Search

Protection of cultural relics and sites is of great significance. In this study, the new gray-green thin-layer biological crust on the rammed soil surface at the Shanhaiguan Great Wall in China was found. The emergence of this material has substantially improved the resistance of the rammed Earth Great Wall to rain erosion. 16S rRNA gene sequencing on the surface crusts of rammed Earth was performed. Results show the biological crusts were mainly algae-based composite crusts containing fungi. At the genus level, microalgae and Sphingomycetes were predominant. Under scanning electron microscopy (SEM), algae filaments dominated by filamentous algae overlapped and intertwined with each other. Furthermore, polysaccharide organic matter secreted by algae formed a covering film. The two formed a complex spatial network structure to envelop soil particles, which enhances erosion resistance. The conformable biological crusting is expected to be used as a new civil engineering material for the protection of rammed Earth sites in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, electricity transmission has increased rapidly over the past decades, and a large amount of virtual water is delivered from power generation provinces to load hubs. Understanding the evolution of the virtual water network embodied in electricity transmission is vital for mitigating water scarcity. However, previous studies mainly calculated the virtual water transferred in short periods in low-spatial resolution and failed to reveal driving forces of the evolution of virtual water. To solve this problem, we investigated the historical evolution of the virtual water network and virtual scarce water network embodied in interprovincial electricity transmission between 2005 and 2014. The driving forces of the evolution of virtual (scarce) water networks were analyzed at both national level and provincial level. The results show that the overall virtual water transmission and virtual scarce water transmission increased by five times, and the direction was mainly from southwest and northwest provinces to eastern provinces. Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou played an increasingly important role in virtual water exporting, and northwestern provinces had dominated the virtual scarce water exporting in the decade. At the national level, the increase of virtual water is mainly driven by the change of power generation mix and power transmission. At the provincial level, the increase of virtual water transmission in the largest virtual water exporter (Sichuan) is driven by the power generation mix and the power transmission, between 2005 and 2010, and 2010 and 2014, respectively. Considering the expanding of electricity transmission, the development of hydropower in the southwestern provinces and other renewable energies (solar and wind) in the northeastern provinces would overall mitigate the water scarcity in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with electricity transmission, virtual water is transferred from electricity generation provinces to load hubs, reallocating spatial water resources and impacting regional water scarcity. To assess whether virtual water in electricity transmission mitigated or aggravated national water scarcity, a rationality assessment model was proposed from energy-water nexus perspective. The interprovincial virtual water flows were calculated based on provincial water intensity and electricity transmission considering the provincial electricity generation mix. The flow rationality index and node rationality index were proposed and defined to evaluate the net benefit of virtual water flows and provinces, respectively, according to the interprovincial differences in water stress index. The results show that: 1) a large amount of virtual water was transferred from the northwest and southwest provinces to the southeast provinces and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region; 2) the flow with the highest flow rationality index is Inner Mongolia-to-Hebei (29.8), while the lowest one is Shanxi-to-Hubei (−102.5); 3) the node with the highest node rationality index is Hebei (32.0), while the lowest one is Shanxi (−104.7). By quantifying the impacts of electricity transmission on provincial and national water stress, this study aims to provide guidance for national virtual water strategy by electricity transmission to mitigate national water scarcity. • Virtual water transfers embodied in China's interprovincial electricity trade is calculated in 2014. • A rationality assessment model is proposed to evaluate whether the water transfers positively or negatively impacts overall water scarcity for a region. • Based rationality assessment model, the rationality index for flows and provinces is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volume of landfill gas (LFG) produced during municipal solid waste (MSW) decomposition in local landfills has increased rapidly in recent years. To promote circular economy (CE) applications through resource recovery, this article investigates the feasibility of utilizing LFG as a sustainable energy to power data centers (DCs) in Xiamen (China) and evaluates the implications of waste heat reuse on the energy consumption of DC. The objective of this study was to investigate the environmental impacts and economic benefits of this scheme based on a SFC model. With respect to its novelty, LFG is utilized as an energy supply to DCs, while the waste heat generated in the energy production is recovered. The socio-economic benefits generated in this process are also elaborated. It was found that a large number of MSW was completely recycled to generate energy. The LFG enterprise could benefit from energy sale, while the energy satisfied the annual demand for DC power consumption. Utilizing this energy output resulted in the reduction of primary energy and less CO₂ emissions. By reusing the waste heat for domestic heating, the energy efficiency could be improved, while primary energy could be further saved, avoiding more CO₂ emissions. This implies that utilizing LFG output and waste heat to power DCs not only facilitate resource recovery from unused resources to improve energy efficiency and obtain socio-economic benefits, but also promote the digitalization of DCs and sustainable development of urban cities in the framework of CE. [Display omitted] • LFG can be used to power data centers (DCs) in order to promote CE. • The recovery of waste heat from LFG generation reduced CO 2 emission of 8.46 × 108kg. • Within 15 years, 4.97 × 10 10 kg of MSW can generate 4.65 × 109 kW ⋅ h of electricity. • The recovery of waste heat benefited landfill operators and DC firms financially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expansion of electric grid has induced increasing stress on regional water resources. Yet, few insights have been gained into the network dynamics of virtual water flows embodied in interprovincial electricity transmission. Here, we calculated the interprovincial transfer of virtual water and virtual scarce water associated with electricity transmissions in China during 2005–2014, considering both thermal power and renewable energies. To track the network dynamics of virtual water, we identified control and dependence relationships between provinces related to exchanging virtual water, using network control analysis. We found that the magnitudes of virtual water and virtual scarce water transferred from western provinces to the rest of China have increased five-fold between 2005 and 2014. The transfers of virtual water exacerbated the water scarcity in northwestern provinces over time, while the transfers between southwestern provinces mitigated the local water scarcity. Southwestern provinces have strong control over the Yangtze River Delta region due to the supply of virtual water in hydroelectricity transmission inbetween. In contrast, the interdependence among northwestern provinces has been strengthened over time. Gansu, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia have become more dominant in controlling the virtual water appropriated by Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region and Shandong over this period. We suggest that the dynamics of electricity-induced virtual water transfers across regions be regularly tracked to address water scarcity during constructing power plants and adjusting electricity dispatches. • Virtual water in electricity transmission has increased five-fold between 2005 and 2014. • Thermal power has a greater impact on virtual scarce water than virtual water. • Expansion of renewable energies in power system mitigated water scarcity in China. • The flow of virtual water has been controlled by more regions over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is the largest electricity consumers worldwide and the coal-dominated electricity system has led to increasing pressure on climate change and air pollution. Understanding the direct and indirect electricity consumption in China's economy is a prerequisite for proper energy conservation policy formulation. Therefore, this study drew the electricity consumption flows within the domestic supply chain network of China from the on-site electricity consumption to the final demand from 2007 to 2015. Specifically, hotspots of sectors and supply chain paths were identified by adopting power-of-pull analysis and structural path analysis, respectively. We find that Production and Supply of Electricity and Heat was the most critical sector that pulls other sectors' electricity consumption, but its impact has been declining during 2007–2015. The most critical supply chain paths originated from the Manufacture of Nonmetallic Mineral Products and Metal Smelting and Rolling , went through Construction and ultimately ended in capital formation, given that around 40% of the electricity consumption was driven by investment. Moreover, the electricity consumption attributed to each production layer for most sectors were more evenly distributed in 2015 than that in 2007, manifesting that the supply chain relationships for most sectors have become more complex. Our results highlighted the importance of indirect energy management and supply chain engagement in the electricity conservation strategies in China. • Electricity use from production to consumption via supply chains was investigated. • The temporal change of critical sectors' pulling power was shown. • Investment accounted for around 40% of total electricity consumption in China. • Most critical supply chain paths started from investment and ended at metals and non-metal minerals through construction. • Indirect energy and supply chain engagement should be highlighted in policy design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate and analyze the prevalence and influencing factors of stroke in hypertensive patients aged 60 and above in Jiading District, Shanghai., Methods: The population-based study included 18,724 screened people with hypertension (age ≥ 60 years, 48.7% women). From 2016 to 2019, data on demographics, potential influencing factors and health status were collected through face-to-face interviews, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. Logistic multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors associated with stroke., Results: Among the object of study from 2016 to 2019, 2,025 patients were screened for stroke, with the overall prevalence rate of 10.82% (10.41%-11.23%). Multivariate adjusted model analysis showed that dyslipidemia (OR:1.31,95%CI:1.19-1.45), lack of exercise (OR:1.91,95%CI:1.32-2.76), atrial fibrillation [OR:1.49,95%CI:1.35-1.65), family history of stroke (OR:2.18,95%CI:1.6-2.88) were the significant independent influencing factors of stroke in hypertensive patients over 60 years old. When these four factors were combined, compared with participants without any of these factors, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of risk of stroke for persons concurrently having one, two and three or more of these factors were 1.89 (1.67-2.13), 2.15 (1.86-2.47) and 6.84 (4.90-9.55), respectively (linear trend P < 0.001); after multivariate adjustment, the family history of stroke had additive interaction with lack of exercise [RERI = 1.08(0.22-1.94), AP = 0.19(0.04-0.35), S = 1.31(1.02-1.69)], dyslipidemia [RERI = 0.87(0.41-1.33), AP = 0.23(0.08-0.38), S = 1.46(1.04-2.05)]., Conclusion: The prevalence of stroke was high in hypertensive patients aged 60 and above in Jiading District, Shanghai. Dyslipidemia, lack of exercise, atrial fibrillation and family history of stroke were significantly associated with stroke in hypertensive population. Stroke risk can be increased especially when multiple factors coexisting, and family history of stroke combined with a lack of exercise or dyslipidemia., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

To investigate the contamination levels of respirable dust released in the work environment and the induced workers' health risk at a coal-fired power plant, we collected 405 dust samples from different dusty workstations by personal sampling during the coal-fired power generation process. Then, an inhalation risk assessment model from the USEPA was combined with the Monte Carlo simulation method to quantitatively evaluate the health risk caused by dust inhalation. Of 10 workstations researched, the dust concentration in the most workstations exceeded the prescribed occupational exposure limit. Workers engaged in ash removal suffered the highest health risk at 4.08 × 10 -6 ± 2.85 × 10 -6 (95% CI), closely followed by those involved in other job categories. The results can contribute to the formulation of targeted dust prevention measures and implementation of risk management for the coal-fired power sector.