Search Results (1,062)

Achieving long-term stable optimization in complex industrial processes (CIPs) is notoriously challenging due to their unclear physical/chemical reaction mechanisms, fluctuating operating conditions, and stringent regulatory constraints. A significant gap persists between promising artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms developed in academic research and their practical deployment in industrial actual processes. To bridge this gap, this article introduces the AI- and security-empowered end–edge–cloud modular platform (AISE³CMP). It consists of four systems such as whole-process AI modeling, end-side basic loop and AI-assisted decision-making, edge-side security isolation and AI control, and cloud-side security transmission and AI optimization. The data isolation collection module of the platform was deployed at a municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) power plant in Beijing, where it collected multimodal data from real-world industrial sites. The platform’s functionality and effectiveness were validated through the software and hardware developed at the Smart Environmental Protection Beijing Laboratory. The experimental results show efficient and reliable signal transmission between the systems, confirming the platform’s ability to meet the computational demands of AI-based optimization and control algorithms. Compared to previous platforms, AISE³CMP features a dual-security transmission mechanism to mitigate data exchange risks and a modular design to enhance integration efficiency. To the best of our knowledge, this platform is the first prototype of a portable, end-to-end cloud platform with a dual-layer security mechanism for CIPs. While the platform effectively addresses data transmission security, further strengthening of cloud-side data protection and ensuring operational safety on the end-side remain significant challenges for the future. Additionally, utilizing this architecture to enable multi-region and multi-plant data sharing, in order to develop industry-specific large language models, represents a key research direction. Full article

In the era of digital economy, computing power centers, serving as core infrastructure that aggregates computing resources and supports digital transformation, have seen their competitiveness formation mechanism and evaluation methods become important research directions in the field of economics and management. Breaking away from fragmented analyses, this study, based on a complex systems perspective, dissects the formation mechanism of computing power center competitiveness and extracts key influencing factors. Utilizing the entropy weight-TOPSIS-gray correlation method, a fully quantifiable evaluation system for computing power center competitiveness is developed, effectively enhancing the practicality, reusability, and comparability of the evaluation approach. Through an empirical analysis of 35 computing power centers in China, the research found that computing power is the primary influencing factor of competitiveness and pointed out that due to different resource advantages, there are also significant differences in the competitiveness level and development path of computing power centers. Based on these findings, and centered on the dual-wheel drive of technology and cost, four development pathways for computing power centers are proposed: strengthening technological advantages, optimizing cost structures, implementing targeted government policies, and fostering industrial ecosystem synergy. This provides a methodological framework and policy toolkit for enhancing the competitiveness and achieving sustainable development of computing power centers in various countries and regions. Full article

Equines play a crucial role in global food security, economic development, and recreation, particularly in regions such as Central Asia, parts of Africa, and South America. However, parasitic infections significantly impact their health, productivity, and reproductive performance, leading to economic losses and reduced animal welfare. This review synthesizes the effects of parasitic infections, including protozoan, helminthic, and ectoparasitic species, on equines. These infections cause hematological alterations like anemia, leukocytosis, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia, compromising overall health and resilience. Protozoan parasites, such as Trypanosoma spp., Theileria equi, and Babesia caballi, directly affect semen quality and fertility by causing testicular lesions, orchitis, and hormonal disruptions. Helminths like Cyathostomins and Strongyles reduce nutrient absorption, impairing productivity, while some protozoan species can cause abortion through transplacental transmission. Zoonotic parasites, including Sarcocystis spp. and Toxoplasma gondii, pose a human health risk through contaminated meat and milk consumption. Despite the effectiveness of conventional anthelmintics, emerging biological control methods like Duddingtonia flagrans (BioWorma^® and Bioverm^®) show promise. However, the development of standardized herbal anthelmintics and vaccines is hindered by limited efficacy validation, complex parasite biology, and inadequate funding. The need for better diagnostic tools and sustainable treatments remains critical for the long-term sustainability of the equine industry. Full article

Green belts in metropolises face a significant contradiction between ecological protection constraints and urban sprawl, necessitating effective planning and management. Existing studies have primarily focused on a single dimension, while the factors influencing the spatial evolution of green belts are complex and diverse. This study establishes a multi-objective quantitative analysis framework, utilizing quantitative analysis methods such as average nearest neighbor analysis, landscape ecological index analysis, land–use transition matrix, kernel density estimation, and spatial autocorrelation models. Taking the green belt area of Shijiazhuang as a case study, this research systematically analyzes the spatial evolution characteristics of the region from 2015 to 2024. The findings reveal spatial patterns such as the small-scale and dispersed expansion of industrial land, increasing fragmentation of ecological spaces, ongoing encroachment on agricultural land, differentiated growth of service industry spaces, and the uncontrolled sprawl of residential areas in villages and towns during rapid urbanization. These patterns lead to increased ecological risks, imbalanced urban–rural development, and lagging infrastructure. To address these challenges, this study proposes a planning strategy of “adjusting the primary industry, restricting the secondary industry, and promoting the tertiary industry,” aiming to resolve the conflict between ecological protection and urban expansion in metropolitan green belts, ensuring their orderly development. This research provides insights for the sustainable development of green belts in Metropolises of developing countries during the rapid urbanization process. Full article

This paper aims to investigate the rheological behaviour of industrial lubricants at high shear and high pressure. A twin-disk rheometer based on a standard UMT apparatus is used to measure the rheological features and film thickness of three lubricants, namely, 150N, UB-3, and 15W/40, with the shear rate ranging from 0 s⁻¹ to 10⁷ s⁻¹ and the pressure at GPa. A semiempirical rheological model that considers the influence of heat, shear, and fluidic plasticity was proposed to adequately fit the experimental data of three organic lubricants. The rheology of the lubricants has a linear to nonlinear relationship with increasing shear rate, indicating shear thinning, which is then followed by a sharp decrease at approximately 10⁶ s⁻¹ because of thermal effects. At a higher shear rate, the shear stress saturates to a critical value. Moreover, the critical traction coefficients in the saturation region show similar changes in pressure and temperature for the three lubricants. The coefficients are greater at 1 GPa but decrease and saturate above 1.45 GPa, probably because the molecular-free volume is compressed by the constraint. The coefficients change little with varying inlet temperature at 1.45 GPa. This research sheds light on the complex rheological behaviour of three lubricants at high shear rates and high pressures and attempts to explain them theoretically. Full article

Maintaining air quality is an important environmental challenge, affecting both urban and regional areas where industrial, agricultural, and energy activities intersect. The Upper Hunter Valley, NSW, experiences emissions from coal mining, power generation, agriculture, and wood fires, compounded by local meteorology, geology, and climate change. This study applies a political economy framework to examine historical governance structures including colonial legacies, institutional arrangements, and power relations and how they shape stakeholder roles and influence decision-making related to air quality. Technical applied research including improving dust monitoring, occupational health studies, and investigations into alternative fuels provided an empirical basis for identifying key stakeholders, including mining and energy companies, regulatory agencies, local councils, community groups, and environmental organisations. The analysis demonstrates how these actors influence governance processes, social licence to operate, and public perceptions of environmental risk. Findings indicate that effective air quality management requires multi-level, collaborative approaches that integrate technical expertise, regulatory oversight, and community engagement. The study highlights the importance of systemic strategies that align economic, environmental, and social objectives, providing insight into the governance of contested environmental resources in historically and politically complex regional contexts. This article is a rewritten and expanded version of the study “Analysis of air quality stakeholders in the Upper Hunter”, presented at the Clean Air conference, in Hobart, Australia, August 2024. Full article

Environmental pollution is becoming increasingly unpredictable over time due to its complexity, given the number of new chemicals produced annually and the constantly changing environmental conditions. Regulation has yet to keep pace with the rapid changes posed by chemical mixtures, especially in the Global South. Understanding the potential outcomes of co-exposure to multiple compounds can be challenging, even for professionals with a background in sustainability and mixture toxicity, due to the complexity of the issue. Some tools have been developed to tackle this uncertainty like the Species Sensitivity Distribution curve (SSD), the Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOP), and the Mixture Assessment Factor (MAF). This study aims to bridge the gap between knowledge generated in the field of mixture toxicity and regulatory practices by proposing sustainable management practices at the local scale, particularly for countries in the Global South. The proposed framework is called GlORIES and comprises the following measures. The first proposed step is to describe the chemicals used in industries or identified in existing environmental studies and/or monitoring campaigns on a watershed basis. Having a watchlist of compounds and organisms present in the region, and by generating a regionalized SSD, it is possible to use models such as AOPs to try to predict which compounds could potentially interact and thus generate a correcting factor, such as a MAF. A MAF could then be incorporated into regulations to further protect the environment by reducing the concentration of the compound in the mixture. Including local communities in reporting human and environmental health alterations could be a key to identifying the possible harmful emissions. It is proposed that watershed management committees be established to integrate all stakeholders and promote workshops organized by academia, industry, regulatory agencies, and civil society, leveraging existing structures to conserve energy in the process. The proposed framework can improve the sustainability of the process and the knowledge flow from academia to regulatory bodies, increasing the efficacy of the chosen water quality thresholds by adapting to real-life scenarios. Full article

The estuaries of the Mississippi River Delta are among the most productive coastal ecosystems in the world and have attracted human fishing communities for centuries. Beginning in the early 20th century, the oil and gas industry also emerged as a powerful economic force in exploiting coastal fossil fuel deposits. This paper reviews the complex history of the oil and gas industry in Southeast Louisiana, including its relationships with political corruption, inequality, pollution, and environmental catastrophe; and also its role in supporting coastal fishing communities with complementary economic opportunities. In the 21st century, a series of disasters—above all Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the B.P. oil spill in 2010—drew attention to the risks inherent to the region, as well as its crucial role in buffering the impacts of tropical storms for inland urban communities. This paper examines the evolution of fisheries regulations and their consequences of small-scale fishers, focusing especially on the banning of gill net use in 1990s. By combining historical information with ethnographic interviews and participant observation, this paper examines the complex political–economic forces involved in shifting regulatory frameworks and policies, and it shows their negative consequences for fishing communities facing an existentially threatening combination of coastal erosion, fisheries declines, and various macroeconomic headwinds. This paper argues that resilient coastal communities are crucial to combating the environmental problems facing coastal regions and that rethinking fisheries regulations may be a dynamic tool in enhancing community resilience. Full article

This study utilizes ambient air quality monitoring data from 13 prefecture-level cities in Heilongjiang Province to systematically analyze the pollution characteristics and dynamic evolution of ozone (O₃) and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs). The findings reveal that overall air quality in Heilongjiang Province has improved substantially in recent years. The concentrations of SO₂, NO₂, PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and CO in 2023 decreased significantly compared with 2015, with an average reduction of 38.7%. However, O₃ concentrations have continued to rise, indicating that O₃ pollution has become an increasingly pressing environmental concern. On an annual scale, the monthly average O₃ concentration in 2023 displayed a “clear single-peak” pattern, reaching its maximum in June, at a concentration of 139 μg/m³. In contrast, the monthly average NMHC concentration exhibited a “distinct double-peak” pattern, with elevated levels in January and December, at 59.4 and 48.35 μg/m³, respectively. From an hourly perspective, the highest O₃ concentrations across the 13 cities occurred between 11:00 and 17:00, while NMHC concentrations showed an opposite trend. Furthermore, during the heating season (October to April of the following year), O₃ and NMHC concentrations increased by 0.78 and 1.56 times, respectively, compared with the non-heating season. In terms of ambient air quality levels, both O₃ and NMHC concentrations exhibited a gradual upward trend under conditions of “excellent”, “good”, and “light pollution”. However, under “moderate pollution”, “heavy pollution”, and “severe pollution” levels, O₃ and NMHC concentrations exhibited irregular patterns, likely due to the interaction of multiple complex factors. O₃ pollution follows a “central concentration and peripheral diffusion” pattern, reflecting the combined influence of human activities and natural conditions. In contrast, NMHC concentrations display pronounced spatial heterogeneity, with low levels in the west and high levels in the east, primarily driven by regional differences in industrial structure and environmental conditions. In summary, this study aims to elucidate the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of O₃ and NMHC pollution in Heilongjiang Province and their complex relationship with air quality levels, providing a scientific basis for future pollution prevention and control strategies. Subsequent research should focus on identifying the underlying causes of pollution to develop more precise and effective mitigation measures, thereby continuously improving ambient air quality in the province. Full article

This study presents a novel structural framing solution designed to improve seismic energy dissipation and limit displacements, aiming to serve as an effective alternative to traditional precast systems employing pendulum-based isolation. While pendulum mechanisms mitigate seismic forces by decoupling the superstructure from ground motion, they are typically characterized by high implementation costs, mechanical complexity, and post-event maintenance challenges. In contrast, the proposed approach integrates seismic performance enhancements within the structural frame itself, removing the dependency on external isolation components. The system leverages a combination of pinned and semi-rigid beam-to-column joints that are tailored for use within dry precast construction technologies. These connection types not only support rapid and labor-efficient assembly but also, when properly detailed, offer robust hysteretic behavior and deformation control under dynamic loading. The research includes both experimental testing and numerical simulations focused on the cyclic response of these connections, enabling a comprehensive understanding of their role in dissipating energy and delaying damage progression. Recognizing the industry’s frequent emphasis on construction speed and upfront cost-efficiency, often at the cost of long-term reparability, this work introduces an alternative framework that emphasizes resilience without compromising construction practicality. The resulting system demonstrates improved post-earthquake functionality and reduced downtime, making it a promising and economically viable option for seismic applications in precast construction. This advancement supports current trends toward performance-based design and enhances the structural reliability of dry-assembled systems in seismic regions. Full article

Achieving carbon neutrality is a global priority, and China’s “dual-carbon” goals place urgent demands on emission reduction. In this context, the digital economy and industrial structure transformation are key drivers of synergistic carbon mitigation and sustainable development. This study constructs an integrated analytical framework, combining an improved three-system coupling coordination model, exploratory spatial data analysis, and panel vector autoregression, using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces between 2013 and 2022. The results reveal three main findings: (1) Spatial heterogeneity: The digital economy follows an “advanced East—catching-up Central—lagging West” pattern, while carbon emissions show a “higher North—lower South” gradient. (2) Improving coordination with regional disparities: Overall coupling coordination has steadily increased, but Eastern provinces exhibit stronger synergistic capabilities than Central and Western regions. (3) Bidirectional interactions and self-reinforcing effects: Digital economy development drives industrial structure upgrading, which in turn promotes long-term carbon reduction; all three systems display self-reinforcing dynamics. These findings provide robust empirical evidence on the complex co-evolution of digital economy, industrial transformation, and carbon emissions, offering actionable insights for policymakers to design region-specific strategies for coordinated low-carbon development. Full article

Objective: Pediatric cancer, though less prevalent than adult malignancies, constitutes a significant public health concern due to its long-term effects on survival, development, and quality of life. This study aimed to investigate spatial patterns and temporal trends of pediatric cancer in Romania over a ten-year period (2008–2017), identifying persistent and emerging geographic hotspots using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)–based modelling and spatial statistics. Methods: A national pediatric cancer registry provided by the Ministry of Health was analyzed for cases among individuals aged 0–18 years, categorized by administrative-territorial units (ATUs), ICD-10 codes, sex, and year. Spatial indicators of persistence (recurrent prevalence across multiple years) and continuity (uninterrupted recurrence) were computed. Hotspot analysis was conducted using Local Moran’s I, and trend patterns were assessed through temporal modeling. Additionally, fractal and complexity metrics were applied to characterize the spatial structure and heterogeneity of cancer persistence and continuity across regions. Results: Although national pediatric cancer prevalence exhibited a modest decline from 3.57‰ in 2008 to 3.44‰ in 2017, GIS-based spatial modeling revealed stable high-risk clusters in Central and South-Eastern Romania, particularly in historically industrialized counties such as Hunedoara, Prahova, and Galați. These correspond to regions with past heavy industry and chemical pollution. Male children presented a higher frequency of malignant tumors (48,502 cases in males vs. 36,034 in females), while benign and uncertain-behavior neoplasms increased more prominently among females (from 3847 to 4116 cases, compared with 3141 to 3199 in males). Several rural localities showed unexpected prevalence spikes, potentially associated with socioeconomic deprivation, limited health literacy, and reduced access to pediatric oncology services. Regional disparities in diagnostic and reporting capacities were also evident. Conclusion: GIS-based spatial epidemiology proved effective in revealing localized, sex-specific, and persistent disparities in pediatric cancer across Romania. The integration of spatial indicators and complexity metrics into national cancer control programs could strengthen early detection, optimize resource allocation, and reduce health inequities. These findings highlight the value of combining geospatial analysis and fractal modeling to guide evidence-based public health strategies for pediatric oncology. Full article

In order to study the differential characteristics of heavy metal contamination levels and their sources in soils under various land use types and anthropogenic activities at a regional scale, this study focused on the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) urban agglomeration in North China. We analyzed heavy metal content in three land use types (urban green spaces, croplands, and vegetable fields/orchards) through field sampling and laboratory analysis, with content determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The sources of heavy metals were quantitatively apportioned their sources using the absolute principal component score–multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) method. Results of this study are as follows: (1) Heavy metal content varied among different soil types, with vegetable fields/orchards soils showing relatively higher content. Urban green spaces and cropland soils exhibited comparable heavy metal levels, though urban green spaces displayed higher spatial heterogeneity, while cropland soils showed more homogeneous distributions. (2) The APCS-MLR model identified five pollution sources: mixed traffic–coal combustion sources, industrial sources, agricultural sources, natural sources, and unknown sources. Natural sources were consistently the dominant contributors of arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) across all three land use types, with contribution rates of 32.62–70.26%. Traffic and coal combustion emissions were the primary sources of lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) in urban green spaces, accounting for 40.28–66.26%, while industrial activities showed the highest contributions to zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) in urban green spaces, at 45.88–65.25%. Agricultural activities contributed similarly to Cd accumulation in both cropland and vegetable fields/orchards soils (41.68–51.32%), but their contributions to Cu and Zn in vegetable fields/orchards soils (46.62–55.58%) were significantly higher than those in cropland (9.21–13.40%). Notably, unexplained sources accounted for 18.64–42.59% of heavy metals in vegetable fields/orchards soils, suggesting particularly complex sources in these systems. This study provides a scientific basis for sustainable soil management strategies and promoting coordinated pollution control in urban agglomeration regions. Full article

The thermal coal supply chain serves as core infrastructure for ensuring the safe and stable supply of electricity in China. Effective risk management and control of this supply chain are therefore critical to national energy security and socio-economic development. However, the thermal coal supply chain involves multiple complex risk dimensions, including cross-regional multi-entity coordination, a complex network structure, and a dynamic policy environment. Traditional risk analysis methods often fall short in depicting the concurrent events and dynamic propagation characteristics inherent to such a system. This necessitates systematically investigating the thermal coal supply chain within the Coal–Electricity Joint Venture (CEJV) operational framework, which primarily involves equity-based consolidation and long-term contractual coordination between coal producers and power generators, to comprehensively analyze its critical risk factors and transmission mechanisms. Initially, based on the integration of coal-fired power joint operation policy evolution and industry characteristics, 28 risk factors were identified across three dimensions: internal enterprise, external environment, and overall structure. These encompassed production fluctuation risks, thermal coal transport process risks, and insufficient supply chain flexibility. A dynamic behavior model for the thermal coal supply chain was constructed by analyzing the causal relationships among these risk factors, based on the operational processes of each link. Utilizing Petri net simulation technology enables a quantitative analysis of supply chain risks, facilitating the identification of bottleneck links and potential risk points. Through model simulation, 18 key risk factors were determined, providing a theoretical basis for optimizing supply chain resilience within CEJV enterprises. The limitations of traditional methods in dynamic process modeling and industrial applicability were addressed through a Petri net-based methodology, thereby establishing a novel analytical paradigm for risk management in complex energy supply chains. Full article

As a form of living cultural heritage, local residential landscapes manifest the essence of long-term, resilient human–land interactions. The Wuling Corridor, a vital ethnic and cultural passage connecting the Central Plains with Southwest China in Chinese history, serves as a crucial region for the mixed residence and cultural exchange of Tujia, Miao, Dong, Han, and other ethnic groups. Within this region, Ganlan stands as both the most representative vernacular architectural heritage and a residential form that is still extensively used, constituting a continuous and unique residential landscape. The spatial distribution patterns of Ganlan are the physical witness of the history of ethnic groups adapting to the complex topographic and cultural conditions. Current research focuses on the case description of single Ganlan forms, failing to systematically investigate the spatial formation mechanisms of Ganlan as a residential landscape from a geographical continuum perspective. Therefore, this study establishes a geographical database encompassing 9425 Ganlan samples from the Wuling Corridor. It integrates the geographic information system (GIS) with clustering algorithms to systematically identify the distribution patterns of Ganlan within specific geographic–cultural units and their coupling relationships with natural environments. It conducts quantitative analysis on the key driving factors concerning the emergence and evolution of Ganlan in the study area; the findings reveal the following: (1) Ganlan buildings exhibit a spatially aggregated distribution pattern along major water systems, demonstrating characteristics of multi-ethnic sharing and spatial interweaving. (2) Their distribution is constrained by natural geographical factors and influenced by the transmission pathways of construction techniques during ancient ethnic migrations to the southwest China. (3) Within multi-ethnic settlement structures, inter-ethnic cultural interactions (particularly with Central Plains culture) serve as a key driving force for the typological evolution of Ganlan. (4) The evolutionary lineage of “full-Ganlan,” “semi-Ganlan,” and “courtyard-style Ganlan” systematically demonstrates the dynamic adaptive capacity of local residential systems. Additionally, by integrating massive Ganlan heritage data with multiple spatial analysis methods, the study serves as a typical case study illuminating the adaptive strategies and resilience mechanisms of Ganlan as a local residential landscape formed in response to the environmental conditions and social changes. Also, it provides a scientific basis for the holistic conservation of architectural heritages shared by multiple ethnic groups and the integrated development of local cultural tourism industries. Full article