This paper introduces the method of data envelopment analysis （DEA） for evaluation of the degree of harmony between water resources and economic development of the water conservancy area of China＇s South-to-North W...This paper introduces the method of data envelopment analysis （DEA） for evaluation of the degree of harmony between water resources and economic development of the water conservancy area of China＇s South-to-North Water Diversion Project （SNWDP）. For this evaluation, a super-efficiency DEA （SEDEA） model was developed based on the super-efficiency method. To verify the applicability of the SEDEA model, both the SEDEA model and a normal-efficiency DEA （NEDEA） model were used to evaluate the degree of harmony between water resources and economic development of typical cities in the SNWDP water conservancy area. The results show that the SEDEA model ranks the degree of harmony of typical cities more efficiently than the NEDEA model, and thus can better evaluate the degree of harmony between water resources and economic development of different cities than the NEDEA model. Furthermore, the SEDEA model can be applied as an operational research tool in regional water resources management.展开更多
The objectives of this article are as follows: 1) to propose a university research ethics system framework, 2) to provide a brief anatomy of the Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) Institutional Research ...The objectives of this article are as follows: 1) to propose a university research ethics system framework, 2) to provide a brief anatomy of the Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) Institutional Research Ethics Review Committee (MIRERC), 3) to perform a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis of MIRERC, and 4) to make recommendations for improving its performance. The 13-member multi-disciplinary MIRERC was established in April 2017 to provide effective ethical oversight of research undertaken by the University’s scholarly community. Strengths of the MUST research ethics review system include a functional MIRERC, a pertinent national law and ethical guidelines, an Innovation and Enterprise Centre that could house a dedicated MIRERC Secretariat, and a supportive University Management Board. The weaknesses include lack of graduate schools to assure scientific rigor of proposals before submission to the MIRERC, lack of research ethics training in most school’s curricula, absence of a dedicated MIRERC Secretariat, undergraduate research proposals being not ethically reviewed, dearth of faculty trained in research ethics, and lack of an operating budget for MIRERC work. The opportunities include existence of about 22 accredited Institutional Research Ethics Review Committees (IRERC) in Kenya, existence of international standards and operational guidance for ethics review, availability of guidelines and codes of best ethical practices in research, existence of a free automated platform called Research for Health Innovation Organizer (RHInnO) Ethics for managing the ethics review process, and availability of external resources for strengthening IRERCs. In order to improve the performance and sustainability of the MUST research ethics system, there is need to include research ethics training in all undergraduate and post-graduate curricula, create a dynamic database of potential research ethics reviewers, allocate a percentage of the annual MUST research budget for MIRERC operations, charge a graduated fee for proposal ethics review, require all students’ and faculties’ internal and external research proposals be cleared by the MIRERC, and use the RHInnO Ethics platform to manage the ethics review process.展开更多
The black soil of northeast China is a“ballast stone”of the nation’s food security and a crucial asset for regional ecological stability.However,it faces severe degradation due to long-term,high-intensity cultivati...The black soil of northeast China is a“ballast stone”of the nation’s food security and a crucial asset for regional ecological stability.However,it faces severe degradation due to long-term,high-intensity cultivation and soil erosion.To address this issue,the Chinese Academy of Sciences,in collaboration with the three northeastern provinces and Inner Mongolia,launched the“Black Soil Granary”campaign in March 2021.This initiative has achieved phased progress in basic theoretical research,key technology development,equipment fabrication,and technology demonstration.As the campaign continues,innovative technologies,including region-specific models for controlling black soil degradation,methods to enhance both soil health and productivity,and breakthroughs in smart agriculture,are playing a key role in protecting and sustainably utilizing black soils,thus providing strong scientific support for national food security.展开更多
As a new type of production factor in healthcare,healthcare data elements have been rapidly integrated into various health production processes,such as clinical assistance,health management,biological testing,and oper...As a new type of production factor in healthcare,healthcare data elements have been rapidly integrated into various health production processes,such as clinical assistance,health management,biological testing,and operation and supervision[1,2].Healthcare data elements include biolog.ical and clinical data that are related to disease,environ-mental health data that are associated with life,and operational and healthcare management data that are related to healthcare activities(Figure 1).Activities such as the construction of a data value assessment system,the devel-opment of a data circulation and sharing platform,and the authorization of data compliance and operation products support the strong growth momentum of the market for health care data elements in China[3].展开更多
The residual biomass composed of pseudo trunks and banana leaves is very important and poorly valued. There is very little quantified data on the deposits of residual biomass from banana plantations in Senegal and in ...The residual biomass composed of pseudo trunks and banana leaves is very important and poorly valued. There is very little quantified data on the deposits of residual biomass from banana plantations in Senegal and in particular in the Tambacounda region. In this work, we seek to evaluate the methanogenic potential and to valorize this biomass in biogas and biofertilizer. The laboratory experiment lasted approximately 35 days. During this time, the methanogenic microorganisms degrade the organic residue provided, which results in the production of biogas. At the end of the reactions, the rate of biogas production drops, indicating the end of the biodegradation of organic matter. Biogas production is measured over time and the composition of the biogas produced is analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) or by an infrared analyzer. The methane potential of each sample is determined from the cumulative quantity of methane produced in each flask representing a digestion system. The measurement can be expressed in m3 of CH4 per tonne of dry matter or per tonne of raw material. The first challenge of this study therefore lies in the acquisition of reliable and usable data to quantify the methanizable biomass. This study will allow us not only to evaluate the quantities of pseudo trunks and banana leaves available in a plot after harvest but also to test the biogas and methane production potential (BMP test) of this substrate and therefore determine the expected biogas production of this biomass.展开更多
Climate change(CC)and human activities(HA)are the main reasons for the restoration/degradation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(QTP)grassland.Many related studies have been conducted thus far,but the impact mechanism of C...Climate change(CC)and human activities(HA)are the main reasons for the restoration/degradation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(QTP)grassland.Many related studies have been conducted thus far,but the impact mechanism of CC coupled with HA on QTP remains unclear.We summarized the two main coupling factors in recent years(specifically,in the past five years)and obtained the following conclusions.(1)CC and HA have positive and negative effects on the QTP grassland ecosystem.CC primarily affects grassland ecology through temperature,humidification,and extreme climate,and HA mainly affects ecosystems through primary,secondary,and tertiary industries and restoration measures.(2)CC coupled with HA affects soil,plants,animals,and fungi/microbes.CC makes the snow line rise by increasing the temperature,which expands the zone for HA.CC also restricts HA through hydrological changes,extreme climate,and outbreak of pikas and pests.Simultaneously,measures are implemented through HA to control and adapt to CC.Hence,the grassland ecosystem is comprehensively influenced by CC and HA.(3)The grassland ecosystem dynamically adapts to the disturbance caused by CC and HA by changing its physiological characteristics,distribution range,diet structure,community structure,and physical state.Simultaneously,it responds to environmental changes through desertification,poisonous weeds,rodent outbreak,release of harmful gases,and other means.This work can be used as a reference for the sustainable development of the QTP grassland.展开更多
With the continuous increase in the number of flights,the use of airport collaborative decision-making(ACDM)systems has been more and more widely spread.The accuracy of the taxi time prediction has an important effect...With the continuous increase in the number of flights,the use of airport collaborative decision-making(ACDM)systems has been more and more widely spread.The accuracy of the taxi time prediction has an important effect on the A-CDM calculation of the departure aircraft’s take-off queue and the accurate time for the aircraft blockout.The spatial-temporal-environment deep learning(STEDL)model is presented to improve the prediction accuracy of departure aircraft taxi-out time.The model is composed of time-flow sub-model(airport capacity,number of taxiing aircraft,and different time periods),spatial sub-model(taxiing distance)and environmental sub-model(weather,air traffic control,runway configuration,and aircraft category).The STEDL model is used to predict the taxi time of departure aircraft at Hong Kong Airport and the results show that the STEDL method has a prediction accuracy of 95.4%.The proposed model also greatly reduces the prediction error rate compared with the other machine learning methods.展开更多
Urban-suburban-rural(U-S-R)zones exhibit distinctive transitional characteristics in interaction between human and nature.U-S-R transition zones(U-S-RTZ)are also highlighting the function diversity and landscape heter...Urban-suburban-rural(U-S-R)zones exhibit distinctive transitional characteristics in interaction between human and nature.U-S-R transition zones(U-S-RTZ)are also highlighting the function diversity and landscape heterogeneity across territorial spaces.As a super megacity in western China,Chengdu’s rapid urbanization has driven the evolution of U-S-R spaces,resulting in a sequential structure.To promote the high-quality spatial development of urban-rural region in a structured and efficient manner,it is essential to con-duct a scientific examination of the multidimensional interconnection within the U-S-RTZ framework.By proposing a novel identifica-tion method of U-S-RTZ and taking Chengdu,China as a case study,grounded in a blender of natural and humanistic factors,this study quantitatively delineated and explored the spatial evolutions of U-S-RTZ and stated the optimization orientation and sustainable devel-opment strategies of the production-living-ecological spaces along the U-S-R gradients.The results show that:1)it is suitable for the quantitative analysis of U-S-RTZ by established three-dimensional identification system in this study.2)In 1990-2020,the urban-sub-urban transition zones(U-STZ)in Chengdu have continuously undergone a substantial increase,and the scale of the suburban-rural transition zones(S-RTZ)has continued to expand slightly,while the space of rural-ecological transition zones(R-ETZ)has noticeably compressed.3)The landuse dynamics within U-S-RTZ has gradually increased in 1990-2020.The main direction of landuse transition was from farmland to construction land or woodlands,with the expansion of construction land being the most significant.4)R-ETZ primarily focus on ecological functions,and there is a trade-off relationship between the production-ecological function within the S-RTZ,and in the U-STZ,production-living composite functions are prioritized.This study emphasizes the importance of elastic planning and precise governance within the U-S-RTZ in a rapid urbanization region,particularly highlighting the role of suburbs as landscape corridors and service hubs in urban-rural integration.It elucidates to the practical implications for achieving high-quality development of integrated U-S-R territorial spaces.展开更多
As an important site for tourism activities,mountainous areas may generate greater tourism risks than plain areas due to potential natural disasters,social issues,scenic area management,and tourist behavior.Western Si...As an important site for tourism activities,mountainous areas may generate greater tourism risks than plain areas due to potential natural disasters,social issues,scenic area management,and tourist behavior.Western Sichuan Plateau is mostly mountainous area and tourism is its pillar industry,Therefore,the assessment of the tourism risks on the Western Sichuan Plateau is of academic value and practical significance.In this study,we use statistical and remote sensing data,fishbone diagram,and the entropy weighting method to construct a tourism risk evaluation model and classify risks into different levels,and we also use a geographic information system(GIS)for spatial mapping to quantify and spatialize the results.The objectives are 1)to identify the risk sources in the Western Sichuan Plateau and analyze their causal mechanisms,precisely reveal the distribution of tourism risks in the study area;2)improve the precision of tourism risk evaluation in scenic areas and analyze the causes and spatial distribution patterns of tourism risks and propose targeted management measures.This study found that the evaluation results of the four elements of hazard,exposure,vulnerability,and disaster prevention and mitigation capacity on the Western Sichuan Plateau showed significant spatial variability,depending on the natural conditions and the quantity difference of tourism resources in different regions.In addition,the tourism risk is low in most areas of the Western Sichuan Plateau,and disaster prevention and mitigation capacity is higher in areas with high tourism risk where attractions are densely populated and tourism is concentrated.Our study can provide a reference for future analyses of tourism risks in mountainous tourist areas such as in China and worldwide.展开更多
With the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, China is deepening its cooperation in oil and gas resources with countries along the Initiative. In order to better mitigate risks and enhance the safety of inv...With the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, China is deepening its cooperation in oil and gas resources with countries along the Initiative. In order to better mitigate risks and enhance the safety of investments, it is of significant importance to research the oil and gas investment environment in these countries for China's overseas investment macro-layout. This paper proposes an indicator system including 27 indicators from 6 dimensions. On this basis, game theory models combined with global entropy method and analytic hierarchy process are applied to determine the combined weights, and the TOPSIS-GRA model is utilized to assess the risks of oil and gas investment in 76 countries along the Initiative from 2014 to 2021. Finally, the GM(1,1) model is employed to predict risk values for 2022-2025. In conclusion, oil and gas resources and political factors have the greatest impact on investment environment risk, and 12 countries with greater investment potential are selected through cluster analysis in conjunction with the predicted results. The research findings may provide scientific decisionmaking recommendations for the Chinese government and oil enterprises to strengthen oil and gas investment cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative.展开更多
The influence of the recycle ratio on the removal of coking wastewater has been researched using the anaerobicanoxic-aerobic （A/A/O） biofilm process. The research indicates that the concentrations of chemical oxygen...The influence of the recycle ratio on the removal of coking wastewater has been researched using the anaerobicanoxic-aerobic （A/A/O） biofilm process. The research indicates that the concentrations of chemical oxygen demand （COD） and NO3 -N in the water are the lowest when the recycle ratio is 3：1 ,but the removal efficiency of total cyanide （TCN） is the highest when the recycle ratio is 1： 1. The removal efficiency of NH4^＋ -N is more than 99% at all three different recycle ratios. Compared with Grade A of the National Discharge Standard （GB 8978--1996）, the effluent NH4 -N is standard,but COD and TCN can not meet the requirements and further treatment processes are needed.展开更多
The components of urban surface cover are diversified,and component temperature has greater physical significance and application values in the studies on urban thermal environment.Although the multi-angle retrieval a...The components of urban surface cover are diversified,and component temperature has greater physical significance and application values in the studies on urban thermal environment.Although the multi-angle retrieval algorithm of component temperature has been matured gradually,its application in the studies on urban thermal environment is restricted due to the difficulty in acquiring urban-scale multi-angle thermal infrared data.Therefore,based on the existing multi-source multi-band remote sensing data,access to appropriate urban-scale component temperature is an urgent issue to be solved in current studies on urban thermal infrared remote sensing.Then,a retrieval algorithm of urban component temperature by multi-source multi-band remote sensing data on the basis of MODIS and Landsat TM images was proposed with expectations achieved in this work,which was finally validated by the experiment on urban images of Changsha,China.The results show that：1） Mean temperatures of impervious surface components and vegetation components are the maximum and minimum,respectively,which are in accordance with the distribution laws of actual surface temperature; 2） High-accuracy retrieval results are obtained in vegetation component temperature.Moreover,through a contrast between retrieval results and measured data,it is found that the retrieval temperature of impervious surface component has the maximum deviation from measured temperature and its deviation is greater than 1 ℃,while the deviation in vegetation component temperature is relatively low at 0.5 ℃.展开更多
The physiological effect of new FA antitranspirant on winter wheat was studied by field trial. The new FA antitranspirant was sprayed at ear filling stage, using the following concentrations： 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mL...The physiological effect of new FA antitranspirant on winter wheat was studied by field trial. The new FA antitranspirant was sprayed at ear filling stage, using the following concentrations： 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mL L^-1. The results indicated that new FA antitranspirant increased nitrate reductase activity （NRA）, free proline content, chlorophyll content and water content of leaf, thus drought stress can be mitigated. The new FA antitranspirant increased photosynthesis, enlarged stomatal conductance and reduced transpiration rate, thus led to growth stimulation and water loss reduction. New FA antitranspirant caused an increase of grain yield by 7.2%, under the optimal concentration 1.5 mL L^-1.展开更多
As rapid economic growth in China in recent decades, the quality of economic growth through improvement of energy efficiency has attracted great attention. This paper evaluated energy efficiency of 29 provinces in Chi...As rapid economic growth in China in recent decades, the quality of economic growth through improvement of energy efficiency has attracted great attention. This paper evaluated energy efficiency of 29 provinces in China between 2000 and 2016 based on a global non-radial directional distance function. Moreover, the dynamics of energy efficiency were investigated using the non-radial global Malmquist-type efficiency index. The paper also sheds light on the evolution of inequalities in energy efficiency by decomposing interprovincial inequality into its within-region and between-region components. The findings of the study are as follows. First, the national energy efficiency was 0.49 in 2016, which indicated that 51% improvement could be made to reach the global technology frontier. Tianjin, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Shandong and Guangdong had the best energy efficiency in 2016, while Ningxia and Xinjiang had the lowest performance. Second, the national annual growth rate of energy efficiency was 3.4% between 2011 and 2016, which was a positive sign of energy efficiency improvement. Shandong made the biggest improvement in energy efficiency from 2011 to 2016, with 26.2% annual growth rate. Lastly, within-region inequality saw a decreasing trend after 2010 and was overtaken by between-region inequality in 2016.展开更多
Secondary lignocellulosic biomass has proved to be useful as an energy source through its oxidation by means of combustion processes.In accordance with the above,in this paper,we wanted to study the ash from urban pru...Secondary lignocellulosic biomass has proved to be useful as an energy source through its oxidation by means of combustion processes.In accordance with the above,in this paper,we wanted to study the ash from urban pruning residues that are generated in cities in the Neotropics.Species such as Licania tomentosa,Azadirachta indica,Ficus benjamina,Terminalia catappa,Leucaena leucocephala,Prosopis juliflora and Pithecellobium dulce were selected because they have been previously studied and showed potential for thermal energy generation.These materials were calcined in an oxidizing atmosphere and characterized by X-ray diffraction and fluorescence,scanning electron microscopy with microchemistry,BET surface area,thermal gravimetric analysis,and differential scanning calorimetry.The pH and apparent density were also established.The results show high basicity materials(average pH 10),a behavior associated with the presence of chemical elements such as calcium,potassium,magnesium,chlorine,phosphorus,and sulfur.Structurally,these materials have a very significant amorphous fraction(between 49%and 74.5%),the dominant crystalline phases are calcite,arcanite,sylvite,and hydroxyapatite.These ashes have low surface area and do not exceed 13 m^(2)/g.Two characteristic morphological aspects were observed in these ashes:a morphology of rounded grains where silicon content is highlighted,and lamellar morphologies where the presence of chlorine is highlighted.Thermally,these ashes show four significant mass loss events(400℃,430℃,680℃,and 920℃),causing mass losses that vary between 25%and 40%.Through this study,it was possible to establish that,from a chemical point of view,these ashes are less dangerous in comparison with those of a mineral coal that was used as a reference.However,they require additional treatments for their disposal due to their high basicity.Because of their composition,these ashes have the potential to be used in the ceramic and cement industries,and in the manufacture of fertilizers.展开更多
The material associated with tree pruning in a city in the Colombian neotropics was characterized in order to determine its energy potential.The species studied for their relevance in the territory were Prosopis julif...The material associated with tree pruning in a city in the Colombian neotropics was characterized in order to determine its energy potential.The species studied for their relevance in the territory were Prosopis juliflora,Licania tomentosa,Terminalia catappa,Azadirachta indica,Pithecellobium dulce,Ficus benjamina and Leucaena leucocephala.Moisture content,bulk density,hygroscopic response,elemental chemical analysis,proximal analysis,calorific value,ease of ignition and combustion,thermogravimetric and heat flow analysis,steam generation capacity,and qualitative analysis of gases(mass spectrometry)were determined.The results that were obtained show high initial moisture contents that vary between 37%and 67%and a variable density(when dry)between 0.21 and 0.41 g/cm3.Chemically,it was shown that all residues have lower carbon and sulfur content compared to a reference mineral coal.However,the residues of some species have higher nitrogen contents compared to the same coal.All biomasses are characterized by their high content of volatile fractions and by having a lower content of inorganic matter compared to carbon.The lower calorific values of these residues are between 14170 and 16928 kJ/kg,which are not negligible compared to other biomasses.This characteristic would be related to the high presence of hemicellulose in the residues.Flue gas monitoring revealed that there are different airflow needs in order to ensure complete combustion.Steam generation tests showed that the calorific value should not be the most relevant criterion to establish the potential use of the waste,since leucaena leucocephala,despite having the highest calorific value,was the material with the lowest performance in steam generation.展开更多
<strong>Objective:</strong><span><span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Disrespectful and abusive (D&A) maternity care is...<strong>Objective:</strong><span><span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Disrespectful and abusive (D&A) maternity care is a deterrent to facility childbirth and can thus contribute to child and maternal mortality. This study will review existing literature on D&A in Tanzania to better understand and contextualize the issue. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Methods:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> A comprehensive literature search was conducted to find relevant publications on D&A during childbirth in Tanzania. The search was conducted on the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health). The inclusion criteria were as follows: qualitative, quantitative, and ethnographic studies conducted in Tanzania on obstetrical violence;published in English;focused on prevalence, incidence, root causes, historical trends, interventions, and policy recommendations for obstetrical violence in Tanzania. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Results:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Twenty-one studies were selected for this literature review. Up to 73.1% of women reported experiencing at least one form of D&A during labor. Commonly reported D&A events include non-dignified care, non-confidential care, and physical abuse. Other forms of D&A, including detention in facilities and asking for unofficial payments, are also reported. Ninety-six percent of nurses, midwives, and nursing assistants in Tanzania self-reported engaging in at least one form of D&A. Lack of training and provider support, long work hours, fear of blame, and limited infrastructure were reported as factors leading to D&A by providers. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Conclusions:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> In Tanzania, D&A during childbirth is prevalent in healthcare systems. The direct relationship between D&A and poor maternal and fetal health is well-documented. Individual and systemic factors influence </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">both provider and patient perspectives of D&A, providing a window into a complex and sensitive phenomenon. It is important that D&A in Tanzania be viewed holistically, and that interventions target the multifaceted nature of </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">the issue.</span></span></span></span>展开更多
Due to the continuous development of information technology, people's perception of real life is more based on the information acquired on the real environment with the help of various media, rather than intuition...Due to the continuous development of information technology, people's perception of real life is more based on the information acquired on the real environment with the help of various media, rather than intuition. Based on priority evaluation data obtained from dianping.com(Liaoning Province), and the established criteria for assessing pseudo habitat environment quality, this study uses the entropy method to calculate and rank the comprehensive score of each merchant's word-of-mouth evaluation. It analyzes the spatial pattern and differentiation characteristics of pseudo environment quality, as well. Results show that:(1) The overall quality scores of the pseudo living environment in southern, central, and northern Liaoning are higher than those in eastern and western area. The pseudo habitat environment quality score of coastal cities is relatively higher than that of inland cities; and that of cities with high resource depletion is lower.(2) Parent-child activity, learning and training, and sports & health have significant impact, whereas hotels and peripheral tours have less impact on the pseudo habitat environment quality in Liaoning province. The overall pseudo habitat environment quality score of a city is inversely proportional to the total scores of various indicators in the city.(3) The spatial distribution of pseudo habitat quality in Liaoning Province shows a "saddle" structure. The spatial heterogeneity of the pseudo habitat environment in central and northern Liaoning areas is larger than that in eastern, western, and southern areas of Liaoning. The degree of quality of the pseudo habitat environment is proportional to the size of its spatial differentiation degree in total.展开更多
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. 2010B25814)the Philosophy and Social Science Foundation of Hohai University (Grant No. 2007402011)+1 种基金the Philosophy and Social Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (Grant No. 07EYC059)a special project of the Ministry of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China (Grant No. 5006518023)
文摘This paper introduces the method of data envelopment analysis （DEA） for evaluation of the degree of harmony between water resources and economic development of the water conservancy area of China＇s South-to-North Water Diversion Project （SNWDP）. For this evaluation, a super-efficiency DEA （SEDEA） model was developed based on the super-efficiency method. To verify the applicability of the SEDEA model, both the SEDEA model and a normal-efficiency DEA （NEDEA） model were used to evaluate the degree of harmony between water resources and economic development of typical cities in the SNWDP water conservancy area. The results show that the SEDEA model ranks the degree of harmony of typical cities more efficiently than the NEDEA model, and thus can better evaluate the degree of harmony between water resources and economic development of different cities than the NEDEA model. Furthermore, the SEDEA model can be applied as an operational research tool in regional water resources management.
文摘The objectives of this article are as follows: 1) to propose a university research ethics system framework, 2) to provide a brief anatomy of the Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) Institutional Research Ethics Review Committee (MIRERC), 3) to perform a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis of MIRERC, and 4) to make recommendations for improving its performance. The 13-member multi-disciplinary MIRERC was established in April 2017 to provide effective ethical oversight of research undertaken by the University’s scholarly community. Strengths of the MUST research ethics review system include a functional MIRERC, a pertinent national law and ethical guidelines, an Innovation and Enterprise Centre that could house a dedicated MIRERC Secretariat, and a supportive University Management Board. The weaknesses include lack of graduate schools to assure scientific rigor of proposals before submission to the MIRERC, lack of research ethics training in most school’s curricula, absence of a dedicated MIRERC Secretariat, undergraduate research proposals being not ethically reviewed, dearth of faculty trained in research ethics, and lack of an operating budget for MIRERC work. The opportunities include existence of about 22 accredited Institutional Research Ethics Review Committees (IRERC) in Kenya, existence of international standards and operational guidance for ethics review, availability of guidelines and codes of best ethical practices in research, existence of a free automated platform called Research for Health Innovation Organizer (RHInnO) Ethics for managing the ethics review process, and availability of external resources for strengthening IRERCs. In order to improve the performance and sustainability of the MUST research ethics system, there is need to include research ethics training in all undergraduate and post-graduate curricula, create a dynamic database of potential research ethics reviewers, allocate a percentage of the annual MUST research budget for MIRERC operations, charge a graduated fee for proposal ethics review, require all students’ and faculties’ internal and external research proposals be cleared by the MIRERC, and use the RHInnO Ethics platform to manage the ethics review process.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA28000000)
文摘The black soil of northeast China is a“ballast stone”of the nation’s food security and a crucial asset for regional ecological stability.However,it faces severe degradation due to long-term,high-intensity cultivation and soil erosion.To address this issue,the Chinese Academy of Sciences,in collaboration with the three northeastern provinces and Inner Mongolia,launched the“Black Soil Granary”campaign in March 2021.This initiative has achieved phased progress in basic theoretical research,key technology development,equipment fabrication,and technology demonstration.As the campaign continues,innovative technologies,including region-specific models for controlling black soil degradation,methods to enhance both soil health and productivity,and breakthroughs in smart agriculture,are playing a key role in protecting and sustainably utilizing black soils,thus providing strong scientific support for national food security.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grants 72474022,71974011,72174022,71972012,71874009)"BIT think tank"Promotion Plan of Science and Technology Innovation Program of Beijing Institute of Technology(Grants 2024CX14017,2023CX13029).
文摘As a new type of production factor in healthcare,healthcare data elements have been rapidly integrated into various health production processes,such as clinical assistance,health management,biological testing,and operation and supervision[1,2].Healthcare data elements include biolog.ical and clinical data that are related to disease,environ-mental health data that are associated with life,and operational and healthcare management data that are related to healthcare activities(Figure 1).Activities such as the construction of a data value assessment system,the devel-opment of a data circulation and sharing platform,and the authorization of data compliance and operation products support the strong growth momentum of the market for health care data elements in China[3].
文摘The residual biomass composed of pseudo trunks and banana leaves is very important and poorly valued. There is very little quantified data on the deposits of residual biomass from banana plantations in Senegal and in particular in the Tambacounda region. In this work, we seek to evaluate the methanogenic potential and to valorize this biomass in biogas and biofertilizer. The laboratory experiment lasted approximately 35 days. During this time, the methanogenic microorganisms degrade the organic residue provided, which results in the production of biogas. At the end of the reactions, the rate of biogas production drops, indicating the end of the biodegradation of organic matter. Biogas production is measured over time and the composition of the biogas produced is analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) or by an infrared analyzer. The methane potential of each sample is determined from the cumulative quantity of methane produced in each flask representing a digestion system. The measurement can be expressed in m3 of CH4 per tonne of dry matter or per tonne of raw material. The first challenge of this study therefore lies in the acquisition of reliable and usable data to quantify the methanizable biomass. This study will allow us not only to evaluate the quantities of pseudo trunks and banana leaves available in a plot after harvest but also to test the biogas and methane production potential (BMP test) of this substrate and therefore determine the expected biogas production of this biomass.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.41930651,No.41701100Applicationof Sichuan Science and Technology Department,No.2017JY0155。
文摘Climate change(CC)and human activities(HA)are the main reasons for the restoration/degradation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(QTP)grassland.Many related studies have been conducted thus far,but the impact mechanism of CC coupled with HA on QTP remains unclear.We summarized the two main coupling factors in recent years(specifically,in the past five years)and obtained the following conclusions.(1)CC and HA have positive and negative effects on the QTP grassland ecosystem.CC primarily affects grassland ecology through temperature,humidification,and extreme climate,and HA mainly affects ecosystems through primary,secondary,and tertiary industries and restoration measures.(2)CC coupled with HA affects soil,plants,animals,and fungi/microbes.CC makes the snow line rise by increasing the temperature,which expands the zone for HA.CC also restricts HA through hydrological changes,extreme climate,and outbreak of pikas and pests.Simultaneously,measures are implemented through HA to control and adapt to CC.Hence,the grassland ecosystem is comprehensively influenced by CC and HA.(3)The grassland ecosystem dynamically adapts to the disturbance caused by CC and HA by changing its physiological characteristics,distribution range,diet structure,community structure,and physical state.Simultaneously,it responds to environmental changes through desertification,poisonous weeds,rodent outbreak,release of harmful gases,and other means.This work can be used as a reference for the sustainable development of the QTP grassland.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.U1833103,71801215)the China Civil Aviation Environment and Sustainable Development Research Center Open Fund(No.CESCA2019Y04).
文摘With the continuous increase in the number of flights,the use of airport collaborative decision-making(ACDM)systems has been more and more widely spread.The accuracy of the taxi time prediction has an important effect on the A-CDM calculation of the departure aircraft’s take-off queue and the accurate time for the aircraft blockout.The spatial-temporal-environment deep learning(STEDL)model is presented to improve the prediction accuracy of departure aircraft taxi-out time.The model is composed of time-flow sub-model(airport capacity,number of taxiing aircraft,and different time periods),spatial sub-model(taxiing distance)and environmental sub-model(weather,air traffic control,runway configuration,and aircraft category).The STEDL model is used to predict the taxi time of departure aircraft at Hong Kong Airport and the results show that the STEDL method has a prediction accuracy of 95.4%.The proposed model also greatly reduces the prediction error rate compared with the other machine learning methods.
基金Under the auspices of National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41930651)Sichuan Science and Technology Program(No.2023NSFSC1979)。
文摘Urban-suburban-rural(U-S-R)zones exhibit distinctive transitional characteristics in interaction between human and nature.U-S-R transition zones(U-S-RTZ)are also highlighting the function diversity and landscape heterogeneity across territorial spaces.As a super megacity in western China,Chengdu’s rapid urbanization has driven the evolution of U-S-R spaces,resulting in a sequential structure.To promote the high-quality spatial development of urban-rural region in a structured and efficient manner,it is essential to con-duct a scientific examination of the multidimensional interconnection within the U-S-RTZ framework.By proposing a novel identifica-tion method of U-S-RTZ and taking Chengdu,China as a case study,grounded in a blender of natural and humanistic factors,this study quantitatively delineated and explored the spatial evolutions of U-S-RTZ and stated the optimization orientation and sustainable devel-opment strategies of the production-living-ecological spaces along the U-S-R gradients.The results show that:1)it is suitable for the quantitative analysis of U-S-RTZ by established three-dimensional identification system in this study.2)In 1990-2020,the urban-sub-urban transition zones(U-STZ)in Chengdu have continuously undergone a substantial increase,and the scale of the suburban-rural transition zones(S-RTZ)has continued to expand slightly,while the space of rural-ecological transition zones(R-ETZ)has noticeably compressed.3)The landuse dynamics within U-S-RTZ has gradually increased in 1990-2020.The main direction of landuse transition was from farmland to construction land or woodlands,with the expansion of construction land being the most significant.4)R-ETZ primarily focus on ecological functions,and there is a trade-off relationship between the production-ecological function within the S-RTZ,and in the U-STZ,production-living composite functions are prioritized.This study emphasizes the importance of elastic planning and precise governance within the U-S-RTZ in a rapid urbanization region,particularly highlighting the role of suburbs as landscape corridors and service hubs in urban-rural integration.It elucidates to the practical implications for achieving high-quality development of integrated U-S-R territorial spaces.
基金Social Science Foundation of Liaoning Province(L21BJY028)。
文摘As an important site for tourism activities,mountainous areas may generate greater tourism risks than plain areas due to potential natural disasters,social issues,scenic area management,and tourist behavior.Western Sichuan Plateau is mostly mountainous area and tourism is its pillar industry,Therefore,the assessment of the tourism risks on the Western Sichuan Plateau is of academic value and practical significance.In this study,we use statistical and remote sensing data,fishbone diagram,and the entropy weighting method to construct a tourism risk evaluation model and classify risks into different levels,and we also use a geographic information system(GIS)for spatial mapping to quantify and spatialize the results.The objectives are 1)to identify the risk sources in the Western Sichuan Plateau and analyze their causal mechanisms,precisely reveal the distribution of tourism risks in the study area;2)improve the precision of tourism risk evaluation in scenic areas and analyze the causes and spatial distribution patterns of tourism risks and propose targeted management measures.This study found that the evaluation results of the four elements of hazard,exposure,vulnerability,and disaster prevention and mitigation capacity on the Western Sichuan Plateau showed significant spatial variability,depending on the natural conditions and the quantity difference of tourism resources in different regions.In addition,the tourism risk is low in most areas of the Western Sichuan Plateau,and disaster prevention and mitigation capacity is higher in areas with high tourism risk where attractions are densely populated and tourism is concentrated.Our study can provide a reference for future analyses of tourism risks in mountainous tourist areas such as in China and worldwide.
基金the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(71934004)Key Projects of the National Social Science Foundation(23AZD065)the Project of the CNOOC Energy Economics Institute(EEI-2022-IESA0009)。
文摘With the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, China is deepening its cooperation in oil and gas resources with countries along the Initiative. In order to better mitigate risks and enhance the safety of investments, it is of significant importance to research the oil and gas investment environment in these countries for China's overseas investment macro-layout. This paper proposes an indicator system including 27 indicators from 6 dimensions. On this basis, game theory models combined with global entropy method and analytic hierarchy process are applied to determine the combined weights, and the TOPSIS-GRA model is utilized to assess the risks of oil and gas investment in 76 countries along the Initiative from 2014 to 2021. Finally, the GM(1,1) model is employed to predict risk values for 2022-2025. In conclusion, oil and gas resources and political factors have the greatest impact on investment environment risk, and 12 countries with greater investment potential are selected through cluster analysis in conjunction with the predicted results. The research findings may provide scientific decisionmaking recommendations for the Chinese government and oil enterprises to strengthen oil and gas investment cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative.
文摘The influence of the recycle ratio on the removal of coking wastewater has been researched using the anaerobicanoxic-aerobic （A/A/O） biofilm process. The research indicates that the concentrations of chemical oxygen demand （COD） and NO3 -N in the water are the lowest when the recycle ratio is 3：1 ,but the removal efficiency of total cyanide （TCN） is the highest when the recycle ratio is 1： 1. The removal efficiency of NH4^＋ -N is more than 99% at all three different recycle ratios. Compared with Grade A of the National Discharge Standard （GB 8978--1996）, the effluent NH4 -N is standard,but COD and TCN can not meet the requirements and further treatment processes are needed.
基金Projects(41171326,40771198)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(08JJ6023)supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province,China
文摘The components of urban surface cover are diversified,and component temperature has greater physical significance and application values in the studies on urban thermal environment.Although the multi-angle retrieval algorithm of component temperature has been matured gradually,its application in the studies on urban thermal environment is restricted due to the difficulty in acquiring urban-scale multi-angle thermal infrared data.Therefore,based on the existing multi-source multi-band remote sensing data,access to appropriate urban-scale component temperature is an urgent issue to be solved in current studies on urban thermal infrared remote sensing.Then,a retrieval algorithm of urban component temperature by multi-source multi-band remote sensing data on the basis of MODIS and Landsat TM images was proposed with expectations achieved in this work,which was finally validated by the experiment on urban images of Changsha,China.The results show that：1） Mean temperatures of impervious surface components and vegetation components are the maximum and minimum,respectively,which are in accordance with the distribution laws of actual surface temperature; 2） High-accuracy retrieval results are obtained in vegetation component temperature.Moreover,through a contrast between retrieval results and measured data,it is found that the retrieval temperature of impervious surface component has the maximum deviation from measured temperature and its deviation is greater than 1 ℃,while the deviation in vegetation component temperature is relatively low at 0.5 ℃.
文摘The physiological effect of new FA antitranspirant on winter wheat was studied by field trial. The new FA antitranspirant was sprayed at ear filling stage, using the following concentrations： 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mL L^-1. The results indicated that new FA antitranspirant increased nitrate reductase activity （NRA）, free proline content, chlorophyll content and water content of leaf, thus drought stress can be mitigated. The new FA antitranspirant increased photosynthesis, enlarged stomatal conductance and reduced transpiration rate, thus led to growth stimulation and water loss reduction. New FA antitranspirant caused an increase of grain yield by 7.2%, under the optimal concentration 1.5 mL L^-1.
文摘As rapid economic growth in China in recent decades, the quality of economic growth through improvement of energy efficiency has attracted great attention. This paper evaluated energy efficiency of 29 provinces in China between 2000 and 2016 based on a global non-radial directional distance function. Moreover, the dynamics of energy efficiency were investigated using the non-radial global Malmquist-type efficiency index. The paper also sheds light on the evolution of inequalities in energy efficiency by decomposing interprovincial inequality into its within-region and between-region components. The findings of the study are as follows. First, the national energy efficiency was 0.49 in 2016, which indicated that 51% improvement could be made to reach the global technology frontier. Tianjin, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Shandong and Guangdong had the best energy efficiency in 2016, while Ningxia and Xinjiang had the lowest performance. Second, the national annual growth rate of energy efficiency was 3.4% between 2011 and 2016, which was a positive sign of energy efficiency improvement. Shandong made the biggest improvement in energy efficiency from 2011 to 2016, with 26.2% annual growth rate. Lastly, within-region inequality saw a decreasing trend after 2010 and was overtaken by between-region inequality in 2016.
基金Ministry of Science,Technology and Innovation of Colombia through the“Fondo Francisco Joséde Caldas”National Financing Fund for Science,Technology and Innovation for the financing provided for the development of the project (Project 120885272102,Call 852 of 2019).
文摘Secondary lignocellulosic biomass has proved to be useful as an energy source through its oxidation by means of combustion processes.In accordance with the above,in this paper,we wanted to study the ash from urban pruning residues that are generated in cities in the Neotropics.Species such as Licania tomentosa,Azadirachta indica,Ficus benjamina,Terminalia catappa,Leucaena leucocephala,Prosopis juliflora and Pithecellobium dulce were selected because they have been previously studied and showed potential for thermal energy generation.These materials were calcined in an oxidizing atmosphere and characterized by X-ray diffraction and fluorescence,scanning electron microscopy with microchemistry,BET surface area,thermal gravimetric analysis,and differential scanning calorimetry.The pH and apparent density were also established.The results show high basicity materials(average pH 10),a behavior associated with the presence of chemical elements such as calcium,potassium,magnesium,chlorine,phosphorus,and sulfur.Structurally,these materials have a very significant amorphous fraction(between 49%and 74.5%),the dominant crystalline phases are calcite,arcanite,sylvite,and hydroxyapatite.These ashes have low surface area and do not exceed 13 m^(2)/g.Two characteristic morphological aspects were observed in these ashes:a morphology of rounded grains where silicon content is highlighted,and lamellar morphologies where the presence of chlorine is highlighted.Thermally,these ashes show four significant mass loss events(400℃,430℃,680℃,and 920℃),causing mass losses that vary between 25%and 40%.Through this study,it was possible to establish that,from a chemical point of view,these ashes are less dangerous in comparison with those of a mineral coal that was used as a reference.However,they require additional treatments for their disposal due to their high basicity.Because of their composition,these ashes have the potential to be used in the ceramic and cement industries,and in the manufacture of fertilizers.
基金the“Fondo Francisco Joséde Caldas”National Financing Fund for Science,Technology and Innovation for the financing provided for the development of the project(Project 120885272102,Call 852 of 2019).
文摘The material associated with tree pruning in a city in the Colombian neotropics was characterized in order to determine its energy potential.The species studied for their relevance in the territory were Prosopis juliflora,Licania tomentosa,Terminalia catappa,Azadirachta indica,Pithecellobium dulce,Ficus benjamina and Leucaena leucocephala.Moisture content,bulk density,hygroscopic response,elemental chemical analysis,proximal analysis,calorific value,ease of ignition and combustion,thermogravimetric and heat flow analysis,steam generation capacity,and qualitative analysis of gases(mass spectrometry)were determined.The results that were obtained show high initial moisture contents that vary between 37%and 67%and a variable density(when dry)between 0.21 and 0.41 g/cm3.Chemically,it was shown that all residues have lower carbon and sulfur content compared to a reference mineral coal.However,the residues of some species have higher nitrogen contents compared to the same coal.All biomasses are characterized by their high content of volatile fractions and by having a lower content of inorganic matter compared to carbon.The lower calorific values of these residues are between 14170 and 16928 kJ/kg,which are not negligible compared to other biomasses.This characteristic would be related to the high presence of hemicellulose in the residues.Flue gas monitoring revealed that there are different airflow needs in order to ensure complete combustion.Steam generation tests showed that the calorific value should not be the most relevant criterion to establish the potential use of the waste,since leucaena leucocephala,despite having the highest calorific value,was the material with the lowest performance in steam generation.
文摘<strong>Objective:</strong><span><span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Disrespectful and abusive (D&A) maternity care is a deterrent to facility childbirth and can thus contribute to child and maternal mortality. This study will review existing literature on D&A in Tanzania to better understand and contextualize the issue. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Methods:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> A comprehensive literature search was conducted to find relevant publications on D&A during childbirth in Tanzania. The search was conducted on the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health). The inclusion criteria were as follows: qualitative, quantitative, and ethnographic studies conducted in Tanzania on obstetrical violence;published in English;focused on prevalence, incidence, root causes, historical trends, interventions, and policy recommendations for obstetrical violence in Tanzania. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Results:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Twenty-one studies were selected for this literature review. Up to 73.1% of women reported experiencing at least one form of D&A during labor. Commonly reported D&A events include non-dignified care, non-confidential care, and physical abuse. Other forms of D&A, including detention in facilities and asking for unofficial payments, are also reported. Ninety-six percent of nurses, midwives, and nursing assistants in Tanzania self-reported engaging in at least one form of D&A. Lack of training and provider support, long work hours, fear of blame, and limited infrastructure were reported as factors leading to D&A by providers. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Conclusions:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> In Tanzania, D&A during childbirth is prevalent in healthcare systems. The direct relationship between D&A and poor maternal and fetal health is well-documented. Individual and systemic factors influence </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">both provider and patient perspectives of D&A, providing a window into a complex and sensitive phenomenon. It is important that D&A in Tanzania be viewed holistically, and that interventions target the multifaceted nature of </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">the issue.</span></span></span></span>
基金Sponsored by National Nature Science Foundation of China(41671158)Ph.D.Programs Foundation of Ministry of Education(20132136110001)Program for Liaoning Excellent Talents in University(LR2013050)
文摘Due to the continuous development of information technology, people's perception of real life is more based on the information acquired on the real environment with the help of various media, rather than intuition. Based on priority evaluation data obtained from dianping.com(Liaoning Province), and the established criteria for assessing pseudo habitat environment quality, this study uses the entropy method to calculate and rank the comprehensive score of each merchant's word-of-mouth evaluation. It analyzes the spatial pattern and differentiation characteristics of pseudo environment quality, as well. Results show that:(1) The overall quality scores of the pseudo living environment in southern, central, and northern Liaoning are higher than those in eastern and western area. The pseudo habitat environment quality score of coastal cities is relatively higher than that of inland cities; and that of cities with high resource depletion is lower.(2) Parent-child activity, learning and training, and sports & health have significant impact, whereas hotels and peripheral tours have less impact on the pseudo habitat environment quality in Liaoning province. The overall pseudo habitat environment quality score of a city is inversely proportional to the total scores of various indicators in the city.(3) The spatial distribution of pseudo habitat quality in Liaoning Province shows a "saddle" structure. The spatial heterogeneity of the pseudo habitat environment in central and northern Liaoning areas is larger than that in eastern, western, and southern areas of Liaoning. The degree of quality of the pseudo habitat environment is proportional to the size of its spatial differentiation degree in total.
