Central China Region Research Articles

Quasi-weekly oscillation of regional PM2.5 transport over China driven by the synoptic-scale disturbance of the East Asian winter monsoon circulation

Abstract. Regional PM2.5 transport is an important cause of atmospheric environment change. However, the variations in regional PM2.5 transport on a synoptic scale with meteorological drivers have been incomprehensively understood. Therefore, this study is targeted at the quasi-weekly oscillation (QWO) of regional PM2.5 transport over central and eastern China (CEC) with the influence of synoptic-scale disturbance of the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) circulation. By constructing the data of daily PM2.5 transport flux in CEC in the winters of 2015–2019, we utilize the extended empirical orthogonal function (EEOF) decomposition and other statistical methods to extract the moving spatial distribution of regional PM2.5 transport over CEC, recognizing the QWO in regional PM2.5 transport with the spatial–temporal variations over CEC. The source–receptor relationship in regional transport of PM2.5 is identified with the 2 d lag effect of the North China Plain, as the upwind source region, on the PM2.5 pollution change in the Twain-Hu Basin, as the downwind receptor region in central China. The QWO of regional PM2.5 transport over CEC is regulated by the synoptic-scale disturbance of the EAWM circulation with the periodic activities of the Siberian high. These findings provide new insights into the understanding of regional PM2.5 transport with the source–receptor relationship and the meteorological mechanism in atmospheric environment change.

Research on the life stress and hypertension among young couples of childbearing age

Objective: To investigate the current status of life stress and hypertension among couples of childbearing age across diverse economic regions in China, and to explore relevant influencing factors. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study, with subjects from the "Research on the standardized system of comprehensive prevention and control of birth defects based on preconception-prenatal-postnatal whole chain". From February to May 2021, urban and rural couples of childbearing age (18-49 years old) from Beijing, Henan, and Gansu provinces were enrolled, representing the eastern, central, and western regions of China, respectively. The detection rate, cognition and control of hypertension in the general population, as well as the detection rate of hypertension in different genders and regions were analyzed. Subjects were divided into hypertensive group and non-hypertensive group based on whether their blood pressure was≥140/90 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), and the general clinical data of the two groups were compared. Subjects were also divided into prehypertension and hypertension group and normal blood pressure group based on whether their blood pressure was≥130/80 mmHg, and the general clinical data of the two groups were compared, with subgroup analyses conducted by gender. Multifactorial logistic regression model was applied to identify factors associated with prehypertension and hypertension in both males and females. Results: A total of 1 942 couples of childbearing age, comprising 3 884 individuals, aged (29.8±5.2) years were enrolled, with 1 942 males (50.0%). The overall hypertension detection rate was 6.3% (246/3 884), with a detection rate of 10.5% (203/1 942) in males and 2.2% (43/1 942) in females. The hypertension detection rates in Beijing, Henan, and Gansu were 6.2% (92/1 482), 11.6% (139/1 200), and 1.2% (15/1 202), respectively. The overall detection rate of prehypertension and hypertension was 40.5% (1 574/3 884). Multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that life pressure factors had no effect on female blood pressure levels (P>0.05), while a significant or high level of life/work pressure was a risk factor for prehypertension and hypertension in males (OR=2.30, 95%CI 1.06-4.99, P<0.05). Conclusion: The detection rate of prehypertension and hypertension among young couples of childbearing age in China is high, with poor awareness and control of hypertension. There are sex differences in the relationship between life pressure and blood pressure levels. Comprehensive consideration of individual living environments and mental health factors is crucial in blood pressure management. Measures to reduce life stress and enhance mental resilience should be implemented to address this public health issue.

The Impact of the River Chief System on Corporate ESG Performance: Evidence from China

This paper takes the implementation of the River Chief System (RCS) as a case study representing government-led environmental governance policies. Based on the sample of 11,654 observations of Chinese A-share-listed companies spanning the years 2009 to 2021, it empirically examines the effect of the RCS on corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance and the macro- and micro-mechanisms utilizing a staggered Difference-in-Differences (DID) model, controlling for companies’ financial and organizational structure characteristic variables, cities’ economic characteristic variables, and firm-year two-way fixed effects. The results indicate that the implementation of the RCS significantly enhances corporate ESG performance, a conclusion supported by various robustness checks such as the parallel trend test and placebo test. Further investigation reveals that implementing the RCS, at the micro level, boosts corporate green technology innovation, increases environmental protection investment, and, at the macro level, heightens public environmental attention, thus improving corporate ESG performance. Heterogeneity analysis finds that the RCS has a more pronounced impact on enhancing ESG performance for enterprises in central and western regions of China, state-owned enterprises, enterprises with political connections, and enterprises in mature and declining stages. These research findings of this paper provide valuable insights for local governments seeking to enhance the RCS, enrich environmental governance frameworks, and facilitate corporate green transformation.

A survey on the implementation of family doctor contract services in China from the perspective of resident demand.

To understand the implementation of the family doctor contract service system in China from the perspective of resident demand. A stratified random sampling design was employed to survey 6380 residents across the eastern, central, and western regions of China. Data were processed using SPSS 22.0 and Python, and statistical methods such as chi-square and rank sum tests were applied. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the impact of various factors. (i) Overall implementation of the family doctor contract service system in China: (a) Nationwide awareness rate was 64.73%, with a contracting rate of 12.98%. (b) The overall satisfaction score for the implementation of contracted services was 3.78 out of 5, indicating general satisfaction. (ii) Regional implementation of the family doctor contract service system in the eastern, central, and western regions: (a) Awareness in the eastern region (67.76%) was higher than the national average (64.73%), while it was lower in the central region (60.44%). (b) The contracting rate in the eastern region (15.02%) was also above the national average, with the western region having the lowest rate (12.28%) but the highest willingness to contract. The current state of implementation of China's family doctor contract service system is far from the goals set out in the "Guidance on Promoting High-Quality Development of Family Doctor Contract Services". Inadequate promotion of the system and subpar service quality post-contract have led to low public trust and satisfaction. The construction of family doctor teams and the contract service guarantee mechanism remain underdeveloped.

Spatial-temporal distribution and evolution of medical and health talents in China

BackgroundIn the context of public health emergencies, the presence of medical and health talents (MHT) is critically important for support in any country or region. This study aims to analyze the spatial and temporal distributions and evolution of MHT in China and propose strategies and recommendations for promoting a balanced distribution.MethodsThis research used data from 31 provinces in China to construct a multidimensional index system for measuring the agglomeration level of MHT. The indices include talent agglomeration density (TAD), talent agglomeration scale (TAS), talent agglomeration intensity (TAI), and talent agglomeration equilibrium (TAE). Using provincial data from the years 1982, 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020, a spatiotemporal analysis of the MHT agglomeration levels was conducted. Furthermore, the regional dynamic distribution of MHT was analyzed using kernel density estimation diagrams. The spatial autocorrelation of MHT was assessed through global and local Moran’s I, and the spatial gap and decomposition of MHT were analyzed using the Dagum Gini coefficient.ResultsFrom the temporal level, the TAD and TAI of MHT showed an increasing trend over the studied period, whereas TAS decreased and TAE first increased and then decreased from 1982 to 2020. At the spatial level, the TAD, TAS, TAI, and TAE of MHT exhibited varied patterns among the eastern, central, and western regions of China, showing significant geographical disparities, generally demarcated by the Hu Huanyong Line. The regional dynamic distribution level of MHT in the country and the three regions were expanding. Spatial autocorrelation analysis using global and local Moran’s I for TAD, TAS, TAI, and TAE demonstrated significant regional differences. The Dagum Gini coefficient of TAD, TAS, TAI, and TAE revealed divergent trends in regional disparities, with overall declines in disparities for TAD and TAI, a slight increase for TAS, and fluctuating patterns for TAE.ConclusionsFrom a temporal perspective, the overall number of MHT in China has been increasing annually at the national and provincial levels. From the spatial perspective, TAD, TAS, TAI, and TAE exhibit significant differences among the three regions. Kernel analysis reveals that the distribution differences are gradually expanding in national level and varying in regional level. Moreover, the global and local Moran’s I indices reveal varying spatial autocorrelation for TAD, TAS, TAI, and TAE. The Dagum Gini coefficients of TAD, TAS, TAI, and TAE show different patterns of decomposition.

Educational sustainability: A multi-scale elementary school resource distribution variability from China.

The allocation of educational resources is a critical factor in the sustainable development of education. This study developed a framework for assessing educational resource allocation indicators integrating multi-scale and multi-dimensional indicators. China's geographic regions and development periods were analyzed for intra-regional variability, inter-regional variability across different periods, and spatio-temporal coupling variability characteristics. The study reveals that the internal variability of primary education resources in the eastern, central, and western regions of China has significantly decreased, with the Gini coefficient in the western region dropping from 0.40 in 2006 to 0.12 in 2020. The country's macro-policy regulation has steadily reduced the variation in physical educational resources between regions. The spatiotemporally coupled variability indicators demonstrate that the Rural Revitalization Strategy has substantially enhanced educational and physical resources in rural areas. However, the regional variability in the indicator of teachers per capita with graduate degrees continues to widen. The coupling-cumulative variance ratio (CVR) between the eastern urban and western rural areas increased to 1836.53%, and the western urban and western rural difference ratio increased to 1117.58%. Based on these findings, the study discusses the characteristics of each sector, utilizing methods of supervision, cooperation, communication, and guidance to create a dynamic mechanism for maintaining equity in educational resources. This study aims to provide methodological and data recommendations for analyzing equitable resource distribution in educational settings across other developing nations and regions.

The characteristic of poverty-alleviation behavioral strategies of the rural poor population and their relationship with socio-demographic factors.

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the fundamental patterns and characteristics of poverty-alleviation behavior strategies among rural poor population. It aims to examine the association between the key socio-demographic characteristics of these populations and their poverty-alleviation strategies, thereby identifying the individual and sociocultural factors related to these behaviors. This study employs a questionnaire designed to assess poverty-alleviation behavior strategies among rural poor population. Field surveys were conducted in over 80 natural villages across eight provinces and regions in central, northwestern, and southwestern China, involving 1,457 rural poor population. The data collected were analyzed using a questionnaire assessment method to explore the relationship between poverty-alleviation behavior strategies and socio-demographic factors. Factor analysis indicates that the poverty-alleviation behavior strategies of rural poor population primarily manifest as fatalism, pragmatism, skepticism, and helplessness. Reliability and validity analyses demonstrate that the Poverty-alleviation Behavior Strategies Questionnaire exhibits high internal consistency reliability, composite reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. Hierarchical regression analysis reveals that socio-demographic characteristics such as health status, educational level, family size, main occupation, and income sources have predictive power regarding the formation of pragmatic and fatalistic poverty-alleviation strategies. Among the four types of poverty-alleviation behavior strategies identified among rural poor population, fatalistic and pragmatic strategies are critically significant for poverty-alleviation efforts and should receive heightened attention from poverty-alleviation workers. While socio-demographic characteristics have limited explanatory power for poverty-alleviation strategies, the sociocultural foundations of pragmatic and fatalistic strategies are relatively more pronounced. Improving the socio-demographic characteristics of rural poor population can, to some extent, facilitate the adoption of pragmatic poverty-alleviation strategies and mitigate the reliance on fatalistic strategies. This conclusion has practical implications for conducting poverty-alleviation work in rural areas.

Investigations on Beekeeping and Breeding of Apis cerana in China.

The worldwide value of the honey bee as an agricultural animal is increasingly being recognized. Not only does the honey bee directly produce useful agricultural products, but also large portions of crops are dependent on the pollination activities of honey bees. Apis cerana (A. cerana), the native honey bee of China, is widely distributed in the country. Studying the biological environment and colony management of A. cerana is important for its conservation and breeding. This study investigated the apiculture of A. cerana among a total of 201 beekeepers in the eastern, southern, northwestern and central regions of China and conducted data analysis on the surveyed data. The results showed that the most favorite traits for beekeepers are colony size, colony health and honey production. Compared with Apis mellifera ligustica, A. cerana is more adaptable to low temperature and scattered nectar sources. The results help to optimize the breeding programs of A. cerana and further contribute to substantive breeding accomplishments with honey bees which have enhanced their role in modern agriculture.

The challenge of home and community older adult care in China: a survey of the capability of primary care physicians in providing geriatric healthcare services

IntroductionIn the context of ageing at home and in the community, healthcare services for older adult people in China are mainly provided by primary care physicians (PCPs). This study aimed to understand the level of geriatric healthcare service capability of PCPs in China and to give recommendations for improving care.MethodsWe surveyed PCPs in the eastern, central, and western regions of China, using a combination of multi-stage stratified cluster sampling and typical sampling. We evaluated the capability of PCPs in geriatric healthcare services in terms of diagnosis and treatment of common diseases, health management of the older adult, and health management of patients with chronic diseases. We compared the capability of PCPs in different regions, in urban and rural areas, and with different characteristics.ResultsWe found that Chinese primary care doctors had a low level of education and tended to be older in age. We also found a lack of general practitioners in China. Among the 8,469 respondents, 6,497 (76.7%) could diagnose and treat common diseases; 7,755 (91.6%) were capable of managing the health of the older adult, and 7,787 (91.9%) could manage the health of patients with chronic diseases.ConclusionResults indicated that China’s primary care physician workforce was of low quality. There were deficiencies in all competencies in geriatric healthcare services, and there were differences in capability between urban and rural areas. The findings suggest China’s primary healthcare services should be strengthened with targeted training and an emphasis should be placed on developing basic skills in geriatric healthcare services.

Declining trends and regional variations of organophosphate ester contamination in indoor dust from mainland China: Insights from a filed study and meta-analysis.

This study investigated the presence of 20 organophosphate esters (OPEs) in indoor dust samples collected from the Chinese cities of Lanzhou, Xining, and Lhasa. The results demonstrate the ubiquitous presence of most OPEs in these three cities, with the highest concentrations of ΣOPEs found in Xining. We also summarized the occurrence of OPEs in indoor environments from 38 studies with 1875 samples collected across various regions of mainland China from 2012 to 2023. The weighted-median concentration of ΣOPEs in indoor dust exhibited region-specific variations, range from 381.9 to 6622.5ng/g. Chloroalkyl-OPEs (Cl-OPEs) (e.g., tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tri(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP), and tri (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP)) predominated in all seven regions (range: 38.9%-71.4%). TCIPP was predominant in the Central China, North China, Northeast China, Northwest China, Southwest China, and Southwest China regions, while TCEP dominated in the Eastern China region. A significant downward trend in OPE concentrations in indoor environments was observed during the investigated period. Dust ingestion was identified as the predominant pathway of human exposure to OPEs indoors. The hazard quotients for Cl-OPEs were below the non-carcinogenic threshold, suggesting significant health risks are unlikely. This study underscores the widespread occurrence of OPEs in indoor dust across mainland China, emphasizing the necessity for ongoing monitoring and regulation of these chemicals.

Evolutionary characteristics, regional differences and spatial effects of coupled coordination of rural revitalization, new-type urbanization and ecological environment in China

Rural revitalization (R), new-type urbanization (U) and the ecological environment (E) are a unity of complementary advantages and mutual promotion and coexistence, the coupling and coordination of the three is the key to realizing the Chinese modernization and the harmonious coexistence of human beings and nature. Based on China’s provincial panel data from 2011 to 2022, this paper constructed a comprehensive evaluation index for the R-U-E system, using the entropy method, coupled coordination model, Dagum’s Gini coefficient, kernel density estimation, spatial correlation analysis, and spatial Durbin model to explore the level of comprehensive development, spatial-temporal evolutionary characteristics of coupled coordination, regional differences and spatial effects of the three systems. The following results were observed: (1) The comprehensive index of rural revitalizationand new-type urbanization exhibits a growing trend and significant regional differences, with East China outperforming other regions, but the average value of below 0.5 needs to be further improved. The ecological environment index exhibits a smoother growth trend, higher in South China than in other regions. (2) The level of R-U-E coupling coordination has increased year on year, from barely coordinated to primary coordination. (3) The spatial imbalance in coupling coordination has improved both nationally and in the seven regions, with the largest intra-regional differences in South China and the smallest intra-regional differences in Central China. The differences between the Northeast and Central China regions exhibit a widening trend, while the differences between all other regions exhibit a decreasing trend. Interregional variations are the main factor affecting overall variance, but their impact on the overall variance is gradually diminishing. (4) The level of coupling coordination has obvious spatial correlation, and the “high-high” and “low-low” cluster aggregation characteristics was evident. (5) Government behavior and the levels of economic growth, human capital, and digitization significantly contribute to the coupled and coordinated development of the region and, at the same time, have a significant spatial spillover effect on neighboring provinces; the degree of openness to the outside world contributed to the coordinated development of the region, while it had an inhibitory effect on the neighboring provinces; and the drive to innovate has only a certain contributing effect on the neighboring regions. Targeted policy measures in response to this paper’s empirical findings may provide policymakers with a reference point for achieving regional sustainable development goals.

The impact of the development level of rural e-commerce on the depressive symptoms among rural older adult individuals.

In the context of China, where the demographic trend of population aging intertwines with the rapid advancement of information digitalization, rural older adult individuals, who are part of a vulnerable population, are witnessing a deteriorating depression status. The proliferation of rural e-commerce, which fuels the digital economic revolution in rural areas, is concurrently affecting the depressive symptoms among rural older adult individuals. This study uses longitudinal data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and applies a multi-period Difference-in-Differences (DID) model to explore how rural e-commerce affects the depressive symptoms among rural older adult individuals. The findings indicate that the development of rural e-commerce can indeed improve the depressive symptoms among rural older adult individuals, with a particularly pronounced effect on those residing in the eastern and central regions of China, as well as those who do not live with their children. The mechanism analysis indicates that e-commerce improves depressive symptoms among rural older adult individuals by enhancing social interaction frequency and increasing financial support by children. Based on these insights, we recommend a targeted approach to implementing e-commerce policies in rural areas, focusing on innovative methods to improve the depressive symptoms among rural older adult individuals.

Experimental investigation on freeze–thaw resistance of thermally activated recycled fine powder concrete

Recycled fine powder (RFP) is a new auxiliary cementitious material with potential activation. However, prior to its applications in concrete, its durability should be examined. This study focuses on RFP as the study subject. Through the freeze–thaw test of concrete, indexes such as the appearance change, mass and relative dynamic elastic modulus loss, microstructure, and pore and bubble structures are analyzed. The freeze–thaw model is used to predicate the service life of concrete under freeze–thaw cycles. The effect of a high RFP dosage on the freeze–thaw resistance of concrete before and after thermal activation is comprehensively examined. Results show that the appearance damage increases gradually when the RFP content is more than 15 %. For RFP dosages of 45 % and 60 %, thermally activated RFP concrete exhibits better freeze–thaw resistance than inactivated RFP concrete, and the maximum number of freeze–thaw cycles that thermally activated RFP can withstand is greater than that for inactivated RFP concrete. The mass loss and relative dynamic elastic modulus loss of thermally activated RFP concrete at 60 % dosage are lower than those of inactivated RFP concrete. Microscopic analysis shows that the most probable pore size, the proportion of harmful pores and more-harmful harmful pores of the thermally activation of RFP concrete is smaller than that of the inactivated RFP concrete when the dosages are 45 % and 60 %. Under the SEM image of dosage 60 %, the gels of the thermally activation of RFP concrete are more dense. These results indicate that the thermally activation of RFP tends to refine the pore structure and improve the pore distribution. Furthermore, the average radius and spacing of bubbles are smaller when the dosage of activated RFP is 60 %, thereby improving the freeze–thaw resistance of concrete. In this study, the freeze–thaw model used in this paper that can effectively describe the freeze-thaw change and predict the service life of RFP concrete. When the RFP dosage is 60 %, the lifespan of thermally activated RFP concrete is 2.4–3 times longer than that of inactivated RFP concrete, meeting the needs for structural designs in the central and southern regions of China for 50 years. The research results provide a theoretical basis for RFP resource utilization and the determination of the actual service life of RFP concrete.

A122: Connections Between Mindfulness, Obsessive Passion, Cognitive State Anxiety, and Obligatory Exercise

Background/Purpose: In the current trend of increasing youthfulness and age reduction in competitive sports, the issue of obligatory exercise among young athletes is becoming more severe. This not only affects the physical and mental health of athletes but also hampers their prospects in the world of sports. This study used a cross-sectional research design, employing convenience sampling and snowball sampling methods. While delving into the impact of mindfulness on the issue of obligatory exercise among young athletes, it revealed the mediating role of obsessive passion and cognitive state anxiety. Method: The researchers contacted athletes from four universities, youth training centers, and high-level clubs in different provinces of central and southern China. Among the respondents, (1) 69% of the participants were under the age of 23; (2) in the past year, about 70% of athletes participated in sports competitions only 1-3 times. The reason for this relatively high number is attributed to the official lifting of COVID-19 prevention and control measures in China on January 8, 2023, allowing sports competitions to resume. Prior to that date, sports competitions could not be held normally, and athletes were unable to participate in them. Results: This study progressed to scrutinize the structural model using AMOS v.23, aimed at substantiating the formulated hypotheses. Employing 5,000 bootstrap samples, the outcomes of CFA consistently aligned with established criteria (χ2/df = 2.755, GFI = 0.907, NFI = 0.940, TLI = 0.954, CFI = 0.961, RMSEA = 0.066), unequivocally indicating an alignment between the model and empirical data. The findings distinctively underscored the indirect effect of mindfulness on obligatory exercise, which was mediated through cognitive state anxiety and obsessive passion. This mediation yielded a robust estimate of -0.297 (SE = 0.041, CI = [-0.377, -0.213], p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: This study identified mindfulness can indirectly improve the obligatory exercise issues of young athletes by reducing obsessive passion and cognitive state anxiety, acting as two mediating variables. Therefore, this study recommends that athlete management organizations and coaches prioritize monitoring the mental health levels of athletes and integrate mindfulness training into their daily routines. The data collection for this study was primarily concentrated in the central and southern regions of China. To ensure the generalizability of research conclusions, subsequent studies may consider expanding the sampling range and implementing random sampling.

A study on the potential of higher education in reducing carbon intensity.

The Chinese government has established definitive goals to reach a "carbon peak" by 2030 and achieve "carbon neutrality" by 2060. Investigating the attainment of these emission reduction objectives while simultaneously fostering regional economic growth and enhancing living standards holds critical importance. This study examines the link between higher education and carbon intensity across China's thirty provincial-level administrative regions, employing fixed effects models on provincial panel data spanning 2001-2020. The findings, validated through robustness tests and a mediation effect model, elucidate the mechanisms by which higher education influences carbon intensity. Notably, the results reveal that enhancing higher education markedly lowers carbon intensity; specifically, a 1% increase in the logarithmic transformation of per capita investment in higher education in a province decreases its carbon intensity by 0.219%. Additionally, higher education's output similarly contributes to reductions in carbon intensity. The influence of higher education on reducing carbon intensity is particularly pronounced in the central and western regions of China. Moreover, higher education facilitates the reduction of carbon intensity through mechanisms such as promoting environmental consciousness, advancing industrial structure, and encouraging technological innovation.

How Digital Innovation Ecosystems Facilitate Low-Carbon Transformation of the Economy Based on a Dynamic Qualitative Comparative Analysis

The digital innovation ecosystem is an important driving force for building a modern economic development system. It is of great significance to explore the multiple configuration paths of digital innovation ecosystems affecting the development of the low-carbon transformation of the economy to facilitate the green and sustainable development of the economy. We have found through our research that the types of configuration that lead to the development of a high-level low-carbon economy are ‘subjects-resource-environment linkage’ and ‘subjects-environment driven’. The former is the key configuration path that leads to the development of a high-level low-carbon economy. In both models, a high-level digital environment is the core condition that facilitates the development of a high-level low-carbon economic transformation. Moreover, in the spatial dimension, there is a significant difference in the types of configuration that achieve low-carbon economic transformation in the eastern, central, and western regions of China. The findings of this study reveal how the three major subsystems of the digital innovation ecosystem synergistically affect the low-carbon transformation of the economy. It not only helps to improve the relevant theories, but also brings certain references for improving the ‘synergy’ between low-carbon development and economic growth.

Spatial and temporal variation in energy-based carbon dioxide emissions and their predictions at city scale in future, China

In this study, following the calculation of energy-based CO2 emissions at the provincial scale, a downscaling method is employed to derive CO2 emissions at city scale in China. Subsequently, an innovative model is developed to forecast CO2 emissions for each city from 2020 to 2030. Our findings suggest that: (1) High CO2 emission provinces and cities are primarily situated in the North China Plain and coastal regions. (2) There exists a distinct linear relationship between energy-based CO2 emissions and nighttime lights (NTLs) across provinces on an annual scale. (3) Between 2020 and 2030, the emergence of high CO2 emission regions in central and western China is anticipated, and a predicted decline in CO2 emissions for 70 cities over this period. The methodology outlined in this study can be adapted for use in other countries and regions to assist local governments in formulating policies for carbon reduction and addressing climate change.

Regional Disparities, Economic Development, and Neonatal Mortality and Hospital Delivery in China

A negative association between neonatal mortality and hospital delivery has been found in some low- and lower-middle-income countries but not in rural settings characterized by poor quality of maternal and child health care. To examine the association between neonatal mortality and hospital delivery in China across urban and rural regions, regional disparities, and varying levels of economic development. This retrospective cohort study used county-level data from 2008 to 2020 from the National Maternal & Child Health Statistics across mainland China. Statistical analysis was conducted from March to December 2023. Since 2008, China has strategically leveraged hospital deliveries with national subsidies to diminish neonatal mortality, particularly in rural areas. Neonatal mortality and hospital delivery rates were calculated, and their association was estimated using multivariable fixed-effects linear models of county-level cohort data to adjust for time-invariant differences across counties and controls for gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, women's years of education, hospital beds, and health workers. The analysis included data from 2930 counties, with 198.7 million live births across 36 255 county-year records between 2008 and 2020. The mean (SD) neonatal mortality rate per 1000 live births decreased in rural areas from 12.3 (7.5) in 2008 to 3.9 (2.7) in 2020 and decreased in urban areas from 5.0 (3.1) in 2008 to 2.0 (1.3) in 2020. Hospital delivery rates increased in rural areas from a mean (SD) of 93.4% (11.8%) in 2008 to 99.9% (0.6%) in 2020 and increased in urban areas from 97.7% (6.1%) in 2008 to 100.0% (0.1%) in 2020. In rural areas, an increase of 10 percentage points in hospital deliveries was associated with a neonatal mortality rate of -1.4 (95% CI, -1.9 to -1.0; P < .001) per 1000 live births, whereas this negative association was not observed in urban areas. When the analysis was stratified by regions and incomes, the negative association became considerably stronger in the western and central regions of China, as well as in counties with lower GDP per capita. This cohort study of more than 2900 counties in China suggests that an increase in hospital deliveries was associated with reduced neonatal mortality in rural and economically underdeveloped areas in China. To further reduce neonatal mortality and improve newborn health, it is imperative to increase the accessibility of hospital delivery services.

Effects of relative humidity on atmospheric organosulfur species derived from photooxidation and nocturnal chemistry in a forest environment

The molecular composition of organic aerosols in ambient PM2.5 was investigated at the northern foothills of Qinling Mountain region in central China during the summer of 2022. The molecular characteristics of organic matter were analyzed using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry. The number of molecular formula assignments was dominated by organosulfur species (OrgS, on average 28–47% in total). Both the number and peak area of OrgS increased significantly with higher relative humidity (RH), while those of CHO and CHON species decreased, indicating the different impacts of RH on individual organic groups. The entire study period was divided into two distinct stages, including a low RH and a high RH period (LRH and HRH). The enhanced formation of CHOS with O>7 in HRH was primarily attributed to photochemical oxidation, whereas the increase in CHONS with O>7 was driven by enhanced NO3 radical-initiated oxidation under elevated RH conditions. Nearly 50% of OrgS presented only in HRH had aliphatic structures with C≥9. Although isoprene-derived organosulfates dominated the peak area across the entire period, the monoterpenes and long-chain alkanes-derived organosulfates largely increased in HRH. The strong correlations between aerosol liquid water content and OrgS containing high oxygen content (O>7) indicate that aqueous-phase reactions played a crucial role in multigenerational oxidation of OrgS. This study highlights the important effects of RH on the formation of OrgS, particularly for organosulfates derived from monoterpenes and long-chain alkanes.

Deformation Mechanism in Central China Revealed by Regional Earthquake Tomography

Abstract The central China region (CCN) has experienced significant deformation and complex structural arrangements. We conducted research on the deformation pattern of the CCN through the 3D velocity structure of the crust and uppermost mantle obtained via body-wave tomography. This velocity structure strongly correlates with the region’s topographic features. The relationship between velocity distributions and topography indicates that compression in the east–west direction, which can lead to crustal and mantle shortening, may play a crucial role in shaping topography. The various structures between the Qinling mountain range in the west and the Tongbai–Dabie mountain range in the east highlight distinct geological processes occurring along the Qinling–Dabie orogenic belt. In addition, we propose that reservoir water has infiltrated the crystalline basement rock layer up to 15–20 km beneath the Three Gorges Reservoir. Furthermore, the Three Gorges Dam serves as a solid foundation to prevent reservoir water from seeping downstream underground.