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[Objective] Settlement is a common geological hazard encountered around buried pipelines. Such hazards have the potential to cause pipeline failure and damage, particularly in severe cases. Hence, studying pipe-soil interactions during continuous settlement is crucial to ensure the safety of buried pipelines facing settlement hazards. [Methods] This study explored the law governing pipe-soil interactions within different stratum settlement ranges and amounts, by conducting a continuous settlement experiment on a buried steel pipeline, using a specifically designed experimental system. The evolution process of pipe-soil interactions in the continuous settlement process was meticulously analyzed through numerical simulation. Furthermore, the numerical simulation results were subjected to a multivariate nonlinear fitting process, taking into account various parameters such as settlement, pipeline characteristics, and soil properties. [Results] As the stratum settlement increased,the steel pipeline and surrounding soil progressed from simultaneous settlement to separate settlement. The pipeline exhibited mechanical response in four stages: increase, unloading, fluctuation, and stabilization. As the stratum settlement range expanded, a greater amount of settlement took place before the pipeline was fully separated from the soil beneath it. With low settlement rates, the pipeline experienced significant increases in both maximum stress and settlement as the settlement rate grew. However, once the settlement rate surpassed 2×10-5 m/s,the maximum stress and settlement of the pipeline remained nearly unchanged, while the corresponding stratum settlement exhibited notable increases. Moreover, the fitting process yielded a maximum Von Mises stress prediction model for buried steel pipelines exposed to continuous settlement, achieving a calculation error dominantly within 10%. [Conclusion] The mechanical response of pipelines exhibits distinct variations across different settlement stages. Furthermore, any alterations in stratum settlement, settlement range, and settlement rate during the settlement process significantly influence the mechanical response of pipelines. In addition, the prediction model for the maximum Von Mises stress in buried steel pipelines exposed to continuous settlement is demonstrated effective. This model serves as a crucial basis for assessing the safety of buried pipelines under continuous settlement-induced disasters.

The North China Plain and the agricultural region are crossed by the Shanxi-Beijing natural gas pipeline. Residents in the area use rototillers for planting and harvesting; however, the depth of the rototillers into the ground is greater than the depth of the pipeline, posing a significant threat to the safe operation of the pipeline. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the dynamic response of rotary tillers impacting pipelines to ensure the safe operation of pipelines. This article focuses on the Shanxi-Beijing natural gas pipeline, utilizing finite element simulation software to establish a finite element model for the interaction among the machinery, pipeline, and soil, and analyzing the dynamic response of the pipeline. At the same time, a decision tree model is introduced to classify the damage of pipelines under different working conditions, and the boundary value and importance of each influencing factor on pipeline damage are derived. Considering the actual conditions in the hemp yam planting area, targeted management measures have been proposed to ensure the operational safety of the Shanxi-Beijing natural gas pipeline in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy is the blood for economic operation. Energy structure adjustment may significantly impact the macroeconomic operation of a country. This study quantitatively estimates the effect of energy structure adjustment on energy prices and further evaluates the impact of the resulted price changes on macroeconomic operations using an econometric model and statistical methods. The results indicate that 1% increase of the proportion of natural gas consumption in the total energy consumption raises energy prices by 0.8% while 1% increase of the coal consumption ratio lowers energy prices by 0.2%. Moreover, technological progress, energy investment growth, increased marketization, and energy efficiency improvement are conducive to reducing energy prices. We conclude that China’s energy revolution is less likely to affect the security of the energy economy and the energy price rise remains within the acceptable range of national economy and energy consumption. To better ensure the security of energy economy in the process of China’s energy revolution, we propose that China should focus on technology innovation and deepen the reforms in the energy market to improve the competitiveness of the energy market. These measures are beneficial for mitigating the energy price increase pressure from energy revolution.

Energy security is important for the security system of a country. Affected by global geopolitics and the COVID-19 pandemic, China’s energy security is currently facing severe challenges. Reducing the import scale of oil and gas based on the comprehensive and efficient utilization of domestic energy to ensure energy security remains a topic that requires research for promoting China’s high-quality and sustainable development. This study first reviews the evolution of the energy security concept and summarizes the energy security strategies of typical countries. Then the energy security in China is defined from five dimensions: sustainable development, guaranteed supply, scientific support, economic affordability, and guaranteed system. Moreover, the situation faced by China’s energy security is studied and corresponding strategies are proposed. We propose that China should make efforts to stabilize the production of traditional energies, ensure the supply of imported oil and gas, promote renewable energy consumption to complement the current energy mix, encourage cooperative innovation of energy science and technology, and improve the energy development mechanism. Furthermore, we propose several policy suggestions to ensure China’s energy security from the aspects of top-level plan, integrated development of gas and renewable energies, scientific innovation of renewable energies, and international cooperation.

Styrax tonkinensis is a promising woody biodiesel species. In this experiment, we investigated how foliar spraying of potassium gluconate solution affected the production of seed oil in S. tonkinensis. Leaf spraying of potassium gluconate solution appreciably promoted the photosynthesis of S. tonkinensis leaves through both the light reaction and the dark reaction. By boosting the activity of enzymes involved in glucose metabolism and seed oil synthesis, foliar spraying of potassium gluconate solution also dramatically enhanced glucose metabolism and seed oil synthesis in the S. tonkinensis seeds. This indicates that foliar spraying with potassium gluconate solution discernibly improved the synthesis of seed oil in S. tonkinensis by encouraging the transit of photosynthetic products from the source to the reservoir and the flow of carbon into the seed oil synthesis in the seeds. Overall, the medium concentration of potassium gluconate solution (4 g/L) was found to be the most effective for increasing the oil content of S. tonkinensis seeds. While higher potassium gluconate solution concentrations (6 g/L) had a slight inhibitory effect on specific indicators (ACCase) during specific seed development periods. This study highlighted the importance of potassium for seed oil synthesis in woody plants and provided a useful foundation for future cultivation practices aimed at enhancing seed oil synthesis in woody plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the rationale for social-skills training for workers with mental retardation. Offers definitions and behavioral standards of these skills and differences in the interaction patterns between workers with and without mental retardation. Critically reviews various intervention strategies. Makes recommendations on how to introduce social-skills training. (RJM)

The level of sell-advocacy skills in Asian American parents of young children with developmental disabilities was assessed. The relationship of self-advocacy skills with social support and with disability-based discrimination was investigated. Correlates of self-advocacy skills were explored. Asian American parents of young children with developmental disabilities in this study scored a significantly lower level of assertiveness and other self-advocacy skills than did their non-Asian American counterparts. The level of self-advocacy skills in Asian American parents was found to be positively correlated with the level of social support those parents had received, and negatively correlated with the level of disability-based discrimination against their children with developmental disabilities. Longer length of stay of Asian American parents in the United States was found to be associated with a higher level of self-advocacy skills. The practical implications of the findings of this study are discussed. KEYWORDS. Asian Americans, developmental disabilities, self-advocacy skills, assertiveness, social support

Persons with mental retardation have a high unemployment rate. This article argues that society, in general, and government agencies, employers, and rehabilitation professionals, in particular, have an obligation to provide persons with mental retardation with equal access to employment opportunities. This societal obligation has a legal foundation in rehabilitation laws, and a moral foundation in the ethical principles of beneficence, justice, and autonomy. It is also reinforced by the current conceptualizations of mental retardation as reflected in the new AAMR manual. Attitudinal barriers to employment for persons with mental retardation are discussed. The need for rehabilitation professionals to play a role in reducing these barriers is also addressed., The unemployment rate for persons with mental retardation has been estimated to approximate 58% (Hasazi, Gordon, & Roe, 1985; Rusch, Chadsey-Rusch, & Johnson, 1991; Smith, 1994; Wehman, Kregel, & Seyfarth, [...]

This study investigated the outcomes of using a consultant workshop model to help implement performance management (PM) methods in selected Chinese autism agencies. A need for improvement of educational services in Chinese autism agencies was identified. However, the theory and methods of organizational behavior management (OBM) in general and PM in particular are still foreign in the Chinese autism community. The primary research question of the current study was whether first-line teacher performance in Chinese autism agencies could be improved by the use of a consultant workshop model to train management staff to implement a PM system. Four autism agencies in different Chinese provinces participated in this study. Results demonstrated that after the implementation of the PM system through a consultant workshop model in the participating agencies, the performance of first-line teachers in these agencies improved in several important areas. The intervention appeared modestly effective. Implications of the outcome data and future directions for practitioners and researchers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]