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• ESDA was applied to estimate the pattern of ecological security (ES) in PRD, China. • Hot and cold spots for the spatial distribution of ES were identified. • Optimal management was proposed from three categories for each municipality. • The main factors influencing ES distribution were explored using semivariance. The ecological security (ES) pattern in China is gaining considerable attention worldwide due to intensifying urban development and human activities that threaten ecosystem structures and ecological processes. The Pearl River Delta (PRD) has experienced intense economic development for nearly 40 years; however, the ES pattern in the PRD is poorly understood. In this paper, we used a multisource data approach to assess ES, performed downscaling to a 1 × 1 km2 grid size, and applied spatial statistics to analyze the ES pattern in the PRD. We found three natural "ecological buffers," namely, nature reserves and forest patches covering several municipalities in the delta, thus guaranteeing the socio-economic development of this highly urbanized area. The spatial autocorrelation results indicated that the ES pattern is significantly spatially correlative (p = 0.001), with a Moran's I of 0.7766. We identified several hot and cold spots for the ES spatial distribution that occupied 58.49% of the PRD's total area. Moreover, a semivariance analysis showed that structural factors are dominant in the ES spatial distribution. Based on the ES area proportions, the 9 municipalities of the PRD can be grouped into three categories: optimized development zones, comprehensive development zones, and ecological conservation development areas. Zhaoqing, Huizhou and Jiangmen are key areas for improving ES conservation in the PRD. In this study, we explore an ES assessment model coupled with a spatial heterogeneity analysis to provide insights into ecological conservation efforts in urban agglomerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neotectonics and active tectonics are sub-disciplines of tectonics that study the process of recent tectonic deformation and tectonic geomorphic evolution on the Earth. The time scale of neotectonics research is closely related to the geodynamics of a specific region; it typically concerns geological processes at time scales from Ma to ka, and emphasizes on the relationship between the past and present tectonic deformation. On the other hand, research in active tectonics pays greater attention to geological–geomorphological processes since 100˜150ka, and focuses on present and future tectonic deformation. Research on neotectonics and active tectonics for seismic hazard assessment is a significant aspect of earthquake geology work. This, along with other related researches, is the primary basis of earthquake forecasting and prediction, urban and rural earthquake prevention, disaster mitigation, and project planning and design for effective circumvention and mitigation of geological hazards caused by active faults. Recent advances in these fields have indicated that the fast development and application of Quaternary chronology, open access space observation, and geographic information system (GIS), have substantially increased the level and precision of quantitative research on neotectonic evolution, tectonic morphology, fault activity and palaeo-seismology. This has led to the promotion and growth of digitalization and sharing of active fault data, and has also improved the reliability and accuracy of seismic hazard assessment. However, in countries and areas with high density of active faults and complex tectonic systems, such as China, research on neotectonics and active tectonics for seismic hazard assessment needs to be even further strengthened. There is a need for fast and effective regional surveying of active faults by the use of remote sensing and Digital Elevation Models (DEM) imaging, so as to study active structural systems. Therefore, to consolidate the geological foundation for prevention and mitigation of seismogeological disasters. Besides, the relationship between fault activity and risk should be distinguished, and attention should be paid to areas having strong-earthquake risk in stable continental regions and having low-slip-rate faults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Stretchability and compressibility are essential features for next-generation flexible energy storage devices. Most previous studies on stretchable and compressible energy storage devices have focused on supercapacitors, whereas the intrinsically stretchable and compressible batteries are rarely reported for the lack of a stretchable and compressible high-performance electrolyte as well as highly conductive flexible electrodes. Here, a new type of intrinsically stretchable and compressible battery is fabricated for the first time, by employing a sodium polyacrylate (PANa) hydrogel as electrolyte, and nickel cobalt hydroxide and zinc nanosheets deposited on Au@CNT papers as electrodes. The newly developed battery can be intrinsically stretched up to 400% strain (capacity enhanced) and compressed to 50% strain (capacity well retained). After being stretched for 500 cycles and compressed for 1500 cycles, the battery is able to deliver 87% and 97% of its initial capacity, respectively. Graphical abstract An intrinsically 400% stretchable and 50% compressible NiCo//Zn battery was fabricated for the first time, by employing a sodium polyacrylate hydrogel electrolyte and a thin Au foil coating CNT papers. The battery is intrinsically stretchable up to 400% strain with capacity enhanced and intrinsically compressible up to 50% strain with capacity well retained. fx1 Highlights • The PANa hydrogel electrolyte has advantages of good ionic conductivity, excellent stretchability and compressibility. • The as-fabricated NiCo//Zn batteries exhibit intrinsic 400% stretchablity and 50% compressibility. • To the best of our knowledge, the intrinsically stretchable and compressible battery has never been reported before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of climate change on the crop water footprint (WF) is highly uncertain, hindering effective agricultural water use in response to climate change. This study proposes a factor sensitivity analysis method, which can screen out statistically significant climatic factors and interactions on crop WF under various uncertainties and determine water resource management measures to mitigate drought for different crops. A special case study was conducted in Heilongjiang Province, China. The results showed that (1) the annual change in crop WF showed a downward trend from 1988 to 2018. The crop WF was dominated by green water footprint (WF green), and the average occupancy rate of WF green in crops was 58.7%–74.1 %; the spatial distribution of WF has latitude zonality. (2) Drought has different effects on WF of different crops, and WF of soybean is susceptible to drought. Wind speed, sunshine hours, and humidity have a greater impact on crop WF in most growth stages. (3) The effect of climatic factors on crop WF varies in different months. The rice WF is mainly affected by the climate in May, and there is an interaction between May humidity and May rain. The WF of maize and soybeans are affected primarily by the climate in July, especially sunshine hours. The proposed approach attempts to analyze that crop WF is affected by not only an individual climatic factor but also their interactions. Crop water management practices should be adjusted based on the results to mitigate the adverse impact of climatic conditions on crop WF during different growing months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The efficiency enhancement method of abrasive water jet slit-assisted shield cutter cutting reinforced concrete was investigated. • Revealed the efficiency enhancement mechanism of abrasive water jet slit-assisted shield cutters. • The main influencing factors affecting the effectiveness of abrasive water jet slit-assisted shield cutters were discussed. To improve the efficiency and safety of shield machines cutting reinforced concrete (RC) obstacles, using an abrasive waterjet (AWJ)-assisted shield cutter to cut RC is considered a feasible solution. To explore the effect of an AWJ on a shell cutter cutting RC, laboratory experiments and numerical simulation methods were used to compare the breaking performance and damage mechanism of a shell cutter cutting RC with and without a slit. The results showed that the waterjet pre-cutting slit could effectively reduce the cutter force of the shell cutter and promote the cutting of steel bars. The reduction rate of the cutter force by the waterjet slit increased and then decreased with an increase in the penetration degree. When the penetration degree was 1.5 mm, the waterjet cutting slit had the best reduction effect on the cutting force. An optimal critical value was found for the waterjet cutting slit of the steel bar; when the waterjet slit was larger than ½ of the diameter of the steel bar, the steel bar was prone to tensile fracture under the cutting action. The waterjet pre-cutting slit reduced the residual cross-sectional area and stress distribution of the steel bar, which promoted the bending and tensile fracture of the steel bar and thus improved the cutting efficiency. Furthermore, construction recommendations for the AWJ-assisted shield cutting of RC obstacles were identified. The findings presented in this paper can provide useful reference information for the design and construction of AWJ shield machines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Relationships between ecosystem services and urbanization were assessed. • Ecosystem services were significantly correlated with urbanization. • Different ecosystem services showed varied responses to urbanization. • Most developed urban areas had the lowest regulating and supporting services. • Relationships between ecosystem services and urbanization remained robust. Research on the relationship between ecosystem services (ESs) and urbanization has been drawing attention in recent years. We analyzed the relationship between ESs and urbanization in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, and explored whether and how this relationship changes across temporal and spatial scales. The InVEST model was used for ESs mapping and various urbanization indicators were selected. Correlation analysis and curve estimation were used to detect the linear and nonlinear relationships between ESs and urbanization. Results of the study indicated that regulating and supporting services decreased, while provisioning services increased with urbanization. Significant correlations (p ˂0.05) were found between ESs and urbanization, and mostly presented an increasing trend from 2000 to 2018 and from the grid scale to the county scale. Curve estimation indicated that regulating and supporting services decreased as urbanization increased, and water yield service increased as urbanization increased, while the relationship between food provisioning and urbanization presented an inverse-U shape. Generally, the relationships between ESs and urbanization varied with different ESs but remained relatively robust across time and scale. This study specifies the impact of urbanization on ESs, and highlights the importance of spatial scales in studying the relationship between urbanization and ESs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing the distribution of air pollution and its influencing factors is critical for regional air pollution prevention and control. This study takes the Pearl River Delta (PRD) as a study area, analyzes the spatial-temporal changes in air pollution (including sulfur dioxide (SO 2), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2), ozone (O 3), carbon monoxide (CO), and particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm (PM 10) and less than 2.5 μm (PM 2.5)) from 2006 to 2019, and explores the relationship between air pollution and meteorological factors. The results showed that (1) most air pollutant concentrations decreased from 2006 to 2019, with the most obvious change being the decrease in the SO 2 concentration from 52.4 μg/m3 to 7.8 μg/m3. The O 3 concentration increased, with a Sen's slope of 0.649 μg m−3·year−1. Air pollution was lower in coastal areas (Shenzhen and Huizhou) than in inland areas (Foshan and Zhaoqing), affected by ocean atmospheric transmission, and coastal areas had the cleanest air quality. (2) Air pollutants had high correlations with air pressure, relative humidity, precipitation, and temperature. The most serious air pollution was found in winter, which was partially due to the meteorological conditions in winter that were more unfavorable for pollutant dispersion and dilution than were the conditions in other seasons. (3) Through the wavelet coherence method, an interesting finding revealed that other air pollution and meteorological factors exhibited complex period-dependent characteristics that were significantly related to PM 2.5. Areas with less air pollution were more susceptible to meteorological factors. (4) The overlapping area of the PM 2.5 distribution hotspot and nighttime light hotspot was mainly in Foshan and Guangzhou, representing approximately 12.1% of the study area. Our work contributes to the literature by considering seasonal and timescale-dependent characteristics of meteorological factors affecting air pollutant emissions, and it provides new insights into recognizing regions that need to prioritize urban air pollution control based on hotspot analysis. [Display omitted] • The mean SO 2 concentration decreased from 52.4 μg/m3 in 2006 to 7.8 μg/m3 in 2019. • The O 3 concentration increased with a Sen's slope of 0.649 μg m−3·year−1. • The time-frequency relationship between PM 2.5 and meteorological factors was explored by wavelet coherence. • Higher air pollution was detected in regions with higher night-time brightness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tiantian capsule (TTC), as a functional food, which consists of four herb medicines, including Aloe vera Burm.f. (25%), leaf juices, dried; Cucurbita moschata Duch. (25%), fructus, dried; Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf. (12.5%), sclerotium, dried; Tremella fuciformis Berk. (12.5%), fruiting bodies, dried, and one extract xylooligosaccharides (25%) from Maize Cob by enzymolysis, has been commonly used in China to ameliorate constipation. The aim of the work is to elucidate the potential laxative mechanisms of TTC in loperamide-induced constipated rats. LC-MS/MS was employed for analyzing the TTC extract. The gastrointestinal transit was evaluated by X-ray. The H&E and Alcian-Blue stain were applied to determine the changes of goblet cells and mucus layer, respectively. Meanwhile, levels of neurotransmitters were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The protein expressions were also measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Our results showed that TTC administration attenuated constipation responses in aspects of fecal pellets number, water content of feces, stomach emptying and gastrointestinal transit. Further investigations revealed that TTC treatment not only induced the recovery of neurotransmitters, such as motilin, substance P, somatostatin, endothelin and vasoactive intestinal peptide, but also up-regulated the expressions of c-kit and stem cell factor (SCF). Additionally, the number of goblet cells and thickness of the mucus layer were elevated, and the guanylate cyclase C-cGMP signal pathway was also up-regulated after TTC treatment. Our findings demonstrated that the laxative effect of TTC in constipation rats is probably due to the regulation of bowel movement and intestinal fluid secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The built-up land of the Pearl River Delta was increased by 174 % from 1985 to 2015. • Built-up land is the main threat to regional ecological security. • Combining habitat quality and landscape ecological risk to identify zonal of ecological security. • Early warning zones and suggestions for future urban growth were provided. The Pearl River Delta (PRD) has experienced rapid urbanization processes for nearly 40 years. Due to the high population densities and developed industries, the region will continue to expand. To explore the impact of future land-use change on land ecological security, a regional ecological security early warning (ESEW) was spatially constructed by overlaying the simulated future built-up land with the current ecological security partition zones. The results showed that (1) the habitat quality was severely degraded in Pearl River Delta and the spatial differentiation was obvious, showing low habitat quality in the middle and high quality in the east and west; (2) the landscape ecological risk showed an increasing trend and the area of higher risk increased from 0.8 % to 7.4 % of the total area of the Pearl River Delta from 1985 to 2015; (3) each ecological security partition zone changed in different directions, and zone V changed from a single core to a multicore; (4) in the scenario of coordinated development under a balanced environment and economy, an equilibrium of each early warning level of ecological security will be reached. These results provide a reference for land-use planning, urban master planning and management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Luteolin ameliorated psoriasis-like skin lesions in an imiquimod-induced mouse model. • Luteolin suppressed the cutaneous macrophage infiltration and cytokine release in vivo. • Luteolin attenuated inflammatory response in a macrophage cell line. Psoriasis is considered as a common chronic immune-mediated skin disorder characterized by abnormal keratinocyte proliferation. Luteolin, an anti-inflammatory natural flavonoid with well-accepted inhibition effect against keratinocyte proliferation, was hypothesized to have a potential therapeutic effect for psoriasis. In this paper, we investigated the relieving effect of luteolin against imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like lesions on BALB/c mice and its possible anti-inflammatory mechanisms in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages (RAW264.7 cells). We found that luteolin ameliorated psoriasis-like skin lesions, suppressed the cutaneous infiltration of macrophages, T cells and neutrophils, and downregulated the expression of cytokines like IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-17A and IL-23 in both skin lesions and eyeball blood of model mice. In vitro, we observed luteolin significantly suppressed the levels of psoriasis-related pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-17A, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-23, and inflammatory mediators like nitric oxide NO, inducible NOS, COX-2 in RAW264.7 cells. The anti-inflammatory activity was accomplished by inhibiting NF-κB expression and activation. This study demonstrates luteolin is effective in alleviating psoriasis-like skin lesions and downregulating inflammatory response via NF-κB pathway, suggesting luteolin as a potential molecule for further therapeutic research of inflammation-related skin diseases like psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly flexible direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFC) are a promising next frontier of energy conversion devices that will change the pattern of current flexible electronics. However, the major difficulties such as ethanol-crossover-induced catalyst poisoning and harsh conditions, limit the development of such devices. Here, we report for the first time a flexible drop-and-play DEFC that addresses all these difficulties via using a highly active oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst which cannot be poisoned by ethanol, together with a superior alkali-compatible and ion-conductive hydrogel electrolyte. The fabricated flexible DEFC shows high performances of 21.48 mW cm−2 power density and 1.41 mWh cm−2 energy density at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Moreover, it possesses excellent flexibility and unique drop-and-play function, easily powering an electronic clock and a smart phone. Such high-performance flexible DEFC with drop-and-play function opens up many new opportunities for next-generation flexible electronics. We report for the first time a flexible drop-and-play direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) using a highly catalytic oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst which cannot be poisoned by ethanol, as well as a superior alkali-compatible and ion-conductive hydrogel electrolyte membrane. The fabricated DEFC delivers a high energy density of 1.41 mWh cm−2 at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Moreover, it possesses excellent flexibility and unique drop-and-play function. Image 1 • Porous NSDC ORR catalyst possessing anti-ethanol poisoning, high catalytic activity and one-step process. • Hydrogel electrolyte with merits of superior ionic conductivity, long-time stability and high compatibility with alkali. • High-performance flexible direct ethanol fuel cell with drop-and-play function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The landscape pattern of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) is gradually fragmented. • Integrated SD-CA model was better modeled in the PRD. • The scenario of coordinated development for the PRD was recommend. • Urban management and planning optimization management measures was provided. Land-use and land-cover change (LUCC) is directly related to human activities. Simulating the process of LUCC and predicting the future changes are important. The system dynamics (SD) model, grey prediction (GM) model and Markov model were applied to the simulation. From 1985–2015, the cropland decreased by 20.83% in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), and construction land increased by 173.61%. The SD model obtained an optimal result. The simulation processes revealed that social and economic factors have a great impact on LUCC processes. The SD model is an optimal quantitative model when combined with the cellular automata (CA) model to simulate spatial dynamics of LUCC (kappa index = 0.94 in 2015). Three scenarios were used and related to rapid development, coordinated development, and conservation. A good development scenario with lower fragmentation and highest connectivity in a landscape in the PRD was achieved under the coordinated development scenario. The SD-CA model has advantages due to its inclusion of many social and policy factors. This study shows that the SD-CA model under the coordinated development scenario provides the best result for the PRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Improve the performance of TBM in hard rock and extremely hard rock environments. • The method of rock breaking with pre-grooving assisted disc cutter is studied. • As the pre-groove depth increases, the cutting performance of the cutter increases. To improve the tunnelling performance of tunnel boring machines in hard rock and extremely hard rock environments, abrasive water jet assisted rock breaking is a possible solution that has currently attracted considerable attention. In this approach, the depth of the pre-cut groove is a key factor affecting the performance of assisted rock breaking. To study the influence of the pre-groove depth on assisted rock breaking performance, a full-scale linear cutting test of pre-grooved rock was conducted with a disc cutter. The influence of the pre-groove depth on the rock breaking effect under the same-trajectory mode (SM) and different-trajectory mode (DM) of assisted cutting was explored, and the mechanism of assisted rock breaking with different groove depths was revealed. Compared with the complete cutting mode (CM), the results showed that the normal force (F N), rolling force (F R), side force (F s), and specific energy (SE) under SM decrease as the groove depth increase. Under DM, the F N , F R , and SE decrease as the average groove depth on both sides increase, and the F s decreases as the minimum groove depth increases. In SM and DM, the cutting SE first decreased rapidly and then tended to decrease slowly as the groove depth increased, indicating the existence of an optimal groove depth. The rock fracture patterns under SM and DM are more prone to tensile failure, which significantly reduces the rock cutting force and SE of the disc cutter. These results can provide inspiration for the design and construction of new types of tunnel boring machines that are assisted by abrasive water jet pre-grooving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Soil silt/clay and nutrients increased with increasing distance from the shelterbelt. • Downslope deposition lead to an increase in plow pan thickness and a decrease in bulk density. • Erosion rate was primarily affected by shelterbelt distance, followed by elevation. • Sites closer to shelterbelt warrant particular attention due to coarse-texture materials. Soil erosion is the most severe form of land degradation globally. Farmland shelterbelts are important for reducing erosion, especially erosion caused by the co-occurrence of water and wind. However, few studies have focused on how the distance from the shelterbelt associated with farmland topography affects the redistribution of soil quality indicators. The aims of this study is to reveal the relative importance of these two factors to soil quality under typical wind and water erosion conditions concurrent with the Songnen Plain, China. Topsoils (0–10 cm) were sampled at seven distances from the shelterbelt with three replicates, where topography heterogeneity was also considered. We found that the silt/clay content and soil nutrients at sites farther from the shelterbelt were significantly greater than those at sites closer to the shelterbelt (P < 0.05). Similarly, deposition was dominant at sites farther from the shelterbelt and downslope positions, while erosion was dominant at sites closer to the shelterbelt and upslope positions. Moreover, we discovered that the relative influence of distance from the shelterbelt and farmland elevation varied with individual soil quality indicators. Soil nutrients increased through the deposition of more fine-textured soil (silt/clay) positions farther from the shelterbelt. The downslope region responds to soil deposition by enhancing the plough pan thickness and lowering the bulk density and pH. Overall, distance from the shelterbelt and farmland elevation had interactive effects on soil quality, and erosion was primarily affected by distance from the shelterbelt (63.4 %), followed by elevation (22.7 %). Furthermore, the sites closer to the shelterbelt (i.e., 20 to 420 m) warrant particular attention due to the deposition of coarse-texture materials here. This work is crucial for an improved understanding of the synergistic effects of long-term water and wind co-occurrence on soil quality evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ecological sources were identified using morphological spatial pattern analysis. • Resistance surface was developed from ecosystem service value. • Ecological corridors were identified using minimum cumulative resistance model. • The ecological network was optimized by similarity search. Ecological infrastructure is a popular framework for conservation planning. In this paper, one of the most urbanized regions of China-Shenzhen was chosen as the study area. Ecological infrastructure with different configurations and functions were identified and combined to form the urban ecological network. The ecological sources were identified using morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and landscape connectivity analysis. The ecological resistance surface developed from ecosystem service value was modified basing on ecological sensitivity and landscape connectivity. The ecological network was constructed by minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model and then optimized and accessed. The results show that: (1) the ecological network consists of 25 ecological sources distributed mainly in the southeast and west. Twenty-nine ecological corridors were extracted and 36 ecological nodes identified. (2) In the optimized ecological network, 10 new ecological sources were added, and 46 ecological corridors and 59 ecological nodes were identified. It would promote the connectivity of the ecological sources and the stability of ecological functioning process. (3) The ecological network took ecosystem service value and ecological sensitivity into consideration and lays emphasis on improving landscape connectivity, providing an approach to optimizing urban ecological network and contributing to urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid economic development and tremendous urban expansion, cities frequently experience overheating problem. Urban green infrastructure (UGI) has proved effective in alleviating urban warming and enhancing thermal comfort. However, few research has been conducted to determine the proper UGI strategy across scales. Here, we propose a sustainable strategy for UGI planning by synthesizing the local climate zone (LCZ) concept and microclimate simulation, with the goal of ameliorating surface urban heat island (SUHI) and improving thermal comfort in cities. The LCZ map of Guangzhou showed that the major 'built-up land types' concentrated in the central area with high land surface temperature (LST) and intensities of SUHI. The circles (1-km diameter) identified as LCZ 2, 3, and 8 were recognized as planning areas by considering the intensities of SUHI and practicability. Afterward, the simulations of the UGI strategy scenarios at three randomly selected sample sites in LCZ 2, 3, and 8 were carried out using the ENVI-met model. The case study results in Guangzhou showed that increasing the green cover to 10% by adding grove and street trees could be the best adaptation strategy to ameliorate overheating, whereas adding extensive green roofs aggravated SUHI to a certain extent and showed minimal impacts on the thermal comfort at a pedestrian level. We show that it is promising to combine the LCZ concept and ENVI-met simulation in optimizing UGI toward urban overheating mitigation. • Multi-scale & discipline UGI strategy is needed to mitigate urban overheating. • A practical approach synthesizing LCZ concept and ENVI-met simulation was proposed. • Major built types concentrated in the central area with high intensities of SUHI. • Adding grove and street trees was the best adaptation strategy. • Application value of adopted approach was underlined for subsequent UGI studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green infrastructures have been well recognized for their roles in providing ecosystem services in cities. However, their environmental performances have not been fully understood from a life-cycle perspective. In this study, we evaluated the life-cycle environmental performances and energy efficiencies of three types of green infrastructure, i.e. green roof, greenway, and grove that are increasingly built in cities. Our analysis covered all phases of the life-cycle including extraction and construction, use and maintenance, end-of-life, and transportation. Results confirm the environmental improvements of the green roof, greenway, and grove in most of the addressed impact categories. The energy saving in the use and maintenance phase contributed a significant part to these improvements, while the construction material in the extraction and construction phase had a dominant share in the environmental impacts. The grove and greenway showed better environmental performances than the green roof. The extensive use of compost for the greenway and grove could release toxic substances to the environment, and offset environmental improvements or even resulted in a negative consequence to EP of the greenway. The utilization of substrate and waste disposal for the green roof caused relatively high impacts on the environment. Sensitivity analysis shows a 50% reduction of the energy saving weakened the environmental improvements of the green roof, greenway and grove in all categories, and particularly exacerbated the environmental impacts on EP and CADP for the green roof, AP for the greenway and EP for the grove; and an increased waste recycling and reuse rates will greatly enhance the environmental improvements of the green roof. • Life-cycle environmental performances of three UGIs were evaluated and compared. • Robustness of results and impact of uncertainty factors were examined. • Grove and greenway showed better environmental performances than green roof. • 50% energy saving reduction weakened environmental improvements in all categories. • Increasing recycling and reuse rates improved green roof's environmental performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yadong-Gulu rift is the largest active rift within the southern Tibet Plateau. Although tectonic characteristics and geodynamic implications of normal faulting have been widely discussed, precise constraints on the fault slip rates and their spatial distribution are still scarce to date, hindering full exploration of the deformation mechanism of active rifts in the southern Tibet. In this study, we integrated the interpretations of high-resolution satellites and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-acquired images, and topography with the results of field surveys and radiocarbon dating to demonstrate the slip distribution along the Chongba Yumtso fault (CYF) bounding the northeastern sector of the Duoqing Co graben and then discussed their implications for the seismic risk and regional deformation. Since the late Pleistocene, the vertical slip rate and extension rate across the CYF are about 1.2 ± 0.1 and 1.7 (+0.7/−0.5) mm/a, respectively, and the average extension rate across the Yadong-Gulu rift zone is about 2.1 (+0.5/−0.6). According to the activity rate, plane size, basin-mountain height difference, and sediment thickness of the grabens in the southern segment of the rift zone, it is considered that the extension of the main boundary normal fault in the southern segment of the rift has the spatial variation characteristics of decreasing from south to north. According to the comparison of the total extension rate on different time scales, it is considered that the total extension rate of the rift zone in southern Tibet is approximately stable in different time periods, which is ~16 (+5/−4) mm/a. According to the active rate and historical seismic records of the Duoqing Co graben in the Yadong-Gulu Rift Valley, it is considered that the CYF has potential to produce earthquakes with Mw 6.6–7.4. • The E–W extension rate of Yadong-Gulu rift and whole southern Tibet are about 1.5-2.6 mm/a and 12-21mm/a respectively. • The extension rate along the boundary normal faults of the southern Yadong–Gulu rift displayed a northward decreasing. • The Duoqing Co graben has a high seismic risk in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]