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In order to reduce carbon emissions and the impact of source-load uncertainty on system operation, a multi-timescale low-carbon optimization scheduling strategy in day-ahead, intra-day and real-time operations for energy hub (EH) based on a reward-punishment ladder carbon price mechanism and distributed model predictive control (DMPC) is proposed. A reward-punishment ladder carbon price calculation method is introduced and a day-ahead low-carbon optimization scheduling model for EH is constructed. A feedback closed-loop optimization strategy based on DMPC for intra-day rolling and real-time adjustments is formulated. The optimization strategy reduces source-load prediction errors and improves the efficiency of traditional model predictive control (MPC) solving. In the intra-day stage, a rolling optimization model with the objective of minimizing the sum of the ladder carbon price cost, operational cost, and penalty cost for energy storage adjustment is constructed. In the real-time stage, the overall optimization problem is decomposed, and a multi-agent real-time adjustment model based on DMPC is established. The simulation results indicate that the proposed strategy is effective in enhancing the economic efficiency of the system, reducing the uncertainty of source and load, and achieving the low-carbon, economic, stable, and reliable operation for EH.

In order to tap the response potential of demand-side resources, a multi-time scale low carbon scheduling strategy for the integrated energy system (IES) with multiple demand responses is proposed. First of all, considering the difference in response of demand-side resources at different time scales, a multiple integrated demand response (IDR) model considering price and incentive is established. Secondly, in order to reduce the impact of source and load forecasting errors on the operation of IES, the day-ahead low carbon economic scheduling model and the intra-day double-time-scale rolling optimization flattening model are constructed respectively. Finally, different scenarios are set up for comparative analysis in the simulation of a numerical example. The results show that compared with traditional IDR, the multiple IDR can effectively tap user response potential and improve system economy. In addition, the multi-time scale scheduling strategy taking into account IDR can effectively alleviate the power fluctuation caused by the source and load error and reduce the carbon emissions of the system, so as to realize the low carbon, economic and stable operation of IES.

Parnassius butterflies have significantly advanced our understanding of biogeography, insect–plant interactions, and other fields of ecology and evolutionary biology. However, to date, little is known about the gene expression patterns related to the high-altitude adaptation of Parnassius species. In this study, we obtained high-throughput RNA-seq data of 48 adult Parnassius individuals covering 10 species from 12 localities in China, and deciphered their interspecific and intraspecific expression patterns based on comparative transcriptomic analyses. Though divergent transcriptional patterns among species and populations at different altitudes were found, a series of pathways related to genetic information processing (i.e., recombination, repair, transcription, RNA processing, and ribosome biogenesis), energy metabolism (i.e., oxidative phosphorylation, thermogenesis, and the citrate cycle), and cellular homeostasis were commonly enriched, reflecting similar strategies to cope with the high-altitude environments by activating energy metabolism, enhancing immune defense, and concurrently inhibiting cell growth and development. These findings deepen our understanding about the molecular mechanisms of adaptative evolution to extreme environments, and provide us with some theoretical criteria for the biodiversity conservation of alpine insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the risk of infection, improving the anti-infection ability of Ti-based implantation has become a very meaningful task. In this work, by employing polydopamine (PDA) as a carrier and curcumin (CUR) as an anti-biotic/inflammatory, a series of Ti-PDA@CURx (x = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5) was successfully fabricated and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the water contact angle, where Ti plates were firmly coated by PDA@CUR. The test result of CUR content shows that the maximum loading of CUR in PDA can reach 0.6506%, where the CUR concentration is 1.5 mg/mL. The antibacterial test results demonstrate that Ti-PDA@CUR-x (x = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5) exhibit significant antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and S. aureu, where Ti-PDA@CUR1.5 has the highest antibacterial rate of 62.7% against Escherichia coli and 52.6% against S. aureus. The cytotoxicity test shows that Ti-PDA, Ti-PDA@CUR-x (x = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5) has almost no toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central bank digital currency (CBDC) has been the global hot issue in financial and money filed, and is expected to serve as the core digital infrastructure in the future. The environmental impact of CBDC is essential to sustainable development, and it remains debates to scholars, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. This article aims in exploring how CBDC in China affects green finance and sustainable development practically through an empirical investigation on CBDC pilot program. The results suggest that CBDC significantly promotes the issuing of green bonds. Specifically, CBDC increases green bonds issuing more in manufacturing industries, and in state-owned enterprises. Moreover, CBDC is found to decrease SO2 emission, NOx emission, Smoke emission, and improve green land ratio, which is beneficial to sustainable development. Our findings offer a preliminary exposition about the environmental impact of CBDC. We argue that, CBDC is useful to accelerate green finance and hence advances sustainable development, which needs future robust empirical examination. We present some implications of issuing CBDC for policymakers around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]