Intelligent chatbots powered by large language models(LLMs)have recently been sweeping the world,with potential for a wide variety of industrial applications.Global frontier technology companies are feverishly partici...Intelligent chatbots powered by large language models(LLMs)have recently been sweeping the world,with potential for a wide variety of industrial applications.Global frontier technology companies are feverishly participating in LLM-powered chatbot design and development,providing several alternatives beyond the famous ChatGPT.However,training,fine-tuning,and updating such intelligent chatbots consume substantial amounts of electricity,resulting in significant carbon emissions.The research and development of all intelligent LLMs and software,hardware manufacturing(e.g.,graphics processing units and supercomputers),related data/operations management,and material recycling supporting chatbot services are associated with carbon emissions to varying extents.Attention should therefore be paid to the entire life-cycle energy and carbon footprints of LLM-powered intelligent chatbots in both the present and future in order to mitigate their climate change impact.In this work,we clarify and highlight the energy consumption and carbon emission implications of eight main phases throughout the life cycle of the development of such intelligent chatbots.Based on a life-cycle and interaction analysis of these phases,we propose a system-level solution with three strategic pathways to optimize the management of this industry and mitigate the related footprints.While anticipating the enormous potential of this advanced technology and its products,we make an appeal for a rethinking of the mitigation pathways and strategies of the life-cycle energy usage and carbon emissions of the LLM-powered intelligent chatbot industry and a reshaping of their energy and environmental implications at this early stage of development.展开更多
Reinforcement corrosion is the main cause of performance deterioration of reinforced concrete(RC)structures.Limited research has been performed to investigate the life-cycle cost(LCC)of coastal bridge piers with nonun...Reinforcement corrosion is the main cause of performance deterioration of reinforced concrete(RC)structures.Limited research has been performed to investigate the life-cycle cost(LCC)of coastal bridge piers with nonuniform corrosion using different materials.In this study,a reliability-based design optimization(RBDO)procedure is improved for the design of coastal bridge piers using six groups of commonly used materials,i.e.,normal performance concrete(NPC)with black steel(BS)rebar,high strength steel(HSS)rebar,epoxy coated(EC)rebar,and stainless steel(SS)rebar(named NPC-BS,NPC-HSS,NPC-EC,and NPC-SS,respectively),NPC with BS with silane soakage on the pier surface(named NPC-Silane),and high-performance concrete(HPC)with BS rebar(named HPC-BS).First,the RBDO procedure is improved for the design optimization of coastal bridge piers,and a bridge is selected to illustrate the procedure.Then,reliability analysis of the pier designed with each group of materials is carried out to obtain the time-dependent reliability in terms of the ultimate and serviceability performances.Next,the repair time of the pier is predicted based on the time-dependent reliability indices.Finally,the time-dependent LCCs for the pier are obtained for the selection of the optimal design.展开更多
BACKGROUND Addressing oculoplastic conditions in the preoperative period ensures both the safety and functional success of any ophthalmic procedure.Some oculoplastic conditions,like nasolacrimal duct obstruction,have ...BACKGROUND Addressing oculoplastic conditions in the preoperative period ensures both the safety and functional success of any ophthalmic procedure.Some oculoplastic conditions,like nasolacrimal duct obstruction,have been extensively studied,whereas others,like eyelid malposition and thyroid eye disease,have received minimal or no research.AIM To investigate the current practice patterns among ophthalmologists while treating concomitant oculoplastic conditions before any subspecialty ophthalmic intervention.METHODS A cross-sectional survey was disseminated among ophthalmologists all over India.The survey included questions related to pre-operative evaluation,anaesthetic and surgical techniques preferred,post-operative care,the use of adjunctive therapies,and patient follow-up patterns.RESULTS A total of 180 ophthalmologists responded to the survey.Most practitioners(89%)felt that the ROPLAS test was sufficient during pre-operative evaluation before any subspecialty surgery was advised.The most common surgical techniques employed were lacrimal drainage procedures(Dacryocystorhinostomy)(63.3%),eyelid malposition repair(36.9%),and ptosis repair(58.7%).Post-operatively,47.7%of respondents emphasized that at least a 4-week gap should be maintained after lacrimal drainage procedures and eyelid surgeries.Sixty-seven percent of ophthalmologists felt that topical anaesthetic procedures should be preferred while performing ocular surgeries in thyroid eye disease patients.CONCLUSION Approximately 50%of ophthalmologists handle prevalent oculoplastic issues themselves,seeking the expertise of an oculoplastic surgeon under particular conditions.Many ophthalmologists still favor using ROPLAS as a preliminary screening method before proceeding with cataract surgery.Eyelid conditions and thyroid eye disease are not as commonly addressed before subspecialty procedures compared to issues like nasolacrimal duct obstruction and periocular infections.展开更多
Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a growing health issue in Bangladesh, with significant complications affecting the quality of life (QoL). This study aims to assess long-term complications, treatment patterns, an...Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a growing health issue in Bangladesh, with significant complications affecting the quality of life (QoL). This study aims to assess long-term complications, treatment patterns, and QoL of diabetic patients during COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 385 diabetic patients (aged 18-80) from tertiary hospitals in Dhaka and Mymensingh between May and October 2022. Data were collected via a semi-structured questionnaire on sociodemographics, complications, treatment patterns, and QoL (SF-12 scale). Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and linear regression were used for inferential analysis. Results: The sample predominantly included middle-aged males (41 - 55 years) with type 2 diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy (34.5%), polyneuropathy (32.2%), and hypertension (52.3%) were the most common complications. Oral medications were used by 59.7% of patients, with 29.1% on insulin. Chi-square analysis showed a significant association between treatment adherence and complications (p β = 0.45, p Conclusion: Complications in diabetic patients significantly affect QoL in Bangladesh. Treatment adherence, especially with oral medications, positively impacts QoL. There is a need for improved access to diabetes care to manage complications and enhance the overall well-being of diabetic patients.展开更多
This paper created an evaluation index system for agricultural green resilience,consisting of five dimensions:resistibility,recoverability,adaptability,innovatability,and reconstructability.We used the entropy method ...This paper created an evaluation index system for agricultural green resilience,consisting of five dimensions:resistibility,recoverability,adaptability,innovatability,and reconstructability.We used the entropy method to measure the agricultural green resilience levels of 30 provinces(municipalities/autonomous regions)in China from 2007 to 2021 and employed spatial Markov chains and geographic detectors to reveal the dynamics and evolution of the patterns and influencing factors of the agricultural green resilience.The study shows that the level of agricultural green resilience in China displayed a slight upward trend from 2007 to 2021,but the overall level remained low.Spatially,a distribution pattern of“eastern China>central China>northeastern China>western China”was observed.The transfer process for agricultural green resilience exhibited a“path dependence”characteristic that maintained its initial state,while it also showed a“trickle-down effect.”This means that the regions adjacent to provinces(municipalities/autonomous regions)with higher levels of agricultural green resilience tend to have an increased probability of an upward movement in their ranking.However,such movements are not leapfrogging and only occur at the adjacent levels.The spatial differentiations in the agricultural green resilience levels are primarily driven by the technological innovation capacity and market maturity,with interactions between these factors exhibiting both dual-factor enhancements and nonlinear enhancements.Accordingly,efforts should be made to strengthen support for the less-developed regions,increase research and development investment in the agricultural sector,and improve the market systems for agricultural products to enhance agricultural green resilience.展开更多
Rock fractures or faults could be reactivated by the thermal stress generated during the decay process of the high-level radioactive waste in deep geological repositories(DGRs).Understanding thermoshearing behavior an...Rock fractures or faults could be reactivated by the thermal stress generated during the decay process of the high-level radioactive waste in deep geological repositories(DGRs).Understanding thermoshearing behavior and its influencing factors are important for the long-term performance assessment of DGRs.We designed multistage mechanical(M)shear tests and thermomechanical(TM)shear tests on three 100 mm-cubic granite specimens,each containing a single inclined sawcut fracture with distinct microroughness of 8-15μm.M test results have shown that the static friction coefficient of the granite fracture decreases in proportion to the increase in the logarithm of the loading rate within the range of 1-15 kPa/s.For the given heating and boundary conditions,thermal loading rate,i.e.,thermal stress increment with heating time,is measured to be around 1 kPa/s in the fractured granite.Thermoshearing can be well predicted by the linear Mohr-Coulomb failure envelope deduced from M shear tests employing a loading rate that is comparable with the thermal loading rate.The granite fractures exhibited two distinct slip patterns during the mechanical shearing,i.e.,stick-slip observed in the smooth fracture and stable sliding in the relatively rough surface.In contrast,the mechanical loading rate(1-15 kPa/s)investigated in this study appears to not influence the slip pattern.Unlike those in M shear tests,thermoshearing in both smooth and relatively rough fractures show stable sliding with a very slow peak velocity of around 0.002μm/s.展开更多
In the era of the digital economy,digital trade has demonstrated strong vitality,becoming a crucial driving force for the highquality development of national and regional economies.However,understanding the resilience...In the era of the digital economy,digital trade has demonstrated strong vitality,becoming a crucial driving force for the highquality development of national and regional economies.However,understanding the resilience of digital trade in the face of external crises is an important topic.Taking the backdrop of Sino-US trade friction,this paper constructs a resilience index system for digital trade.It utilizes entropy method,kernel density estimation,and ArcGIS mapping to calculate and visually analyze the resilience of China’s digital trade from 2017 to 2021.Additionally,a Tobit model is constructed to explore the main influencing factors of digital trade resilience patterns.The research findings indicate:1)temporally,during the period of Sino-US trade friction,China’s digital trade resilience shows an overall upward trend,but there are regional differences in resilience levels across the country,with a severe polarization phenomenon.2)Spatially,high resilience is observed in the eastern and central regions of China,while the western and northeastern regions exhibit low resilience.3)From a dimensional perspective,the resistance of digital trade resilience displays a spatial distribution of high values in the east and low values in the west.The recovery force is aggregated along coastal areas,and the renewal force tends to aggregate along the eastern coastline.4)Factors such as economic scale,industrial structure,urbanization rate,government fiscal expenditure,and technological talents significantly promote the enhancement of digital trade resilience.This study reveals the dynamic characteristics and influencing factors of digital trade resilience in responding to external shocks,providing theoretical basis and policy suggestions for enhancing digital trade resilience,and promoting high-quality economic development in China.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the potential mechanisms of A-V pattern and evaluate the surgical outcomes used in the treatment of sensory exotropia.METHODS:The medical records of patients with sensory A-V pattern exotropia who u...AIM:To investigate the potential mechanisms of A-V pattern and evaluate the surgical outcomes used in the treatment of sensory exotropia.METHODS:The medical records of patients with sensory A-V pattern exotropia who underwent strabismus surgery between May 2014 to June 2019 was retrospectively reviewed.The control group included sensory exotropia patients without A-V pattern and concomitant A-V pattern exotropia patients with normal vision who undergone strabismus surgery over this same time period.Ocular alignment,best corrected visual acuity,oblique muscle function,and stereopsis records were collected.RESULTS:Among the 843 eligible patients,91(10.79%;39 males and 52 females)had A-pattern(54,6.4%)or V-pattern(37,4.4%).Age at onset of vision impairment was 4±5y and at the time of surgery was 25±9y.Statistically significant negative correlations were present between impaired visual acuity and the pre-operative exodeviation(r=-0.198,P=0.016)and patterns(r=-0.207,P=0.015).Age at surgery and exodeviation in patients with concomitant A-V pattern exotropia was significantly earlier as compared with that of sensory A-V pattern exotropia and sensory exotropia(both P<0.0001).There were no significant differences in these clinical variables between sensory exotropia with or without A-V pattern.Deviation and pattern were significantly reduced in patients receiving horizontal rectus surgery with or without oblique muscle surgery(both P<0.0001).CONCLUSION:The prevalence of sensory A-V pattern exotropia in our study is 10.79%.Visual acuity represents an important factor contributing to the occurrence and development of A-V pattern.Isolated horizontal rectus surgery can provide a good option for the correction of sensory A-V pattern exotropia.展开更多
Estimating fracture size is a fundamental aspect of rock engineering.However,determining the most probable diameter(MPD)from a fracture's surface trace remains challenging in the scientific community.The prevailin...Estimating fracture size is a fundamental aspect of rock engineering.However,determining the most probable diameter(MPD)from a fracture's surface trace remains challenging in the scientific community.The prevailing methodologies typically infer statistical distributions of fracture sizes rather than specific values.This research presents a novel approach to inferring the MPD and the true spatial distribution pattern of each fracture.The challenge lies in linking the inference process with the trace length of each fracture and the statistical characteristics of the entire outcrop.Additionally,it is necessary to address the non-unique inverse problem.The methodology comprises several key steps.Firstly,the issue of censoring bias is addressed by considering the lengths of the traces contained.Secondly,the orientation bias is corrected using the vector method,and the true mean trace length and standard deviation are estimated and derived.Thirdly,assuming a lognormal distribution for fracture sizes,the mean and standard deviation of diameters are derived through a high-order moment relationship between trace lengths and diameters,validated by Crofton's theorem.Finally,the MPDs of all trace samples are determined by relating MPDs to trace lengths and the standard deviation of diameters using stereology techniques.Furthermore,the true fracture spatial patterns are inverted based on spatial geometric relationships.The proposed methodology is validated through rigorous Monte Carlo simulation and applied in a practical engineering case study,demonstrating its potential for use in rock engineering applications.展开更多
Mountains are important reservoirs of biodiversity and endemism on a global scale, but little is known about the altitudinal configuration of this diversity and its driving factors in arid mountains. We explored varia...Mountains are important reservoirs of biodiversity and endemism on a global scale, but little is known about the altitudinal configuration of this diversity and its driving factors in arid mountains. We explored variations in composition, diversity, cover,and life forms of vascular plants along a complete altitudinal gradient(1300-4000 m a.s.l) in Sierra de Velasco, an arid mountain in northwestern Argentina.We evaluated the influence of environmental variables on plant diversity and cover. Field sampling was conducted in the northern sector of the Sa. de Velasco,on the western slope in eight 50 m wide altitudinal bands at 400 m elevation intervals. We used rectangular plots(20 × 4 m;n:10/altitudinal band) to register the vascular plants of all the growth forms, and linear transects(20 m long.;n:30/altitudinal band) to quantify the vegetation cover using the point intercept method. Diversity was calculated using hill numbers.Data analysis included non-metric multidimensional scaling(NMDS), indicator species analysis,generalized linear models(GLMs), and variance partitioning analysis. A total of 232 species from 51families and 158 genera were registered. Species composition showed greater similarity at intermediate elevations. Plant diversity and cover exhibited a unimodal distribution, peaking at intermediate elevations(2100-2500 m). In contrast, life forms' distribution showed divergent patterns. Therophytes and succulents predominated at low altitudes,phanerophytes and hemicryptophytes at medium altitudes, and chamaephytes and geophytes at high altitudes. The altitudinal patterns of plant diversity and cover were primarily driven by climatic factors.Conservation efforts in the Sierra de Velasco should focus on the middle and upper zones due to their high biodiversity and vulnerability to climate change.展开更多
Natural gas hydrate is a clean energy source with substantial resource potential.In contrast to conventional oil and gas,natural gas hydrate exists as a multi-phase system consisting of solids,liquids,and gases,which ...Natural gas hydrate is a clean energy source with substantial resource potential.In contrast to conventional oil and gas,natural gas hydrate exists as a multi-phase system consisting of solids,liquids,and gases,which presents unique challenges and complicates the mechanisms of seepage and exploitation.Both domestic and international natural gas hydrate production tests typically employ a single-well production model.Although this approach has seen some success,it continues to be hindered by low production rates and short production cycles.Therefore,there is an urgent need to explore a new well network to significantly increase the production of a single well.This paper provides a comprehensive review of the latest advancements in natural gas hydrate research,including both laboratory studies and field tests.It further examines the gas production processes and development outcomes for single wells,dual wells,multi-branch wells,and multi-well systems under conditions of depressurization,thermal injection,and CO_(2) replacement.On this basis,well types and well networks suitable for commercial exploitation of natural gas hydrate were explored,and the technical direction of natural gas hydrate development was proposed.The study shows that fully exploiting the flexibility of complex structural wells and designing a well network compatible with the reservoir is the key to improving production from a single well.Moreover,multi-well joint exploitation is identified as an effective strategy for achieving large-scale,efficient development of natural gas hydrate.展开更多
Ecological security provides the basis of maintaining both a sustainable regional ecosystem and economic development.However,few studies have focused on how the features such as topography and geomorphology,lithologic...Ecological security provides the basis of maintaining both a sustainable regional ecosystem and economic development.However,few studies have focused on how the features such as topography and geomorphology,lithologic stratigraphic assemblages,and geohazard distribution affect the construction of ecological security patterns and the layout of optimization measures.In order to comprehensively reveal the key areas and key objects of ecological restoration in karst basins,this study takes the Beipan River Basin(BRB)as an example,constructs an ecological security pattern(ESP)based on the methods of morphological spatial pattern analysis(MSPA),landscape connectivity analysis and circuit theory,and lays out the optimization measures in combination with the spatial distribution characteristics of topographic and geomorphological differences and lithological stratigraphic combinations.The results show that 151 ecological sources,343 ecological corridors,121 pinch points and 178 barriers constitute the ESP of the BRB.Lithology is closely related to the spatial distribution characteristics of ecological source sites.Level 1 and 2 ecological sources(The ecological sources were categorized into level 1,level 2,and level 3 source from high to low importance.)are concentrated in the Emeishan basalt region of the upstream and the clastic and impure carbonate rock region of the downstream part of the BRB;level 3ecological sources are concentrated in the carbonate rock region of the midstream.Taking into account the outstanding ecological problems in the basin,and based on the characteristics of lithology and geohazard distribution,we propose the optimization scheme of“three axes,three zones and multiple points”for the ESP and the layout of specific measures of the BRB.The results can provide scientific references for maintaining ecological security maintenance in karst ecologically fragile areas.展开更多
This study aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of social media data using causal inference methods to explore the underlying mechanisms driving user behavior patterns.By leveraging large-scale social media datasets,t...This study aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of social media data using causal inference methods to explore the underlying mechanisms driving user behavior patterns.By leveraging large-scale social media datasets,this research develops a systematic analytical framework that integrates techniques such as propensity score matching,regression analysis,and regression discontinuity design to identify the causal effects of content characteristics,user attributes,and social network structures on user interactions,including clicks,shares,comments,and likes.The empirical findings indicate that factors such as sentiment,topical relevance,and network centrality have significant causal impacts on user behavior,with notable differences observed among various user groups.This study not only enriches the theoretical understanding of social media data analysis but also provides data-driven decision support and practical guidance for fields such as digital marketing,public opinion management,and digital governance.展开更多
Latitudinal patterns of treeβ-diversity reveal important insights into the biogeographical processes that influence forest ecosystems.Although previous studies have extensively documentedβ-diversity within relativel...Latitudinal patterns of treeβ-diversity reveal important insights into the biogeographical processes that influence forest ecosystems.Although previous studies have extensively documentedβ-diversity within relatively small spatial extents,the potential drivers ofβ-diversity along latitudinal gradients are still not well understood at larger spatial extents.In this study,we determined whether treeβ-diversity is correlated with latitude in forests of southeastern China,and if so,what ecological processes contribute to these patterns of treeβ-diversity.We specifically aimed to disentangle the relative contributions from interspecific aggregation and environmental filtering across various spatial extents.We delineated regional communities comprising multiple nearby national forest inventory(NFI)plots around random focal plots.The number of NFI plots in a regional community served as a surrogate for spatial extent.We also used a null model to simulate randomly assembled communities and quantify the deviation(β-deviation)between observed and expectedβ-diversity.We found thatβ-diversity decreased along a latitudinal gradient and that this pattern was clearer at larger spatial extents.In addition,latitudinal patterns ofβ-deviation were explained by the degree of species spatial aggregation.We also identified environmental factors that driveβ-deviation in these forests,including precipitation,seasonality,and temperature variation.At larger spatial extents,these environmental variables explained up to 84%of theβ-deviation.Our results reinforce that ecological processes are scale-dependent and collectively contribute to theβ-gradient in subtropical forests.We recommend that conservation efforts maintain diverse forests and heterogeneous environments at multiple spatial extents to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.展开更多
This study focuses on urgent research on restoring and enhancing carbon storage capacity in the Beibu Gulf Urban Agglomer-ation of China,a key area in the‘Belt and Road’Initiative,which aligns with carbon peaking an...This study focuses on urgent research on restoring and enhancing carbon storage capacity in the Beibu Gulf Urban Agglomer-ation of China,a key area in the‘Belt and Road’Initiative,which aligns with carbon peaking and neutrality goals.This research ana-lyzes the spatial characteristics of carbon metabolism from 2000 to 2020 and uses models to identify stable carbon sink areas,positive carbon flow corridors,and carbon sequestration nodes.The goal is to construct a carbon metabolism spatial security pattern(CMSSP)and propose territorial ecological restoration strategies under different development demand scenarios.The results show the following:1)in 2020,the study area’s carbon sink decreased by 8.29×10^(4) t C/yr compared with that in 2010 and by 10.83×10^(4) t C/yr compared with that in 2000.High-carbon sinks were found mainly in mountainous areas,whereas low-carbon sinks are concentrated in urban con-struction land,rural residential areas,and land margins.2)From 2000 to 2020,the spatial security pattern of carbon metabolism tended to be‘high in the middle of the east and west and low in the gulf.’In 2000,2010,and 2020,16 stable carbon sinks were identified.The carbon energy flow density in Guangxi was greater than that in Guangdong and Hainan,with positive carbon flow corridors located primarily in Guangxi and Guangdong.The number of carbon sequestration nodes remained stable at approximately 15,mainly in Guangxi and Hainan.3)Scenario simulations revealed that under the Nature-based mild restoration scenario,the carbon sink rate will reach 611.85×10^(4) t C/yr by 2030 and increase to 612.45×10^(4) t C/yr by 2060,with stable carbon sinks increasing to 18.In the restora-tion scenario based on Anti-globalization,the carbon sink will decrease from 610.24×10^(4) t C/yr in 2030 to 605.19×10^(4) t C/yr in 2060,with the disappearance of some positive carbon flow corridors and stable carbon sinks.Under the Human-based sustainable restoration scenario,the carbon sink area will decrease from 607.00×10^(4) t C/yr in 2030 to 596.39×10^(4) t C/yr in 2060,with carbon sink areas frag-menting and positive carbon flow corridors becoming less dense.4)On the basis of the current and predicted CMSSPs,this study ex-plores spatial ecological restoration strategies for high-carbon storage areas in bay urban agglomerations at four levels:the land control region,urban agglomeration structure system,carbon sink structure and bay structure control region.展开更多
In order to more effectively assess the health status of a project, the monitoring indices in a project＇s life cycle are divided into quality index, cost index, time index, satisfaction index, and sustainable develop...In order to more effectively assess the health status of a project, the monitoring indices in a project＇s life cycle are divided into quality index, cost index, time index, satisfaction index, and sustainable development index. Based on the feature of qualitative and quantitative indices combining, the PCA-PR （principal component analysis and pattern recognition） model is constructed. The model first analyzes the principal components of the life-cycle indices system constructed above, and picks up those principal component indices that can reflect the health status of a project at any time. Then the pattern recognition model is used to study these principal components, which means that the real time health status of the project can be divided into five lamps from a green lamp to a red one and the health status lamp of the project can be recognized by using the PR model and those principal components. Finally, the process is shown with a real example and a conclusion consistent with the actual situation is drawn. So the validity of the index system and the PCA-PR model can be confirmed.展开更多
Engineering structures may be exposed to one or more extreme hazards during their life-cycles.Current structural design specifications usually treat multiple hazards separately in designing structures and there is a l...Engineering structures may be exposed to one or more extreme hazards during their life-cycles.Current structural design specifications usually treat multiple hazards separately in designing structures and there is a limited probabilistic basis on extreme load combinations.Additionally,the performance of engineering structures will be deteriorated by the aggressive environments during their service periods,such as chloride attack,concrete carbonation,and wind-induced fatigue.This study presents a probabilistic methodology to assess the time-dependent failure probability of RC bridges with chloride-induced corrosion under the multiple hazards of earthquakes and strong winds.The loss of cross-section area of reinforcements and the reduction in strength of reinforcing steel and concrete cover induced by the chloride attack are considered.Moreover,the Poisson model is employed to obtain the occurrence probabilities of the individual and concurrent earthquake and strong wind events.The convolution integral is used to determine the joint probability distribution of combined load effects under simultaneous earthquakes and strong winds.Numerical results indicate that the structural failure probability under multiple hazards increases significantly during the bridge′s life-cycle due to the chloride corrosion effect.The contribution of each hazard event on the total structural failure probability varies with time.Thus,neglecting the combined influences of multiple hazards and chloride-induced corrosion may bring erroneous predictions in failure probability estimates of RC bridges.展开更多
The quantitative determination and evaluation of rock brittleness are crucial for the estimation of excavation efficiency and the improvement of hydraulic fracturing efficiency.Therefore,a“three-stage”triaxial loadi...The quantitative determination and evaluation of rock brittleness are crucial for the estimation of excavation efficiency and the improvement of hydraulic fracturing efficiency.Therefore,a“three-stage”triaxial loading and unloading stress path is designed and proposed.Subsequently,six brittleness indices are selected.In addition,the evolution characteristics of the six brittleness indices selected are characterized based on the bedding effect and the effect of confining pressure.Then,the entropy weight method(EWM)is introduced to assign weight to the six brittleness indices,and the comprehensive brittleness index Bcis defined and evaluated.Next,the new brittleness classification standard is determined,and the brittleness differences between the two stress paths are quantified.Finally,compared with the previous evaluation methods,the rationality of the proposed comprehensive brittleness index Bcis also verified.These results indicate that the proposed brittleness index Bccan reflect the brittle characteristics of deep bedded sandstone from the perspective of the whole life-cycle evolution process.Accordingly,the method proposed seems to offer reliable evaluations of the brittleness of deep bedded sandstone in deep engineering practices,although further validation is necessary.展开更多
The development and deployment of Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage （CCS） technology is a cornerstone of the Norwegian government＇s climate strategy. A number of projects are currently evaluated/planned along the ...The development and deployment of Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage （CCS） technology is a cornerstone of the Norwegian government＇s climate strategy. A number of projects are currently evaluated/planned along the Norwegian West Coast, one at Tjeldbergodden. COe from this project will be utilized in part for enhanced oil recovery in the Halten oil field, in the Norwegian Sea. We study a potential design of such a system. A combined cycle power plant with a gross power output of 832 MW is combined with CO2 capture plant based on a post-combustion capture using amines as a solvent. The captured CO2 is used for enhanced oil recovery （EOR）. We employ a hybrid life-cycle assessment （LCA） method to assess the environmental impacts of the system. The study focuses on the modifications and operations of the platform during EOR. We allocate the impacts connected to the capture of CO2 to electricity production, and the impacts connected to the transport and storage of CO2 to the oil produced. Our study shows a substantial reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions from power production by 80% to 75 g·（kW·h）^-1. It also indicates a reduction of the emissions associated with oil production per unit oil produced, mostly due to the increased oil production. Reductions are especially significant if the additional power demand due to EOR leads to power supply from the land.展开更多
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency, many hospitals were built or renovated around the world to meet the challenges posed by the rising number of infected cases. Environmental management in the ho...During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency, many hospitals were built or renovated around the world to meet the challenges posed by the rising number of infected cases. Environmental management in the hospital life cycle is vital in preventing nosocomial infection and includes many infection control procedures. In certain urgent situations, a hospital must be completed quickly, and work process approval and supervision must therefore be accelerated. Thus, many works cannot be checked in detail. This results in a lack of work liability control and increases the difficulty of ensuring the fulfillment of key infection prevention measures. This study investigates how blockchain technology can transform the work quality inspection workflow to assist in nosocomial infection control under a fast delivery requirement. A blockchain-based life-cycle environmental management framework is proposed to track the fulfillment of crucial infection control measures in the design, construction, and operation stages of hospitals. The proposed framework allows for work quality checking after the work is completed, when some work cannot be checked on time. Illustrative use cases are selected to demonstrate the capabilities of the developed solution. This study provides new insights into applying blockchain technology to address the challenge of environmental management brought by rapid delivery requirements.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(72061127004 and 72104164)the System Science and Enterprise Development Research Center(Xq22B04)+1 种基金financial support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council(EPSRC)Programme(EP/V030515/1)financial support from the Science and Technology Support Project of Guizhou Province([2019]2839).
文摘Intelligent chatbots powered by large language models(LLMs)have recently been sweeping the world,with potential for a wide variety of industrial applications.Global frontier technology companies are feverishly participating in LLM-powered chatbot design and development,providing several alternatives beyond the famous ChatGPT.However,training,fine-tuning,and updating such intelligent chatbots consume substantial amounts of electricity,resulting in significant carbon emissions.The research and development of all intelligent LLMs and software,hardware manufacturing(e.g.,graphics processing units and supercomputers),related data/operations management,and material recycling supporting chatbot services are associated with carbon emissions to varying extents.Attention should therefore be paid to the entire life-cycle energy and carbon footprints of LLM-powered intelligent chatbots in both the present and future in order to mitigate their climate change impact.In this work,we clarify and highlight the energy consumption and carbon emission implications of eight main phases throughout the life cycle of the development of such intelligent chatbots.Based on a life-cycle and interaction analysis of these phases,we propose a system-level solution with three strategic pathways to optimize the management of this industry and mitigate the related footprints.While anticipating the enormous potential of this advanced technology and its products,we make an appeal for a rethinking of the mitigation pathways and strategies of the life-cycle energy usage and carbon emissions of the LLM-powered intelligent chatbot industry and a reshaping of their energy and environmental implications at this early stage of development.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos.51921006 and 51725801Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under Grant No.FRFCU5710093320Heilongjiang Touyan Innovation Team Program。
文摘Reinforcement corrosion is the main cause of performance deterioration of reinforced concrete(RC)structures.Limited research has been performed to investigate the life-cycle cost(LCC)of coastal bridge piers with nonuniform corrosion using different materials.In this study,a reliability-based design optimization(RBDO)procedure is improved for the design of coastal bridge piers using six groups of commonly used materials,i.e.,normal performance concrete(NPC)with black steel(BS)rebar,high strength steel(HSS)rebar,epoxy coated(EC)rebar,and stainless steel(SS)rebar(named NPC-BS,NPC-HSS,NPC-EC,and NPC-SS,respectively),NPC with BS with silane soakage on the pier surface(named NPC-Silane),and high-performance concrete(HPC)with BS rebar(named HPC-BS).First,the RBDO procedure is improved for the design optimization of coastal bridge piers,and a bridge is selected to illustrate the procedure.Then,reliability analysis of the pier designed with each group of materials is carried out to obtain the time-dependent reliability in terms of the ultimate and serviceability performances.Next,the repair time of the pier is predicted based on the time-dependent reliability indices.Finally,the time-dependent LCCs for the pier are obtained for the selection of the optimal design.
文摘BACKGROUND Addressing oculoplastic conditions in the preoperative period ensures both the safety and functional success of any ophthalmic procedure.Some oculoplastic conditions,like nasolacrimal duct obstruction,have been extensively studied,whereas others,like eyelid malposition and thyroid eye disease,have received minimal or no research.AIM To investigate the current practice patterns among ophthalmologists while treating concomitant oculoplastic conditions before any subspecialty ophthalmic intervention.METHODS A cross-sectional survey was disseminated among ophthalmologists all over India.The survey included questions related to pre-operative evaluation,anaesthetic and surgical techniques preferred,post-operative care,the use of adjunctive therapies,and patient follow-up patterns.RESULTS A total of 180 ophthalmologists responded to the survey.Most practitioners(89%)felt that the ROPLAS test was sufficient during pre-operative evaluation before any subspecialty surgery was advised.The most common surgical techniques employed were lacrimal drainage procedures(Dacryocystorhinostomy)(63.3%),eyelid malposition repair(36.9%),and ptosis repair(58.7%).Post-operatively,47.7%of respondents emphasized that at least a 4-week gap should be maintained after lacrimal drainage procedures and eyelid surgeries.Sixty-seven percent of ophthalmologists felt that topical anaesthetic procedures should be preferred while performing ocular surgeries in thyroid eye disease patients.CONCLUSION Approximately 50%of ophthalmologists handle prevalent oculoplastic issues themselves,seeking the expertise of an oculoplastic surgeon under particular conditions.Many ophthalmologists still favor using ROPLAS as a preliminary screening method before proceeding with cataract surgery.Eyelid conditions and thyroid eye disease are not as commonly addressed before subspecialty procedures compared to issues like nasolacrimal duct obstruction and periocular infections.
文摘Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a growing health issue in Bangladesh, with significant complications affecting the quality of life (QoL). This study aims to assess long-term complications, treatment patterns, and QoL of diabetic patients during COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 385 diabetic patients (aged 18-80) from tertiary hospitals in Dhaka and Mymensingh between May and October 2022. Data were collected via a semi-structured questionnaire on sociodemographics, complications, treatment patterns, and QoL (SF-12 scale). Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and linear regression were used for inferential analysis. Results: The sample predominantly included middle-aged males (41 - 55 years) with type 2 diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy (34.5%), polyneuropathy (32.2%), and hypertension (52.3%) were the most common complications. Oral medications were used by 59.7% of patients, with 29.1% on insulin. Chi-square analysis showed a significant association between treatment adherence and complications (p β = 0.45, p Conclusion: Complications in diabetic patients significantly affect QoL in Bangladesh. Treatment adherence, especially with oral medications, positively impacts QoL. There is a need for improved access to diabetes care to manage complications and enhance the overall well-being of diabetic patients.
基金supported by the Research on the Mechanisms and Policies for the Collaborative Promotion of High-Quality Development in the Private Enterprises of Fujian Province Through Digital Finance and Green Finance(FJ2024MGCA021)a key project of basic theory research in philosophy and social sciences guided by Marxism in universities in Fujian Province and Research on the Mechanism and Pathways for Empowering Green Innovation in Fujian Province Through the Deep Integration of Digital Economy and Real Economy(FJKX-2023XKB003)a Science and Technology Innovation Think Tank Research Project of Fujian Association for Science and Technology.
文摘This paper created an evaluation index system for agricultural green resilience,consisting of five dimensions:resistibility,recoverability,adaptability,innovatability,and reconstructability.We used the entropy method to measure the agricultural green resilience levels of 30 provinces(municipalities/autonomous regions)in China from 2007 to 2021 and employed spatial Markov chains and geographic detectors to reveal the dynamics and evolution of the patterns and influencing factors of the agricultural green resilience.The study shows that the level of agricultural green resilience in China displayed a slight upward trend from 2007 to 2021,but the overall level remained low.Spatially,a distribution pattern of“eastern China>central China>northeastern China>western China”was observed.The transfer process for agricultural green resilience exhibited a“path dependence”characteristic that maintained its initial state,while it also showed a“trickle-down effect.”This means that the regions adjacent to provinces(municipalities/autonomous regions)with higher levels of agricultural green resilience tend to have an increased probability of an upward movement in their ranking.However,such movements are not leapfrogging and only occur at the adjacent levels.The spatial differentiations in the agricultural green resilience levels are primarily driven by the technological innovation capacity and market maturity,with interactions between these factors exhibiting both dual-factor enhancements and nonlinear enhancements.Accordingly,efforts should be made to strengthen support for the less-developed regions,increase research and development investment in the agricultural sector,and improve the market systems for agricultural products to enhance agricultural green resilience.
基金supported by the International Collaborative Research Program(fundamental research,2021-2023)funded by Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology(KICT).
文摘Rock fractures or faults could be reactivated by the thermal stress generated during the decay process of the high-level radioactive waste in deep geological repositories(DGRs).Understanding thermoshearing behavior and its influencing factors are important for the long-term performance assessment of DGRs.We designed multistage mechanical(M)shear tests and thermomechanical(TM)shear tests on three 100 mm-cubic granite specimens,each containing a single inclined sawcut fracture with distinct microroughness of 8-15μm.M test results have shown that the static friction coefficient of the granite fracture decreases in proportion to the increase in the logarithm of the loading rate within the range of 1-15 kPa/s.For the given heating and boundary conditions,thermal loading rate,i.e.,thermal stress increment with heating time,is measured to be around 1 kPa/s in the fractured granite.Thermoshearing can be well predicted by the linear Mohr-Coulomb failure envelope deduced from M shear tests employing a loading rate that is comparable with the thermal loading rate.The granite fractures exhibited two distinct slip patterns during the mechanical shearing,i.e.,stick-slip observed in the smooth fracture and stable sliding in the relatively rough surface.In contrast,the mechanical loading rate(1-15 kPa/s)investigated in this study appears to not influence the slip pattern.Unlike those in M shear tests,thermoshearing in both smooth and relatively rough fractures show stable sliding with a very slow peak velocity of around 0.002μm/s.
基金Under the auspices of National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42471205)the General Scientific Research Project of Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education(No.2024JYTYB12)the Philosophy and Social Science Planning Project of Zhejiang Province(No.23NDJC109YB)。
文摘In the era of the digital economy,digital trade has demonstrated strong vitality,becoming a crucial driving force for the highquality development of national and regional economies.However,understanding the resilience of digital trade in the face of external crises is an important topic.Taking the backdrop of Sino-US trade friction,this paper constructs a resilience index system for digital trade.It utilizes entropy method,kernel density estimation,and ArcGIS mapping to calculate and visually analyze the resilience of China’s digital trade from 2017 to 2021.Additionally,a Tobit model is constructed to explore the main influencing factors of digital trade resilience patterns.The research findings indicate:1)temporally,during the period of Sino-US trade friction,China’s digital trade resilience shows an overall upward trend,but there are regional differences in resilience levels across the country,with a severe polarization phenomenon.2)Spatially,high resilience is observed in the eastern and central regions of China,while the western and northeastern regions exhibit low resilience.3)From a dimensional perspective,the resistance of digital trade resilience displays a spatial distribution of high values in the east and low values in the west.The recovery force is aggregated along coastal areas,and the renewal force tends to aggregate along the eastern coastline.4)Factors such as economic scale,industrial structure,urbanization rate,government fiscal expenditure,and technological talents significantly promote the enhancement of digital trade resilience.This study reveals the dynamic characteristics and influencing factors of digital trade resilience in responding to external shocks,providing theoretical basis and policy suggestions for enhancing digital trade resilience,and promoting high-quality economic development in China.
文摘AIM:To investigate the potential mechanisms of A-V pattern and evaluate the surgical outcomes used in the treatment of sensory exotropia.METHODS:The medical records of patients with sensory A-V pattern exotropia who underwent strabismus surgery between May 2014 to June 2019 was retrospectively reviewed.The control group included sensory exotropia patients without A-V pattern and concomitant A-V pattern exotropia patients with normal vision who undergone strabismus surgery over this same time period.Ocular alignment,best corrected visual acuity,oblique muscle function,and stereopsis records were collected.RESULTS:Among the 843 eligible patients,91(10.79%;39 males and 52 females)had A-pattern(54,6.4%)or V-pattern(37,4.4%).Age at onset of vision impairment was 4±5y and at the time of surgery was 25±9y.Statistically significant negative correlations were present between impaired visual acuity and the pre-operative exodeviation(r=-0.198,P=0.016)and patterns(r=-0.207,P=0.015).Age at surgery and exodeviation in patients with concomitant A-V pattern exotropia was significantly earlier as compared with that of sensory A-V pattern exotropia and sensory exotropia(both P<0.0001).There were no significant differences in these clinical variables between sensory exotropia with or without A-V pattern.Deviation and pattern were significantly reduced in patients receiving horizontal rectus surgery with or without oblique muscle surgery(both P<0.0001).CONCLUSION:The prevalence of sensory A-V pattern exotropia in our study is 10.79%.Visual acuity represents an important factor contributing to the occurrence and development of A-V pattern.Isolated horizontal rectus surgery can provide a good option for the correction of sensory A-V pattern exotropia.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41941017 and U1702241).
文摘Estimating fracture size is a fundamental aspect of rock engineering.However,determining the most probable diameter(MPD)from a fracture's surface trace remains challenging in the scientific community.The prevailing methodologies typically infer statistical distributions of fracture sizes rather than specific values.This research presents a novel approach to inferring the MPD and the true spatial distribution pattern of each fracture.The challenge lies in linking the inference process with the trace length of each fracture and the statistical characteristics of the entire outcrop.Additionally,it is necessary to address the non-unique inverse problem.The methodology comprises several key steps.Firstly,the issue of censoring bias is addressed by considering the lengths of the traces contained.Secondly,the orientation bias is corrected using the vector method,and the true mean trace length and standard deviation are estimated and derived.Thirdly,assuming a lognormal distribution for fracture sizes,the mean and standard deviation of diameters are derived through a high-order moment relationship between trace lengths and diameters,validated by Crofton's theorem.Finally,the MPDs of all trace samples are determined by relating MPDs to trace lengths and the standard deviation of diameters using stereology techniques.Furthermore,the true fracture spatial patterns are inverted based on spatial geometric relationships.The proposed methodology is validated through rigorous Monte Carlo simulation and applied in a practical engineering case study,demonstrating its potential for use in rock engineering applications.
文摘Mountains are important reservoirs of biodiversity and endemism on a global scale, but little is known about the altitudinal configuration of this diversity and its driving factors in arid mountains. We explored variations in composition, diversity, cover,and life forms of vascular plants along a complete altitudinal gradient(1300-4000 m a.s.l) in Sierra de Velasco, an arid mountain in northwestern Argentina.We evaluated the influence of environmental variables on plant diversity and cover. Field sampling was conducted in the northern sector of the Sa. de Velasco,on the western slope in eight 50 m wide altitudinal bands at 400 m elevation intervals. We used rectangular plots(20 × 4 m;n:10/altitudinal band) to register the vascular plants of all the growth forms, and linear transects(20 m long.;n:30/altitudinal band) to quantify the vegetation cover using the point intercept method. Diversity was calculated using hill numbers.Data analysis included non-metric multidimensional scaling(NMDS), indicator species analysis,generalized linear models(GLMs), and variance partitioning analysis. A total of 232 species from 51families and 158 genera were registered. Species composition showed greater similarity at intermediate elevations. Plant diversity and cover exhibited a unimodal distribution, peaking at intermediate elevations(2100-2500 m). In contrast, life forms' distribution showed divergent patterns. Therophytes and succulents predominated at low altitudes,phanerophytes and hemicryptophytes at medium altitudes, and chamaephytes and geophytes at high altitudes. The altitudinal patterns of plant diversity and cover were primarily driven by climatic factors.Conservation efforts in the Sierra de Velasco should focus on the middle and upper zones due to their high biodiversity and vulnerability to climate change.
基金This work was supported by the projects of the China Geological Survey(DD 20221703).
文摘Natural gas hydrate is a clean energy source with substantial resource potential.In contrast to conventional oil and gas,natural gas hydrate exists as a multi-phase system consisting of solids,liquids,and gases,which presents unique challenges and complicates the mechanisms of seepage and exploitation.Both domestic and international natural gas hydrate production tests typically employ a single-well production model.Although this approach has seen some success,it continues to be hindered by low production rates and short production cycles.Therefore,there is an urgent need to explore a new well network to significantly increase the production of a single well.This paper provides a comprehensive review of the latest advancements in natural gas hydrate research,including both laboratory studies and field tests.It further examines the gas production processes and development outcomes for single wells,dual wells,multi-branch wells,and multi-well systems under conditions of depressurization,thermal injection,and CO_(2) replacement.On this basis,well types and well networks suitable for commercial exploitation of natural gas hydrate were explored,and the technical direction of natural gas hydrate development was proposed.The study shows that fully exploiting the flexibility of complex structural wells and designing a well network compatible with the reservoir is the key to improving production from a single well.Moreover,multi-well joint exploitation is identified as an effective strategy for achieving large-scale,efficient development of natural gas hydrate.
基金jointly supported by the Key Project of the Natural Science Foundation of Guizhou Province(No.Qiankehe Jichu-ZK[2023]Zhongdian027)the Project of the Science and Technology Innovation Base Construction of Guizhou Province(No.Qiankehe Zhongyindi[2023]005)Philosophy and Social Science Planning Subjects in Guizhou Province in 2022(No.22GZYB53)。
文摘Ecological security provides the basis of maintaining both a sustainable regional ecosystem and economic development.However,few studies have focused on how the features such as topography and geomorphology,lithologic stratigraphic assemblages,and geohazard distribution affect the construction of ecological security patterns and the layout of optimization measures.In order to comprehensively reveal the key areas and key objects of ecological restoration in karst basins,this study takes the Beipan River Basin(BRB)as an example,constructs an ecological security pattern(ESP)based on the methods of morphological spatial pattern analysis(MSPA),landscape connectivity analysis and circuit theory,and lays out the optimization measures in combination with the spatial distribution characteristics of topographic and geomorphological differences and lithological stratigraphic combinations.The results show that 151 ecological sources,343 ecological corridors,121 pinch points and 178 barriers constitute the ESP of the BRB.Lithology is closely related to the spatial distribution characteristics of ecological source sites.Level 1 and 2 ecological sources(The ecological sources were categorized into level 1,level 2,and level 3 source from high to low importance.)are concentrated in the Emeishan basalt region of the upstream and the clastic and impure carbonate rock region of the downstream part of the BRB;level 3ecological sources are concentrated in the carbonate rock region of the midstream.Taking into account the outstanding ecological problems in the basin,and based on the characteristics of lithology and geohazard distribution,we propose the optimization scheme of“three axes,three zones and multiple points”for the ESP and the layout of specific measures of the BRB.The results can provide scientific references for maintaining ecological security maintenance in karst ecologically fragile areas.
文摘This study aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of social media data using causal inference methods to explore the underlying mechanisms driving user behavior patterns.By leveraging large-scale social media datasets,this research develops a systematic analytical framework that integrates techniques such as propensity score matching,regression analysis,and regression discontinuity design to identify the causal effects of content characteristics,user attributes,and social network structures on user interactions,including clicks,shares,comments,and likes.The empirical findings indicate that factors such as sentiment,topical relevance,and network centrality have significant causal impacts on user behavior,with notable differences observed among various user groups.This study not only enriches the theoretical understanding of social media data analysis but also provides data-driven decision support and practical guidance for fields such as digital marketing,public opinion management,and digital governance.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42271317)the Innovation Research Team Project of the Natural Science Foundation of Hainan Province(422CXTD515)。
文摘Latitudinal patterns of treeβ-diversity reveal important insights into the biogeographical processes that influence forest ecosystems.Although previous studies have extensively documentedβ-diversity within relatively small spatial extents,the potential drivers ofβ-diversity along latitudinal gradients are still not well understood at larger spatial extents.In this study,we determined whether treeβ-diversity is correlated with latitude in forests of southeastern China,and if so,what ecological processes contribute to these patterns of treeβ-diversity.We specifically aimed to disentangle the relative contributions from interspecific aggregation and environmental filtering across various spatial extents.We delineated regional communities comprising multiple nearby national forest inventory(NFI)plots around random focal plots.The number of NFI plots in a regional community served as a surrogate for spatial extent.We also used a null model to simulate randomly assembled communities and quantify the deviation(β-deviation)between observed and expectedβ-diversity.We found thatβ-diversity decreased along a latitudinal gradient and that this pattern was clearer at larger spatial extents.In addition,latitudinal patterns ofβ-deviation were explained by the degree of species spatial aggregation.We also identified environmental factors that driveβ-deviation in these forests,including precipitation,seasonality,and temperature variation.At larger spatial extents,these environmental variables explained up to 84%of theβ-deviation.Our results reinforce that ecological processes are scale-dependent and collectively contribute to theβ-gradient in subtropical forests.We recommend that conservation efforts maintain diverse forests and heterogeneous environments at multiple spatial extents to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
基金Under the auspices of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52268008)。
文摘This study focuses on urgent research on restoring and enhancing carbon storage capacity in the Beibu Gulf Urban Agglomer-ation of China,a key area in the‘Belt and Road’Initiative,which aligns with carbon peaking and neutrality goals.This research ana-lyzes the spatial characteristics of carbon metabolism from 2000 to 2020 and uses models to identify stable carbon sink areas,positive carbon flow corridors,and carbon sequestration nodes.The goal is to construct a carbon metabolism spatial security pattern(CMSSP)and propose territorial ecological restoration strategies under different development demand scenarios.The results show the following:1)in 2020,the study area’s carbon sink decreased by 8.29×10^(4) t C/yr compared with that in 2010 and by 10.83×10^(4) t C/yr compared with that in 2000.High-carbon sinks were found mainly in mountainous areas,whereas low-carbon sinks are concentrated in urban con-struction land,rural residential areas,and land margins.2)From 2000 to 2020,the spatial security pattern of carbon metabolism tended to be‘high in the middle of the east and west and low in the gulf.’In 2000,2010,and 2020,16 stable carbon sinks were identified.The carbon energy flow density in Guangxi was greater than that in Guangdong and Hainan,with positive carbon flow corridors located primarily in Guangxi and Guangdong.The number of carbon sequestration nodes remained stable at approximately 15,mainly in Guangxi and Hainan.3)Scenario simulations revealed that under the Nature-based mild restoration scenario,the carbon sink rate will reach 611.85×10^(4) t C/yr by 2030 and increase to 612.45×10^(4) t C/yr by 2060,with stable carbon sinks increasing to 18.In the restora-tion scenario based on Anti-globalization,the carbon sink will decrease from 610.24×10^(4) t C/yr in 2030 to 605.19×10^(4) t C/yr in 2060,with the disappearance of some positive carbon flow corridors and stable carbon sinks.Under the Human-based sustainable restoration scenario,the carbon sink area will decrease from 607.00×10^(4) t C/yr in 2030 to 596.39×10^(4) t C/yr in 2060,with carbon sink areas frag-menting and positive carbon flow corridors becoming less dense.4)On the basis of the current and predicted CMSSPs,this study ex-plores spatial ecological restoration strategies for high-carbon storage areas in bay urban agglomerations at four levels:the land control region,urban agglomeration structure system,carbon sink structure and bay structure control region.
基金The Social Science Fund of Hebei Province (No.200607011)the Key Science and Technology Project of Hebei Province(No.07213529)
文摘In order to more effectively assess the health status of a project, the monitoring indices in a project＇s life cycle are divided into quality index, cost index, time index, satisfaction index, and sustainable development index. Based on the feature of qualitative and quantitative indices combining, the PCA-PR （principal component analysis and pattern recognition） model is constructed. The model first analyzes the principal components of the life-cycle indices system constructed above, and picks up those principal component indices that can reflect the health status of a project at any time. Then the pattern recognition model is used to study these principal components, which means that the real time health status of the project can be divided into five lamps from a green lamp to a red one and the health status lamp of the project can be recognized by using the PR model and those principal components. Finally, the process is shown with a real example and a conclusion consistent with the actual situation is drawn. So the validity of the index system and the PCA-PR model can be confirmed.
基金Supported by:Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under Grant No.2021QN1022。
文摘Engineering structures may be exposed to one or more extreme hazards during their life-cycles.Current structural design specifications usually treat multiple hazards separately in designing structures and there is a limited probabilistic basis on extreme load combinations.Additionally,the performance of engineering structures will be deteriorated by the aggressive environments during their service periods,such as chloride attack,concrete carbonation,and wind-induced fatigue.This study presents a probabilistic methodology to assess the time-dependent failure probability of RC bridges with chloride-induced corrosion under the multiple hazards of earthquakes and strong winds.The loss of cross-section area of reinforcements and the reduction in strength of reinforcing steel and concrete cover induced by the chloride attack are considered.Moreover,the Poisson model is employed to obtain the occurrence probabilities of the individual and concurrent earthquake and strong wind events.The convolution integral is used to determine the joint probability distribution of combined load effects under simultaneous earthquakes and strong winds.Numerical results indicate that the structural failure probability under multiple hazards increases significantly during the bridge′s life-cycle due to the chloride corrosion effect.The contribution of each hazard event on the total structural failure probability varies with time.Thus,neglecting the combined influences of multiple hazards and chloride-induced corrosion may bring erroneous predictions in failure probability estimates of RC bridges.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52034009 and 51974319)the Yue Qi Distinguished Scholar Project(No.2020JCB01)。
文摘The quantitative determination and evaluation of rock brittleness are crucial for the estimation of excavation efficiency and the improvement of hydraulic fracturing efficiency.Therefore,a“three-stage”triaxial loading and unloading stress path is designed and proposed.Subsequently,six brittleness indices are selected.In addition,the evolution characteristics of the six brittleness indices selected are characterized based on the bedding effect and the effect of confining pressure.Then,the entropy weight method(EWM)is introduced to assign weight to the six brittleness indices,and the comprehensive brittleness index Bcis defined and evaluated.Next,the new brittleness classification standard is determined,and the brittleness differences between the two stress paths are quantified.Finally,compared with the previous evaluation methods,the rationality of the proposed comprehensive brittleness index Bcis also verified.These results indicate that the proposed brittleness index Bccan reflect the brittle characteristics of deep bedded sandstone from the perspective of the whole life-cycle evolution process.Accordingly,the method proposed seems to offer reliable evaluations of the brittleness of deep bedded sandstone in deep engineering practices,although further validation is necessary.
文摘The development and deployment of Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage （CCS） technology is a cornerstone of the Norwegian government＇s climate strategy. A number of projects are currently evaluated/planned along the Norwegian West Coast, one at Tjeldbergodden. COe from this project will be utilized in part for enhanced oil recovery in the Halten oil field, in the Norwegian Sea. We study a potential design of such a system. A combined cycle power plant with a gross power output of 832 MW is combined with CO2 capture plant based on a post-combustion capture using amines as a solvent. The captured CO2 is used for enhanced oil recovery （EOR）. We employ a hybrid life-cycle assessment （LCA） method to assess the environmental impacts of the system. The study focuses on the modifications and operations of the platform during EOR. We allocate the impacts connected to the capture of CO2 to electricity production, and the impacts connected to the transport and storage of CO2 to the oil produced. Our study shows a substantial reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions from power production by 80% to 75 g·（kW·h）^-1. It also indicates a reduction of the emissions associated with oil production per unit oil produced, mostly due to the increased oil production. Reductions are especially significant if the additional power demand due to EOR leads to power supply from the land.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(71732001,51878311,72271106,U21A20151,and 71821001)Engineering Fronts Project(2021-HYZD-5-13)+1 种基金Major Science&Technology Project of Hubei(2020ACA006)China Scholarship Council(202006160115).
文摘During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency, many hospitals were built or renovated around the world to meet the challenges posed by the rising number of infected cases. Environmental management in the hospital life cycle is vital in preventing nosocomial infection and includes many infection control procedures. In certain urgent situations, a hospital must be completed quickly, and work process approval and supervision must therefore be accelerated. Thus, many works cannot be checked in detail. This results in a lack of work liability control and increases the difficulty of ensuring the fulfillment of key infection prevention measures. This study investigates how blockchain technology can transform the work quality inspection workflow to assist in nosocomial infection control under a fast delivery requirement. A blockchain-based life-cycle environmental management framework is proposed to track the fulfillment of crucial infection control measures in the design, construction, and operation stages of hospitals. The proposed framework allows for work quality checking after the work is completed, when some work cannot be checked on time. Illustrative use cases are selected to demonstrate the capabilities of the developed solution. This study provides new insights into applying blockchain technology to address the challenge of environmental management brought by rapid delivery requirements.
