Note: Intro -- Preface -- Contents -- Part I Theoretical Framework -- 1 Connotations of Urban Metabolism -- 1.1 The Concept of an Urban Organism and Ecosystem -- 1.2 Multi-level Similarity of Urban Systems to Organisms -- 1.2.1 Similarity of the Structural Hierarchy -- 1.2.2 Similarity of the Functional Mechanisms -- 1.3 Evolution of the Concept of an Urban Metabolism -- 1.4 Urban Metabolic Processes -- 1.4.1 Metabolic Phases -- 1.4.2 External and Internal Flows -- 1.4.3 Anabolism, Catabolism, and Regulatory Metabolism -- 1.4.4 Metabolic Linkages -- 1.4.5 Metabolic Chains -- 1.4.6 Classification of the Metabolic Actors -- 1.4.7 Characteristics of the Metabolic Actors -- 1.5 Urban Metabolic Characteristics -- 1.5.1 Growth and Development -- 1.5.2 Openness and Dependency -- 1.5.3 Stability and Robustness -- References -- 2 Progress in Urban Metabolism Research -- 2.1 The Significance of Urban Metabolism Research -- 2.1.1 Feasibility -- 2.1.2 Necessity -- 2.1.3 Urgency -- 2.2 CiteSpace Knowledge Mapping Analysis -- 2.2.1 The Number of Publications -- 2.2.2 Collaborative Network Analysis -- 2.2.3 Discipline Co-occurrence Analysis -- 2.3 Research Frontier Analysis -- 2.3.1 Timeline Analysis -- 2.3.2 Cluster Analysis -- 2.3.3 Burst Analysis -- 2.3.4 Cluster Analysis for Co-cited References -- 2.3.5 Analysis of High-Frequency Co-cited Literature -- 2.4 Development Stage of Urban Metabolism Research -- 2.4.1 Early Period (1965-1980) -- 2.4.2 Slow Growth Period (1981-2000) -- 2.4.3 Rising Period (2001-Present) -- 2.5 Historical Evolution of Urban Metabolism Research -- 2.5.1 Accounting Evaluation Methods -- 2.5.2 Model Simulation -- 2.5.3 Application Research -- 2.5.4 Scales and Boundaries -- References -- 3 Theory, Paradigms, and Technical Methods for Urban Metabolism -- 3.1 Composite Ecosystem Theory -- 3.1.1 Natural Subsystem -- 3.1.2 Socioeconomic Subsystem. , 3.1.3 Structural Features -- 3.1.4 Balance Between Pressure and Support -- 3.2 Thermodynamics Theory -- 3.2.1 Vitality Metabolism -- 3.2.2 Entropy -- 3.3 System Ecology Theory -- 3.3.1 Integration of Holism and Reductionism -- 3.3.2 Urban Metabolism Research Based on Systems Ecology -- 3.4 Research Paradigms -- 3.4.1 The Relationship Among the Three Research Paradigms -- 3.4.2 Natural Metabolism -- 3.4.3 Socioeconomic Metabolism -- 3.4.4 Integrated (Hybrid) Natural and Socioeconomic Metabolism Paradigm -- 3.5 Technical Framework -- References -- Part II Methods -- 4 Accounting Evaluation of Urban Metabolism -- 4.1 Material Flow Analysis -- 4.1.1 Flow Accounting -- 4.1.2 Stock Accounting -- 4.2 Substance Flow Analysis -- 4.2.1 Carbon Accounting -- 4.2.2 Nitrogen Accounting -- 4.3 Emergy Analysis -- 4.4 Measuring the system's Evolution -- 4.4.1 Measurement Index System -- 4.4.2 Information Entropy Index -- 4.4.3 Harmonious Development Model -- 4.5 Measuring Interactions Between the Natural and Socioeconomic Systems -- 4.5.1 Measurement Index System -- 4.5.2 Sustainability Index -- References -- 5 Network Models to Simulate Urban Metabolism -- 5.1 Network Models Based on Physical Metabolism -- 5.1.1 Urban Water Metabolic Network Models -- 5.1.2 Urban Energy Metabolic Network Models -- 5.1.3 Urban Carbon and Nitrogen Metabolic Network Models -- 5.1.4 Urban Material Metabolic Network Models -- 5.1.5 Urban Emergy Metabolic Network Models -- 5.2 Spatially Explicit Models Based on Land Use and Cover Change -- 5.2.1 Principles for Developing Spatially Explicit Carbon Metabolic Network Models -- 5.2.2 Spatially Explicit Models of an Urban Carbon Metabolic Network -- 5.3 Network Models Based on Input-Output Tables -- 5.3.1 Development of an Input-Output Table -- 5.3.2 Compilation of the Input-Output Table Based on the Material Consumption Intensity Coefficient. , 5.3.3 Analogy Between Trophic Levels and Metabolic Network Models -- 5.3.4 Compilation of the Input-Output Table Based on the Energy Consumption Intensity Coefficient -- 5.4 Simulation of Network Characteristics -- 5.4.1 Network Structure Simulation -- 5.4.2 Network Function Simulation -- 5.4.3 Network Path Simulation -- References -- 6 Regulation and Optimization of an Urban Metabolism -- 6.1 Factor Decomposition Models -- 6.1.1 Decomposition Model for an Urban Carbon Metabolism -- 6.1.2 Refine the Decomposition Model for the Social and Economic Factors -- 6.1.3 Classification Model for Energy-Related Carbon Emission -- 6.1.4 Decomposition Model for an Urban Nitrogen Metabolism -- 6.1.5 Decomposition Model of Material Metabolism -- 6.2 Decoupling State Criteria -- 6.3 Center of Gravity Model -- 6.4 System Dynamics Simulation Model -- 6.4.1 Optimization Model for a City's Industrial Structure -- 6.4.2 Optimization Model for Human Carrying Capacity -- References -- Part III Applications -- 7 Analysis of Material Metabolic Process: Urban Weight -- 7.1 Urban Weight Analysis from a Flow Perspective -- 7.1.1 Analysis of Urban Flows' Weight and Its Structure -- 7.1.2 Contributions of the Metabolic Components -- 7.1.3 Identification of the Driving Forces Behind the Urban Weight -- 7.1.4 The Significance of Measuring Urban Weight from the Flow Perspective -- 7.1.5 Comparisons with Other Cities -- 7.1.6 Diagnosis of and Solutions to Material Metabolism Problems in Beijing -- 7.2 Urban Weight Analysis for Beijing from the Perspective of Stocks -- 7.2.1 Analysis of Urban Stocks' Weight and Its Structure -- 7.2.2 Structural Analysis of the Stock Subtypes -- 7.2.3 Changes in the Relationship Between the Weights and Socioeconomic Factors -- 7.2.4 The Significance of Measuring Urban Weight from the Stock Perspective -- 7.2.5 Comparison with Other Research. , 7.2.6 Diagnosis of Metabolic Disorders in Beijing from a Stock Perspective and Recommended Solutions -- 7.3 Identification of Key Entities in Beijing's Material Metabolism -- 7.3.1 Relevance Analysis -- 7.3.2 Analysis of the Ecological Relationships -- 7.3.3 Identifying the Key Actors -- 7.3.4 Conclusions and Prospects -- References -- 8 Analysis of a City's Energy Metabolism -- 8.1 Analysis of Energy Metabolic Processes -- 8.1.1 Analysis of a Metabolic Network -- 8.1.2 Shifts of the Centers of Gravity for Energy Production and Consumption -- 8.1.3 Advantages of Models with Different Precision -- 8.1.4 Diagnosis of Urban Energy Metabolism Problems and Potential Solutions -- 8.1.5 Spatial Patterns of Supply and Demand for the Energy Types -- 8.1.6 Conclusions Related to the Centers of Gravity for Energy Supply and Demand -- 8.2 Analysis of the Characteristics of Urban Emergy Metabolic Networks -- 8.2.1 Metabolic Characteristics -- 8.2.2 Metabolic Paths and Relationships -- 8.2.3 Management Suggestions Based on Beijing's Emergy Accounting Evaluation -- 8.2.4 Suggestions for Improving the Urban Energy Metabolic Network -- 8.3 Analysis of the Embodied Energy Metabolism Network of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region -- 8.3.1 Analysis of the Embodied Energy Metabolism of the Nodes -- 8.3.2 Analysis of the Embodied Energy Metabolism of Paths -- 8.3.3 Relationships Analysis -- 8.3.4 Research Innovations and Comparison with Previous Research -- 8.3.5 Policy Recommendations -- 8.3.6 Importance of Multi-Scale Comparative Analysis -- References -- 9 Analysis of Carbon Metabolic Processes -- 9.1 Identification of the Key Metabolic Actors in the Urban Carbon System -- 9.1.1 Changes of the Carbon Metabolism and Its Structure -- 9.1.2 Identification of the Key Actors Based on the Carbon Imbalance Index. , 9.1.3 Identification of Key Actors Based on the Carbon External Dependence Index -- 9.1.4 Comparison with Previous Research -- 9.1.5 Explanations of the Research Results -- 9.2 Spatial Analysis for the Carbon Metabolism of an Urban Agglomeration -- 9.2.1 Carbon Metabolism Accounting and Its Spatial Distribution -- 9.2.2 Impact of Land Use Changes on the Carbon Emission and Absorption -- 9.2.3 Comparison of Carbon Spatial Variation with Other Studies -- 9.2.4 Comparison of the Impact of Land Use Change on Carbon Throughput with Previous Research -- 9.3 Spatial Network Analysis of Beijing's Carbon Metabolism -- 9.3.1 General Spatial Characteristics -- 9.3.2 Ecological Relationships and Their Spatial Patterns -- 9.3.3 Comparison with Previous Research on Spatial Distributions -- 9.3.4 Comparison with Previous Research on Ecological Relationships -- 9.4 Path Analysis of the Carbon Involved in Trade Between the United States and China -- 9.4.1 CO2 Transfers in Imports and Exports -- 9.4.2 Import Links Among Sectors in the United States and China -- 9.4.3 Export Links Among Sectors in the United States and China -- 9.4.4 Adjustment of the Carbon Mitigation Targets to Account for CO2 Transfers in Trade -- 9.4.5 The Importance of the Research Perspective -- 9.4.6 Comparison with Previous Research -- References -- 10 Analysis of the Urban Nitrogen Metabolism -- 10.1 Accounting for Nitrogen Metabolism and Its Key Influencing Factors in Beijing -- 10.1.1 Analysis of the Total Input of Reactive Nitrogen -- 10.1.2 Analysis of the Structural Characteristics of the Reactive Nitrogen Inputs -- 10.1.3 Analysis of Anthropogenic Nitrogen Consumption -- 10.1.4 Contributions of Influencing Factors -- 10.1.5 Comparison with Previous Research on the Total Characteristics of Urban Nitrogen Metabolism. , 10.1.6 Comparison with Previous Research on the Structural Characteristics of Urban Nitrogen Metabolism.