Transit Policies and Potential Carbon Dioxide Emission Impacts

Promoting transit has been a national strategic policy as part of the effort to relieve traffic congestion in China. However, such promotion also offers a great potential benefit in carbon dioxide (CO2) abatement, to which insufficient attention has been paid. For the effects of transit priority policies on CO2 emissions to be understood, an evaluation and a sensitivity analysis were conducted. The relationship between public transit and CO2 emissions with respect to four contributing factors is discussed. The effectiveness of transit priority policies implemented in recent years was analyzed, and its correlation to CO2 emissions was identified. The magnitude of transit CO2 emissions from 2000 to 2008 was estimated. On the basis of varied assumptions, six scenarios were designed to analyze the sensitivity and the range of possible CO2 abatement potentials of different policies. Finally, some recommendations for future policies from the perspective of reducing CO2 are presented

Toxic Emissions from Mobile Sources: A Total Fuel-Cycle Analysis for Conventional and Alternative Fuel Vehicles

ABSTRACT Mobile sources are among the largest contributors of four hazardous air pollutants (benzene, 1,3-butadiene, acetaldehyde, and formaldehyde) in urban areas. At the same time, federal and state governments are promoting the use of alternative fuel vehicles as a means to curb local air pollution. As of yet, the impact of this movement towards alternative fbels with respect to toxic emissions has not been well studied. The purpose of this paper is to compare toxic emissions from vehicles operating on a variety of fuels, including reformulated gasoline, natural gas, ethanol, methanol, liquid petroleum gas, and electricity. This study uses a version of Argonne National Lab's GREET model, appropriately modified to estimate toxic emissions. The GREET model conducts a total~uel-cycle analysis that calculates emissions from both downstream (e.g., operation of the vehicle) and upstream (e.g., fuel production and distribution) stages of the fielcycle. Our results suggest that the gaseous fiels and electric vehicles show significant decreases in toxic emissions when compared to conventional gasoline vehicles. On the contrary, alcohol blended fuels show increases in aldehydes and butadiene, while exhibiting reductions in benzene compared to gasoline

Does energy follow form? The case of household travel in Jinan, China

Rapidly increasing transportation energy use in China poses challenges to national energy security and the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, the development of automobile oriented neighborhood structures, such as superblock housing, currently dominates urban expansion, and construction in Chinese cities. This research takes an empirical approach to understanding the relationship between neighborhood type and household travel energy use in Jinan, China, by examining nine neighborhoods that represent the four types of urban community commonly found in Chinese cities: traditional, grid, enclave, and superblock. After conducting a survey, we derive disaggregate household transport energy uses from the’ self-reported weekly travel diaries. Comparative analysis and two-step instrumental variable models are employed. Results show that, all else being equal, households located in superblock neighborhoods consume more transportation energy than those in other neighborhood types, because such households tend to own more cars and travel longer distances. Proximity to transit corridors and greater distance from the city center are also associated with higher household transport energy use in these neighborhoods, although both impacts are minor, partially because of the offsetting effects of car ownership. Overall, the analysis suggests that, to help chart a more energy-efficient future in urban China, policymakers should (1) examine past neighborhood designs to find alternatives to the superblock, (2) focus on strategic infill development, (3) encourage greater use of bicycles and e-bikes as a substitute for larger motorized vehicles, (4) improve the efficiency of public transportation, and (5) consider ways to shape citizens’ preferences for more energy-efficient modes of travel.Energy FoundationLow Carbon Energy University Alliance (2011LC002)National Natural Science Foundation (China) (51378278

The Impact of Land-Use Structure on Carbon Emission in China

Research objectives: This paper discusses how to support the realization of carbon peak and carbon neutrality through the optimization of national spatial structures by establishing a relationship model between land-use structure and carbon emissions, and then provide theoretical and methodological support for the formulation of relevant policies and plans, as well as the evaluation of implementation effects. Research methods: grid analysis, GIS spatial analysis, double log linear regression model. Results: There is a strong correlation between the spatial structure of land and carbon emissions; the scale of construction land, especially industrial land, directly affects carbon emissions; if the area of construction land is doubled, CO2 emissions will increase by about 1.7 times. Conclusions: The potential of controlling carbon emission intensity through land structure at the urban level is great, and it is feasible to control carbon emission intensity through territorial spatial planning system. The control elements can be divided into the following levels: land supply control, land structure adjustment, land intensity constraint, and function adjustment of existing land

Impacts of Urban Transportation Mode Split on CO2 Emissions in Jinan, China

As the world’s largest developing country, China currently is undergoing rapid urbanization and motorization, which will result in far-reaching impacts on energy and the environment. According to estimates, energy use and carbon emissions in the transportation sector will comprise roughly 30% of total emissions by 2030. Since the late 1990s, transportation-related issues such as energy, consumption, and carbon emissions have become a policy focus in China. To date, most research and policies have centered on vehicle technologies that promote vehicle efficiency and reduced emissions. Limited research exists on the control of greenhouse gases through mode shifts in urban transportation—in particular, through the promotion of public transit. The purpose of this study is to establish a methodology to analyze carbon emissions from the urban transportation sector at the Chinese city level. By using Jinan, the capital of China’s Shandong Province, as an example, we have developed an analytical model to simulate energy consumption and carbon emissions based on the number of trips, the transportation mode split, and the trip distance. This model has enabled us to assess the impacts of the transportation mode split on energy consumption and carbon emissions. Furthermore, this paper reviews a set of methods for data collection, estimation, and processing for situations where statistical data are scarce in China. This paper also describes the simulation of three transportation system development scenarios. The results of this study illustrate that if no policy intervention is implemented for the transportation mode split (the business-as-usual (BAU) case), then emissions from Chinese urban transportation systems will quadruple by 2030. However, a dense, mixed land-use pattern, as well as transportation policies that encourage public transportation, would result in the elimination of 1.93 million tons of carbon emissions—approximately 50% of the BAU scenario emissions

Energy use of, and CO2 emissions from China's urban passenger transportation sector - Carbon mitigation scenarios upon the transportation mode choices

This paper estimates the energy consumption and CO2 emissions from China's urban passenger transportation sector up to year 2030. A "bottom-up" methodology is developed to estimate the emissions based upon passenger travel behaviors in cities, which is notably different from popular existing approaches that calculate emissions from vehicular population. This methodology enables policy analysts to (1) quantify how different urban development strategies and patterns would affect about CO2 emissions; (2) directly link behavioral changes with urban development patterns and policies; and (3) analyze and understand the sensitivities of the urban passenger transportation sector in responding to both national- and city-level policies for carbon mitigation, thus helping the policy evaluation and development.Detailed information regarding urban passenger travels are collected in grouped Chinese cities of six categories. With the newly developed methodology, total carbon emissions from China's urban passenger transportation sector under three scenarios are considered. The results showed that mode choice changes are the most sensitive to policies. Promoting public transportation and limiting car usage can contribute 21% of the total energy reduction of China's transportation sector in 2030. Enhancing the above by optimizing street network and urban form, this contribution can be doubled in size. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Functional activation of a novel R2R3-MYB protein gene, GmMYB68, confers salt-alkali resistance in soybean (Glycine max L.)

Soil salinity significantly reduces soybean (Glycine max L.) production worldwide. Plants resistance to stress conditions is a complex characteristic regulated by multiple signaling pathways. The v-Myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog (MYB) transcription factor (TF) plays a crucial role in plant development, secondary metabolism, and abiotic stress responses. GmMYB68-overexpression and RNA interference (RNAi) lines were established for examining the function of G. max GmMYB68 in plant responses to abiotic stresses. The predicted amino acid sequence of GmMYB68 was similar to that of R2R3-MYB proteins. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that GmMYB68 expression varied in response to abiotic stresses. GmMYB68-overexpression lines showed enhanced resistance to salt and alkali stresses and their osmotic adjustment and photosynthetic rates were also stronger than that of GmMYB68-RNAi and wild type plants. Although wild type and transgenic plants showed no significant differences in agronomic traits under normal conditions, the overexpression of GmMYB68 increased grain number and 100-grain weights under salt stress. Our study identified a valuable TF associated with stress response in soybean, as its overexpression might help improve salt and alkali tolerance in soybean and other crops.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Autologous and Nonautologous Blood Transfusion in Patients with Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy and Severe Blood Loss

Background. There are some theoretical concerns for the use of intraoperative cell salvage (ICS) in patients with ectopic pregnancy. This study aimed to observe the impact of ICS on the coagulation function and clinical outcomes of patients with ruptured ectopic pregnancy and severe blood loss. Methods. This was a retrospective study of 225 patients with ruptured ectopic pregnancy and severe blood loss treated at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University between January 2012 and May 2016. Patients were grouped according to ICS (n=116) and controls (n=109, allogenic transfusion and no transfusion). Results. Compared with controls, patients with ICS had shorter hospitalization (P=0.007), lower requirement for allogenic blood products (P<0.001), and higher hemoglobin levels at discharge (P<0.001). There were no complications/ adverse reactions. In the ICS group, hemoglobin at discharge (−6.5%, P=0.002) and thrombin time (−3.7%, P=0.002) were decreased 24 h after surgery, while 24 h APTT was increased (+4.6%, P<0.001). In the control group, hemoglobin at discharge (−16.8%, P<0.001) was decreased after surgery and 24 h APTT was increased (+2.4%, P=0.045). At discharge, hemoglobin levels were higher in the ICS group (P<0.001). Conclusion. ICS was associated with good clinical outcomes in patients with ruptured ectopic pregnancy and severe blood loss

Presentation_1_Molecular epidemiology and mechanism of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistance to ertapenem but not to other carbapenems in China.PPTX

Resistance to only ertapenem is an unusual phenotype of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP). This study aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology and underlying mechanism involved in ertapenem resistance of K. pneumoniae strains that are susceptible to meropenem and imipenem. Among the 697 K. pneumoniae strains isolated from 11 grade A hospitals in China, 245 were CRKP strains, of which 18 strains resistant only to ertapenem were isolated. The genotypes, phenotypes, drug resistance homology, and drug sensitivity were analyzed; moreover, the expressions of efflux pump components and outer membrane proteins were assessed. The whole genomes of these 18 strains were sequenced and analyzed for mutations leading to drug resistance. The results revealed that ertapenem resistance may be related to ramR mutation. The function of ramR was confirmed using gene complementation to the original strain to determine the mechanism underlying ertapenem resistance of K. pneumoniae strains. In total, 7.4% of the tested CRKP strains were resistant only to ertapenem. None of these strains contained carbapenemase genes. Of the 18 ertapenem-resistant strains, 17 expressed the efflux pump, and outer membrane protein expression was reduced or absent in 4 strains. Whole-genome sequencing revealed the presence of mutations that introduced premature ramR codons stop in 14 strains (77.78%). When a functional copy of ramR was restored in the 14 strains, the minimum inhibitory concentration of ertapenem decreased, inhibition of efflux pumps was not detected, and the expression of outer membrane protein OmpK35 was either increased or was restored. These findings reveal the existence of ertapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae exhibiting no clonal transmission between strains. Mutations in ramR were demonstrated to cause efflux pump inhibition and over-expression of outer membrane protein OmpK35 in some strains, which is implicated in ertapenem resistance only in K. pneumoniae.</p