The impact of demographic dynamics on food consumption and its environmental outcomes:Evidence from China

With increasing population and changing demographics,food consumption has experienced a significant transition in quantity and quality.However,a dearth of knowledge remains regarding its environmental impacts and how it responds to demographic dynamics,particularly in emerging economies like China.Using the two-stage Quadratic Almost Demand System(QUAIDS)model,this study empirically examines the impact of demographic dynamics on food consumption and its environmental outcomes based on the provincial data from 2000 to 2020 in China.Under various scenarios,according to changes in demographics,we extend our analysis to project the long-term trend of food consumption and its environmental impacts,including greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions,water footprint(WF),and land appropriation(LA).The results reveal that an increase in the proportion of senior people significantly decreases the consumption of grain and livestock meat and increases the consumption of poultry,egg,and aquatic products,particularly for urban residents.Moreover,an increase in the proportion of males in the population leads to higher consumption of poultry and aquatic products.Correspondingly,in the current scenario of an increased aging population and sex ratio,it is anticipated that GHG emissions,WF,and LA are likely to decrease by 1.37,2.52,and 3.56%,respectively.More importantly,in the scenario adhering to the standards of nutritional intake according to the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents in 2022,GHG emissions,WF,and LA in urban areas would increase by 12.78,20.94,and 18.32%,respectively.Our findings suggest that changing demographics should be considered when designing policies to mitigate the diet-environment-health trilemma and achieve sustainable food consumption.

Women’s empowerment and food consumption:Evidence from female-headed households in Tanzania

Despite the growing recognition of women’s increasing role in the household and corresponding empowerment programs in sub-Saharan Africa,intensive research on the relationship between women’s influence and household food consumption is minimal.Using the most recent(2017-2018)national household survey data from Tanzania,this study examined the influence of women’s empowerment on household food consumption.First,we compared the monthly consumption of eight food categories between female-headed households(FHHs)and male-headed households(MHHs)using both descriptive statistics and the propensity score matching(PSM)method.Furthermore,we adopted the two-stage Linear Expenditure System and Almost Ideal Demand System model(LES-AIDS)to estimate income and price elasticities for the two household types.The results show that FHHs consume bread and cereals,fish,oils and fats,vegetables,and confectionery(sugar,jam,honey,chocolate,etc.)more than MHHs.Moreover,FHHs have a significantly higher income elasticity of demand for all food groups than MHHs.They are also more price elastic than MHHs in meat,fish,oils,fats,sugar,jam,honey,chocolate,etc.

Effect of bubble morphology and behavior on power consumption in non-Newtonian fluids’aeration process

Due to a prolonged operation time and low mass transfer efficiency, the primary challenge in the aeration process of non-Newtonian fluids is the high energy consumption, which is closely related to the form and rate of impeller, ventilation, rheological properties and bubble morphology in the reactor. In this perspective, through optimal computational fluid dynamics models and experiments, the relationship between power consumption, volumetric mass transfer rate(kLa) and initial bubble size(d0) was constructed to establish an efficient operation mode for the aeration process of non-Newtonian fluids. It was found that reducing the d0could significantly increase the oxygen mass transfer rate, resulting in an obvious decrease in the ventilation volume and impeller speed. When d0was regulated within 2-5 mm,an optimal kLa could be achieved, and 21% of power consumption could be saved, compared to the case of bubbles with a diameter of 10 mm.

Analysis of Electricity Consumption Pattern Clustering and Electricity Consumption Behavior

Studying user electricity consumption behavior is crucial for understanding their power usage patterns.However,the traditional clustering methods fail to identify emerging types of electricity consumption behavior.To address this issue,this paper introduces a statistical analysis of clusters and evaluates the set of indicators for power usage patterns.The fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm is then used to analyze 6 months of electricity consumption data in 2017 from energy storage equipment,agricultural drainage irrigation,port shore power,and electric vehicles.Finally,the proposed method is validated through experiments,where the Davies-Bouldin index and profile coefficient are calculated and compared.Experiments showed that the optimal number of clusters is 4.This study demonstrates the potential of using a fuzzy C-means clustering algorithmin identifying emerging types of electricity consumption behavior,which can help power system operators and policymakers to make informed decisions and improve energy efficiency.

Biodegradable and flexible i-carrageenan based RRAM with ultralow power consumption

Transient memories,which can physically disappear without leaving traceable remains over a period of normal operation,are attracting increasing attention for potential applications in the fields of data security and green electronics.Resistive random access memory(RRAM)is a promising candidate for next-generation memory.In this context,biocompatible l-carrageenan(l-car),extracted from natural seaweed,is introduced for the fabrication of RRAM devices(Ag/l-car/Pt).Taking advantage of the complexation processes between the functional groups(C–O–C,C–O–H,et al.)and Ag metal ions,a lower migration barrier of Ag ions and a high-speed switching(22.2 ns for SET operation/26 ns for RESET operation)were achieved,resulting in an ultralow power consumption of 56 fJ.And the prepared Ag/l-car/Pt RRAM devices also revealed the capacities of multilevel storage and flexibility.In addition,thanks to the hydrophilic groups of l-car molecule,the RRAM devices can be rapidly dissolved in deionized(DI)water within 13 minutes,showing excellent transient characteristics.This work demonstrates that l-car based RRAM devices have great potential for applications in secure storage applications,flexible electronics and transient electronics.

Analysis of Influencing Factors on Fruit Consumption of Urban and Rural Residents in Beijing

In light of the rapid expansion of China s economy,there has been a notable shift in the consumption patterns of urban and rural residents.This is evident in the increased consumption of agricultural products,with fruit consumption representing a particularly pronounced trend.The 2023 Beijing Consumption Statistics indicate that demand for fruit is increasing,accompanied by heightened competition for quality and brands.The paper is based on research that examines the current situation of fruit consumption among urban and rural residents in Beijing.The results indicate that when urban and rural residents in Beijing purchase fruits,price is the most significant factor influencing fruit consumption.Taste,appearance,and variety are also considered to be important influencing factors,while the influence of factors such as fruit type,consumption pattern,and fruit brand is relatively minor.

Research on Interpolation Method for Missing Electricity Consumption Data

Missing value is one of the main factors that cause dirty data.Without high-quality data,there will be no reliable analysis results and precise decision-making.Therefore,the data warehouse needs to integrate high-quality data consistently.In the power system,the electricity consumption data of some large users cannot be normally collected resulting in missing data,which affects the calculation of power supply and eventually leads to a large error in the daily power line loss rate.For the problem of missing electricity consumption data,this study proposes a group method of data handling(GMDH)based data interpolation method in distribution power networks and applies it in the analysis of actually collected electricity data.First,the dependent and independent variables are defined from the original data,and the upper and lower limits of missing values are determined according to prior knowledge or existing data information.All missing data are randomly interpolated within the upper and lower limits.Then,the GMDH network is established to obtain the optimal complexity model,which is used to predict the missing data to replace the last imputed electricity consumption data.At last,this process is implemented iteratively until the missing values do not change.Under a relatively small noise level(α=0.25),the proposed approach achieves a maximum error of no more than 0.605%.Experimental findings demonstrate the efficacy and feasibility of the proposed approach,which realizes the transformation from incomplete data to complete data.Also,this proposed data interpolation approach provides a strong basis for the electricity theft diagnosis and metering fault analysis of electricity enterprises.

Effects of connected automated vehicle on stability and energy consumption of heterogeneous traffic flow system

With the development of intelligent and interconnected traffic system,a convergence of traffic stream is anticipated in the foreseeable future,where both connected automated vehicle(CAV)and human driven vehicle(HDV)will coexist.In order to examine the effect of CAV on the overall stability and energy consumption of such a heterogeneous traffic system,we first take into account the interrelated perception of distance and speed by CAV to establish a macroscopic dynamic model through utilizing the full velocity difference(FVD)model.Subsequently,adopting the linear stability theory,we propose the linear stability condition for the model through using the small perturbation method,and the validity of the heterogeneous model is verified by comparing with the FVD model.Through nonlinear theoretical analysis,we further derive the KdV-Burgers equation,which captures the propagation characteristics of traffic density waves.Finally,by numerical simulation experiments through utilizing a macroscopic model of heterogeneous traffic flow,the effect of CAV permeability on the stability of density wave in heterogeneous traffic flow and the energy consumption of the traffic system is investigated.Subsequent analysis reveals emergent traffic phenomena.The experimental findings demonstrate that as CAV permeability increases,the ability to dampen the propagation of fluctuations in heterogeneous traffic flow gradually intensifies when giving system perturbation,leading to enhanced stability of the traffic system.Furthermore,higher initial traffic density renders the traffic system more susceptible to congestion,resulting in local clustering effect and stop-and-go traffic phenomenon.Remarkably,the total energy consumption of the heterogeneous traffic system exhibits a gradual decline with CAV permeability increasing.Further evidence has demonstrated the positive influence of CAV on heterogeneous traffic flow.This research contributes to providing theoretical guidance for future CAV applications,aiming to enhance urban road traffic efficiency and alleviate congestion.

A dicistrovirus increases pupal mortality in Spodoptera frugiperda by suppressing protease activity and inhibiting larval diet consumption

Understanding interactions between viruses and their hosts is conducive to enabling better application of viruses as biocontrol agents.Certain viruses carried by parasitic wasps enhance the parasitic efficiency of wasp-larvae by protecting them against the immune system of their Lepidopteran host.However,the relationship between prey pests and viruses found in predatory natural enemies remains unclear.Herein,we report the interaction between Arma chinensis virus-1(AcV-1),originally isolated from a predatory natural enemy,Arma chinensis(Hemiptera:Pentatomidae),and one of its prey species,Spodoptera frugiperda(Lepidoptera:Noctuidae).The results showed that the AcV-1 virus appeared harmful to the novel host S.frugiperda by inhibiting larval diet consumption and increasing pupal mortality.Meanwhile,sequencing data indicated that the virus altered the gene expression profiles of S.frugiperda.KEGG analysis showed that the proteasome and phagosome pathways related to protein degradation and immune response were significantly enriched.Although the expression levels of digestive enzyme genes did not change significantly,the total protease activity of AcV-1 virus-positive individuals was significantly decreased,suggesting that the virus inhibited diet consumption of S.frugiperda via the down-regulation of digestive enzyme activities.These results indicate that a virus initially isolated in a predatory natural enemy can decrease the fitness of its prey species.The virus was found to impact the host proteasome and phagosome pathways related to protein degradation and immunity,providing a potential mechanism to enhance controlling efficiency.

Joint Optimization of Energy Consumption and Network Latency in Blockchain-Enabled Fog Computing Networks

Fog computing is considered as a solution to accommodate the emergence of booming requirements from a large variety of resource-limited Internet of Things(IoT)devices.To ensure the security of private data,in this paper,we introduce a blockchain-enabled three-layer device-fog-cloud heterogeneous network.A reputation model is proposed to update the credibility of the fog nodes(FN),which is used to select blockchain nodes(BN)from FNs to participate in the consensus process.According to the Rivest-Shamir-Adleman(RSA)encryption algorithm applied to the blockchain system,FNs could verify the identity of the node through its public key to avoid malicious attacks.Additionally,to reduce the computation complexity of the consensus algorithms and the network overhead,we propose a dynamic offloading and resource allocation(DORA)algorithm and a reputation-based democratic byzantine fault tolerant(R-DBFT)algorithm to optimize the offloading decisions and decrease the number of BNs in the consensus algorithm while ensuring the network security.Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm could efficiently reduce the network overhead,and obtain a considerable performance improvement compared to the related algorithms in the previous literature.

The Alienation of Nature in Emily Dickinson’s Poems through the Prism of Taoism

In the poems created by the renowned American poet Emily Dickinson,those related to nature constitute a considerable proportion.However,Dickinson’s attitude toward nature is,in fact,contradictory.On the one hand,Dickinson perceives nature as gentle and kind,akin to a mother.Nature is regarded as“heaven”and embodies harmony.On the other hand,nature possesses its own operational principles and harbors inherent cruelty.According to Dickinson,humans should refrain from excessive interference in the natural order.This article attempts to analyze the similarities in attitude towards nature between Dickinson’s poetry and Taoist philosophy.

Expand New Consumption and Unleash the Potential of Domestic Demand

This year's government work report proposes to promote the stable growth of consumption,stimulate consumption potential,and promote new types of consumption such as digital consumption,green consumption,and healthy consumption.

Promoting sustainable consumption and circular economy:the intention of Vietnamese youth consumers to purchase products made from recycled plastics

Recycling is viewed as a key component in a circular economy and serves as an ideal solution for promoting sustainability.During the global plastic crisis,plastic recycling practices have been adopted worldwide,leading to the production of various products made from recycled plastics(PRP).Nevertheless,a gap persists between consumption and demand for such products,which is primarily attributed to a lack of comprehension from the consumer perspective.Given the pivotal role consumers play in the adoption of these products,this study explores consumers’intentions to purchase PRP.This is particularly significant in Vietnam,which is an emerging economy aspiring to achieve the objectives of a circular economy and sustainable development.Utilizing an integrated cognitive-emotional framework comprising the Valence Theory and the Norm Activation Model,data from 564 Vietnamese students were gathered and analyzed using structural equation modeling.The results show that awareness of consequences is a major driver of consumer purchase intentions,followed by perceived ease of application and monetary incentives.The results also indicate that health concerns have the strongest effect on purchase intention and in the negative side,meaning that the health-related risk is the primary concern for consumers during the decision-making process.This research holds substantial value for academics and managers,as it aids in the theoretical exploration and the formulation of strategies to improve consumer acceptance of PRP.

Research on Cultural Consumption and Urban Integration of Floating Population

This paper examined the relationship between cultural consumption and the floating population’s integration into host cities based on data from China’s Seventh National Population Census and the 2018 China Migrants Dynamic Survey(CMDS).The findings indicate that improving the floating population’s consumption level and quality,especially the quality of development-oriented cultural consumption,can significantly improve the level of their integration.Moreover,development-oriented cultural consumption has a positive effect on the floating population’s integration and social participation,while entertainment-oriented cultural consumption facilitates their integration mainly by improving their sense of well-being.These findings could guide policymakers in developing targeted cultural consumption policies,implementing specific regional industry adjustments,and expanding domestic consumption demand.

A Two-Layer Active Power Optimization and Coordinated Control for Regional Power Grid Partitioning to Promote Distributed Renewable Energy Consumption

With the large-scale development and utilization of renewable energy,industrial flexible loads,as a kind of loadside resource with strong regulation ability,provide new opportunities for the research on renewable energy consumption problem in power systems.This paper proposes a two-layer active power optimization model based on industrial flexible loads for power grid partitioning,aiming at improving the line over-limit problem caused by renewable energy consumption in power grids with high proportion of renewable energy,and achieving the safe,stable and economical operation of power grids.Firstly,according to the evaluation index of renewable energy consumption characteristics of line active power,the power grid is divided into several partitions,and the interzone tie lines are taken as the optimization objects.Then,on the basis of partitioning,a two-layer active power optimization model considering the power constraints of industrial flexible loads is established.The upper-layer model optimizes the planned power of the inter-zone tie lines under the constraint of the minimum peak-valley difference within a day;the lower-layer model optimizes the regional source-load dispatching plan of each resource in each partition under the constraint of theminimumoperation cost of the partition,so as to reduce the line overlimit phenomenon caused by renewable energy consumption and save the electricity cost of industrial flexible loads.Finally,through simulation experiments,it is verified that the proposed model can effectively mobilize industrial flexible loads to participate in power grid operation and improve the economic stability of power grid.

Optimising Energy Consumption in SD-DCN Networks (Software Defined-Data Center Network)

Over the last decade, the rapid growth in traffic and the number of network devices has implicitly led to an increase in network energy consumption. In this context, a new paradigm has emerged, Software-Defined Networking (SDN), which is an emerging technique that separates the control plane and the data plane of the deployed network, enabling centralized control of the network, while offering flexibility in data center network management. Some research work is moving in the direction of optimizing the energy consumption of SD-DCN, but still does not guarantee good performance and quality of service for SDN networks. To solve this problem, we propose a new mathematical model based on the principle of combinatorial optimization to dynamically solve the problem of activating and deactivating switches and unused links that consume energy in SDN networks while guaranteeing quality of service (QoS) and ensuring load balancing in the network.

Exploring the Element Integration of Urban and Rural“Space of Flows”in the Context of Consumption Upgrading:A Case Study of Changsi Village in Anhui Province

The mobility and interaction between urban and rural areas are becoming more and more intensive,and their links and exchanges are increasingly closer due to constant flow of factors such as information,capital,personnel and technology.In this context,the element integration of urban and rural“space of flows”can promote the integrated development of urban and rural areas,improve the consumption environment and experience,and promote the industrial upgrading and technological progress.To realize the element integration of urban and rural“space of flows”,it is necessary to explore and innovate in infrastructure construction,information technology application,industrial cooperation and cultural exchanges.Government departments,enterprises and social organizations also need to work together to give play to their respective advantages and jointly promote the process of element integration of urban and rural“space of flows”.

Investigating the Creation of Cultural Atmospheres in Physical Bookstores Within the Context of Scene-Based Consumption:A Perspective Based on the Ways of Seeing

In an era of scene-based consumption,the essence of operating a bookstore lies in accepting and enabling the bookstore to play its role as a cultural medium for browsing and appreciating books,which in turn fosters the development of a distinctive bookstore culture.This new type of consumption context has led to an evolution in the book-reading culture in physical bookstores that is characterized by a shift from a paradigm of passive reading to one where the emphasis is on interactive viewing.This transition has laid the foundation for the creation of cultural atmospheres in bookstores,and it highlights the visual interactions that now exist between readers and books as well as with other related cultural industries.The dominant and fundamental logic behind this process is symbiosis,experience,aesthetics,immersion,and creativity.However,when a form of culture that focuses on consumption-oriented browsing begins to overshadow knowledge acquisition during the process of book reading,the cultural essence of bookstores is likely to be diminished.Therefore,the cultural essence within the scene-based consumption context should be enhanced by creating innovative viewing activities that showcase the cultural and emotional implications inherent in the scene itself,and thus help to align the identity of the bookstore with its in-situ cultural space.

Indirect Water Consumption:The Scope 3 of Water?Estimation of This Indicator in Sectors Relying on Agriculture

The aim of this research project is to assess indirect water consumption,that represents the water consumed in the upstream part of the production life cycle.Estimations are provided for agriculture related companies,as agriculture represents 70%of water consumption on Earth.This consumption varies greatly according to the countries where supply chain is located.The estimation is attempted for 27 European listed companies in sectors relying on agriculture in its supply chain.A data is estimated for 22 companies,showing that indirect water consumption is much more important than direct one.Strategic questions raised through the estimation of indirect water consumption in various subsectors show the interest in this data,which represents the equivalent of Carbon Scope 3 for water issues.

Reducing Electrical Consumption in Stationary Long-Haul Trucks

On average, long-haul trucks in the U.S. use approximately 667 million gallons of fuel each year just for idling. This idling primarily facilitates climate control operations during driver rest periods. To mitigate this, our study explored ways to diminish the electrical consumption of climate control systems in class 8 trucks through innovative load reduction technologies. We utilized the CoolCalc software, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which integrates heat transfer principles with extensive weather data from across the U.S. to mimic the environmental conditions trucks face year-round. The analysis of the CoolCalc simulations was performed using MATLAB. We assessed the impact of various technologies, including white paint, advanced curtains, and Thinsulate insulation on reducing electrical demand compared to standard conditions. Our findings indicate that trucks operating in the eastern U.S. could see electrical load reductions of up to 40%, while those in the western regions could achieve reductions as high as 55%. Such significant decreases in energy consumption mean that a 10 kWh battery system could sufficiently manage the HVAC needs of these trucks throughout the year without idling. Given that many long-haul trucks are equipped with battery systems of around 800 Ah (9.6 kWh), implementing these advanced technologies could substantially curtail the necessity for idling to power air conditioning systems.