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Objectives Never-smoking women in Xuanwei (XW), China, have some of the highest lung cancer rates in the country. This has been attributed to the combustion of smoky coal used for indoor cooking and heating. The aim of this study was to evaluate the spectrum of cause-specific mortality in this unique population, including among those who use smokeless coal, considered ‘cleaner’ coal in XW, as this has not been well-characterised. Design Cohort study. Setting XW, a rural region of China where residents routinely burn coal for indoor cooking and heating. Participants Age-adjusted, cause-specific mortality rates between 1976 and 2011 were calculated and compared among lifetime smoky and smokeless coal users in a cohort of 42 420 men and women from XW. Mortality rates for XW women were compared with those for a cohort of predominately never-smoking women in Shanghai. Results Mortality in smoky coal users was driven by cancer (41%), with lung cancer accounting for 88% of cancer deaths. In contrast, cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounted for 32% of deaths among smokeless coal users, with 7% of deaths from cancer. Total cancer mortality was four times higher among smoky coal users relative to smokeless coal users, particularly for lung cancer (standardised rate ratio (SRR)=17.6). Smokeless coal users had higher mortality rates of CVD (SRR=2.9) and pneumonia (SRR=2.5) compared with smoky coal users. These patterns were similar in men and women, even though XW women rarely smoked cigarettes. Women in XW, regardless of coal type used, had over a threefold higher rate of overall mortality, and most cause-specific outcomes were elevated compared with women in Shanghai. Conclusions Cause-specific mortality burden differs in XW based on the lifetime use of different coal types. These observations provide evidence that eliminating all coal use for indoor cooking and heating is an important next step in improving public health particularly in developing countries.

Moss-associated N2 fixation by epiphytic microbes is a key biogeochemical process in nutrient-limited high-latitude ecosystems. Abiotic drivers, such as temperature and moisture, and the identity of host mosses are critical sources of variation in N2 fixation rates. An understanding of the potential interaction between these factors is essential for predicting N inputs as moss communities change with the climate. To further understand the drivers and results of N2 fixation rate variation, we obtained natural abundance values of C and N isotopes and an associated rate of N2 fixation with 15N2 gas incubations in 34 moss species collected in three regions across Alaska, USA. We hypothesized that δ15N values would increase toward 0‰ with higher N2 fixation to reflect the increasing contribution of fixed N2 in moss biomass. Second, we hypothesized that δ13C and N2 fixation would be positively related, as enriched δ13C signatures reflect abiotic conditions favorable to N2 fixation. We expected that the magnitude of these relationships would vary among types of host mosses, reflecting differences in anatomy and habitat. We found little support for our first hypothesis, with only a modest positive relationship between N2 fixation rates and δ15N in a structural equation model. We found a significant positive relationship between δ13C and N2 fixation only in Hypnales, where the probability of N2 fixation activity reached 95% when δ13C values exceeded - 30.4‰. We conclude that moisture and temperature interact strongly with host moss identity in determining the extent to which abiotic conditions impact associated N2 fixation rates.

The natatorium’s ventilation problem receives much concern because of its large wet load. The outdoor humidity ratio in transition season is the basic design parameter of the ventilation calculation, directly affecting the rationality of architectural design. At present, the ventilation-curve (V-C) method is the most widely used method to determine the outdoor humidity ratio in the transition season in China. However, due to failing to reflect non-guaranteed hours, the rationality of this value is difficult to assess by employing this approach. This paper presents a new method, the typical transition season method (TTS), for determining the outdoor humidity ratio in the transition season of a natatorium. The TTS method selects the transition season based on the typical meteorological year (TMY) data and calculates the outdoor humidity ratio with multiple non-guaranteed hours. This can well-represent the local perennial climate characteristics and clearly reflect the non-guaranteed hours. In this study, through selecting six typical representative cities in China, the evaluation of the outdoor humidity ratio is achieved through calculating ventilation volume and air change rate, verifying the rationality of this method. The results show that the humidity ratio obtained by the V-C method is lower than that obtained by the TTS method at about 2 g/kg without guarantee of 200 h humidity ratio, and even that the maximum difference is 6.64 g/kg. Meanwhile, the validation results of the ventilation calculation show that the humidity ratio determined by the V-C method cannot meet the minimum design requirements in five cities, while the humidity ratio obtained by the TTS method cannot meet the requirements in only one city.

AbstractCommunicating the scientific consensus that human-caused climate change is real increases climate change beliefs, worry and support for public action in the United States. In this preregistered experiment, we tested two scientific consensus messages, a classic message on the reality of human-caused climate change and an updated message additionally emphasizing scientific agreement that climate change is a crisis. Across online convenience samples from 27 countries (n = 10,527), the classic message substantially reduces misperceptions (d = 0.47, 95% CI (0.41, 0.52)) and slightly increases climate change beliefs (from d = 0.06, 95% CI (0.01, 0.11) to d = 0.10, 95% CI (0.04, 0.15)) and worry (d = 0.05, 95% CI (−0.01, 0.10)) but not support for public action directly. The updated message is equally effective but provides no added value. Both messages are more effective for audiences with lower message familiarity and higher misperceptions, including those with lower trust in climate scientists and right-leaning ideologies. Overall, scientific consensus messaging is an effective, non-polarizing tool for changing misperceptions, beliefs and worry across different audiences.

Climate change is turning formerly pristine ecosystems into ever-changing states, causing major disturbance and biodiversity loss. Such impacted marine ecosystems and organisms exhibit clear microbiome shifts that alter their function. Microbiome-targeted interventions appear as feasible tools to support organismal and ecosystem resilience and recovery by restoring symbiotic interactions and thwarting dysbiotic processes. However, microbiome restoration and rehabilitation are perceived as drastic measures, since they alter ‘natural relationships’. What is missing from this notion is that microbiomes already drastically differ from any pre-anthropogenic state. As such, our perception and definition of even ‘pristine states’ may in fact represent an already disturbed/derived condition. Following this, we argue that restoring and rehabilitating marine microbiomes are essential tools to mitigate ecosystem and organismal decline.

Dans cette étude, nous avons calibré le modèle BioWin pour évaluer la consommation d'énergie, les émissions de gaz à effet de serre et le taux de nitrification volumétrique dans le traitement de l'urine à haute teneur en ammoniac et séparée par la source dans une station d'épuration décentralisée. Dans un premier temps, nous avons validé le modèle en utilisant des processus de traitement par bioréacteur à membrane urinaire (MBR) à l'échelle du laboratoire. Par la suite, le modèle BioWin à grande échelle a été utilisé pour évaluer la performance d'un système de traitement de l'urine à grande échelle. Les résultats de simulation pour le traitement de l'urine par procédé MBR, optimisés à un point de consigne d'oxygène dissous de 3 mg/L, ont révélé une consommation d'énergie de 3 kWh/kg N, des émissions de gaz à effet de serre de 25,6 kg CO2e/m3 et un taux de nitrification volumétrique de 310 mg N/L/j. Remarquablement, cela ne représente que 25–30 % de l'énergie totale dépensée dans la synthèse à l'échelle industrielle d'un engrais vierge utilisant le procédé Haber-Bosch. Nos résultats indiquent que la demande énergétique collective d'une STEP urinaire détournée et d'un MBR urinaire séparé pour la récupération des engrais est comparable à celle d'une STEP MBR conventionnelle sans récupération des nutriments. Il est important de noter que le détournement de l'urine réduit les émissions de gaz à effet de serre et l'empreinte globale de la station d'épuration par rapport aux stations conventionnelles. De plus, la récupération des nutriments par la séparation et le traitement des sources d'urine contribue de manière significative à la récupération des nutriments et aux économies circulaires. En este estudio, calibramos el modelo BioWin para evaluar el consumo de energía, las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero y la tasa de nitrificación volumétrica en el tratamiento de orina con alto contenido de amoníaco y separada por fuentes dentro de una planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales descentralizada (EDAR). Inicialmente, validamos el modelo utilizando procesos de tratamiento de biorreactor de membrana urinaria (MBR) a escala de laboratorio. Posteriormente, se empleó el modelo BioWin ampliado para evaluar el rendimiento de un sistema de tratamiento de orina a gran escala. Los resultados de la simulación para el tratamiento de orina mediante el proceso MBR, optimizado a un punto de ajuste de oxígeno disuelto de 3 mg/L, revelaron un consumo de energía de 3 kWh/kg N, emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero de 25,6 kg CO2e/m3 y una tasa de nitrificación volumétrica de 310 mg N/L/d. Sorprendentemente, esto constituye solo el 25–30 % de la energía total gastada en la síntesis a escala industrial de un fertilizante virgen utilizando el proceso Haber-Bosch. Nuestros hallazgos indican que la demanda de energía colectiva de una EDAR desviada de orina y un MBR de orina separado para la recuperación de fertilizantes es comparable a la de una EDAR MBR convencional sin recuperación de nutrientes. Es importante destacar que el desvío de orina reduce las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero y la huella global de la EDAR en comparación con las convencionales. Además, la recuperación de nutrientes a través de la separación y el tratamiento de la fuente de orina contribuye significativamente a la recuperación de nutrientes y a las economías circulares. In this study, we calibrated the BioWin model to assess the energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and volumetric nitrification rate in the treatment of high-ammonia-containing, source-separated urine within a decentralised wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) setting. Initially, we validated the model using lab-scale urine membrane bioreactor (MBR) treatment processes. Subsequently, the upscaled BioWin model was employed to evaluate the performance of a full-scale urine treatment system. Simulation results for urine treatment by MBR process, optimized at a dissolved oxygen set point of 3 mg/L, revealed an energy consumption of 3 kWh/kg N, greenhouse gas emissions of 25.6 kg CO2e/m3, and a volumetric nitrification rate of 310 mg N/L/d. Remarkably, this constitutes only 25–30 % of the total energy expended in the industrial-scale synthesis of a virgin fertiliser using the Haber-Bosch process. Our findings indicate that the collective energy demand of a urine diverted WWTP and a separate urine MBR for fertiliser recovery is comparable to that of a conventional MBR WWTP without nutrient recovery. Importantly, urine diversion reduces greenhouse gas emissions and the overall footprint of the WWTP compared to conventional ones. Moreover, nutrient recovery through urine source separation and treatment contributes significantly to nutrient recovery and circular economies. في هذه الدراسة، قمنا بمعايرة نموذج BioWin لتقييم استهلاك الطاقة وانبعاثات غازات الدفيئة ومعدل النترجة الحجمي في معالجة البول عالي الأمونيا المفصول عن المصدر داخل بيئة محطة معالجة مياه الصرف الصحي اللامركزية (WWTP). في البداية، تحققنا من صحة النموذج باستخدام عمليات معالجة المفاعل الحيوي لغشاء البول على نطاق المختبر (MBR). بعد ذلك، تم استخدام نموذج BioWin الموسع لتقييم أداء نظام معالجة البول على نطاق واسع. كشفت نتائج المحاكاة لمعالجة البول عن طريق عملية MBR، المحسنة عند نقطة ضبط الأكسجين المذاب البالغة 3 مجم/لتر، عن استهلاك طاقة قدره 3 كيلو واط في الساعة/كجم نيوتن، وانبعاثات غازات الدفيئة البالغة 25.6 كجم من مكافئ ثاني أكسيد الكربون/م 3، ومعدل نترتة حجمي قدره 310 مجم نيوتن/لتر/يوم. ومن اللافت للنظر أن هذا لا يشكل سوى 25–30 ٪ من إجمالي الطاقة المستهلكة في التوليف الصناعي للأسمدة البكر باستخدام عملية هابر بوش. تشير النتائج التي توصلنا إليها إلى أن الطلب الجماعي على الطاقة من محطة معالجة مياه الصرف الصحي المحولة للبول و MBR منفصل للبول لاستعادة الأسمدة يمكن مقارنته بالطلب على الطاقة من محطة معالجة مياه الصرف الصحي التقليدية بدون استعادة المغذيات. والأهم من ذلك، أن تحويل البول يقلل من انبعاثات غازات الدفيئة والبصمة الإجمالية لمحطة معالجة مياه الصرف الصحي مقارنة بالمحطات التقليدية. علاوة على ذلك، يساهم استرداد المغذيات من خلال فصل مصدر البول ومعالجته بشكل كبير في استرداد المغذيات والاقتصادات الدائرية.

IntroductionTransforming consumption and lifestyles toward sustainability cannot be achieved by individual behavior change alone but requires changes in the structures in which this behavior is embedded. However, “structure” is a blurry concept and scholars use it in a multitude of ways. What often remains implicit in studies on structural phenomena are different types of structures, how they may or may not restrict the agency of individuals in particular ways, and how these restrictions support sustainable consumption patterns at the societal level. To move beyond the current state of research, this article systematizes political, economic, technological, and societal structural factors the literature identifies as impactful regarding the sustainability of consumption and lifestyles compatible with the targets of the Paris Agreement.MethodsWe draw on a systematic review of existing research and use empirical observations to develop conceptual terms that revisit the structure-agency dilemma and offer ways going forward about (un)sustainable consumption.ResultsWe do so based on the material or ideational, as well as shallow or deep nature of these factors. Thereby, the article throws light on the deep and opaque material and ideational structural factors lying underneath and shaping the sustainability impact of the more visible, shallow structural factors typically considered in public debates about sustainability governance.DiscussionThe article, thus, highlights the need to consider and address these deep structural factors for any effective pursuit of transformation.