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Predicting carbon prices is crucial for the growth of China's carbon trading industry. This paper proposes a residual correction model that considers multiple influencing factors. First, the best historical data and main external factors input by the model are determined by using the partial autocorrelation function and Spearman correlation analysis, and the carbon price forecasting index system is constructed. Second, the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) is utilized to determine the optimal parameters of the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and the WOA‐XGBoost model is built to perform preliminary carbon price forecasts and obtain the residual series. Finally, the carbon price residual series undergoes decomposition into multiple components utilizing the complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition for subsequent forecasting and the aggregation of outcomes. Experiments are conducted to predict two carbon trading markets in Hubei and Guangzhou, and a feature importance analysis is performed. The results indicate that the proposed hybrid model consistently outperforms the comparative models in terms of prediction accuracy. Furthermore, it is revealed that historical carbon prices and European Union carbon prices are the key factors influencing the prediction of carbon market prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The targets of limiting global warming levels below 2°C or even 1.5°C set by Paris Agreement heavily rely on bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), which can remove carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. Biomass and coal co‐firing with CCS is one of BECCS technologies, as well as a pathway to achieve low carbon transformation and upgrading through retrofitting coal power plants. However, few studies have considered co‐firing ratio of biomass to coal based on each specific coal power plant's characteristic information such as location, installed capacity, resources allocation, and logistic transportation. Therefore, there is a need to understand whether it is worth retrofitting any individual coal power plant for the benefit of GHG emission reduction. It is also important to understand which power plant is suitable for retrofit and the associated co‐firing ratio. In order to fulfill this gap, this paper develops a framework to solve these questions, which mainly include three steps. First, biomass resources are assessed at 1 km spatial resolution with the help of the Geography Information Science method. Second, by setting biomass collection points and linear program model, resource allocation and supply chain for each power plants are complete. Third, is by assessing the life‐cycle emission for each power plant. In this study, Hubei Province in China is taken as the research area and study case. The main conclusions are as follows: (a) biomass co‐firing ratio for each CCS coal power plant to achieve carbon neutral is between 40% and 50%; (b) lower co‐firing ratio sometimes may obtain better carbon emission reduction benefits; (c) even the same installed capacity power plants should consider differentiated retrofit strategy according to their own characteristic. Based on the results and analysis above, retrofit suggestions for each power plant are made in the discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To quantitatively characterize the complexity of shale pore structures and their controlling factors in the Longmaxi Formation of Western Hubei, our study focused on the organic‐rich shale outcrops of the Longmaxi Formation in the Yidu‐Hefeng compound anticline. We conducted tests for shale organic content, maturity, and whole‐rock mineral composition, along with employing high‐pressure mercury injection and low‐temperature gas adsorption experiments. Utilizing the V‐S, FHH, and sponge models, we calculated the fractal dimensions of micro‐, meso‐, and macropores. In the Yidu‐Hefeng region, the Longmaxi Formation is characterized by calcium‐rich shales that are abundant in organic matter. Our analysis of samples revealed a total organic carbon (TOC) ranging between 1.04% and 4.24%, with an average of 2.5%. The Ro values fluctuate between 2.98% and 3.57%, with a mean value of 2.845%, indicating an over‐mature stage from early to late thermogenesis. Constituents such as quartz span from 39.8% to 51.3%, with a median of 44.3%, while feldspar oscillates between 3.8% and 12.4%, averaging at 8.48%. Clay minerals constitute 24.3% to 41.7% of the samples, with a mean of 34.16%. Shale porosity exhibits a segmented fractal nature. For instance, D1 varies from 2.1278 to 2.4056, with a mean of 2.2767; D2 fluctuates between 2.4995 and 2.7492, averaging at 2.6309; and D3 ranges from 2.6835 to 2.9427, centering around 2.8111. These variations indicate the intricacies of the macropore structure. Positive correlations between TOC and maturity with D1 and D2 are evident, whereas a negative association is observed with D3. The collaborative interplay between siliceous minerals and organics mirrors the relationship between the siliceous mineral content and its fractal dimensions, akin to TOC. Clay mineral transformations, due to accumulation and dehydration, predominantly contribute to macro‐porosity, weakly aligning negatively with D1 and D2 but positively with D3. Variations in carbonate and siliceous minerals and their role in primarily yielding dissolution macropores manifest a subtle negative link with D1 and D2 while enhancing D3. Pore volume correlates positively with D1 and D2, exhibits no conspicuous association with D3, and trends negatively. The compaction and transformation processes of clay minerals seem to favor the generation of macropores, mildly aligning positively with D3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Obvious inconsistencies in auto‐segmentations exist among various AI software. In this study, we have developed a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) fine‐tuning workflow to achieve precise and robust localized segmentation. Methods: The datasets include Hubei Cancer Hospital dataset, Cetuximab Head and Neck Public Dataset, and Québec Public Dataset. Seven organs‐at‐risks (OARs), including brain stem, left parotid gland, esophagus, left optic nerve, optic chiasm, mandible, and pharyngeal constrictor, were selected. The auto‐segmentation results from four commercial AI software were first compared with the manual delineations. Then a new multi‐scale lightweight residual CNN model with an attention module (named as HN‐Net) was trained and tested on 40 samples and 10 samples from Hubei Cancer Hospital, respectively. To enhance the network's accuracy and generalization ability, the fine‐tuning workflow utilized an uncertainty estimation method for automatic selection of candidate samples of worthiness from Cetuximab Head and Neck Public Dataset for further training. The segmentation performances were evaluated on the Hubei Cancer Hospital dataset and/or the entire Québec Public Dataset. Results: A maximum difference of 0.13 and 0.7 mm in average Dice value and Hausdorff distance value for the seven OARs were observed by four AI software. The proposed HN‐Net achieved an average Dice value of 0.14 higher than that of the AI software, and it also outperformed other popular CNN models (HN‐Net: 0.79, U‐Net: 0.78, U‐Net++: 0.78, U‐Net‐Multi‐scale: 0.77, AI software: 0.65). Additionally, the HN‐Net fine‐tuning workflow by using the local datasets and external public datasets further improved the automatic segmentation with the average Dice value by 0.02. Conclusion: The delineations of commercial AI software need to be carefully reviewed, and localized further training is necessary for clinical practice. The proposed fine‐tuning workflow could be feasibly adopted to implement an accurate and robust auto‐segmentation model by using local datasets and external public datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The accurate forecasts of carbon prices can help policymakers and enterprises further understand the laws of carbon price fluctuations and formulate related policies and investment strategies. Nowadays, many carbon price prediction models have been proposed. However, some models ignore the time–frequency relationship when considering exogenous variables and fail to measure their importance to the forecasting results, leading to unsatisfactory results. Therefore, this study proposes a novel hybrid model for carbon price forecasting on the basis of advanced multidimensional time series decomposition techniques and interpretable multifactor models. In the proposed model, multivariate fast iterative filtering is used to decompose carbon price and its exogenous variable sequence into several intrinsic mode functions, which can overcome the nonlinearity and nonstationarity of carbon prices and obtain their intrinsic characteristics. Meanwhile, temporal fusion transform (TFT) is used to interpret predictions for multivariate time series. TFT is a new attention‐based deep learning model combining high‐performance multihorizon prediction and interpretability and can adaptively select the optimal features for carbon price prediction. Five carbon markets in Guangdong, Beijing, Shanghai, Hubei, and Shenzhen are selected for experimental studies. Empirical results indicate that the proposed model outperforms the compared benchmark models in all performance metrics. In the interpretable output of TFT, the prediction of the high‐frequency part requires the participation of exogenous variables and has a long time dependence; for the middle and low‐frequency part, only using the carbon price itself and a short time step can lead to good results. This finding can inform future research on carbon price forecasting and help policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We carried out a preliminary investigation to study the impact of COVID‐19 on aquaculture in China and identify the strategies and measures that have been taken by the Chinese Government. The investigation involved questionnaire surveys designed for all stakeholders along the industrial chain, including grow‐out farmers, seed producers, fish processors, fish traders, and feed companies engaged in the catfish sector in Hubei Province and the tilapia sector in Guangdong Province during the strict period of control and after these control measures were lifted. We also attempted to summarize the government interventions and measures taken by different stakeholders along the value chain to minimize the damage caused by COVID‐19 and support the recovery of different sectors in the aquaculture industry. We found that due to delayed harvesting, fish stocks were held‐up in ponds and normal farming was interrupted. Farmers and traders were more severely impacted by the pandemic than other sectors. Furthermore, a series of strategies and measures are recommended to cope with the pandemic and other similar risks in the future. We expect that this study will provide good evidence for international societies to support the aquaculture industry in minimizing the impact of the pandemic and the rapid recovery of the industry in the post‐pandemic period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the blight on the leaves of garlic observed in Dangyang County in Hubei Province, China from autumn 2004 to spring 2007. The plant disease initially manifested small and white lesions which eventually progressed to apical necrosis that lasted until the leaves withered. Using potato sugar agar (PSA), isolations were made. Pieces of autoclaved filter paper were placed on the agar to induce sporulation. The fungus was identified as Stemphylium solani based on Elli. Sequences in GenBank were compared based on the genomic data extracted from three isolates which showed 99% similarity with S. solani. Pathogenicity tests indicate that the leaf blights were caused by S. botryosum, S. vesicarium (Boiteux et al, 1994) or Cladosporuim echinulatum (Pal and Basuchaudry, 1976).

SUMMARY: Crop domestication and evolution represent key fields of plant and genetics research. Here, we re‐sequenced and analyzed whole genome data from 51 wild accessions and 53 representative cultivars of Eriobotrya japonica, an important semi‐subtropical fruit crop. Population genomics analysis suggested that modern cultivated E. japonica experienced a two‐staged domestication fitting the "marginality model," being initially domesticated in west‐northern Hubei province from a mono‐phylogenetic wild progenitor, then refined mainly in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Fujian provinces of China. Cultivated E. japonica has experienced little reduction in genome‐wide nucleotide polymorphism compared with wild forms. Genes responsible for sugar biosynthesis were enriched in regions harboring putative selective sweeps. An approach based on co‐clustering into gene families and evaluating chromosome colinearity of orthologous and paralogous genes was used to identify convergent/parallel selective sweeps among different crops. Specifically, more than one hundred of orthologs and paralogs undergoing selective sweeps were identified between loquat, apple and peach, among which 14 encoded "UDP glycosyltransferase 1." In sum, the study not only provided valuable information for breeding of E. japonica, but also enriched knowledge of crop domestication. Significance Statement: In this study, loquat was found to have experienced a two‐staged domestication fitting the "marginality model." Some convergent/parallel selective sweeps among loquat, apple and peach were identified by using an approach based on co‐clustering into gene families and evaluating chromosome colinearity of orthologous and paralogous genes among different crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abundant, well‐preserved specimens of spheroidal organic‐walled microfossil Yurtusia uniformis are reported from the basal Cambrian Yanjiahe Formation in the Changyang area of Hubei Province, South China. Thin and hollow processes extend between the double walls of the vesicle. The single to multiple internal bodies within the vesicle cavity are observed in the genus for the first time, representing reproductive structures (dividing daughter cells). A small circular perforation may occur on the vesicle wall to release the internal bodies. Morphological analyses of specimens preserved at various life stages reveal that processes gradually became longer as the vesicle grew in size. The internal bodies (daughter cells) underwent several successive divisions within the vesicle, which was accompanied by the simultaneous growth of both vesicle and processes. The regular growth of cells, formation and release of daughter cells, and the remarkable morphological similarity between extant algae and the studied microfossils suggest that Yurtusia uniformis is probably a green microalga that may be closely related to the Trebouxiophyceae or even Chlorellales (Chlorophyta). The growth and reproductive mode of individuals indicates that Y. uniformis is an actively growing vegetative cell of microalgae, rather than a metabolically inert cyst or resting spore. A life cycle involving vegetative growth and asexual reproduction is proposed for Y. uniformis on the basis of the life histories of modern chlorophytes. The multiple internal cells may represent autospores produced by a mature autosporangium during asexual reproduction, which subsequently developed into separate young vegetative cells after their release from the opened autosporangium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore any age‐related change in the incubation period of COVID‐19, specifically any difference between older (aged ≥65 years) and younger adults. Methods: Based on online data released officially by 21 Chinese cities from January 22 to February 15, 2020, the incubation period of COVID‐19 patients who had travelled to Hubei was studied according to age. Previous studies were reviewed and compared. Results: The study recruited 136 COVID‐19 patients who had travelled to Hubei during January 5‐31, 2020, stayed for 1‐2 days, and returned with symptom onset during January 10‐February 6, 2020. The median age was 50.5 years (range 1‐86 years), and 22 patients (16.2%) were aged ≥65 years. The age‐stratified incubation period was U‐shaped with higher values at extremes of age. The median COVID‐19 incubation period was 8.3 (90% confidence interval [CI], 7.4‐9.2) days for all patients, 7.6 (90% CI, 6.7‐8.6) days for younger adults, and 11.2 (90% CI, 9.0‐13.5) days for older adults. The 5th/25th/75th/90th percentiles were 2.3/5.3/11.3/14.2 days for all, 2.0/5.0/10.5/13.2 days for younger adults, and 3.1/7.8/14.4/17.0 days for older adults. There were 11 published studies on COVID‐19 incubation periods up to March 30, 2020, reporting means of 1.8‐7.2 days, and medians of 4‐7.5 days, but there was no specific study on the effect of age on incubation period. One study showed that severe COVID‐19 cases, which included more elderly patients, had longer incubation periods. Conclusion: Based on 136 patients with a travel history to Hubei, the epicenter of COVID‐19, the COVID‐19 incubation period was found to be longer in older adults. This finding has important implications for diagnosis, prevention, and control of COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Histoplasmosis is a rare mycosis with nonspecific clinical manifestation and a high misdiagnosis rate, which is an epidemic disease that occurred in several endemic areas. Cases of histoplasmosis were sporadic in China. Objective: We detected the clinical characteristics and endemic trend of histoplasmosis to understand it more profoundly. Method: The clinical data of 34 cases of histoplasmosis hospitalized in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from 2003 to 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. The relevant literature were reviewed roundly which were about histoplasmosis from 2001 to 2019 reported in the Chinese mainland. Results: Thirty‐four patients were included in the study, male predominance. About 44.1% were combined with underlying disease and HIV infection was observed in eight patients. Common clinical manifestations were fever (94.1%), followed by lymphadenopathy (70.6%) and anemia (67.6%). Organ involvement included lungs (52.9%), oral cavity (5.9%) and intestine (5.9%). Patients were diagnosed by bone marrow smears (44.1%), lymph node biopsy (41.1%), lung tissue biopsy (8.8%) and intestinal tissue biopsy (5.9%). About 70.6% received amphotericin B, while 38.2% received itraconazole therapy and 79.4% were improved. About 611 cases of histoplasmosis in the Chinese mainland were obtained in the study from the related literature, with 217 (37.0%) cases occurred in Yunnan province, 69 (11.9%) cases in Hunan province and 67 (11.6%) cases in Hubei province. All of them were high incidence area of histoplasmosis. Conclusion: Histoplasmosis is a rare mycosis with high diagnosis rate and has a prominent geographical distribution in China, which should be considered highly in clinical work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wangjiadashan Cu–Au deposit is a vein‐type deposit controlled by the secondary faults of the Wushan Fault zone in the Suizao area of Hubei Province. Three hydrothermal stages are identified, namely, (I) barren quartz stage, (II) the quartz‐sulphide stage, and (III) quartz‐carbonate stage. Six types of fluid inclusions occur in quartz: (a) liquid‐rich aqueous fluid inclusions (L + V), (b) vapour‐rich aqueous‐carbonic fluid inclusions (V + L), (c) water‐rich aqueous‐carbonic fluid inclusions (L + V + CO2), (d) CO2‐rich aqueous‐carbonic fluid inclusions (V + L + CO2), (e) pure carbonic fluid inclusions (pure CO2), and (f) daughter mineral‐bearing multiphase inclusions (S‐type) with three subclasses (S1, S2, and S3 subtype). Two types of fluid inclusions occur in calcite: (a) liquid‐rich aqueous fluid inclusions (L + V) and (b) pure carbonic fluid inclusions (pure CO2). The S‐type fluid inclusions include halite (NaCl), calcite (CaCO3), and chalcopyrite (CuFeS2). The fluid system is composed of CO2–NaCl–H2O. The homogenization temperatures of the three stages are 295°C to 390°C, 245°C to 280°C, and 200°C to 241°C, with salinities of 7.3–19.8 wt% NaCl equiv. (except for several high values of 33.8 to 44.3 wt% NaCl equiv.), 7.7–13.7 wt% NaCl equiv., and 5.6–10.1 wt% NaCl equiv., respectively. Fluid immiscibility occurred in stage I that accounts for the high‐salinity fluids, but the dominant ore precipitation occurred afterward during temperature drop. In situ sulphur isotope analysis indicates a δ34S value around 0 (+1.1% to +2.2%) for the chalcopyrite, suggesting that the sulphur likely derived from the deep‐seated magma. Pyrites show δ34S values from −0.5‰ to +6.5‰ in stage II, from +0.7‰ to +6.6‰ in country rock of marble, but significantly higher from +12.8‰ to +21.7‰ in country rock of greenschist. These results indicate the sulphur for pyrite in stage II likely derived from the mixing of deep‐seated magma and country rocks. From stages I to II, a slightly increase of δD (from −86‰ and −73‰ to −59‰ and −56‰) and a decrease of δ18O (from 8.9‰ and 7.1‰ to 1.3‰ and 3.4‰) indicate that an increasing involvement of meteoric water. The carbon isotopes of fluid inclusions CO2 in quartz of stage I (−11.0‰ to −13.0‰) indicate a major magmatic or metamorphic carbon source mixed with minor sedimentary sourced carbon, but a major organic carbon source (−32.0‰ to −35.0‰) for stage II fluids. In conclusion, the Wangjiadashan Cu–Au deposit belongs to the orogenic type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The western mountain area of Hubei Province has obvious vertical climate and micro-climate features. It is a place where natural disasters occur frequently. The natural disasters have recently caused several large-scale and long-time power blackouts in the western mountain area of Hubei Province. This study analyses the damage to the power grid with voltage level from 220 to 10 kV in western Hubei Province caused by natural disasters from 2008 to 2016. The influence features of natural disasters on the western Hubei power grid are researched from four aspects, including natural disaster type, grid voltage level, occurrence time of natural disaster and line outage frequency. The causes of damage to the western Hubei power grid are studied from five aspects, including grid structure, design, equipment, construction, operation and maintenance. Also, the anti-disaster enhancement measures of the western Hubei power grid are proposed from the aspects of grid planning, design, equipment transformation, construction, operation and maintenance. The research results can provide a reference for other regional power grids to carry out research on resisting natural disasters and provide a guidance to improve anti-disaster ability of the power grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new cryptostome bryozoan, Prophyllodictya simplex sp. nov., is described from the Nantzinkuan Formation ( Lower Ordovician, lower Tremadoc) of Liujiachang, central China. This antedates the previously oldest known bryozoan by several million years. Colony morphology and the phylogenetic position of Prophyllodictya within Cryptostomata are explored. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Cryptostomata (except Prophyllodictya) can be divided into two major groups, and that Prophyllodictya occupies a basal position in the cryptostome tree, which accords with its simple morphology and antiquity. A close relationship is evident between bryozoans from the South China palaeoplate and those from Baltica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined analyses of the natural occurrence of fusarium head blight (FHB), mycotoxins and mycotoxin-producing isolates of Fusarium spp. in fields of wheat revealed FHB epidemics in 12 of 14 regions in Hubei in 2009. Mycotoxin contamination ranged from 0·59 to 15·28 μg g−1 in grains. Of the causal agents associated with symptoms of FHB, 84% were Fusarium asiaticum and 9·5% were Fusarium graminearum, while the remaining 6·5% were other Fusarium species. Genetic chemotyping demonstrated that F. asiaticum comprised deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-AcDON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-AcDON) and nivalenol (NIV) producers, whereas F. graminearum only included DON and 15-AcDON producers. Compared with the chemotype patterns in 1999, there appeared to be a modest shift towards 3-AcDON chemotypes in field populations during the following decade. However, isolates genetically chemotyped as 3-AcDON were present in all regions, whereas the chemical 3-AcDON was only detected in three of the 14 regions where 3-AcDON accounted for 15-20% of the DON and acetylated forms. NIV mycotoxins were detected in seven regions, six of which also yielded NIV chemotypes. The number of genetic 3-AcDON producers was positively correlated with amounts of total mycotoxins (DON, NIV and acetylated forms) or DON in wheat grains. Chemical analyses of wheat grains and rice cultures inoculated with different isolates from the fields confirmed their genetic chemotypes and revealed a preferential biosynthesis of 3-AcDON and 4-AcNIV in rice. These findings suggest the importance of chemotyping coupled with species identification for improved prediction of mycotoxin contamination in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large number of complete specimens together with numerous disarticulated sclerites of the eodiscinid trilobite Sinodiscus changyangensis Zhang inZhou et al., 1977 have been collected from the lower Cambrian Shuijingtuo Formation in Changyang, Hubei Province, South China. An ontogenetic series is established based on the immature and mature exoskeletons including the previously unknown protaspides and meraspides, in particular. No further substages can be differentiated in the protaspid specimens herein. Changes that took place during the meraspid period include the addition of postcephalic segments and prominent pygidial larval notches in early meraspid development which became progressively less distinct and disappeared in degree 2. Two holaspid stages are recognized based on the addition of a new pygidial segment, indicating that the start of the holaspid phase preceded the onset of the epimorphic phase and accordingly, its developmental mode is attributed to the protarthrous pattern. The trunk segmentation schedule of S. changyangensis is discussed, which is similar to other primitive eodiscoid trilobites, that is, as the boundary between the thorax and pygidium migrated posteriorly, there is no change in the number of the trunk segments. The processes of liberation of the thoracic segment and segment insertion into the pygidium are separated from one another, and the two different mechanisms, somitogenesis and tagmosis, progress independently during the ontogenetic development of the postcephalic region of these primitive eodiscinids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphology and ontogeny of the eodiscid trilobite Tsunyidiscus acutus Sun is described on the basis of numerous calcified specimens collected from the Lower Cambrian Shuijingtuo Formation in Yichang and Changyang, Hubei Province, South China. An ontogenetic series is established based on the articulated material including the previously unknown protaspides and meraspides (degrees 0 and 1). The material, revealing some prominent morphological changes such as the number of pygidial axial rings, genal spines retained throughout ontogeny and pygidial pleurae from furrowed to unfurrowed, enables a discussion on the trunk segmentation schedule, indicating that somitogenesis and tagmosis occurred independently during the ontogenetic development of T. acutus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]