability by adopting the newly developed Load Capacity Curve hypothesis in the resource‐rich Sub‐Saharan African countries for the period from 1990 to 2020 by utilizing a set of panel data methods. The main estimation results can be outlined as follows: (i) cointegration tests show the existence of the long‐run relationship between variables, (ii) the Load Capacity Curve Hypothesis is valid in the model, and (iii) natural resource rent, energy consumption, and population density reduce environmental sustainability, (iv) empirical estimations for robustness check greatly confirm the finding obtained by baseline estimations. Therefore, policy‐makers in the resource‐rich Sub‐Saharan African countries should focus on establishing mechanisms for internalizing negative externalities of natural resource rent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) has a long history of resource development, exploitation, and frequent mismanagement. Even before joining the Canadian confederation in 1949, industries such as mining, fishing, and forestry had significantly shaped the province. Recently, a new "resource" has been recognized: NL's genetic data, often described as a "genetic gold mine" and "the new oil." These analogies reflect the perception of genetic data as a valuable resource, resonating in a province historically reliant on resource extraction. Since the early 2000s, NL's genetic data has been recognized as a unique asset, prompting provincial reports on its management. Renewed interest has emerged with a local biotechnology company aiming to leverage NL's unique genetic architecture. This paper examines the implications of conceptualizing genetic information as a resource, exploring how this fits within existing resource development frameworks and policies, and considering its potential to shape policies for managing the benefits and burdens of genetic data exploitation. I conclude that while the NL genome is not a natural resource in the traditional sense, the province nevertheless needs to take more direct responsibility for its development and to ensure that any potential benefits from exploiting it are shared with the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although "green" and "clean" are key terms in sustainable environmental development, the literature on the relationship between green finance, clean environmental technology, and a sustainable environment is lacking. Furthermore, the exploitation of natural resources may provide a distinctive perspective on this interconnection, contributing to more promising policy ramifications for the future planet. Thus, this study examines the impact of sustainable environmental technologies, green finance, natural resource rents, and economic growth on environmental sustainability, proxied by the novel "Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI)". This analysis utilizes data spanning from 2000 to 2021 for China, applying the cutting-edge "augmented autoregressive distributed lag (AARDL)" model. The findings indicate that sustainable environmental technologies do not effectively enhance long-term environmental sustainability, but rather provide a positive contribution to the environment in the short term. In addition, economic expansion and the exploitation of natural resources have adverse effects on environmental sustainability, both in the near term and over an extended period. Nevertheless, green finance has a significant role in promoting environmental sustainability in China. This study further reveals the causal relationship between the chosen variables. This study highlights the necessity of developing a comprehensive strategy aimed at enhancing environmental sustainability and green finance. This can be achieved by allocating funds towards the advancement of clean environmental technology and the extraction of eco-friendly natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Araucaria is the property of Araucaria-Revista Iberoamericana de Filosofia, Politica y Humanidades and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of China Mining Magazine is the property of China Mining Magazine Co., Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The prevalence of neurological disorders (NDs) such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) is increasing globally, and the lack of effective pharmacological interventions presents a significant health risk. Multiple mechanisms including the activation of oxidative stress, amyloid pathway, ER stress, and neuroinflammation have been implicated in AD; therefore, multi-targeted agents against these mechanisms may be preferable to single-target agents. Phikud Navakot (PN), a Thai traditional medicine combining nine herbs, has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and neuroinflammation of neuronal and microglia cells and the coculture between them, indicating the promising role of PN extract as anti-AD. This study evaluated the neuroprotective effects of PN extract against oxidative stress, amyloid pathway, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress), and neuroinflammation using neuronal and microglia cells, as well as in a Drosophila model of AD. Results showed that PN extract reduced oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, pro-inflammatory cytokines, amyloid pathway, and ER stress induced by aluminum chloride (AlCl3, AD-induced agent) or thapsigargin (TG, an ER stress activator) in both neurons and microglia cells. PN extract also reduced oxidative stress, ER-stress-related genes, and neurotoxic peptides (amyloid beta) in a Drosophila model of AD. Data indicated that PN extract may function as an anti-AD agent by targeting multiple mechanisms as described. This research also revealed for the first time that PN extract acted as an ER stress inhibitor.

Nowadays, natural resource monitoring represents an actual and challenging research topic in the context of the new climate neutrality strategies. In this paper, we design a composite index for assessing natural resources such as lands that can sustain vegetation. We also implement a cloud computing solution based on the microservice architecture that allows the monitoring of natural resources such as water, soil, and vegetation using satellite products provided by SentinelHub. The images are processed to obtain NDWI (Normalized Difference Water), BSI (Bare Soil), NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation), and NDMI (Normalized Difference Moisture) index values. Furthermore, we compute the quality composite index for the specified area based on the previously mentioned indexes. Moreover, comparisons can be made between various years chosen by the user. The solution can be deployed in a Cloud Computing environment, is scalable due to multiple replicas of the used services, reliable due to the cache service that saves already processed indexes in a database, reducing the dependency on SentinelHub, and is secure due to various protection measures against SQL and Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.

The most prevalent cardiovascular illness in the world, hypertension, is a significant public health issue in both developed and developing nations. A major risk of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure is morbidity and mortality. Among all the classes of antihypertensive drugs, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition has been considered an effective therapeutic approach for the management of hypertension. ACE catalyzes the conversion of inactive angiotensin I into a potent vasoconstrictor, angiotensin II. Angiotensin II results in raising blood pressure by increasing peripheral resistance, heart rate, and cardiac output. There are a number of disorders associated with the cardiovascular system which is frequently treated with ACE inhibitors. Nowadays, various synthetic ACE inhibitors are used in clinical use to treat hypertension. There have been numerous negative side effects related to synthetic ACE inhibitors. Look for natural resources that can be exploited to produce ACE inhibitors that are reliable, safe, benign, and more cost-effective approaches. This review focuses on ACE inhibitors from natural source for the control hypertension. Additionally, a valid statistical analysis of data using a one-sample t-test on data that was collected at random and valued looks at whether the sample's mean is statistically different from or equal to a known or predicted mean value.

Natural resources are not only the foundation of development, the source of ecology, and the essence of people’s livelihood, but also the core carrier for promoting the construction of a beautiful China and deepening the reform of the ecological civilization system, and they are also important resource assets. This paper aims to discuss the investigation and monitoring of Luoma Lake water resources in Hubin New District, Suqian City, and takes the natural resources investigation and monitoring as the background, and uses remote sensing technology as the main means of water resources investigation. Through the acquisition of Sentinel-2 remote sensing image data within the range of Luoma Lake, the study comprehensively analyzes the spatial distribution and change trend of the Luoma Lake water bodies. At the same time, this paper also explores the application value and advantages of remote sensing technology in water resource investigation. The study results show that there are certain changes and challenges in the water resources of Luoma Lake. results of the investigation and monitoring of Luoma Lake water resources also provide reference for water resources management and quality of regional ecological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores tactics to promote natural resource market efficiency to enable a thorough and sustainable energy transition. The research investigates the natural resource market's critical influence on developing sustainable energy practices through a comprehensive analysis of critical publications. The paper analyzes the relationship between financial security, industrial composition, natural resources, and their efficiency using the 2004–2019 entropy weight approach and the level of coupling coordination evaluation method. The summary highlights the need for all-encompassing strategies and examines how maximizing the effectiveness of natural resource usage might advance a sustainable energy transition. The shift, essential to reducing climate change, requires a deliberate concentration on regulatory frameworks and market processes. This study provides insights into possible avenues for improving the natural resource market's efficiency to encourage a long-lasting and sustainable energy transition via a review of recent research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is witnessing the fast replacement of fossil-fuelled vehicles by environment-friendly electric vehicles (EVs). This unprecedented growth of EVs is expected to burden the material resource consumption of batteries constituting metals from the earth. However, circular economy in the electric vehicle battery (EVB) ecosystem can provide a sustainable solution to resource management. This has triggered the need to understand and analyse the EVB ecosystem players. Long-term analyses of behaviours of the different variables under dynamic and complex systems are best carried out by the application of system dynamics (SD)—a continuous simulation methodology. This research paper has contributed in developing an interactive SD-based model for the circular production and consumption flow of EVBs to analyse the behavioural dynamics of the different variables involved. Five scenarios have been simulated for the analyses. The behaviour trends of the variables obtained from the SD-based simulation model have provided useful insights and five recommendations for resource sustainability. The recommendations are: the necessity for adopting Industry-4.0 in EVB manufacturing, awareness creation of circular thinking amongst all stakeholders, enhanced end-of-life (EOL) period of EVB, compelling need for high EVB recollection efficiency after EOL, and improvement in the reprocessing technology of EOL batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a call for global efforts to preserve the ecological systems that can sustain economies and people's lives. However, carbon emission (CEM) threatens the sustainability of humanity and ecological systems. This analysis looked into the influence of energy use (ERU), human capital (HCI), trade openness (TOP), natural resource (NRR), population, and economic growth (ENG) on CEM. The paper gathered panel data from the Central Asia region from 1990 to 2020. The CS-ARDL was applied to establish the long-term interaction among the indicators. The paper's findings indicated the presence of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) in the Central Asia regions. Also, the empirical evidence highlighted that energy use, natural resources, and trade openness cause higher levels of CEM. However, the research verified that CEM can be improved through human capital and urban population growth. The study also found that HCI moderates the interaction between NRR and CEM. The causality assessment indicated a one-way interplay between ENG, ERU, NRR, and CEM. The study proposes that to support ecological stability in these regions, policy-makers should concentrate on developing human capital, investing in renewable energy sources, and utilizing contemporary technologies to harness natural resources in the economies of Central Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural heritage systems are appreciated worldwide for their significant environmental and cultural values. However, the sustainability of these systems has been compromised by environmental issues due to intensive human activities and socio-economic changes. Research has noticed that "digital nomadism" is providing a new opportunity for the sustainable development and transformation of these systems, regarded as "digital nomad-friendly" destinations. Nevertheless, comprehensive research on this new trend has been limited except for a few individual case studies. This study is the first to investigate the sustainable development of agricultural heritages considering the growing phenomenon of digital nomadism on a large scale. Based on in-depth stakeholder interviews, we introduced the Digital Nomad-Friendly (DNF) score—a comprehensive indicator system chosen and weighted by stakeholders. The DNF scores of 189 China National Important Agricultural Heritage System (China-NIAHS) sites were evaluated, and their distributions were analyzed on a national scale in China. The results highlight the importance of natural landscape and cultural value in the eyes of digital nomads, particularly emphasizing aesthetic landscape features, climatic suitability, and a community atmosphere. Sites with the highest DNF scores are located mostly in the Zhejiang and Yunnan provinces, sharing characteristics that appeal to digital nomads. The DNF scores exhibit regional variations, with high-DNF-score sites being concentrated in southwestern and southeastern China. By enhancing our understanding of digital nomads' preferences and the influencing factors, this study provides valuable insights for the environmental management, policymaking, and sustainable development of China-NIAHS sites considering contemporary environmental and social changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Plant extracts are actively being used worldwide due to the presence of biologically active constituents helping in the preservation of food, and to aid against various diseases owing to their antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. The present research work was carried out to investigate the phytochemical constituents, antimicrobial activity, and antioxidant activity of different extracted samples of Euphorbia parviflora. Anti-microbial studies were carried out by Agar well diffusion while the DPPH method was employed for investigating anti-oxidant activity. Three samples from methanol, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extract were tested against five different bacterial strains comprising two species from Gram-negative bacteria i.e., Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and three species from Gram-positive bacteria i.e. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia along two fungal strains i.e. Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. The results of the qualitative phytochemical analysis showed that methanolic, chloroformic, and ethylacetate extract of Euphorbia parviflora consist of alkaloids, reducing sugars, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, and saponins. The total phenol and flavonoid content of E. parviflora showed that the methanolic extract of E. parviflora had a significantly higher total phenolic content (53.73 ± 0.30 mg of GAE/g) and flavonoid content (44.62 ± 0.38 mg of than other extracts. The content of total phenolic and flavonoids was more in methanolic extract as compared to other extracts of E. prolifera. The HPLC analysis showed that in the chloroform extract of E. parviflora Cinnamic acid (4.32 ± 2.89 mg/g) was dominant, in methanol extract quercetin (3.42 ± 2.89 mg/g) was dominant and in ethyl acetate extract of E. parviflora catechin (4.44 ± 2.89 mg/g) was found dominant. The antimicrobial activity revealed that amongst all the extracts the highest antibacterial activity was shown by methanolic extract against B. subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus as compared to the other extracts. The antioxidant activity revealed that methanolic extract of E. parviflora demonstrated higher antioxidant activity (82.42 ± 0.02) followed by chloroform extract (76.48 ± 0.08) at 150 µg/mL. The aim of this study was primarily to evaluate the potential of this plant as a reliable source of antimicrobials and antioxidants that may be used for the treatment of various infectious diseases in the future. The study provides evidence that this plant can act as a reliable source of antimicrobial and antioxidant agents and might be used against several infectious diseases.

Vedatri Maharishi's vision of world peace is an ideal reformative idea of world peace and he emphasizes the need to implement his river inter-linking project to produce enough food and water throughout the year. Food and water are essential for human life. Individuals and society should enjoy these natural resources without discrimination. India has been suffering from poverty and water scarcity for many years. The population also increases too much. To solve these problems with sustainable ideas, Vethathiri Maharishi has proposed fourteen life reform projects called Vethaththiriyam which is a role model for world peace. Among them, the thirteenth project is the general distribution of food and water throughout the world. On 21.03.2003, a seminar on the River linking project was held in the presence of Vethathiri Maharishi and the Chairman of the Central Commission for River Connectivity at the Azhiyar Temple of Consciousness (Arivu Thirukovil). It seems a reformation for India today but in the fields of agriculture and drinking water emerges as a great challenge due to the non-awareness of the people without responsibility. Maharishi’s plan will help surely to overcome this crisis. Hence, the purpose of this article is to examine the river-linking project developed by Vethathiri Maharishi for the welfare of mankind.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia and a significant concern to global public health due to the prevalence of aging populations. Donepezil is one of only a few medications approved for use as an anti-AD agent but all have adverse side effects. Reducing the dosage of AD drugs with plant extracts (phytotherapy) while maintaining efficacy is one strategy to minimize adverse side effects. We previously reported the anti-AD properties of an edible fern, Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw. (DE), which inhibited key enzymes involved in AD pathogenesis including acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and β-secretase 1 (BACE-1). This study aimed to determine whether DE exhibited a synergistic effect with donepezil. The enzyme inhibitory assay showed that DE extract and its bioactive compounds, kaempferol, and quercetin, slightly impeded AChE inhibition with donepezil, while DE extract and quercetin showed synergistic or additive effects with donepezil against BChE and BACE-1, respectively. DE extract combined with donepezil also improved eye phenotypes in a Drosophila model of AD by preventing ommatidia atrophia and bristle breakages. Furthermore, the DE extract exhibited no genotoxic activities, as determined by the Ames test. Our data revealed that DE extract showed promise when combined with donepezil during AD treatment by targeting BChE and BACE-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environment has played a crucial role in the formation of early states in many regions over history. It provided the necessary resources, defenses, and transportation networks, allowing early societies to grow and flourish. States that were able to successfully harness these environmental features were often able to consolidate power and rule for a long run. The Ahoms, a migrant ethnic group, formed a powerful state in Assam from the 13th to 19th century, and their success was largely dependent on their ability to mobilize the natural resources of the region. This study will focus on the Ahom's agendas regarding mobilization of natural resources and how they utilized these resources to build a strong and prosperous state. This article contributes to our understanding of the ways in which human societies can utilize natural resources and offers valuable insights into the ecological history of the Brahmaputra Valley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, antioxidant (TAS), oxidant (TOS) and antimicrobial activities of samples collected from Osmaniye province, which is located in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey and where Arum dioscoridis Sm. consumption is common, were determined. Water extracts of leaf parts of plant samples were obtained in a soxhlet device. TAS and TOS status were determined using Rel Assay kits. Antimicrobial activities of plant samples were determined against standard bacterial and fungal strains using agar dilution method. At the end of the studies, the highest TAS value among the plant samples was determined as 6.486±0.182. The highest TOS value was determined as 15.576±0.235. The highest OSI (oxidative stress index) value was determined as 0.285±0.007. In addition, A. dioscoridis extracts were determined to be effective against test microorganisms at 50-800 µg/mL concentrations. As a result, it was determined that the samples collected from different regions of the A. dioscoridis samples used in our study showed variability. In addition, it has been determined that A. dioscoridis may be an important antioxidant and antimicrobial source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most prevalent cardiovascular illness in the world, hypertension, is a significant public health issue in both developed and developing nations. A major risk of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure is morbidity and mortality. Among all the classes of antihypertensive drugs, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition has been considered an effective therapeutic approach for the management of hypertension. ACE catalyzes the conversion of inactive angiotensin I into a potent vasoconstrictor, angiotensin II. Angiotensin II results in raising blood pressure by increasing peripheral resistance, heart rate, and cardiac output. There are a number of disorders associated with the cardiovascular system which is frequently treated with ACE inhibitors. Nowadays, various synthetic ACE inhibitors are used in clinical use to treat hypertension. There have been numerous negative side effects related to synthetic ACE inhibitors. Look for natural resources that can be exploited to produce ACE inhibitors that are reliable, safe, benign, and more cost-effective approaches. This review focuses on ACE inhibitors from natural source for the control hypertension. Additionally, a valid statistical analysis of data using a one-sample t-test on data that was collected at random and valued looks at whether the sample's mean is statistically different from or equal to a known or predicted mean value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate endogenous variables namely, economic development and deforestation, in North Sumatra, and examine their determinants. Both variables are substantial in a country community welfare with harmonized environmental sustainability as a legacy for future generations. METHODS: In this quantitative study, secondary data in the form of time series data from 1991 to 2020 with a total of 30 years were analyzed. The novelty of this study is its aim to combine deforestation variables and their determinants in a research model related to economic development. In this study, the determinants of economic development used were education, health, mineral resources and forest resource, whereas those of deforestation, were forest resource, institutional factors, population density, and economic development. FINDINGS: The data analysis revealed that the economic development in North Sumatra was significantly influenced by education, health, and mineral resources, excluding forest resources. Simultaneously, the determinants influenced economic development by 74.15 percent. Education contributed 27 percent, health 71 percent, mineral resources 12 percent and forest resources 29 percent to economic development. Forest resources and institutions had a significant influence on deforestation in North Sumatra, whereas population density and economic development did not have a significant effect. Simultaneously, the determinants influenced deforestation by 77.24 percent. Partial, forest resources and institutions were identified and significant effect but population density does not significantly affect it. Forest resources contributed 14 percent to deforestation, institutional factors 72 persent, population density 3 percent and economic development 57 percent. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study, indicated that education and health have a major effect on economic development whereas forest resources do not however, forest resources significantly affect deforestation. This means that an increasing environmental damage removes forest cover. Thus, it is recommended that the government increase human resource in terms of education and health, which are essential in prioritizing human resource development as a fundamental factor. It is also important to set the limit to long-term natural resource exploitation, consider environmental damages, and improve institutional quality. The government needs to explore alternative sources that are more sustainable and environmentally friendly, such as ecotourism, and renewable energy. Renewable energy can be a reliable source of energy that will help reduce reliance on fossil fuels while also minimizing environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study contributes to the resource curse literature in diverse means. First, using a non-monetary welfare measure, the study investigates the validity of the resource curse hypothesis in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Secondly, the paper examines the impact of natural resource rents on human welfare through the human capital channel and finally investigates the minimum human capital score to avert the resource curse in SSA. The empirical analysis conducted using the system Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) econometric approach on a panel of 32 SSA countries spanning the period 2004–2019, demonstrates that resource rents have a dumping effect on human progress. However, investing in human capital may avert the negative repercussions emanating from the natural resource-welfare link. Further, the study revealed the minimum threshold level for human capital score and tertiary school enrollment rate as 2.40 units and 23.21 %, respectively, necessary to avert the prosperity curse. To increase human prosperity, policymakers are recommended to increase investment in education in order to increase tertiary school enrollment above the estimated threshold and institute policies that will increase the average years the productive unit spent in schooling.

The use of indigenous medicinal plants is still prevalent as the most trusted form of health care, predominantly in developing countries. Overuse of medicinal plant resources, coupled with the negative impacts of unpredictable rainfall and rising temperatures, necessitated the development of local methods to conserve medicinal plants. These indigenous conservation methods have proved to be failing and aggravating threats to medicinal plants. This study aimed to review the alternative conservation and management methods to protect medicinal plants in South Africa. A review of the literature presents in situ, ex situ, natural reserves, wild nurseries, botanical gardens, and seed banks as alternative conservation methods proposed and used by scientists to conserve and manage medicinal plant species. These methods are Western practices introduced to the local communities in an effort to conserve and protect the indigenous medicinal plant species for future use and as a cultural heritage. From a qualitative standpoint, this study adopted the interpretivist research design to offer support to employ the systematic review method. Seminal studies on this subject were purposively collected using keywords extracted from the research topic. The collected data was analysed using the inductive Textual Content Analysis (TCA) method. The results of this study reveal that there are various conservation methods that are implemented as strategies to safeguard the existing medicinal plants, and this proves if these methods are implemented correctly these plants will still be available for future use. It is concluded and recommended that the demand for medicinal plants imposes huge threats to their anticipated availabilities, therefore, the relevant stakeholders need to take urgent corrective measures ­concerned parties should be consistently exposed to improved resources, advanced training and better education about the benefits and importance of these plants.

Being worlds' largest population, China is the biggest consumer of natural resources and causes the highest Carbon emissions due to its energy needs for economic development. This research aims to analyze the relationship between green finance, natural resources, carbon releases, and foreign direct investment on China's efforts towards durable economic sustainability. Difference-in-Difference frameworks are utilized to analyze the statistics acquired from 270 Chinese cities between 2002 and 2022. The findings indicate that the financial implications of carbon emissions significantly affect China's sustainable green economy. However, the short-term growth of the green economy is enhanced by the use of natural resources and the advancement of green financial markets. The results of this study provide empirical evidence that supports the theory positing a linear association among carbon releases, economic expansion, and natural resources. This study provides guidance to policymakers to make policies for enhanced and efficient use of natural resources. This may potentially contribute to the promotion of long-term sustainability in China and the facilitation of green growth.

Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries are on average blessed with relatively large number of natural resources when compared with other regions of the world. Despite this obvious natural resource endowment, economic growth on the sub-region has not been encouraging. This scenario has prompted studies geared towards examining the extent to which natural resource endowment has impacted on growth in resource rich Sub-Saharan African countries. The objective of this study is therefore to investigate the nexus between ownership of natural resources by some selected SSA countries and their performance in terms of growth. Seven countries in SSA were selected including, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. Data on economic growth, arable land, forest land rent, tertiary education enrolment, and labour force growth obtained from World Development Indictors of the World Bank were used. Using the Pedroni Panel cointegration estimation, result showed that overall, natural resource endowment does not translate to growth as is expected. Hence it is concluded that ownership of natural resources does not translate to growth in SSA. Although high rent on these resources increases government revenue in the immediate, the disincentive it creates to investors and cultivators of these resources in the long run should be the uppermost consideration The study therefore recommends that while authorities are formulating and implementing policies as regards rent on natural resources, they should carefully bear in mind the possible long-run implications on growth.

Over the past 12 years, the escalation of violence in conflicts arising from disputes over natural resource management rights between corporations and indigenous communities has become a growing concern across all regions of Indonesia. This abstract introduction highlights the urgent need to address the rising tensions and clashes associated with the competing claims to and utilization of natural resources in the country. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse the causes of violence and conflict resolution over natural resources using an empirical legal study with a socio-legal approach adopted through a case study in Bengkulu Province, Indonesia. Informants for the study were selected using a snowball sampling technique, ensuring a diverse and representative range of perspectives. Secondary data was obtained through a literature study by tracing information from journals, books, and the internet, and data analysis was carried out qualitatively. Furthermore, an analysis was performed on the findings of other studies concerning instances of violence in conflicts related to forest and mining resources. This research found that (1). The violence occurred because the company did not respect the customary community’s natural resource control rights. (2). However, violence can be stopped through violence or mediation (3). Resolution of violence in conflict can only be done through mediation. The authors recommend that: (1). The practice of resolving violence in conflicts of rights over natural resources through mediation needs to be strengthened by the government to realize justice for all. (2). In indigenous communities, apart from state law, the legal landscape is still heavily influenced by customary law and religious law.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate endogenous variables namely, economic development and deforestation, in North Sumatra, and examine their determinants. Both variables are substantial in a country community welfare with harmonized environmental sustainability as a legacy for future generations.METHODS: In this quantitative study, secondary data in the form of time series data from 1991 to 2020 with a total of 30 years were analyzed. The novelty of this study is its aim to combine deforestation variables and their determinants in a research model related to economic development. In this study, the determinants of economic development used were education, health, mineral resources and forest resource, whereas those of deforestation, were forest resource, institutional factors, population density, and economic development.FINDINGS: The data analysis revealed that the economic development in North Sumatra was significantly influenced by education, health, and mineral resources, excluding forest resources. Simultaneously, the determinants influenced economic development by 74.15 percent. Education contributed 27 percent, health 71 percent, mineral resources 12 percent and forest resources 29 percent to economic development. Forest resources and institutions had a significant influence on deforestation in North Sumatra, whereas population density and economic development did not have a significant effect. Simultaneously, the determinants influenced deforestation by 77.24 percent. Partial, forest resources and institutions were identified and significant effect but population density does not significantly affect it. Forest resources contributed 14 percent to deforestation, institutional factors 72 persent, population density 3 percent and economic development 57 percent.CONCLUSION: The findings of this study, indicated that education and health have a major effect on economic development whereas forest resources do not however, forest resources significantly affect deforestation. This means that an increasing environmental damage removes forest cover. Thus, it is recommended that the government increase human resource in terms of education and health, which are essential in prioritizing human resource development as a fundamental factor. It is also important to set the limit to long-term natural resource exploitation, consider environmental damages, and improve institutional quality. The government needs to explore alternative sources that are more sustainable and environmentally friendly, such as ecotourism, and renewable energy. Renewable energy can be a reliable source of energy that will help reduce reliance on fossil fuels while also minimizing environmental impacts.

Low female participation in community-based forest actions for mitigating and adapting to climate change (i.e., "forest climate actions") increases gender inequalities and could reduce intervention effectiveness. Factors preventing women's participation in forestry are well-researched, while factors motivating women's participation is comparatively lacking. We fill this gap by (i) identifying women's motivations to participate in communal action in other domains; (ii) analyzing to what extent these motivations exist in forest climate actions; (iii) suggesting how forest climate actions can better motivate women's participation. Our paper presents an original mixed methods approach using data from two studies in different domains (health vs. forestry), objectives (feasibility study vs. impact evaluation), and data collection approach (key informant interviews vs. standardized surveys). Women's motivations to participate in Posyandu (Pos Pelayanan Terpadu), a state-run infant and maternal health service system operated mostly by female collaborators (Kader), were contrasted with conditions shaping women's participation in forest climate actions. Data were collected in the same period (2013-2014) in forested rural areas of Indonesia. We find women are motivated by the following values they find lacking in forest climate actions: (1) altruistic values: improving other's well-being through Posyandu, vs. limited benefits from forest climate actions; (2) social capital: enhancing own and family's social status by participating in Posyandu, vs. limited social enhancement through forest climate action; and (3) identity enhancement: increasing own pride and competence when supporting an established organization like Posyandu, vs. no equivalent organization for women in forest climate action. What would attract women to forest climate action? We suggest (1) tangible benefits from forest climate action for women and rural communities, so that women see forests are worth fighting for; (2) respected roles for women in public spheres related to forest climate actions; and (3) self-enhancement opportunities through village-level organizations and good employment opportunities aligned with forest climate actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Productivity growth has contributed significantly to boost living standards in many regions of the world. Concerns about certain emerging nations' dependence on unprocessed natural resource exports have led some analysts to be sceptical about the possibilities for structural reform in resource-rich countries. We hope to contribute to the research on the nexus between natural resources and growth by examining the impact of the dependence on resources on TFP growth in 91 developing countries from 1980 to 2019. Findings demonstrate unequivocally that TFP growth is lower in resource-rich emerging nations. The results are robust to several tests, including additional control variables and the partition of resource reliance between point-source and diffuse-source resources. Furthermore, the establishment and maintenance of democratic and economic institutions enable resource-rich countries to avoid the curse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propolis, a natural resinous substance collected by honeybees from plant and tree buds, has been recognized for its diverse biological activities and therapeutic potential. In this research, we delve into the potential of propolis collected from the Gharb region of Morocco during the summer and autumn seasons. This study aimed to highlight its nutritional profile and phytochemical compounds, shedding light on its potential as an antioxidant and a valuable product. Through detailed chemical analysis, we discern significant variations in the composition of two types of propolis coded propolis1 and propolis2, particularly evident in the elevated ash (15.23% vs. 13.83%) and lipid (23.9% vs. 15.67%) content. While protein contents (0.66% vs. 1.29%) and crude fiber (1.7% vs. 1.6%) were relatively lower. While, the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of triterpenes, steroids, flavonoids, and tannins, displaying their potential efficacy against diverse diseases. The methanolic extracts exhibited substantial total phenolic content, measuring 2130.07 mg GAE/g DP for Propolis1 and 2124.7 mg GAE/g DP for Propolis2, highlighting robust antioxidant potential. Eventually, propolis exhibited wide-ranging bioactive compounds, reflecting a potent antioxidant effect and positioning it as a miraculous product. These findings emphasize the significance of propolis as a natural resource with diverse health-promoting properties, contributing to potential applications in the cosmetic and dietary fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Manta canton is part of the province of Manabí, Ecuador, constitutes a space of great natural tourist potential thanks to the presence of beaches and other coastal landscapes, as well as the abundant marine life, forest ecosystems and protected areas. In this context, the work aims to prioritize their tourist sites as dynamic elements of local tourism activity. For the execution of this, the methodology used by the Ministry of Tourism was considered, which consists of establishing a hierarchy of tourist sites, assigning them a weighting score by applying an evaluation sheet, and finally including it in one of the hierarchies established for this purpose. The result shows 15 spaces with potential to be tourist attractions, distributed in four hierarchical levels as follows, three in hierarchy III, nine in hierarchy II, and three in hierarchy I. It is concluded that the evaluation of the tourist potential of Manta is fundamental for planning the use of its heritage, and consequently, become a reference destination and generator of income for its population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays we are witnessing the consequences of humanity's negative attitudes toward nature. Over the years, natural balance has been undermined by the impact on nature. To date, however, it is the fate of mankind, its fate the next day, that dictates to solve just such issues. Efforts to implement cost-effective, environmentally friendly technologies, consistently conduct conservation activities, or improve industry-wide legislation in addressing environmental issues are not enough to address them. Raising the ecological culture of the population, rational treatment of the environment, and the formation of a sense of preservation of the benefits of nature for future generations are key factors in the prevention of anthropogenic influences. The importance of environmental education is also extremely high. This, in turn, plays an important role in the country's financial and economic growth. The sustainable development goals (SDGs) are a blueprint for a better and more sustainable future for all. In order to eradicate poverty, safeguard the world from natural disasters, and guarantee that everyone lives in peace and prosperity, SDGs have been established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the potential of the allocated Important Bird Areas (IBA) of the North Kazakhstan region for the development of ecological tourism in the region. The work uses the materials of field research of domestic and international ornithological expeditions, cartographic method, statistical and mathematical processing of the data obtained. The territory of the North Kazakhstan region is of interest for the development of ornithological tourism. This is facilitated by the natural resource potential of the allocated promising IBA. The borders of these territories coincide with lake ecosystems located in the foreststeppe and steppe zones of the region. The selected ornithological areas are confined to lake ecosystems that are on the way of migrations and nesting of birds. IBA are characterized by floristic and faunal diversity, insignificant human development. The habitation of rare and endangered species has been noted. The presence of roads ensures accessibility to the studied territories of tourists and wildlife lovers from Kazakhstan, near and far abroad. The allocated territories may be used not only for ornithological, but also for recreational and educational tourism, as well as amateur fishing. The results of the resource potential assessment confirm the prospects for the development of ornithological tourism in the territory of the North Kazakhstan region in the implementation of environmental measures aimed at preserving the uniqueness of ecosystems. The selected IBA have significant natural resource potential and uniqueness. Key territories associated with lake ecosystems can serve for the development of ornithological and recreational tourism. The comprehensive assessment made it possible to identify the weighting coefficient of the studied properties of the territories. This confirms the fact about the prospects of their use as unique natural objects for scientific research, amateur fishing, various types of tourism on the territory of the North Kazakhstan region

With the objective of demonstrating the importance of vicuñas as a natural resource for the development of biocultural tourism, interviews and field recording were carried out in order to obtain information and images of tourist products in northwest Argentina. It is based on evidence that asserts that vicuñas, as a natural heritage, contribute to tourism in the region, for which 60 photos related to biocultural tourism in Cafayate and Molinos (Province of Salta), and in Purmamarca and Salinas Grandes (Tumbaya, Province of Jujuy). Analyzing the data, the difference in the impact that vicuñas have on local tourism is verified, so they are organized by similarities into two groups: Cafayate with Purmamarca, and Salinas Grandes with Molinos. In the first group, the species has less tourist representation in relation to the second. It is noted that the local history of the camelid and the possibility of commercializing its fiber influence the difference. The results acquired serve as a basis for current and future research in the conservation of vicuñas, their habitat, and in the development of the potential of biocultural tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]