Many global emission reduction strategies have been proposed, but few have been assessed quantitatively from the view of equality, efficiency and effectiveness. Integrated assessment models (IAM) is one of the effecti...Many global emission reduction strategies have been proposed, but few have been assessed quantitatively from the view of equality, efficiency and effectiveness. Integrated assessment models (IAM) is one of the effective ways to make climate policy modeling. So in this paper we developed the MRICES (Multi-regional integrated model of climate and economy with GDP spillovers) model, which is an IAM but extends to include GDP spillover mechanism, to make assessment on several strategies for global emission reduction, including the egalitarianism strategy, the UNDP strategy and the Copenhagen Accord. Using 1990 as a baseline for historical emission levels, the egalitarian strategy argues that developed countries should implement urgent emission reductions, whereas developing countries are allowed relatively higher future emission quotas. The UNDP strategy addresses the issue of substantial changes in global temperature but acknowledges that developing countries are not able to afford more costs for mitigation measures, which is inequitable from the perspective of a country's right to develop. We also simulated the Copenhagen Accord to determine the consequences by the year 2100 if each country continues their current emission mitigation actions, and results indicated that the increase in global temperature will be 2.8 ℃by 2100; consequently, much stronger emission reduction efforts must be implemented after 2020. Based on analysis on mitigation strategies, it is recognized that the common but differentiated responsibility principle must be insisted when making global mitigation strategy. To comply with this principle, the emission reduction baseline of developed and developing countries should be discriminated, so 1990 and 2005 can be taken as the base year for developed and developing countries respectively.展开更多
China is severely impacted by desertification. Of its territory, 34,6% -- some 3.32 million km2 -- is classified as drylands （including arid, semi-arid and semi-humid arid areas）. Of the drylands, 2.62 million km2 m...China is severely impacted by desertification. Of its territory, 34,6% -- some 3.32 million km2 -- is classified as drylands （including arid, semi-arid and semi-humid arid areas）. Of the drylands, 2.62 million km2 meets the UNCCD definition of desertified land. These desertified lands spread across 18 provinces and account for 27.33% of the country＇s landmass. Over 400 million residents are affected, causing an annual direct economic loss exceed 64 billion CNY. China＇s desertification mitigation began in late 1950s. Through a number of high-profile programs ＂Three-North Shelterbelt Development Program＂, ＂National Program on Combating Desertification＂, ＂Sandification Control Program for Beijing and Tianjin Vicinity＂, and ＂Croplands to Forests or Grasslands Program＂ launched between 1978 and 2000, the Government of China has poured on average 0.024% of the country＇s annual GDP into desertiflcation mitigation and, as a result, some 20% of desertified lands have been brought under control. Approximately 50×104 km2 of the existing desertified lands are considered restorable given current technology. When the potential desertification increments induced by global warming are taken into account, total desertifled area within planning horizon is projected to range from 55×104 to 100×104 km2. With the approximate restoration rate of 1.5×104-2.2×104 km2 y-1, China＇s anti-desertification battle is expected to last 45-70 years. The current strategic plans set restoration targets at 22×104 km2 by 2015, with an additional 33×104 km2 by 2030, and the fnal 45×104 km2 of the 100×104 km2 restored by 2050. Through examining state investment in mitigation and current rehabilitation strategies, the paper recommends： （i） boardening the previous sectoral perspective to a multi-stakeholder approach; （ii） setting priority zones within the restorable area, and establishing National Special Eco-Zones; （iii） steering state investment from government investment in tree plantations to acquisition of planted/greened areas; and （iv） introducing preferential policies in favor of sandy land restoration, including extending land tenures to 70 years and compensating for ecological services.展开更多
A large number of communities are impacted annually by the increasing frequency of tornado hazards resulting in damage to the infrastructure as well as disruption of community functions.The effect of the hazard geomet...A large number of communities are impacted annually by the increasing frequency of tornado hazards resulting in damage to the infrastructure as well as disruption of community functions.The effect of the hazard geometry(center and angle of tornado path as well as the tornado width)is studied herein on how it influences the recovery of physical and social systems within the community.Given that pre-disaster preparedness including mitigation strategies(e.g.,retrofits)and policies(e.g.,insurance)is crucial for increasing the resilience of the community and facilitating a faster recovery process,in this study,the impact of various mitigation strategies and policies on the recovery trajectory and resilience of a typical US community subjected to a tornado is investigated considering different sources of uncertainties.The virtual testbed of Centerville is selected in this paper and is modeled by adopting the Agent-based modeling(ABM)approach which is a powerful tool for conducting community resilience analysis that simulates the behavior of different types of agents and their interactions to capture their interdependencies.The results are presented in the form of recovery time series as well as calculated resilience indices for various community systems(lifeline networks,schools,healthcare,businesses,and households).The results of this study can help deepen our understanding of how to efficiently expedite the recovery process of a community.展开更多
Cloud computing plays a significant role in modern information technology, providing organizations with numerous benefits, including flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency. However, it has become essential for ...Cloud computing plays a significant role in modern information technology, providing organizations with numerous benefits, including flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency. However, it has become essential for organizations to ensure the security of their applications, data, and cloud-based networks to use cloud services effectively. This systematic literature review aims to determine the latest information regarding cloud computing security, with a specific emphasis on threats and mitigation strategies. Additionally, it highlights some common threats related to cloud computing security, such as distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, account hijacking, malware attacks, and data breaches. This research also explores some mitigation strategies, including security awareness training, vulnerability management, security information and event management (SIEM), identity and access management (IAM), and encryption techniques. It discusses emerging trends in cloud security, such as integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), serverless computing, and containerization, as well as the effectiveness of the shared responsibility model and its related challenges. The importance of user awareness and the impact of emerging technologies on cloud security have also been discussed in detail to mitigate security risks. A literature review of previous research and scholarly articles has also been conducted to provide insights regarding cloud computing security. It shows the need for continuous research and innovation to address emerging threats and maintain a security-conscious culture in the company.展开更多
There has been a large increase in the number of days per year with numerous EF1-EF5 tornadoes.Given the significant damage incurred by tornadoes upon communities,community resilience analyses for tornado-stricken com...There has been a large increase in the number of days per year with numerous EF1-EF5 tornadoes.Given the significant damage incurred by tornadoes upon communities,community resilience analyses for tornado-stricken communities have been gaining momentum.As the community resilience analysis aims to guide how to lay out effective hazard mitigation strategies to decrease damage and improve recovery,a comprehensive and accurate approach is necessary.Agent-based modeling,an analysis approach in which different types of agents are created with their properties and behavior clearly defined to simulate the processes of those agents in an external environ-ment,is the most comprehensive and accurate approach so far to conducting community resilience simulations and investigating the decision-making for mitigation and recovery under natural hazards.In this paper,agent-based models(ABMs)are created to simulate the recovery process of a virtual testbed based on the real-world community in Joplin City,MO.The tornado path associated with the real-world tornado event that occurred in May 2011 is adopted in the tornado hazard modeling for the Joplin testbed.In addition,agent-based models are created for another virtual community in the Midwest United States named Centerville using an assumed tornado scenario of the same EF-scale as that in Joplin.The effects of hazard mitigation strategies on the two communities are also explored.A comparison between the analysis results of these two testbeds can indicate the influence of the characteristics of a tornado-prone community on the resilience of the community as well as on the effects of hazard mitigation strategies.It is observed that a community’s level of development significantly impacts the tornado resilience.In addition,the effects of a specific type of hazard mitigation strategy on the recovery process are contingent upon testbed characteristics.展开更多
Climate changes that occur as a result of global warming caused by increasing amounts of greenhouse gases(GHGs)released into the atmosphere are an alarming issue.Controlling greenhouse gas emissions is critically impo...Climate changes that occur as a result of global warming caused by increasing amounts of greenhouse gases(GHGs)released into the atmosphere are an alarming issue.Controlling greenhouse gas emissions is critically important for the current and future status of mining activities.The mining industry is one of the significant contributors of greenhouse gases.In essence,anthropogenic greenhouse gases are emitted directly during the actual mining and indirectly released by the energy-intensive activities associated with mining equipment,ore transport,and the processing industry.Therefore,we reviewed both direct and indirect GHG emissions to analyze how mining contributes to climate change.In addition,we showed how climate change impacts mineral production.This assessment was performed using a GHG inventory model for the gases released from mines undergoing different product life cycles.We also elucidate the key issues and various research outcomes to demonstrate how the mining industry and policymakers can mitigate GHG emission from the mining sector.The review concludes with an overview of GHG release reduction and mitigation strategies.展开更多
Investigating the spatio-temporal transmission features and process of novel coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)mitigation strategies are of great practical significance to understand the development of COVID-19 and es...Investigating the spatio-temporal transmission features and process of novel coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)mitigation strategies are of great practical significance to understand the development of COVID-19 and establish international cooperation for prevention and control.In this paper,the cumulative number of confirmed cases,number of confirmed cases per day and cumulative number of deaths,were used to compare transmission paths,outbreaks timelines,and coping strategies of COVID-19 in China and the US.The results revealed that:first,the COVID-19 outbreaks in both China and the US exhibited a 6-week initiation stage.In China,the COVID-19 erupted in late January.It lasted only a short period of time and was almost completely contained within 6-8 weeks.But the COVID-19 erupted in early March in the US and was still in the peak or post-peak stage.Second,in China,the COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan and spread to other regions of Hubei Province and then nationwide,exhibiting a cross('+')-shaped of spread with Wuhan city as the center.Importantly,the COVID-19 in China had a large concentration and there were no national outbreaks.In contrast,the COVID-19 in the US first spread through New York and the western and eastern coasts but has since emerged throughout the entire country.Third,the lack of emergency response planning in both countries in the early stage(about 6-week)hampered COVID-19 prevention.However,actively high-pressure prevention and control measures were used to basically control COVID-19 in early March in China.And then China has gradually resumed business and production activities.Unfortunately,the US government missed the best opportunity to contain the epidemic.Faced with the choice between economic recovery and coronavirus containment,the US removed the quarantine and restriction measures too early.The COVID-19 is continuing to spread in the country and blossom everywhere,still showing no signs of receding.展开更多
The accelerated degradation in the front ceils of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell（PEMFC） stack seriously reduces the reliability and durability of the whole stack. Most researches only focus on the size and...The accelerated degradation in the front ceils of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell（PEMFC） stack seriously reduces the reliability and durability of the whole stack. Most researches only focus on the size and configuration of the gas intake manifold, which may lead to the maldistribution of flow and pressure. In order to find out the mechanisms of the accelerated degradation in the front cells, an extensive program of experimental and simulation work is initiated and the results are reported. It is found that after long-term lifetime tests the accelerated degradation in the front cells occurs in all three fuel cell stacks with different flow-fields under the U-type feed configuration. Compared with the rear cells of the stack, the voltage of the front cells is much lower at the same current densities and the membrane electrode assembly（MEA） has smaller active area, more catalyst particle agglomeration and higher ohmic impedance. For further investigation, a series of three dimensional isothermal numerical models are built to investigate the degradation mechanisms based on the experimental data. The simulation results reveal that the dry working condition of the membrane and the effect of high-speed gas scouting the MEA are the main causes of the accelerated degradation in the front cells of a PEM fuel cell stack under the U-type feed configuration. Several mitigation strategies that would mitigate these phenomena are presented： removing cells that have failed and replacing them with those of the same aging condition as the average of the stack; choosing a Z-type feed pattern instead of a U-type one; putting several air flow-field plates without MEA in the front of the stack; or exchanging the gas inlet and outlet alternately at a certain interval. This paper specifies the causes of the accelerated degradation in the front cells and provides the mitigation strategies.展开更多
The complex compositions and large shrinkage of concrete,as well as the strong constraints of the structures,often lead to prominent shrinkage cracking problems in modem concrete structures.This paper first introduces...The complex compositions and large shrinkage of concrete,as well as the strong constraints of the structures,often lead to prominent shrinkage cracking problems in modem concrete structures.This paper first introduces a multi-field(hydro-thermo-hygro-constraint)coupling model with the hydration degree of cementitious materials as the basic state parameter to estimate the shrinkage cracking risk of hardening concrete under coupling effects.Second,three new key technologies are illustrated:temperature rise inhibition,full-stage shrinkage compensation,and shrinkage reduction technologies.These technologies can efficiently reduce the thermal,autogenous,and drying shrinkages of concrete.There after,a design process based on the theoretical model and key technologies is proposed to control thecracking risk index below the threshold value.Finally,two engineering application examples are provided that demonstrate that concrete shrinkage cracking can be significantly mitigated by adopting the proposed methods and technologies.展开更多
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi that are commonly detected as natural contaminants in agricultural commodities worldwide.Mycotoxin exposure can lead to mycotoxicosis in both an...Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi that are commonly detected as natural contaminants in agricultural commodities worldwide.Mycotoxin exposure can lead to mycotoxicosis in both animals and humans when found in animal feeds and food products,and at lower concentrations can affect animal performance by disrupting nutrient digestion,absorption,metabolism,and animal physiology.Thus,mycotoxin contamination of animal feeds represents a significant issue to the livestock industry and is a health threat to food animals.Since prevention of mycotoxin formation is difficult to undertake to avoid contamination,mitigation strategies are needed.This review explores how the mycotoxins aflatoxins,deoxynivalenol,zearalenone,fumonisins and ochratoxin A impose nutritional and metabolic effects on food animals and summarizes mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of mycotoxicity.展开更多
A low-frequency debris flow took place in the north coastal range of Venezuela on Dec. 16, 1999, and scientists all over the world paid attention to this catastrophe. Four characteristics of low-frequency debris hazar...A low-frequency debris flow took place in the north coastal range of Venezuela on Dec. 16, 1999, and scientists all over the world paid attention to this catastrophe. Four characteristics of low-frequency debris hazard are discussed: long return period and extreme catastrophe, special rare triggering factors, difficulty in distinguishing and a series of small hazards subsequent to the catastrophe. Different measures, such as preventing, forecast - warning, engineering, can be used for mitigating and controlling the catastrophe. In engineering practice, it is a key that large silt-trap dams are used to control rare large debris flow. A kind of low dam with cheap cost can be used to replace high dam in developing countries. A planning for controlling debris flow hazard in Cerro Grande stream of Venezuela is presented at the end of this paper.展开更多
Increasing urbanization in the cities of northern Mexico reflects a general trend to increased temperatures, so it is likely that heat waves amplify the frequency and intensity in urban centers, mainly located in arid...Increasing urbanization in the cities of northern Mexico reflects a general trend to increased temperatures, so it is likely that heat waves amplify the frequency and intensity in urban centers, mainly located in arid and semiarid as Mexicali city with extremely arid climate, very hot in summer and cold and rainy in winter. Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico is located at N32°38＇ and W115°20＇. The urban area is expanded over 14,890 hectares, with a population rise the 689,775. In the last four decades has experienced an accelerated industrial growth and mismatched land uses, for example： most of the industrial parks were established before the 1980 in what was the outskirts of the city, but nowadays practically are inside of the urban area contributing to the increase the urban temperature. The heat islands profile shows that are intensified in industrial areas as well as trade and services. The preliminary scenarios of climate change for Mexicali indicate that for the decade of 2080 the temperature will increase between 4.2℃ and 4.4℃. This paper addresses in a simulation context, an industrial and commercial city sector and their ability to implement urban heat island mitigation strategies. The simulation of this process requires several spatial analysis tools and specific knowledge about the processes that increase urban temperatures. In this work, only land use, land cover and buildings are considered. The proposed method takes into account the actual spatial organization to analyze trends for the proposed growth areas.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the safety hazards in nursing and explore mitigation strategies for elderly patients in the endocrinology department.Methods:A total of 240 bedridden elderly patients from February 2021 to Jan...Objective:To investigate the safety hazards in nursing and explore mitigation strategies for elderly patients in the endocrinology department.Methods:A total of 240 bedridden elderly patients from February 2021 to January 2023 were recruited and divided into two groups using the random number table method.The control group(n=120)received conventional nursing care,and the observation group(n=120)received personalized nursing care.Patients’quality of life,the incidence rate of pressure sores,and patient satisfaction with nursing care were observed and analyzed.Results:The incidence of pressure ulcers in the observation group was significantly lower at 17.50%compared to 30.00%in the control group(P<0.05).Quality of life in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).The satisfaction rate in the observation group was significantly higher at 93.33%compared to 84.17%in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:These findings emphasize that only through the implementation of scientific and rational nursing measures can effectively reduce nursing risks,enhance therapeutic outcomes,and improve the quality of life for elderly patients.展开更多
Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) is a common pathogenic bacterium in animal husbandry that can cause diseases such as mastitis, skin infections, arthritis, and other ailments. The formation of biofilms threatens and e...Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) is a common pathogenic bacterium in animal husbandry that can cause diseases such as mastitis, skin infections, arthritis, and other ailments. The formation of biofilms threatens and exacerbates S. aureus infection by allowing the bacteria to adhere to pathological areas and livestock product surfaces, thus triggering animal health crises and safety issues with livestock products. To solve this problem, in this review, we provide a brief overview of the harm caused by S. aureus and its biofilms on livestock and animal byproducts(meat and dairy products). We also describe the ways in which S. aureus spreads in animals and the threats it poses to the livestock industry. The processes and molecular mechanisms involved in biofilm formation are then explained. Finally, we discuss strategies for the removal and eradication of S. aureus and biofilms in animal husbandry, including the use of antimicrobial peptides, plant extracts, nanoparticles, phages, and antibodies. These strategies to reduce the spread of S. aureus in animal husbandry help maintain livestock health and improve productivity to ensure the ecologically sustainable development of animal husbandry and the safety of livestock products.展开更多
Plants are exposed to adverse environmental conditions,including cold,drought,heat,salinity,and heavy metals,which negatively impact plant growth and productivity of edible crops worldwide.Although the previous litera...Plants are exposed to adverse environmental conditions,including cold,drought,heat,salinity,and heavy metals,which negatively impact plant growth and productivity of edible crops worldwide.Although the previous literature summarized the nanoparticle's involvement in abiotic stress mitigation,the interaction of nanoparticles with other stress mitigators to overcome abiotic stress from plants remains unclear.Currently,nanotechnology is considered a growing new field in agriculture for understanding plants'adapted stress tolerance mechanisms.Recent research has shown that nanoparticles can effectively mitigate abiotic stress by interacting synergistically with plant growth regulators.To address this,we comprehensively demonstrated the combined positive potential of nanoparticles in combination with plant growth regulators(signaling molecules,phytohormones,nanoparticles-nanoparticles interaction,fungi,plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and other metal salts)to improve plant growth and mitigate abiotic stresses.Their co-applications augment the plant's growth,nutrient uptake,antioxidant defense system,water absorption,cell viability,water use efficiency,and photosynthetic and biochemical attributes by reducing oxidative stressors under various abiotic stresses in different plant species.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the combined applications of nanoparticles and plant growth regulators,a novel strategy to reduce the harmful effects of abiotic stress on plants.It identifies research gaps and recommends future studies to overcome their phytotoxicity worldwide.展开更多
Long-runout rockslides at high altitude could cause disaster chain in river basins and destroy towns and major infrasturctures.This paper firstly explores the initiation mechanism of high-altitude and long-runout rock...Long-runout rockslides at high altitude could cause disaster chain in river basins and destroy towns and major infrasturctures.This paper firstly explores the initiation mechanism of high-altitude and long-runout rockslides.Two types of sliding-prone geostructure models,i.e.the fault control type in orogenic belt and the fold control type in platform area,are proposed.Then,large-scale experimental apparatus and associated numerical simulations are conducted to understanding the chain-style dynamics of rockslide-debris avalanche-debris flow.The results reveal the fragmentation effects,the rheological behaviors and the boundary layer effect of long-runout avalanche-debris flow.The dynamic character-istics of quasi-static-transition-inertia state and solid-liquid coupling in rapid movement of rockslide-debris avalanche-debris flow are investigated.Finally,the risk mitigation strategy of the non-structure and structure for resilient energy dissipation are illustrated for initiation,transition and deposition zones.The structural prevention and mitigation methods have been successfully applied to the high-altitude and long-runout rockslides in Zhouqu and Maoxian of the Wenchuan earthquake zone,as well as the other major geohazards in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its adjacent areas.展开更多
Transforming atmospherically abundant CO_(2)into valuable chemicals and fuels through the electrochemical CO_(2)reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR)provides a sustainable and carbonneutral approach to chemical production.[1]A...Transforming atmospherically abundant CO_(2)into valuable chemicals and fuels through the electrochemical CO_(2)reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR)provides a sustainable and carbonneutral approach to chemical production.[1]Among the various reactor architectures,the anion exchange membrane(AEM)-based zero-gap membrane electrode assembly(MEA)electrolyzer has emerged as the most suitable design for industrial applications because of its minimized ohmic losses,which results in enhanced energy efficiency and higher current densities.展开更多
The integration of large language models(LLMs)into financial applications has demonstrated remarkable potential for enhancing decision-making processes,automating operations,and delivering personalized services.Howeve...The integration of large language models(LLMs)into financial applications has demonstrated remarkable potential for enhancing decision-making processes,automating operations,and delivering personalized services.However,the high-stakes nature of financial systems demands a very high level of trustworthiness that current LLMs often fail to meet.展开更多
In reward-based crowdfunding, projects are to disclose the operational risks and mitigation strategies for delivering the physical rewards during the funding phase. However, limited knowledge exists regarding projects...In reward-based crowdfunding, projects are to disclose the operational risks and mitigation strategies for delivering the physical rewards during the funding phase. However, limited knowledge exists regarding projects’ operational risks and mitigation strategies during the funding phase. In contributing to the literature, the study uses data on Kickstarter.com and conducts a content analysis to explore themes and their relationships. The results reveal various operational risks and associated mitigation strategies. Among the identified themes, product-related, contract manufacturers, and supply markets are the most expected risks, while outsourced production and proactive sourcing are the popular mitigation strategies. Also, the finding reveals that proactive sourcing and outsourced production, in-house production and post-campaign sourcing, contract manufacturer risk, and project internal risk are themes forming clusters. The results extend crowdfunding risk disclosure literature and set the tone for future research in crowdfunding operational risk management. Finally, other business implications are drawn for crowdfunding practitioners.展开更多
To feed an increasing population, large amounts of chemical nitrogen fertilizer have been used to produce much of our food, feed and fiber thereby increasing nitrogen levels in soils, natural waters, crop residues, li...To feed an increasing population, large amounts of chemical nitrogen fertilizer have been used to produce much of our food, feed and fiber thereby increasing nitrogen levels in soils, natural waters, crop residues, livestock wastes,and municipal and agricultural wastes, with national and international concern about its potential adverse effects on environmental quality and public health. To understand these phenomena and problems, first the nitrogen cycle and the environment are described. Then recent trends for nitrogen cycling through the food and feed system, N2O emissions from fertilized upland and paddy soils, and NO-3 pollution in ground water in Japan are reported. Finally, mitigation strategies in Japan for reducing N2O emission and NO-3 pollution are proposed, including nitrification inhibitors, controlled release fertilizers, utilization of plant species that could suppress nitrification, utilizing the toposequence, government policy, and appropriate agricultural practices. Of all the technologies presented, use of nitrification inhibitors and controlled release fertilizers are deemed the most important with further development of these aspects of technologies being expected. These practices, if employed worldwide, could help reduce the load, or environmental deterioration, on the Earth's biosphere.展开更多
基金National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program), No.2012CB955800CAS Strategic Priority Research Program Grant No.XDA05150500
文摘Many global emission reduction strategies have been proposed, but few have been assessed quantitatively from the view of equality, efficiency and effectiveness. Integrated assessment models (IAM) is one of the effective ways to make climate policy modeling. So in this paper we developed the MRICES (Multi-regional integrated model of climate and economy with GDP spillovers) model, which is an IAM but extends to include GDP spillover mechanism, to make assessment on several strategies for global emission reduction, including the egalitarianism strategy, the UNDP strategy and the Copenhagen Accord. Using 1990 as a baseline for historical emission levels, the egalitarian strategy argues that developed countries should implement urgent emission reductions, whereas developing countries are allowed relatively higher future emission quotas. The UNDP strategy addresses the issue of substantial changes in global temperature but acknowledges that developing countries are not able to afford more costs for mitigation measures, which is inequitable from the perspective of a country's right to develop. We also simulated the Copenhagen Accord to determine the consequences by the year 2100 if each country continues their current emission mitigation actions, and results indicated that the increase in global temperature will be 2.8 ℃by 2100; consequently, much stronger emission reduction efforts must be implemented after 2020. Based on analysis on mitigation strategies, it is recognized that the common but differentiated responsibility principle must be insisted when making global mitigation strategy. To comply with this principle, the emission reduction baseline of developed and developing countries should be discriminated, so 1990 and 2005 can be taken as the base year for developed and developing countries respectively.
基金supported by State Forestry Administration "Public Welfare Research Foundation" (No.201004010)"948 Program"(No.2008-4-47)
文摘China is severely impacted by desertification. Of its territory, 34,6% -- some 3.32 million km2 -- is classified as drylands （including arid, semi-arid and semi-humid arid areas）. Of the drylands, 2.62 million km2 meets the UNCCD definition of desertified land. These desertified lands spread across 18 provinces and account for 27.33% of the country＇s landmass. Over 400 million residents are affected, causing an annual direct economic loss exceed 64 billion CNY. China＇s desertification mitigation began in late 1950s. Through a number of high-profile programs ＂Three-North Shelterbelt Development Program＂, ＂National Program on Combating Desertification＂, ＂Sandification Control Program for Beijing and Tianjin Vicinity＂, and ＂Croplands to Forests or Grasslands Program＂ launched between 1978 and 2000, the Government of China has poured on average 0.024% of the country＇s annual GDP into desertiflcation mitigation and, as a result, some 20% of desertified lands have been brought under control. Approximately 50×104 km2 of the existing desertified lands are considered restorable given current technology. When the potential desertification increments induced by global warming are taken into account, total desertifled area within planning horizon is projected to range from 55×104 to 100×104 km2. With the approximate restoration rate of 1.5×104-2.2×104 km2 y-1, China＇s anti-desertification battle is expected to last 45-70 years. The current strategic plans set restoration targets at 22×104 km2 by 2015, with an additional 33×104 km2 by 2030, and the fnal 45×104 km2 of the 100×104 km2 restored by 2050. Through examining state investment in mitigation and current rehabilitation strategies, the paper recommends： （i） boardening the previous sectoral perspective to a multi-stakeholder approach; （ii） setting priority zones within the restorable area, and establishing National Special Eco-Zones; （iii） steering state investment from government investment in tree plantations to acquisition of planted/greened areas; and （iv） introducing preferential policies in favor of sandy land restoration, including extending land tenures to 70 years and compensating for ecological services.
基金Financial support for this work was provided by the US Department of Commerce,National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST)under the Financial Assistance Award Number(FAIN)#70NANB20H008.
文摘A large number of communities are impacted annually by the increasing frequency of tornado hazards resulting in damage to the infrastructure as well as disruption of community functions.The effect of the hazard geometry(center and angle of tornado path as well as the tornado width)is studied herein on how it influences the recovery of physical and social systems within the community.Given that pre-disaster preparedness including mitigation strategies(e.g.,retrofits)and policies(e.g.,insurance)is crucial for increasing the resilience of the community and facilitating a faster recovery process,in this study,the impact of various mitigation strategies and policies on the recovery trajectory and resilience of a typical US community subjected to a tornado is investigated considering different sources of uncertainties.The virtual testbed of Centerville is selected in this paper and is modeled by adopting the Agent-based modeling(ABM)approach which is a powerful tool for conducting community resilience analysis that simulates the behavior of different types of agents and their interactions to capture their interdependencies.The results are presented in the form of recovery time series as well as calculated resilience indices for various community systems(lifeline networks,schools,healthcare,businesses,and households).The results of this study can help deepen our understanding of how to efficiently expedite the recovery process of a community.
文摘Cloud computing plays a significant role in modern information technology, providing organizations with numerous benefits, including flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency. However, it has become essential for organizations to ensure the security of their applications, data, and cloud-based networks to use cloud services effectively. This systematic literature review aims to determine the latest information regarding cloud computing security, with a specific emphasis on threats and mitigation strategies. Additionally, it highlights some common threats related to cloud computing security, such as distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, account hijacking, malware attacks, and data breaches. This research also explores some mitigation strategies, including security awareness training, vulnerability management, security information and event management (SIEM), identity and access management (IAM), and encryption techniques. It discusses emerging trends in cloud security, such as integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), serverless computing, and containerization, as well as the effectiveness of the shared responsibility model and its related challenges. The importance of user awareness and the impact of emerging technologies on cloud security have also been discussed in detail to mitigate security risks. A literature review of previous research and scholarly articles has also been conducted to provide insights regarding cloud computing security. It shows the need for continuous research and innovation to address emerging threats and maintain a security-conscious culture in the company.
基金Financial support for this work was provided by the US Department of Commerce,the National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST)under the Financial Assistance Award Number#70NANB20H008the US National Science Foundation(NSF)under Award Number 2052930.
文摘There has been a large increase in the number of days per year with numerous EF1-EF5 tornadoes.Given the significant damage incurred by tornadoes upon communities,community resilience analyses for tornado-stricken communities have been gaining momentum.As the community resilience analysis aims to guide how to lay out effective hazard mitigation strategies to decrease damage and improve recovery,a comprehensive and accurate approach is necessary.Agent-based modeling,an analysis approach in which different types of agents are created with their properties and behavior clearly defined to simulate the processes of those agents in an external environ-ment,is the most comprehensive and accurate approach so far to conducting community resilience simulations and investigating the decision-making for mitigation and recovery under natural hazards.In this paper,agent-based models(ABMs)are created to simulate the recovery process of a virtual testbed based on the real-world community in Joplin City,MO.The tornado path associated with the real-world tornado event that occurred in May 2011 is adopted in the tornado hazard modeling for the Joplin testbed.In addition,agent-based models are created for another virtual community in the Midwest United States named Centerville using an assumed tornado scenario of the same EF-scale as that in Joplin.The effects of hazard mitigation strategies on the two communities are also explored.A comparison between the analysis results of these two testbeds can indicate the influence of the characteristics of a tornado-prone community on the resilience of the community as well as on the effects of hazard mitigation strategies.It is observed that a community’s level of development significantly impacts the tornado resilience.In addition,the effects of a specific type of hazard mitigation strategy on the recovery process are contingent upon testbed characteristics.
基金financially supported by the Beijing Natural Science Foundation(No.2204084)the National Science Foundation of China(Nos.52004015 and 51874014)+1 种基金the Major Scientific and Technological Innovation Project of Shandong Province,China(No.2019SDZY02)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(No.FRF-TP-19-027A1)。
文摘Climate changes that occur as a result of global warming caused by increasing amounts of greenhouse gases(GHGs)released into the atmosphere are an alarming issue.Controlling greenhouse gas emissions is critically important for the current and future status of mining activities.The mining industry is one of the significant contributors of greenhouse gases.In essence,anthropogenic greenhouse gases are emitted directly during the actual mining and indirectly released by the energy-intensive activities associated with mining equipment,ore transport,and the processing industry.Therefore,we reviewed both direct and indirect GHG emissions to analyze how mining contributes to climate change.In addition,we showed how climate change impacts mineral production.This assessment was performed using a GHG inventory model for the gases released from mines undergoing different product life cycles.We also elucidate the key issues and various research outcomes to demonstrate how the mining industry and policymakers can mitigate GHG emission from the mining sector.The review concludes with an overview of GHG release reduction and mitigation strategies.
基金Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences,No.XDA20010203Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(STEP),No.2019QZKK1006。
文摘Investigating the spatio-temporal transmission features and process of novel coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)mitigation strategies are of great practical significance to understand the development of COVID-19 and establish international cooperation for prevention and control.In this paper,the cumulative number of confirmed cases,number of confirmed cases per day and cumulative number of deaths,were used to compare transmission paths,outbreaks timelines,and coping strategies of COVID-19 in China and the US.The results revealed that:first,the COVID-19 outbreaks in both China and the US exhibited a 6-week initiation stage.In China,the COVID-19 erupted in late January.It lasted only a short period of time and was almost completely contained within 6-8 weeks.But the COVID-19 erupted in early March in the US and was still in the peak or post-peak stage.Second,in China,the COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan and spread to other regions of Hubei Province and then nationwide,exhibiting a cross('+')-shaped of spread with Wuhan city as the center.Importantly,the COVID-19 in China had a large concentration and there were no national outbreaks.In contrast,the COVID-19 in the US first spread through New York and the western and eastern coasts but has since emerged throughout the entire country.Third,the lack of emergency response planning in both countries in the early stage(about 6-week)hampered COVID-19 prevention.However,actively high-pressure prevention and control measures were used to basically control COVID-19 in early March in China.And then China has gradually resumed business and production activities.Unfortunately,the US government missed the best opportunity to contain the epidemic.Faced with the choice between economic recovery and coronavirus containment,the US removed the quarantine and restriction measures too early.The COVID-19 is continuing to spread in the country and blossom everywhere,still showing no signs of receding.
基金supported by National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program,Grant No.2012CB215500)National Hi-tech Research and Development Program of China(863 Program,Grant Nos.2012AA1106012,2012AA053402)+1 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.20976095)the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education,China(Grant No.20090002110074)
文摘The accelerated degradation in the front ceils of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell（PEMFC） stack seriously reduces the reliability and durability of the whole stack. Most researches only focus on the size and configuration of the gas intake manifold, which may lead to the maldistribution of flow and pressure. In order to find out the mechanisms of the accelerated degradation in the front cells, an extensive program of experimental and simulation work is initiated and the results are reported. It is found that after long-term lifetime tests the accelerated degradation in the front cells occurs in all three fuel cell stacks with different flow-fields under the U-type feed configuration. Compared with the rear cells of the stack, the voltage of the front cells is much lower at the same current densities and the membrane electrode assembly（MEA） has smaller active area, more catalyst particle agglomeration and higher ohmic impedance. For further investigation, a series of three dimensional isothermal numerical models are built to investigate the degradation mechanisms based on the experimental data. The simulation results reveal that the dry working condition of the membrane and the effect of high-speed gas scouting the MEA are the main causes of the accelerated degradation in the front cells of a PEM fuel cell stack under the U-type feed configuration. Several mitigation strategies that would mitigate these phenomena are presented： removing cells that have failed and replacing them with those of the same aging condition as the average of the stack; choosing a Z-type feed pattern instead of a U-type one; putting several air flow-field plates without MEA in the front of the stack; or exchanging the gas inlet and outlet alternately at a certain interval. This paper specifies the causes of the accelerated degradation in the front cells and provides the mitigation strategies.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2017YFB0310100)the National Basic Research Program of China(2015CB655105)the National Outstanding Youth Science Foundation Program(51225801).
文摘The complex compositions and large shrinkage of concrete,as well as the strong constraints of the structures,often lead to prominent shrinkage cracking problems in modem concrete structures.This paper first introduces a multi-field(hydro-thermo-hygro-constraint)coupling model with the hydration degree of cementitious materials as the basic state parameter to estimate the shrinkage cracking risk of hardening concrete under coupling effects.Second,three new key technologies are illustrated:temperature rise inhibition,full-stage shrinkage compensation,and shrinkage reduction technologies.These technologies can efficiently reduce the thermal,autogenous,and drying shrinkages of concrete.There after,a design process based on the theoretical model and key technologies is proposed to control thecracking risk index below the threshold value.Finally,two engineering application examples are provided that demonstrate that concrete shrinkage cracking can be significantly mitigated by adopting the proposed methods and technologies.
基金funded by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and Alltech Inc,KY,US[532378-18].
文摘Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi that are commonly detected as natural contaminants in agricultural commodities worldwide.Mycotoxin exposure can lead to mycotoxicosis in both animals and humans when found in animal feeds and food products,and at lower concentrations can affect animal performance by disrupting nutrient digestion,absorption,metabolism,and animal physiology.Thus,mycotoxin contamination of animal feeds represents a significant issue to the livestock industry and is a health threat to food animals.Since prevention of mycotoxin formation is difficult to undertake to avoid contamination,mitigation strategies are needed.This review explores how the mycotoxins aflatoxins,deoxynivalenol,zearalenone,fumonisins and ochratoxin A impose nutritional and metabolic effects on food animals and summarizes mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of mycotoxicity.
文摘A low-frequency debris flow took place in the north coastal range of Venezuela on Dec. 16, 1999, and scientists all over the world paid attention to this catastrophe. Four characteristics of low-frequency debris hazard are discussed: long return period and extreme catastrophe, special rare triggering factors, difficulty in distinguishing and a series of small hazards subsequent to the catastrophe. Different measures, such as preventing, forecast - warning, engineering, can be used for mitigating and controlling the catastrophe. In engineering practice, it is a key that large silt-trap dams are used to control rare large debris flow. A kind of low dam with cheap cost can be used to replace high dam in developing countries. A planning for controlling debris flow hazard in Cerro Grande stream of Venezuela is presented at the end of this paper.
文摘Increasing urbanization in the cities of northern Mexico reflects a general trend to increased temperatures, so it is likely that heat waves amplify the frequency and intensity in urban centers, mainly located in arid and semiarid as Mexicali city with extremely arid climate, very hot in summer and cold and rainy in winter. Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico is located at N32°38＇ and W115°20＇. The urban area is expanded over 14,890 hectares, with a population rise the 689,775. In the last four decades has experienced an accelerated industrial growth and mismatched land uses, for example： most of the industrial parks were established before the 1980 in what was the outskirts of the city, but nowadays practically are inside of the urban area contributing to the increase the urban temperature. The heat islands profile shows that are intensified in industrial areas as well as trade and services. The preliminary scenarios of climate change for Mexicali indicate that for the decade of 2080 the temperature will increase between 4.2℃ and 4.4℃. This paper addresses in a simulation context, an industrial and commercial city sector and their ability to implement urban heat island mitigation strategies. The simulation of this process requires several spatial analysis tools and specific knowledge about the processes that increase urban temperatures. In this work, only land use, land cover and buildings are considered. The proposed method takes into account the actual spatial organization to analyze trends for the proposed growth areas.
文摘Objective:To investigate the safety hazards in nursing and explore mitigation strategies for elderly patients in the endocrinology department.Methods:A total of 240 bedridden elderly patients from February 2021 to January 2023 were recruited and divided into two groups using the random number table method.The control group(n=120)received conventional nursing care,and the observation group(n=120)received personalized nursing care.Patients’quality of life,the incidence rate of pressure sores,and patient satisfaction with nursing care were observed and analyzed.Results:The incidence of pressure ulcers in the observation group was significantly lower at 17.50%compared to 30.00%in the control group(P<0.05).Quality of life in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).The satisfaction rate in the observation group was significantly higher at 93.33%compared to 84.17%in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:These findings emphasize that only through the implementation of scientific and rational nursing measures can effectively reduce nursing risks,enhance therapeutic outcomes,and improve the quality of life for elderly patients.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31930106 and U22A20514, U23A20232)the National Key R&D Program of China (2022YFD1300404)+2 种基金the 2115 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural University (1041-00109019)the Pinduoduo-China Agricultural University Research Fund (PC2023A01001)the Special Fund for Henan Agriculture Research System (HARS-2213-Z1)。
文摘Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) is a common pathogenic bacterium in animal husbandry that can cause diseases such as mastitis, skin infections, arthritis, and other ailments. The formation of biofilms threatens and exacerbates S. aureus infection by allowing the bacteria to adhere to pathological areas and livestock product surfaces, thus triggering animal health crises and safety issues with livestock products. To solve this problem, in this review, we provide a brief overview of the harm caused by S. aureus and its biofilms on livestock and animal byproducts(meat and dairy products). We also describe the ways in which S. aureus spreads in animals and the threats it poses to the livestock industry. The processes and molecular mechanisms involved in biofilm formation are then explained. Finally, we discuss strategies for the removal and eradication of S. aureus and biofilms in animal husbandry, including the use of antimicrobial peptides, plant extracts, nanoparticles, phages, and antibodies. These strategies to reduce the spread of S. aureus in animal husbandry help maintain livestock health and improve productivity to ensure the ecologically sustainable development of animal husbandry and the safety of livestock products.
基金funded by the Jiangsu Province Excellent Postdoctoral Program (2023ZB859)the Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality Technology Innovation Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20220030)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32271587,32350410400)。
文摘Plants are exposed to adverse environmental conditions,including cold,drought,heat,salinity,and heavy metals,which negatively impact plant growth and productivity of edible crops worldwide.Although the previous literature summarized the nanoparticle's involvement in abiotic stress mitigation,the interaction of nanoparticles with other stress mitigators to overcome abiotic stress from plants remains unclear.Currently,nanotechnology is considered a growing new field in agriculture for understanding plants'adapted stress tolerance mechanisms.Recent research has shown that nanoparticles can effectively mitigate abiotic stress by interacting synergistically with plant growth regulators.To address this,we comprehensively demonstrated the combined positive potential of nanoparticles in combination with plant growth regulators(signaling molecules,phytohormones,nanoparticles-nanoparticles interaction,fungi,plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and other metal salts)to improve plant growth and mitigate abiotic stresses.Their co-applications augment the plant's growth,nutrient uptake,antioxidant defense system,water absorption,cell viability,water use efficiency,and photosynthetic and biochemical attributes by reducing oxidative stressors under various abiotic stresses in different plant species.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the combined applications of nanoparticles and plant growth regulators,a novel strategy to reduce the harmful effects of abiotic stress on plants.It identifies research gaps and recommends future studies to overcome their phytotoxicity worldwide.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.U2244226,U2244227 and 42177172).
文摘Long-runout rockslides at high altitude could cause disaster chain in river basins and destroy towns and major infrasturctures.This paper firstly explores the initiation mechanism of high-altitude and long-runout rockslides.Two types of sliding-prone geostructure models,i.e.the fault control type in orogenic belt and the fold control type in platform area,are proposed.Then,large-scale experimental apparatus and associated numerical simulations are conducted to understanding the chain-style dynamics of rockslide-debris avalanche-debris flow.The results reveal the fragmentation effects,the rheological behaviors and the boundary layer effect of long-runout avalanche-debris flow.The dynamic character-istics of quasi-static-transition-inertia state and solid-liquid coupling in rapid movement of rockslide-debris avalanche-debris flow are investigated.Finally,the risk mitigation strategy of the non-structure and structure for resilient energy dissipation are illustrated for initiation,transition and deposition zones.The structural prevention and mitigation methods have been successfully applied to the high-altitude and long-runout rockslides in Zhouqu and Maoxian of the Wenchuan earthquake zone,as well as the other major geohazards in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its adjacent areas.
文摘Transforming atmospherically abundant CO_(2)into valuable chemicals and fuels through the electrochemical CO_(2)reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR)provides a sustainable and carbonneutral approach to chemical production.[1]Among the various reactor architectures,the anion exchange membrane(AEM)-based zero-gap membrane electrode assembly(MEA)electrolyzer has emerged as the most suitable design for industrial applications because of its minimized ohmic losses,which results in enhanced energy efficiency and higher current densities.
文摘The integration of large language models(LLMs)into financial applications has demonstrated remarkable potential for enhancing decision-making processes,automating operations,and delivering personalized services.However,the high-stakes nature of financial systems demands a very high level of trustworthiness that current LLMs often fail to meet.
文摘In reward-based crowdfunding, projects are to disclose the operational risks and mitigation strategies for delivering the physical rewards during the funding phase. However, limited knowledge exists regarding projects’ operational risks and mitigation strategies during the funding phase. In contributing to the literature, the study uses data on Kickstarter.com and conducts a content analysis to explore themes and their relationships. The results reveal various operational risks and associated mitigation strategies. Among the identified themes, product-related, contract manufacturers, and supply markets are the most expected risks, while outsourced production and proactive sourcing are the popular mitigation strategies. Also, the finding reveals that proactive sourcing and outsourced production, in-house production and post-campaign sourcing, contract manufacturer risk, and project internal risk are themes forming clusters. The results extend crowdfunding risk disclosure literature and set the tone for future research in crowdfunding operational risk management. Finally, other business implications are drawn for crowdfunding practitioners.
基金Project supported by the Canadian International Development Agency, Canada and the Chinese Academy of Scicences, China (No. KZCX2-413)
文摘To feed an increasing population, large amounts of chemical nitrogen fertilizer have been used to produce much of our food, feed and fiber thereby increasing nitrogen levels in soils, natural waters, crop residues, livestock wastes,and municipal and agricultural wastes, with national and international concern about its potential adverse effects on environmental quality and public health. To understand these phenomena and problems, first the nitrogen cycle and the environment are described. Then recent trends for nitrogen cycling through the food and feed system, N2O emissions from fertilized upland and paddy soils, and NO-3 pollution in ground water in Japan are reported. Finally, mitigation strategies in Japan for reducing N2O emission and NO-3 pollution are proposed, including nitrification inhibitors, controlled release fertilizers, utilization of plant species that could suppress nitrification, utilizing the toposequence, government policy, and appropriate agricultural practices. Of all the technologies presented, use of nitrification inhibitors and controlled release fertilizers are deemed the most important with further development of these aspects of technologies being expected. These practices, if employed worldwide, could help reduce the load, or environmental deterioration, on the Earth's biosphere.
