Search

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a life-threatening syndrome with rapid progression. This study aimed to develop and validate a prognostic score to predict the onset of ACLF in hepatitis B virus (HBV) etiology. The prospective clinical data of 1373 patients with acute deterioration of HBV-related chronic liver disease were used to identify clinical characteristics and develop a prognostic score for the onset of ACLF. Of the patients assessed using the Chinese Group on the Study of Severe Hepatitis B (COSSH)–ACLF criteria, 903 patients with non-ACLF at admission (1 received transplantation at 5 days) were stratified: 71 with progression to ACLF and 831 without progression to ACLF at 7 days. Four predictors (total bilirubin, international normalized ratio, alanine aminotransferase, and ferritin) were associated significantly with ACLF onset at 7 days. The COSSH-onset-ACLF score was constituted as follows: (0.101 × ln [alanine aminotransferase] + 0.819 × ln [total bilirubin] + 2.820 × ln [international normalized ratio] + 0.016 × ln [ferritin]). The C-indexes of the new score for 7-/14-/28-day onset (0.928/0.925/0.913) were significantly higher than those of 5 other scores (Chronic Liver Failure Consortium ACLF development score/Model for End-stage Liver Disease score/Model for End-stage Liver Disease sodium score/COSSH-ACLF score/Chronic liver failure Consortium ACLF score; all P <.001). The improvement in predictive errors, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic, probability density function evaluation, and calibration curves of the new score showed the highest predictive value for ACLF onset at 7/14/28 days. Risk stratification of the new score showed 2 strata with high and low risk (≥6.3/<6.3) of ACLF onset. The external validation group further confirmed the earlier results. A new prognostic score based on 4 predictors can accurately predict the 7-/14-/28-day onset of ACLF in patients with acute deterioration of HBV-related chronic liver disease and might be used to guide clinical management. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined injectable cell-laden microspheres and angiogenesis approaches are promising for functional vascularized endodontic regeneration. However, advanced microsphere designs and production techniques that benefit practical applications are rarely developed. Herein, gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)-alginate core-shell microcapsules were fabricated to co-encapsulate human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) based on a coaxial electrostatic microdroplet technique. This technique enables high-throughput production, convenient collection, and minimal material waste. The average diameter of core-shell microcapsules was ∼359 µm, and that of GelMA cores was ∼278 µm. There were higher proliferation rates for hDPSCs and HUVECs co-encapsulated in the GelMA cores than for hDPSCs or HUVECs monoculture group. HUVECs assembled to form 3D capillary-like networks in co-culture microcapsules. Moreover, HUVECs promoted the osteo/odontogenic differentiation of hDPSCs in microcapsules. After 14 days of cultivation, prevascularized microtissues formed in microcapsules that contained abundant deposited extracellular matrix (ECM); no microcapsule aggregation occurred. In vivo studies confirmed that better microvessel formation and pulp-like tissue regeneration occurred in the co-culture group than in hDPSCs group. Thus, an effective platform for prevascularization microtissue preparation was proposed and showed great promise in endodontic regeneration and tissue engineering applications. Cell-laden microspheres combined with the proangiogenesis approach are promising in endodontic regeneration. We proposed GelMA-alginate core-shell microcapsules generated via the coaxial electrostatic microdroplet (CEM) method, which utilizes a double-lumen needle to allow for core-shell structures to form. The microcapsules were used for co-culturing hDPSCs and HUVECs to harvest large amounts of prevascularized microtissues, which further showed improved vascularization and pulp-like tissue regeneration in vivo. This CEM method and the microcapsule system have advantages of high-throughput generation, convenient collection, and avoid aggregation during long-term culturing. We proposed a high-effective platform for mass production of prevascularized microtissues, which exhibit great promise in the clinical transformation of endodontic regeneration and other applications in regenerative medicine. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Lufeng (LF) 2-1 structure, which is the largest anticlinal structure developed in the Zhu I depression of the Pearl River Mouth Basin, offers high-quality source-sink matching with onshore CO 2 emissions. In this paper, a 3D model using the TOUGH2/ECO2N tool was developed based on typical formation parameters obtained from a review of well and seismic structural data. Numerical results indicated that doubling the injection quantity does not result in a doubling of the CO 2 distribution, which suggests the presence of nonlinear variations between the two variables. The CO 2 plumes remain within the LF2-1 structural trap based on injection rates of either 1 Mt/y or 2 Mt/y. The maximum increase in formation pressure is less than 2 bars, which is 0.9% of the primary formation pressure. Therefore, the reservoir and seal properties of LF2-1 are optimal, which suggests that the prospect of injecting and storing a total of 40 Mt of CO 2 is good. Overall, the LF2-1 may be used as a suitable offshore site for large-scale storage of industrial CO 2 in deep saline aquifers. Additionally, the findings can guide site selection decisions in Guangdong Province for offshore CO 2 geological storage demonstrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combinational sphere element method is introduced to simulate the mechanical behavior of cemented particulate composite. A pair of particles and the cement matrix in middle are extracted from the composite, and they constitute a combinational sphere element (CSE). The stiffness of a CSE on axial direction, tangential direction and bending direction can be derived based on the mechanical model and assumptions. The stress distribution function in matrix can also be gained when the CSE supports load on each direction. The element stiffness matrix of CSE is obtained through the direct method. The CSE can be described by an equivalent rigid beam-spring model according to the element stiffness matrix, so the composite can be described by an equivalent rigid beam-spring lattice. Finally, an example is taken out to show the application of this new method. Stress distribution function, stiffness on three directions and macro effective elastic constants of composite can be obtained. The results agree well with the simulation results of the representative volume element. According to the damage criterion set reasonably, the damage evolution of the models with defects can be simulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxyfuel CO 2 capture is one of the three major CO 2 capture technology pathways. Past studies have confirmed oxyfuel capture could be a competitive technology in CO 2 capture. The oxy-fuel CO 2 capture system have a number of niche advantages, for example, much easier separation of CO 2 , no solvent required, smaller physical size, and the potential to retrofit existing plants (though the boilers may be required to be reconstructed). Oxyfuel could play an important role in Chinese CCUS industry. However, there was a lack of public analysis on the risk of Oxyfuel project in China. Therefore, the study aims to understand issues in risk management in developing large-scale oxyfuel CO 2 capture project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An advantage of oxyfuel capture technology is the flexibility of capable of retrofitting existing conventional coal-fired power plants. This analysis investigates the option value of retrofitting a 200MW coal-fired power plant to Oxyfuel CO 2 capture power plant. The initial retrofit option value is the theoretical financial value for pre- investment (Oxyfuel CO 2 Capture Ready) to keep the oxyfuel CO 2 capture retrofit option open. The study assumes carbon price (either carbon tax or carbon allowance market) is the only driver for oxyfuel CO 2 capture retrofit decision and there are no other operational or investment options in the decision making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Vector deformation, adjustable over a wide area under uniaxial loads, was controlled by the chiral cells' geometric parameters. The chiral cells' deformations were summed as vector additions. • Structures with various coupling deformation properties were designed, such as compression to dislocation and compression to bending. • A variable-geometry wing was designed. • Based on a genetic algorithm, an active design method was used to encode target deformations into the structures. Chiral cell structures have the potential to transform the robot design field because of the structures' ability to adopt various deformations under uniaxial load, such as twisting and a negative Poisson's ratio. The rationale that underpins this potential is asymmetric deformation that is similar to shearing; such a deformation has vector characteristics. In this paper, several cellular structures were designed that deformed the cell structure in many ways under uniaxial load, in accordance with the deformation vector addition principle of chiral cells (such as compression–dislocation, compression–bending coupling deformation, and variable wings with forward and backward sweep functions)—which were verified by finite-element analyses and experiments. With a given objective deformation, a genetic algorithm was introduced to encode structures with various chiral cells, and the feasibility of the method was verified through several examples. The research herein shows that structures with various deformation demands can be designed through reasonable assembly of chiral cells, which has potential applications to the field of variant structures design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Guangdong (GD) is the most economically developed province in China. The 3-year project “Guangdong, China's First CCS Ready Province” (GDCCSR) is aimed to provide a comprehensive review to decision makers on the necessity, feasibility, and roadmap for the CCS development in Guangdong (GD), which is the most economically developed province in China. This paper reported the outcome of the project after the first two years. Although GD is featured by light industry and high dependence on energy import, the CO2 emission from GD is large. Modeling shows the implementation of CCS has a high dependence on carbon price and will be functioning in GD when the carbon price exceeds 130 RMB. The CO2 storage potential is limited inland GD, but in sedimentary basins of northern South China Sea the storage capacity is large enough to store more than 200 years of emissions from LPSs in GD. The high cost of offshore CO2 geological may be offset by utilizing existing infrastructure of depleted oil/gas fields. This possibility is found in northern Pearl River Mouth Basin, which may be matched with a potential low-cost CO2 source from a planned refinery on the coast, and these would make a good oppotunity for a demo project. Benefits of adopting CO2 capture readiness (CCR) have been demonstrated by modelling a planned ultra supercritical pulverised coal power plant in GD. These benefits will be enlared if planned a regional CCR hub. The project has paid particular attention on building capacity and raising public awareness on CCS. The China Low-carbon Energy Action Network (CLEAN) was established in 2010 and is the first CCS network in China. The CCS roadmap for GD is in the process of drafting, which will be a road map for CCS development in GD up to the year of 2030. In general, though 2-year's work the GDCCSR project has made a significant progress toward making the Guangdong province being CCS ready. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We examine the evolution of Chinese stakeholder views on CCS over the past six years. The first major survey conducted in 2006 sought to understand views on deploying CCS technologies in China. In 2009, a second survey had the primary goal of understanding stakeholder perceptions of technology choice and financing issues for the first large-scale CCS demonstration projects in China. The latest consultation in 2012, building on previous surveys, investigates stakeholder perceptions as well as behavioural issues affecting preferences. In total, over 350 stakeholders were consulted from 2006 to 2012. Climate change is found to have risen dramatically as a priority for all stakeholders. The potential of CCS is more widely acknowledged, but more so by industry and less among government officials. Knowledge of CCS has also increased substantially. Post-combustion technologies are increasingly viewed as the preferred capture technology and some form of utilization, increasingly enhanced oil recovery, is preferred for CO2 storage. Aside for concern over CO2 storage risk, which remained high, attention moved from a focus on third party exposure (e.g. health and safety risks) to direct risks (e.g. the cost of CO2 capture). The expectation of international financial support for demonstrating CCS in China had shifted over time and has gradually diminished. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Risks associated with technology, market and regulatory uncertainties for First-Of-A-Kind fossil power generation with CCS can be mitigated through innovative engineering approaches that will allow solvent developments occurring during the early stage of the deployment of post-combustion CO2 capture to be subsequently incorporated into the next generation of CCS plants. Power plants capable of improving their economic performance will benefit financially from being able to upgrade their solvent technology. One of the most important requirements for upgradeability is for the base power plant to be able to operate with any level of steam extraction and also with any level of electricity output up to the maximum rating without capture. This requirement will also confer operational flexibility and so is likely to be implemented in practice on new plants or on any integrated CCS retrofit project. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A qualitative assessment of the early opportunities for capturing carbon dioxide from advanced gasification plants, and of design guidelines for carbon capture ready gasification plants in China, is conducted to investigate current development in coal gasification. The assessment first illustrates the development of different types of gasification technology in China. Capturing carbon dioxide from high concentration stationary emission points could be seen as an early opportunity for carbon capture demonstration. The large scale CTL plants and chemical plants installed with advanced entrained flow gasifier should be considered as early opportunity for CCS in China. However, given that the total amount of emissions and the scale of emission sources are relatively small at those plants compared with conventional coal fired plant, the potential emission reduction is very limited. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We present results of a major survey of Chinese opinion leaders conducted from March to April 2009, supported by EU–UK–China near zero emissions coal (NZEC) initiative. Respondents were drawn from 27 provinces and regions using an online survey with follow-up face-to-face interviews. A total of 131 experts and decision-makers from 68 key institutions were consulted through online survey. This survey is the first to focus on demonstration projects in particular and is the most geographically diverse. We aim to understand perceptions of applying CCS technologies in the first large-scale CCS demonstration project in China. Though enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and enhanced coal bed methane recovery (ECBM) may not be long-term solutions for CO2 storage, they were viewed as the most attractive storage technologies for the first CCS demonstration project. With regard to CO2 capture technology, on the whole, post-combustion (which would be most applicable to the vast majority of existing power plants which are pulverised-coal) received slightly higher support than pre-combustion. More surprising, respondents from both the power and oil industries favoured pre-combustion. There was no consensus regarding the appropriate scale for the first demonstration. A large number of respondents were concerned about the energy penalty associated with CCS and its impact on the long-term sustainability of coal supply in China, although such concerns were much reduced compared with surveys in 2006 and 2008. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We evaluate the benefits of a ‘CCS Ready Hub’ approach, a regional ‘CCS Ready’ strategy, which not only includes a number of new coal-fired power plants but also integrates other existing stationary CO2 emissions sources, potential storage sites and potential transportation opportunities into an overarching simulation model. A dynamic top-down simulation model was built based on economic decision criteria and option pricing theory. The model inputs and assumptions build on spatial sampling and analysis using a geographic information system (GIS) approach, engineering assessment of local projects and outputs of a CCS retrofitting investment evaluation through cost cash flow modelling. A case study of Shenzhen city in the Pearl River Delta area in Guangdong in southern China is presented, based on engineering and cost assessment studies and stakeholder consultations and building on existing geological surveys and infrastructure plans. The simulation results show that financing ‘CCS Ready’ at regional planning level rather than only at the design stage of the individual plant (or project) is preferred since it reduces the overall cost of building integrated CCS systems. On the other hand, we found the value of considering existing stationary CO2 emissions sources in CCS ready design. Therefore, we recommended that making new plants CCS ready or planning a CCS ready hub should consider existing large emissions sources when possible. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Although doubts about the technical and economic viability of retrofit to existing plants can be identified there have also been suggestions that CO2 capture retrofits at appropriate sites could be economically attractive. The potential to extend the life of existing plants with paid-off capital could be beneficial and some project developers are exploring retrofit opportunities for CO2 capture demonstration. This paper (and the accompanying study commissioned by IEAGHG) shows that there is a sound theoretical basis for CCS retrofits to existing power plants to be considered as a complement, and in some cases as an alternative, to new build power plants with CCS. A key recommendation resulting from the technical and economic analysis undertaken is that a general rejection of retrofitting on grounds such as the age or lower efficiency of existing plants is not justified. Instead CCS retrofits need to be assessed on a site-specific basis, which is feasible since only a relatively small number of plants (order 100’s) need to be retrofitted in order to have a significant impact on global CO2 emissions. Initial site-by-site retrofit potential studies using aerial photographs that have already been undertaken in several countries could be complemented by additional, more detailed, engineering studies and extended as ongoing national reference databases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A consensus for the development of a low carbon economy in China is growing rapidly among Chinese energy stakeholders. But there is considerable uncertainty as to the role that carbon capture and storage (CCS) retrofit could play in this development. The State Council in China has set a target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 40% by 2020 compared with the level for 2005. Although this provides some policy impetus for reducing carbon dioxide emissions in China, it is also important to note that over 350 GW of coal-fired power plant capacity has been built within the past five years and that these power plants are expected to operate for at least another 25 years. Because coal is an affordable and accessible fuel in China, both the China Electricity Council (CEC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that another 300 GW of supercritical and ultra-supercritical new coalfired power plants will be constructed in the next decade to satisfy the growing energy demand of the country . But unless other options to reduce emissions can be implemented, a simple consideration of the emissions they produce suggests that some of these recently built power plants may be required to shut down within the next two decades to address Chinese and/or international climate policies. During the past five years, the national policy of ‘closing smaller and/or inefficient units to build large and more efficient units’ has been implemented not only to save energy, but also to reduce specific carbon dioxide emissions (i.e. reduced gCO2/kWh of electricity produced). Forcing early plant closure has, however, proved to be a difficult task under the institutional framework of the Chinese electricity sector, because these plants usually had not reached the end of their design lifetimes. Also it was only partially successful in the context of CO2 reduction in the sense that companies wanted to build large plants to increase electrical output and strict rules meant they could only do this by closing a specified amount of older plant. But the end result was still that more coal was burnt and hence total CO2 emissions to atmosphere increased. Retrofitting some of the existing power plants to capture CO2, which by contrast can achieve an absolute decrease in CO2 emissions to atmosphere for an analogous loss in plant output (to the closures previously enforced) is therefore, an important option to address the threat of climate change while maintaining in the meantime the country’s electricity supply from coal. A preliminary investigation of over 100 large power plants in China was conducted to determine their potential for a retrofit with CO2 capture, transport and storage. Factors assessed included geographic location, space on site, plant layout, water restriction, coal supply, efficiency, FGD status and potential access to storage sites. Based on these criteria, retrofitting prospects were evaluated and rated. It appears that about 45% of existing power plants may suffer from ‘carbon lock-in’ status, i.e. their emissions could not be abated using CCS technology, at least at ‘reasonable’ cost. Critical factors that would preclude capture retrofit are, not surprisingly, access to storage sites and unsuitable plant layout and/or space on site. Variations in other factors would affect the level of retrofitting cost, but this effect could be positive as well as negative. In principle, plants would be retrofitted in an order that reflects the extent to which these site specific factors would give higher or lower retrofit costs. The results aim to provide an overview of the potential issues that need to be considered by stakeholders, policy makers and manufacturing companies when deciding the market potential for CCS retrofit technology in China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: While CCS is demonstrated globally utilities will face a period with fast learning curves for capture technologies. Technology and cost uncertainty is a topic of particular concern for first-movers. For post-combustion capture plants, costs are expected to decrease in the future and improved solvents are likely to become commercially available after the first CCS plants have started operating. Given that power generation assets are usually paid back over extensive periods of time it is important that, in this context, the first generation of plants and any capture-ready plants can be future-proofed to incorporate future technological improvements. This paper presents selected results from a forthcoming report commissioned by the IEAGHG. A methodology based on a sensitivity analysis of solvent properties is used to identify pieces of equipment, which contribute to locking-in performance with capture. Finally, some principles for analysing power plant economics with improved solvents and assessing the potential financial benefits in competitive electricity market of mitigating these technology risks are examined. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Making new coal-fired power plants carbon capture ready (Carbon Capture Ready) in China has been recognised as a crucial by a number of stakeholders academics, energy companies and regional government, based on a study in EU-UK-China NZEC project. A number of publications have investigated the definition, engineering requirements, economic and finance of CCR for China. However there remain a number of questions regarding the extent to which a plant’s physical location might constrain the feasibility of CCS retrofit. To address this issue, a Geographical Information System (GIS) has been used as a tool for mapping current and planned large carbon dioxide sources in Guangdong, also illustrating potential storage sites and calculating possible carbon dioxide transportation route. This paper investigates the location factors that should be considered when locating new build CCR power plants and demonstrates the methodology of using GIS software with spatial analysis in planning new build power plant in Guangdong. A preliminary study has identified over 30 large power plants within the region, with plant locations and historical emission data collected and presented in ArcGIS. Factors such as distance to potential storage site, route of CO2 pipeline, extra space on site and potential development plan etc. were investigated in the modelling and calculated the potential source and sink solution. The study then moves on to suggest possible new build plant locations which can be easily fitted in to the current network, based on economic optimisation. The scope for future coal plant development combined with a possible nuclear plant siting plan is discussed towards the end of the paper. Guangdong province, which owns the third largest coal-fired power installed capacity out of 31 provinces, generated over 8% of China’s total electricity every year for the past 15 years. CO2 storage opportunities could be found in the surrounding South China Sea, where Guangdong has a total of 4,300 km of coastline and some small scale oil fields on shore within the region. It is also among the first places to start the national open and reform policy in China. The province is one of the richest in China, with the highest GDP among all other provinces since 1989, and the foreign trade accounts for more than a quarter of China’s total amount. It also contributes around 12 of the total national economic output. Currently, the provincial government is proposing a low carbon roadmap, which is the first of its kind in China. The work has created a totally new thinking on capture ready power plant planning. This differs from existing studies (e.g., which aim to investigate the existing carbon dioxide emission sources at specified location and provide source and sink matching analysis. Instead the study focuses on policy implementation for new build capture ready power plants. Three clusters within Guangdong province are identified as potential temporary CO2 storage hubs before transporting the gas to a long term storage site. When officials are planning new power plant locations from a capture ready perspective, the plants should not necessarily be close to storage sites in straight line, but rather should be within a reasonable distance of a cluster. Transport of the captured CO2 will not be limited to pipelines, but could be extended to road and rail tankers. Power plant parameters and storage site data were collected for this research. Public transportation, utilities, landscapes, river, land used and population data were referenced from various sources; therefore, some of the data could be out of date. Nevertheless, it should still provide enough information when deciding the location of the transport cluster. Any future work could build on the existing model with updated data. Moreover, it could fit in with the national natural gas transportation network and utility planning network to provide long term integrated energy system analysis. The paper could provide policy makers, investors and urban planning officials with a view on how conventional thermal power plant investment and planning could be optimised, using Carbon Capture Ready designs, to keep the CCS retrofitting option open. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In collaboration with several Chinese institutions, we interviewed over 100 stakeholders in mid -2008 to improve our understanding of the drivers and the barriers to deploying CCS in China. We investigated a range of stak eholders’ perceptions with regard to the socio -economic impacts, environmental concerns, energy security and international cooperation and investment. In addition to general questions applicable to all stakeholders, we asked tailored qu estions appropriate to specific sectors such as finance, electricity generation and national and local government for more detailed responses. We explored the factors that may create an enabling environment for CCS including international and domestic incentives, financing me chanisms, the legal and regulatory framework, technology and IPR, baseline determination, and social acceptance. The overall results are compared with similar studies conducted in China in 2006 and internationally. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We consider the limit s to traditional finance in evaluating power projects and investigate the role biases and heuristics used by individuals and institutions play in investment decisions, particularly those affecting less familiar, lower-carbon electricity generation. Traditional finance relies on the principles and results of modern portfolio theory, such as the efficient market hypothesis, which tends to describe investment results in terms of mean percentage return, statistical risk (e.g. standard deviation), and reward-torisk ratios. For power projects, firms consider various financial criteria for comparing projects opportunities with unequal lifetimes. To forecast financial criteria for project opportunities, firms will n ormally project the cash flow profile, often using Monte Carlo simulations given the volatility of some point estimations. In addition, real options analysis can be integrated if the relevant option (abandonment, expansion, flexibility) value may be significant. Many potential risks already incorporat ed in the traditional finance prospective include: business and commercial risk, country (or political risk), exchange rate and interest rate risk, inflation and liquidity risk. Rather than assuming all investors are rational and all relevant facts will be interpreted correctly, institutional behavioral finance assumes firms make decisions according to their own objectives and constraints. Project decisions are affected by both the institutional framework and individual behavior. Behavioral characteristi cs can affect decision-making by contributing to biased forecasts, especially in those institutions or projects for which decision-making power is highly concentrated. Specific biases affecting power projects include: representativeness, overconfidence, anchoring-and-adjustment, aversion to ambiguity, endorsement effect, and loss aversion. Project decision -makers may not fully incorporate financial projections, as rather than researching or trusting that information they are forming own rules developed through experiments, making investment decision that is most prominent, and relying on heuristics. We analyze the risks and opportunities for shareholders, creditors, and equipment vendors in moving from the traditional to the behavioral model, with a speci al emphasis on ‘newer’ investment decisions found in lower-carbon generation such as renewable or advanced coal and CCS technologies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: China has built at least 70 GW of new coal- fired power installed capacity annually since 2005 and the growth is expected to continue (CEC, 2008). Chinese government, industry and academic stakeholders perceive that China will not mandate new plants to be built with carbon dioxide capture and storage systems in the short term and there is little incentive even to contemplate the first steps needed to fit plants with capture equipment [Reiner, D., Liang, X., Sun, X., Zhu, Y., Li, D., 2007. Stakeholder attitudes towards carbon dioxide capture and storage technologies in China, International Climate Change Conference, Hong Kong, May 29–31 2007]. We investigate the value of making new plants CO2 Capture Ready (CCR), which would enable them to retrofit to capture CO2 without unnecessary additional costs when the appropriate policy and /or economic drivers are in place (IEA, 2007). In order to understand the value and investment characteristics of CCR in China, a typical 600 MW pulverized-coal -fired ultra-supercritical power plant, locating at Guangdong province, was examined. Combined with a detailed engineering assessment, we obtained the costs for different CCR scenarios. To analyze CCR investment opportunities, we apply a cash flow model for valuing Capture Options, as developed in [Liang, X., Reiner, D., Gibbins J., Li J., 2007. Fianncing CCR coal-fired power plants in China by issuing capture options, EPRG Working Paper Series, EPRG0728, Cambridge, December. Available at: www.electricitypolicy.org.uk/pubs/wp/eprg0728.pdf]. Results are obtained by Monte-Carlo simulation, based on engineering surveys and the IEA (2007) CCR study, as well as plant performance information and expert projections on carbon prices, coal prices and electricity prices. CCR investments are justified by factors such as higher retrofitting probabilities, lower early-closure probabilities and fair economic return. However, the economic case for CCR largely depends on the type of investments made, for example, CCR-essential investments tend to be more economic than additional non-essential CCR features such as CCR Essential with clutched low-pressure turbines. Carbon price, coal price and discount rate also were found to have significant impacts on the economics of CCR. Overall, it appears that the value of capture options are significant, and therefore clear retrofitting strategies would be valuable for any CCR investment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The vortex-induced vibration of various aspect ratio (AR = 0.75 , 1.0 , 1.25 and 1.5) ellipse cylinders with convective heat transfer is investigated at Re = 150 and m ∗ = 10 for 3 ≤ U r ≤ 12 , where U r = U / (f n D) and f n is the natural frequency of cylinder in still air. The amplitude and frequency response of displacement, force and the Nusselt number are presented and discussed, the vorticity, temperature contours and wake patterns are studied to understand the effect of AR and U r on the 1DOF vibration characteristics and the heat transfer of the isothermal cylinder. The results show that the classical Karman shedding (2S) is observed at relative low displacement and the C(2S) occurs when the cylinder undergoes high-amplitude oscillations for the AR considered, and the P+S wake mode which is composed with a single vortex and one pair of counter-rotating vortices during the transition from the initial branch to the VIV lock-in regime. There are multiple frequencies related to the response of Nusselt number, with the 2 S t N u dominating. And the maximum value of N u A is 11.07, 11.7, 12.1 and 12.35 for AR = 0.75 , 1.0 , 1.25 and 1.5 respectively, which are increased by 7%, 8.7%, 11% and 13.5%, respectively, compared with the corresponding stationary cylinders, indicting an enhanced heat transfer of VIV cylinder. As increasing of the AR to 1.5, an early exit of the VIV lock-in regime and into the desynchronized regime happens due to the strong 2 S t n in the lift frequency response when. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creation of a market for steel produced by less carbon-intensive production processes, here called 'green steel', has been identified as a means of supporting the introduction of breakthrough emission reduction technologies into steel production. However, numerous details remain under-explored, including exactly what 'green' entails in the context of steelmaking, the likely competitiveness of green steel products in domestic and international markets, and potential policy mechanisms to support their successful market penetration. This paper addresses this gap through qualitative research with international sustainability experts and commercial managers from leading steel trade associations, research institutes and steelmakers. We find that there is a need to establish a common understanding of what 'greenness' means in the steelmaking context, and to resolve various carbon accounting and assurance issues, which otherwise have the potential to lead to perverse outcomes and opportunities for greenwashing. We identify a set of potential demand-side and supply-side policy mechanisms to support green steel production, and highlight a need for a combination of policies to ensure successful market development and avoid unintended consequences for competition at three different levels: 1) between products manufactured through a primary vs secondary steelmaking route, 2) between 'green' and traditional, 'brown' steel, and 3) with other substitutable materials. The study further shows that the automotive industry is a likely candidate for green steel demand, where a market could be supported by price premiums paid by willing consumers, such as those of high-end luxury and heavy-duty vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Probiotics 1F-20 , F40-4 and F1-7 had outstanding gastrointestinal tract viability. • 1F-20, F40-4 and F1-7 increased the hormone release of GLP-1, PYY. • 1F-20, F40-4 and F1-7 decreased lipid accumulation and increased uptake of 2-NBDG. • 1F-20, F40-4 and F1-7 decreased the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 and TNF-α. This study was to screen strains which had effects on insulin resistance in vitro and explore the possible mechanism. These strains were tested the ability of colonization, hormone release, lipid accumulation, glucose uptake and immunomodulatory. Three strains of Lactobacillus paracasei 1F-20, Lactobacillus fermentum F40-4 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis F1-7 led to results as follows: (1) survived in the harsh conditions. (2) increased the hormone release of glucagon-like peptide 1(GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY) and up-regulated genes expression of proglucagon gene (GCG), PYY; (3) decreased lipid accumulation, down-regulated genes expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1C (SREBP-1C), patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 (PNPLA3) and up-regulated peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α (PPARα); (4) increased the uptake of glucose and up-regulated the protein expression of phosphatidylinositol 3- kinase (PI3K) and phosphorylated serine-threonine protein kinase (pAKT). (5) decreased the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 and TNF-α. It demonstrated that the three strains prevented the development of insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perennial bioenergy grasses can potentially replace fossil fuels and offset atmospheric CO 2 through soil C sequestration. However, limited information relevant to the impacts of bioenergy cropping on ecosystem services, especially above- and below-ground productivity and soil C sequestration is available for subtropical environments (e.g., southeastern USA). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts of perennial bioenergy cropping on C cycling and accumulation in the soil following four years of production in North Florida. Treatments consisted of six perennial grass species: giant reed, elephantgrass, energycane, sugarcane, sweetcane, and giant miscanthus. Elephantgrass, energycane, sweetcane, and sugarcane produced great shoot biomass (31–41 Mg ha−1) when harvested once per year. Giant reed's shoot biomass responded favorably to two harvests per year (27–43 Mg ha−1), whereas giant miscanthus did not perform well in any of the years (9–21 Mg ha−1). Additionally, giant reed, sweetcane, and giant miscanthus produced greater root biomass (9–11 Mg ha−1) compared with the other three species (2.5–3.2 Mg ha−1). Among the six grasses, sweetcane, energycane, and elephantgrass resulted in increases in soil C stocks (~15 Mg ha−1) relative to the initial level. Conversely, giant reed and giant miscanthus had no increase in soil C stock. Results suggested that interspecies differences observed in biomass yield among the six perennial bioenergy grasses could therefore affect soil C accumulation. High biomass yielding species such as sweetcane, energycane, and elephantgrass can effectively increase soil C within a few years following establishment in a subtropical environment. • Giant reed, sweetcane, sugarcane, energycane, and elephantgrass were able to produce high shoot biomass in North Florida. • Giant miscanthus could not produce comparable shoot biomass with other species in the subtropical environment. • Sweetcane, energycane, and elephantgrass exhibited significant increases in soil C stock over four growing seasons. • Sweetcane, energycane, and elephantgrass are able to provide multiple ecosystem services rapidly following establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A modified energy method is developed to study the properties of single-walled nanotubes. • The energy of a system is expressed by the force field functions of the molecular mechanics. • The temperature-dependent elastic property and strain energy of nanotubes are obtained. • The effect of tube diameter and inversion energy on the constants of nanotubes is significant. • The temperature has a greater effect on the tensile deformation of zigzag carbon nanotubes. A modified energy method is developed to investigate the elastic properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes. The energy of a system is expressed by the force field functions of the molecular mechanics. Under the assumption of a small deformation and the principle of minimum potential energy, the system function is established. In addition to consider the change of bond stretch and bond angle, the inversion energy is also proposed in this study. Based on the established model, the closed-form expressions of temperature-dependent Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio and strain energy of armchair and zigzag carbon nanotubes are obtained. The results show that the effect of tube diameter and inversion energy on the elastic constants of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is significant when the tube diameter is small. Under different thermal expansion coefficients, the Young's modulus of carbon nanotubes varies nonlinearly with the temperature, whereas the Poisson's ratio is insensitive to the temperature. It is also found that the temperature has a greater effect on the tensile deformation of zigzag CNTs, which provides a more accurate theoretical foundation for the tensile fracture of CNTs in a thermal environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aerodynamic characteristics of a high-speed train in an atmospheric boundary layer are investigated in a wind tunnel. In addition, different atmospheric boundary layer simulations are performed by changing the turbulence intensity generated by a collection of spires in a wind tunnel. Turbulent flow information, measured with the Cobra probe, is used to describe the atmospheric boundary layer. Furthermore, the effect of velocity on the atmospheric boundary layer is also studied. Both the train’s unsteady aerodynamic force and surface pressure are measured at a Reynolds number of 7.5 × 10 5 , and their mean and standard deviation are used to describe and explain the effect of turbulence and observed trends with varying turbulence intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind speed forecasting technology is important in the field of wind power. However, the wind speed signals are always nonlinear and non-stationary so that it is difficult to predict them accurately. Aims at this challenge, a new hybrid approach has been proposed for the wind speed high-accuracy predictions based on the Secondary Decomposition Algorithm (SDA) and the Elman neural networks. The proposed SDA combines the Wavelet Packet Decomposition (WPD) and the Fast Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (FEEMD), which includes twice decomposing processes as: (a) the WPD decomposes the original wind speed into the appropriate components and the detailed components; and (b) the FEEMD further decomposes the WPD generating detailed components into a number of wind speed Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs). The experimental results in five real forecasting cases show that: (a) the proposed hybrid WPD-FEEMD-Elman model has satisfactory performance in the multi-step wind speed predictions; and (b) the hybrid WPD-FEEMD-Elman model has improved the forecasting performance of the hybrid WPD-Elman model and the standard Elman neural networks considerably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing an intuitive link between driving factors of household energy consumption activities and inequalities is important for the understanding of household heterogeneity in energy consumption behaviours. This paper proposes a novel typology framework based on machine learning approaches and data from 3637 Chinese households in 2014 from 85 cities. Activity-based energy consumption was measured, highlighting inequalities across activities, regions and household types. The results showed significant energy consumption disparities between urban/rural and north/south households, especially in cooking, space heating and vehicle activities. By identifying driving factors of energy consumption, a new household typology classified samples into 6 (all), 6 (urban) and 7 (rural) types. Within these types, households with similar demographic structures, lifestyles and energy consumption habits were clustered. Demographic structure, region, and primary energy demand were used as the basis for the typology. The findings demonstrated how household lifestyle differences explained the cause and underlying driving factors of urban-rural energy consumption inequalities and provided suggestions for city-by-city and type-by-type measurements to support effective low-carbon transformation in cities. • Activity-based household energy consumption (HEC) is measured and calibrated. • Household energy consumption inequalities exist in urban/rural and the north/south groups. • A four-step machine-learning approach well classifies households into reasonable clusters. • Activity-based variables are driving factors for HECs in a LASSO model. • Inequality is narrowed in household clusters and type-by-type policies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Spinel nano-Co3O4 was prepared by solid-state reaction at room temperature and investigated for selective catalytic reduction of NO x by NH3 (NH3-SCR). Although suffering from pore filling and plugging, treatment of this catalyst by SO2 showed novel promoting effect on NH3-SCR above 250°C. Bulk cobalt sulfate was observed over the sulfated Co3O4 with XRD, which would be an active component for NH3-SCR. The sulphated Co3O4 catalyst exhibited good resistance to SO2 (500ppm, 100ppm) and 10% H2O at a space velocity of about 25000h−1 at 300°C, as tested for 12h. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), an environmental pollutant, is widely engaged in industrial products and tends to accumulate in the liver. Emerging evidence has suggested that the gut microbiome is a pivotal player in maintaining animal health and can potentially altered by xenobiotic. However, few studies explored whether PFOA-induced liver injury is associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis. In the present study, the effects of subacute and subchronic PFOA exposure on liver and gut microbiota in C57BL/6J mice were investigated. Our findings showed that both subacute and subchronic exposure to PFOA induced the liver inflammation, disrupted antioxidative homeostasis and caused liver histological abnormalities with detectable hepatomegaly, ultimately triggering liver injury. Besides, 16S rRNA sequencing analysis revealed that subacute PFOA exposure caused significant changes in the abundances of intestinal flora known to contribute to liver inflammation and oxidative stress, such as the Dehalobacterium and Bacteroides genera. Exposure to subchronic toxicity mainly induced the decrease in commensal probiotics including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera, which are potentially beneficial to liver damage, compared with that in the untreated group. They also resulted in disturbed functional capabilities of the microbial communities by a Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) analysis. Additionally, the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), especially butyric acid, were significantly reduced by PFOA administration. Collectively, our observations suggested that liver damage induced by both subacute and subchronic PFOA exposures probably partly related to the gut microbiota dysbiosis and provided a new insight into the role of PFOA in liver injury. Image 1 • Both subacute and subchronic exposure to PFOA induced the liver injury. • Subacute PFOA treatment altered the certain microbiota associated with liver injury. • Subchronic exposure to PFOA induced the decrease in commensal probiotics. • The damage induced by PFOA might interact with intestinal environmental disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of industry 4.0, mechanical indicators are in great demand for providing reliable information in a harsh environment with a self-powered signal transmission ability for connecting into a centralized automatic control network of ships, trucks, and factories. In this work, based on the principle of nanogenerator, we report a block-inserting mechatronic (BIM) panel employed as not only a mechanical indicator with long operation lifetime, versatile adaptability, and improved reliability under harsh working conditions, but also an active electronic sensor for self-powered liquid information indicating and sensing. The methodology of block-inserting assembly significantly simplifies the processing costs and difficulties, which facilitates length-customization of the whole device. When equipped with the BIM panel, computer control and monitoring systems realize wireless control and real-time monitoring of liquids in miscellaneous industrial applications. This work lays the foundation of nanogenerator-based sensors applied in industrial systems, which will strongly promote the progress of industry 4.0, smart cities, and transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's steel sector, contributing 40% of world steel production, are moving the plants out of highly-populated areas in China. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an important technology to achieve a deep reduction of emissions in steel plants. Given by high cost and lack of policy incentive in deploying the CCS process, there has been a lack of progress in CCS within the steel sector in China. Capture readiness is a design concept to ease future CCS retrofit and avoid the carbon lock-in effect in steel plants. Capture Readiness design requires moderate upfront investment, i.e. less than 0.5% additional capital expenditure, but could easily enable the plant to be retrofitted with CCS technologies in their lifetime. The paper develops a novel linear programming model to assess the economic cost of Capture Readiness design in a generic steel plant in China. The Baowu Steel Zhanjiang project was used as a reference plant to develop the generic steel plant for the model. Through a Monte Carlo simulation, the results show that the economic cost of making new steel plants in capture readiness for 0.5 million tonnes capture is CNY 65 million (USD 9.5 million) in a conservative 5% carbon price growth rate scenario. The paper found the value of flexibility brought by capture readiness design is significant and is equal to approximately 15% of initial capital investment. The economically viable chance of retrofitting steel plants with CCS technologies in the lifetime is 49%. In an uncertainty analysis, for a 6% growth rate of carbon price, the option value could be increased to CNY 145 million while the probability of retrofit increases to 79%. China's CCS policy should consider a requirement for newly built steel plants to adopt capture readiness design to capture the significant economic value and ease emissions reduction in the iron and steel sector in the long term. • This is the first study investigating CCS readiness in the iron and steel sector. • Capture readiness steel plant can ease retrofit processes with carbon capture and storage in a plant's lifetime. • The paper proposes the key criteria for designing a CCS readiness steel plant. • A novel model is developed in assessing the value of capture readiness. • The retrofit option value of a steel plant is higher than the estimated additional cost for making CCS readiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allele frequencies for the ten STRs included in the AmpFℓSTR SGM Plus kit were obtained from a sample of 132 unrelated Han individuals born in the region of Shantou (south of China). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease for which there is a lack of effective therapeutic drugs. There is great potential for natural products to be used in the development of anti-AD drugs. P-coumaric acid (PCA), a small molecule phenolic acid widely distributed in the plant kingdom, has pharmacological effects such as neuroprotection, but its anti-AD mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In the current study, we investigated the mechanism of PCA intervention in the Aβ 25–35- induced AD model using gut microbiomics and serum metabolomics combined with in vitro and in vivo pharmacological experiments. PCA was found to ameliorate cognitive dysfunction and neuronal cell damage in Aβ 25–35 -injected mice as measured by behavioral, pathological and biochemical indicators. 16S rDNA sequencing and serum metabolomics showed that PCA reduced the abundance of pro-inflammatory-associated microbiota (morganella , holdemanella , fusicatenibacter and serratia) in the gut, which were closely associated with metabolites of the glucose metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, tyrosine metabolism and phospholipid metabolism pathways in serum. Next, in vivo and in vitro pharmacological investigations revealed that PCA regulated Aβ 25–35 -induced disruption of glucose metabolism through activation of PI3K/AKT/Glut1 signaling. Additionally, PCA ameliorated Aβ 25–35 -induced neuroinflammation by inhibiting nuclear translocation of NF-κB and by modulating upstream MAPK signaling. In conclusion, PCA ameliorated cognitive deficits in Aβ 25–35 -induced AD mice by regulating glucose metabolism and neuroinflammation, and the mechanism is related not only to restoring homeostasis of gut microbiota and serum metabolites, but also to PI3K/AKT/Glut1 and MAPK/NF-κB signaling. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Northwest China, quantifying city-level CO 2 emissions is fundamental to CO 2 alleviation but encounters difficulties in data availability and quality. Further, structuring city-level emissions could be conductive to CO 2 reduction. This study applies a practical methodology to 16 northwestern Chinese cities to grasp their historical trajectories of CO 2 emissions. Then, structuring CO 2 emissions is explored in terms of industrial structure, energy mix and urban-rural disparities for 8 northwestern Chinese cities. Results show that: (1) for 16 cities (2010–2015), capital and industrial cities generated most emissions. Meanwhile, CO 2 emissions were mostly incompatible with CO 2 intensity, but consistent with CO 2 per capita; (2) for 8 cities (2006–2015), energy producing sectors, heavy manufacturing sectors, and coal remained major drivers of emissions. Then, the interconnection between industrial structure and energy mix exerted temporally varying impacts on emissions from energy producing sectors and heavy manufacturing sectors. Besides, urban gas consumption and rural coal use continued affecting most of household consumption emissions and household consumption emissions per capita. Moreover, the interplay between emissions and population was changed when emissions by energy type were decomposed among urban and rural households; and (3) uncertainty results fall in the range of −39% to 6%. Finally, implications for CO 2 reduction and future work are proposed. • CO 2 intensity differs from CO 2 emissions and CO 2 per capita across most cities. • Structural changes in CO 2 emissions are city-specific in Northwest China (2006–2015). • Energy producing sectors and coal are still main drivers of emissions. • Rural coal use remains a vital concern to curb rural household consumption emissions. • The interplay between emissions and household population changes with energy types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A batch-test method to all potential calendar effects in different dimensions of time frequencies. • A big data test in an electricity market with 12,000 transmission lines and hourly updated prices. • Calendar effects exist in hourly, daily, monthly and seasonal dimensions in electricity markets. • Electricity markets have commonalities with financial markets on price movement. • Calendar effects have strong explanatory power to the electricity market. Abstract How to balance supply and demand has become a long-term question in the electricity market, and anomalies related to calendar issues are critical factors to affect the resource allocation. This paper introduces a test method to assess the significance of all possible calendar effects in different time frequencies. We implement our test method to the largest electricity trading platform in the United States. Using the high-frequency intraday trading data, we assess the calendar effects in different time frequencies (Day-of-the-week, Hour-of-the-day, Month-of-the-year, Day-of-the-month and season). Our results confirm that calendar effects exist in every dimension of time frequency, and specify those calendar effects with statistical significance. Moreover, this study discovers commonalities between electricity markets and financial markets, which makes it feasible to apply the management of financial markets to electricity markets. Besides, the detected calendar effects depict periodic patterns of market inequilibrium and facilitate the implementation of corresponding technical solutions in electricity markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]