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Heat shock transcription factor (Hsf) plays a pivotal role in promoting rapid heat‐induced transcriptional reprogramming in plants. The thermotolerance regulatory function of Hsfs is influenced by their own alternative splicing. In this study, we found that ZmHsf17‐II, an intron retention isoform of subclass A2 gene ZmHsf17 of maize (Zea mays), accumulated in large amounts as a result of severe or sustained heat stress. It was confirmed by expression and purification that ZmHsf17‐II encodes a small truncated peptide with 115 amino acids. ZmHsf17‐II was found to be located in the nucleus and have no transcriptional activity. Overexpressing ZmHsf17‐I in Arabidopsis could enhance plants' thermotolerance, while overexpressing ZmHsf17‐II does not. Based on the results of molecular docking, Y2H and split LUC experiments, we found that ZmHsf17‐II could bind to DBD region of ZmHsf17‐I through the hydrogen bond interaction between the truncated DBD of ZmHsf17‐II and three amino acid residues (Arg105, Thr109 and Lys142) of ZmHsf17‐I DBD region. Further experiments showed that ZmHsf17‐I could bind to its own promoter and exhibited transcriptional activation activity, while ZmHsf17‐I interaction with ZmHsf17‐II, transcriptional activation activity was interfered. Those findings indicate that ZmHsf17 can negatively regulate its own transcription by producing more intron retention isoforms via alternative splicing under heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The micro-discharge effect limits the development of high-frequency microwave power components to miniaturization and integration. Therefore, it has become a focus of research to effectively suppress the micro-discharge effect, increase the micro-discharge threshold, and strengthen the environmental stability of high-frequency microwave devices. In this study, different elemental ratios of carbon (C)/silver (Ag)/titanium (Ti) composite films were obtained by multi-target magnetron co-sputtering technology and then systematically analyzed for micro-discharge effects. When the doping ratio of C/Ag/Ti was 3.538/1/0.013, the corresponding maximum secondary electron emission coefficient (δmax) decreased to 1.01 owing to the suppression of secondary electron emission by the increase in the content of sp2 hybrid bond. The micro-discharge threshold of Ku band waveguide filters coated with moderate C/Ag/Ti composite films showed an optimal performance of 10 000−12 500 W, which was increased by approximately 20 times. Moreover, the microstructure of the composite films exhibited higher density and flatness with a tiny increase in the titanium doping ratio, representing good environmental stability. Thus, the effective suppression of the secondary electron emission yield, significant improvement in the micro-discharge threshold, and enhancement of the environment stability of microwave components could be realized simultaneously by reasonably controlling the content of titanium in silver and titanium co-doped carbon-based composite films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absorption-cycle technology driven by low-grade thermal energy has attracted significant attention. Hydrofluoroolefins refrigerant and ionic-liquid absorbent have been currently proposed as the promising candidates to traditional NH 3 /H 2 O and H 2 O/LiBr working pairs. The properties of refrigerant/absorbent pairs have a vital impact on the efficiency of an absorption-refrigeration cycle, especially the solubility of the gaseous refrigerant in an absorbent. In this work, solubilities were measured for two new working pairs (R1234ze(E)/[P 66614 ][Cl] and R1233zd(E)/[P 66614 ][Cl]) by an isochoric saturation method at the temperature range from 283.15 to 343.15 K. Solubilities increase with the increase of pressure and decrease with increase of temperature. To assess solubility model of refrigerant/IL pairs, the Krichevsky-Ilinskays (KI) equation and Nonrandom Two-Liquid (NRTL) model were used to correlate the new data. From the results, we found that the NRTL model could provide smaller deviations than KI equation. In contrast with the existing IL, the [P 66614 ][Cl] has the highest solubility. Furthermore, the enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs energy of dissolution were estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transport properties at low density are investigated in the framework of the kinetic theory of gases for five binary mixtures composed of CO2, N2, SF6, and CF4, which are of great interest to the electric power industry and are not available in the literature. The Lennard-Jones (12–6) potentials recommended in the literature are used to model the interactions between like molecules, and the Lorentz–Berthelot combining rules are employed to further describe the unlike interactions. The viscosity, binary diffusion coefficient, and thermal diffusion factor are computed for CO2–SF6, CO2–CF4, N2–SF6, N2–CF4, and SF6–CF4. The experimental data are available for the viscosity and diffusion coefficient of the studied systems over a much limited temperature range, and reasonable agreement is found between the experimental data and our calculated values. The new transport property values of the five binary mixtures are tabulated in the supplementary material , covering a very wide temperature range from 300 to 30 000 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For practical utilization in cultivated alfalfa, we designed two target sites (fused to sgRNA cassettes driven by I MtU6-6p i and I MtU6-5p i ) in the alfalfa reference genome according to the previous editing events in the diploid model (Figure 1h). Keywords: male sterile line; Medicago truncatula; Medicago sativa; gene editing; glucose-methanol-choline (GMC) oxidoreductase; NP1 EN male sterile line Medicago truncatula Medicago sativa gene editing glucose-methanol-choline (GMC) oxidoreductase NP1 613 615 3 04/11/22 20220401 NES 220401 Alfalfa ( I Medicago sativa i L.) is an important forage crop with high nutrient values. Male sterile line, Medicago truncatula, Medicago sativa, gene editing, glucose-methanol-choline (GMC) oxidoreductase, NP1. [Extracted from the article]

• A counter-flow hollow fiber membrane-based evaporative cooler is proposed. • A numerical model is established and validated by experimental data. • The regression models for performance prediction are derived by response surface methodology. • The desirability function is adopted to perform multi-objective optimization. • The accurate regression models can facilitate the regional applicability analysis. The proposed hollow fiber membrane-based evaporative cooler (HFMEC) is expected to be an alternative to the conventional direct evaporative cooler because of its advantages such as the isolation of air from liquid water and the large specific surface area. For the common counter-flow HFMEC with many influencing parameters, it is a bit laborious or even incompetent to rely on experiment or numerical simulation for the parametric study and optimization. Therefore, this study aims to develop accurate and rapid performance prediction models for the proposed HFMEC with the statistical method. An experimental test system for a counter-flow HFMEC was set up. 120 sets of simulations were carried out based on the experimentally validated numerical model and the response surface methodology. Five accurate and practical empirical equations were derived using simulated data: the considered eight input factors consisted of four operating parameters and four membrane module design parameters; the five output responses included the outlet air temperature, outlet air relative humidity, saturation effectiveness, cooling capacity per unit volume, and COP. These simplified equations were adopted to facilitate parameter sensitivity analysis and multi-objective optimization. A case study on the regional applicability of the counter-flow HFMEC demonstrated the ability of the derived equations to conveniently make performance predictions. The results indicated that the regression models could contribute to the rapid performance prediction of the counter-flow HFMEC, aiding in optimization and design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum nitride (AlN) has attracted huge attention in new energy vehicle, communication equipment fields, due to the high-thermal conductivity and reliable insulating ability. One of the most crucial factors is the preparation of high-performance AlN powders, and more significantly, the two-dimensional nanostructure would change the phonon vibration mode and transport process, bringing in the novel heat conduction and electricity properties. In this paper, kilogram of two-dimensional aluminum nitride nanosheets (AlNNS) with thicknesses around 30 nm and particle sizes around 400 nm were prepared by a new strategy for the nano sanding process, in which they still keep high purity (impurity content ppm grade) without further purification. Furthermore, the technological parameters of the sanding time and line speed are found as the key factors, that would affect the transformation process fro m hexagonal AlN into super-thin AlNNS. The morphology of the nanosheets is more complete at the line speed of 8 m/s. In addition, AlNNS have an increase of 7% in thermal conductivity (at 50 °C) compared to that of raw powders. Moreover, AlNNS have stronger sintering activity due to the larger specific surface area, in which show an increase of 16.8% in shrinkage. Therefore, AlNNS would represent excellent physical properties more than thermal conductivity, providing a new dimension research in high-thermal conductivity ceramics. Last but not least, nano sanding strategy as a purely physical process, avoids the subsequent chemical purification process, and has the advantages of simple and efficient, low energy consumption and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-mediated evaporative cooling systems often suffer from cross-contamination, droplet carryover, and high maintenance costs. This study proposes a novel liquid cooling solution, the hollow fiber membrane-based water cooler (HFMWC), to address these issues. The primary innovation of this study lies in the optimization of key design parameters of the countercurrent HFMWC, aligning them with stringent engineering requirements. Two standard working conditions for wet cooling towers are considered. Numerical modeling and response surface methodology are used to develop regression models correlating six key parameters (water velocity, air/water ratio, fiber length, fiber inner diameter, membrane thickness, and packing fraction) with two performance evaluation indexes (outlet water temperature and consumptive electric power ratio). A genetic algorithm-based multi-objective optimization is employed to obtain Pareto fronts, representing optimal trade-offs between the two indexes. Using the ideal point method, relative optimal solutions are identified, resulting in water temperature drops of 7.56 °C and 13.07 °C, with consumptive electric power ratios of 0.0128 kW h/m3 and 0.0138 kW h/m3 for conditions Ⅰ and Ⅱ, respectively. Most solutions achieve the highest energy efficiency rating while satisfying the design temperature difference. The average deviations between optimized and simulated data for the two indexes are 0.88 % and 3.88 %, demonstrating the reliability of the derived optimal solutions for engineering design. These findings not only offer a promising way to overcome the limitations of traditional evaporative cooling systems, but also contribute to the broader field of sustainable and efficient thermal management technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-mediated evaporative cooling systems often suffer from cross-contamination, droplet carryover, and high maintenance costs. This study proposes a novel liquid cooling solution, the hollow fiber membrane-based water cooler (HFMWC), to address these issues. The primary innovation of this study lies in the optimization of key design parameters of the countercurrent HFMWC, aligning them with stringent engineering requirements. Two standard working conditions for wet cooling towers are considered. Numerical modeling and response surface methodology are used to develop regression models correlating six key parameters (water velocity, air/water ratio, fiber length, fiber inner diameter, membrane thickness, and packing fraction) with two performance evaluation indexes (outlet water temperature and consumptive electric power ratio). A genetic algorithm-based multi-objective optimization is employed to obtain Pareto fronts, representing optimal trade-offs between the two indexes. Using the ideal point method, relative optimal solutions are identified, resulting in water temperature drops of 7.56 °C and 13.07 °C, with consumptive electric power ratios of 0.0128 kW h/m3 and 0.0138 kW h/m3 for conditions Ⅰ and Ⅱ, respectively. Most solutions achieve the highest energy efficiency rating while satisfying the design temperature difference. The average deviations between optimized and simulated data for the two indexes are 0.88 % and 3.88 %, demonstrating the reliability of the derived optimal solutions for engineering design. These findings not only offer a promising way to overcome the limitations of traditional evaporative cooling systems, but also contribute to the broader field of sustainable and efficient thermal management technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress can seriously affect the yield and quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum). So far, although few wheat heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs) have been found to be involved in the stress response, the biological functions of them, especially the members of the HsfC (heat shock transcription factor C) subclass, remain largely unknown. Here, we identified a class C encoding gene, TaHsfC3-4, based on our previous omics data and analyzed its biological function in transgenic plants. TaHsfC3-4 encodes a protein containing 274 amino acids and shows the basic characteristics of the HsfC class. Gene expression profiles revealed that TaHsfC3-4 was constitutively expressed in many tissues of wheat and was induced during seed maturation. TaHsfC3-4 could be upregulated by PEG and abscisic acid (ABA), suggesting that this Hsf may be involved in the regulation pathway depending on ABA in drought resistance. Further results represented that TaHsfC3-4 was localized in the nucleus but had no transcriptional activation activity. Notably, overexpression of TaHsfC3-4 in Arabidopsis thaliana pyr1pyl1pyl2pyl4 (pyr1pyl124) quadruple mutant plants complemented the ABA-hyposensitive phenotypes of the quadruple mutant including cotyledon greening, root elongation, seedling growth, and increased tolerance to drought, indicating positive roles of TaHsfC3-4 in the ABA signaling pathway and drought tolerance. Furthermore, we identified TaHsfA2-11 as a TaHsfC3-4-interacting protein by yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screening. The experimental data show that TaHsfC3-4 can indeed interact with TaHsfA2-11 in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, transgenic Arabidopsis TaHsfA2-11 overexpression lines exhibited enhanced drought tolerance, too. In summary, our study confirmed the role of TaHsfC3-4 in response to drought stress and provided a target locus for marker-assisted selection breeding to improve drought tolerance in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The counter-flow hollow fiber membrane-based direct evaporative cooler (MDEC) was proposed as an energy-efficient and hygienic air cooling solution. The random sequential addition algorithm was used to simulate the randomness of fiber distribution within the MDEC in engineering practice. 3D numerical models were developed with a computational domain determined as a hexagonal prism containing multiple fibers. The experimentally validated model depicted the air state variation along the path under regular and random fiber distributions. The differences in wet-bulb effectiveness (ε wb) and coefficient of performance (COP) of MDEC with two configurations, regular and random fiber distributions, were compared for different packing fractions and air flow rates. Furthermore, dimensionless correlations for the shell-side friction factor (f), Nusselt number (Nu), and Sherwood number (Sh) were derived to generalize the results to other hollow fiber membrane modules employed in liquid/gas systems. The results showed that the channel flow effect and dead zone under the random configuration worsened the heat and moisture handling performance of MDEC. Compared with the regular configuration, both Nu and Sh were degraded by 11.6–55.6%, but f was desirably reduced by 28.8–49.8%. Balancing cooling capability and energy efficiency, a regular configuration with moderate packing fraction was more beneficial for engineering practice. • The counter-flow hollow fiber membrane module is proposed for evaporative cooling. • Random sequential addition algorithm is used to represent the randomness of fiber distribution. • 3D models with different fiber configurations and packing fractions are developed. • Regular fiber distribution with moderate packing fraction enables efficient cooling and energy saving. • Compared to regular distribution, shell-side Nu , Sh , and f are all reduced in random distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Viscosities were measured for saturated solutions of R-290 with POE 75, PAG 68, and PVE 68 from 303.15 to 348.15 K. • The effect character of absorbed R-290 on oil viscosity was given. As a natural refrigerant, propane (R-290) with a similar cooling capacity of R-22 is being increasingly widely attention in refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC). In the refrigeration cycle, the working fluid is actually a mixture of refrigerant/oil. To gain insight into the performance of vapor-compression refrigeration using R-290 as a refrigerant, the thermophysical properties of R-290/oil mixtures should be well known, especially the viscosity behavior. A self-designed double-capillary apparatus was applied to measure the viscosities of saturated solution for R-290 with three synthetic oils (PAG 68, POE 75 and PVE 68) from 303.15 to 348.15 K. The results show that the viscosities of three blends have the similar trend as rising solubility. The absorbed R-290 has a great impact on the oil viscosity in the low temperature region. Viscosities of R-290/oil mixtures could be well represented by the Eyring-MTSM model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hollow fiber membrane-integrated evaporative cooler (MEC) is considered as a promising strategy for space air conditioning applications. For a counter-flow MEC, the appropriate fiber specification and flow configuration need to be identified to improve its comprehensive performance. A numerical model was developed to capture the coupled heat and mass transfer process, and its feasibility was verified by measured data. The influence of fiber specifications and flow configuration on its cooling, space-saving, energy and water conservation performance were investigated. The results revealed that a reasonable fiber specification required a packing fraction of about 0.1 and a length slightly longer than the air channel's entrance length, while the inner diameter and membrane thickness should be determined based on the priority index. The flow configuration of air flowing via shell-side and water going through tube-side was more suitable for counter-flow MEC, which was more energy efficient while maintaining cooling ability. In addition, the contribution of each component's resistance to the total heat and mass transfer resistance would fluctuate as the influencing factors changed. In general, the total heat transfer resistance was dominated by the air-side convective resistance, while the main contributor to the total mass transfer resistance was the membrane resistance. • The counter-flow hollow fiber membrane module is proposed for evaporative cooling. • A numerical model is developed and validated with experimental measurements. • The composition of the heat and mass transfer resistance is quantified. • Appropriate fiber specification and flow configuration are determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policies and measures to control pandemics are often failing. While biological factors controlling transmission are usually well explored, little is known about the environmental drivers of transmission and infection. For instance, respiratory droplets and aerosol particles are crucial vectors for the airborne transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the causation agent of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic (COVID-19). Once expectorated, respiratory droplets interact with atmospheric particulates that influence the viability and transmission of the novel coronavirus, yet there is little knowledge on this process or its consequences on virus transmission and infection. Here we review the effects of atmospheric particulate properties, vortex zones, and air pollution on virus survivability and transmission. We found that particle size, chemical constituents, electrostatic charges, and the moisture content of airborne particles can have notable effects on virus transmission, with higher survival generally associated with larger particles, yet some viruses are better preserved on small particles. Some chemical constituents and surface-adsorbed chemical species may damage peptide bonds in viral proteins and impair virus stability. Electrostatic charges and water content of atmospheric particulates may affect the adherence of virion particles and possibly their viability. In addition, vortex zones and human thermal plumes are major environmental factors altering the aerodynamics of buoyant particles in air, which can strongly influence the transport of airborne particles and the transmission of associated viruses. Insights into these factors may provide explanations for the widely observed positive correlations between COVID-19 infection and mortality with air pollution, of which particulate matter is a common constituent that may have a central role in the airborne transmission of the novel coronavirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperature has severely affected plant growth and development, resulting in reduced production of crops worldwide, especially wheat. Alternative splicing (AS), a crucial post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism, is involved in the growth and development of eukaryotes and the adaptation to environmental changes. Previous transcriptome data suggested that heat shock transcription factor (Hsf) TaHsfA2-7 may form different transcripts by AS. However, it remains unclear whether this post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism of TaHsfA2-7 is related to thermotolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum). Here, we identified a novel splice variant, TaHsfA2-7-AS, which was induced by high temperature and played a positive role in thermotolerance regulation in wheat. Moreover, TaHsfA2-7-AS is predicted to encode a small truncated TaHsfA2-7 isoform, retaining only part of the DNA-binding domain (DBD). TaHsfA2-7-AS is constitutively expressed in various tissues of wheat. Notably, the expression level of TaHsfA2-7-AS is significantly up-regulated by heat shock (HS) during flowering and grain-filling stages in wheat. Further studies showed that TaHsfA2-7-AS was localized in the nucleus but lacked transcriptional activation activity. Ectopic expression of TaHsfA2-7-AS in yeast exhibited improved thermotolerance. Compared to non-transgenic plants, overexpression of TaHsfA2-7-AS in Arabidopsis results in enhanced tolerance to heat stress. Simultaneously, we also found that TaHsfA1 is directly involved in the transcriptional regulation of TaHsfA2-7 and TaHsfA2-7-AS. In summary, our findings demonstrate the function of TaHsfA2-7-AS splicing variant in response to heat stress and establish a link between regulatory mechanisms of AS and the improvement of thermotolerance in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The physical permeation‐based membrane dehumidification technology has excellent energy‐saving capacity. The nonuniformity of fiber bundles affects largely the flow status in the shell side of pressure‐driven membrane modules, and therefore the dehumidification performance and energy efficiency of the membrane system. To explore the effects of fibre bundles nonuniformity, three‐dimensional membrane dehumidification models with different fiber arrangements and filling rates were developed. The friction coefficient, dehumidification rate and energy efficiency of the membrane system were discussed for the comprehensive evaluation of module performance. It is found that the dehumidification rate of regular configuration is slightly better than that of random configuration, but the advantage is gradually weakened with the increase in filling rate. The obtained inversely proportional fitting function of f = 58.81/Re can be used to predict the flow resistance in the fiber lumen. Under the same air parameters, operating conditions and fiber size, the fiber distribution has a negligible effect on the dehumidification COP. The dehumidification rate rises significantly with the filling rate, up to 94.88% at a 47% filling rate accompanied by the maximum flow resistance. The dimensionless analysis indicates that the membrane module with a filling rate of 21.5% ~ 23% would achieve optimal performance in terms of system energy efficiency and overall dehumidification capacity. Highlights: Effects of fiber bundle nonuniformity on pressure‐driven membrane dehumidification were studied.3D models with different fiber arrangements and filling rates were developed.The advantage of regular configuration is weakened with increasing filling rate.Fiber distribution has a negligible effect on COP under the same operating conditions.Membrane module with a filling rate of 21.5% ~ 23% achieves a balanced overall performance. Novelty Statement: Concentrating on the structure optimization and energy efficiency improvement of the pressure‐driven membrane module, the effects of fiber bundle nonuniformity on the air dehumidification process were investigated. Differences in flow status and dehumidification performance between regular and random fiber configurations were discussed. The study quantitatively revealed the relationship between energy efficiency and dehumidification performance with different filling rates, which has not been reported in the literature. The findings may provide theoretical guidance for the structural design of dehumidification membrane modules driven by pressure differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To save and better deploy waste heat, the use of a mobilized heat storage system (MHSS) with phase change enhancement means is developed. In this paper, three kinds of gradient structures (positive gradient, negative gradient, and non-gradient) are designed in the MHSS system. The uniform porosity is 94% in the non-gradient structure, and the gradient porosities are 86%, 93%, and 98% in the gradient structure, respectively. Numerical models are developed to explore the contribution of the graded metal foam structure to the heat storage and release process. An economic analysis and comparison of MHSS systems with different heat transfer models are carried out. The results show that the positive gradient case can promote the thermal cycle of the melting and solidification process, while the negative gradient case inhibits the thermal cycle. The positive gradient case can reduce the melting time by 9.7% and the solidification time by 4.4%, while the negative gradient can prolong the melting time by 31.4% and the solidification time by 35.9%. Although graded metal foam increases the initial investment by 76.09%, the 1 KW·h heat cost of graded metal foam is reduced by 10.63% compared to pure phase change material (PCM). It is cost-effective in the long run of thermal cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Vacuum-assisted hollow fiber membrane technology expands evaporative cooling applications. • A numerical model was developed and validated with experimental data. • Effects of operating parameters and membrane specifications on overall performance were studied. • Low shell-side pressure contributed to the improved performance, with COP up to 13.6. • The design insights of key parameters and future research directions were proposed. Conventional direct evaporative cooling systems suffer from persistent issues like air–water cross-contamination, mold growth, and scaling of paddings. Moreover, their widespread application in humid climates is hindered by ambient air conditions. This research presents a promising solution in the form of a vacuum-assisted hollow fiber membrane-based evaporative water cooler (VMEWC). It shifts from relying on air state to vacuum pressure for cold water production. A numerical model was established to reflect the coupled heat and mass transfer characteristics, employing Knudsen diffusion to describe water vapor migration within membrane pores. Experimental tests were performed on the constructed VMEWC system, revealing strong alignment between simulation and measured data, with a 2.2 % error in outlet water temperature predictions. Numerical studies explored the effects of six parameters (inlet water temperature, water velocity, shell-side pressure, fiber length, fiber inner diameter, and overall membrane structure parameter) on VMEWC's outlet water temperature (T w 2), cooling capacity per unit volume (Q v), and coefficient of performance (COP). The results emphasized that elevated inlet water temperature, reduced shell-side pressure, and a large overall membrane structure parameter effectively enhanced the overall performance of VMEWC. Under specific conditions, Q v and COP reached impressive values of 3753.1 kW/m3 and 13.6, respectively. This work provides a novel and practical perspective, offering references for advancing efficient and sustainable refrigeration technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaporative cooling systems face limitations in producing cold water due to their dependence on ambient air conditions, air-water cross-contamination, and large equipment size. This study introduces a vacuum-assisted hollow fiber membrane integrated evaporative water cooler as a potential solution. To facilitate its deployment in applications such as building air conditioning and industrial processes, a robust design optimization framework was constructed. A numerical model was established and experimentally verified. Combining the response surface method, three regression models were derived for convenient performance prediction. The six input design parameters encompass operating conditions and membrane specifications. The three output performance metrics are outlet water temperature, coefficient of performance, and cooling capacity per unit volume. Multi-objective optimization using a genetic algorithm, under two inlet water temperature conditions, yielded well-balanced cooler designs with superior cooling performance, energy efficiency, and compactness. The regression models demonstrated high prediction accuracy, with R 2 surpassing 0.93. Compared to the original designs, the parameter combinations identified through the ideal point method realized over 40 % reduction in outlet water temperature, over 66 % increase in coefficient of performance, and over 138 % enlargement in cooling capacity per unit volume. Furthermore, validation of the obtained Pareto fronts confirmed the practical reliability of the design references. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, air quality has become a hot topic due to its profound impact on the quality of the human living environment. This paper selects the tourist city of Dalian as the research object. The concentration and spatial distribution of PM10 and NO2 in the main urban area were analyzed during the peak tourist seasons in summer and winter. Simulations were used to explore the spatial and temporal variation patterns of PM10 and NO2, combining building and road density at different scales to reveal the coupling relationship between individual pollutant components and urban parameters. The results show that the PM10 concentration is high in the center and NO2 is concentrated in the northern district of Dalian City. In an area with a radius of 100 m, the dilution ratio of building density and road density to the concentration of the PM10 pollutants is at least 43%. Still, the concentration of NO2 is only coupled with road density. This study reveals the spatial and temporal variation patterns of PM10 and NO2 in Dalian, and finds the coupling relationship between the two pollutants and building density and road density. This study provides a reference for preventing and controlling air pollution in urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon emissions play a pivotal role in driving global warming, with commercial and residential sectors ranking as the third-largest source after industrial and transportation sectors. Consequently, establishing a framework for spatial characterizing and predicting carbon emissions from these sectors is vital for effective carbon reduction planning. This study proposes an optimized Backpropagation Neural Network, incorporating a Spatial Weight Matrix, to model the relationship between land use and carbon emissions, taking spatial effects into account. Additionally, an optimized Random Forest model with variable search step lengths is developed for large-scale and multi-class land use prediction. Beijing, China serves as the study site, yielding the following findings: (1) The optimized Backpropagation Neural Network outperforms traditional models, achieving goodness of fit of 0.999 and 0.997 in training and testing datasets, respectively. (2) The optimized Random Forest model, while reducing prediction precision for ecological areas (Root Mean Square Error increases by 4.12 %), enhances overall model performance by 73.95 % in a single iteration. (3) By 2025, commercial and residential carbon emissions in Beijing are projected to reach 8.91 million tons. (4) The study characterizes the spatial patterns of commercial and residential carbon emissions at a 1 km resolution for the next 15 years, revealing statistical features. (5) Expansion of mixed commercial and residential land relies on service-oriented development, positively impacting regional carbon emission intensity control. • A novel carbon emission prediction model based on land-use subdivision is proposed. • Backpropagation Neural Network is optimized by the Spatial Weight Matrix. • Commercial and residential emissions in Beijing over the next 15 years are predicted. • Future commercial & residential emissions are characterized at resolution of 250 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Thermal behaviors of vapor chamber are explored by hybrid Lattice Boltzmann method. • Surface wettability has a non-monotonic effect on the thermal performance of VC. • Hydrophilic boiling surface is recommended for higher boiling heat transfer limits. • Hydrophobic boiling surface is recommended for lower heat flux conditions. • Hydrophilic condensation surface is beneficial for faster boiling thermal response. Vapor chamber (VC) has been recognized as an effective passive cooling solution for thermal management. Due to complexity of phase-change processes in VC, boiling and condensation have been the focus of attention. In this paper, a hybrid lattice Boltzmann method was employed to explore the effects of surface wettability on thermal behavior/performance of VC. Taking the bubble/droplet dynamics, boiling heat transfer coefficient (BHTC), critical heat flux (CHF), thermal response and resistance as key factors, selections of proper surface wettability to address heat dissipation requirements were discussed. The results show that the influences of wettability on phase-change processes are not monotonic. For high heat fluxes, compared with neutral surface of 89.0° contact angle (CA), the CHF of the hydrophilic boiling surface (CA=23.9°) is enhanced by 92.57%. For low heat fluxes, the VC with a hydrophobic boiling surface (CA=115.5°) results in the highest BHTC by 260.34% compared with the neutral one. The heat flux should be carefully applied to the hydrophobic surface to prevent burnout. For condensation surface modification, the hydrophilic condensation surface is preferred for the faster thermal response. These findings are expected to provide a promising method for enhancing thermal performance of VC by surface modification. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon emissions are a significant factor contributing to global climate change, and their characterization and prediction are of great significance for regional sustainable development. This study proposes a novel carbon emission characterization and prediction model based on interpretable machine learning and land use. It does not rely on socio-economic indicators, thus enabling carbon emission predictions after the decoupling effect. It can also reflect spatial distribution characteristics of carbon emissions, and demonstrates high accuracy and interpretability. The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region serves as the application case for the model. Utilizing GIS-Kernel Density for land-use subdivision and Optimized Extra Tree Regression, the model achieves high precision (R2 = 0.99 for training, R2 = 0.86 for testing). Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) model was employed to interpret the model, revealing the impact curves of different land areas on carbon emissions. Optimized Land Expansion Analysis Strategy (Opti-LEAS) and Cellular Automaton based on Multiple Random Seeds (CARS) models simulated land use under baseline scenarios, confirming an overall accuracy exceeding 85%. The total carbon emissions in the YRD in 2030 are projected to reach 1580.70 million tons, with Shanghai leading at 223.84 million tons, followed by Suzhou at 172.20 million tons. County-level carbon emissions were characterized, and a spatial econometrics model was employed to reveal the spatial distribution characteristics of future carbon emissions, indicating a clustering effect (Moran's I = 0.6076). As industrial land disperses, clustering shifts towards regional centers, with areas like Wuzhong District identified as 99% confident carbon emission hotspots. • A novel model utilizes land use for carbon emission prediction has been proposed; • The model provides specific carbon reduction strategies due to its interpretability; • The advantages of the model for multi-scale CO 2 emission prediction are elucidated; • Yangtze River Delta region, China was chosen as the model application case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cocombustion of biomass and coal has the potential to reduce NOx emissions at high temperatures. In this study, an experimental investigation was conducted on a drop-tube furnace to investigate NOx formation characteristics for cocombustion. The effects of temperature, blending ratio, and stoichiometric ratio on NOx formation characteristics were explored. The results indicated that the addition of rice husks had a positive effect on NOx reduction with stoichiometric ratios higher than 1 at temperatures of 1,400°C–1,600°C. Shallow air-staged combustion (stoichiometric ratio slightly lower than 1) effectively reduced NOx formation when the blending ratio was 40%. Regardless of whether rice husk was blended or not, high-temperature air-staged combustion can maintain NOx formation at a low level. When coal was blended with 40% rice husks in the thermal fraction, temperature had a slight effect on NOx formation for the temperature range 1,400°C–1,600°C. The blending of coal and rice husks mainly reduced thermal NOx formation and slightly reduced fuel NOx formation at high temperatures with stoichiometric ratios higher than 1. This study proposed a possible mechanism for NOx reduction by bending coal with rice husks. The reduction of NOx was due to an increase in volatile matter, a reduction in group and biomass char, and a decrease in N content by blending in rice husks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperature is a major constrait limiting the yield and quality of wheat. Wheat heat shock transcription factor (Hsf) plays important roles in regulating plant response to heat shock. In previous study, we found there are 82 Hsfs in wheat and TaHsfA2–11 expression was obviously upregulated by heat stress. In this study, we aim to investigate TaHsfA2–11 function and regulating mechanism in response to heat shock through genetic transformation into wheat Fielder. Gene expression analyses results showed that TaHsfA2–11 was expressed in all detected tissues and the most highly expressed level was in wheat mature roots. The expression level of TaHsfA2–11 was strongly upregulated by heat shock in wheat leaves. Subcellular localization results represented that TaHsfA2–11 is located to the nucleus. Transgenic wheat seedlings overexpressing TaHsfA2–11 showed stronger thermotolerance than the control Fielder after treated under 50 °C for 12 h. After heat shock, the TaHsfA2–11 overexpressing lines showed increased survival rate, chlorophyll content, POD (Peroxidase) activity, SOD (Superoxide dismutase) activity and photosynthetic rate, and decreased relative electrolyte leakage and MDA (malondialdehyde) content compared with Fielder. The results of RNA-sequence data demonstrated that TaHsfA2–11 can regulate many heat response genes, such as Hsp genes TaHsp16.6 and TaHsp21 , ER (Endoplasmic reticulum) stress genes TaBiP2 and TaERDJ3A, photoprotectant for PSII gene TaELIPHV58 , flavone biosynthesis related genes TaUGT-2A and TaPMaT , etc after heat stress. These results showed that TaHsfA2–11 can impove thermotolerance perhaps through effecting signal pathway of heat, ER stress, photosynthesis and ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species). The findings will provide useful gene resource for performing genetic modification of wheat thermotolerance in heat-resistant breeding. • TaHsfA2-11 up-regulated in wheat response to HS, H 2 O 2 and SA treatment. • TaHsfA2-11 has transactivation transcriptional activity. • Overexpression of TaHsfA2-11 in wheat improves thermotolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data centers have tended to develop towards large scale and high density, with overall power consumption reaching up to 3 % of the total national electricity consumption. It is vital to establish energy-efficient electronic cooling devices for data center improvement. Phase-change heat transfer has emerged as a highly efficient method for addressing the heat dissipation problem. As the demand for micro-electronic cooling devices grows, enhancing the phase-change heat transfer has been a key focus of engineering research for several decades. Surface modification can effectively facilitate heat transfer favored by the surface area expansion and free energy transition. This review delved into the multiple processes involved in phase-change heat transfer, containing boiling and condensation. Considering the surface roughness and free energy, the wettability theories and manipulations of hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces were presented. The fabrication techniques available for modified surfaces mainly comprise coating, etching, template, sol-gen, and layer-by-layer assembly methods. The effects of patterned surface, wettability gradient surface, electrowetting surface, and wettability controllable surface on phase-change heat transfer enhancement were elaborated, particularly for the critical heat flux and heat transfer coefficients. This review of experimental and simulation results showed that surface wettability modification possesses a promising prospect in improving heat transfer performance. In this review, recommendations for the design of surface modification to promote the development of energy-efficient technologies in specific artificial environments were proposed. Further theoretical and experimental efforts need to create novel surfaces that can facilitate high-performance phase-change heat transfer across a range of applications. • Detailed methods used to achieve surface modification were elaborated. • Design methods of highly-effective surfaces were discussed and recommended. • Various improvements of condensation and boiling heat transfer were examined. • Hybrid surfaces are proven to enhance thermal performance better than single ones. • Electrowetting surfaces exhibit the best performance in modified applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional carbon accounting method, with a lag of over 2 years due to the release time of statistical yearbooks, impedes timely policy adjustments in urban planning and management. Hence, there is an urgent need to establish a real-time carbon emissions characterization model. Xi'an which has a complex land-use structure was chosen as the study site and its carbon emissions were calculated using the Emission Factor Method. The GIS-Kernel Density (KD) model was constructed, and land use was subdivided based on Point of Interest (POI) and road network data. Based on the results of carbon emissions accounting and land-use subdivision, a Multilayer perceptron (MLP) model was established. The remote sensing (RS) images of Xi'an underwent supervised classification, and the carbon emissions of Xi'an were characterized based on the subdivision results and MLP model. The results show that: (1) The accuracy of the characterization model is more than 90%, and with the improvement of RS technology, the accuracy will be further improved; (2) Compared with the existing model, this model can real time reflect the spatial distribution of carbon emissions; (3) Atmospheric emission of Xi'an will be 41.92 million tons at the end of 2022, a decrease of 2.80 million tons compared with that of 2020, but an increase of 0.33 million tons from 2021. The north of Xi'an and periphery of the central urban area are the main carbon sink loss areas, while the east of Xi'an and north foot of the Qinling Mountains are carbon sink growth areas. • A model that can characterize carbon emissions in real time is proposed. • Land use subdivision was considered and the accuracy of the model reached 90%. • The model can realize the spatial characterization of carbon emissions. • Xi'an, China was selected as a case to demonstrate the advantages of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The excess heat generated by the modern electronic components and devices leads to a sustained growth in demand for thermal management technologies. Inspired by the features of fractal structures in terms of the periodical interruption of boundary layer and the strong flow mixing, a parametric study is carried out to study the flow and heat transfer performance in the fractal minichannels configured with hexagonal fins. A dimensionless performance factor involving average Nusselt number and average friction factor is defined to evaluate the overall performance with considering heat transfer enhancement and additional friction loss. The parametric effects of branching angle θ (60°‐120°) and relative hexagonal side length α (1.00‐2.00) on laminar hydrodynamics and thermal characteristics in the proposed minichannels are numerically investigated for Reynolds number ranged from 50 to 550. The results emphasize a lower temperature and more uniform temperature distribution on the bottom surface and an advantage of overall performance for the fractal minichannel with hexagonal fins over the conventional straight minichannel. It is noted from the results that the variation of branching angle possesses little effect on the maximum temperature and temperature uniformity of the bottom surface. On the basis of the evolution of the performance factors, the best performance is obtained by the branching angle of 60° and the relative hexagonal side length of 1.50 among the tested configurations, and the maximum temperature and temperature uniformity of the bottom surface are reduced by 16.4 K and 84%, respectively, when comparing with the straight channel as the reference object. This study verified the theoretical conjecture that the application of hexagonal fins in minichannel plays an important role in effectively improving heat transfer in the case of controllable pressure loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The evaporative cooling technique is an efficient approach for cooling application. This study aims to establish a performance evaluation method to advance the appropriate design for multistage indirect evaporative cooling systems. A mathematical formulation has been developed for the indirect evaporative cooler (IEC). After the validation, the mathematical model was used to analyze the evaluation criteria by considering the simultaneous influence of the cooling effectiveness, the pressure drop, and the cooling capacity of the multistage IEC operating in two modes. The Mode‐1 IEC is a conventional counterflow unit, while the Mode‐2 IEC employs a regenerative M‐cycle arrangement. The IECs are operated in a tandem arrangement. The multistage system is capable of improving the cooling performance and reducing the outlet air temperature. In addition, the multistage system displays a higher pressure drop resulting in a lager consumption of fan power. The analysis of performance evaluation criteria indicates that the appropriate maximum stage is suggested to be three‐stage and two‐stage for the Mode‐1 and the Mode‐2 IEC, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is one of the most important forage crops in the world; however, its molecular genetics and breeding research are hindered due to the lack of a high-quality reference genome. Here, we report a de novo assembled 816-Mb high-quality, chromosome-level haploid genome sequence for 'Zhongmu No.1' alfalfa, a heterozygous autotetraploid. The contig N50 is 3.92 Mb, and 49 165 genes are annotated in the genome. The alfalfa genome is estimated to have diverged from M. truncatula approximately 8 million years ago. Genomic population analysis of 162 alfalfa accessions revealed high genetic diversity, weak population structure, and extensive gene flow from wild to cultivated alfalfa. Genome-wide association studies identified many candidate genes associated with important agronomic traits. Furthermore, we showed that MsFTa2 , a Flowering Locus T homolog, whose expression is upregulated in salt-resistant germplasms, may be associated with fall dormancy and salt resistance. Taken together, these genomic resources will facilitate alfalfa genetic research and agronomic improvement. This study presents a high-quality, chromosome-level haploid genome assembly for alfalfa. Global core cultivated alfalfa germplasms were also resequenced to characterize population migration history and genetic exchange between subpopulations. Dozens of genomic regions associated with important agronomic traits were identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS). These genomic resources will facilitate alfalfa genetic research and agronomic improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, severe and persistent winter haze has appeared more frequently due to coal-combustion heating for residential buildings in the winter in northern China. To solve the problem, the Chinese government proposes to replace coal-combustion heating with electricity-driven air-source heat-pump heating. In this article, the performance of an air-source heat pump was studied for suburban residential building heating in the winter in Beijing, China. The heating load of a typical suburban residential building was evaluated using a building energy simulation program according to real weather data. The performance of the heat pump was then evaluated, and the electrical load for such building heating was analyzed based on the hourly ambient temperature and heating load of the studied building. Results showed that the highest electrical load occurred between 3:00 and 7:00 and the lowest electrical load appeared between 13:00 and 15:00. These results are helpful in guiding electrical load transfer in the power grid. Compared with coal-combustion heating, heat-pump heating could save 59% of annual operating cost and reduce the emission of CO2, SO2, and NOx by 54%, 78%, and 74%, respectively. This study is significant for wide applications of air-source heat-pump heating for suburban residential buildings in cities with weather like Beijing, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A liquid desiccant air dehumidification system driven by heat pump was established. The performance of cross-flow dehumidifier/regenerator was experimentally investigated. The empirical correlations of Sherwood number for dehumidification/regeneration were obtained by fitting the experimental data. On the basis of the empirical correlations of Sherwood number and thermodynamics analysis of heat and mass transfer process for dehumidifier/regenerator, a cross-flow heat and mass transfer model was established. The effects of air and solution parameters on the dehumidification/regeneration performance were analyzed. The number of mass transfer units and the height-to-length ratio of the packing module were also studied. The results show that there exist optimal number of mass transfer units and height-to-length ratio in the dehumidifier/regenerator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flat thermosyphon (FTS) has gained wide attention in solving heat dissipation problems of data centers. The miniaturization of densely packed electronics has led to a demand for compact heat sinks. In this paper, a confined FTS consisting of an evaporator, condenser and customized quartz-glass chamber was developed. Bubble behaviors were investigated by the visualization approach under vacuum conditions. Effects of the space height, nominal heating power, and liquid filling ratio on the thermal characteristics were involved. Experimental results found that the bubble behaviors with 10 mm height are different from others. For 10 mm height, bubble contacts the condensation surface and then bounces back to the evaporator. The quantitative analysis shows that the boiling heat transfer coefficient with 10 mm height is 65.5 % of that with 25 mm height , and a condensation heat transfer coefficient with 10 mm height is 58.9 % of that with 20 mm height. Increasing heating power deteriorates the condensation heat transfer via forming a bubble film on the condensation surface. A small filling ratio (30 %) with 10 mm height is beneficial for the phase change heat transfer. It is hoped that these results can offer guidance for designing effective cooling devices. [Display omitted] • Bubble behaviors of confined flat thermosyphon (FTS) is explored. • Effects of space height, heat power, and filling ratio are involved in analysis. • The bubble directly bounces back to the evaporator of FTS with 10 mm height. • Small filling ratio (30 %) is beneficial for phase change of FTS with 10 mm height. • Reduced space height attenuates the thermal performance of confined FTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A carbon emission prediction model with high accuracy and precision was established. • The proposed prediction model can reflect spatial distribution of carbon emissions. • The resolution of the model is proved to be suitable for prefecture-level region. • A case study of Xi'an, China, demonstrates the advantages of the model. • Provides strategies for carbon reduction planning and energy management in Xi'an. Climate change has become a global concern, and the prediction of carbon emissions is key to achieving carbon-reduction goals. The existing framework cannot accurately reflect the spatial distribution of carbon emissions, making it difficult to guide urban planning and management. Therefore, in this study, a carbon emission spatial simulation and prediction model was established. The model includes the GIS-Kernel Density sub-model for subdividing built-up area, the Land Use-Carbon Emission sub-model for establishing the correlation between land use and carbon emissions, the Multi Objective Programming-Principal Component Analysis-BP neural network sub-model for presetting development scenarios, and the Patch-generating Land-use Simulation sub-model for predicting. Xi'an was chosen as the study site, and two extreme scenarios were determined. A total of 373,318 development paths were segmented from the interval, and the optimal path was selected. All scenarios were simulated, and the carbon emissions and their spatial distribution were calculated. The results showed that the overall accuracy of the simulation exceeded 90%. Under the optimal path, Xi'an's carbon emissions reach 60.6 million tons at peak time, which will be reduced to 47.38 million tons by 2060. In addition, the model analyzed the temporal and spatial changes of carbon sources and sinks and drew up the path of carbon reduction by technology and urban planning. This model can provide a reference for regional carbon-reduction planning and carbon reduction technology implantation. It can propose strategies from the perspective of planning and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The melting performance of a rotating triplex-tube latent heat thermal energy storage unit is studied by numerical simulation method. The Taguchi design and response surface method are applied to its optimized design. Firstly, the Taguchi design method is used to quantitatively reveal the specific effects of fin distribution, fin number, and fin material on the melting performance of the unit. Compared with all-inner tube-fin or all-outer tube-fin structures, the melting time of alternating inside and outside fin structures is shortened by 52.64% and 32.42%, the average heat absorption rate is greatly increased by 105.56% and 47.26%, and the total heat is reduced by 2.64% and 2.17%, respectively. Then, the response surface method is applied to the eight alternating fins obtained by the Taguchi design, and the effects of fin length, width, and rotation angle on the melting time and average heat absorption rate of the unit are studied. Compared with the original structure, the optimal structure reduces the total melting time by 7.37% and increases the average heat absorption rate by 7.23%. The geometric parameters' interaction with the relevant target response is studied, and the corresponding fluid-structure interaction equation is fitted. Finally, the melt growth phenomenon near the wall is found in the initial melting stage of the optimized model by mechanism analysis. • The rotation condition is applied to a triplex-tube LHES unit. • The TDM and RSM are used to optimize the melting performance of LHTES. • The fluid-structure coupling functions of melting time for each parameter are fitted. • The melt growth phenomenon near the wall is found in the initial melting stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although solar energy is a clean and abundant resource, it has an unstable nature. It is demonstrated that latent thermal energy storage (LTES) systems have been an excellent way to utilize solar energy fully and widely. However, LTES has the problem of insufficient thermal conductivity. For this reason, it is inevitable to consider effective methods to intensify the thermal conductivity of LTES system. In the current study, experiment and numerical simulation are used to study the influence of non-uniform metal foams on heat transfer during phase transition. In this study, a horizontal shell-and-tube LTES test system is established. Moreover, the phase change melting rate of radially filled metal foams with different porosity gradients is compared. According to the numerical simulation results of phase interface, velocity field and temperature field, natural convection can accelerate the melting of PCM. However, there is no distinct effect on the solidification process. When the equivalent porosity is 0.94, the optimal combination (melting process is 0.84-0.92-0.99 and solidification process is 0.87-0.94-0.97), compared with the uniform structure, can shorten the total consumption time by 9.7% and 6.2%, respectively. • The radial positive gradient structure accelerates the melting, but it has little effect on the solidification. • In the current study, the optimal melting/solidification combinations are 0.84-0.92-0.99 and 0.87–0.94-0.97, respectively. • The optimized design of metal foam gradient can reduce the cost of mobile thermal storage system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeology museums play an important role in protecting unearthed cultural relics from natural weathering. However, many of the unearthed relics are still suffering from deterioration or even ruin due to improper environmental control in archaeology museums. In this study, we demonstrate that the disregard of environmental control for relics and the imbalances of energy and mass across in situ air-relic-soil interfaces in pits are important causes for the deterioration of relics. Thus, individual environmental management strategies for visitor passages and relic preservation are proposed for the long-term preservation of unearthed relics. Experimental investigations using the test pit, with radiant panels for control of the environmental interfaces, validated these management strategies for the preservation and display of relics in archaeology museums. These results have significant implications for understanding the mechanism of relic deterioration and for formulating appropriate strategies to create sustainable environments for long-term preservation of unearthed relics in archaeology museums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus belongs to one of the most common bacteria causing healthcare and community associated infections in China, but their molecular characterization has not been well studied. From May 2011 to June 2012, a total of 322 non-duplicate S. aureus isolates were consecutively collected from seven tertiary care hospitals in seven cities with distinct geographical locations in China, including 171 methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and 151 MRSA isolates. All isolates were characterized by spa typing. The presence of virulence genes was tested by PCR. MRSA were further characterized by SCCmec typing. Seventy four and 16 spa types were identified among 168 MSSA and 150 MRSA, respectively. One spa type t030 accounted for 80.1% of all MRSA isolates, which was higher than previously reported, while spa-t037 accounted for only 4.0% of all MRSA isolates. The first six spa types (t309, t189, t034, t377, t078 and t091) accounted for about one third of all MSSA isolates. 121 of 151 MRSA isolates (80.1%) were identified as SCCmec type III. pvl gene was found in 32 MSSA (18.7%) and 5 MRSA (3.3%) isolates, with ST22-MSSA-t309 as the most commonly identified strain. Compared with non-epidemic MRSA clones, epidemic MRSA clones (corresponding to ST239) exhibited a lower susceptibility to rifampin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, a higher prevalence of sea gene and a lower prevalence of seb, sec, seg, sei and tst genes. The increasing prevalence of multidrug resistant spa-t030 MRSA represents a major public health problem in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A method of calculating the AHE based on multi-source spatiotemporal big data. • Activity trajectory and real-time traffic conditions were jointly used in spatial integration to estimate the AHF. • Land use and remote sensing data were jointly used in estimating the AHF of buildings. • The spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the AHE was dynamically assessed. Anthropogenic heat emission (AHE) influences the local energy balance and intensify the urban heat island (UHI) effect. An accurate calculation of the AHE can improve the precision of UHI predictions. However, reliable AHE calculations with high temporal and spatial resolution in domestic research is still lacking. Therefore, this study proposes an approach to estimate the dynamic AHE by integrating multi-source Internet big data and high-precision urban spatial data. First, we quantified the dynamic distribution of residents' trajectories by tracking multi-stage Internet geographic location data, real-time traffic conditions of Xi'an city, supplemented by on-site drone monitoring. Then the parameters of cooling and the thermal load coefficient of building emissions, personnel cooling loads, and traffic densities were introduced. Finally, the temporal and spatial dynamic rules of the AHE were revealed. Results showed the AHE was subject to a large changing amplitude. The diurnal AHE values of 64% of the blocks ranged from 93 to 498 W/m2, especially in some core commercial areas, the value could reach above 1000 W/m2 during the peak stages. Compared with previous research, this study dynamically evaluates the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of the AHE under different emission scenarios with a short update cycle and high spatial resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased artificial constructions due to urbanization absorb more solar radiation, making urban surface and air temperatures rise and affecting the energy performance of urban buildings and the human health. Many studies have reported that green facades and roofs, materials with high albedos can noticeably reduce building surface temperatures and cool the air in summer. However, little is known about the cooling effects and assessment of different mitigation strategies when they are adopted in a block scale. This study focuses on assessing and comparing the effects in the high-rise communities in Xi'an, China, which are a good representation of the city because they are composed of a high density of buildings, and they cover the majority of the current urban sprawl land. Simulations of three community prototypes through ENVI-met software were carried out in order to assess the mitigation techniques in terms of the ground surface, building surface, and vertical canopy air temperature decrease. The main techniques adopted were cool pavements, cool coating facades and roofs, green facades with ivy and green roofs with funkia and 15 cm substrates, and combinations of those. The statistical analysis results revealed that green roof can cool the roof more than the cool roof, while cool facade can cool the facade more than green facade. As to single mitigation strategy, the cool pavement have the most significant potential to decrease canopy air temperature. In general, the combination of different strategies had much more positive effects than single solution. These positive results indicate that the cooling strategies are urgently needed in the current urban construction to alleviate the urban heat island effect. Image 1 • The cooling potentials of various strategies and their combinations were compared in three high-rise community. • The performance of computational simulation software ENVI-met were tested by comparing measured data. • Decrease of land surface temperature, building surface temperature and canopy air temperature were achieved and evaluated. • The community characteristics affect the cooling effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust devils are common but meteorologically unique phenomena on Earth and on Mars. The phenomenon produces a vertical vortex motion in the atmosphere boundary layer and often occurs in hot desert regions, especially in the afternoons from late spring to early summer. Dust devils usually contain abundant wind energy, for example, a maximum swirling wind velocity of up to 25 m/s, with a 15 m/s maximum vertical velocity and 5 m/s maximum near-surface horizontal velocity can be formed. The occurrences of dust devils cannot be used for energy generation because these are generally random and short-lived. Here, a concept of sustained dust-devil-like whirlwind is proposed for the energy generation. A prototype of a circular shed with pre-rotation vanes has been devised to generate the whirlwind flow by heating the air inflow into the circular shed. The pre-rotation vanes can provide the air inflow with angular momentum. The results of numerical simulations and experiment illustrate a promising potential of the circular shed for generating swirling wind energy via the collection of low-temperature solar energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]