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Accurate digital mapping of farmland soil organic carbon (SOC) contributes to sustainable agricultural development and climate change mitigation. Farmland landscape pattern has changed greatly under anthropogenic influence, which should be considered an environmental variable to characterize the impact of human activities on SOC. In this study, we verified the feasibility of integrating landscape patterns in SOC prediction on Lower Liaohe Plain. Specifically, ten variables (climate, topographic, and landscape pattern variables) were selected for prediction with Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machines (SVMs). The effectiveness of landscape metrics was verified by establishing different variable combinations: (1) natural variables, and (2) natural and landscape pattern variables. The results confirmed that landscape variables improved mapping accuracy compared with natural variables. R2 of RF and SVM increased by 20.63% and 20.75%, respectively. RF performed better than SVM with smaller prediction error. Ranking of importance of variables showed that temperature and precipitation were the most important variables. The Aggregation Index (AI) contributed more than elevation, becoming the most important landscape variable. The Mean Contiguity Index (CONTIG-MN) and Landscape Contagion Index (CONTAG) also contributed more than other topographic variables. We conclude that landscape patterns can improve mapping accuracy and support SOC sequestration by optimizing farmland landscape management policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrite is a common pollutant encountered in aquaculture systems. During intensive hatchery, accumulation of nitrite can cause massive mortality of juvenile crustaceans. However, the nitrite toxicity and cellular stress responses in juvenile crustaceans is not clearly understood. Here, we investigate the survival, energy metabolism, and cellular stress responses in juvenile P. trituberculatus, an important aquaculture species in China, under acute nitrite stress. The results revealed nitrite resulted in a significant decrease in survival rate of juvenile swimming crab. After nitrite exposure, the activity of catabolic enzymes, such as HK, PK, CS, and CPT-1, were initially enhanced, and then they showed significant decrease at the late stage of exposure, accompanied by reduction in ATP and adenylate energy charge (AEC). The impaired energy homeostasis was possibly associated with disturbed AMPK signaling and enhanced anaerobic metabolism, which was indicated by the high levels of LDH activity and HIF-1α expression. Furthermore, we found that nitrite stress can depress antioxidant systems and unfold protein responses, causing oxidative damage and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and this, in turn, can trigger autophagy and apoptosis through both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways. The results of the present study improve our understanding regarding adverse effects of nitrite on P. trituberculatus and provide valuable information for hatchery management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Ammonia is the most common contaminant in aquaculture systems, including intensive hatchery systems for crustaceans. Although it has been demonstrated that ammonia can result in abortive moulting and massive mortality of juvenile crustaceans, the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. The present work is aimed at examining the effect of ammonia exposure on the moulting process as well as molt signaling in the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus, an important aquaculture species in China. We examined the survival rate and moulting rate of the juvenile crabs (C2) and analyzed the expression pattern of the genes in key components of molt signaling during a complete moulting cycle under different concentrations of ammonia. Our results revealed that ammonia has dose-dependent biphasic effects on moulting in juvenile swimming crab. Specifically, low levels of ammonia (5 mg/L) stimulated moulting, while high levels of ammonia (20 mg/L) suppressed the moulting process and caused moulting death syndrome (MDS). The gene expression analysis indicated that low levels of ammonia can reduce the expression of MIH, which encodes the key negative regulator of moulting, and trigger ecdysteroid biosynthesis and ecdysteroid signaling in the juvenile crabs. In contrast, though the high level of ammonia increased MIH expression, it still resulted in excessive ecdysteroids and over-activation of ecdysteroid signaling, which may contribute to the depressed moulting and MDS in the juvenile crabs. The novel findings of this study improve the understanding of ammonia toxicity in brachyura and provide valuable information for hatchery management of P. trituberculatus. Ammonia is a significant concern during hatchery culture in brachyuran species, and its accumulation may lead to abortive moulting and large-scale deaths of the early juveniles. To date, the underlying mechanism for ammonia-induced alteration of the moulting process is still unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of ammonia on the moulting as well as the potential mechanisms in early juveniles of the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus, an important aquaculture species in China. We evaluated the survival rate and moulting rate of the juvenile crabs (C2) and analyzed the expression pattern of the genes in key components of molt signaling during a complete moulting cycle under different concentrations of ammonia nitrogen (the control group: <0.1 mg/L; the LA group: 5 mg/L; and the HA group: 20 mg/L). The results showed that: (1) the survival rate in the LA and HA groups was lower than that in the control group at the end of the experiment, and moulting death syndrome (MDS) was only observed in the HA group; (2) the moulting rate was higher in the LA group and lower in the HA group compared to the control group; (3) consistent with the results of the moulting experiment, MIH showed decreased expression, and genes related to ecdysteroid synthesis, ecdysteroid receptors, and responsive effectors exhibited increased expression in the LA group compared to the control group; and (4) although MIH expression was upregulated, increased expression of the genes associated with ecdysteroid synthesis, ecdysteroid receptors and downstream effectors still observed in the HA group. Our results indicated that low levels of ammonia can promote moulting in juvenile swimming crabs by inhibiting the expression of MIH and activating moult signaling, whereas high levels of ammonia inhibit moulting and lead to MDS through impairing moult signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C-SAR/01, the successor of China's Gaofen-3 Satellite, which launched on 23 November 2021, is the first synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite to be launched in China's civil space infrastructure plan and has served as an invaluable data resource. Radiometric calibration and validation are prerequisites for the quantitative application of SAR data. In this study, the radiometric calibration experiments of C-SAR/01 data of the ultra-fine strip (UFS) and fine strip I (FSI) modes were conducted applying flexible automatic triangular trihedral corner reflectors deployed in Xilinhot SAR satellite calibration and validation site. Accordingly, the image quality and radiometric calibration accuracy were evaluated. The results show that the spatial resolution, peak sidelobe ratio, and integrated sidelobe ratio of UFS and FSI mode data of C-SAR/01 are better than those of the design indexes, and the calibration results from the integral method are more stable than those from the peak method. Furthermore, the standard deviation of the calibration constant for UFS mode data is 0.234 dB, with the relative and absolute calibration accuracies obtained as 0.233 and 0.532 dB, respectively, whereas the standard deviation calibration constant for FSI mode data is 0.198 dB, with its relative and absolute calibration accuracies evaluated as 0.199 and 0.333 dB, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing food security to meet the growing human demand while improving the biodiversity of arable land is a global challenge. Although semi-natural field margins are known to enhance biodiversity in arable land systems globally, the role that abundant artificial field margins play in maintaining epigeic arthropod diversity within arable land remains unclear. Here, we compared epigeic arthropods within adjacent arable land with an artificial field margin (paved and dirt roads) and a semi-natural field margin (ditch, woodland, or grassland), as well as vegetation community characteristics at a field scale for identifying the ecological effects of different field margin types. Our results indicated the following: (i) Compared with semi-natural field margins, there is less epigeic arthropod diversity and less stable ecological networks within adjacent arable land with artificial field margins, with more herbivores within adjacent arable land with artificial field margins and more natural enemies within adjacent arable land with semi-natural field margins. (ii) Arable land adjacent to a dirt road (DR) maintained more resilient ecological networks than that adjacent to a paved road (PR), and there are more flowering plants at DRs, which attracts natural enemies, whereas Orthoptera is more active at PRs with abundant weeds. (iii) The main factors affecting epigeic arthropod functional groups were the tree layer cover (TC), herb layer abundance (HA), and herb layer height (HH) of the artificial and semi-natural field margins. We concluded that increasing the number of flowering plants and removing noxious weeds can eliminate negative effects on epigeic arthropod functional groups within adjacent arable land with artificial field margins. Delineating a certain percentage of vegetation strips to be a buffer zone in artificial field margins or creating a suitable vegetation community in semi-natural field margins can maintain and protect natural enemies and strengthen the ecological network stability between functional groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symptoms of eutrophication (including biodiversity loss, harmful algal blooms, and hypoxia) are an increasing problem in Chinese seas. Nutrient enrichment is primarily caused by accelerated human activities that cause nutrient pollution of the aquatic environment. In this study, the Integrated Model to Assess the Global Environment–Global Nutrient Model (IMAGE‐GNM) was used to estimate nitrogen inputs from river discharge, submarine fresh groundwater discharge, and mariculture, and TM5‐FAst Scenario Screening Tool (TM5‐FASST) for atmospheric nitrogen deposition to the three Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs, i.e., Yellow Sea/Bohai Sea, YS/BS; East China Sea, ECS; South China Sea, SCS) bordered by China and several other countries for the period 1970–2010. China's river nitrogen export was the largest nitrogen source in YS/BS and ECS. In SCS, however, China and other countries contributed equally and although decreasing, the proportion of natural sources remain considerable. The total nitrogen inputs to YS/BS (1.0 to 4.1 Tg year−1), ECS (1.3 to 5.5 Tg year−1), and SCS (2.1 to 5.8 Tg year−1) increased rapidly during 1970–2010. River export is dominated by agriculture; nitrogen inputs from atmospheric deposition and mariculture have been increasing rapidly in recent years. Considering only the coastal zone of the three LMEs, our results show that the total nitrogen inputs are strongly concentrated spatially in areas close to river mouths and those confined regions with mariculture production. To sustain the food production and economic growth in the coming decades, nitrogen inputs may increase further, depending on future eutrophication mitigation policies. Plain Language Summary: Nitrogen is a limiting nutrient for plant production. Excessive nitrogen use in agriculture and discharge from wastewater is the primary causes of eutrophication in aquatic environments. Symptoms of eutrophication (including biodiversity loss, harmful algal blooms (HABs), and hypoxia) are an increasing problem in Chinese seas. Here we quantified the nitrogen inputs from river export, atmospheric deposition, submarine fresh groundwater discharge, and mariculture to the Yellow Sea/Bohai Sea (YS/BS), East China Sea (ECS), and South China Sea (SCS) bordered by China and other countries for the period 1970–2010. Nitrogen inputs increased rapidly, mainly due to increasing land‐based sources (river export and atmospheric deposition), while nitrogen from mariculture started to increase recently. River export is dominated by agriculture with growing proportions of sewage and freshwater aquaculture. Nitrogen inputs were spatially concentrated and increased faster in Chinese coastal waters than in other countries. China's contribution to nitrogen pollution exceeded that of other countries in YS/BS and ECS, while China and other countries contributed equally in SCS. Nitrogen concentrations and HAB frequency in the seas seem to be correlated as both increased substantially since 1970s. Mitigation of nitrogen pollution is therefore urgent because human activities that trigger nitrogen discharge may increase further in future. Key Points: Since 1970, N inputs to Chinese seas increased rapidly due to rapidly increasing river export, atmospheric deposition, and maricultureRiver export is the largest source, with a dominant contribution from agriculture and recently growing shares of aquaculture and sewageN inputs are spatially concentrated and increase much faster in Chinese coastal waters than in other countries [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, many airports in China are being built or retrofitted. Reducing energy consumption in airport terminals is of the utmost urgency. This paper describes on-site measurements of indoor thermal environment and air infiltration of a hub airport in winter in southwest China. Air velocity measurements with air volume balance check and thermal balance check were applied to assess air infiltration rates in terminal buildings. In unsecured halls, air infiltration rates were 0.61 air change per hour (ACH) (6.6 m3/(h m2)) and 0.28 ACH (3.0 m3/(h m2)) when space heating was on and off, respectively; while in secured piers, those two air infiltration rates were 0.42 ACH (2.6 m3/(h m2)) and 0.24 ACH (1.5 m3/(h m2)). Air infiltration consumed 66–92% of heat supplied by space heating systems, showing that winter air infiltration significantly affects indoor thermal environment and energy consumption in terminal buildings where air flows out through the doors of service walkways and open skylights on the roof. Furthermore, influences of building characteristics, space heating systems and outdoor temperatures on winter air infiltration in large space buildings were analysed. This research helps to clarify the key issues influencing indoor thermal environment and proposes solutions for energy saving in terminal buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abri Herba and Abri mollis Herba both were important members of the Leguminosae family in southwestern China. Abri mollis Herba was often used as Abri Herba due to their proximity, but there are few studies on pharmacokinetics to compare their main identical active compositions. A sensitive and selective high‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method in the positive/negative electrospray ionization switching mode was developed and validated for the simultaneous analysis of four flavonoids and two alkaloids in rat plasma. The chromatographic separation was carried out on a C18 column with a gradient mobile phase consisting of methanol and 0.5% acetic acid. The detection of the target compounds was conducted in multiple‐reaction monitoring mode with a hybrid triple quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometer equipped with positive/negative ion‐switching electrospray ion source. The differences in pharmacokinetics were discovered, which indicated that the substitution between them is some degree of irrationality. The validated method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of the six components in male rat plasma after oral administration of Abri Herba and Abri mollis Herba extract and the results in the study would provide a useful guide for the clinical application of Abri Herba with those in Abri mollis Herba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the applications of thin section, cathode luminescence, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction, this paper studies the reservoir characteristics, diagenesis features and their influences on the development of reservoir pores for the Chang 8 oil group of Yanchang Formation in southwestern Ordos Basin. Results show that the reservoir is characterized by low composition maturity, low structure maturity, low porosity/ultra-low porosity and ultra-low permeability which belong to tight reservoir. The reservoirs develop medium intensity of compaction, moderate to strong cementation, relatively strong dissolution, suggesting that it is in stage B of the middle diagenetic evolution. The main diagenetic types include mechanical compaction, cementation by carbonates, quartz and clay minerals, and dissolution which have directly influenced the reservoir quality. In the early diagenetic period, the rapid compaction and cementation of carbonate had rapidly destroyed the reservoir quality, while the particles lining of chlorites had protected the reservoir space. In the middle diagenetic stage A, secondary dissolution pores were formed as soluble clastic grains were dissolved by the acidic fluid with organic matters maturation. The dissolution has played a constructive role for the pore generation and preservation. In the middle diagenetic stage B, the later compaction and cementation further reduced the reservoir quality. The analysis of pore evolution demonstrates that the initial reservoir porosity is about 30.59%. 16.925% overall porosity is lost through compaction, 11.65% porosity loss is due to cementation, and 6.36% porosity was created by dissolution. Finally, the reservoir is holding 8.375% porosity in present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand-side decarbonization and electrification promote a strong coupling between electric vehicles (EVs) and buildings. From a building-centric perspective, this paper established a survey-based simulation platform for charging system design, which supports annual simulations with a 15-min interval. Field survey data of private vehicles in two office buildings located in Beijing (a metropolis) and Ruicheng (a county in China) were used as inputs and for validation. The platform was applied to analyze workplace charging and give suggestions for charging system design. First, the city size greatly influences vehicle behavior and charging demands. This study indicates an unusual double-peak charging demand on weekdays in the county case due to different vehicle behavior from the urban cases. Second, slow charging at workplaces can almost meet the intra-urban travel demand of private EVs. Specifically, chargers with a rated power of 3–4 kW can achieve a guarantee level of EV use of SOC 0.999 = 20%. Third, the low solar self-consumption rate of current PV charging systems (generally 18%∼42%) mainly results from significant PV surpluses on weekends and in summer. These findings emphasize building-centric planning of EV-related infrastructures and proper charging strategies for energy interaction between EVs and buildings. [Display omitted] • Electric vehicle (EV) behavior is investigated from a building-centric perspective. • A simulation platform is developed for charging system design (τ = 1 yr, Δ τ = 15 min). • City size greatly influences vehicle behavior and charging demands. • Slow charging at workplace can meet the intra-urban travel demand of private EVs. • PV surpluses on weekends and in summer result in low solar power self-consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removal behavior of organic pollutants such as lignin in cotton pulp black liquor (CPBL) was investigated in precipitation followed by electrochemical oxidation (EO) using FeCl 3 , Fe 2 (SO 4) 3 , FeCl 2 and FeSO 4 as precipitants, electrolyte and catalysts. Based on comparison of precipitation efficacy of iron salts, spectroscopic techniques, thermodynamic equilibrium calculations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to provide insight into the interaction between iron cations and lignin. The results showed that FeCl 3 achieved the highest removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD, 76.05%), UV 254 (69.21%) and lignin (78.28%). Iron cationic complexation with lignin was identified as the key mechanism in precipitation. Fe3+ was more active in binding to organic ligands mainly due to charge effect compared to Fe2+. The strong Fe−sulphate coordination affected the complexation with lignin. MD simulations showed the formation of inner sphere complexes of iron cations with deprotonated carboxyl and hydroxyl groups via bidentate and monodentate coordination. The removal efficiency of electrochemical oxidation (EO) as a post−treatment of the precipitation was dependent on iron salts. Removals of COD, UV 254 and color can achieve 98.88%, 98.9% and 99.97% by FeCl 3 precipitation and EO processes. The effluent reached the primary discharge standard specified in Integrated Wastewater Discharge Standard of China (GB8978−1996). FeCl 3 demonstrated significant advantages in the removal of organic pollutants from cotton pulp black liquor in the combined process of precipitation and electrochemical treatment and may have practical application potential. [Display omitted] • Iron cations formed inner sphere complexes with carboxyl and hydroxyl groups. • Iron−sulphate coordination affected iron cationic complexation with lignin. • Metal cationic complexation facilitated electro-degradation of organic ligands. • Precipitation−electrooxidation with FeCl 3 was most effective for black liquor purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Landscape pattern have potential to explain spatial variation of farmland SOC. • Highly connect or spread farmland landscape is not conducive to SOC. • Diverse landscape types, complex patch shapes are conducive to SOC sequestration. • Provide a new way to increase SOC in farmland by regulating landscape pattern. Knowledge of the factors affecting spatial distribution of farmland soil organic carbon (SOC) contribute to a better understanding of the impact of human activities on soil, which is important for improving soil quality and mitigating climate change. Intensive production has brought about significant changes in farmland landscape pattern. However, the consequences of this change on SOC remains unclear. In this study, using 307 sampling sites of SOC in Lower Liaohe Plain, we mapped the spatial distribution of SOC by Kriging method, and investigated the relationship between topographic and climate factors and SOC, then nine landscape indexes were used as the indicator of human activity and intensity to describe the farmland landscape pattern and analyzed the relationship between landscape pattern and SOC. We observed that SOC was positively related to mean annual precipitation (MAP), negatively related to mean annual temperature (MAT). Flat terrain weakened the relationship between topographic factors and SOC. SOC was positively related to the indexes that represent the complexity of patch shape, and negatively related to indexes that represent the contagion and connectivity degree of patches, indicated that farmland landscape with high connectivity, regular shape and high contagion were not conducive to carbon sequestration. Also, stepwise regression analysis showed that MAP, MAT and DEM contributed the most to SOC variation, these factors could explain 29.3% of the variation in SOC. While added Aggregation Index (AI) could improve the explanation degree by 3.1%, and AI became the strongest factor after natural factors. This study highlights the role of landscape pattern in influencing farmland SOC. The results are useful supplement to the study of farmland SOC and may provide support for SOC sequestration through regulating and controlling landscape pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The energy consumption levels of various types of traffic buildings in China are revealed based on a large sample survey. • Energy consumption per unit area is proposed as a reasonable evaluation index of traffic building energy consumption. • Building energy consumption throughout the year is split according to characteristics. Airport terminal, railway station, and subway station are public traffic buildings with special functions, which are responsible to satisfy the basic needs during the use of public transportation. In this paper, the current status of building energy consumption and appropriate energy consumption evaluation methods for these traffic buildings in China are studied. The energy consumption levels of various types of traffic buildings in China are firstly revealed based on a large sample survey, and an analysis method for the energy use of such buildings is then proposed. It's found that the average annual energy consumptions for these three types of buildings are 206.3 kW h/(m2·year), 115.7 kW h/(m2·year) and 124.9 kW h/(m2·year) respectively. The energy consumptions of traffic buildings in the hot summer and cold winter zone and hot summer and warm winter zone are manifested to be higher mainly due to the climate characteristic. Besides, energy consumption per unit area is considered to be the most suitable indicator for an accurate assessment. The energy evaluation method for traffic buildings is proposed where the total energy is divided into the basic energy and variable energy. The basic energy consumption is mainly related to the building function for transportation, while the variable energy consumption is mainly determined by the local climate. It's found the basic energy consumption accounts for about 50 % of the airport terminals and railway stations. The energy use indexes for different traffic buildings are also obtained based on the surveyed results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical evaluation of periodontal inflammation does not fully reflect the disease activity. Extensive studies have been conducted out on gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) components that might serve as potential diagnostic markers for periodontitis, among which matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) has shown to be promising, but there were no studies for individuals in China. The aim of this study was to compare clinical diagnostic parameters and levels of active MMP-8 (aMMP-8) in GCF and oral rinse samples from the Chinese patients with varying degrees of periodontal inflammation. Methods: GCF and oral rinse samples were obtained from 60 participants into two groups, a periodontitis group and a control group, specified by the presence and number of pocket depths or attachment loss. The aMMP-8 levels in GCF and oral rinse samples was quantified by ELISA using specific monoclonal antibodies. Logistic and linear regression models were employed for testing the correlation between aMMP-8 levels and periodontal condition, as well as diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. Results: Periodontitis group (mean = 24.84 ng/ml) exhibited significantly higher aMMP-8 levels than control group in GCF (p < 0.001). The aMMP-8 levels in oral rinse samples ranged from 0.05 to 2.18 ng/ml, but differences were not statistically significant between the two groups (p > 0.1). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed a highest threshold of 6.66, with a corresponding sensitivity and specificity of 0.8 and 0.9, respectively. Conclusions: Measuring aMMP-8 levels in GCF may have potentiality for complementary early diagnosis of periodontal disease and inflammation in the Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A building electricity consumption profile model for the design phase is proposed. • Data from 55 commercial buildings in China are collected to train the model. • Periodicity and correlation analyses are conducted for feature extraction. • CART and clustering are adopted to address issues in different temporal paradigms. • The proposed hierarchical model is competitive in accuracy and interpretability. Understanding and modeling building electricity consumption is paramount for demand-side decarbonization. Using a data-driven approach, this study proposes a hierarchical model to generate annual hourly electricity consumption profiles for commercial buildings, to facilitate energy system design and renewable energy integration. Electricity consumption profiles and the corresponding weather data from 55 commercial buildings across all five climate zones in China were collected to address the scarcity of relevant open datasets. Furthermore, periodicity and correlation analyses of the collected dataset indicate that the annual electricity consumption profiles can be decomposed into daily fluctuations primarily influenced by climate change and intra-day fluctuations, which are predominantly affected by building schedules. Based on these features, suitable algorithms were selected to address the issues independently in these two temporal paradigms, forming a hierarchical model. A regression tree was used to reveal the relationships between daily consumption and weather data as well as the climate zone label. Additionally, k-means clustering was employed to extract typical intra-day consumption patterns, followed by the deployment of a classification tree to predict intra-day pattern labels under specific conditions. In the cross-validation, the proposed hierarchical model achieved a high coefficient of determination (R 2) of 0.941, which further improved to 0.949 after incorporating residual regression, demonstrating its high accuracy. Compared to the single-step gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) model (R 2 = 0.951), the proposed hierarchical model exhibited comparable accuracy and offered better interpretability and lower overall complexity, making it a favorable choice for engineering applications. This study provides insights into the development of a data-driven model for building electricity consumption profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The seasonal mismatch becomes prominent as photovoltaic penetration nears one. • Buildings with primary daytime electricity use show similar matching performance. • Latitude and longitude affect seasonal and diurnal mismatch in China, respectively. • Batteries are only economically favored under low feed-in tariff conditions. • Partial abandonment of photovoltaic power proves cost-effective in some cases. The widespread adoption of distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems is crucial for achieving a decarbonized future, and distributed energy storages play a vital role in promoting PV energy consumption and easing the grid burden. This study uses actual building electricity consumption data to examine the temporal and dimensional matching performance and economic feasibility of photovoltaic-battery (PVB) systems. When prioritizing nearly self-consumption, there is a knee point in the growth trend where the energy storage demand increases with the ratio of annual PV generation to annual electricity demand (R pv). Before this point, energy storage primarily serves intraday energy transfers. However, once R pv surpasses this point, there is a rapid surge in energy storage demand due to the requirement for cross-season energy transfer. When nearly self-sufficiency is desired, the energy storage demand experiences a rapid decrease to converge to a non-zero value as R pv increases. Comparative analyses reveal that public buildings with concentrated daytime electricity consumption and shopping malls in different climate zones with similar intraday usage patterns show comparable matching performance when equipped with short-term energy storage. However, as high self-consumption or self-sufficiency rates are pursued, variances in their seasonal consumption characteristics lead to significant differences in energy storage demand. From an economic perspective, integrating batteries into a shopping mall in Beijing increases the equivalent electricity price under the prevailing feed-in tariff. In addition, when surplus PV generation export is prohibited or unremunerated, the battery does not enhance the economic feasibility until R pv exceeds 51%, and partial curtailment of PV generation is economical when R pv exceeds 26%. Furthermore, to achieve a high self-sufficiency level, slightly expanding R pv beyond the required self-sufficiency rate can efficiently reduce energy storage demand and improve economic feasibility at the expense of partial curtailment of PV generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paleogene sedimentary successions of the Tarim Basin of western China document a major regression of the proto-Paratethys Sea, significantly changing the land-sea distribution and thereby the palaeoclimatic conditions in Central Asia. However, a comprehensive reconstruction of the palaeogeographic evolution of the basin is lacking because only few exposures are known from the central part of the basin that is mostly covered by the Taklamakan Desert. Here, we reconstruct the main palaeoenvironmental changes following Eocene sea retreat by determining the sedimentological facies of 69 wells that are internally correlated by using seismic profiles and externally to published sections of the exposed southwestern and northern margins of the Tarim Basin. Two major depocentres existed in the Southwest Foredeep and the Kuqa Depression, separated from each other by the Bachu Uplift that was most likely not a particularly high terrain during the Paleogene. We confirm that a major transition from marine to continental-lacustrine sedimentation took place during the Eocene-Oligocene transition in the central parts of the Tarim Basin. We provide new palaeogeographic maps with Eocene and Oligocene facies distributions in the Tarim Basin, which will facilitate a better understanding of the sedimentary response to Paleogene sea-level change and tectonic events of the neighboring mountain ranges. Our reconstruction confirms that both tectonic and eustatic forcing played an active role in controlling the late Paleogene transgression-regression in the Tarim Basin. Provenance and palaeocurrent analyses, combined with sediment distribution patterns, indicate gradual growth and continuous uplift of the Tibetan Plateau following India–Asia collision in the early Paleogene. The demise of the Tarim Sea at ~41 Ma correlates with palaeoclimatic and environmental changes observed in several basin of central Asia. After sea retreat, the Tarim region progressively transformed into a large and shallow lake system that potentially persisted up to the (early) Oligocene. • Sedimentary facies of 69 drill holes from the Tarim Basin of SW China are analysed. • Palaeogeographic reconstructions are based on Eocene-Oligocene facies distribution. • Facies patterns indicate late Eocene tectonic activity of the Pamir and West Kunlun. • Early Bartonian sea retreating from Tarim relates in time to inner Asian aridification. • During the early Oligocene a large lake persisted in the Tarim Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori is the most well-known risk factor for gastric cancer. Antibiotic resistance is the main reason for the failure of H. pylori eradication, and understanding the antibiotic resistance before treatment may be the main determinant of successful eradication of H. pylori . This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of quadruple therapy based on faecal molecular antimicrobial susceptibility tests for the first-line eradication of H. pylori infection., Methods and Analysis: This is a single-centre, single-blind, randomised controlled trial, enrolling 855 patients with H. pylori infection. Patients are randomised to three groups for a 14-day treatment: group A: amoxicillin- and clarithromycin-based bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (BQT) (rabeprazole 10 mg, amoxicillin 1 g, clarithromycin 500 mg and colloidal bismuth 200 mg two times per day); group B: clarithromycin medication history-based BQT (rabeprazole 10 mg, amoxicillin 1 g, furazolidone 100 mg (with clarithromycin medication history)/clarithromycin 500 mg (without clarithromycin medication history) and colloidal bismuth 200 mg two times per day); group C: antimicrobial susceptibility test-based BQT (rabeprazole 10 mg, amoxicillin 1 g, clarithromycin 500 mg (clarithromycin-sensitive)/furazolidone 100 mg (clarithromycin resistant) and colloidal bismuth 200 mg two times per day). The primary end point is the eradication rate. The secondary end points are the incidence of adverse events and compliance., Ethics and Dissemination: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University (Number 20230103). The results will be published in the appropriate peer-reviewed journal., Trial Registration Number: NCT05718609., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objectives: To elucidate the CT manifestations and patterns of evolution in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia., Methods: This is a retrospective review of CT scans of 110 patients. All 110 patients had initial and second CT scans, 60 of 110 patients had three serial CT scans, and 17 of 60 patients had four serial CT scans. Numerous characteristics of pulmonary and extrapulmonary abnormalities and recognizable patterns of evolution were evaluated., Results: Of the 110 initial CT scans, ground-glass opacities without consolidation (65.4%) were more common than a consolidation or mixed pattern. The most common findings were subpleural involvement (77.2%), multifocal involvement (80.7%), and bilateral involvement (67.3%). Three serial CT scans of 60 patients showed four patterns of CT evolution: type 1 showing relatively high CT scores on initial CT (averaged 4 days after symptom onset), with mild progression and improvement on follow-up CT scans (25%); type 2 with progression of CT findings from initial CT to first follow-up CT (averaged 9 days after symptom onset) with subsequent improvement on second follow-up CT (averaged 13 days after symptom onset, 61.7%); type 3 with no CT changes (5.0%); and type 4 pattern was similar to type 2 but with a more prolonged course and more severe CT findings (8.3%)., Conclusions: Predominant findings at initial CT scans were bilateral multifocal subpleural GGO. The most commonly shown evolution pattern was type 2: progression of disease with increased extent and density of opacities on first follow-up CT followed by improvement on second follow-up CT., Key Points: • Predominant findings at initial CT in patients with COVID-19 infection are bilateral multifocal subpleural ground-glass opacities. • Ill-defined patchy or nodular opacities were most commonly observed on CT scans with the right lower lobe most commonly involved. • The most commonly shown evolution pattern on chest CT was type 2: progression of CT findings from initial CT to first follow-up CT with subsequent improvement on second follow-up CT.

In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of obesity by a computational framework integrating randomized controlled trials published in China and abroad. Specifically, clinical trial documents published on CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from 2007-2017 were downloaded and analyzed using Stata 15.1 system. As a result, a total of 13 articles were imported and 1052 patients were included. The analyses showed that the overall effect of an acupuncture group and a control group was not significant with P > 0.01. However, the curative effect of the acupuncture group was better than that of the diet and exercise instruction group with P < 0.01; the curative effect of the acupuncture group was better than that of the oral Chinese and western medicine group with P < 0.01. In conclusion, acupuncture as a complementary alternative therapy is recommended for the treatment of obesity., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020 Huihui Liu et al.)

This paper presents the spatially explicit (0.5° spatial resolution) Dynamic InStream Chemistry (DISC)-SILICON module, which is part of the Integrated Model to Assess the Global Environment-Dynamic Global Nutrient Model global nutrient cycling framework. This new model, for the first time, enables to integrate the combined impact of long-term changes in land use, climate, and hydrology on Si sources (weathering, sewage, and soil loss) and sinks (uptake by diatoms, sedimentation, and burial) along the river continuum. Comparison of discharge and dissolved silica results with observations shows good agreement both in the Rhine and Yangtze. The simulated total Si export for the Rhine is stable during the period 1900-2000. The total Si export for the Yangtze decreased (155-51 Gmol yr -1 ) because of damming and transformation of 40% of the natural vegetation to cropland. As a result of dam construction in the Yangtze, diatom primary production (from 24 to 48 Gmol yr -1 ) and burial (15 to 32 Gmol yr -1 ) increased and the DSi export decreased (139-46 Gmol yr -1 ) from the 1950s to 1990s. The Three Gorges Reservoir has a large contribution to diatom primary production (11%) and burial (12%) in the Yangtze basin. DISC-SILICON reproduces a flooding-induced increase in Si inputs and burial and the legacy of this temporary storage in subsequent dry years.

Numerous studies in epidemiology, meteorology, and climate change research have demonstrated a significant association between abnormal ambient temperature and mortality. However, there is a shortage of research attention to a systematic assessment of potential mitigation measures which could effectively reduce the heat-related morbidity and mortality risks. This study first illustrates a conceptualization of a systems analysis version of urban framework for climate service (UFCS). It then constructs a system dynamics (SD) model for the UFCS and employs this model to quantify the impacts of heat waves on public health system in Shanghai and to evaluate the performances of two mitigation measures in the context of a real heat wave event in July 2013 in the city. Simulation results show that in comparison with the baseline without mitigation measures, if the hospital system could prepare 20% of beds available for emergency response to heat waves once receiving the warning in advance, the number of daily deaths could be reduced by 40-60 (15.8-19.5%) on the 2 days of day 7 and day 8; if increasing the minimum living allowance of 790 RMB/month in 2013 by 20%, the number of daily deaths could be reduced by 50-70 (17.7-21.9%) on the 2 days of day 8 and day 12. This tool can help policy makers systematically evaluate adaptation and mitigation options based on performance assessment, thus strengthening urban resilience to changing climate.

As Chinese aquaculture production accounts for over half of the global aquaculture production and has increased by 50% since 2006, there is growing concern about eutrophication caused by aquaculture in China. This paper presents a model-based estimate of nutrient flows in China's aquaculture system during 2006-2017 using provincial scale data, to spatially distribute nutrient loads with a 0.5° resolution. The results indicate that with the increase in fish and shellfish production from 30 to 47 million tonnes (Mt) during 2006-2017, the nitrogen (N) release increased from 1.0 to 1.6 Mt/year and that of phosphorus (P) from 0.1 to 0.2 Mt/year. Nutrient release from freshwater aquaculture was concentrated in Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Hubei, and that from mariculture in Shandong, Fujian, and Guangdong. Aquaculture is an important strongly concentrated nutrient source in both freshwater and marine environments. Its nutrient release is >20% of total nutrient inputs to freshwater environments in some provinces, and nutrients from mariculture are comparable to river nutrient export to Chinese coastal seas. Aquaculture production and nutrient excretions are now comparable to those of livestock production systems in China and need to be accounted for when analyzing causes of eutrophication and harmful algal blooms and possible mitigation strategies.

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) flows from land to sea in the Yangtze River basin were simulated for the period 1900-2010, by combining models for hydrology, nutrient input to surface water, and an in-stream retention. This study reveals that the basin-wide nutrient budget, delivery to surface water, and in-stream retention increased during this period. Since 2004, the Three Gorges Reservoir has contributed 5% and 7% of N and P basin-wide retention, respectively. With the dramatic rise in nutrient delivery, even this additional retention was insufficient to prevent an increase of riverine export from 337 Gg N yr -1 and 58 Gg P yr -1 (N:P molar ratio = 13) to 5896 Gg N yr -1 and 381 Gg P yr -1 (N:P molar ratio = 35) to the East China Sea and Yellow Sea (ECSYS). The midstream and upstream subbasins dominate the N and P exports to the ECSYS, respectively, due to various human activities along the river. Our spatially explicit nutrient source allocation can aid in the strategic targeting of nutrient reduction policies. We posit that these should focus on improving the agricultural fertilizer and manure use efficiency in the upstream and midstream and better urban wastewater management in the downstream subbasin., (Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)