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With the acceleration of urban development, the annual production of urban construction waste has been increasing yearly, which brings considerable challenges for urban supervision and management, and how to quickly and accurately identify construction waste is of great practical significance. In this paper, we propose a remote sensing image dust cover net construction waste recognition algorithm based on the improved U-network model to realize construction waste target recognition. The algorithm first prepares a dust cover net construction waste identification dataset using Google high-resolution remote sensing imagery as the database. Second, VGG16 is adopted as the backbone network of the U-Net model to improve the feature expression ability of the model. Finally, the Convolution Block Attention Module (CBAM) is embedded into the U-Net network to construct the CBAM-U-Net model to enhance the information extraction accuracy of high-resolution remote sensing images. With the remote sensing image encompassing Daxing District in Beijing as an example, the results show that the proposed algorithm can automatically and efficiently recognize the dust cover net construction waste with 95.51% recognition accuracy and 95.08% Mlou, which puts forward a new idea for the supervision of construction waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel insertion device is introduced, designated as the Mango wiggler, designed for synchrotron radiation (SR) imaging that provides a large field of view. This innovative device is constructed from two orthogonal planar wigglers with a small difference in their period lengths, eliciting the phase difference of the magnetic fields to incrementally transitions from 0 to π/2. Such a configuration enlarges the vertical divergence of the light source, as with the horizontal divergence. The appellation 'Mango wiggler' derives from the distinctive mango‐shaped contour of its radiation field. A comprehensive suite of theoretical analyses and simulations has been executed to elucidate the radiation properties of the Mango wiggler, employing SPECTRA and Mathematica as calculation tools. In conjunction with the ongoing construction of the High Energy Photon Source in Beijing a practical Mango wiggler device has been fabricated for utilization in SR imaging applications. Theoretical analyses were applied to this particular Mango wiggler to yield several theoretical conclusions, and several simulations were performed according to the measured magnetic field results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most studies on Chinese dormitories are carried out in summer, while few focus on a transition season or winter. This study evaluated the air quality of a student dormitory in a university in the Beijing area by using a questionnaire survey and on-site measurements. The CO2 concentration was used as an indoor air quality evaluation index to characterize the freshness of the air, and different window opening conditions in the dormitory were simulated, with corresponding improvement plans proposed. The results of this study revealed that the air quality and thermal comfort of the student dormitories during a transition season and winter fell short of expectations. According to the survey, students who opened their windows frequently had a better subjective perception of the air quality. However, due to the large temperature difference between day and night, more than 80% of the students felt too cold when opening the windows. For daytime conditions, the area of unilateral ventilation window opening should not be less than 0.39 m2, the area of bilateral ventilation window opening should not be less than 0.13 m2, and the time taken to close the windows and doors should not exceed the maximum ventilation interval. Empirical equations were fitted for nighttime conditions based on the CO2 concentration, number of people in the room, and window opening area, resulting in a reasonable window opening area of 0.349 m2~0.457 m2. In sum, this study assessed the air quality status within typical university dormitories across varying seasons, gaining a clear understanding of how different ventilation strategies and occupant densities influence air freshness and thermal comfort. Based on these insights, a practical and optimized window area recommendation was formulated to enhance the indoor environmental quality in these dormitories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study selected 24 highly popular pocket parks in Beijing and conducted field research to collect data on park use during weekdays and weekends. SPSS correlation analysis and the development of a decision tree model were used to rank the key factors that influence the flexibility and intensity of park use on weekdays and weekends. The findings indicated that the key factors impacting the flexibility and intensity of park use on weekdays, in order of importance, are seat density, recreation facilities density, land use entropy (LUE), distance to a public toilet, POI density, and 5-min accessibility. On the other hand, the main factors influencing the flexibility and intensity of park use on weekends are 5-min accessibility, seat density, POI density, fitness facilities density, distance to the bus stop, distance to a public toilet, and life service facilities density. These findings offer valuable insights for the study of pocket parks in other cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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With a large number of new energy vehicles being put into use, it is the general trend for traditional fuel vehicles to withdraw from the market in an orderly manner. Determining the optimal ratio between them in this process is of great significance to the low-carbon sustainable development of cities. Therefore, considering the constraints of urban automobile development planning and air pollution prevention and control policies, a multi-objective model to minimize pollutants and costs is constructed in this paper. Through model calculation and sensitivity analysis of dynamic impact relationship of different types of vehicles, it is determined that when new energy vehicles account for around 36% in Beijing, 57% in Shanghai and 46% in Guangzhou, the pollutant emissions can be minimized without causing a significant increase in social costs. Additionally, compared with 2030, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou can achieve emission reductions of 320,000 tons, 200,000 tons and 250,000 tons, respectively, in 2050 if they implement the policy of banning the sale and delisting of fuel vehicles, which could provide suggestions for the guidance of the low-carbon development plan of the automobile industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to human activities, the overabundance of regional nitrogen/phosphorus (N/P) has a huge impact on ecological environment worldwide. It is necessary to comprehensively understand the human‐induced N/P input and spatiotemporal variations of nutrients in a river. As the adjustment to the spatial structure of Beijing, the Beijing's subcenter is an important strategic position in promoting the coordinated development of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei. In this study, the dynamic changes of ammonia nitrogen (NH3‐N) and total phosphorus (TP) from 2012 to 2022 were analyzed, then the net anthropogenic N input (NANI) and net anthropogenic P input (NAPI) was estimated in the Beijing's subcenter. The results showed that both NH3‐N and TP had an overall downward trend with a three‐stage pattern. The NANI and NAPI declined from 5.68 × 104 and 0.95 × 104 to 0.78 × 104 and 0.15 × 104 kg km−2 per year, respectively. The chemical fertilizers input accounted for the largest part at 53–81% of NANI and 49–80% of NAPI. There were high values of N and P input in the southeast of Tongzhou, and the fluxes of N and P were positively correlated with the input of anthropogenic N and P in the Chaobai River Basin (Tongzhou District) and the Beiyun River Basin (Tongzhou District). This study would provide the foundation for setting priorities and enacting more targeted N/P management strategies in the Beijing's subcenter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The incidence of type 2 diabetes in China has exhibited an increasing trend, including younger individuals, over the past years. Early‐onset type 2 diabetes (EOT2D) refers to diabetes diagnosed before 40 years of age. These patients have poor metabolic control and are highly susceptible to diabetic complications, which poses challenges for treatment. However, few studies have reported on the treatment of EOT2D. We determined clinical features and trends in drug use in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was performed at the Endocrinology Ward, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH). "Diabetes" was used when searching PUMCH's Electronic Medical Record Analytical Database to obtain clinical data of patients between January 2013 and May 2022. Results: The analysis included 1590 patients with T2DM. Among them, 609 (38.3%) had EOT2D. Compared with late‐onset type 2 diabetes (LOT2D) patients, EOT2D patients exhibited worse glycemic control and higher body weight and lipid levels despite significant age differences. EOT2D patients also had a higher risk of diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy. Under the general trend of increasing use of dipeptidylpeptidase‐4 inhibitors, sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors, and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 agonists, patients with EOT2D were more likely to use organ‐protective drugs. Conclusions: Compared with LOT2D patients, EOT2D patients have a longer course of diabetes, worse metabolic control, and a higher rate of developing microvascular complications. The administration of combined therapy, including new agents, may require consideration when selecting hypoglycemic agents for treating EOT2D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of emission control measures implemented by the Chinese government have effectively reduced air pollution of multiple pollutants in many regions of the country in recent decades. However, the impacts of these control measures on environmental persistent free radicals (EPFRs) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), the two groups of chemical species that are known to be linked with adverse human health effects, are still not clear. In this study, we investigated the levels, patterns, and sources of EPFRs and gas- and particle-phase ROS (referred to as G-ROS and P-ROS, respectively) in Beijing during the 2015 China Victory Day Parade period when short-term air quality control measures were imposed. The strict control measures reduced ambient EPFRs, G-ROS, and P-ROS by 18.3 %, 24.1 %, and 46.9 %, respectively. EPFRs in the non-control period (NCP) tended to be radicals centered on a mixture of carbon and oxygen, while those in the control period (CP) were mainly oxygen-centered free radicals. The contribution of G-ROS to the atmospheric oxidizing capacity increased and/or that of P-ROS decreased during CP compared to NCP. The "Parade Blue" days were largely attributed to the dramatic reduction in secondary aerosols, which were also largely responsible for EPFRs and ROS reductions. Our findings demonstrate how effective control measures are in reducing EPFRs and ROS and provide insights into the correlations, sources, and formation processes of EPFRs and ROS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the urban water environmental management, a fast and effective method for water quality analysis should be established with the rapid urbanization. In this study, the Beijing's sub-center was chosen as a case study, and long short-term memory (LSTM) and back propagation (BP) models were built, then a transfer learning model was proposed and applied to optimize the two models on the base of the upstream and downstream relationships in the rivers. The results indicated that the proposed deep learning model could improve NSE by 7% and 9% for LSTM and BP at the Dongguan Bridge gauge, respectively. At the Xugezhuang gauge in the Liangshui River, NSE was improved by 11% and 17%, respectively. At the Yulinzhuang gauge, it was improved by 16% and 13%, respectively. Because the upstream and downstream relationships were considered in the learning model, the model performance was obviously better. In brief, this method would provide an idea for the effective water quality model construction in the ungauged basins or regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rabies is a serious public health problem in Asia and Africa. Approximately 99% of cases result from a bite by an infected dog. The high rabies risk countries are generally characterized by rapid urbanization; however, the prevalence and risk factors for rabies in urban dogs in developing countries remain unclear. Beijing, the capital of China, has been undergoing rapid urbanization, and implemented compulsory rabies immunization for dogs on October 1, 2014. We evaluated the effects of this immunization policy and investigated the dynamics and determinants of the spread of dog rabies virus (RABV) in Beijing. Between 2013 and 2018, the positive rate of rabies in biting dogs declined significantly; 79.6% of these were stray dogs. Reconstructed spatiotemporal diffusion for RABV presents a more central distribution within Beijing and a surrounding dissemination of virus lineage toward suburban areas, indicating that rabies is self-sustaining in Beijing. Continuous RABV phylogeographic reconstructions and logistic regression analysis of rabies cases revealed that rabies tended to remain in commercial areas, high-rise residences, demolition areas, and high-GDP, high-population and high-accessibility areas. Demolition areas, where many residents have abandoned their pets, are recognized as high-risk areas for rabies. Our findings reveal that the implementation of the immunization policy in Beijing has been effective in prevention and control of canine rabies, and because the prevalence of canine rabies results from multiple factors, emphasize the important role of multi-sectoral cooperation in rabies prevention and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have explored the effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its constituents on the progression of cerebral blood flow velocity (BFV) and the potential modifying role of greenness. In this study, we investigated the association of PM2.5 and its constituents, including sulfate (SO42−), nitrate (NO3−), ammonium (NH4+), organic matter (OM), and black carbon (BC), with the progression of BFV in the middle cerebral artery. Participants from the Beijing Health Management Cohort who underwent at least two transcranial Doppler sonography examinations during 2015–2020 were recruited. BFV change and BFV change rate were used to define the progression of cerebral BFV. Linear mixed effects models were employed to analyze the data, and the weighted quantile sum regression assessed the contribution of PM2.5 constituents. Additionally, greenness was examined as a modifier. Among the examined constituents, OM exhibited the strongest association with BFV progression. An interquartile range increase in PM2.5 and OM exposure concentrations was associated with a decrease of −16.519 cm/s (95% CI: −17.837, −15.201) and −15.403 cm/s (95% CI: −16.681, −14.126) in BFV change, and −10.369 cm/s/year (95% CI: −11.387, −9.352) and −9.615 cm/s/year (95% CI: −10.599, −8.632) in BFV change rate, respectively. Furthermore, stronger associations between PM2.5 and BFV progression were observed in individuals working in areas with lower greenness, those aged under 45 years, and females. In conclusion, reducing PM2.5 levels in the air, particularly the OM constituent, and enhancing greenness could potentially contribute to the protection of cerebrovascular health. Plain Language Summary: Fine particulate matter in the atmosphere has been shown to be associated with cerebrovascular disease, however, the adverse effects of fine particulate matter chemical constituents on cerebral hemodynamics and the role of greenness in this are yet to be evaluated. In this study, we evaluated the association of fine particulate matter and its constituents (sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, black carbon, and organic matter) with cerebral arterial blood flow velocity (BFV) and the modifying effect of greenness. We found that fine particulate matter and its constituents accelerate the reduction of cerebral arterial BFV and that the association is stronger where greenness levels are low. Our findings provide new evidence that reducing fine particle exposure and enhancing urban greenery may be an effective way to protect cerebrovascular health. Key Points: PM2.5 and its constituents were associated with a greater and faster reduction in the cerebral artery blood flow velocityThe impacts of PM2.5 and its constituents were modified by greennessYounger people and females were found to be more vulnerable [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Time-location information (time spent on commuting, indoors and outdoors around residential and work places and physical activity) and infiltrated outdoor pollution was less considered estimating individual exposure to ambient air pollution. Studies investigating the association between individual exposure to particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter < 10 μm (PM10) and < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and carotid atherosclerosis presented inconsistent results. Moreover, combined effect of pollutants on carotid atherosclerosis was not fully explored. We aimed to investigate the association between long-term individual time-weighted average exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 and the risk of carotid atherosclerosis, and further explore the overall effect of co-exposure to pollutants on carotid atherosclerosis. Methods: The study population included 3069 participants derived from the Beijing Health Management Cohort (BHMC) study. Daily concentration of ambient air pollutants was estimated by land-use regression model at both residential and work addresses, and one- and two-year time-weighted average individual exposure was calculated by further considering personal activity pattern and infiltration of ambient air pollution indoors. We explored the association of PM2.5 and PM10 with carotid atherosclerosis and pooled the overall effect of co-exposure to ambient air pollutants by quantile g-computation. Results: A significant association between time-weighted average exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 and carotid atherosclerosis was observed. Per interquartile range increase in two-year exposure to PM2.5 (Hazard ratio (HR): 1.322, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.219–1.434) and PM10 (HR:1.213, 95% CI: 1.116–1.319) showed the strongest association with carotid atherosclerosis, respectively. Individuals in higher quartiles of pollutants were at higher risk for carotid atherosclerosis compared with those in the lowest quartile group. Concentration response functions documented the nearly linear and nonlinear relationship and interpreted the upward trends of the risk for carotid atherosclerosis with increasing level of pollutant concentrations. Moreover, effect estimates for the mixture of pollutants and carotid atherosclerosis were larger than any of the individual pollutants (HR (95% CI) was 1.510 (1.338–1.704) and 1.613 (1.428–1.822) per quartile increase for one-year and two-year time-weighted average exposure, respectively). Conclusions: Individual time-weighted average exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 was associated with carotid atherosclerosis. Co-exposure to ambient air pollution was also positively associated with carotid atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reasonable assessment of urban ecological resilience (UER), as well as quantitative identification of critical thresholds of UER, is an important theoretical basis for the formulation of scientific urban development planning. The existing UER assessment methods ignore the dynamic relationship between protection factors and disturbance factors in urban systems and do not address the question of where UER starts to become unstable. Therefore, based on the "source-sink" landscape theory, we constructed a UER assessment model and a method to quantitatively identify the UER's critical distance belt (UER-CDB) using the transect gradient analysis. Additionally, we combined scenario simulation to analyze the change characteristics of UER and its critical distance belt in different urban development directions over past and future periods. The results show that: (1) Based on the "source-sink" theory and transect gradient method, the UER can be effectively assessed and the UER-CDB can be quantitatively identified. (2) The UER in Beijing shows a distribution pattern of high in the northwest and low in the southeast, and the High resilience area accounts for more than 40%. (3) The changes in UER-CDB in Beijing in different development directions have obvious variability, which is mainly influenced by topography and policy planning. (4) Compared with the natural development scenario (NDS), the ecological protection scenario (EPS) is more consistent with Beijing's future urban development plan and more conducive to achieving sustainable development. The methodology of this paper provides a fresh perspective for the study of urban ecological resilience and the critical threshold of ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging in place with a suitable living environment is essential for the health and well-being of older adults. However, the willingness of older people to modify their housing to meet their needs is not strong. Using the Analytic Network Process (ANP) method, the study first explores the weights of factors, such as perceived behavioral control, policies, and market conditions that influence older adults' behavioral intention. Then, a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was used to dissect the psychological factors which account for the largest proportion. Using data from 560 people aged 70 or older from Beijing, results suggest that effectiveness perception, cost perception, and subjective norms can influence older people's behavioral intention directly or indirectly through emotional attitudes. Risk perception can moderate the level of behavioral intention triggered by cost perceptions. This study provides new evidence for the impact of factors and interaction mechanism on older adults' behavioral intentions toward age-friendly home modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the association between relative humidity (RH) and various cause of mortality, and then quantify the RH-related mortality fraction of low and high RH under the assumption that causal effects exist. Daily cause-specific mortality counts from 2008 to 2011, and contemporaneous meteorological data in three Chinese cities were collected. Distributed lag nonlinear models were adopted to quantify the nonlinear and delayed effects of RH on mortality risk. Low and high RH were defined as RH lower or higher than the minimum mortality risk RH (MMRH), respectively. Corresponding RH-related mortality fractions were calculated in the explanatory analysis. From the three cities, 736,301 deaths were collected. RH (mean ± standard deviation) were 50.9 ± 20.0 for Beijing, 75.5 ± 8.6 for Chengdu, and 70.8 ± 14.6 for Nanjing. We found that low RH in Beijing and high RH (about 80–90%) in Chengdu was associated with increased all-cause mortality risk. Both low and high RH may increase the CVD mortality risk in Beijing. Both low and high (about 80–85%) RH may increase the COPD mortality risk in Chengdu. Low RH (about < 45%) was associated with increased diabetes mortality risk in Nanjing. Effects of extreme low and extreme high RH were delayed in these cities, except that extreme low effects on COPD mortality appeared immediately in Chengdu. The effects of extreme low RH are higher than that of the extreme high RH in Beijing and Nanjing, while contrary in Chengdu. Finally, under the causal effect assumption, 6.80% (95% eCI: 2.90, 10.73) all-cause mortality and 12.48% (95% eCI: 7.17, 16.80) CVD deaths in Beijing, 9.59% (95% eCI: 1.38, 16.88) COPD deaths in Chengdu, and 23.79% (95% eCI: 0.92, 387.93) diabetes mortality in Nanjing were attributable to RH. Our study provided insights into RH-mortality risk, helped draw relative intervention policies, and is also significant for future predictions of climate change effects under different scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the encouragement and increasingly recycling demands of the Chinese governments, online recycling platforms based on B2C, such as loving recycling app, waste recycling alliance app, have emerged as the times require. As an indispensable part of online recycling, recycling app evaluation plays a vital role in user acceptance of the innovative recycling way. As we all know, app evaluation is a typical multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) problem involving many complicated criteria. This paper aims to propose an integrated MCDM method to solve this issue under a probabilistic linguistic context. Firstly, a special evaluation criteria system is constructed for measuring apps' performance, which includes five main criteria namely technical feature, safety, interface design, basic requirement, service quality, as well as 12 sub-criteria. Then, we integrated the best-worst method (BWM) and entropy method with the probabilistic linguistic term to determine the subjective and objective weights. And then the comprehensive weights are calculated by multiplicative integration method. Afterwards, the MULTIMOORA method with the Borda rule, is used to rank alternatives and identify the optimal recycling app. Finally, the assessment of the four recycling apps' performance in Beijing is presented to illustrate the validity and rationality of the proposed approach in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban blue–green space is essential to the normal functioning of the urban landscape ecosystem, and it is also a significant metric for assessing the quality of urban human settlements. In China's territorial space planning, the overall planning strategy's implementation depends on constructing the blue–green space network in the urbanized construction area. This paper used 85 typical riverside parks in Beijing's blue–green space as the research object, collecting and analyzing multiple social media user data. It explored the main factors that influenced people's satisfaction with the landscape design and sensory perception of urban waterfront green space from the perspectives of parks beside different river systems, parks of different types, and parks in different districts. The distinction between urban waterfront green space evaluation was further discussed through variance analysis. The research revealed the following findings: (1) by comparing the total number of park reviews in different seasons, it could be observed that tourists evidently preferred the spring landscape, and the winter landscape construction of waterfront green space needs to be improved. (2) By comparing the review stars of different parks, it could be observed that tourists appreciated parks with multiple functions, excellent recreation facilities, complete management services and parks close to the city center. Functions and services became important influencing factors for park evaluation. (3) There was room for improvement in water ecology in the river landscapes of parks adjacent to various river systems, and people paid more attention to the level of service facilities. (4) According to different categories of parks, people's demand for service facilities, activity organization, cultural displays and other aspects was different. (5) Among parks in different districts, people preferred the distinctive animal and plant landscapes and recreational activities of parks in districts on the outskirts of the city. According to the conclusions, suggestions were made for optimizing and improving Beijing's waterfront green space, providing managers with technical support and a basis for decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important part of Beijing's ecological pattern, mountain landscapes are also the most important natural tourist destinations in Beijing. The unique mountain environment in Taihang and Yan Mountains attracts Beijing and foreign tourists alike. Tourists publish travel photos and comments on social media, which provides a new opportunity for a systematic evaluation of these mountain parks based on social media data. To fully understand the developmental status of mountain landscapes in Beijing, this paper comparatively evaluates 45 mountain landscapes in Beijing based on social media data. Using big data capture, semantic network analysis, importance-performance analysis (IPA), etc., it explores the composition of tourist groups in mountain parks, the preferences of the tourist groups, and the relationships between park tourists and different influencing factors, and evaluates the recreational experiences of tourist groups. The development of recreational activities was found to be more important to local tourists than scenic sites for foreign tourists. According to gender differences, women were more interested in recreational experiences than men, while men were more interested in the park's landscapes. According to the IPA, tourists were satisfied with the overall recreation offered by mountain landscapes. The perceptual experience was dominated by visual perception, followed by smell; touch, hearing, and taste were of minor importance. Using social media data to analyze mountain landscape resources in Beijing can provide useful insights into the advantages of these landscapes under a variety of site conditions, strengthen local mountain resource development and tourism publicity, integrate tourism management and planning resources in a targeted and attractive manner, and enhance ecological leisure services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon emissions trading (CET) is now one of China's key policy tools for achieving the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. To comprehensively explore the consequences of China's CET policy, the study first evaluated the content validity of CET policies across China's 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities falling directly under the central government using policy strengths, tools, and measures from 2011 to 2020. The spatiotemporal drivers of regional carbon efficiency improvements from aspects of actual policy effect, average policy content validity effect, and policy quantity effect were also evaluated via the logarithmic mean Divisia index. This analysis revealed that the policy content validity was increasing in general and was higher in pilot regions. On average, the policy quantity effect was the primary driver of carbon efficiency improvements in both pilot and non-pilot regions, but the actual policy effect failed to promote carbon efficiency in both regions. Beijing's carbon emissions reduction effect was superior to that of other pilot regions, and where actual policy effect and policy quantity effect were the primary and secondary drivers of local carbon efficiency improvements, respectively. These findings suggest that when formulating CET policies, each region should not only focus on improving policy content validity, but also pay attention to the actual carbon emissions reduction effects produced by policies as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite all the benefits that customer relationship management (CRM) offers to companies, various studies show high rates of failure when implementing CRM schemes. This study aims to explain how CRM can capitalize on the notion of learning behavior from failures in order to improve the relationship building and innovation performance in high technology ventures.Questionnaire survey data were collected from 234 CEOs and General Managers from ICT firms based in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou, China. Subsequently, both hierarchical linear regression and SEM was conducted to test the hypothesized relationships.Findings show that CRM positively affects both NPD and commitment to long-term relationships and confirm that learning behaviour from failure mediates the main effects of CRM, which consists of strategic and market orientation foci, in combination with internal marketing and knowledge management. Specifically, although all four aspects of CRM are important to NPD, knowledge management is of particular importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To date, there are no studies regarding the lactylation profile and its role in critically ill patients. Thus, we aimed to examine expression of histone H3 lysine 18 (H3K18) lactylation and its role in patients with septic shock. Methods: Thirteen healthy volunteers and 35 critically ill patients from the Department of Surgical Intensive Care Medicine, Beijing Hospital were enrolled in our study. Baseline information and clinical outcomes were obtained prospectively. Lactylation levels of all proteins and H3K18 from peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMC) were determined by western blotting and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines by flow cytometry. Arginase-1 (Arg1) and Krüppel-like factor-4 (Klf4) mRNA expression was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: Lactylation was found to be an all-protein post-translational modification and was detected in PBMCs from both healthy volunteers and critically ill patients, with a significantly higher relative density in shock patients (t =2.172, P =0.045). H3K18la was expressed in all subjects, including healthy volunteers, with the highest level in septic shock patients (compared with non-septic shock patients, critically ill without shock patients and healthy volunteers P =0.033, 0.000 and 0.000, respectively). Furthermore, H3K18la protein expression correlated positively with APACHE II scores, SOFA scores on day 1, ICU stay, mechanical ventilation time and serum lactate (ρ =0.42, 0.63, 0.39, 0.51 and 0.48, respectively, ρ =0.012, 0.000, 0.019, 0.003 and 0.003, respectively). When we matched patients with septic shock and with non-septic shock according to severity, we found higher H3K18la levels in the former group (t =-2.208, P =0.040). Moreover, H3K18la exhibited a close correlation with procalcitonin levels (ρ =0.71, P =0.010). Patients with high H3K18la expression showed higher IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-α levels (ρ =0.33, 0.37, 0.62, 0.55, 0.65, 0.49 and 0.374 respectively, P =0.024, 0.011, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000 and 0.000 respectively). H3K18la expression also displayed a positive correlation with the level of Arg1 mRNA (ρ =0.561, P =0.005). Conclusions: Lactylation is an all-protein post-translational modification occurring in both healthy subjects and critically ill patients. H3K18la may reflect the severity of critical illness and the presence of infection. H3K18la might mediate inflammatory cytokine expression and Arg1 overexpression and stimulate the anti-inflammatory function of macrophages in sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air-to-water heat pumps (AWHPs) utilize renewable energy and have found worldwide applications, with the seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) as a key index. Considering reliability and costs, short-term dynamic monitoring combined with regression analysis and extrapolation is used for predicting SCOP. Different regression models are being researched. A statistical analysis method is proposed to work out the optimal scheme. A series of prediction models with different independent variables, fitting methods and training dataset acquisition methods are discussed. Two indicators, the qualification rate R ±10% and the maximum relative error E max , are proposed for accuracy evaluation. For analysis a typical AWHP heating system in Beijing was monitored for 78d. Linear fitting performs better than quadratic polynomial fitting. For the consecutive-day method, the prediction deviation decreases with a longer test time and presents diminishing marginal benefits. A critical value of 10-day is identified and unrepresentative days should be avoided. For the typical-meteorological-day method, three days with an outdoor air temperature (T out) range covering over 50% days of the heating season and including the average T out of local winter are recommended. Satisfactory prediction results are realized, with R ±10% >97% and E max <14%, while using T out or the difference between water temperature and T out presents consistent accuracy. • Multiple regression models for evaluating AWHP's SCOP are reviewed. • A field test of a practical AWHP heating system is conducted with 78-day data. • A statistical analysis method is proposed to work out the optimal scheme. • Independent variable, fitting method and dataset acquisition method are discussed. • Typical-day data using linear fitting with Tout is feasible for prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary cervical gestational trophoblastic neoplasias (GTNs) are extremely rare ectopic GTNs. Such lesions are difficult to diagnose clinically because of their rarity, with abnormal vaginal bleeding of a non-specific cause being the most common symptom. To that end, this retrospective study aimed to identify the clinical characteristics of cervical GTN and to explore diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.Results: Thirteen patients diagnosed with primary cervical GTN at the Department of Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China, between June 1, 1988 and May 31, 2020 were included in the study. All patients had irregular vaginal bleeding, including six who presented with massive bleeding. Seven patients (53.8%) were initially misdiagnosed with a cervical pregnancy. All patients received chemotherapy; 11 (84.6%) also underwent hysterectomy because of chemoresistant lesions or uncontrolled bleeding. All patients achieved complete remission; however, two women (15.4%) experienced a relapse during the median follow-up period of 35 months. A comprehensive review of English-language literature published between 1980 and 2020 identified 22 case reports encompassing 27 patients. The definitive diagnosis was achieved via pathology in 26 of them (96.3%), and hysterectomy was performed in 21 (77.8%).Conclusions: Owing to its rarity and nonspecific symptoms, the diagnosis of primary cervical GTN is challenging and often relies on pathology. The combination of chemotherapy and hysterectomy is the main therapeutic strategy for this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The novel inflammatory markers C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were associated with the disease activity of many autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of these new inflammatory indexes with relapsing polychondritis disease activity index (RPDAI). Methods: The data of relapsing polychondritis (RP) patients hospitalized between 2004 and 2020 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital were collected. One of the exclusive criteria was that RP patients overlapped with other diseases. Another was the RP patients with incomplete data. A total of 170 RP patients and 170 healthy controls (HCs) were included. The association of new inflammatory makers with RPDAI was assessed by Spearman's correlation analysis. Results: Compared to HCs, the CAR, NLR, and PLR were significantly higher in RP patients (both p < 0.001). The CAR, NLR, PLR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and neutrophil counts in peripheral blood positively correlated with RPDAI. Blood albumin, lymphocyte count, hemoglobin (Hb) negatively correlated with RPDAI. The association of CAR, NLR, and PLR with RPDAI was demonstrated by Spearman's correlation analysis. Conclusion: The novel inflammatory markers CAR, NLR and PLR were associated with RPDAI. Key Points • This is the first research to explore the association of CAR, NLR, and PLR with disease activity in patients with RP • CAR, NLR, and PLR are positively correlated with RPDAI • CAR, NLR, and PLR might be the potential predictors of disease activity in RP [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a contagious cat pathogen that causes oral ulceration and/or upper respiratory disease. In this study, we collected 61 samples from a pet hospital in Beijing and used PCR or RT-PCR to detect FCV and feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1). Approximately 44.3% (27/61) of the samples were FCV positive, and 23.0% (14/61) were coinfected with FCV and FHV-1. FCV was isolated from 15 samples. One isolate was from a cat with virulent systemic disease (VSD) signs, and 14 isolates were from cats with stomatitis or upper respiratory diseases. The range of genome sequence identity among these isolates was 76.1–100.0%. Four of the isolates were considered to be of the same strain, with sequence identity ranging from 99.5 to 99.7%, and two isolates, BJ-280 and BJ-288, had completely identical sequences. The genomic sequence identity ranged from 76.0 to 88.5% between the 15 isolates and several reference strains, including the F4 and F9 vaccine strains. These results demonstrate that many FCV strains are co-circulating in Beijing. Due to the diversity of FCV in Beijing, it is necessary to monitor the current prevalence of the virus. This study provides more information for the development of effective measures to control FCV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the train scheduling problem for metro networks taking into account time-dependent passenger origin–destination demands and train speed profiles. The aim is to adjust train schedules online according to time-dependent passenger demands so that passenger satisfaction and operational costs are jointly optimized. An extended passenger absorption model that explicitly includes time-dependent passenger origin–destination demands is developed, where the term "absorption" refers to passengers boarding trains. Then, the passenger absorption model is extended to a bi-level framework, where passenger demands and rolling stock availability are considered at the higher level, and detailed timetables and train speed profiles are included at the lower level. A bi-level model predictive control (MPC) approach is developed for the integrated problem. The optimization problems of both levels of the bi-level MPC approach can be converted into mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) problems, which enables us to solve them with existing MILP solvers. We then show that the recursive feasibility of both the higher-level and the lower-level optimization problems can be guaranteed. In this way, we can achieve real-time train scheduling for the metro system. Numerical experiments, based on real-life data from the Beijing metro network, illustrate the effectiveness of the extended passenger absorption model and the proposed bi-level MPC approach. • An extended passenger absorption model is developed to design train departure frequencies considering passenger demands. • A train scheduling model is presented to include detailed timetables, train speed profiles, and train orders. • A bi-level model predictive control approach is proposed for the train scheduling problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were applied to investigate the abnormalities in the topological characteristics of functional brain networks during non-rapid eye movement(NREM)sleep. And we investigated its relationship with cognitive abnormalities in patients with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) disorder in the current study. Methods: The Beijing version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-BJ) and EEG-fMRI were applied in 25 patients with NT1 and 25 age-matched healthy controls. All subjects participated in a nocturnal video polysomnography(PSG)study, and total sleep time (TST), percentage of TST (%TST) for each sleep stage and arousal index were calculated. The Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS) was used to measure the degree of daytime sleepiness. The EEG-fMRI study was performed simultaneously using a 3T MRI system and a 32-channel MRI-compatible EEG system during sleep. Visual scoring of EEG data was used for sleep staging. Cognitive function was assessed for all subjects using the MoCA-BJ. The fMRI data were applied to establish a whole-brain functional connectivity network for all subjects, and the topological characteristics of the whole-brain functional network were analyzed using a graph-theoretic approach. The topological parameters were compared between groups. Lastly, the correlation between topological parameters and the assessment scale using Montreal Cognition was analyzed. Results: The MoCA-BJ scores were lower in patients with NT1 than in normal controls. Whole-brain global efficiency during stage N2 sleep in patients with NT1 displayed significantly lower small-world properties than in normal controls. Whole-brain functional network global efficiency in patients with NT1 was significantly correlated with MoCA-BJ scores. Conclusion: The global efficiency of the functional brain network during stage N2 sleep in patients with NT1 and the correspondingly reduced small-world attributes were associated with cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how energy use responds to meteorological conditions is essential for anticipation of energy demands, which is of significance to maintain sufficient power supply and to prevent brownouts or blackouts during peak hours. Using the quarter-hourly and district-level electricity data for Beijing, this study calculates the district-varying cooling electric loads due to air-conditioning (AC) systems in five consecutive summers. Results show the occurrence of two major features that are common for summertime cooling loads in most districts, namely, double-peaked diurnal profiles and weekday-weekend fluctuations. With the increasing distance from the city core, the evening peak cooling load around 21:00 local time (LT) becomes more pronounced and comparable with its afternoon counterpart around 15:00 LT. Conversely, the weekday-weekend fluctuation is greatly weakened in suburban and rural districts due to the stable cooling demands on weekdays and weekends. The district-level sensitivity of peak cooling loads to surface meteorological factors is further investigated by linear regression analysis, and results show significant decreases from urban to rural districts. The correlation coefficients between peak cooling loads and heat index that combines air temperature and relative humidity reach up to 0.8-0.9 in most districts. If using air temperature or specific humidity solely, the coefficients of determination with peak cooling loads are roughly 0.1-0.3 smaller, possibly indicating the greater potential of heat index for effectively predicting peak cooling demands in Beijing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To validate the efficacies of three screening tools including the Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Asians (OSTA), Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) without bone mineral density (BMD), and body mass index (BMI) for predicting postmenopausal osteoporosis (OP) and to define the ideal thresholds for avoidance of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning in a Han Chinese population in Beijing. Patients and Methods: A total of 2055 community-dwelling Han Beijing postmenopausal females aged ≥ 45 years were enrolled in this study. All participants completed a questionnaire, and BMD was measured by DXA. OP was defined by a T-score at least − 2.5 SD less than that of average young adults in different diagnostic criteria [lumbar spine, femoral neck, total hip, worst hip, WHO]. The abilities of the OSTA, FRAX, and BMI to predict OP were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curves (AUC) were calculated. Ideal thresholds for identifying OP were proposed. Results: The prevalence of OP ranged from 8.1% to 28.4% according to different diagnostic criteria. The AUC range for the OSTA (0.758– 0.849) was similar to the FRAX (0.728– 0.855), which revealed that both tools predicted OP reliably. The AUC range for BMI was 0.643– 0.682, suggesting limited predictive value. According to WHO criteria, the AUC values for the FRAX for hip fracture risk (FRAX-HF) and for the OSTA were 0.796 and 0.798, with corresponding sensitivities of 74.79% and 69.64% and specificities of 70.45% and 75.07%, respectively. At defined thresholds, the FRAX-HF and OSTA allowed avoidance of DXA in 42.4– 37.6% of participants, at a cost of missing only 7.2– 8.6% of individuals with OP. Conclusion: The OSTA and FRAX-HF may be reliable and effective tools for identifying postmenopausal OP in the Han Beijing population without BMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We built an e-tailing service recovery research framework to explore the effect of online service recovery on postrecovery customer satisfaction and loyalty after service failure. We also investigated the mediating role of customer perceived distributive justice in the relationship between service recovery and recovery effects. We conducted a survey with 330 undergraduate students in Beijing. The results showed that both psychological and tangible recovery were significantly related to customer perceived distributive justice. Psychological recovery and distributive justice also positively influenced postrecovery customer satisfaction. The positive impact of tangible recovery on postrecovery satisfaction was not significant. Psychological and tangible recovery and distributive justice all positively affected customer loyalty. The mediating role of distributive justice in the relationship between online service recovery and recovery effects was also confirmed. These findings show that e-tailers should pay more attention to both psychological and tangible recovery after service failure to retain customer satisfaction and loyalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the reciprocal relationships between students' engagement and their relationships with teachers and peers in the context of Chinese educational reform. The participants were 628 7th-grade students from a public secondary school in Beijing. All of the students completed self-reported student engagement, teacher–student relationships and peer relationships measures at three time points within 3 years (at the end of the 7th grade, 8th grade and 9th grade). Through cross-lagged models, this study found that prior-year teacher–student relationships could predict the cognitive component of student engagement only in the 9th grade. However, higher levels of behavioural, emotional and cognitive engagement predicted subsequent higher-quality teacher–student relationships from the 7th to the 9th grades. Moreover, previous peer relationships predicted student behavioural and cognitive engagement in the 8th grade and emotional engagement in the 9th grade. Prior-year behavioural, emotional and cognitive engagement predicted peer relationships in the 8th grade, but the prediction was significant only for the influence of behavioural engagement on peer relationships for older students between the 8th grade and the 9th grade. Implications for supportive interpersonal relationships with teachers and peers that facilitate student engagement are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In plant immune responses, reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as signaling molecules that activate defense pathways against pathogens, especially following resistance (R) gene-mediated pathogen recognition. Glutathione (GSH), an antioxidant and redox regulator, participates in the removal of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). However, the mechanism of GSH-mediated H2O2 generation in soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) that are resistant to the soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) remains unclear. To elucidate this underlying relationship, the feeding of race 3 of H. glycines with resistant cultivars, Peking and PI88788, was compared with that on a susceptible soybean cultivar, Williams 82. After 5, 10, and 15 days of SCN infection, we quantified γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-EC) and (homo)glutathione ((h)GSH), and a gene expression analysis showed that GSH metabolism in resistant cultivars differed from that in susceptible soybean roots. ROS accumulation was examined both in resistant and susceptible roots upon SCN infection. The time of intense ROS generation was related to the differences of resistance mechanisms in Peking and PI88788. ROS accumulation that was caused by the (h)GSH depletion-arrested nematode development in susceptible Williams 82. These results suggest that (h)GSH metabolism in resistant soybeans plays a key role in the regulation of ROS-generated signals, leading to resistance against nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People are increasingly exposed to electromagnetic radiation with the rapid development of technologies such as broadcasting and mobile communication system. There is a concern that long-term exposure at low levels may be associated with various non-specific physical symptoms and ecological effects on animals and plants. It is extremely important to measure and analyze the electromagnetic radiation levels in order to protect people from the possible effects of electromagnetic radiation. A large-scale assessment of the effects of electromagnetic radiation on health or on ecology requires the ambient electromagnetic radiation levels over areas too vast to cover with conventional measurement methods. In this article, detailed information about the measurement tools and measurement method are given. The electromagnetic radiation exposure levels were measured on the main streets in the dense urban areas of Beijing, the capital of China. We apply ordinary kriging as an interpolation technique to assess the electromagnetic radiation exposure in large outdoor areas based on car-mounted measurements along the surrounding roads. The electromagnetic radiation exposure levels for larger areas can be investigated visually on the electromagnetic pollution map, which can assist decision makers by identifying the hotspots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate prediction on influent wastewater quality is of great importance to energy saving and chemical dosage reduction of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, the existing methods ignore the data noise caused by water sensors working in harsh conditions and the intrinsic variable dynamics inherent in the time series of wastewater quality. To tackle this problem, we propose a novel approach called wt-ResLSTM (w avelet t ransform and Res idual L ong S hort- T erm M emory) to predict the influent wastewater quality. Specifically, we adopt wavelet transform and semi-soft thresholding to remove the noise from influent wastewater quality data adaptively. Then, we use autoencoder to learn the latent representation of the recent fluctuation of wastewater quality to capture its transient uncertainty. Further, the residual LSTM is adopted to learn both the long-term and short-term sequential dependencies of influent wastewater quality from the historical wastewater quality and the latent representation of its recent fluctuation. Experiments on the dataset from a large-scale urban WWTP in Beijing demonstrate that the proposed wt-ResLSTM approach outperforms state-of-the-art techniques in predicting influent wastewater quality in terms of level accuracy and directional accuracy. • This paper proposes a novel approach called wt-ResLSTM for the prediction on influent wastewater quality. • The wt-ResLSTM approach considers both noise removal and transient uncertainty in recent fluctuations of wastewater quality. • The wt-ResLSTM approach can be used to accomplish precise control of WWTPs for energy saving and chemical dosage reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenza is active during the winter and spring in the city of Beijing, which has a typical temperate climate with four clear distinct seasons. The clinical and laboratory surveillance data for influenza have been used to construct critical indicators for influenza activities in the community, and previous studies have reported varying degrees of association between laboratory-confirmed influenza specimens and outpatient consultation rates of influenza-like illness in subtropical cities. However, few studies have reported on this issue for cities in temperate regions, especially in developing countries. Furthermore, the mechanism behind age-specific seasonal epidemics remains unresolved, although it has been widely discussed. We utilized a wavelet analysis method to monitor the coherence of weekly percentage of laboratory-confirmed influenza specimens with the weekly outpatient consultation rates of influenza-like illness in Beijing, China. We first examined the seasonal pattern of laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza A (subtyped into seasonal A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) and pandemic virus A(H1N1) pdm09) and influenza B separately within the period from 2008–2015; then, we detected the coherence of clinical and laboratory surveillance data in this district, specially examining weekly time series of age-specific epidemics of influenza-like illnesses in the whole study period for three age categories (age 0–5, 5–15 and 25–60). We found that influenza A and B were both active in winter but were not always seasonally synchronous in Beijing. Synchronization between age ranges was found in most epidemic peaks from 2008–2015. Our findings suggested that peaks of influenza-like illness in individuals aged 0–5 and 5–15 years consistently appeared ahead of those of adults, implying the possibility that schoolchildren may lead epidemic fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying current carbon emissions their fine scale spatial distribution is necessary to improve carbon emission management, requirements, and emission reduction strategies of key industries. This study established an entity-level model to estimate carbon emissions by combining geographic information of points of interest (POIs) and nighttime light data from Beijing in 2018. The model accounted for the carbon emissions of Beijing's key entities and industries and simulated their spatial distribution. The results showed a good fit between the carbon emissions of the entities and nighttime light brightness values. The 130-m resolution of the urban carbon emission distribution data had a higher spatial simulation accuracy than that of the 1-km Open-Data inventory for anthropogenic carbon dioxide (ODIAC) data. Through the lens of urban functional areas, the average value of carbon emissions was highest in commercial areas and lowest in public management and service areas, at 78,840.11 tC/km2 and 6844.79 tC/km2, respectively. In terms of the industrial sector, the transportation industry had the highest carbon emissions, with a total of 31.86 Mt., while non-metal mining and oil and gas extraction had almost no energy consumption, with total carbon emissions of 1.38 Mt. The spatial clustering results showed that the distribution of carbon emissions in Beijing had a significant positive spatial correlation; forming high-high aggregation clusters dominated by the city center and major business districts and a low-low aggregation clusters dominated by the city's suburban areas. The simulation model clearly reflected the fine scale characteristics of carbon emissions, in terms of their quantity and spatial distribution. Results obtained in this study can aid relevant departments to formulate appropriate strategies for collectively guiding industrial enterprises towards carbon neutrality. • We developed an entity-level model to estimate Beijing's CO 2 emission. • POIs data are spatially overlaid with night-light data. • The spatial resolution of CO 2 emission simulations is improved to 130 m. • The spatial distribution of CO 2 emissions displayed an expected pattern among functional areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals found in construction waste can enter soil and water bodies through surface runoff and leachate, where they represent an environmental hazard. In this study, we investigate the pollution characteristics and ecological risks of eight heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, and As) in the soils of an unofficial construction waste landfill site in Beijing, China. The results indicate that long-term disposal of construction waste in the dry riverbed can reduce the pH value of the soil, increase the soil organic carbon content, and affect the total amount and distribution of heavy metals. Moreover, the landfill site pollutes the external soil environment, with Cd, Zn, Pb, and Cu as the characteristic pollutants. According to the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index and potential ecological risk assessment, heavy metal pollution decreases in the following order: internal soil > bottom soil > boundary soil. Cd, Zn, Pb, and Cu pollution is higher in the internal region, with single heavy-metal pollution indexes (Pi) of 1.41, 1.65, 1.26, and 1.28, respectively. Conversely, the Pi for Cr is higher in boundary and bottom soils (1.91 and 1.94, respectively). Risk assessment codes indicate that Cd and Mn pose the greatest environmental risk (31.9% and 17.8%, respectively) as they have the highest effective content, bioavailability, and mobility. Thus, environmental monitoring is a necessity for these metals. • Eight heavy metals in construction waste landfill soils were assessed. • Pollution characteristics and ecological risks were evaluated. • Construction waste in landfills affects multiple soil characteristics. • Residual contents of Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and As account for 80% of total soil elements. • Cd and Mn pose the highest risk to the soil environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compounds, the evolution of siheyuan, are residence-oriented courtyards in historic blocks, and are more often than not where the low-income people settle. Under the influence of different historical stages and major events, the continuous evolution of compound spatial landscape structures is the witness and representation of ancient time-honored Beijing culture. The authors take nine compounds in Dongsisantiao Hutong as the object of study, and divide spatial landscape transformation process into four stages after detailed surveys. Then, based on the study of Michel de Certeau on the practice of daily life and in connection with the special social structures in compounds, theauthors summarize the modalities of spontaneous spatial landscape transformation practice in compounds. The study aims to provide reference for small-scale spatial landscape transformation in residence-oriented historic blocks and to probe into the relations between man and space landscape in similar historical space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of the emission reduction measures undertaken by authorities in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit 2014 demonstrated that the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei air quality can be improved by introducing integrated emission reduction measures. This paper combines observation data, emission reduction measures, and air quality simulations that were applied before, during, and after the emission control measure implement to analyze the chemical composition change and relationship between emissions and concentrations of pollutants in region. The 24-h PM samples were collected in the city Beijing, Shijiazhuang, and Tangshan during the period of 20 October to 25 November, 2014. The total PM mass was measured. PM samples were used for the analysis of inorganic elements, selected ions, and organic carbon (OC) and element carbon (EC). PM concentrations during the emission control period were decreased. Total PM concentrations were reduced by 54, 26, and 39 % when compared to non-emission control period in Beijing, Shijiazhuang, and Tangshan. The average element concentrations were reduced significantly by 75 % in Beijing, 37 % in Shijiazhuang, and 36 % in Tangshan. After the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference, the average element concentration increased. At both cities, the concentration secondary water-soluble ions, primary carbon, and element carbon were reduced. However, the concentration of secondary carbon species increased in Beijing due to photochemical oxidants change. More stringent control of regional emissions will be needed for significant reductions of fine particulate pollution in the region to continue to improve air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Any tourist site open to local residents represents a point where residents and tourists become a back drop for the experiences of the other. This paper examines a specific Beijing film tourism attraction, Grand View Gardens, and the manner in which the site is used by local residents, the meanings attributed to it, and residents' role in creating an ambience for tourists. Residents have a daily connection with the site, and form audiences for events held at the Gardens. They often interact with tourists, becoming a source of information for tourists. The paper examines residents' motives for using such attractions, their attitudes towards tourists and suggests they possess a role in the creation of a sense of place that is valued by tourists. The paper fills a gap in an under-researched area, where, in the Chinese context, both residents and visitors form backdrops to each other's experience of place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pervasiveness of anthropogenic light in urban environments has increased the exposure to light of many animals. Since photoperiod is a regulator of the timing of reproduction in most temperate region birds, such light sources could potentially change the timing of reproduction. We compared the luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), and estradiol (E 2 ) levels of tree sparrow ( Passer montanus ) populations sampled at two urban and two rural sites in China, and also performed a controlled photoperiod experiment to determine the influence of artificial light on the endocrine rhythm of these populations. LH levels of urban tree sparrows increased earlier than those of rural ones, but rural populations had higher LH peaks. A linear mixed model (LMM) indicates that increased exposure to light at night (LAN) significantly influenced the LH, T and E 2 concentrations of free-living tree sparrows in urban environments compared to their rural counterparts. The results of the controlled photoperiod experiment showed that tree sparrows that were exposed to 6 lux of light during the dark phase of the artificial photoperiod began to secrete LH earlier, and had lower peak LH levels, than control birds. A LMM indicates that LAN had a significant effect on LH levels in this experiment. Although urban tree sparrows began to secrete LH earlier than their rural counterparts, we found no corresponding advance in T or E 2 secretion. On the contrary, peak T and E 2 levels of urban birds were lower than those of rural birds. These results suggest that although anthropogenic light sources appear to advance the onset of LH secretion in urban tree sparrow populations, they also lower peak LH, and consequently levels of T and E 2 . A possible explanation for these observations is that greater exposure to anthropogenic light in urban environments stimulates LH secretion and may influence photosensitivity, but further experimental work is required to test this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A framework for retrofitting existing houses to NZEBs is proposed. • The framework includes renewable system design, building envelope improvement and energy system retrofit. • The framework practicability and reliability were demonstrated in a real building retrofit. • Energy consumptions before and after retrofit were presented and compared. Nearly zero energy building is a promising solution for tackling the conflict between the reducing fossil fuel reserves and the ever-increasing energy demand. Initiatives and goals for nearly zero energy buildings have been announced in different countries, as well as a series of strategies and incentives for advocating renewable energy applications. Within this context, homeowners' energy awareness has been strengthened and more and more of them are willing to invest on energy efficiency improvement and renewable energy application. However, there is no clear method or procedure for common practitioners to follow in the practice of energy retrofit of existing buildings, more specifically existing houses. This paper fills this pressing research gap by developing a framework for retrofitting existing houses to nearly zero energy buildings. The developed framework is then implemented on a real house in Beijing to demonstrate its reliability and practicability. The innovations of this study lie in the full consideration of the actual conditions of existing houses as well as the practicability of the framework, and for the first time, the detailed energy performance measurements of a real-life house from its original inefficient condition to after being retrofitted to a nearly zero energy building are presented. The framework can be easily extended to applications of other renewables and serve as a guideline for the wide common practitioners in their real building renovation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report SHRIMP U–Pb zircon ages from K-bentonite beds from different locations in the Xiamaling Formation near Beijing at the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC). The 1379±12 Ma and 1380±36 Ma ages obtained in our study correlate with similar data (1368±12 Ma) obtained from recent studies and assign a Mid-Mesoproterozoic (Ectasian Period) age for the formation. In addition, a detailed bed-by-bed study of the K-bentonite sequence indicates that the present dated successions northwest of Beijing can be correlated fairly well with that of the well-known Meso- to Neoproterozoic standard section in Jixian to the east of Beijing. The new data call for a major revision of the previous Meso- to Neoproterozoic chronostratigraphic subdivision of the northern NCC, with a revised calibration into the early to middle Mesoproterozoic Era. Our data suggest that the Tawuia-bearing assemblage in the lower part of the Xiamaling Formation in the NCC could be older than ~1380 Ma, and is not limited to a representative feature of the Neoproterozoic Little-Dal-Group-type macroalgal biota. Combined with other similar discoveries, we conclude that the macro-evolution of Proterozoic eukaryotic biotas, represented by macroalgal assemblages, would have probably been a long, protracted, and somewhat monotonous process. On the other hand, reassessment of the paleomagnetic database for these successions, combined with stratigraphic correlations and similarities in the macroalgal assemblages on the NCC and Laurentia, support a configuration in which the NCC was in close proximity to the Laurentia–Siberia–Baltica grouping during much of the Mesoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic time. Furthermore, our study suggests recent assumptions linking δ 34SCAS and δ 13Ccarbonate fluctuations in the Jixian section with the assembly and breakup of Rodinia must now be reconsidered, as these fluctuations may correlate better with the tectonics associated with the Columbia supercontinent cycle. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Following advancement in urbanization, outdoor thermal comfort is receiving increasing attention, with radiation being an influencing factor. To determine the shading preference, instead of a subjective questionnaire survey, an objective foot vote approach was proposed using remote sensing images. Subsequently, the meteorological data of cities were obtained from the Bureau of Meteorology. From the results, the foot vote was approximately consistent with the PMV, and pedestrians tended to move to the shaded area if it was hot and to the non-shaded area if it was cold. However, people do not move if the foot vote value ranges from 1 to 2, and the thermal acceptance range of PET is 19.2–29 °C in Beijing when using the definitions of foot vote. The outdoor thermal acceptance differs significantly with the types of outdoor sites and climates, and pedestrians in Beijing are significantly more sensitive than those in Wuhan if the outdoor thermal environment changes. Compared to transportation hubs and shopping malls, pedestrians in public buildings are less sensitive, whereas those in scenic spots are more sensitive. Results from this study will be beneficial to policymakers in urban designing to renovate and improve thermally comfortable urban environments at the pedestrian level. [Display omitted] • An objective foot vote approach from remote sensing images is proposed. • The foot vote approach is tested and consistent with PMV approach. • Air temperature and global radiation are important factors affecting foot votes. • Thermal acceptance range of PET is 19.2–29 °C in Beijing under foot vote approach. • Outdoor thermal sensitivity differs with the types of outdoor sites and climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of urban functional areas is essential for urban planning and sustainable development. Spatial grids are the basic units for the implementation of urban plans and management by cities or development zones. The emergence of internet "big data" provides new ideas for the identification of urban functional areas. Based on point of interest (POI) data from Baidu Maps, the Xicheng District of Beijing was divided into grids with side lengths of 200, 500, and 1000 m in this study. The kernel density method was used to analyze the spatial structure of POI data. Two indicators, that is, the frequency density and category ratio, were then used to identify single- and mixed-functional areas. The results show that (1) commercial and financial areas are concentrated in the city center and multiple business centers have not developed; (2) scenic areas account for the largest proportion of single-functional areas in the Xicheng District of Beijing, followed by education and training, residence, and party and government organizations areas; and (3) the 200 × 200 m and 500 × 500 m grids are the most suitable for the identification of single- and mixed-functional areas, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the massive increase of subway passengers in large Chinese cities, thermal comfort in the subway has become an important topic. The thermal comfort of subway passengers is different from that in above-ground buildings and has its own particularities, as the subway comprises of underground semi-closed buildings. Moreover, the thermal environment experienced by passengers is dynamic. Considering these reasons, this study adopts a dynamic thermal comfort study method for investigating thermal sensations in the subway. The field study was conducted in two Beijing subway stations in May 2016 and June–July 2017, and a total of 628 samples were obtained. Variations in thermal sensation and thermal comfort were analyzed. The results showed that the thermal sensations of subway passengers change dramatically through the entire process, and alternate between hot and cold. For the station hall and platform, although the temperature and the relative humidity were beyond the standard range of the "Code for Design of Metro in China" (GB50157- 2013), passengers find them acceptable. The study also provides reliable basic data for the design and operation management of ventilation and air-conditioning systems in the subway station, so as to create a comfortable thermal environment for subway passengers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain protein content (GPC) is an important indicator of wheat quality. Earlier estimation of wheat GPC based on remote sensing provided effective decision to adapt optimized strategies for grain harvest, which is of great significance for agricultural production. The objectives of this field study are: (i) To assess the ability of spectral vegetation indices (VIs) of Sentinel 2 data to detect the wheat nitrogen (N) attributes related to the grain quality of winter wheat production, and (ii) to examine the accuracy of wheat N status and GPC estimation models based on different VIs and wheat nitrogen parameters across Analytical Spectra Devices (ASD) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) hyper-spectral data-simulated sentinel data and the real Sentinel-2 data. In this study, four nitrogen parameters at the wheat anthesis stage, including plant nitrogen accumulation (PNA), plant nitrogen content (PNC), leaf nitrogen accumulation (LNA), and leaf nitrogen content (LNC), were evaluated for their relationship between spectral parameters and GPC. Then, a multivariate linear regression method was used to establish the wheat nitrogen and GPC estimation model through simulated Sentinel-2A VIs. The coefficients of determination ( R 2 ) of four nitrogen parameter models were all greater than 0.7. The minimum R 2 of the prediction model of wheat GPC constructed by four nitrogen parameters combined with VIs was 0.428 and the highest R 2 was 0.467. The normalized root mean square error (nRMSE) of the four nitrogen estimation models ranged from 26.333% to 29.530% when verified by the ground-measured data collected from the Beijing suburbs, and the corresponding nRMSE for the GPC-predicted models ranged from 17.457% to 52.518%. The accuracy of the estimated model was verified by UAV hyper-spectral data which had resized to different spatial resolution collected from the National Experimental Station for Precision Agriculture. The normalized root mean square error (nRMSE) of the four nitrogen estimation models ranged from 16.9% to 37.8%, and the corresponding nRMSE for the GPC-predicted models ranged from 12.3% to 13.2%. The relevant models were also verified by Sentinel-2A data collected in 2018 while the minimum nRMSE for GPC invert model based on PNA was 7.89% and the maximum nRMSE of the GPC model based on LNC was 12.46% in Renqiu district, Hebei province. The nRMSE for the wheat nitrogen estimation model ranged from 23.200% to 42.790% for LNC and PNC. These data demonstrate that freely available Sentinel-2 imagery can be used as an important data source for wheat nutrition and grain quality monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted on aerosol-radiation interactions over six cities in this region within the 2015–2019 period. WRF-Chem simulations on 2017 showed that based on the six-city average, the aerosol load (PM 2.5 concentrations) of 121.9, 49.6, 43.3, and 66.3 µg/m3 in January, April, July, and October, mainly lowered the level of downward shortwave radiation by 38.9, 24.0, 59.1, and 24.4 W/m2 and reduced the boundary layer height by 79.9, 40.8, 87.4, and 31.0 m, via scattering and absorbing solar radiation. The sensitivity of meteorological changes to identical aerosol loads varied in the order July > January > October and April. Then, the cooling and stabilizing effects of aerosols further led to increases in PM 2.5 , by 23.0, 3.4, 4.6, and 7.3 µg/m3 respectively in the four months. The sensitivity of the effect of aerosols on PM 2.5 was greatest in January rather than in July, contrary to the effect on meteorology. Moreover, a negative linear relation was observed between daily BLH reductions and aerosol loads in fall and winter, and between PM 2.5 increases and aerosol loads in all seasons. With the PM 2.5 pollution improvements in this region, the aerosol radiative forcing was effectively reduced. This should result in daily BLH increases of 10–24 m in fall and winter, and the estimates in Beijing agreed well with the corresponding results based on AMDAR data. Additionally, the reduction in aerosol radiation effects brought about daily PM 2.5 decreases of 1.6-2.8 µg/m3, accounting for 7.0%–17.7% in PM 2.5 improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]