Comprehensive Benefits Research Articles

Optimizing deficit drip irrigation to improve yield,quality, and water productivity of apple in Loess Plateau of China

ContextDeficit drip irrigation is an advanced agricultural technology widely promoted and applied around the world to maintain/increase yield and quality while simultaneously minimizing water consumption. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive research on the effects of deficit drip irrigation at different stages on apple yield, water productivity, and quality. ObjectiveThe aim was to investigate the effects of deficit drip irrigation treatments (DDITs) on apple yield, quality, and water productivity (WP), and optimize the deficit drip irrigation strategy for apples in the Loess Plateau of China. Methodsa two-year field experiment was conducted with 17 irrigation treatments, including a control treatment (CK, full irrigation (FI)) and four DDITs (D15%, D30%, D45%, D60%) during the bud burst to leafing stage (I), flowering to fruit set stage (II), fruit expansion stage (III), and fruit maturation stage (IV). The optimal irrigation management was determined using the fuzzy Borda combined model, which was based on four different single evaluation models of the TOPSIS method, principal component analysis (PCA), grey correlation analysis (GCA), and membership function analysis (MFA). ResultsThe DDITs at stage IV decreased midday leaf water potential (Ψs) by 2.57–20.00% compared with CK, and the difference of Ψs between IV-D30%, IV-D45%, IV-D60%, and CK were significant in two years (P<0.05). DDITs at stages I, II, and IV improved fruit weight (FW), fruit shape index (FSI), and fruit firmness (FN), but did not significantly affect fruit water content (FWC). The DDITs at stages III and IV significantly enhanced total soluble solids (TSS), soluble sugars (SS), and vitamin C (Vc) in 2021 and 2022, but a notable decrease in titratable acidity (TA) was observed. ConclusionsDDITs at stage IV exhibited the highest comprehensive benefit of apple, followed by DDITs at stages I and II, and DDITs at stage III had the lowest values. The DDITs of D15%, D30%, CK, and D15% at stages I, II, III, and IV were identified as the optimal irrigation strategy to improve apple yield, quality, and WP. ImplicationsOur findings can guide the development of appropriate irrigation strategies for apple cultivation in Loess Plateau of China, promoting efficient and sustainable apple production.

Optimal allocation planning of regional water resources with multiple objectives using improved firefly algorithm

Abstract Population growth and economic development, coupled with water pollution and the frequent occurrence of extreme weather, have led to a growing contradiction between water supply and demand in some regions. To address this challenge, rational and optimal allocation of regional water resources has emerged as a crucial approach. This study focuses on creating a comprehensive model for optimizing regional water resource allocation, taking into account social, economic, and ecological factors. In addition, three innovative modifications are introduced to the firefly algorithm (FA), resulting in the development of the improved firefly algorithm (IFA). The effectiveness of IFA is validated through experiments involving nine benchmark functions. The results highlight the improved search efficiency and convergence achieved by IFA compared to other intelligent algorithms. Moreover, the application of IFA in solving the water resource allocation challenge in Shannxi Province, China, for 2020 and 2021 demonstrates a reduction in the overall water shortage rate to 4.69 and 1.72%, at a 75% guarantee rate. This reduction in water shortages contributes to addressing future scarcities. The proposed allocation scheme offers comprehensive benefits and provides crucial technical support for water resource management. Ultimately, this study offers valuable insights and guidance for addressing the issue of water supply–demand disparities.

Optimizing the rate of straw returning to balance trade-offs between carbon emission budget and rice yield in China

Rice paddies are a prominent contributor to greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions, accounting for 22 % of the overall agricultural methane (CH4) emissions. Although returning rice straw to the field can increase yield and soil organic carbon (SOC), the significant GHGs released during this process often negate these positive effects. Thus, understanding the impact of straw returning on the relationship between rice yield and GHGs is crucial for farming adaptation and climate change mitigation. This study aims to investigate the effects of varying straw returning rates on rice yield and GHGs in China and identify the optimal rates on a provincial scale. This study utilized county-level meteorological, soil, and field management data. The Dynamic Nitrogen and Carbon Model (DNDC) model was used to simulate the impacts on rice yield, GHGs, and SOC changes under different straw returning rates in China from 2010 to 2022, including no straw, 1/3, 2/3, and full straw returning. The results showed that 1/3, 2/3, and full straw incorporation increased rice yield per unit area by 1.07 %, 2.25 %, and 3.26 % for single rice cropping, 1.10 %, 2.24 %, and 3.52 % for early rice, and 1.92 %, 3.91 %, and 5.95 % for late rice, respectively. Compared with no straw returning, the total SOC content (0–50 cm) increased by 3.88 % (78.07 Tg), 7.75 % (156.09 Tg), and 11.65 % (234.62 Tg) under 1/3, 2/3, and full straw returning, respectively. However, the total GHGs were increased by 23.32 %, 43.50 %, and 61.48 % for 1/3, 2/3, and full straw incorporation compared to no straw returning. While the overall benefits of straw returning varied across regions, in certain areas like northeastern China, Xinjiang, and Yunnan, an increase in straw returning rates leads to a significant increase in yield with a relatively smaller increase in GHGs. This can be attributed to factors such as lower temperatures, decreased SOC, and lower soil pH, restricting CH4 production. Conversely, in regions with higher soil pH, such as north China and the Sichuan Basin, as well as in warmer southern areas, the increase in GHGs is quite pronounced. In summary, implementing straw returning significantly increases rice production and SOC but simultaneously increases GHGs. In China, the most widespread utilization of rice straw remains straw returning. We have summarized the average impact of straw returning on yield, SOC, and GHGs, and proposed straw returning rates tailored to the comprehensive benefits in different regions, to enhance the carbon sequestration and emission reduction rate of rice straw returning.

A trade-off optimization model of environment impact and manufacturing cost for machining parts

Motivation: Throughout the life cycle, the environmental impact and manufacturing costs of a part are largely determined at the design stage. Therefore, a part design optimization method considering these two factors is proposed in this paper. At the same time, the comprehensive benefit is taken as the trade-off of these two factors. The reduction of the comprehensive benefit indicates that the optimized part has achieved better environmental and economic performance results. Methods: Firstly, the model is reconstructed using the dimension-driven method, and the feature information of the new part is extracted. Then, machining process planning is carried out based on the feature information. Secondly, a design optimization model for the comprehensive benefit is established based on the genetic algorithm. The model takes the dimension parameters of the part as the optimization variables and the reduction of the comprehensive benefit as the optimization objective. With the help of the Simulation plug-in for SolidWorks, the static analysis of the optimized model is conducted to determine whether it meets the performance requirements. Finally, the design optimization prototype system oriented to comprehensive benefit is established. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are verified by taking the intermediate shaft of the belt conveyor reducer-sixth order step shaft as an example. Results: The case study shows that the optimization result of comprehensive benefit is 1.63%, which verifies the feasibility and effectiveness of the part design optimization method proposed in this paper.

Age-related decline of metacognitive comprehension monitoring in adults aged 50 and older: Effects of cognitive abilities and educational attainment

When reading complex expository texts, comprehension benefits from metacognitive monitoring of the comprehension process, which, in part, relies on memory and reasoning abilities that decrease with age. In a cross-sectional study, we examined age-related differences regarding metacognitive comprehension monitoring in adults aged between 50 and 77 (N = 176, M = 63;10 years, SD = 6;2). As an indicator of comprehension monitoring, we considered the number of detected inconsistencies in an inconsistency task. Our findings indicated a moderate but steady decrease of comprehension monitoring, which was mediated via a decrease in verbal intelligence. Besides this negative effect of age, we found a positive effect of educational attainment on comprehension monitoring. Thus, continued experience with texts, for instance provided in jobs that require a university degree, appears to positively affect comprehension monitoring. There was, however, no evidence of a compensatory effect of education on age-related declines in comprehension monitoring.

MASH clinical trials and drugs pipeline: An impending tsunami.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, formerly known as NAFLD, has ascended to prominence as the predominant chronic liver disease in Western countries and now stands as a leading cause of liver transplantations. In the more advanced stage, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) may lead to fibrosis, a gateway to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure. Despite extensive research and exploration of various drug mechanisms, the anticipation for the inaugural approved drug to materialize by 2024 is palpable, marking a significant milestone. Numerous pathways have been investigated for MASH treatment, exploring thyroid hormone receptors, glucagon-like peptides 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, and agents influencing hepatic steatosis synthesis, inflammatory pathways, genetic components, fibrosis mechanisms, and an array of other avenues. Over time, key regulatory directions have crystallized, now manifesting in 2 primary endpoints under investigation: resolution of steatohepatitis without worsening fibrosis and/or improvement of fibrosis stage without worsening of steatohepatitis, especially used in phase 3 clinical trials, while alternative noninvasive endpoints are explored in phase 2 trials. The prospect of proving efficacy in clinical trials opens doors to combination therapies, evaluating the ideal combination of drugs to yield comprehensive benefits, extending beyond the liver to other organs. Certain combination drug trials are already underway. In this review, we discuss the forefront of MASH drug research as of 2023/2024, illuminating mechanisms, outcomes, and future trajectories. Furthermore, we tackle the challenges confronting MASH trials and propose potential strategies for surmounting them.

Two-Stage Optimal Scheduling Based on the Meteorological Prediction of a Wind–Solar-Energy Storage System with Demand Response

With large-scale wind and solar power connected to the power grid, the randomness and volatility of its output have an increasingly serious adverse impact on power grid dispatching. Aiming at the system peak shaving problem caused by regional large-scale wind power photovoltaic grid connection, a new two-stage optimal scheduling model of wind solar energy storage system considering demand response is proposed. There is a need to comprehensively consider the power generation cost of various types of power sources, day-ahead load forecasting information, and other factors and plan the day-ahead output plan of the energy storage system with the minimum system operation cost as the optimization objective of day-ahead dispatching. The demand response strategy is introduced into the time-ahead optimal scheduling, and the optimization of the output value of the energy storage system in each period is studied with the goal of minimizing the system adjustment cost. The particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to solve the model, and the IEEE33 node system is used for an example simulation. The results show that using the demand response and the collaborative effect of the energy storage system can suppress the uncertainty of wind power and photovoltaic power, improve the utilization rate of the system, reduce the power generation cost of the system, and achieve significant comprehensive benefits.

Strain-Specific Benefits of Bacillus on Growth, Intestinal Health, Immune Modulation, and Ammonia-Nitrogen Stress Resilience in Hybrid Grouper.

In the dynamic field of intensive aquaculture, the strategic application of probiotics has become increasingly crucial, particularly for enhancing resistance to environmental stressors such as ammonia-nitrogen. Over a 42-day period, this study investigated the effects of different probiotic strains-Bacillus subtilis (BS, 6-3-1, and HAINUP40)-on the health and resilience of hybrid groupers. Each strain, distinct in its origin, was assessed for its influence on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune gene expressions, and ammonia-nitrogen stress response in the hybrid grouper. The experimental design included a control group and three experimental groups, each supplemented with 1 × 108 CFU/g of the respective probiotic strains, respectively. Our results demonstrated notable differences in growth parameters, including final body weight (FBW) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The 6-3-1 strain, originating from grouper, exhibited significant improvements in growth, oxidative capacity, and intestinal health. Conversely, the BS strain achieved the highest survival rates under ammonia-nitrogen stress, indicating its superior ability to regulate inflammatory responses despite its less pronounced growth-promoting effects. The HAINUP40 strain was distinguished for its growth enhancement and improvements in intestinal health, though it also showed significant activation of inflammatory genes and decreased resistance to ammonia-nitrogen stress after extended feeding. The uniqueness of this study lies in its detailed examination of the strain-specific effects of probiotics on fish in the context of ammonia-nitrogen stress, a significant challenge in contemporary aquaculture. The research revealed that host-derived probiotics, particularly the 6-3-1 strain, provided more comprehensive benefits for growth performance and stress resilience. In contrast, the BS and HAINUP40 strains exhibited varying efficiencies, with BS excelling in stress resistance and HAINUP40 promoting growth and gut health. In conclusion, this study underscores the complex roles of different probiotic strains in aquaculture, contributing to the understanding of probiotic applications and presenting new approaches to address the challenges of intensive farming.

New multi-source waste co-incineration and clustering park operating model for small- and medium-sized city: A case study in China

With improvements in urban waste management to promote sustainable development, an increasing number of waste types need to be sorted and treated separately. Due to the relatively low amount of waste generated in small- and medium-sized cities, separate treatment facilities for each waste type lack scale, waste is treated at a high cost and low efficiency. Therefore, industrial symbiosis principles are suggested to be used to guide collaborative waste treatment system of multi-source solid wastes, and co-incineration is the most commonly used technology. Most existing studies have focused on co-incineration of one certain waste type (such as sludge or medical waste) with municipal solid waste (MSW), but the systematic design and the comprehensive benefits on a whole city and park level have not been widely studied. Taking the actual operation of a multi-source waste co-incineration park in south-central China as an example, this study conducted a detailed analysis of the waste-energy-water metabolism process of MSW, sludge, food waste, and medical waste co-incineration. The environmental and economic benefits were evaluated and compared with the single decentralized waste treatment mode. The results showed that the multi-source waste co-incineration and clustering park operating model was comprehensively superior to the single treatment mode, greenhouse gases and human toxicity indicators were decreased by 11.87% and 295.74%, respectively, and the internal rate of return of the project was increased by 29.35%. This mainly benefits from the synergy of technical system and the economies of scale. Finally, this research proposed policy suggestions from systematic planning and design, technical route selection, and an innovative management mode in view of the potential challenges.

Evaluation and multi scenario simulation of ecosystem service value in Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area based on PLUS model

The research refers to the features of production-living-ecological land use transformation in the Zhengzhou metropolitan area from 1990 to 2020, applies the PLUS (patch-generating land use simulation) model and ESV(Ecosystem Service Value)accounting to set three scenarios, and analyzes the spatiotemporal features of ecosystem service value via multi-scenario simulation, aiming to provide technical support to territorial spatial planning and ecological restoration. The results show that: (1) From 1990 to 2020, agricultural production land has the highest transform volume; the supply, regulation, and cultural services along the Yellow River continued to increase, while support services continued to decrease in the metropolitan areas of Zhengzhou and Xinzheng. (2) Compared with 2020, the supply and regulation services under the ecological protection scenario show an upward trend, and the comprehensive benefits of ecosystem services reach the best. (3) The ecological protection scenario reduces the probability of converting ecological land into living land, making the total ESV grow constantly.

Multidimensional effect analysis of typical country park construction in Shanghai

In the history of country park studies, little attention has been given to evaluating the vitality of country parks, the comprehensive ecological, living and production benefits of country park construction, and the change in the carbon emission effect. The goal of this article will be to address these three issues. Based on multisource data, a country park vitality index system, regional comprehensive benefit evaluation index system and land use carbon emission estimation model were constructed to conduct quantitative estimation. The results showed that (1) the popularity index rather than the accessibility index was the key component of the vitality of country parks, followed by the connectivity index and the land use diversity index. (2) Ecological space and public open space in most of the whole land consolidation areas that centred on country park construction were significantly expanded, traffic accessibility and housing conditions were significantly improved, population agglomeration and landscape diversity index tended to increase, and the comprehensive goal of synergistic improvement in production, living and ecological benefits was achieved. (3) The whole land consolidation area dominated by country park construction had a better carbon emission reduction effect. Reducing inefficient construction land and increasing forestland are important measures to reduce carbon sources and increase carbon sinks. The results of this study have guiding value for the improvement of country park planning and construction and the optimization of the whole land consolidation area in Shanghai.

Life cycle assessment of waste tire recycling: Upgraded pyrolytic products for new tire production

Waste tire (WT) pyrolysis is an attractive option for material and energy recovery. Further upgrading of pyrolytic products demonstrates greater environmental and economic advantages than conventional pyrolysis. However, the advance in economic benefits brought by quality improvement of pyrolytic products is not significant. Therefore, this study proposed the circulation case of upgraded pyrolytic products for new tire production from WTs. This case recycles the products produced from WT pyrolysis into new tire production to establish a closed-loop between end-life and beginning-life of WTs. Three circulation cases using different modification methods of pyrolytic carbon black (CBp) were evaluated by several circular economy indicators. Results show that Case M1 (modified CBp (M-CBp) by physical modification) has the best resource-environmental performance (resource benefit to environmental cost ratio, RBECR), which is 20.35 % and 4.62 % higher than those of Cases M2 (M-CBp by nitric acid modification) and M3 (M-CBp by plasma modification), respectively. Case M3 has the best comprehensive performance (economic profit to environmental cost ratio, EPECR), which is 1.62 % and 2.82 % higher than that of Case M1 and Case M2, respectively. To acquire higher profits, the coupled-circulation case that combined M-CBp and reclaimed rubber for new tire production was further proposed, as reclaimed rubber was a major raw material for tire production with higher profitability. The proposed process recycles more materials into new tire production so that the EPECR and RBECR of coupled-circulation case increase by 55.7 % and 147.7 % as compared to the basic circulation case, respectively. Therefore, the coupled-circulation case demonstrates an efficient pathway for WT utilization. The sensitivity analyses further show that both the replacement rate of M-CBp prepared by plasma modification (M3-CBp) and price of crude oil significantly influence the resource-environmental performance, with the sensitivities reaching 101.3 % and 100 %, respectively. The replacement rate of reclaimed rubber is the most important factor for comprehensive environmental-economic performance, with the sensitivity reaching 44.1 %. Generally, coupled-circulation case can maintain good comprehensive benefits when various influencing factors change within the scope discussed in this paper.

Optimizing air conditioning loads scheduling: A bi‐objective dynamic optimization algorithm considering life loss impact

AbstractAir conditioning loads (ACLs) can actively contribute to optimizing energy usage and increasing renewable energy utilization rate through scheduling. Existing studies on the participation of ACLs in DR have mainly focused on developing ON/OFF strategies, little consideration has been given to the impact of DR on the life loss of ACLs. In light of this, the present study first introduces an equation for quantifying the life loss of ACLs. Building upon this, an optimizing ACLs scheduling model is established considering life loss impact. As the relationship between life loss and refrigeration power is a complex non‐linear high‐order fractional function, it cannot be solved by conventional commercial solvers. Therefore, a bi‐objective dynamic optimization algorithm is proposed based on non‐linear fractional programming (NFP) to address this problem. To assess the effectiveness of our algorithm, it is used in a microgrid case with three schemes. Scheme 3 is aquatinted to consider the economic cost and the life loss of ACLs simultaneously, aiming to maximize the comprehensive benefit of the scheduling scheme. The results confirm the efficiency and superiority of the proposed algorithm.

Evaluating the potential benefits of float solar photovoltaics through the water footprint recovery period

In the context of higher demands on the development of clean energy technologies due to the issue of water shortage in China and the implementation of the 2060 carbon-neutral objective, floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems present novel opportunities for transforming the energy structure through land conservation and enhancement of power generation efficiency compared to conventional solar systems. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive analysis on the potential benefits of FPV. Utilizing reservoir databases and employing a professional FPV system design, a methodology for determining the water footprint recovery period was introduced, which enables the assessment of potential FPV benefits. The water footprint recovery period for constructing FPV on 909 reservoirs in China was found that ranges from 1.86 yr to 10.48 yr. It is found that reservoir evaporation, latitude, and climate are closely related to the water footprint recovery period of FPV. Furthermore, by implementing FPV panels with an optimal tilt angle, covering 30% of the area in each reservoir, the annual electricity generation can amount to 1429.19 TWh, leading to savings of 5.76 billion m3 of water. This achievement corresponds to 19.41% of the national electricity consumption and a 6.86% reduction in the national residential water consumption in 2020. The overall economic benefit is 5.61 myriads RMB, equivalent to 5.76% of the national GDP. These benefits are unevenly distributed and mainly concentrated in areas with more reservoirs. The anticipated enhancement of FPV system benefits is foreseen with the ongoing development and implementation of future reservoir power infrastructure and energy storage technology. These results demonstrate the significant potential of installing FPV systems on the reservoirs in China. This study proposes a method to comprehensively evaluate the comprehensive benefits of constructing FPV in China and conduct a thorough analysis of the feasibility of FPV, which could provide reference for the development of regional industries and the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Assessment of COVID-19 infection Risk, thermal Comfort, and energy efficiency in negative pressure isolation wards with varied ventilation modes

Negative pressure isolation wards (NPIWs) play a crucial role in providing care to COVID-19 patients during a pandemic. However, the exhalation of patients releases aerosols containing pathogens, posing a potential infection risk for healthcare workers (HCWs). While robust ventilation systems within NPIWs can help mitigate this risk, they may also lead to increased energy consumption and reduced thermal comfort for patients. Therefore, it is imperative to strike a delicate balance between HCW safety, patient comfort, and energy efficiency when optimizing airflow within NPIWs. This study introduces TARGETING, a novel index designed to assess the efficiency of aerosols removal of ventilation systems in NPIWs. The primary goal of TARGETING is to enhance the precision of ventilation systems, consequently reducing the required air changes per hour (ACH) and minimizing energy consumption. The research delves into the impact of various supply air parameters, including ACH and temperature, as well as different ventilation modes. Through a comprehensive evaluation utilizing an array of metrics such as the Air Diffusion Performance Index (ADPI), Predicted Mean Vote (PMV), TARGETING, infection risk assessment, and energy consumption estimation measured by cooling load (Lcool), this study employs an Analytic Hierarchy Process to assess the aforementioned indices. The findings highlight that air curtain ventilation (ACV) emerges as the most favorable choice, delivering comprehensive benefits, including an infection risk of less than 0.03%, an ADPI score of 90.2%, a PMV close to zero, TARGETING at 1.3, and energy savings ranging from 35.1% to 57.3%.

Climate change water management planning based on hydrological models

The current conventional water resources management planning method realizes the optimal allocation of water resources by constructing a function aiming at economic benefits; it causes poor model planning repercussions as a result of the disregard of comprehensive benefits. In this regard, a hydrological model-based water resource management planning method for climate change is proposed. By combining geological conditions, hydrological conditions and other climate change factors, a hydrological model is constructed to calculate watershed flows, and the hydrological model is used to divide the watershed scale and hydrological response units. A multi-objective function planning model is constructed with economic and ecological benefits as the objective functions. The proposed approach is tested in trials and shown to provide advantages for thorough planning. The results of the study demonstrate that the algorithm has a high value of extensive benefit when the recommended strategy is utilized for the optimum allocation of water resources, and has a more preferable optimal allocation consequence.

Study on financial cost evaluation of urban water environment management and pollution prevention and control

Abstract Nowadays, water pollution has become a major factor restricting social development. To address this, the government has issued a series of policy documents to control water environmental pollution and achieved certain results. However, on the whole, the prevention and control of the pollution of water environments requires a large amount of capital investment, but the corresponding results and benefits are not significant. Hence, this paper takes Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Hefei as examples to study the financial cost-effectiveness of the governance of urban water environments from the two dimensions of time and space. It is concluded that the cost of water environmental treatment has a negative effect on the comprehensive benefit of environmental treatment in the region in the short term and a positive effect in the long term, which indicates that water environmental pollution treatment is work that needs to be adhered to for a long time, and long-term planning is also needed for cost input. On this basis, strategies to improve the cost efficiency of water pollution treatment are presented.

Optimization Analysis of an Energy-Saving Renovation Scheme for Building Envelopes of Existing Rural Houses Based on a Comprehensive Benefit Evaluation

In the cold regions of China, the existing rural houses are widely distributed and in large numbers. There are widespread problems such as low thermal performance of building envelopes, high building energy consumption, and poor indoor thermal environments. Reducing the energy consumption of building heating by reforming the envelope structure can reduce the environmental pollution caused by heating. In this paper, the existing rural houses in Tongchuan City, Shaanxi Province are taken as the research object, and EnergyPlus software is used to calculate building heating energy consumption, and the schemes are compared and selected via the entropy value method. Based on a comprehensive benefit evaluation, the best scheme for the renovation of building envelopes of rural houses in Tongchuan City is put forward. The research results show that the energy saving rate of buildings can reach more than 50% after renovation. In the evaluation of energy saving, incremental cost, return on investment, carbon emission reduction and unguaranteed hours, the weights are 0.1915, 0.2104, 0.2312, 1755, and 0.187, respectively. The best renovation scheme for rural housing is as follows: the thickness of the XPS board is 90 mm for exterior wall insulation; the thickness of the XPS board is 80 mm for roof insulation; the window-to-wall ratio of additional sunspace is 0.6; and the type of exterior windows is a broken-bridge hollow aluminum window of 6 + 12A + 6 (mm).

The Application of Geographic Information System in Urban Forest Ecological Compensation and Sustainable Development Evaluation

Urban forests can alleviate the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, and improve residents’ mental health. By studying urban forests, these resources can be better used and managed to create more livable urban environments. Therefore, the urban forest in the Taishan region is taken as the research object, and the ecological compensation and sustainable development of urban forest in Tai’an City are deeply analyzed by GIS. It divided the area into forest land, water bodies, wetlands, grasslands, and shrubs as the basic ecosystem types. And through secondary interpretation and combination, a complete urban forest information database was established. To evaluate the comprehensive benefits of urban forests, the analytic hierarchy process was utilized to establish a corresponding evaluation index system. Based on the assessment outcomes of the comprehensive benefits of urban forests in the area, a standard accounting method for urban forest ecological compensation was proposed. The results showed that each index of the comprehensive benefits of urban forests and the random consistency ratio were both less than 0.1. This indicated that the matrix calculation results of various indicators of urban forest comprehensive benefits had good consistency. At the target level, the comprehensive evaluation score of urban forests in the study area was 7.69. At the factor level, the weight value of the urban forest landscape structure was 0.675, and the comprehensive score was 7.62. The weight value of urban forest comprehensive benefits was 0.325, and the comprehensive score was 7.82. The quantitative weight value of urban forest greening in the study area was 0.6138, with a comprehensive score of 7.57. Based on the analysis of the issues in urban forests and ecological compensation in the research area of Tai’an City, corresponding ecological compensation strategies have been proposed. It is of great value to study the urban forest of Tai’an city, which can help to formulate more effective urban planning and sustainable development strategies. The research results can also provide a valuable reference and inspiration for the improvement of urban forest ecological environment and biodiversity protection in other areas.

Improved soil moisture, nutrients, and economic benefits using plastic mulchs in balsa-based agroforestry systems.

The manufacture of wind turbine blades generally uses balsa wood as the base materials, and it is crucial to explore new regions for cultivating balsa trees to achieve carbon neutrality in the future. Xishuangbanna may be China's only area with a tropical climate suitable for the large-scale planting of balsa trees. The present study investigated the key soil elements influencing the growth of balsa plantations and the effects of different cultivation practices on soil environments and economic benefits in Xishuangbanna, China. We found that the height of balsa stems after growing 4years reached 5.8m; the increment of diameter at breast height (DBH) reached 27.7cm and volume of balsa stems reached 196.0 m3ha-1 in Xishuangbanna of China. It is of the utmost importance to improve the contents of soil exchangeable magnesium (Mg) and available phosphorus (P) for the growth of balsa trees, and exchangeable aluminium (Al) inhibited the growth of balsa trees. The practice of plastic film mulching not only improved soil moisture in the 40‒100-cm soil layer in the dry season and in the 0-60-cm soil layer in the rainy season but also enhanced soil nitrate nitrogen when compared with no plastic-mulching practice in balsa plantations. The comprehensive economic benefits of balsa/coriander/ginger/taro plantations were significantly improved by implementing plastic film mulching, as compared to balsa plantations. We conclude that balsa tree can be cultivated in Xishuangbanna, China, and its successful cultivation provides opportunities for China's wind power development.