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ABSTRACT Indonesia is the world's largest producer of carrageenan seaweed, the cultivation of which is dominated by household operators and is transforming livelihoods in many coastal communities. Growing demand from the global food processing sector has rapidly transformed Indonesian coastal sea space into a commoditized livelihood resource, where access is governed by emergent, and highly fluid, institutions. Through an extensive ethnographic study in two coastal villages in South Sulawesi, we show how a new property rights regime is being created through evolving institutions of access (both formal and informal) in continual feedback with the livelihood strategies pursued by individual households. The ability to benefit from access to sea space, during a price boom, emerges from within multiple strands of intersecting power relations, producing a range of livelihood outcomes. This study contributes to debates on how rural livelihood opportunities are infused by the politics of access to natural resources, thus reshaping processes of agrarian change in coastal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the increasing number of space launches, growth of the commercial space sector, signing of the Artemis Accords, maturation of space mining technologies, the emergence of a regulatory environment through domestic legislation, and a comprehensive body of international law, an intergovernmental governing authority has yet to be established to manage mining activities on the Moon. We developed a Lunar Mining Code and mapping tool to regulate and manage prospecting and exploration activities for water ice at the Moon's poles. The Lunar Mining Code is composed of a notification system to manage prospecting, a contract system for issuing exploration licenses to allotted areas on the Moon, and best mining practices and principles to promote equal access and safeguard the lunar environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the evolution of proboscideans, the emergence of dwarf and semi-dwarf forms occurred repeatedly, on various territories and at various times, due to a lack of resources caused by geographic isolation on the islands and landscape isolation on the mainland. Despite a significant amount of information on the island forms of mammoths and elephants, the question of the association between a decrease in the body size and morphological changes in the dental system remains controversial. According to some data, the formation of dwarf forms was accompanied by a unidirectional decrease in the number of dental plates (NDP) of the tooth and thickening of the enamel. According to other data, changes in the dental system on the islands were mosaic in nature; that is, the NDP could decrease, remain unchanged, or even increase. Taking into account the importance of the NDP as a diagnostic tool for species identification of proboscidean taxa and the absence of a consensus on the stability of a trend towards a decrease in the NDP from tall continental ancestors to island dwarf descendants, we (1) summarize data on the finds of small teeth of mammoths from the Mammuthus genus with a reduced NDP in the localities in northern Eurasia, (2) present new radiocarbon dates, and (3) consider the NDP as a characteristic of developing dwarfism in continental mammoths. The study of small teeth of the last generation of M. primigenius from the coastal part of northeastern Siberia and a comparison with data from other regions demonstrated that the posterior sections of cheek teeth in mammoths are the most variable and represent a reduction complex. For woolly mammoth, the reduction primarily affects that part of the crown that became more complex by the gradual addition of the plates during phyletic evolution in the Middle–Late Pleistocene. A rapid loss of evolutionary achievements of the ancestral forms due to reduction is not a unique peculiarity of the woolly mammoth teeth, and was also traced in other mammals. The similarity of the reduction complexes of cheek teeth in proboscideans and rodents of the Arvicolinae subfamily was demonstrated; it can be traced by a decrease in the number of serially homologous elements of the crown: plates in proboscideans and pairs of prisms in arvicolines. A comparison of the NDP with the size of the M. primigenius teeth allowed us to make the assumption that a decrease in the NDP while maintaining other species-specific peculiarities of the tooth can be used as a criterion for separating semi-dwarf and small individuals of the woolly mammoth. The size of continental mammoths decreased most intensively during warmer intervals, when significant transformation of landscapes and a reduction in resource space occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of transforming natural marine space into proliferative capital holds global significance in modern modes of production. Under China's socialist market economy, the property rights system and resource allocation methods have created a unique approach to the capitalization of marine space. Drawing on concepts related to the capitalization of space and land, this paper develops the idea of the capitalization of marine space. It is a process where the right to use the sea area is transferred by the rights holders through methods such as transfer, lease, or shares and is ultimately put into production as a means of production to realize the creation of capital value and surplus value. Using the mariculture industry on Guanglu Island in Changhai County as a case, this analysis delves into the process and mechanisms of the capitalization of marine space in China, the world's leading mariculture nation, while considering the material agency of marine space. The research results show that: ① The specific realization process of marine space capitalization in the mariculture industry has gone through three stages: from natural marine space to marine space resources, from marine space resources to marine space assets, and the participation of marine space assets in creating value and surplus value. ② The material agency of marine space determines the feasibility of the capitalization of marine space and is also the decisive subject in shaping the specific practice of capitalization. The survival and profit needs of mariculture fishermen and enterprises drive the realization of the capitalization of marine space. China's central and local governments participate in realizing the capitalization of marine space with the relevant institutional policies and norms aimed at economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the insufficient flexibility and adjustment capabilities caused by the high proportion of renewable energy connected to the distribution network and the limitations of the source‐side adjustment method, a load‐side resource flexibility cluster partitioning method based on zonotope approximation is proposed to cope with the flexibility adjustment requirements brought by uncertain resources. First, the constraint space of load‐side resources such as energy storage, multi‐source mobile energy storage, electric vehicles, and temperature‐controlled loads is described as a convex polyhedral form general model based on the virtual battery framework, and the zonotope approximation is used to integrate its constraint space with the Minkowski sum. Secondly, modularity and flexibility supply and demand balance index are proposed to perform flexibility clustering of load‐side resources. Then, the minimum comprehensive operating cost of the cluster aggregator is set as the optimization goal, the cluster constraint space is equivalent to the cost function, and the optimal charging and discharging power and flexibility adjustment capacity of the load‐side resources are obtained. Finally, the method proposed here is verified through numerical example simulation to effectively balance aggregation accuracy and calculation speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces (UGSs) have potential significance for urban ecosystems, as they provide environmental benefits and benefits for residents' physical activity and mental health. Objective assessments of UGSs are necessary for optimizing the allocation of green space public resources and providing a basis for social equality. Previous studies have adopted a few indicators to evaluate UGS provision but have neglected multidimensional interaction characteristics. This study proposes a framework that integrates principal component analysis and the spatial clustering method to identify geographically homogeneous subregions with similar characteristics, including dimensions of accessibility, ecological function, quality, and quantity. Shenzhen, China, was selected as a case study, and the results indicate the following: (1) the multiple dimensions of UGSs are unevenly distributed, and it is necessary to evaluate UGSs from multiple dimensions; and (2) there are significant disparities in UGSs among different clusters that can be summarized to guide the improvement of green space equity. It is necessary to increase the number of community parks and optimize the green view index in more densely populated areas and the outskirts. Our study provides an intuitive and comprehensive evaluation framework for the distribution of UGSs and identifies their characteristics in different subregions, which is valuable for space quality improvement and reasonable zoning planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the dynamics of energy geographies in Latin America, emphasizing the social and environmental impacts of extractive practices. It explores how local communities resist or adapt to the practices of containment by extractive companies and the State. Additionally, it analyzes how materialities and subjectivities are shaped by reterritorialization projects and how policies of uncomfortable circulations create new political spaces in the region. The energy transition in Latin America is discussed, focusing on the ongoing transformations and struggles around the control and access to energy resources. [Extracted from the article]

The planetary construction is necessary for long-term scientific deep space exploration and resource utilization in the future. The planetary robotic assembly control is a key technology that must be broken through in future planetary surface construction. The paper focuses on the most representative dual peg-in–hole assembly, which has sufficiently complex contact interaction, wide range of applications and good method portability. To address the challenges brought by the unstructured planetary environment and the features of the construction tasks, the paper proposes an end-to-end deep reinforcement learning and control method with multimodal perception for planetary robotic assembly tasks. A staged reward function based on the visual virtual target point for policy learning is designed. The effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed control method have been verified through simulation experiments and ground real robot experiments. It provides a feasible control method of robotic operations for future planetary surface construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a metal matrix composite of AA6061 – 20 wt% regolith simulant was deposited into a 50 mm tall × 147 mm long × 45 mm wide build using additive friction stir deposition (AFSD). In situ resource utilization plays a vital role in the development of the self-sustaining future space infrastructure in implementing an efficient use of the lunar environment material. Using x-ray computed tomography, the build was evaluated for porosity, which measured 0.03 %, and was noted to be in the initial deposit layer as well as near the outer surface. Tensile behavior were evaluated in the build and longitudinal direction, with the longitudinal direction having 40 % higher yield strength than the build direction. However, in either direction, the strength was higher than that of as-deposited AFSD AA6061 with no particulates, but at the expense of ductility. This work quantifies the utility of incorporating hard, secondary particulates from potential point-of-need resources into a metal for extraterrestrial exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ClassyFarm is an integrated surveillance system for monitoring the Italian livestock farms on risks related to antimicrobial use (AMU) and resistance (AMR) and other indicators, such as animal welfare and farm biosecurity. In the framework of the CoEvalAMR network we evaluated ClassyFarm by using three evaluation tools: the OH-EpiCap, the FAO PMP-AMR and the NEOH evaluation tool. Evaluation was performed by interviewing representatives of ClassyFarm, National Health System veterinarians, farm vets, farmers, livestock industry entrepreneurs, academy experts in AMR/AMU. NEOH and PMP-AMR evaluation tools were applied twice (at 2 years interval) to detect changes in the implementation of the system over time, while OH-EpiCap was applied once. The three tools differ in evaluation objectives, depth of analysis, and time/training resources needed to perform the evaluation. However, each of them enables to gather different information, which can serve as a basis for the discussion of possible adaptations/improvements of ClassyFarm. Even though ClassyFarm has a limited degree of One Health (OH) implementation, the evaluation showed that the system has evolved from a barely biosecurity and welfare surveillance system towards a more integrated OH approach. A transdisciplinary nature is also emerging, with the involvement of the environmental sector. However, there is space for improvement in resource allocation, data sharing and communication. Beyond the structural evaluation, surveillance systems should be evaluated also in relation to cost-effectiveness and system impacts. HIGHLIGHTS: Evaluation of surveillance systems is useful to detect gaps and improve the systems' effectiveness The evaluation of the ClassyFarm system showed that there is space for improvement in resource allocation, data sharing and communication Significant improvements have taken place regarding AMU/AMR awareness and AMU reduction in Italy, although it is difficult to assess the direct impact of ClassyFarm on these changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground space resources are important for the purposes of urban sustainable development and are a significant means by which to realize three‐dimensional urban development. A reasonable and scientific evaluation of underground space resources is the foundation for the rational use of land resources and urban planning. On the basis of the geological conditions used by preceding researchers, this study adds the analysis of two influencing factors of social and economic value, alongside existing facilities and protection needs. The evaluation index is quantified and the comprehensive quality evaluation system of underground space resources is constructed. Finally, taking the Nanshan District of Shenzhen as an example, the evaluation of underground space resources is carried out. The results show that for shallow underground space, the comprehensive quality of underground space resources development in Nanshan District is generally high. Nantou, Nanshan and Yuehai streets are recommended as areas to actively develop underground space, whereas the Qianhai and Houhai areas are recommended to be used with caution in the development and construction of their underground space. In addition, this study also provides a reference for the purposes of underground space planning in the Nanshan district of Shenzhen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To sustainably live on and explore the lunar and other planetary surfaces, in situ regolith will need to be used for resource extraction and infrastructure development. To evaluate and ensure such safety and efficiency of excavation operations in variable, site-specific regolith terranes with given equipment designs, reliable computational models are necessary. The work here evaluates the accuracy and reliability of a standard, well-established excavation force prediction model using published data from a previous planetary excavation experimental study and establishes efficiency metrics for force reduced excavation as a proof-of-concept. It is shown that the established excavation force prediction model is not able to simulate planetary excavation mechanics sufficiently and hence more advanced models of lunar and planetary excavation are needed to enable safer, faster, and more economical resource acquisition hardware development. The case study of the efficiency metrics being applied to the published data shows informative trends that can be used in future excavation hardware and tool path optimizations. These are recommended for use in future planetary excavation modeling and planning workflows. • Current models of excavation mechanics are not sufficient for lunar and planetary excavation analyses. • Extraterrestrial regolith excavation modeling requires reliability not given by current state-of-the-art models. • Metrics of force reduced (e.g., percussive) excavation efficiency have been established, allowing optimization of hardware. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radio spectrum has become central to technological progress and economic growth. While, command-and-control regulatory institutions of the early twentieth century were considered necessary to counter endemic market failure, recent regulatory reform towards a market regime with flexible licensing creates an interesting environment for examining how complex externalities are managed by private contracting in decentralized systems. We present empirical evidence suggesting that adoption of a more "Coasean" policy regime in radio was followed by far more crowded wireless markets than were formed under rigid administrative structures. This is observed by contrasting pre-cellular mobile phone system outcomes in the U.S. (1946–1978) with the later evolution of cellular networks (1983–2015). The cellular marketplace exhibits exceedingly more complicated network coordination under liberalized property ownership rules. We nest our empirical findings within a conceptual framework derived from theoretical literature on property rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study contributes to the ongoing historical examination of ecological and postcolonial questions in Latin America through the lens of new media genre narratives. Early 20th‐century documentary films of Argentine Patagonia institutionalised a natural binary opposition, positioning those challenging colonial power relations based on natural resources against an ideal and achievable future. These narratives sought to shape dialogues and subjectivities about the region, defining the boundaries within which claims and changes were acknowledged. From this perspective, this research aims to advance the historical examination of the emergence of subnational future narratives and their connection with power dynamics in Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial ground freezing technology is the most important construction method of complex water-bearing soft clay rock. The thermodynamic properties of soft clay rock are important evidence for the design and construction of space resources development, and the variable hydrothermal parameter can directly affect the uncertain thermodynamic properties of soft clay rock. In this work, an array of field experiments on the soft clay rock are carried out, and the anisotropic spatial variations of hydrothermal parameters of soft clay rock are obtained. The statistical variability characteristics of variable hydrothermal parameters are estimated. A stochastic coupling model of soft clay rock with heat conduction and porous flow is proposed, and the uncertain thermodynamic properties of soft clay rock are computed by the self-compiled program. Model validation with the experimental and numerical temperatures is also presented. According to the relationship between anisotropic spatial variations and statistical variability characteristics for the different random field correlation models, the effects of the autocorrelation function, coefficient of variation, and autocorrelation distance of variable hydrothermal parameters on the uncertain thermodynamic properties of soft clay rock are analyzed. The results show that the proposed stochastic analysis model for the thermal characteristics of soft clay rock, considering the spatial variability of frozen soil layers, is scientifically reasonable. The maximum standard deviation of average thickness is 2.33 m, and the maximum average temperature is 2.25 °C. For the autocorrelation function, the most significant impact comes from DBIN. For the coefficient of variation, the most significant impact comes from thermal conductivity. Different variations of hydrothermal parameters have different effects on the standard deviation of soft clay rock temperature. The biggest influence is the thermal conductivity, while the lowest influence is the specific heat capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

This paper examines the evolution of China’s animation industry policies from 1990 to the present and their substantial impact on industry development. The study identifies four main stages: the exploratory phase in the 1990s, the boom period from 2000 to 2011, the transition period from 2012 to 2016, and the rational phase from 2017 onwards. Each stage had distinct policy focuses, collectively driving a shift in Chinese animation from simple quantity growth to a more sustainable, quality-oriented development. Various supportive measures, including market access management, fiscal and tax incentives, and industry fund support, provided critical market space and financial resources, fostering technological innovation, talent cultivation, and broadening international collaborations. Despite notable achievements, the industry still grapples with challenges like an incomplete industrial chain, dependence on government support, and gaps in original content creation. This paper provides essential references for optimizing future policies, offering valuable insights for the animation industry’s development in other countries as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A K-M-N on-orbit service network architecture and its mission scheduling problem are proposed and studied, in which K space service stations and M service spacecraft are scheduled to service for N target spacecraft. The service spacecraft, which are initially docked with the space service station in the geosynchronous region, set off through orbital maneuver to conduct servicing operation for one or multiple target spacecraft upon receiving the service command. A mission scheduling strategy of on-orbit service for the target GEO spacecraft is proposed based on space service stations, in which the service spacecraft are scheduled to serve all target spacecraft with the lowest cost of fuel for the orbital transfers. As the mission scheduling for such a K-M-N GEO on-orbit service network is NP-hard, a hybrid simulated annealing optimization algorithm is put forward based on a mechanism of dynamic reverse processing of encoding and decoding to solve this problem. Four numerical case studies are presented and their results are compared with those from the literature to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach. A series of different network model simulations and Mann-Kendall tests prove that multispace service stations can significantly reduce total fuel consumption for transfers, and the initial layout is also very important. Besides, the initial distribution of the service spacecraft also has an impact on total fuel. However, the quantitative impact of the service spacecraft is uncertain and needed to be analyzed on a specific basis, sometimes increasing the quantity of service spacecraft can reduce the total fuel, sometimes it has no effect, sometimes it may even cause negative effect when the number of service spacecraft is too large and unreasonable. Practical Applications: On-orbit servicing (OOS), refers to the execution of space operations through the exterior vehicle activities of astronauts, robots or both to extend the mission life of a spacecraft or improve the ability of a spacecraft to perform on-orbit missions. With the development of relevant enabling technologies, OOS will become a business which can be implemented commercially and in a large scale, in which one or multiple space service stations, as the space resource storage warehouse of the satellites in orbit, run in the earth orbit for a long time, and the service spacecraft will provide service to the target spacecraft in turn after completing the rendezvous and docking. In the process of servicing, the service spacecraft will return to the space service station for the replenishment when its resource is insufficient. In this paper, on-orbit service network scheduling based on space service station is studied, which is NP-hard. A hybrid simulated annealing optimization algorithm is put forward based on a mechanism of dynamic reverse processing of encoding and decoding to solve this problem. The researches in this paper are of great significance to the scale design and scheduling of on-orbit services in the future, meanwhile have a certain appeal for the relevant operational research scholars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Antibody light chains form amyloid fibrils that lead to progressive tissue damage in amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis. The properties of each patient's unique light chain appear to determine its propensity to form amyloid. One factor is N-glycosylation, which is more frequent in amyloid-associated light chains than in light chains from the normal immune repertoire. However, the mechanisms underlying this association are unknown. Here, we investigate the frequency and position within the light chain sequence of the N-glycosylation sequence motif, or sequon. Methods: Monoclonal light chains from AL amyloidosis and multiple myeloma were identified from the AL-Base repository. Polyclonal light chains were obtained from the Observed Antibody Space resource. We compared the fraction of light chains from each group harboring an N-glycosylation sequon, and the positions of these sequons within the sequences. Results: Sequons are enriched among AL-associated light chains derived from a subset of precursor germline genes. Sequons are observed at multiple positions, which differ between the two types of light chains, κ and λ, but are similar between light chains from AL amyloidosis and multiple myeloma. Positions of sequons map to residues with surface-exposed sidechains that are compatible with the folded structures of light chains. Within the known structures of λ AL amyloid fibrils, many residues where sequons are observed are buried, inconsistent with N-glycosylation. Conclusions: There is no clear structural rationale for why N-glycosylation of κ light chains is associated with AL amyloidosis. A better understanding of the roles of N-glycosylation in AL amyloidosis is required before it can be used as a marker for disease risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Niche segregation is a mechanism by which competition between coexisting species is reduced. The ecological niche is a multidimensional space shaped by the conditions and resources that enable the existence of species.We conducted comprehensive univariate and multidimensional analyses of phenotypic traits encompassing morphology, functional performance and ecophysiology, to investigate which phenotypic traits contribute to niche segregation and overlap in two coexisting green lizard species.Our analyses revealed that the main driver of niche segregation was body size. However, when considering size‐corrected phenotypic spaces, ecophysiological traits were still distinct, with little overlap between co‐occurring species. Such differentiation was linked mainly to preferred temperature variance and water loss, highlighting the importance of thermal and hydric niche segregation.Some particular traits such as limb length also contributed to niche segregation being maintained in the morphological space, even when the effect of size was accounted for. Instead, the phenotypic space of functional performance traits (i.e. bite force, locomotor performance) showed the greatest overlap between the two species, thus, less niche segregation was observed, once size effects were removed. Therefore, functional performance traits contribute in a minor proportion to the effective niche segregation between the two species. In light of our results, the most adequate perspective to understand niche segregation in coexisting species is through a multidimensional approach in differentiated phenotypic spaces. Our dismantling of phenotypic traits allowed us to identify niche areas in which trait overlap occurs and others that promote niche segregation, considering or not size effects.Our results suggest that differential use of structural and functional niche space promotes effective niche segregation, potentially reducing direct competition between species. We highlight the importance of studies that include the combination of several phenotypic traits that, as a whole, provide insights to better understand the mechanisms by which coexisting organisms exploit differentiated resources in multidimensional spaces. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although dune systems play a crucial ecological role and offer various ecosystem services, they are listed among the habitat types of community interest in the European Union that are undergoing the most severe conservation challenges. The subject of this study was the monitoring of habitat types protected under Directive 92/43/EEC (Habitats Directive) along the coastal dune systems of the Taranto Ionian Arc. Vegetation sociological surveys, GIS mapping, landscape metrics, NBR and dNBR indices were employed to assess the conservation status of the dune system and the impact of disturbance factors. Special attention was given to habitat 2250* (Coastal dunes with Juniperus spp.), revealing that it expanded from 2006 to 2019 but then significantly reduced between 2019 and 2022, with increasing fragmentation, mainly due to wildfires. The study also highlighted the impact of invasive species such as Acacia saligna and Carpobrotus acinaciformis, which compete for space and vital resources. These findings provide scientific evidence for the management and restoration of coastal dune ecosystems, emphasizing the need for targeted conservation strategies to mitigate the effects of these disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This phenomenon-driven unit focuses on students making sense of the mutually beneficial species interactions between legumes and rhizobia. Many science classes spend less time studying the nitrogen cycle due to time constraints and more focus on other cycles, such as the carbon cycle. However, the nitrogen cycle plays a vital role in the air we breathe, the creation of our DNA, and the ability of plants to grow. This phenomenon-driven, sensemaking approach enhances student curiosity and makes the learning experience more relevant, leading to deeper student buy-in. Throughout the unit, students have the chance to explore and explain what plants need to grow inside and/or outside, depending on your school's resources and space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current political and sociological efforts to respond to the need for more environmentally friendly technologies have inspired a revival of wood and wood-based material utilization in space systems. The popularity of these materials has faded since their widespread use in the early days of aerospace engineering. This work reviews the literature to provide an overview of use cases, the motivation for using wood and wood-based materials and the challenges involved. A small number of applications were identified in which wood and wood-based materials were preferred over non-renewable raw materials. They are mainly applied for less-stressed disposable components or as a thermal protection material. It can be shown that the applied wooden materials have advantages such as low production costs, easy availability, easy and environment-friendly decomposition and low weight. However, only a limited number of applications have achieved a high level of technological readiness so far. Properties such as anisotropy and a lack of uniformity, defects in wood, the quantity available material and a lack of standards for the certification of wooden materials represent challenges. These are addressed in the current research, which additionally focuses on sustainable growth, enhanced environmental friendliness and advanced lightweight design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous development of unconventional natural gas resources, the formation mechanisms of different types of gas reservoirs have become a hot topic of current research. The migration mechanisms of gas in various types of conductive media play a crucial role in studying the formation and distribution of different types of gas reservoirs. In studying natural gas migration, the pressure difference between the source and reservoir and buoyant force are generally considered the main driving forces for gas migration, while the resistance mainly comes from the capillary pressure of the reservoir. In studying capillary pressure, a circular shape is typically used as the basic model for pores or throats. The magnitude of the capillary pressure is inversely proportional to the radius of the pore or throat. However, this study conducted experiments on gas migration in circular pore models, fracture models, sandstone rock models, and pore-fracture dual models. The experimental results showed that the aspect ratio of the migration medium has an important impact on gas migration. In spaces with high aspect ratio, the gas can undergo deformation during migration, significantly reducing the capillary resistance it encounters, and under certain conditions, capillary pressure can also become a driving force for gas migration. In circular spaces, the buoyant rise of gas must satisfy the condition that connected free water can form above and below the gas column, and water can freely flow downward during the gas column's ascent. Otherwise, even if the buoyant force experienced by a continuous gas column of a certain height exceeds the capillary force of the pores, it is difficult for gas to migrate. In pores of reservoir rocks, gas often migrates in the form of bubbles, making it difficult to form a continuous gas phase, and so gas migration under buoyant force is relatively difficult. However, gas migration is easier in fractures and faults with high aspect ratio. Faults are important pathways for gas migration from deep to shallow layers, and they are also crucial for studying the correlation between shallow gas reservoirs and deep enriched gas reservoirs. This paper proposes that the aspect ratio of the migration space positively affects gas migration from the perspective of capillary pressure, improving the existing models of natural gas migration and accumulation. This is significant for understanding the formation mechanisms of different types of gas reservoirs. However, this study primarily focused on quantitative research. Further research is needed to explore the numerical relationship between the aspect ratio of pore spaces and capillary pressure, as well as the specific impacts of factors such as the density and viscosity of two-phase fluids on the experimental results and the evaluation methods of the aspect ratio of reservoir pores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern domestication efforts have occurred in a wide range of species. These efforts have led to different levels of change from the initial wild populations and market success. In this study, we explore different breeding cycle parameters to understand the rate of change in different potential starting points of neo‐domestication breeding programs. The design of a program that will bring a new crop to market requires consideration of cost efficiency and resource allocation. More crop diversity on the market creates an opportunity to design different types of food systems that can be tailored toward regional and local food security. Stochastic simulation of the rate of gain and variance is applied to different parameter combinations through the breeding cycle—crossing, evaluation, and selection—to identify population level changes along the continuum of wild to semi‐domestic plant species. The simulated breeding schemes differ in phenotypic gain and variance depending on selection strategy and population type, discovering the largest phenotypic gain of oligogenic traits occurring using phenotypic recurrent selection for landrace and orphan populations while choosing genomic selection for wild populations. There were also differences based on selection strategy, with maximum avoidance consistently leading to lower gains but higher additive variance. Overall, when looking to domesticate a new species, our simulations find phenotypic recurrent selection to be the most cost‐effective option and lead to the most gain in early generations of selection, with marker technology being most useful once initial gains have plateaued. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper highlights the role of government in boosting the private space sector and proposes that public-private linkages and state support are critical for the success of private space endeavours, such as the fledgling asteroid mining one. The economics of high costs in tandem with outsized risks, and the long time-horizon for the investment to reap a return, have been big obstacles for companies that want a stake in asteroid resource extraction. Such factors necessitate the state stepping in to share the burden. Government funding, technological help, and the state's underwriting of high-level risks, along with ensuring private property rights, are critical for the viability of the asteroid mining infant industry. This paper shows that without enough government backing, the possibility of success for such an enterprise is compromised, as seen in the dismal outcomes of the asteroid mining companies that emerged in recent times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interspecific competition, environmental filtering, or spatial variation in productivity can contribute to positive or negative spatial covariance in the abundances of species across ensembles (i.e. groups of interacting species defined by geography, resource use, and taxonomy). In contrast, density compensation should give rise to a negative relationship between ecomorphological similarity and abundance of species within ensembles. We evaluated (1) whether positive or negative covariances characterized the pairwise relationships of 21 species of Congolese shrew, and (2) whether density compensation characterized the structure of each of 36 Congolese shrew ensembles, and did so based on the abundances or biomasses of species. In general, positive covariance is more common than negative covariance based on considerations of abundance or biomass, suggesting dominant roles for environmental filtering and productivity. Nonetheless, negative covariance is more common for ecomorphologically similar species, suggesting a dominant role for competition within functional groups. Effects of abundance or biomass compensation, via pairwise or diffuse competitive interactions, were detected less often than expected by chance, suggesting that interspecific competition is not the dominant mechanism structuring these ensembles. Effects of competition may be balanced by responses to variation in resource abundance among sites in a landscape or among niche spaces within sites. Future studies of compensatory effects should incorporate considerations of heterogeneity in the abundance and distribution of resources in ecological space to better isolate the effects of competition and resource abundance, which can have opposing effects on community structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angle of repose is an important characteristic of lunar regolith, as it determines the slope stability of features such as hills and craters on the lunar surface and is useful for designing infrastructure and regolith conveyance and handling equipment. Using mineralogically accurate lunar regolith simulants LHS-1 and LHS-1D from Space Resource Technologies (SRT), the recent spin-off of the UCF Exolith Lab®, the relationship between angle of repose and aspects of the simulant, such as sample mass and particle size distribution, are explored. This study provides insight into what affects the angle of repose of lunar regolith, as well as how aspects of the regolith can be manipulated for in situ resource utilization and lunar construction applications. Through the manipulation of lunar regolith simulant particle size gradation and median particle diameter, it is possible to determine which aspects of particle size distribution most impact lunar regolith angle of repose. The results of this study indicate that while many characteristics of a regolith sample influence its angle of repose, the percentage of fines within a sample have the largest effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Advances in extraterrestrial resource utilization is reviewed from the aspect of in-situ construction. • Three construction-related in-situ resources are comprehensively reviewed. • Five in-situ construction technologies are sorted and elucidated. • Advice is given for deep, comprehensive and systemic utilization of in-situ resources. To establish foundational support for forthcoming deep space exploration and settlement endeavors, the significance of extraterrestrial construction has become paramount. Recent developments underscore a growing acknowledgment of the imperative role played by in situ resource utilization, attributed to its potential for cost efficiency and facilitation of sustainable progress. This paper compiles and categorizes the advancements in this domain, focusing on three distinctive categories of in situ resources: regolith, water–ice, and energy resources. A review of their distribution, acquisition, and utilization procedures is presented. Subsequently, an intricate examination ensues, elucidating the applicability of each resource within the context of extraterrestrial construction, in conjunction with five prevalent technologies and the latest architectural constructs. Drawing insights from the research, the existing limitations are identified, particularly pertaining to the comprehensive, deep processing, and sustainable utilization of resources. Consequently, a proposition is put forth to address these challenges. Prospective investigations are recommended, focusing on the mining of water–ice, the metallurgy and production of regolith and slag, and the integrated construction in the pursuit of extraterrestrial construction and operational endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal communities have long been at the periphery of human geography. Nonetheless, the coasts present a rich context to understand and deconstruct processes of displacement—enclosure, ocean grabbing, gentrification, and financialization—and the salience of adjacency claims as resistance. While scholars have theorized that the coast's spatial specificity may enable communities to raise adjacency claims, scholarship has not reconciled the degree to which coastal communities should benefit from marine resources and ocean spaces. This displacement-adjacency framework and research agenda provide a lens to study discourses, cases of contestation, and the potency of such protests of interrelated coastal displacement processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article uses historical and ethnographic methods to examine the primarily East-Central European Interoceanmetal Joint Organization (IOM). I ask how and why the IOM has survived as an institution since its inception in 1987, working especially with the personal archive of Vratislav Kubišta. Kubišta was a metallurgist and former Deputy Director General at IOM who after retirement sought to develop a local deep-sea mining museum. This is a story about the work that archives do, but even more about how institutions maintain archives. I draw on recent work in the history and anthropology of time and archival practice to situate IOM's history and Kubišta's collection in narratives of ruin, the unbuilt, and the experience of multiple temporalities within spaces of resource speculation and anticipation. I suggest that IOM's history highlights the contingencies of resources in the temporality of indefinite pause, their attendant data, and scientific labor and life under the shifting political, economic, and scientific circumstances of the ongoing not-yet. In broadening the history of what is once more a hotly contested potential resource, this account speaks to the claims of contemporary would-be seabed miners, who frequently frame the practice in terms of innovation, urgency, and novelty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The aims of this study are to evaluate the vegetation restoration on the slope of the accumulation body of earth-rock mixing engineering in karst area, and to provide basic theoretical support for ecological restoration of accumulation in karst area and provide reference for ecological civilization construction. [Methods] The highway linear accumulation bodies of earth-rock mixing engineering were selected as the research object with different recovery years (3,5,7 a). Different vegetation types (grassland and grass irrigation) were selected as the research objects. The gravel content, soil physical parameters, soil chemical indicators, hydraulics parameters and plant community indexes were selected. The interaction between the vegetation restoration characteristics and the ecological influence factors was analyzed by using principal component analysis. [Results] (1) The process of vegetation restoration of the slope of the accumulation body of earth-rock mixing engineering was a process of continuous redistribution of resources and space. With the increase of recovery time, the species richness of the slope vegetation gradually decreased, and the dominant species of the community became more and more obvious. (2) Soil organic matter, natural moisture content and saturated water conductivity were the main factors affecting the initial stage of vegetation restoration on the slope surface of the accumulation body of earth-rock mixing engineering, but the vegetation restoration also helped to improve the slope soil structure and nutrient content. (3) The early focus of vegetation restoration on the slope surface was how to improve the hydrodynamics characteristics of slope soil. The vegetation recovery mode of the construction stage of the pioneer vegetation community of the accumulation body of earth-rock mixing engineering could be mixed, and trees should be added gradually, and some deep root plants should be matched appropriately together. [Conclusion] Improving the slope soil hydrodynamics characteristics is conducive to the initial vegetation recovery on the slope surface of the accumulation body of earth-rock mixing engineering in karst area. Meanwhile, the vegetation restoration mode can be adopted by mixing of grass and shrub, and then gradually with deep-rooted trees. The results can provide basic theoretical support for the ecological restoration of accumulation body of engineering in karst area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, optimization of the microgreen space distribution through multistage regulation is investigated, with the goal of alleviating the imbalance between the supply and demand of green resources in the central urban area of Shenyang. An optimized evaluation model of green space supply and demand is employed to calculate the green space accessibility index at a 100-m grid scale and identify different levels of green space resource supply and demand. Priority is given to supplementing resources for the elderly population by balancing the green space supply in vulnerable areas. Particle swarm—ant colony optimization (PS-ACO) is used to select microgreen space sites within each priority level. On the basis of the "important-urgent" quadrant analysis, S1-priority residential areas account for 8.12% of the grid, S2-priority areas account for 67.01%, and S3-priority areas account for 24.87%. The PS-ACO algorithm outputs potential microgreen space sites within each priority level to accurately regulate the green space distribution in residential areas with different supply pressures and limited land availability. A spatial correlation analysis of the new sites reveals good spatial dispersion within service units, effectively alleviating demand pressures, and good aggregation at a regional scale to address imbalances in the supply of green space in a targeted manner. Thus, the optimized results of the PS-ACO algorithm are effective, providing reliable site-selection references for subsequent urban microgreen space distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research suggests that by 2023, the production of data will exceed 300 exabytes per month, a figure surpassing human verbal communication by over 60 times. This exponential growth underscores the need for platforms to adapt in areas such as data analysis and storage. Efficient data organization is crucial, considering the growing scarcity of time and space resources. While manual sorting may suffice for small datasets in smaller organizations, large corporations dealing with millions or billions of documents require advanced tools to streamline storage, sorting, and analysis processes. In response to this need, this research introduces a novel architecture called Slick, designed to enhance sorting, filtering, organization, and analysis capabilities for any storage service. The proposed architecture incorporates two innovative techniques – Degree of Importance (DOI) and amortized clustering – along with established natural language processing methods such as Topic Modelling, Summarization, and Tonal Analysis. Additionally, a new methodology for keyword extraction and document grouping is presented, resulting in significantly improved response times. It offers a searchable platform where users can utilize succinct keywords, lengthy text passages, or complete documents to access the information they seek. Experimental findings demonstrate a nearly 46 percent reduction in average response time compared to existing methods in literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural communities can be conceptualized as spatial organisms interconnected by optimized resource utilization systems. Investigating the efficient utilization of rural resources and spatial construction methods grounded in resource metabolism is a pivotal step toward achieving the ecological transformation of rural spaces. This paper examined rural settlements in the Shandong Plain as a case study, exploring the relationships among three scales: village, neighborhoods, and courtyards. This analysis was based on elucidating the interaction mechanisms between "space and resource" and the integration of key resources and spatial elements. From the perspective of resource circulation and metabolism, this study aimed to elucidate the equilibrium of each resource element within three resource metabolism subsystems: the agricultural production system (core element), the ecological technology system (technological link), and the human life system (spatial carrier) in Shandong Plain's villages, considering general climatic conditions. To achieve this, this research utilized the resource production volume, the utilization and transformation volume of resource metabolism technology facilities per unit area, and the average per capita resource consumption as fundamental measurement units. The concept of a rationing relationship is introduced to clarify resource allocation. Combining the aforementioned research on spatial resource metabolism in ecological villages in Shandong Province with the material flow analysis method, this study constructed a bottom–up spatial model of resource metabolism at three scales, courtyards, neighborhoods, and villages, under various resource metabolism scenarios. This study is anticipated to significantly contribute to the theoretical understanding of rural habitat environments, offering novel methods and perspectives for constructing ecological rural settlements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a type of neurological illness that significantly impacts individuals' daily lives. In the intelligent diagnosis of AD, 3D networks require larger computational resources and storage space for training the models, leading to increased model complexity and training time. On the other hand, 2D slices analysis may overlook the 3D structural information of MRI and can result in information loss. Approach: We propose a multi-slice attention fusion and multi-view personalized fusion lightweight network for automated AD diagnosis. It incorporates a multi-branch lightweight backbone to extract features from sagittal, axial, and coronal view of MRI, respectively. In addition, we introduce a novel multi-slice attention fusion module, which utilizes a combination of global and local channel attention mechanism to ensure consistent classification across multiple slices. Additionally, a multi-view personalized fusion module is tailored to assign appropriate weights to the three views, taking into account the varying significance of each view in achieving accurate classification results. To enhance the performance of the multi-view personalized fusion module, we utilize a label consistency loss to guide the model's learning process. This encourages the acquisition of more consistent and stable representations across all three views. Main results: The suggested strategy is efficient in lowering the number of parameters and FLOPs, with only 3.75M and 4.45G respectively, and accuracy improved by 10.5% to 14% in three tasks. Moreover, in the classification tasks of AD vs. CN, AD vs. MCI and MCI vs. CN, the accuracy of the proposed method is 95.63%, 86.88% and 85.00%, respectively, which is superior to the existing methods. Conclusions: The results show that the proposed approach not only excels in resource utilization, but also significantly outperforms the four comparison methods in terms of accuracy and sensitivity, particularly in detecting early-stage AD lesions. It can precisely capture and accurately identify subtle brain lesions, providing crucial technical support for early intervention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Space information network (SIN) is difficult to fully utilize the limited on‐board resource due to its dynamic and heterogeneous nature, while the traditional resource management methods cannot adapt to the increasingly diverse task requirements. Space cloud network architecture is an effective technology to reduce the pressure on satellite resources. To effectively manage the space cloud network resources, we design a resources allocation strategy based on resource clustering. Firstly, we propose the space cloud network architecture. Then, we propose a genetic algorithm to cluster the space cloud resources. Finally, we propose a dynamic resource allocation method based on reinforcement learning for the dynamic characteristics of space cloud resources. The method improves the reinforcement learning algorithm through dynamic objective optimization to complete the optimization of multiple objectives in the process of space cloud resources allocation. The simulation results show that the algorithm proposed in this paper reduces the task execution delay by an average of 10.5% compared with the original DQN algorithm and increases the execution success rate by 2.17%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

As public libraries are called upon to support increasing numbers of users experiencing homelessness and other outcomes of poverty and disadvantage, they are looking to external service providers with whom to partner to share in the provision of this support. Using a model of Collaborative Governance, the results of a survey of public library staff are used to explore these partnerships, along with service provisions provided to vulnerable library users. The survey found that public libraries are providing access to library services, spaces and resources, along with links to external service providers, and are acting as distribution points for donated items. As local government entities, public libraries are undertaking collaborative governance activities by forming partnerships with community-led non-profit organisations, large-scale non-profit and charitable organisations, and government service providers. The ‘Starting Conditions’ element of the Collaborative Governance Model (Ansell, C., & Gash, A. (2008). Collaborative governance in theory and practice. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 18(4), 543–571) provides a useful means of exploring asymmetries in the power-resource-knowledge relationship between public libraries and their partners, and the pre-existing levels of trust between potential partners as both incentives and constraints on establishing partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The great majority of studies on foundation species focused on a single dominant plant in a community, while more than one such species can often coexist and compete for space and limited resources. Morphologically different coexisting foundation species can create diverse niches occupied by different subsets of beneficiary species. To test this hypothesis, we sampled alpine plant communities at exposed fellfields in alpine zone, in the Taisetsu Mountains (Hokkaido, northern Japan), with coexisting putative foundation species Pinus pumila (evergreen shrub) and Diapensia lapponica (evergreen cushion‐forming shrub), and analyzed their spatial relationships with other plants. Preliminary vegetation survey indicated that fruticose lichens and Loiseleuria procumbens (evergreen mat‐forming shrub) might also act as a foundation species; thus, we included them in our analyses. The coexisting foundation species had both general as well as specific effects on plant community structure. Namely, almost all the members of the community aggregated spatially with lichens, while the other foundation species were spatially segregated from each other. These foundation plants associated with different members of the community, thus showing species‐specific effects on the community structure. Blooming species showed even stronger patterns of species‐specific spatial associations, suggesting that foundation species had beneficial effects on their associated species. We conclude that the focus on coexisting foundation species can reveal important details of community structure which would be hidden if we treated all species as equal members of the community. Studying the effects of coexisting foundation species could greatly advance our understanding of how species diversity functions in plant communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Sedimented Layers and Shadow Books: A Critical Response" published in the Journal of Latin American Geography discusses the author's book "Subterranean Matters," which explores the relationship between subterranean natures, nationalism, and cooperative miners in Norte Potosí, Bolivia. The book challenges prevailing representations of cooperative miners and delves into the historical ties between subterranean spaces, mineral resources, and Bolivian nationalism. The author engages with various theoretical traditions and methodological practices to analyze environmental injustices and the historical conditions shaping cooperative miners' operations. Additionally, the article highlights the complexities surrounding the legalization and destigmatization of artisanal and small-scale mining, drawing parallels between perceptions of cooperative miners in Bolivia and ASM practitioners globally. [Extracted from the article]

Following decades long political and legal uncertainty, several space-faring States passed national laws asserting (or reaffirming) private rights on resources extracted in space. This "bottom-up" approach is now shaping the fundamentals of international norms and rules. While the so-called "Artemis Bloc" and the US legislative and policy-making efforts have been examined extensively, what is missing is an in-depth analysis of the stance and response of other major space-faring nations. This article contributes to the scholarship by studying China's perspective. The article considers the ongoing proliferation of national laws and policy-making efforts and the increased pace of commercialisation in the space sector as the driving force of international law-making. It then notes the absence of a clear-cut national legislation in China governing space operations linked to resource extraction from celestial bodies. The paper argues that China, as a major space-faring and a developing country, is poised to have an assertive voice in international space law-making. It shows how a stronger national legal framework, coupled with international law and policy-making efforts, can elevate China's contribution in international space law—in particular regarding space resource extraction and utilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Island biological communities are considered to comprise non‐random assemblages from surrounding source pools, but whether they converge towards predictable structural properties remains unclear. Here, we (i) test whether insular communities of land snails converge towards similar functional and/or taxonomic properties and (ii) evaluate whether island functional diversity is determined by island biogeographical characteristics such as area and distance to the pool as well as human‐related variables. Location: Sixty‐six continental Aegean islands. Taxon: Land snails. Methods: We compiled a database of two morphological traits with functional significance (shell height and width) for 163 island species and 1529 species from the major species pools. We quantified inter‐specific morphological dissimilarity between pairs of islands (turnover), using a modified index of the mean nearest taxon distance. We tested for functional and taxonomic convergence using null models and assessing whether overall mean turnover among islands and pairwise island‐by‐island turnover were lower than expected by chance. We performed multiple regression analyses to test whether functional diversity metrics scale with island biogeographical characteristics and human‐related variables. Results: Our analyses provide strong evidence that communities of land snails across the Aegean islands converge towards non‐random functional properties and taxonomic structure. At the island level, a wide range of different shell shapes is observed, indicating greater functional richness than expected by chance. Regression analyses showed that island area is the only efficient predictor of functional diversity, indicating that available ecological/resource space is of central importance in driving the assembly of different shell shapes. Main Conclusions: Our findings, consistent with previous studies of other taxa from oceanic islands, highlight that island species communities are not randomly assembled and display convergence in their functional and taxonomic composition. Integrating functional diversity metrics within biogeographic analyses has the potential to further our understanding of island biodiversity patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although access to drinking water is a fundamental human right, the most disadvantaged populations are forced to adapt to multiple socio-economic and environmental pressures: tradeoffs in the allocation of the resource, disparate equipment, monetization of the service, degradation of aquatic environments, impacts of global climate change. Based on an empirical survey in Senegal and problematized around the relationships between spatial justice and environmental inequalities, the article relates the social conditions of populations with the quality of their living environment, their level and types of access to water services with the modalities of allocation of the resource in space and time. The latter depend on the governance of resources combined with a differentiated treatment of spaces and populations. The Saint-Louis region of Senegal is particularly illustrative of these issues of environmental inequalities - shortage, water pollution - to the detriment of indigenous populations during the colonial period and rural populations today. Access to water resources is thus limited by partial service, by the prohibitive cost of network water and by organizational dysfunctions that the reform of management methods, community-based and then recently delegated to private companies, does not resolve. While access to clean drinking water is deemed a fundamental human right, it remains a challenge for the most marginalized communities, who are forced to navigate through a myriad of socio-economic and environmental pressures. These challenges include trade-offs in resource allocation, disparities in infrastructure, commercialization of water services, degradation of aquatic ecosystems, and the adverse effects of global climate change. Drawing from empirical research conducted in Senegal, this article delves into the intricate interplay between spatial justice and environmental disparities, shedding light on how social factors interact with the quality of living conditions and access to water services. The allocation of water resources, both spatially and temporally, is intricately linked to governance mechanisms and the differential treatment of various regions and demographics. The case of the Saint-Louis region in Senegal serves as a poignant example, highlighting historical injustices such as water shortages and pollution that disproportionately affected indigenous communities during the colonial era and continue to impact rural populations today. Despite efforts to address these challenges through reforms in management practices transitioning from community-based initiatives to recent delegation to private entities significant barriers persist. Access to water resources remains constrained by inadequate supply, prohibitive costs associated with centralized water systems, and persistent organizational inefficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) is considered to solve the intermittency problem of renewable energy. A geological assessment indicated that the B unit of the Salina Group in Southern Ontario, Canada, is the most promising for UHS because it is the thickest and most regionally extensive salt rock deposit. However, the comprehensive geological knowledge of potential sites and overall salt volume for UHS remains undiscovered. This paper collected 1112 wells' logging data to assess the geologic potential for UHS in Lambton County. The geological characteristic analysis of the B unit was conducted using high-frequency stratigraphic sequences and logging interpretation. The internal lithologies and thicknesses of the B unit were interpreted from 426 available wells. The storage capacity of the salt caverns was calculated from simplified cylinder models. The results indicate that the B unit can be subdivided into three high-frequency sequences, denoted as the SQ1, SQ2, and SQ3 subunits. SQ1 corresponds to salt–limestone, SQ2 corresponds to bedded salt rocks, and SQ3 corresponds to massive salt rocks. Well sections and thickness maps indicate that the study area can be divided into two sub-areas along the Wilikesport, Oil Spring, and Watford line. To the northwest, unit B was thicker and deeper in terms of paleo-water depth, and to the southeast, less of the B unit was deposited on the paleo-highs. The main thicknesses in SQ1, SQ2, and SQ3 range from 20 to 30 m, 25 to 35 m, and 30 to 40 m, respectively. In conclusion, the best subunit for UHS is SQ3, with a secondary target being SQ2. The main factor impacting cavern storage capacity for the SQ2 subunit is high mud content, while for SQ3, it is the meters-thick anhydrite developed towards the base of the unit. The available underground storage volume of the salt caverns in the B unit is 9.10 × 106 m3. At the standard state, the working gas volume is 557.80 × 106 m3. The favorable area for UHS is the western part surrounded by Wallaceburg, Oil Spring, and Watford. The thickness distribution of the B unit is the combined result of paleo-topography, sea-level changes, and tectonic movement in Lambton. The geological storage capacity of the salt caverns exhibits significant potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 ('OST') bars national appropriation of celestial bodies in space. Many authoritative interpretations agree that this includes asteroids. The bar and the general constraints and ambiguities of the OST have stymied commercial space development for the past several decades. One such ambiguity is that the use of outer space 'shall be the province of all mankind'. The United States' passage of the Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015, which recognized private property rights in space resources in private individuals, is part of a space law paradigm shift. In an increasingly multipolar and destabilizing geopolitical environment, where treaty practice and customary international law may again take primacy over treaty making, the United States' position might become the dominant one. The principle of limited private appropriation in space has been adopted by a few other countries but has principally been espoused by private corporations through what Professor Melissa Durkee calls 'attributed lawmaking'. These corporations have focused their interpretation of the OST on Article II and property rights. Interestingly, corporations have been silent on Article I's statement that 'The...use of outer space...shall be the province of all mankind[]' and Article II's definition of 'celestial bodies'. This article provides two arguments that corporations could employ to advance a more holistic and commercial-friendly interpretation (particularly for asteroid mining) of the OST: Article I might not prohibit private ownership of space resources if that ownership ameliorates global challenges and Article II's definition of celestial bodies may not include asteroids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typical satellite component detection is an application-valuable and challenging research field. Currently, there are many algorithms for detecting typical satellite components, but due to the limited storage space and computational resources in the space environment, these algorithms generally have the problem of excessive parameter count and computational load, which hinders their effective application in space environments. Furthermore, the scale of datasets used by these algorithms is not large enough to train the algorithm models well. To address the above issues, this paper first applies YOLOv8 to the detection of typical satellite components and proposes a Lightweight Typical Satellite Components Detection algorithm based on improved YOLOv8 (LTSCD-YOLO). Firstly, it adopts the lightweight network EfficientNet-B0 as the backbone network to reduce the model's parameter count and computational load; secondly, it uses a Cross-Scale Feature-Fusion Module (CCFM) at the Neck to enhance the model's adaptability to scale changes; then, it integrates Partial Convolution (PConv) into the C2f (Faster Implementation of CSP Bottleneck with two convolutions) module and Re-parameterized Convolution (RepConv) into the detection head to further achieve model lightweighting; finally, the Focal-Efficient Intersection over Union (Focal-EIoU) is used as the loss function to enhance the model's detection accuracy and detection speed. Additionally, a larger-scale Typical Satellite Components Dataset (TSC-Dataset) is also constructed. Our experimental results show that LTSCD-YOLO can maintain high detection accuracy with minimal parameter count and computational load. Compared to YOLOv8s, LTSCD-YOLO improved the mean average precision (mAP50) by 1.50% on the TSC-Dataset, reaching 94.5%. Meanwhile, the model's parameter count decreased by 78.46%, the computational load decreased by 65.97%, and the detection speed increased by 17.66%. This algorithm achieves a balance between accuracy and light weight, and its generalization ability has been validated on real images, making it effectively applicable to detection tasks of typical satellite components in space environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ resource utilization is a necessary means to achieve sustainable development of human habitation on the Moon. Grinding processing enables the processing and application of abundant mineral resources on the Moon, allowing for the manufacturing of high-quality mechanical components and the restoration of component surfaces. The thermal transfer system of grinding becomes particularly complex under the influence of extreme conditions such as vacuum, low gravity, and significant temperature variations. This review examines the latest research and future prospects on grinding thermal behaviors under simulated vacuum conditions. First, the generation and propagation mechanisms of grinding heat are analyzed. Measurement methods for grinding temperature in extreme environments are summarized. Second, the heat transfer system framework under simulated vacuum conditions is constructed. A comparative analysis is conducted on the impacts of different heat source models, process parameters, and simulation methods. Third, the influencing factors of heat transfer behavior are summarized. Then, the framework for an efficient cooling system is constructed. Finally, the consequences of grinding-induced heat are summarized. This review provides essential technical means and guidance for the high-quality application of space resources and the development of human lunar exploration and migration technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of urban underground space is a crucial aspect of current urban development. However, various factors pose challenges during the development process. In particular, in the valley cities of western China, groundwater has a significant impact on the utilization of underground space. This study focuses on understanding the influence of hydrogeological characteristics on the development of underground space in Ledu District, Haidong. Firstly, the hydrogeological characteristics of the aquifer in the study area are analyzed to determine the recharge and discharge characteristics. The dynamic changes in the groundwater table over time are then examined. Subsequently, the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater are investigated to expound on the influence mechanism of groundwater on the development of underground space resources in Ledu District. The study reveals that the hydrodynamic effect of groundwater in the study area is substantial and has a significant physical scouring effect on underground structures. The fluctuation of groundwater levels affects the stability of buildings by increasing groundwater buoyancy. Additionally, this fluctuation also leads to engineering and environmental problems such as differential settlement and land salinization. The chemical characteristics of groundwater primarily impact the stability of building foundations through the corrosive effects of groundwater composition. This research clarifies the influence mechanism of groundwater on the development of underground space in typical valley cities of western China. The findings have practical significance for the evaluation, planning, development, and utilization of urban underground space resources in Haidong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]