•Both direct and indirect energy-related CO2 emissions are considered.•The driving factors are analysed at both the national and provincial levels.•Economic output was the dominant positive driving ...factor.•While energy intensity was the dominant negative driving factor.•Driving factors in China show significant spatial characteristics.
To grasp the characteristics of CO2 emissions across provinces in China and to determine changes in the centre of gravity of CO2 emissions over the 2000–2014 period, a gravity model is first used to examine the spatial distribution and centre of gravity of energy-related CO2 emissions. Then, to explore the main factors driving CO2 emission changes and to uncover feasible ways to reduce CO2 emissions, this paper decomposes changes in energy-related CO2 emissions into a population effect (ΔCP), an economic output effect (ΔCQ), an industrial structure effect (ΔCS), an energy intensity effect (ΔCI), an energy structure effect (ΔCM) and a carbon dioxide emission coefficient effect (ΔCU) at both the national and provincial levels based on the Log-Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method. The results indicate that (1) energy-related CO2 emissions rose by approximately 5.46 billion tonnes during the 2000–2014 period, with secondary industry accounting for approximately 80% of total CO2 emissions. (2) Economic output (Q) was the dominant positive driving factor, and energy intensity (I) was the dominant negative driving factor. The population changes had a weak positive effect on CO2 emissions, but the industrial structure effect and energy structure effect varied considerably over the years without showing clear trends. (3) Over multiple spatial scales, the contribution ratios of the factors varied significantly across provinces; in general, the positive driving effects outweighed the negative inhibiting effects. Based on these empirical findings, policy recommendations to further reduce CO2 emissions are provided. The Chinese central and local governments should make full use of the important inhibiting factors, i.e., energy intensity and energy structure, and strive for breakthroughs in secondary sector.
Thermoelectric technology enables the harvest of waste heat and its direct conversion into electricity. The conversion efficiency is determined by the materials figure of merit
Here we show a maximum
...of ~2.8 ± 0.5 at 773 kelvin in n-type tin selenide (SnSe) crystals out of plane. The thermal conductivity in layered SnSe crystals is the lowest in the out-of-plane direction two-dimensional (2D) phonon transport. We doped SnSe with bromine to make n-type SnSe crystals with the overlapping interlayer charge density (3D charge transport). A continuous phase transition increases the symmetry and diverges two converged conduction bands. These two factors improve carrier mobility, while preserving a large Seebeck coefficient. Our findings can be applied in 2D layered materials and provide a new strategy to enhance out-of-plane electrical transport properties without degrading thermal properties.
Microstructure engineering is an effective strategy to reduce lattice thermal conductivity (κl) and enhance the thermoelectric figure of merit (zT). Through a new process based on melt‐centrifugation ...to squeeze out excess eutectic liquid, microstructure modulation is realized to manipulate the formation of dislocations and clean grain boundaries, resulting in a porous network with a platelet structure. In this way, phonon transport is strongly disrupted by a combination of porosity, pore surfaces/junctions, grain boundaries, and lattice dislocations. These collectively result in a ≈60% reduction of κl compared to zone melted ingot, while the charge carriers remain relatively mobile across the liquid‐fused grains. This porous material displays a zT value of 1.2, which is higher than fully dense conventional zone melted ingots and hot pressed (Bi,Sb)2Te3 alloys. A segmented leg of melt‐centrifuged Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 and Bi0.3Sb1.7Te3 could produce a high device ZT exceeding 1.0 over the whole temperature range of 323–523 K and an efficiency up to 9%. The present work demonstrates a method for synthesizing high‐efficiency porous thermoelectric materials through an unconventional melt‐centrifugation technique.
The melt‐centrifugation technique is demonstrated to be able to decrease the thermal conductivity while preserving the good electrical properties. By introducing a unique porous structure with microscale dislocation, ≈60% reduction in lattice thermal conductivity compared to conventional zone melted ingots is achieved. Such a method paves a new way for top‐down introduction of large porosity and dense dislocations in bulk materials.
With the dramatic development of source and detector components, terahertz (THz) spectroscopy technology has recently shown a renaissance in various fields such as medical, material, biosensing and ...pharmaceutical industry. As a rapid and noninvasive technology, it has been extensively exploited to evaluate food quality and ensure food safety. In this review, the principles and processes of THz spectroscopy are first discussed. The current state-of-the-art applications of THz and imaging technologies focused on foodstuffs are then discussed. The advantages and challenges are also covered. This review offers detailed information for recent efforts dedicated to THz for monitoring the quality and safety of various food commodities and the feasibility of its widespread application. THz technology, as an emerging and unique method, is potentially applied for detecting food processing and maintaining quality and safety.
Toxic aluminum enters the root cells rapidly, therefore internal detoxification is required. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process are poorly understood. Here we functionally ...characterized a rice gene, Os03g0755100 (OsALS1), that is regulated by ART1, a C2H2‐type zinc finger transcription factor. OsALS1 encodes a half‐size ABC transporter that is a member of the TAP (transporter associated with antigen processing) sub‐group. Expression of OsALS1 was rapidly and specifically induced by Al in the roots, but not by other metals or low pH. OsALS1 was localized at all cells of the roots. Furthermore, OsALS1 is localized to the tonoplast. These expression patterns and cell specificity of localization are different from those of the homologous gene AtALS1 in Arabidopsis. Knockout of OsALS1 in three independent lines resulted in significant increased sensitivity to Al, but did not affect the sensitivity to other metals and low pH. Comparison of Al accumulation patterns between wild‐type and osals1 mutants showed that there was no difference in Al levels in the cell sap of root tips between wild‐type and the mutants, but the mutants accumulated more Al in the cytosol and nucleus than the wild‐type. Expression of OsALS1 in yeast resulted in increased Al sensitivity due to mis‐localization. These results indicate that OsALS1 localized at the tonoplast is responsible for sequestration of Al into the vacuoles, which is required for internal detoxification of Al in rice.
To cope with manganese (Mn) deficiency, plants have evolved an efficient transport system to uptake and redistribute Mn. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be demonstrated.
We ...carried out a forward genetic screen in a root high-affinity Mn transporter nramp1 mutant background in Arabidopsis thaliana and identified an uncharacterized Mn transport NRAMP2. We investigated the effect of nramp2 mutation on root growth and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and we also examined the NRAMP2 expression pattern, and the subcellular localization and transport activity of NRAMP2.
Mutation of NRAMP2 impaired plant growth, while overexpression of NRAMP2 improved plant growth under low Mn conditions. In the nramp2-1nramp1 double mutant, Mn deficiency inhibited root cell elongation and root hair development, which was associated with increased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation. NRAMP2 is preferentially localized to the trans-Golgi network. NRAMP2 has Mn influx transport activity in yeast, and mutation of NRAMP2 led to greater Mn retention in roots.
Our results suggest that under Mn-deficient conditions, increased accumulation of H2O2 is partially responsible for the root growth inhibition and NRAMP2 is involved in remobilization of Mn in Golgi for root growth.
The simultaneous effects of three continuous factors: solvent concentration (50−100%), treated times (25−85 min), treated temperatures (25−55 °C), and two categorical factors: type of solvents ...(methanol or ethanol) and ultrasonic frequency (28 kHz or 40 kHz) on ultrasonic-assisted extraction yield from waste orange peels were evaluated and optimized by response surface methodology. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with a wavelength of 500 cm−1 to 4000 cm−1 was employed to rapidly identify the orange extracts. The significant polynomial regression models on crude extraction, sediments after evaporation, and precipitation yield were established (p < 0.05). Results revealed that solvent concentration affected crude extraction and precipitation yield linearly (p < 0.01). The optimal and practical ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions for increasing the precipitation yield were using 61.42% methanol with 85 min at 55 °C under 40 kHz ultrasonic frequency. The spectra of extracts showed a similar fingerprint of hesperidin.
Summary
The C2H2‐type zinc finger transcription factor sensitive to proton rhizotoxicity 1 (STOP1) is crucial for aluminum (Al) resistance in Arabidopsis. The F‐box protein Regulation of AtALMT1 ...Expression 1 (RAE1) was recently reported to regulate the stability of STOP1. There is a unique homolog of RAE1, RAH1 (RAE1 homolog 1), in Arabidopsis, but the biological function of RAH1 is still not known. In this study, we characterize the role of RAH1 and/or RAE1 in the regulation of Al resistance and plant growth. We demonstrate that RAH1 can directly interact with STOP1 and promote its ubiquitination and degradation. RAH1 is preferentially expressed in root caps and various vascular tissues, and its expression is induced by Al and controlled by STOP1. Mutation of RAH1 in rae1 but not the wild‐type (WT) background increases the level of STOP1 protein, leading to increased expression of STOP1‐regulated genes and enhanced Al resistance. Interestingly, the rah1rae1 double mutant shows reduced plant growth compared with the WT and single mutants under normal conditions, and introduction of stop1 mutation into the double mutant background can rescue its reduced plant growth phenotype. Our results thus reveal that RAH1 plays an unequally redundant role with RAE1 in the modulation of STOP1 stability and plant growth, and dynamic regulation of the STOP1 level is critical for the balance of Al resistance and normal plant growth.
Significance Statement
The zinc finger transcription factor sensitive to proton rhizotoxicity 1 (STOP1) is crucial for aluminum resistance in Arabidopsis. Whether RAH1, the unique homolog of the F‐box protein RAE1, plays a role in STOP1 degradation and whether STOP1 degradation is beneficial for plant growth are still unknown. We demonstrate that RAH1 plays an unequally redundant role with RAE1 in STOP1 degradation and dynamic regulation of the STOP1 level is critical for the balance of aluminum resistance and normal plant growth.
Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) are promising energy storage devices for integrating renewable resources and high power applications, owing to their high energy density, light weight, high flexibility, ...slow self‐discharge rate, high rate charging capability, and long battery life. LIBs work efficiently at ambient temperatures, however, at high‐temperatures, they cause serious issues due to the thermal fluctuation inside batteries during operation. The separator is a key component of batteries and is crucial for the sustainability of LIBs at high‐temperatures. The high thermal stability with minimum thermal shrinkage and robust mechanical strength are the prime requirements along with high porosity, ionic conductivity, and electrolyte uptake for highly efficient high‐temperature LIBs. This Review deals with the recent studies and developments in separator technologies for high‐temperature LIBs with respect to their structural layered formation. The recent progress in monolayer and multilayer separators along with the developed preparation methodologies is discussed in detail. Future challenges and directions toward the advancement in separator technology are also discussed for achieving remarkable performance of separators in a high‐temperature environment.
Separators are crucial for the safe operation of lithium ion batteries at high‐temperatures. This Review discusses the recent development in separator technologies for realizing high‐temperature lithium ion batteries by focusing on their layered structure design with various materials. Future challenges and directions are discussed for achieving remarkable performances of separators in a high‐temperature environment.
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