Digital transformation, as a recent trend in socioeconomic development, is considered as a critical pathway for urban carbon reduction because of its potential to increase productivity and energy efficiency. However, few studies have explored the relationship between urban digitalization and carbon emissions (CE). Therefore, this study systematically analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution and interaction mechanism between digitalization and CE in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) urban agglomerations of China during 2006-2020 based on a multidimensional indicator system, including digitalization industry level, digitalization application level, and urban green digitalization willingness. The findings revealed that both digitalization and CE in the YRD exhibit a significant and synchronously evolving "core-periphery" spatial pattern. Core cities generated substantial positive spillover effect on periphery cities through technology diffusion and policy demonstration, advancing both regional digitalization and the collaborative governance of CE. However, digitalization had dual impact on CE. On the one hand, it promoted the reduction of CE by enhancing energy efficiency, optimizing industrial structures, and promoting the application of green technologies. On the other hand, the expansion of digital infrastructure introduced a potential risk of increased energy consumption. Therefore, targeted policy recommendations are proposed to facilitate the coordination of environmental sustainability and digitalization in the YRD. This study provides empirical support and policy insights for advancing the coordinated development of regional digital transformation and green low-carbon initiatives.

Recently, resilience assessment has become a significant research topic, as it is crucial for regional disaster mitigation. It is important to identify road network resilience characteristics to improve regional traffic and handling capacity during emergencies, which ensures regional transport safety management and sustainable development. In this paper, a complex-network-based resilience assessment framework coupled with resilience curve characteristics, such as vulnerability, survivability, adaptability, responsiveness and resilience, was established. Typical Chinese regions with the most extensive disaster distribution were selected to reproduce real historical disaster scenarios for comparative analysis and research. The results showed that 1) the process of the change in the resilience of the road network during a disaster conforms to the characteristics of the resilience curve; 2) dense, homogeneous networks are more resilient than sparse, clustered networks; 3) road sections with more redundancy and substitutability are more resilient; and 4) the severity of the decline in traffic network performance in disaster areas is related to the attributes of road segments and network interference methods.

On 12 May, 2008, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Wenchuan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, causing substantial losses of human life and property. This paper takes ten counties and cities along the road network in the extremely severe disaster areas of the Wenchuan earthquake as research objects and extracts typical road network characteristics for 10 time points during the pre-earthquake, damage and repair processes. Then, it builds three resilience assessment indices, namely, the overall integrity, overall connectivity and effective connectivity with the complex network and resilience framework, to investigate the road network resilience. A resilience curve of the road system based on real data from the extremely severe disaster areas of the Wenchuan earthquake is obtained here for the first time, revealing the total variation characteristics and key sections of the road system in terms of resilience and proposing strategies for resilience optimization.

How to assess the risk of flood disasters and improve the resilience of coastal cities has become a scientific problem that must be solved urgently. This paper aims to construct a resilience assessment model for transport systems in the context of climate change based on an analysis of the spatial characteristics of regional transport networks and complex network theory, using the Pudong New Area in Shanghai, China as the empirical object. Other objectives of the developed model are to establish a system of homogeneity, efficiency, and stability indicators and to assess the impact of flood depth (up to 7 m) on the resilience of transport networks in terms of static network structure and dynamic network performance by designing flood inundation disturbance scenarios. Finally, the characteristics, change trends, and conceptual connotations of the resilience of transport networks in coastal cities are condensed. The results of this study provide a solid scientific basis for future flood disaster risk management in global coastal cities.

Emergency road networks (ERNs), an important part of local disaster prevention systems, can provide security to residents and their property. Exploring the ERNs structure is of great significance in terms of promoting disaster prevention and establishing road safety in dangerous mountainous areas. This study considered the ERNs of the Kangding section of the Dadu River Basin as the area for a case study. Complex Network Analysis was used to examine the relationship between the four characteristic indicators of mountain roads and the degree of earthquake impacts under the Lushan, Wenchuan, and Kangding Earthquake scenarios. Based on the analysis results, the southwest mountain road network was evaluated; then, computer simulations were used to evaluate the structural changes in the road network after index changes. The network was optimized, and the corresponding emergency avoidance network was proposed to provide a reference for the establishment of the mountainous ERN. The results show that the overall completeness of the mountainous ERNs in Southwest China is poor and prone to traffic accidents. Moreover, the local stability is poor, and the network is susceptible to natural hazards. The overall structure of the road network is balanced, but that of certain road sections is not. Road sections with different attributes present a “gathering-scattering” spatial distribution, i.e, some sections are clustered together while others are far apart. Accordingly, a planning optimization strategy is proposed to better understand the complexity and systematic nature of the mountainous ERN as a whole and to provide a reference for disaster prevention and mitigation planning in mountainous regions in Southwest China.

Background : We sought to evaluate the long-term antihypertensive effects of salt substitution containing low sodium, high potassium, and high magnesium in hypertensive patients by home blood pressure measurements.Methods: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted.A total of 220 hypertensive patients were enrolled and randomly divided into the salt substitution group (n = 110) and a control group (the regular salt group; n = 110) for 1 year.Home blood pressure was measured at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months.Blood and spot morning urine samples were collected at baseline and up to 12 months.Results: A total of 97% subjects completed the trial.Home systolic and diastolic blood pressures between the regular salt and salt substitution groups were not significantly different at baseline.Compared with the regular salt group, home systolic blood pressure was lower in the salt substitute group at 3, 6, and 12 months (P < 0.05).However, home diastolic blood pressure was not significantly different between the 2 groups at any time points (all P > 0.05).Compared with the regular salt group, the salt substitute group showed lower urine sodium and urine sodium-to-potassium ratio at 6 and 12 months (P < 0.05) and higher urine potassium at 6 and 12 months (P < 0.05).Serum sodium, potassium, creatinine, and urea nitrogen were not significantly different between the 2 groups at 3 and 12 months (all P > 0.05).Conclusions: Salt substitution containing low sodium, high potassium, and high magnesium reduces home systolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients.