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Natural gas was a type of alternative energy resources in the short and medium term to maintain energy consumption worldwide. Combining multi-regional input-output analysis and complex network modelling, this study examined the spatial-temporal evolution and topological structures of multi-layer natural gas networks, analyzed the network characteristics of different countries/regions, and tested the network robustness and vulnerability between direct natural gas trade network and embodied natural gas transfer network. From the results, the direct natural gas trade network was relatively flatter, while the embodied natural gas transfer network was more concentrated in core countries/regions. Moreover, the countries with natural gas reserves and highly industrialized levels occupied high statuses in the direct natural gas trade network, whereas the highly industrialized countries occupied the core position in the embodied natural gas transfer network. Among the two disturbance scenarios, both direct and embodied natural gas networks were more vulnerable under deliberate assault than under random failure, however, the direct trade network is easier to collapse compared with the embodied transfer network under deliberate assault. By constructing multi-layer natural gas networks from both direct and embodied perspectives, this study attempts to provide practical implications and suggestions toward sustainable natural gas network management worldwide. • The characters of direct and embodied natural gas networks are compared. • The coreness and structures of main countries and economies are analyzed. • The embodied natural gas network is more concentrated with higher intensities. • The industrialized countries are the core in the embodied natural gas network. • The invulnerability of direct natural gas trade network is relatively lower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of alkali metal complexes with 2,2′-ethylidenebis(4,6-di-tert-butylphenol) (EDBP-H 2 ) as a ligand have been synthesized. In the presence of benzyl alcohol as an initiator, all complexes exhibit good catalytic behaviors for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of rac -lactide, giving desirable molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. The relative order of activities for this series of complexes is Li > Na > K > Rb, which is related to metallic ion radius; and Lewis acidity of these metal ions is also an important factor for the kinetics of the ROP. The relative order of stereoselectivities for this series of complexes is Rb ≈ K > Na ≫ Li in this system. The first example of Rb complex in the ROP of rac -lactide in this paper was also described, showing a modest activity and a nice polymerization control, even with a certain isoselectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the climate change effects of traditional energy consumption are more pronounced, renewable energy has become increasingly essential in meeting electricity demands and mitigating carbon emissions. Based on the spatial autocorrelation analysis and carbon emission avoided analysis, this study depicts the photovoltaic power geographies, analyzes the spatial-temporal characteristics, and measures the carbon emission reduction potentials of China's photovoltaic power installation by province. Five stages of the photovoltaic power installation including Full operation, Partial operation, Announced construction , Permitted construction , and Under construction are classified. Overall, the provinces with higher installed capacities and emission reduction potentials are mainly distributed in the North and Northwest China, including Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Hebei. From the spatial autocorrelation analysis, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, and Shanxi belong to the high-high cluster, while most provinces in South China are among the low-low cluster. In terms of cumulative carbon emission reduction, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Xinjiang are main contributors. By comparing the spatial and temporal evolution, geographical characteristics, and low-carbon reduction of photovoltaic power installation in China's provinces and regions, this study provides quantitative supports and feasible suggestions for the achievement of low-carbon targets and sustainable development of China's photovoltaic industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal whole-exome sequencing (WES) is becoming increasingly used when karyotype and microarray tests are not diagnostic of fetal malformations. Although the value of WES clearly emerges in terms of higher diagnostic rates, the limitations of prenatal phenotyping together with the counseling challenges for variants of uncertain significance and incidental results suggest that the routine application of prenatal WES is not yet easy. Structurally abnormal fetuses with a mean gestational age of 24 weeks (range 13–38 weeks) were recruited from the Chong Qing Health Center for Women and Children. We performed a retrospective WES investigation in 85 fetuses, using DNA from amniotic fluid (66 samples, 77.6%), umbilical cord blood (10 samples, 11.8%), and fetal tissues (9 samples, 10.6%). Parental DNA was extracted from peripheral blood. Molecular diagnosis was obtained in 16 of the 85 fetuses (18.8%). According to the variant segregation mode and family history, 7 fetuses (43.75%) were affected by an autosomal dominant condition (6 variants were de novo and 1 variant was inherited from an unknowingly affected father), 7 fetuses (43.75%) had an autosomal recessive syndrome always associated with compound heterozygosity, and 2 fetuses (12.5%) had an X-linked condition (one mother was a carrier). In addition, the highest diagnostic rate was observed in fetuses with multisystem abnormalities (38.9%, 7/18). A variant of uncertain significance was detected in 16 samples (18.8%, 16/85). Our study confirms that prenatal WES is an efficient tool for studying fetal abnormalities, although further improvements are needed to establish stronger fetal genotype-phenotype correlations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]