Structure and species composition of tree stands on verges and slopes along a major highway in Hong Kong

Arboricultural research focusing on transport land use was lacking in Hong Kong.Some highway slopes were registered in the Systematic Identification of Maintenance Responsibility of Slopes in the Territory(SIMAR),abbreviated as SIMAR slopes.We aimed to analyze patterns in the structure and species composition of the tree stock along a highway in Hong Kong and examined how a slope registration system could help explain the characteristics of urban forests.The 53 slopes and 52 verges along San Tin Highway,Hong Kong were randomly selected.The trees on each slope and verge were collectively sampled as a tree stand.Six variables,namely tree abundance,species richness,maximum tree height,Shannon-Wiener diversity,Simpson's dominance,and Pielou's evenness were measured for each stand.In addition,a limited visual tree risk assessment was performed.The 7,209 trees in 23 species were recorded.Species richness was low,ranging from one to eight species per stand.SIMAR and non-SIMAR slopes were compared.SIMAR slopes had significantly higher species richness,diversity,evenness but lower dominance,with mean difference of 1.41 species,0.17,0.17 and-0.28respectively.SIMAR slopes were associated with lower tree risk rating.When training regression models,boosting as an ensemble method arbitrarily raised the explanatory power and the predictive accuracy of some models.Slope height,length,angle and area could be significant predictors of the biodiversity-related variables.Future research can sample more habitat characteristics related to the structure and species composition of slopes and verges which were important components of urban forestry.

Carbon enhanced nucleophilicity of Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3):A general approach for dendrite-free zinc metal anodes

Zincophilic property and high electrical conductivity are both very important parameters to design novel Zn anode for aqueous Zn-ion batteries(AZIBs).However,single material is difficult to exhibit zincophilic property and high electrical conductivity at the same time.Herein,originating from theoretical calculation,a zincophilic particle regulation strategy is proposed to address these limitations and carbon coated Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)is taken as an example to be a protective layer on zinc metal(NVPC@Zn).Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)(NVP)is a common cathode material for Zn-ion batteries,which is zincophilic.Carbon materials not only offer an electron pathway to help Zn deposition onto NVPC surface,but also enhance the zinc nucleophilicity of Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3).Hence,this hybrid coating layer can tune zinc deposition and resist side reactions such as hydrogen generation and Zn metal corrosion.Experimentally,a symmetrical battery with NVPC@Zn electrode displays highly reversible plating/stripping behavior with a long cycle lifespan over 1800 h at2 mA cm^(-2),much better than carbon and Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)solely modified Zn electrodes.When the Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)is replaced with zincophobic Al2O3or zincophilic V2O3,the stability of the modified zinc anodes is also prolonged.This strategy expands the option of zincophilic materials and provides a general and effective way to stabilize the Zn electrode.

Characterization of 3D Printed Poly(3-Hydroxybutyric-Co-3-Hydroxyvalerate) by Fused Granular Fabrication through Thermal and Mechanical Analyses

Poly[R-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-(R-3-hydroxyvalerate)] (PHBVs) copolymers are promising biopolymers, which could substitute petroleum-based plastics for various applications. PHB and PHBV pellets were processed on a customized 3D printer via Fused Granular Manufacturing (FGM) approach modified with a Mahor screw extruder. To anticipate the behaviour of PHBVs when transformed using conventional thermo-mechanical shaping processes, thermal and mechanical analyses were carried out in order to better understand the effect of annealing temperature on their crystallization behaviour and mechanical properties of PHB polymer and PHBV copolymer. The objectives of the present work were to propose an experimental strategy to study the melting and crystallization events, crystalline structure changes, and mechanical performances of both PHB homopolymer and PHBV copolymer according to identical thermal annealing treatments. A monitoring of 3D printed PHB and PHBV structures was achieved by coupling Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and tensile tests. .

Relationship Between Producer Services Developing Level and Urban Hierarchy——A Case Study of Zhujiang River Delta

As the Central Place Theory indicates, the centricity of a central city can influence the extension of its ser- vice. Since the service industry in the theory is mostly consumer services, it is worth studying the relationship between the producer services and the centricity of the city in the service society with producer services becoming a more im- portant part of the service industry. The paper takes the case of the Zhujiang (Pearl) River Delta (PRD), a developed region in China, to study the relationship between the developing level of producer services and the urban hierarchy. Based on the analysis about the spatial difference of the producer services in the nine cities of the PRD, and the divi- sion of the nine cities according to some economic indices, it is shown that there is a correlation between the develop- ing level of producer services and the urban hierarchy. Furthermore, two deductions about the future status of the pro- ducer services in the city and the location of the producer services in a large region can be made from this correlation between the developing level of producer services and the urban hierarchy.

Quantitative human risk analysis of 2015 Shenzhen dump failure considering influence of urbanization

With the rapid development of urbanization, a large amount of construction spoil was stockpiled around cities and formed extensive dumps. Construction spoil is one of the main construction and demolition(C&D) waste and municipal solid waste(MSW). Once the construction spoil dump becomes unstable, it will bring great risks to the surrounding residents. A catastrophic dump failure occurred on 20 December 2015 in Guangming New Strict, Shenzhen, China. Approximately 2.51×10^(6) m^(3) of construction waste slid out from the dumpsite, destroying 33 houses and causing total 77 casualties. This paper attempts to analyze the failure probability of the construction spoil dump using Monte Carlo simulation considering the spatial variability of soil properties, and to quantify the dynamic human risk considering the increasing urbanization. Influence of urbanization on the human element at risk is analyzed by referring to multi-temporal remote sensing images. A quantitative human risk assessment model is employed to determine the landslide human risk referring an assessment criteria curve between frequency of number fatalities and number of fatalities(F-N curve). It is found that the societal risk at daytime was 0.078, 0.088, and 1.432 in 2002, 2014, and 2015, respectively. Meanwhile, the societal risk at night was 0.034, 0.037, and 0.611 in 2002, 2014, and 2015, respectively. The quantitative method was benchmarked by the other landfill failure. It implies that the human risk increased with the development of urbanization and its value at daytime was approximately twice as much as at night. The new approach for the human risk assessment provides guidance for modern MSW landfills and highlights the obvious influence of urbanization on the human risk in other areas.

Overall efficiency of a V-shaped nylon net fence in preventing sand damage to the Mogao Grottoes

A V-shaped nylon net fence installed in 1990 on top of the Mogao Grottoes is shown to be effectively resisting aeolian sand damage to the grottoes. The structure guides and causes deposition of sand from westerly wind （the primary hard wind）, but to some extent hinders the inverse function of easterly wind carrying sand away from the grottoes toward Mount Mingsha. The gobi side by the fence experiences higher wind speed, so that on which are easily formed undercutting pits, and the deposited sands on it generally form double-peak structures due to abundant sand sources. If the earth surface characteristics in gobi areas by both sides of the fence are quite varied, the erosion and deposition features of the accumulating sand section are similar in different seasons; however, if the earth surface characteristics are similar, the features become irregular in different seasons. Sand depositions with long slope feet are formed along the south and north sides of V-shaped nylon net fence. Disrupted by strong westerly wind and northwesterly wind, sand accumulations by north of the fence are in form of single peaks. Although the operation duration of the V-shaped nylon net fence has exceeded its design life （10 years）, our observations indicate that it is still effective in reducing wind-driven sand damages to the Mogao Grottoes, so it should not be withdrawn.

Colour Reflectance Investigation of Decolourized Sulfur Dyed Cotton Knitted Fabric via Ozone Plasma Treatment

Ozone plasma treatment is accessible to be applied on shading adjustment and colour fading because of the capacity of ozone production. It is a green process that treats dyed cotton fabric under dry condition so as to avoid chemical pollutants. This study means to explore colour reflectance of decolourized sulfur dyed cotton texture using ozone plasma treatment. Sulfur dyed cotton textures with various colour depths (0.5%, 1.5%, 2.5%) were set up to be treated different plasma parameters, including ozone air concentrations (10%, 30%, 50%, 70%), water contents in terms of weight percentage (35%, 45%) of fabric and ozone air plasma treatment periods (10 mins, 20 mins, 30 mins). The colour fading result is assessed by the colour reflectance in percentage (R%) utilizing spectrophotometer under CIE standard illuminant D65. The valid colour fading based on high percentage of reflectance was demonstrated from plasma treatment under higher ozone air concentration (50% and 70% ozone in air) and longer time length of plasma treatment (20 mins and 30 mins). The level of water content contained in the cotton fabrics is appeared to have noteworthy relationship with the degree of decolourization.

Error Estimates and Superconvergence of RT0Mixed Methods for a Class of Semilinear Elliptic Optimal Control Problems

In this paper,we will investigate the error estimates and the superconvergence property of mixed finite element methods for a semilinear elliptic control problem with an integral constraint on control.The state and co-state are approximated by the lowest order Raviart-Thomas mixed finite element and the control variable is approximated by piecewise constant functions.We derive some superconvergence properties for the control variable and the state variables.Moreover,we derive L∞-and H−1-error estimates both for the control variable and the state variables.Finally,a numerical example is given to demonstrate the theoretical results.

Occurrence of estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals concern in sewage plant effluent

The purpose of this study was to give a worldwide overview of the concentrations of typical estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals （EDCs） in the effluent of sewage plants and then compare the concentra- tion distribution of the estrogenic EDCs in ten countries based on the survey data of the estrogenic EDCs research. The concentrations of three main categories （totally eight kinds） of estrogenic EDCs including steroidal estrogens （estrone （El）, estradiol （E2）, estriol （E3） and 17a- ethynylestradiol （EE2））, phenolic compounds （nonylphe- nol （NP） and bisphenol A （BPA）） and phthalate esters （dibutyl phthalate （DBP） and dibutyl phthalate （2- ethylhexyl） phthalate （DEHP）） in the effluents of sewage plants reported in major international journals over the past decade were collected. The statistics showed that the concentration distributions of eight kinds of EDCs were in the range of ng·L^-1 to μg·L^-1. The concentrations of steroidal estrogens mainly ranged within 50.00 ng. L-1, and the median concentrations of El, E2, E3 and EE2 were 11.00, 3.68, 4.90 and 1.00 ng·L^-1, respectively. Phenolic compounds and phthalate esters were found at pg. L-1 level （some individual values were at the high level of 40.00 μg·L^-1）. The median concentrations of BPA, NP, DBP and DEHP were 0.06, 0.55, 0.07 and 0.88 μg·L^-1, respectively. The concentrations of phenolic compounds and phthalate esters in the effluents were higher than that of steroids estrogens. The analysis of the concentration in various ten countries showed that steroids estrogens, phenolic compounds and phthalate esters in sewage plant effluents were detected with high concentration in Canada, Spain and China, respectively.

Quantifying and managing regional greenhouse gas emissions: Waste sector of Daejeon, Korea

A credible accounting of national and regional inventories for the greenhouse gas （GHG） reduction has emerged as one of the most significant current discussions. This article assessed the regional GHG emissions by three categories of the waste sector in Daejeon Metropolitan City （DMC）, Korea, examined the potential for DMC to reduce GHG emission, and discussed the methodology modified from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Korea national guidelines. During the last five years, DMC＇s overall GHG emissions were 239 thousand tons C02 eq./year from eleven public environmental infrastructure facilities, with a population of 1.52 million. Of the three categories, solid waste treatment/disposal contributes 68%, whilst wastewater treatment and others contribute 22% and 10% respectively. Among GHG unit emissions per ton of waste treatment, the biggest contributor was waste incineration of 694 kg CO2 eq./ton, followed by waste disposal of 483 kg CO2 eq./ton, biological treatment of solid waste of 209 kg CO2 eq./ton, wastewater treatment of 0.241 kg CO2 eq./m3, and public water supplies of 0.067 kg CO2 eq./m3. Furthermore, it is suggested that the potential in reducing GHG emissions from landfill process can be as high as 47.5% by increasing landfill gas recovery up to 50%. Therefore, it is apparent that reduction strategies for the main contributors of GHG emissions should take precedence over minor contributors and lead to the best practice for managing GHGs abatement.

Copper-cobalt-nickel oxide nanowire arrays on copper foams as self-standing anode materials for lithium ion batteries

Numerous scientists are in the pursuit of energy storage materials with high energy and high power density by assembly of electrochemically active materials into conductive scaffolds,owing to the emerging need for next-generation energy storage devices.In this architectures,the active materials bonded to the conductive scaffold can provide a robust and free-standing structure,which is crucial to the fabrication of materials with high gravimetric capacity.Thus,hierarchical copper-cobalt-nickel ternary oxide(CuCoNi-oxide) nanowire arrays grown from copper foam were successfully fabricated as freestanding anode materials for lithium ion batteries(LIBs).CuCoNi-oxide nanowire arrays could provide more active sites owing to the hyperbranched structure,leading to a better specific capacity of 1191 mAh/g,cycle performance of 73% retention in comparison to CuO nanowire structure,which exhibited a specific capacity of 1029 mAh/g and capacity retention of 43%,respectively.