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The days that precede Valentine's Day are characterized by extensive gift shopping activities all across the globe. In China, where much shopping takes place online, there has been an explosive growth in e-commerce sales during Valentine's Day over the recent years. This exploratory study investigates the extent to which each product category and each shopper group can exhibit romantic love within China's e-market throughout the 2 weeks leading up to 2019 Valentine's Day. Massive data from Alibaba, the biggest e-commerce retailer worldwide, are utilized to formulate an innovative romance index (RI) to quantitatively measure e-romantic values for products and shoppers. On this basis, millions of shoppers, along with their millions of products purchased around Valentine's Day, are analyzed as a case study to demonstrate their love consumption and romantic gift-giving. The results of the analysis are then illustrated to help understand Chinese e-romance based on the perspectives of different product categories and shopper groups. This empirical information visualization also contributes to improving the segmentation, targeting, and positioning of China's e-market for Valentine's Day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zhundong coal as a high quality steam coal has not been widely utilized due to severe fouling and slagging problems during combustion. It is crucial to reveal the slagging and fouling mechanisms in a boiler burning Zhundong coal. In this paper, the properties of ash deposits collected from various heat transfer surfaces in a 330 MW boiler were characterized by ICP-OES, SEM−EDX, and XRD. These results were also verified by an experiment burning Zhundong coal in a drop-tube furnace and thermodynamic calculation by the software FactSage. The results indicated the ash deposited on different heat transfer surfaces in 330 MW boiler burning Zhundong coal could be classified into silicates and sulfates based on their elemental and mineral analysis. Further, the ash deposited on the division panel superheater is obviously divided into three layers. In the first layer, wollastonite and sodium silicate are the main minerals with the contents of quartz and feldspar being relatively small. The types of mineral in the second layer are the same with the first layer, but their contents are different from the first layer. Meanwhile, the amount of crystalline phase in the third layer is lower than that of the first and second layer. In addition, the temperature of the flue gas or the tube played an important role in the mechanism of ash deposition. Thermodynamics calculation also shows CaSO 4 can be formed at all temperatures and there only exists CaSiO 3 formed in the range 900–1200 °C. The ash deposits along the flue gas flow attributes to sulfates, silicates and sulfates, respectively. The result of the thermodynamic calculation is in accordance with the experiment results obtained in the drop-tube furnace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the X-ray cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) gene have been shown to influence DNA repair and to modify cancer susceptibility. To investigate the role of these loci further, we examined the association of three XRCC1 polymorphisms with the risk of gliomas in a Han population in northeastern China. Methods: Using a PCR–RFLP method, XRCC1 Arg194Trp, Arg280His and Arg399Gln were genotyped in 624 glioma patients and 580 healthy controls. Results: Significant differences in the distribution of the Arg399Gln allele were detected between glioma patients and healthy controls by a logistic regression analysis (OR=1.35, 95%CI 1.17–1.68, P =0.001). Our data also revealed that the Arg399Gln variant (allele A) carriers had an increased glioma risk compared to the wild-type (allele G) homozygous carriers (OR=1.40, 95%CI 1.12–1.76, P =0.003). Conclusions: These results suggest that the XRCC1 Arg399Gln might influence the risk of developing glioma in a Han population in northeastern Chinese. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Geothermal power generation (GPG) is a technology that need to be promptly developed due to the high capacity factor and the low environmental impacts. In the year of 2020, as the pivotal juncture of China's 13th Five-Year Plan, it is necessary to summarize the GPG history of China in the past 60 years and comprehend its technological status to secure a promising future of the GPG in China. In this regard, this paper aims to reveal the challenges, opportunities and outlooks of GPG technologies in China from the perspective of the above-ground strategies. The possibility of realizing the planned GPG goal in 2020 in China was firstly discussed. In addition, a technical analysis was done to obtain the main technical obstacles, including the poor energy endowment of the geothermal resources and the immature technology of GPG systems. It is evident that the poor matching between the geothermal fluid and the adopted thermal power cycle hinders the development of GPG, especially for the technologies using the organic Rankine cycle(ORC). Nevertheless, there are many opportunities for improving the level of GPG in China, which may be based on transforming abandoned oil wells into geothermal wells, exploiting dry hot rocks, or developing multi-energy complementary systems. Except for the above, by interpreting the experimental research and the energic, economic and environmental optimization of ORC-GPG systems worldwide, crucial recommendations are provided for the promotion of the GPG technologies in China. These include the performance decoupling based on thermodynamic process, multi-objective optimization based on Pareto's non-inferior solution, comprehensive utilization based on cascading principle, environmental impact assessment based on life cycle assessment, as well as experimental studies on Flash-ORC. • 60 years' research progress in geothermal power generation of China has been reviewed. • An advanced power cycle is imperative to be developed for matching the low-medium temperature geothermal resource in China. • Conjugated consideration of energic, economic and environmental impacts is proposed for the optimization of geothermal ORC. • Opportunities and challenges as well as future recommendations of geothermal power in China are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cobalt is enriched (up to 962 ppm) in the paleo-karstic bauxite deposit at Yunfeng. • Cobalt is positively correlated with sulfur. • Cobalt occurs mainly as Co-bearing pyrites and Co-rich sulfides/sulfoarsenides. Cobalt can be enriched in a variety of different geologic settings, while it is mainly produced as a by-product of sediment-hosted stratiform Cu deposits and magmatic Ni-Cu deposits associated with mafic and ultramafic rocks. In this study, we report elevated Co concentrations in a paleo-karstic bauxite deposit at Yunfeng, Guizhou Province. Whole-rock chemical analyses indicate that Co is concentrated in carbonaceous ferruginous clay layers (167–962 ppm, average 383 ppm, n = 5) and siderite layers (47–439 ppm, average 213 ppm, n = 7) within the bauxite deposit. The positive correlation between Co and S, together with petrographic and EPMA analyses, suggests that Co occurs primarily as Co-rich/bearing sulfides/sulfoarsenides rather than cobaltiferous oxides/hydroxides as in most lateritic Ni-Co deposits. Many of the Co concentrations measured in this study are higher than the minimum grade (300 ppm) or cut-off grade (200 ppm) for economic exploitation of Co from sulfides or arsenides. Basing on these results, we put forward the scientific significance of Co enrichment in paleo-karstic environments and the potential importance of Co resources (as by-products of aluminum production) in bauxite deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Disability weights are crucial for quantifying health loss associated with non-fatal outcomes and were not well assessed in different countries, especially for specific cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to identify disability weights with a focus on specific cancer in a large Chinese population. Two types of web surveys were conducted, and 254 health states, including 30 new states for specific cancer, were investigated using paired comparison methods. The years lived with disability (YLDs) of cancer were calculated as the sum of the prevalence of each sequela of cancer multiplied by its relative disability weight. In total, 44,069 participants were eligible for the disability weights study. The disability weights of 254 health states were estimated. Among those, the disability weights of 18 specific cancer types varied greatly at diagnosis and primary treatment stage, with the value ranging from 0.619 (95% uncertainty interval (UI) 0.606–0.632) for brain cancer to 0.167 (95% UI 0.158–0.176) for oropharyngeal cancer. The discrepancy in YLDs calculated by different disability weights was high, and the largest gap for all cancer combined was approximately 30.14%. When calculated using the cancer-specific disability weights, a total of 1,967,830 (95% UI 1,928,880–2,008,060) YLDs of cancer were recorded in China. The disability weights of cancer varied greatly among cancer types and populations, which had considerable influence on the estimation of the disease burden. Cancer-specific disability weights could provide a more accurate evaluation of the cancer burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although post-combustion carbon capture (PCC) has been regarded as a near-commercial technology, the scale-up development of PCC the technology remains hindered by its severe thermodynamic and economic penalties. As a consequence, the solar-assisted carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is emerging recently, which poses a promising possibility to offset the power generation loss caused by the intensive energy consumption from PCC process. Nevertheless, the application potential of the solar-assisted CCS technology would highly depend on its realistic greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation benefit as well as its cost relative to alternative low carbon technologies. Thus, it is required to apply an improved assessment practice to recognize solutions for such sustainable power supply chains, considering an increasing threatening from climate change. In this study, solar-assisted post-combustion CCS processes are analyzed trough a life cycle approach, combing life cycle GHG assessment and life cycle cost analysis. A typical 300MWe coal-fired power plant in China is taken as the case study. Three scenarios are further analyzed: (1) base case integrated with CCS process; (2) base case integrated with CCS and solar-assisted reboiler heating process; (3) base case extended to CCS and solar-assisted repowering process. Results show that the solar-assisted repowering case has considerable advantage in both GHG mitigation potential and cost aspect with superior life cycle GHG reduction rate and life cycle cost of energy removed (LCOR) at 73.7% and 37.2$/ t c o 2 − e q respectively. While the solar-assisted reboiler heating case does not have evident competition superiority. It is further highlighted that the GHG emissions from the upstream and transportation stages are also critical for Chinese CCS chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 30 m3 anaerobic/aerobic/anoxic pilot-scale SBR system was first set up with sewage. • Total nitrogen and phosphate in effluent were 10.9 and 0.1 mg/L at 15.7℃. • The relative abundance of Competibacter and Tetrasphaera rose to 1.25% and 1.52%. • The contribution rate by endogenous denitrification was more than 43.3%. • Sludge reduction (17.1 %) and short aerobic time (6.0 h) helped to save energy. Removing nitrogen and phosphorus from low ratio of chemical oxygen demand to total nitrogen and temperature municipal wastewater stays a challenge. In this study, a pilot-scale anaerobic/aerobic/anoxic sequencing batch reactor (A/O/A-SBR) system first treated 15 m3/d actual municipal wastewater at 8.1–26.4 °C for 224 days. At the temperature of 15.7 °C, total nitrogen in influent and effluent were 45.5 and 10.9 mg/L, and phosphorus in influent and effluent were 3.9 and 0.1 mg/L. 16 s RNA sequencing results showed the relative abundance of Competibacter and Tetrasphaera raised to 1.25 % and 1.52 %. The strategy of excessive, no and normal sludge discharge enriched and balanced the functional bacteria, achieving an endogenous denitrification ratio more than 43.3 %. Sludge reduction and short aerobic time were beneficial to energy saving contrast with a Beijing municipal wastewater treatment. This study has significant implications for the practical application of the AOA-SBR process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Qinchuan cattle's meat performance is good. • LncRNA sequencing of adipose tissue in Qinchuan cattle, 3716 lncRNA detected. • We screened 119 differentially expressed lncRNAs, and quantified 6 of them. • GO and KEGG analysis were used to reveal functions and effects on fat development. Qinchuan cattle is one of the five yellow cattle breeds in China with good performance of meat. The proliferation and differentiation level of muscle and fat are closely related to the growth and development of the organism and are the key factors affecting the quality of meat. In order to study the effect of lncRNA on the fat tissues of Qinchuan cattle, six calf and adult bovine adipose tissues were selected for high-throughput sequencing. We obtained 3,716 lncRNA candidates from calves and adult cattle fat samples, among them 789 lncRNA were annotated and 2,927 lncRNA were novel lncRNA. A number of lncRNAs were highly abundant, and 119 lncRNA were differentially expressed between two developmental stages. We further validated several differentially expressed lncRNAs using qPCR, and the results were consistent with the sequencing data. Therefore, we conclude that lncRNA may play an important role in adipose tissue in different age groups of cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate the prevalence and incidence of needlestick injuries associated with insulin injection among nurses working in hospitals in China and to quantify the direct healthcare costs associated with insulin injection-related needlestick injuries. We conducted a large online survey among hospital nurses from 31 provinces, municipal cities, and autonomous regions in China from October 2016 to February 2017. The survey covered a wide range of questions, including geographical location, years of experience, insulin injection practice, number of insulin injection-related needlestick injuries in the past 12 months, interventions for needlestick injuries, and treatment costs. We developed a cost estimate model and categorized costs into two major components: infection prevention and treatment of infections. We received a total of 10,447 questionnaires, of which 9873 were complete and validated. 39.1% of the nurses reported at least one needlestick injury while administering diabetic injections at some point in the past. The incidence of needlestick injuries involving injection pens was 139.5 per 1000 nurses per year and, with adjustment for exposure, 10.2 needlestick injuries per 100,000 injections. Among the respondents, 3.2% reported of having hepatitis B virus infection and 0.9% having hepatitis C virus infection as a result of needlestick injuries. The total costs of one insulin injection-related needlestick injury was estimated to range from ¥1,884 - ¥2,389. Insulin injection-related needlestick injuries were common in nurses working in hospitals in China and imposed a significant economic burden. More resources should be allocated for preventive efforts for needlestick injuries, including adoption of injection devices with advanced safety features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • First aMPV subtype B isolated from chickens with swollen head syndrome in China. • First complete genome of aMPV subtype B from a chicken was obtained and analyzed. • The aMPV/B isolate LN16 is clearly pathogenic to chickens. Abstract Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV), which has been reported in many countries, causes an acute upper respiratory tract disease in chickens and turkeys. Although aMPV was first detected in China in 1999, there has been no further effort to isolate and characterize the aMPV subtype B (aMPV/B) from field outbreaks. In the present study, we used Vero cells to culture a viral strain, LN16, isolated from chickens with swollen head syndrome. The results of RT-PCR, indirect immunofluorescent antibody, and G gene sequence analyses confirmed that strain LN16 corresponds to aMPV/B. We amplified and sequenced the complete genome of strain LN16 and found it to be 13,513 nucleotides in length. Nine viral protein genes of the strain were between 93.2% and 98.4% identical to those of the pathogenic field isolate VCO3/60616. However, insertions and deletions were detected in the intergenic regions. Animal experiments showed that 72.7% of chickens infected with strain LN16 had excess mucus, nasal discharge, and inflammation in the lungs and turbinate. In addition, 27.2% of chickens infected with LN16 shed progeny virions. Viral tissue distribution analysis showed that aMPV could be detected in the turbinate and occasionally in immune organs. This is the first report of the isolation of aMPV/B in China and the first complete genome sequence of aMPV/B from chicken. These findings enrich the epidemiological data on aMPV and may contribute to the development of effective measures to prevent its further spread in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many paleo-karstic bauxite deposits contain elevated concentrations of Ni and Co. It has been known that Co and Ni are dominantly hosted in sulfides, but it remains unclear how Ni and Co were incorporated into sulfides and what kind of physiochemical conditions were involved. The Maochang bauxite deposit, as one of the large Ni- and Co-bearing paleo-karstic bauxite deposits in Guizhou Province, southwest China, was selected to tackle these questions. Detailed mineralogical and sulfur isotopic analyses using integrated EBSD, EPMA, LA-ICPMS, and LA-MC-ICPMS methods revealed three stages of sulfide mineralization: stage I with pyrite (PyI), stage II with pyrite (PyII), millerite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and violarite, and stage III with pyrite (PyIII), chalcopyrite and galena. The fine-grained, euhedral PyI has up to 0.79 wt% Ni and up to 0.53 wt% Co. In contrast, PyII, which replaced or overgrew PyI, exhibits high but variable Ni, Co and As contents, and is further divided into three sub-types: Ni-rich PyII-a (up to 16.54 wt% Ni, 0.94 wt% Co, and 0.38 wt% As) and PyII-b (up to 3.30 wt% Ni, 1.41 wt% Co, and 0.36 wt% As), and Co-rich PyII-c (up to 0.99 wt% Ni, 7.57 wt% Co, and 1.81 wt% As). PyIII is Ni- and Co-poor. Ni increases from PyI to PyIIa and PyIIb, and then decreases to PyIIc and PyIII, whereas Co remains at similar levels for PyI, PyIIa and PyIIb, significantly increases to PyIIc, and then drops abruptly to PyIII. δ34S V-CDT values vary dramatically from negative values for PyI (−6.9 to −16.6‰) to positive values for PyII-b (+19.4 to +22.8‰), sphalerite (+17.2 to +19.7‰), and PyIII (+25.3 to +32.3‰). Based on these results, and considering that the protoliths of the bauxites were likely Ni- and Co-rich black shales according to previous studies, a four-step model is proposed to explain the enrichment of Ni and Co in the bauxites: 1) during weathering and bauxite formation on the surface, Ni and Co were leached from the black shale together with sulfate; the metals were dissolved in the solution and partly adsorbed by Fe-oxides/hydroxides under moderate to high f O2 ; 2) during early diagenesis, the sulfate was partially reduced to sulfide via the bacterial sulfate reduction (BSR) process and formed PyI; much of the Ni and Co, together with sulfate, remained in the solution; 3) with increasing burial, temperature increased and f O2 decreased, and the remaining sulfate (with elevated δ34S V-CDT) was reduced to sulfide via the same BSR process and formed PyII; Ni was largely consumed and incorporated into PyIIa and PyIIb, whereas Co remained in the solution until precipitation of PyIIc; 4) by the time of PyIII precipitation, both Ni and Co had been taken by PyII, leaving a Ni- and Co-poor solution and PyIII. Step 1 occurred in a relatively open system, whereas steps 2–4 likely occurred in a closed system. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Single-dose dupilumab pharmacokinetics (PK) were studied in 30 Chinese subjects. • Repeated-dose PK were studied in 82 Chinese adults with atopic dermatitis. • PK were comparable to non-Asians after accounting for body weight. Dupilumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting IL-4Rα, has demonstrated rapid and sustained improvements in clinical outcomes in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma, and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. In a phase 1, double-blind, ascending-dose study, 30 healthy Chinese adults were randomized to single subcutaneous doses of dupilumab 200, 300, 600 mg, or placebo. In a phase 3, double-blind study, 165 Chinese adults with AD were randomized to dupilumab 300 mg or placebo every 2 weeks. Following single doses of dupilumab 200, 300, and 600 mg in the phase 1 study, mean serum maximum concentrations (C max) were 25.4 ± 4.0, 37.2 ± 14.5, and 77.3 ± 19.0 mg/L, respectively. For a 1.5-fold increase in dupilumab dose, 1.31-, 1.73-, and 1.66-fold increases in C max , area under the curve to real time (AUC last), and extrapolated to infinity (AUC) were observed, respectively, while a 2-fold dose increase resulted in 2.17-, 2.81-, and 2.80-fold increases, respectively. In the phase 3 study, mean dupilumab trough concentrations were 78.8 ± 32.0 and 86.4 ± 33.6 mg/L at weeks 12 and 16, respectively. C max increased approximately proportionally to dose, while AUC and AUC last increased greater than proportionally. Dupilumab pharmacokinetics were generally comparable between Chinese and non-Asian healthy subjects (single dose) and between Chinese and non-Asian AD patients (repeated doses), with differences accounted for by body weight. As differences in exposure by weight are unlikely to be clinically relevant based on late-stage study results, no dose adjustment by ethnic origin or weight is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DSA200 pantograph and CH160 catenary are being in service in China on SS7 electric locomotive. Dynamic study of the pantograph/catenary system found that the contact force between pantograph and contact wire vibrated periodically with the running of trains. Both of the amplitude and frequency of the dynamic contact force increased with the increase of running speeds. In this paper, the effects of dynamic contact force on tribological properties of the pure carbon strip were studied on a homemade pin-on-disk tribometer. A critical point of friction coefficient, wear rate and current-carrying quality at the velocity of 80 km/h was detected subjected to dynamic contact force. Tribological properties of the pure carbon strip deteriorated abruptly when the train ran faster than 80 km/h. Oxidation film on the surface of the strip was produced firstly, and then it grew slowly, at last it was destroyed rapidly with the increase of the running speeds. This transformation leaded to the sudden shift of friction coefficient and wear rate. Meanwhile, the critical point of arcing rate (2%) at 80 km/h was tested. Current-carrying quality of the strip deteriorated abruptly accompanied by the rapidly raised arcing rate. Simultaneously, cracks were generated and extended inner the strip. These cracks destroyed the strip's mechanical property and accelerated the arc erosion. The wear mechanism transferred from mechanical wear to arc erosion with the increase of arcing rate, which were proved to be the most important failure types for pure carbon strip. This study obtained the evolution processes of the tribological properties in pantograph/catenary system, expecting to provide some useful suggestions for the safe operation of locomotives. • Tribological properties of the pour carbon strip developed synchronously with the current-carrying properties. • The mechanical wear, oxidation wear and arc erosion was observed in turn during the speed acceleration. • Arc discharge resulted in current distortion, and then influenced the current carrying performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three magnetotelluric profiles were obtained at the western margin of Songliao Basin. • Two low-resistivity strips with opposite dips are developed in this region. • The Nenjiang-Balihan fault is arranged in en echelon pattern in the plane. • The formation of Nenjiang–Balihan fault was controlled by two main tectonic events. Located in the famous gravity gradient belt ranging from the Mt. Great Xing'an through Mts. Taihang and Wuling in East China, the Nenjiang-Balihan (NJBLH) fault is important for the understanding of the formation and evolution of Mesozoic and Cenozoic basins in NE China. The distribution and deep structure of the middle and northern segments of this fault are poorly known because of thick sedimentary cover. In this paper, an electrical structure across the western margin of the Songliao Basin and eastern margin of the Great Xing'an Range is revealed on the basis of three magnetotelluric (MT) sounding survey profiles. The results show the development of a low-resistivity layer (L2) and two low-resistivity strips with opposite dip (L1 and L3) in the lower portion of the small-scale basins or sags. The west-dipping low-resistivity strip L1 is considered to be the trace of a paleo-suture zone. The transverse low-resistivity layer L2 may reflect the Palaeozoic sedimentary strata in the basin, and the east-dipping low-resistivity strip L3 represents the NJBLH fault, the presence of which exhibits a gentle sloping tendency from the shallow to the deep portion of the fault cut through the Moho. The NJBLH fault is segmented on the plane, with an overall left-slip NE-trending en echelon arrangement. Presumably, the NJBLH fault began to form during the Jurassic under the influence of the closure of the Mongolia–Okhotsk Ocean in the northwest, and the fault subsequently experienced left-lateral strike-slip movements due to the NW-trending subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Izanagi Plate toward the Eurasian Plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A zirconia-modified resin D280-Zr was developed for the P removal from wastewater. • D280-Zr had brilliant P adsorption performance with efficiency reached 98%. • D280-Zr exhibited superior adsorption selectivity at coexisting competitive anions. • D280-Zr could be reused for more than 6 times with adsorption efficiency above 80%. • D280-Zr fixed bed had application potential to absorb P from sewage. Adsorption of phosphorus by Zr-based materials has attracted more and more attention. However, the use of these materials was still limited due to the influence of coexisting ions and poor regeneration ability. In this study, hydrated zirconia was loaded into anion exchange resin (D280) to develop phosphorus adsorption material (D280-Zr). As a contrast, the phosphorus adsorption material HZO-201 was prepared by hydrating zirconia with large pore diameter anion resin D201. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) with an EDX (energy dispersive X-ray), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Zirconium was successfully loaded onto the D280 and surface hydroxyl groups on D280-Zr played a significant role. Through batch adsorption experiments, the maximum adsorption amount of D280-Zr was 47.2198 mg P/g at temperature of 30 °C and pH 6−7. Adsorption isotherms could be described by the Langmuir model, and the adsorption kinetics were well described by the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order model. Co-existing ions (Cl−, NO 3 −, HCO 3 −) had minimum effect on adsorption performance with efficiency above 80%. Through six cycles of regeneration, the adsorption efficiency was still above 80%. After treatment with D280-Zr packed bed column, the effluent could meet the A discharge standard in China of P < 0.5 mg/L in wastewater, and the treated water volume reached about 3500 times the bad volume (3500 BV). The results illustrated that D280-Zr was an effective phosphorus adsorption material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three hybrids with different nanostructures are obtained by varying MWCNTs dosages. • ZIF8@MWCNT120 affords the maximum phosphate adsorption capacity of 203.0 mg g−1. • The outstanding performance of hybrid is due to the enhanced Zn-O-P and H-bonds. • High phosphate removal performance was observed in the real wastewater. In this study, ZIF8@MWCNT nanocomposite has been designed throughout in-situ growth of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF8) polyhedron on hydroxylated multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT). In detail, three types of nanocomposites harvesting different nanostructures are obtained by varying the dosages of MWCNTs. Such nanocomposites are assessed as phosphate adsorbents via batch experiments to determine the adsorption capacity, reusability and stability. Among the three types of composites, the ZIF8@MWCNT120 affords the maximum phosphate adsorption capacity of 203.0 mg g−1, which is 0.7–3.7 times higher than those of the other adsorbents at the same adsorption conditions. Experimental characterizations in combination with theoretical calculations reveal that the outstanding performance of ZIF8@MWCNT120 is mainly attributed to the enhanced Zn-O-P interaction and hydrogen bonding. In addition, high phosphate removal performance was observed in the real wastewater (residual effluent Conc. = 0.0–0.45 mg L−1) with initial concentrations of 0.63 mg L−1-6.32 mg L−1, which satisfied the A-level standard of phosphate effluent in China (0.5 mg L−1). This work offers a versatile solution to tailor the adsorption affinity of emerging metal-organic-frameworks (MOFs) toward phosphorous-based pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Analyzed groundwater geochemistry at the regional scale over a long time period. • Analyzed cluster snapshots for spatio-temporal patterns of groundwater quality. • Identified controlling factors of spatio-temporal patterns of groundwater quality. • Delineated four zones of groundwater geochemistry along regional flow direction. • Revealed impacts of Three Gorges Reservoir on regional groundwater geochemistry. Understanding spatial and temporal patterns of groundwater geochemistry at the regional scale over a long time period is challenging, due to the lack of data and effective statistical approaches to characterize complex natural processes and anthropogenic activities. We applied a recently developed cluster analysis method to investigate spatial and temporal patterns and controlling factors of groundwater geochemistry in the confined aquifer of the Jianghan Plain, China. The cluster analysis is applied to a dataset of 13,024 groundwater geochemical measurements for 11 geochemical parameters of 1,184 groundwater samples collected over 23 years from 29 monitoring wells distributed over the Jianghan Plain. The cluster analysis yielded a classification of seven clusters, and the classification was confirmed by using principal component analysis and Stiff and Piper diagrams. Based on the spatial distribution of the seven clusters, the Jianghan Plain is separated into four geochemical zones (i.e., recharge zone, transition zone, flow-through zone, and discharge-mixing zone) along the regional groundwater flow path, which has not been attempted in the past. The temporal changes of groundwater geochemistry are controlled by short- and long-term factors of water-rock interactions and anthropogenic activities. A particular finding of this study is that the Three Gorges Reservoir has a long-term impact on groundwater geochemistry, because the reservoir increased river discharge to groundwater after 2009. This study demonstrates that using the cluster analysis method together with hydrogeochemical analysis can identify spatiotemporal patterns and controlling factors of groundwater geochemistry at the regional scale over a long monitoring period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]