Enhancing energy efficiency in China's public buildings: a multifaceted approach

ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY

 

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ENERGY GRADING AND LABELING TOOLS. A ENERGY STAR AND BUILDING EQ FROM THE US ((AGENCY AND HISTORY OF EPA'S CLIMATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS. 2022; ASHRAE. BUILDING E.Q. 2022)). B DEC FROM THE UK (DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. DISPLAY ENERGY CERTIFICATES 2022). C BELS IN JANPAN (CENTER AND OF JAPAN. BELS EVALUATION. 2022). D EEEG IN CHINA (MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN-RURAL DEVELOPMENT. NOTICE ON THE TRIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY EVALUATION AND GRADING SYSTEM FOR CIVIL BUILDINGS 2008)

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CREDIT: CITY AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

A collaborative study has identified key policy tools and challenges in improving energy efficiency (EEI) for public buildings in China. The research, published in the City and Built Environment journal, offers a comprehensive analysis of the current state of EEI policy tools and proposes innovative solutions to overcome existing obstacles.

As China cements its status as the world's largest energy consumer, it has set ambitious targets for achieving carbon neutrality, pledging to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and attain carbon neutrality by 2060. The building sector, accounting for over 21% of the nation’s total energy use, plays a crucial role in these efforts. Public buildings, with energy intensities three times higher than residential structures, are particularly critical in the energy efficiency landscape. Despite the Chinese government's deployment of various policy tools aimed at reducing energy use in public buildings, their energy intensities continue to escalate, highlighting the urgent need for more effective strategies to steer the building sector towards sustainability.

In light of these challenges, a recent study (DOI: 10.1007/s44213-023-00023-y) by Tsinghua University, published in the City and Built Environment journal on 09 March 2024, offers an extensive review of existing policies. This research uncovers substantial obstacles in policy implementation, including the complex task of collecting and managing energy data, the absence of robust methods for evaluating building energy performance, and a lack of feedback mechanisms to engage building owners effectively.

The study's comprehensive analysis, which included a review of literature, field investigations, and interviews with industry experts, revealed significant challenges. These include difficulties in collecting and disclosing energy consumption data, a lack of scientific methods for evaluating energy-use levels, and an absence of effective feedback mechanisms for building owners. The research also identified the unique Chinese approach of energy-consumption quota management, which has not been as widely adopted as the other tools. To address these issues, the study proposes a multi-faceted strategy. It suggests creating a scalable data collection system, similar to those in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, to be rolled out nationwide. The researchers also recommend developing a grading system for building energy consumption based on actual operational data, which would inform a more targeted approach to energy management and policy application. Furthermore, the study calls for the establishment of a carbon trading model specifically for buildings, independent of the existing market, to incentivize energy efficiency through economic means.

Lead researcher Hao Zhou emphasizes, "The building sector is pivotal in China’s carbon emission reduction strategy. Our findings offer a detailed analysis of public building energy efficiency policies, providing valuable insights not just for China but for global policy frameworks."

This research points to a need for a more cohesive, data-driven approach in the building sector, highlighting the potential of advanced energy grading systems and the exploration of differential pricing mechanisms and financial incentives to enhance compliance and policy effectiveness.

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References

DOI

10.1007/s44213-023-00023-y

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.1007/s44213-023-00023-y

Funding information

This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant No. 72374121), Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of China (grant No. 51825802), along with special fund of Beijing Science and Technology Institute of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

About City and Built Environment

City and Built Environment focuses on newer fields related to various forms of urbanization and development, which resolves those related challenges from a world view perspective. The inner relationship between buildings and cities, as well as the complicated interactions among people, building and city, is emphasized.

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JOURNAL

City and Built Environment

DOI

10.1007/s44213-023-00023-y 

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Investigation of policy tools for energy efficiency improvement in public buildings in China—current situation, obstacles, and solutions

 

Who will like beetle skewers? What Europeans think about alternative protein food

SWPS UNIVERSITY

Why do people in Paris like seaweed and tofu salad? Will Italians be tempted to try a beetle skewer? How many young Polish consumers are "food innovators", eager to eat chickpea pâté? In an international project, researchers from SWPS University analysed European consumers' attitudes towards alternative protein food products.

In the face of the fight against climate change, more and more people are modifying their diets, giving up or limiting conventional sources of protein (e.g., beef, pork, poultry, and animal dairy) in favour of those with a lower environmental impact. These are the so-called alternative protein food (APF) products, which may be based on legumes, algae, mushrooms, crustaceans and insects.

Although Europe is the leading market in production and sales of APF and original research on this topic is growing, there has been no synthesis of between-country differences in APF choices across Europe, says Hanna Zaleśkiewicz from the CARE-BEH Center for Applied Research on Health Behavior and Health, SWPS University.

Researchers from SWPS University together with experts from Germany, Denmark, Greece, Norway and Italy analysed research from 11 databases of peer-reviewed journals. In total, their analysis included 25 studies conducted in 18 European countries. The results were published in Food Quality and Preference. The researchers focused particularly on data from Denmark, Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, the UK and Germany.

Healthy and ethical in theory, but what about practice?

Research shows that many consumers rate hybrid products, i.e. those combining conventional and alternative protein, higher than meat products in terms of the attributes of being healthy, ethical, environmentally friendly, and nutritious. This trend is observed especially among Danish consumers, but also among consumers from other countries, e.g. the UK and Spain.

Positive attitudes and beliefs, however, do not always translate to intention to buy such products. 60% studies addressing APF-related purchase intentions indicate that Danish consumers have relatively low intention to buy APF products. In one study, only 46% of them were willing to buy hybrid meat (a product combining plants and meat), compared to 63% of consumers in Spain and 53% in the UK.1

Few Polish "food innovators"

Studies show that consumers from Poland and the Czech Republic have less knowledge regarding innovative food products and higher reluctance to adopt novel foods compared to Danish and German consumers.

These patterns should be considered in the context of persistently high intake of meat (compared to pulses) per capita in the years between 2018 and 2020 in countries such as Poland 2, explains Hanna Zaleśkiewicz.

A comparison of German and Polish consumers (aged 55 years or older) indicated that Polish respondents had significantly lower levels of knowledge regarding innovative food products (including those containing APF), were more hesitant in their decisions, and less frequently decided to purchase such products3.

A study4 of young consumers indicated that among people from Germany, “food innovators" (i.e., those who buy soon after various innovative foods are out) and “early followers" (those who buy after some consideration) constitute 73 % of the population.

This contrasts with findings observed for young people from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. In those countries, "food innovators" and "early followers" constitute only 24-36 % of young consumers. While strong reluctance to buy innovative APF was not found among young consumers from Germany, it was present among 13-17% of consumers from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

Insect on a plate?

 Analysis shows that consumers are reluctant to buy insect-based APF. Only 18-22 % of consumers in the UK and Spain report their willingness to buy such products. Consumers in Sweden and Finland declare more positive beliefs about insect-based food than consumers in Germany and Czech Republic. Consumers in Italy are much less likely to choose such products than consumers in Northern or Western Europe (e.g., Denmark, Belgium).

 Food culture and eating patterns in Northern Europe might have changed in recent decades, whereas Italian food culture is considered one of the strongest in Europe, with over 200 food products, where meat plays an important role, the researcher from SWPS University points out.

Seaweed conquers cosmopolitan cities

Specific differences in consumer acceptance of and interest in APF are observed in certain cities.

The rural-urban differences within the country may be explained not by the size of the city but rather by its multicultural and cosmopolitan character, the researcher comments.

For example, cities like Paris and Helsinki, which are more ethnically diverse, tend to exhibit higher levels of consumer acceptance of APF compared to consumers from cities with less ethnically diverse consumers5 6. Consumers from such major cities are also more likely to have restaurants offering alternative cuisine or introducing novel food trends, including alternative protein.

A good example is Paris, where the average consumption of seaweed-based APF is higher than in 5 other French cities. This may be explained with a relatively large population of Asian-origin inhabitants who accept seaweed-based food.

Building consumer motivation

The authors of the analysis emphasise that their findings may help develop strategies aiming to increase APF choices. Taking into account different approaches and levels of knowledge about APF in individual countries will allow to use different promotion strategies.

Considering weak or moderate level of consumption and declared intention to buy APF, it is necessary, for example, to develop and implement promotional campaigns that will increase consumer motivation. The motivational factors could include perceived health benefits, environmental benefits, animal welfare-related motives, comments Hanna Zaleśkiewicz.

The study was conducted as part of the international project “LIKE-A-PRO From niche to mainstream - alternative proteins for everybody and everywhere”, led on behalf of the SWPS University by Professor Aleksandra Łuszczyńska. The project is financed by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme.

 

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1. Grasso, S., Asioli, D., & Smith, R. (2022). Consumer co-creation of hybrid meat products: A cross-country European survey. Food Quality and Preference, 100, Article 104586. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2022.104586

2. FAO (2023). FAOSTAT. Retrieved August 27, 2023, from https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data

3. Zabrocki, R. (2017). A comparative analysis of the determinants of behaviours of Polish and German consumers aged 55+ in the innovative food market. Handel Wewnętrzny, 1(366), 413–423.

4. Barska, A. (2014). Attitudes of young consumers towards innovations on the food market. Management, 18(1), 419–431. https://doi.org/10.2478/manment-2014- 0031

5. Lucas, S., Gouin, S., & Lesueur, M. (2019). Seaweed consumption and label preferences in France. Marine Resource Economics, 34(2), 143–162. https://doi.org/10.1086/ 704078

6. Nevalainen, E., Niva, M., & Vainio, A. (2023). A transition towards plant-based diets on its way? Consumers’ substitutions of meat in their diets in Finland. Food Quality and Preference, 104, Article 104754. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2022.104754

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JOURNAL

Food Quality and Preference

DOI

10.1016/j.foodqual.2024.105174 

ARTICLE TITLE

Geographical context of European consumers’ choices of alternative protein food: A systematic review

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

27-Mar-2024

 

Earth scientists describe a new kind of volcanic eruption

The Kīlauea volcano erupted like a stomp-rocket in 2018, new research shows

UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

No two volcanic eruptions are exactly alike, but scientists think a series of explosive eruptions at Kīlauea volcano fit into a whole new category.

By analyzing the dynamics of 12 back-to-back explosions that happened in 2018, researchers describe a new type of volcanic eruption mechanism. The explosions were driven by sudden pressure increases as the ground collapsed, which blasted plumes of rock fragments and hot gas into the air, much like a classic stomp-rocket toy.

Researchers from the University of Oregon, United States Geological Survey and China’s Sichuan University report their findings in a paper published May 27 in Nature Geoscience.

The particular string of explosions at the summit of Kīlauea was part of a sequence of events that included lava flows erupting from lower on the flank of the volcano. Those lava flows destroyed thousands of homes and displaced residents on the Island of Hawai’i for months.

Understanding exactly what happened in past volcanic eruptions, colloquially called “hindcasting,” allows volcanologists to make better forecasts about future eruptions and give more accurate warnings to people in an eruption’s path.

For the most part, explosive volcanic eruptions are either primarily driven by rising magma, vaporized groundwater, or some combination of the two, according to Josh Crozier, who did this research as a doctoral student at the UO. But these eruptions didn’t quite fit the mold.

“These eruptions are quite interesting in that they don’t really seem to involve either of those,” Crozier said. “The eruptive material contained very little that looked like fresh magma that was blasted out, but there’s no evidence for significant groundwater being involved, either.”

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, part of the U.S. Geological Survey, keeps close tabs on Kīlauea. The volcano is covered with scientific instruments, from ground sensors that measure the shaking of the earth to tools that analyze the gases released from the volcano.

“A cool thing about these eruptions is that there were a bunch of them in sequence that were remarkably similar; that’s relatively unusual,” said Leif Karlstrom, a volcanologist at the UO. “Typically, volcanic eruptions don’t happen with as much regularity.”

So the team had more data than usual to work with, and they could dig deeper into the specific dynamics of the eruptions.

Putting all that data into a variety of atmospheric and subsurface models, the scientists pieced together a new story about what happened on Kīlauea during the string of events in 2018.

Before each explosion at the summit, magma was slowly draining from an underground reservoir. (This magma was feeding lava flows 40 kilometers away, on the eastern flank of the volcano.) As the reservoir depleted, the ground above it — the crater within the caldera at the volcano’s summit — suddenly collapsed.

That quickly increased the pressure in the reservoir. And because there was a pocket of accumulated magmatic gas sitting at the top of this reservoir, the pressure increase squeezed the magmatic gas and bits of rubble through a conduit and blasted them out of a vent in Kīlauea’s crater.

The researchers compare the eruption dynamic to a stomp-rocket toy, where stepping on an air bag connected to a hose launches a projectile into the air.

“The ‘stomp’ is this whole kilometer-thick chunk of rock dropping down, pressurizing the pocket, and then forcing material directly up,” Crozier said. And the ‘rocket’ is, of course, the gas and rocks erupting from the volcano.

Caldera collapse is fairly common, Crozier notes. So while this is the first time scientists have specifically spelled out this specific stomp-rocket mechanism, it’s probably not the only time it’s occurred.

The study was able to link geophysical observations to the properties of the volcanic plume in the atmosphere.

“This link is very rare,” said Joe Dufek, a volcanologist at the UO. “It points to new ways for us to observe eruptions and to combine sensor measurements with computer simulations to better assess hazards from eruptions.”

The fact that this was a series of smaller eruptions may have made it easier to see the underlying mechanism, Dufek said. Other complex processes weren’t overshadowing the stomp-rocket component.

But that’s not to say that Kīlauea is simple. A typical textbook drawing of a volcano shows magma moving upwards through chambers at different depths. But it’s rarely that straightforward, and a volcano like Kīlauea, decked out in scientific instruments, provides an opportunity to dig into the details.  

“This is an example, and there’s an increasing number of these, where the pathways of magma ascent are quite geometrically complex,” Karlstrom said. “It gives us a much more nuanced picture of what volcanic plumbing systems look like.”

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JOURNAL

Nature Geoscience

DOI

10.1038/s41561-024-01442-0 

ARTICLE TITLE

Explosive 2018 eruptions at K ̄ılauea driven by a collapse-induced stomp-rocket mechanism

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

27-May-2024

 

Green wheels: new study maps the road to eco-friendly driving

MAXIMUM ACADEMIC PRESS

 

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ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK

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CREDIT: AUTOMOTIVE INNOVATION

The push for carbon neutrality in the transportation sector is driving significant research and development (R&D) across the globe. A new study provides a comprehensive analysis of the distinct national strategies and R&D organizational paradigms aimed at achieving carbon neutrality in road transport. The study critically assesses policies and incentives that are propelling industrial and technological routes for decarbonizing transportation, under the guidance of government-led R&D strategies within new energy vehicle (NEV) markets.

As climate change intensifies, the transportation sector is under significant pressure to minimize its carbon footprint. Pivotal in this transformation are new energy vehicles, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles. Yet, the journey towards broad adoption of these technologies is riddled with technological, economic, and policy hurdles.

In the latest journal of Automotive Innovation, researchers from the University of Science and Technology Beijing present a pivotal study that outlines development strategies and organizational models poised to guide the global road transport sector toward carbon neutrality. The study (DOI: 10.1007/s42154-023-00246-z), published on April 15, 2024, introduces a framework designed to deepen understanding and enhance the impact of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in curbing global carbon emissions.

The research rigorously assesses national strategies utilized by China, the European Union, the United States, and Japan, highlighting the diversity and intricacies of the transition to NEVs. While all regions are committed to reducing transportation emissions, their approaches differ markedly. China prioritizes large-scale market incentives and infrastructural development; the EU melds NEV expansion into wider environmental policies; the U.S. focuses on fostering technological innovation and engaging the private sector; and Japan robustly invests in hydrogen fuel technology. The study emphasizes the need for bespoke policy frameworks that take into account regional economic conditions, technological capabilities, and societal factors. It advocates for a balanced strategy that enhances both supply, through innovations and manufacturing incentives, and demand, through consumer subsidies and public awareness initiatives, to effectively stimulate the NEV market and establish sustainable transportation systems globally.

Dr. Xu Hao, the study's lead author, comments, "This research not only charts viable paths to carbon neutrality but also underscores the vital role of government policies and international collaboration in boosting NEV adoption. It's crucial for stakeholders worldwide to synchronize their efforts and innovate together."

This research offers a blueprint for policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers to grasp the dynamics of the NEV market and its influence on carbon emissions. By implementing the strategies outlined, nations can expedite their shift to a sustainable transportation system, significantly aiding global climate objectives.

This article is free access from May 20th - June 21st.

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References

DOI

10.1007/s42154-023-00246-z

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.1007/s42154-023-00246-z

Funding information

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China for Young Scholars (Grant No. 72304031), the Ministry of Science and Technology of PRC under Project No. ZLY202118, the State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy under Project No. KFY2220, and Tsinghua-Toyota Joint Research Fund. The authors are solely responsible for the views expressed in this study.

About Automotive Innovation

Automotive Innovation is dedicated to the publication of innovative findings in the automotive field as well as other related disciplines, covering the principles, methodologies, theoretical studies, experimental studies, product engineering and engineering application. The main topics cover emerging vehicle technologies, including but not limited to: electrification, autonomous driving, eco-driving. The Journal presents the latest trend and advances of automotive technology.

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JOURNAL

Automotive Innovation

DOI

10.1007/s42154-023-00246-z 

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Toward Carbon Neutral Road Transport: Development Strategies and New R&D Organizational Paradigms

 

Plastic particles and climate change as drivers for antimicrobial resistance

EU-funded research project deals with plastic pollution and the spread of antimicrobial resistance in aquatic systems

Grant and Award Announcement

HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY

A research project based at Heidelberg University and Heidelberg University Hospital targets plastic particles and climate change as driving factors for the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the environment. The participating researchers will investigate socio-ecological interactions within aquatic habitats affected by plastic pollution, contamination with antibiotics and climatic influences, and explore environmental and health-related impacts in the context of Planetary Health. The project is led by Prof. Dr Joacim Rocklöv, Humboldt Professor at the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing and the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, and comprises eleven international partners, including the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in the Philippine Department of Health. The European Union is funding the four and a half-year international collaboration project with more than six million euros.

“Scientific research is needed to show evidence on how plastic pollution in bodies of water combined with antibiotic contaminants is contributing to antimicrobial resistance spreading in the environment, threatening the health of people, animals, and ecosystems – especially in times of climate change,” explains Prof. Rocklöv, who heads the Climate-Sensitive Infectious Diseases Lab (CSIDlab). Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are known to exist in the sea, in rivers, ponds or lakes, presenting a risk of infection, in particular for people who bathe in these waters with open wounds. At the same time, water environments are increasingly polluted by micro and macro plastic particles. “Bacteria can attach to the plastic particles, grow, and form entire colonies, creating a unique micro-ecosystem termed ‘the plastisphere’. The genes that the bacteria exchange can include those responsible for antibiotic resistance,” says Dr Marina Treskova, a junior research group leader at the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing who co-directs the research along with Prof. Rocklöv. Plastic particles in turn serve as vehicles, delivering bacteria from one point to another via hydrological processes.

According to Dr Treskova, climate change can further exacerbate the spread of antimicrobial resistance in aquatic environments, for instance through heavy rainfall or lack of rain. “To halt this negative process and to protect planetary health, we have to understand these processes and their interactions to find solutions for monitoring and prevention,” says the scientist. Wastewater treatment plants present an important study site for the researchers as they collect wastewater from cities, including hospitals, and accumulate antibiotics, bacteria, and plastic waste.

A main aspect of the research carried out in the context of the “Community-based engagement and intervenTions to stem the spread of antimicrobial resistance in the aqUatic environments catalysed by cLImate change and Plastic pollution interactions” (TULIP) project are social and political factors, in order to develop holistic countermeasures – including solutions inspired by nature itself. The research approach will be tested in the Philippines and in Italy. “With TULIP, we hope to gain not only scientifically sound insights into the interrelationship between plastic pollution, AMR, and climate change but also translate them into policy recommendations, community actions and societal knowledge. We will collect data on the ground but also apply computer models to develop indicators and decision-making tools,” states Joacim Rocklöv. The epidemiologist, mathematician, and statistician is investigating climate-sensitive infectious diseases and their impact on public health under changing climatic conditions – an interdisciplinary approach of paramount importance for medicine, healthcare, climate change research, and policy consultation.

The TULIP consortium took up its work at the beginning of this year. The Heidelberg researchers cooperate with project partners in the Philippines who play a major role in implementing and coordinating the scientific work and outreach activities. Also involved are experts from universities and research institutes, non-academic partners, small and medium-sized businesses, and non-governmental organisations from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, and Monaco. The European Union is funding the TULIP project within the framework of Horizon Europe; it is part of the EU Planetary Health cluster.

 

HKU Engineering team new microfluidic technique to measure elastic modulus of microfiber for wide biomedical engineering applications

I THOUGHT WE WERE ELIMINATING MICROFIBER BECAUSE IT BREAKS DOWN INTO MICROPLASTC NANOMATERIALS

THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

 

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LEFT: APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MICROFIBERS ARE COLLECTED IN THE CONTAINER.
RIGHT: COILING OF A NONUNIFORM MICROFIBER WITH AXIALLY VARIED ELASTIC MODULUS. AS THE FIBER COILS IN THE MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE, IT FORMS A SPIRAL WITH A VARYING COILING RADIUS THAT REFLECTS THE LOCAL ELASTIC MODULUS. THE HIGHER THE LOCAL ELASTIC MODULUS, THE LARGER THE COILING RADIUS OF THAT SEGMENT. (PICTURES ARE REPRODUCED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE CC-BY LICENSE.) [PROC. NATL. ACAD. SCI. U.S.A. 121, E2303679121, 2024]

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CREDIT: THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

The new microfluidic technique was developed by Professor Anderson H. C. Shum and Dr Yuan Liu from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at HKU, in collaboration with Professor Howard A. Stone and Dr Janine K. Nunes, scientists from Princeton University, and Dr Jack H. Y. Lo from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.

The findings have been  published in the prestigious scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) with the title “High-throughput measurement of elastic moduli of microfibers by rope coiling”.

The new approach eliminates the need for manual sample handling by utilising a quantitative correlation between elastic moduli and coiling radius. This enables the measurement of 3,300 fibres per hour, marking a substantial improvement over existing methods and providing a thousandfold increase compared to using a typical tensile tester. The breakthrough significantly reduces the time-consuming and skill-intensive process of sample loading and unloading, which is particularly beneficial for tiny, fragile samples, such as filamentous bacteria, actin filaments, DNA, carbon nanotubes, and functional microfibers.

"Our approach not only simplifies the testing process but also integrates the manufacturing and testing phases," said Professor Shum.

"With the inline measurement capabilities, which couple the ‘making of microfibers’ and the ’measurement of elastic modulus’ on the same process line, we can now measure the elastic modulus of every fibre immediately after production. This enables the immediate identification and correction of defects by adjusting process variables, such as UV intensity, in real-time. For instance, to maintain a constant modulus, a decrease in coiling radius downstream would trigger an increase in UV intensity upstream, serving as feedback mechanism to correct production faults. On the other hand, elastic moduli can also be controlled by the intensities of UV light, ensuring consistent product quality.” Professor Shum added.

Additionally, the method is non-destructive, eliminating the need to bond fibre ends to fixtures, as required in conventional tensile tests. This feature is especially advantageous when dealing with fibres that exhibit nonuniform elastic moduli, which traditionally require segmentation into multiple parts for individual assessment.

Looking forward, the team is optimistic about adapting this method for even smaller fibres, including those with submicron diameters such as DNA and actin filaments.

"Adjusting the microfluidic setup and fluid dynamics to accommodate smaller fibres present some technical challenges, but it is definitely feasible," said Dr Liu.

This work received support from the Research Impact Fund by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, with additional funding from the Health@InnoHK programme of the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong SAR government, and the Croucher Senior Research Fellowship from Croucher Foundation.

For more details about the study, please visit the HKU Mechanical Engineering website at: https://www.mech.hku.hk/post/high-throughput-measurement-of-elastic-moduli-of-microfibers-by-rope-coiling.

Link to the paper: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2303679121

Media Enquiries:
Faculty of Engineering, HKU
Ms Christina Chung (Tel: 3910 3324; Email: chungmc@hku.hk) or
Ms Charis Lai (Tel: 3917 1924; Email: chariskc@hku.hk)

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DOI

10.1073/pnas.2303679121 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

High-throughput measurement of elastic moduli of microfibers by rope coiling

Camera tags capture social flexibility of Antarctic minke whales

TOO BAD THIS WON'T STOP JAPAN FROM HUNTING THEM FOR SUSHI

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: 

THE TEAM OF RESEARCHERS DEPLOYED TAGS TO THE ANTARCTIC MINKE WHALES THAT CAPTURED VIDEO AND AUDIO DURING THEIR INTERACTIONS.

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CREDIT: DAVE CADE

Researchers have conducted one of the first quantitative studies of social structure and social foraging in Antarctic minke whales (AMWs), using pioneering animal-borne camera tags.  

This study sheds light on the complex social and foraging behaviours of these elusive krill specialists within the fragile Antarctic sea-ice ecosystem. 

The study was led by Dr Jenny Allen as a Griffith University Research Associate in collaboration with the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC).  Data were collected in 2018 and 2019 around the Western Antarctic Peninsula as part of a research grant from the National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs to Dr Ari Friedlaender, a Professor in UCSC’s Ocean Sciences Department.   

The study is unique in its use of motion-sensing, video- and audio-recording tags deployed on Antarctic minke whales for the first time to study their ecological role through analysis of their diving, foraging, and social behaviours. 

Data analyses focused on the whales' diving, foraging, and social behaviours, providing fresh insights into their ecological roles. 

Findings from the study indicated that Antarctic minke whales exhibit a "fission-fusion" social structure, frequently switching companions.  

This social flexibility is similar to what is seen in several other baleen whale species. In 60.6% of cases, whales were observed forming short-term associations, engaging in both foraging and non-foraging activities.  

Larger individuals were more likely to socialise, and this social interaction correlated with a noticeable reduction in their feeding efforts, regardless of dive depth. 

Furthermore, the study documented 12 instances where tagged whales associated with each other in pairs or trios.  

These groups demonstrated synchronised spatial movement and diving behaviours, suggesting that Antarctic minke whales employed group foraging strategies.  

Specifically, 67.5% of associated dives and 64% of associated feeding lunges were synchronised. 

"These findings provide essential baseline information on the sociality and group foraging behaviours of Antarctic minke whales," Dr Allen said.  

"Understanding these patterns is crucial, especially as climate change continues to impact the Antarctic ecosystem." 

The study underscored the importance of Antarctic minke whales as top krill predators, highlighting their role within the ecosystem.  

The synchronised foraging behaviour observed suggested these whales might optimise their feeding efficiency through cooperation, a behaviour previously underappreciated in this species. 

"This study is fascinating because it provides new information on complex and dynamic social and behavioural patterns by an animal that until now we had very little information about", says Dr. Friedlaender the senior investigator on the project. 

This research not only enhanced our understanding of AMW social and foraging ecology but also encouraged the need for future studies aimed at more targeted investigations.  

Dr Allen is currently a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at UCSC within the Behavioural Ecology and Bio-Telemetry Laboratory and an Adjunct Researcher with Griffith University’s Southern Ocean Persistent Organic Pollutants Program.  

The study ‘Evidence of sociality and group foraging in Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis)’ has been published in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, and was supported by the National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs via grant nos. 1643877 and 1644209, and by World Wildlife Fund grants. P0710 and 0711-02. 

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JOURNAL

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

DOI

10.1007/s00265-024-03481-4 

ARTICLE TITLE

Evidence of sociality and group foraging in Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis)

Childhood stress linked with earlier substance use in male and female teens

THE ENDOCRINE SOCIETY

BOSTON—Stress during childhood is associated with earlier substance use in male and female adolescents, according to a study presented Saturday at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Boston, Mass. Traumatic events may increase substance use risk for males, while environmental stress and early puberty may increase the risk for females, the researchers found.

Early life stress is children’s experiences of abuse, neglect and conflict. Approximately 20% of adolescents in the United States have experienced early life stress at some point, and these experiences influence adolescent and adult health behavior outcomes.

“Starting substance use at an earlier age is associated with more severe substance use disorder in adulthood,” said lead researcher Alexandra Donovan, Ph.D., of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, Calif.  “Early life stress and early puberty have both been associated with early substance use, but it wasn’t clear whether these connections are the same across boys and girls.”

Donovan and colleagues evaluated sex differences in the impact of puberty and stress on alcohol, nicotine and cannabis use by the age of 13. They analyzed data from 8,608 male and female participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, who were 9 or 10 years old when the study began. The study included data from the first three years of the ABCD study.

The researchers looked at the effects of early life stress and found it increased the likelihood of earlier use of alcohol, nicotine or cannabis use across both males and females.

Early life stress increased the likelihood of earlier substance use for males by 9-18% and for females by 13-20%.  Environmental stress increased the likelihood of early use of nicotine and cannabis in females by 15-24%. Traumatic event stress increased the likelihood in males by 15-16%. Higher pubertal development scores increased the likelihood of earlier nicotine use for females while decreasing the likelihood for males.

“Our study supports the link between early life stress and teen substance use, extending our understanding of how this connection can differ across sex,” Donovan said. “These findings may be used to refine prevention programs in schools, encouraging a more individualized approach.”

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Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

 

Bird flu: diverse range of vaccines platforms “crucial” for enhancing human pandemic preparedness

New study launches following the discovery of a second case of avian influenza spreading from cows to humans

TAYLOR & FRANCIS GROUP

Vaccination remains the most effective strategy for avian influenza prevention and control in humans, despite varying vaccine efficacy across strains.

That’s according to the authors of a new review which delves into existing research into bird flu vaccines for humans.

Published in the peer-reviewed journal Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, the results of the paper are particularly timely following news last week (Wednesday 22nd May) that the bird flu strain H5N1 had once again, for a second time, jumped from cattle in America to a human – prompting fears of subsequent human-to-human infection, with possible critical consequences.

Instances of the avian influenza were first recognized in US cattle in March. Since then, this strain has mainly spread from cow-to-cow and scientists have discovered very high levels of virus in raw milk (pasteurized milk is safe, having shown viral RNA but not infectious virus). To-date two people, however, are known to have contracted the bird flu virus. Both patients – US farmers – only reported eye symptoms and with treatment they made a full recovery.

Following tests on the first human instance, it was seen that the strain had mutated to be better adapted to mammalian cells, but as long as that human didn’t pass it onto another person it likely stopped the spread at that point.  
With the second case, the CDC has released a statement to say it has been monitoring influenza surveillance systems intently, especially in impacted states. “There has been no sign of unusual influenza activity in people, including in syndromic surveillance,” they report.

The concern now, though, is that if H5N1 continues to be given the environment in which to mutate (such as in close quarter cattle farms) – and this continues long enough – it has the potential to find a combination that will easily spread to humans.

The results of this new research, carried out by a team at the University of Georgia, USA, suggests vaccines still remain our “primary defense” against potential spread of avian influenzas such as the H5N1 and others assessed.

“The H5N1, H7N9, and H9N2 subtypes of avian influenza virus pose a dual threat, not only causing significant economic losses to the global poultry industry but also presenting a pressing public health concern due to documented spillover events and human cases,” explains lead author Flavio Cargnin Faccin, who alongside his mentor Dr. Daniel Perez of the University of Georgia, USA, analyzed the current landscape of research into human vaccines for these bird flus.

“This deep delve into the landscape of avian influenza vaccines for humans shows vaccination remains the primary defense against the spread of these viruses.”

The team examined studies of vaccines tested in mice, ferrets, non-human primates, and clinical trials of bird flu vaccines in humans, and assessed both established platforms and promising new directions.

The review carried out suggests inactivated vaccines are a safe and affordable option that primarily activate humoral immunity – the part of our immune system that produces antibodies.

Live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIVs) are known to induce a wider immune response than inactivated vaccines, activating not only antibody production but also mucosal and cellular defenses. In this review, the authors suggest this broader response may offer greater protection, though, the authors suggest further research is needed to fully understand and harness its potential benefits for both human and agricultural applications.

The review also examined alternatives, such as virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines and messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, that have emerged more recently. Although VLP vaccines for bird flu have limited clinical trial data in humans, results from studies in mice and ferrets showed promise, the authors found. mRNA vaccines against H5N1 and H7N9 bird flu subtypes also generated a rapid and strong immune response in mice and ferrets, and, while data in humans is scarce, results from a phase 1 study of an H7N9 mRNA vaccine in healthy humans were “encouraging”.

Overall, the team suggests “exploring and employing a diverse range of vaccine platforms”, will be “crucial for enhancing pandemic preparedness and mitigating the threat of avian influenza viruses”.

 

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JOURNAL

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics

DOI

10.1080/21645515.2024.2347019 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Literature review

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Pandemic preparedness through vaccine development for avian influenza viruses

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

29-May-2024