Central Region Research Articles

Clustering of Basic Educational Resources and Urban Resilience Development in the Central Region of China—An Empirical Study Based on POI Data

This paper presents an urban resilience evaluation index system and evaluation on the clustering of educational resources based on the data of 80 prefecture-level cities in China’s central region in 2012, 2016, and 2020. The results reveal a rising trend of urban resilience in the central region of China, with the provincial capital cities exhibiting the highest levels of resilience. Educational resources are clustered in urban areas of provincial capital cities and other prefectural-level cities. Furthermore, clustering of educational resources has a significant impact on urban resilience. Policy factors play a significant role in moderating the relationship between educational resource clustering and urban resilience in large cities; however, this moderating role is not significant in small cities. These findings have significant implications for the optimal allocation of educational resources, promotion of urban resilience, and advancement of social equity.

Simulating Changes in Ecosystem Carbon Storage and Analyzing Influencing Factors in the Central Zhejiang under the Background of LUCC

Central Zhejiang is the key ecological function area of Zhejiang Province and an important part of the Qiantang River ecological corridor. Conducting simulations of ecosystem carbon storage changes and analyzing influencing factors under land-use changes in this region is of significant importance for achieving the goals of "peak carbon" and "carbon neutrality" at an early stage. This study, based on the land use data of five periods from 1980 to 2020 in central Zhejiang, coupled the GeoSOS-FLUS and the InVEST model to analyze the spatiotemporal changes in carbon storage in the region over time and project for the year 2030. The study also explored the impact of socio-economic and natural factors on changes in carbon storage. The results showed that： ① Between 1980 and 2020, urban construction land in the Zhejiang Central Region increased by 289.91%, with cultivated land and forest land being the main sources, leading to a 3% decrease in ecosystem carbon storage, amounting to 588.88×104 tons. ② High-value areas of carbon storage in the Zhejiang Central Region were concentrated in P'an-an County, Jinyun County, Wuyi County, and other areas. ③ Under the two different scenarios of natural development and ecological protection, carbon storage in the research area was projected to decrease by 1.05% and 0.05%, respectively, by 2030 compared to that in 2020. ④ Natural factors dominated the distribution of carbon storage, but their influence was gradually decreasing over time. The impact of socio-economic factors was increasing, and the combined effect of socio-economic and natural factors far outweighed the influence of a single factor on carbon storage distribution. These findings can serve as a scientific reference and guide for mitigating carbon loss in ecosystems, promoting ecosystem protection, facilitating sustainable social development, and achieving the "dual carbon" goals in Zhejiang and other regions nationwide.

Metropolization process in the rural settlement system of the Central Chernozem region of Russia

The Central Chernozem region of Russia has undergone significant changes in socio-demographic processes over the past half-century. The aim of this study was to establish the impact of metropolization on the demographic transformation of sparsely populated rural settlements for the Central Chernozem region and to develop a demographic forecast for 2030. The study’s goals were to (1) determine the scale of regional metropolises; (2) identify the impact of metropolization on the quantitative indicators of sparsely populated rural settlements; (3) establish trends in their transformation; and (4) compile a medium-term demographic forecast for the Central Chernozem region. The set objectives were achieved by integrating methods for spatial-temporal and comparative geographical analysis, statistical methods, and a combination of official statistics with sociological methods. Analysis of the level of urbanization of the regions in modern conditions (20th and 21st centuries) showed that, although this process was and remained below the national average, it did not prevent the formation of regional metropolises (Belgorod, Stary Oskol, Kursk, Voronezh, Lipetsk, Tambov) as an obvious outcome of urbanization processes. A regional pattern of degradation of the network of rural settlements, mainly the smallest and small in terms of population (1-25, 26-50 people), which make up over one third of all settlements in the Central Chernozem region of Russia, was determined. A stable long-term trend of growth in the number of abandoned villages and hamlets was established. Between the last two All-Russian population censuses (11 years), their number increased by 45%. The forecasting results obtained confirm the established patterns in the medium-term trend of “compression” of rural settlement around regional metropolis (with some exceptions). The medium-term demographic forecast showed that population concentration in metropolitan areas and further socio-demographic desertification in peripheral areas will continue with growing territorial differentiation. The obtained results of the study of the transformation of settlement systems of the Central Chernozem region as a result of the metropolization of regional centers can help government institutions in strategic planning of territorial development.

Screening chronic kidney disease through deep learning utilizing ultra-wide-field fundus images

To address challenges in screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD), we devised a deep learning-based CKD screening model named UWF-CKDS. It utilizes ultra-wide-field (UWF) fundus images to predict the presence of CKD. We validated the model with data from 23 tertiary hospitals across China. Retinal vessels and retinal microvascular parameters (RMPs) were extracted to enhance model interpretability, which revealed a significant correlation between renal function and RMPs. UWF-CKDS, utilizing UWF images, RMPs, and relevant medical history, can accurately determine CKD status. Importantly, UWF-CKDS exhibited superior performance compared to CTR-CKDS, a model developed using the central region (CTR) cropped from UWF images, underscoring the contribution of the peripheral retina in predicting renal function. The study presents UWF-CKDS as a highly implementable method for large-scale and accurate CKD screening at the population level.

Analysis of spatial structure and singularity of microbial biogeochemical anomalies in the Taiwan Strait Basin

The abundance of specific hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria (MV value) in surface soil is closely linked to the concentration of thermogenic light hydrocarbons found in the underlying layers. The identification of these bacteria using specific detection techniques offers unique insights into microbiological anomalies associated with oil and gas, underscoring the significance of delineating microbiological geochemical anomalies in the exploration process. Accurate determination of the anomaly range is crucial for forecasting potential oil and gas reservoirs. In this study, a variety of fractal and geological statistical methods were employed to analyze microbiological geochemical data from the Taiwan Strait Basin. The multifractal approach allows for the simultaneous assessment of spatial autocorrelation and singularity in geochemical fields, with the fractal distribution reflecting the localized enrichment and depletion patterns of microbiological geochemical elements in rocks and other substrates. Geological statistical methods, such as the variation function, enable the assessment of spatial autocorrelation in geochemical and geophysical fields. The results indicate that microbiological anomalies in the Jiulongjiang Depression are mainly concentrated in the southwestern part of the study area, with some anomalies also observed in the central region. Conversely, microbiological anomalies in the Jinjiang Depression are predominantly located in the southern portion of the study area. Microbiological anomalies in the study area (Jinjiang Depression and Jiulongjiang Depression) exhibit a northeast-southwest strip distribution, aligning with the trend of the depressions and faults, suggesting that faults could influence the distribution of oil and gas resources in the region. Based on microbiological statistical analyses, the Jiulongjiang Depression shows better potential for oil and gas prospects compared to the Jinjiang Depression, guiding future research efforts in the Jiulongjiang Depression.

The development of undercut and bulge on a solidified surface

Abstract This study numerically investigates the development of undercuts and bulges parallel to the scanning direction on the surface solidified from a thermocapillary molten pool. The analysis considers various parameters, including power-off time, active solute concentration, beam power and radius, surface tension, liquid thermal conductivity, viscosity, and density. The formation and shapes of undercuts and bulges directly impact the yield, fatigue, fracture strength, and stress concentration in the solidified region. Unsteady two-dimensional fluid flow and heat transfer, which drive surface deformation in metals containing surface-active solutes (e.g., iron with sulfur), are solved using COMSOL Multiphase version 5.6. The development of the undercut, bulge, and molten pool is identified in six stages, based on whether the peak temperature is below the melting temperature, between the melting and critical temperatures, or above the critical temperature during heating and power-off periods. The critical temperature, determined as a function of solute content and temperature, leads to inward surface flow in the undercut near the pool edge, while the bulge in the central region can form due to either inward or outward surface flow. The predicted undercut depth and bulge height align well with previous scaling analyses and experimental data from laser polishing. These findings are relevant to various processes, including welding, additive manufacturing, polishing, melting, and solidification.

Quasi-closed diaphragm based piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer with reduced Q and stress sensitivity for in-air rangefinding

To improve the performance of the Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (PMUT) based rangefinder and decrease its stress sensitivity, a novel design with quasi-closed structure is proposed. It adopts a circular piezoelectric composite diaphragm structure with clamped boundary, in which all the deposited stack layers in its central region are intentionally removed and additional cross-slits are created into the remaining silicon device layer. Due to the reduced mass and the enhanced thermal-viscous damping at slits, a 35.2 % decrease in quality factor Q has been achieved in the proposed PMUT when compared with the conventional design, resulting in a distinctly reduced blind area from 231.3 mm to 170.7 mm. At the same time, the proposed quasi-closed PMUT facilitates the release of accumulated stress in the device structure during fabrication and operation. As a result, an approximate 50 % reduction in frequency deviation between different as-fabricated PMUTs across the same wafer has been successfully obtained. Moreover, due to the increased linear operation range, the developed bare PMUT chip demonstrates a maximum detection distance of 3 m at the operation frequency of 71.5 kHz under 40 Vpp driving voltage. Given the advantages of lower Q, insensitivity to stress, good fabrication consistency and large linear operation range, the proposed quasi-closed PMUT design can well address the requirements on small blind area and large detection range for distance sensing applications.

Brassinosteroid signaling represses ZINC FINGER PROTEIN11 to regulate ovule development in Arabidopsis.

Brassinosteroid (BR) signaling and the C-class MADS-box gene AGAMOUS (AG) play important roles in ovule development in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). However, how BR signaling integrates with AG functions to control the female reproductive process remains elusive. Here, we showed that the regulatory role of BR signaling in proper ovule development is mediated by the transcriptional repressor gene ZINC FINGER PROTEIN 11 (ZFP11), which is a direct target of AG. ZFP11 expression initiates from the placenta upon AG induction and becomes prominent in the funiculus of ovule primordia. Plants harboring zfp11 mutations showed reduced placental length with decreased ovule numbers and some aborted ovules. During ovule development, the transcription factor BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT 1 (BZR1), which functions downstream of BR signaling, inhibits ZFP11 expression in the chalaza and nucellus. Weakened BR signaling leads to stunted integuments in ovules, resulting from the direct repression of INNER NO OUTER (INO) and WUSCHEL (WUS) by extended ZFP11 expression in the chalaza and nucellus, respectively. In addition, the zfp11 mutant shows reduced sensitivity to BR biosynthesis inhibitors and can rescue outer integument defects in brassinosteroid insensitive 1 (bri1) mutants. Thus, the precise spatial regulation of ZFP11, which is activated by AG in the placenta and suppressed by BR signaling in the central and distal regions of ovules, is essential for ensuring sufficient ovule numbers and proper ovule formation.

Lessons Learned from the Experiences of Domestic Violence Service Providers in Times of Crisis: Insights from a Central Asian Country.

Domestic violence is a widespread problem in both stable and crisis contexts. During crisis-driven periods, such as environmental, economic, political, and health emergencies, existing gender inequalities are exacerbated, and the risks of violence against women (VAW) are amplified. This qualitative study explores the experiences of professionals working in VAW organisations in a Central Asian country during the COVID-19 pandemic. By interviewing 45 professionals from social care organisations in Kazakhstan, this study aims to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the ability of VAW organisations to assist victims of domestic violence and comprehend the adjustments they made to support victims. The findings shed light on the challenges faced by VAW organisations, including reduced capacity, increased service demand, the shift to remote services, and funding cuts. The study highlights the critical role of these organisations in crises and urges the consideration of lessons learned to prevent VAW in emergency and non-emergency situations. In the Central Asian region, where domestic violence is persistent, this research offers valuable insights for interventions during and after crises. The study offers effective strategies for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5.2, which aims to eliminate violence against women, and SDG 3.8, ensuring access to healthcare, psychological support, and safe environments.

Record of albinism in European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) (Rodentia: Sciuridae) in Slovakia

The European ground squirrel is a mammalian species whose populations are declining and has therefore become the target of various conservation projects in recent years. Currently, there are only a few dozen isolated populations in the Central European region. Increased interest in these animals has contributed to the first record of albino specimens of this species. A total of four juvenile individuals from two litters from one colony were observed, and in addition to the documentation itself, elementary behaviour notes were also made. All specimens did not survive to adulthood, confirming the low survival rate of aberrant individuals in the wild.

Equity and trends in the allocation of health human resources in China from 2012 to 2021

BackgroundAs the second most populous country in the world, China has a huge demand for health human resources. Over the past decade, the Chinese government has continuously increased investment in the health sector and implemented relevant policies and systems in an attempt to enhance the overall quantity and equity of health human resources. This study aims to analyze the equity and developmental trends in the allocation of health human resources in China from 2012 to 2021, providing reference and theoretical support for the government’s further optimization of health human resources allocation.MethodsThis study collected health human resources data from 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China from 2012 to 2021. The methods employed included Lorenz curves, Gini coefficients, and agglomeration degree analysis, which examined the developmental trends and equity of health human resources from the perspectives of population and geographical.ResultsThis study found that over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the total quantity of health human resources in China, accompanied by an improvement in equity, although disparities still exist. There are notable variations in the distribution of health human resources based on geographical area, with disparities between different regions. Relative shortages of health human resources are observed in western regions, while some areas in the eastern and central regions exhibit an abundance or surplus of health human resources.ConclusionOverall, health human resources in China have experienced stable development, with an incremental improvement in allocation equity, yet there remains considerable room for progress. It is imperative to continue strengthening policy guidance and regulation to facilitate the rational flow of health human resources, narrow regional disparities, and achieve the goal of universal health coverage.

Seasonal modeling of soil erodibility in the Central Black Sea Region

Seasonal modeling of soil erodibility in the Central Black Sea Region

Trends and socio-demographic determinants of suicide-related mortality in Türkiye: An epidemiological study from 2009 to 2022.

Suicide is a leading cause of death, particularly among the young age group, in Türkiye, a country with a high population of young people. The aim of this study is determine the suicide related mortality trend and some associated socio-demographic factors in Türkiye between 2009 and 2022. The study includes an epidemiological trend on suicide. The Turkish Statistical Institute's data portal was used. The study population is 46,691 people (Male/female ratios = 74.6%/ 25.4%). Changes in mortality trends were evaluated using the Joinpoint Regression method with Annual Percentage Change (APC) and Average Percentage Change (AAPC) analysis. Over the past 14 years in Türkiye, there has been a statistically significant increase in the standardized mortality rate among males (2009-2022 APC = .76, p = .012) and a statistically non-significant decrease among females (2009-2022 APC = -1.62, p = .083). According to the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS-1) classification, the highest increase is observed in the Central Anatolia region followed by the Western Black Sea region (APC = 3.0 and 2.7, respectively; p < .005). While the percentage of primary school and below has decreasing trends (2009-2022 APC = -7.11, p < .005), there is a significant increase in the percentage of university graduates (2009-2016 APC = 10.87, p < .001). Regarding the marital status, there is a significant decrease in the percentage of those who are married (2009-2013 APC = -3.36, p < .001; 2013-2016 APC = 2.42, p = .037; 2016-2022 APC = -2.31, p = .003) and a significant increase in those who have never been married (2009-2013 APC = 2.63, p < .001; 2013-2016 APC = -1.36, p = .002). Although suicide related mortality is below the global average, there has been an increasing trend in turkey in the last 14 years. Analytical and intervention studies on the socio-demographic determinants supporting the increasing trend are needed.

Examine the Role of Indo-Pacific Sea Surface Temperatures in Recent Meteorological Drought in Sudan

Drought poses a serious threat to Sudan, causing water shortages, crop failures, hunger, and conflict. The relationships between Indo-Pacific teleconnections and drought events in Sudan are examined based on the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), anomalies, Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF), correlation, composite analysis, sequential Mann–Kendall test, and MK-trend test during the period of 1993–2022. The results of the SPI-1 values indicate that the extreme drought in Sudan in 2004 was an exceptional case that affected the entire region, with an SPI-1 value of −2 indicating extremely dry conditions. In addition, Sudan experienced moderate to severe drought conditions for several years (1993, 2002, 2008, 2009 and 2015). The Empirical Orthogonal Function showed that the first EOF mode (42.2%) was the dominant variability mode and had positive loading over most of the country, indicating consistent rainfall variation in the central, eastern, and western regions. Correlation analysis showed a strong significant relationship between June–September rainfall and Indian Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) (r ≤ 0.5). Furthermore, a weak positive influence of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) on JJAS precipitation was observed (r ≤ 0.14). Various time lags in the range of ±12 months were examined, with the highest correlation (0.6) found at 9 month among the time lags of ±12 months. This study contributes to a better understanding of drought dynamics and provides essential information for effective drought management in Sudan. Further research is needed to explore the specific mechanisms driving these interactions and to develop tailored strategies to mitigate the impacts of drought events in the future.

Impact of caring leadership on nurses’ work engagement: examining the chain mediating effect of calling and affective organization commitment

BackgroundPrevious studies have established a positive link between nurse managers’ caring leadership and nurses’ work engagement, but the processes and conditions through which this leadership style influences positive work behaviors remain largely unexplored. To address this gap and contribute to the existing body of knowledge, we developed a chain-mediated effects model to elucidate the impact of caring leadership on nurses’ work engagement and the underlying mechanisms. In this model, we identified professional mission and affective organizational commitment as the mediating variables, offering a novel perspective on the relationship between caring leadership and work engagement.MethodsA robust multi-center and large-sample cross-sectional survey was conducted, involving 2502 first-line nurses from six general tertiary hospitals across the eastern, central, and western regions of China. The data collection instruments included a comprehensive questionnaire covering demographic information, the caring leadership scale, the Chinese calling scale, the affective organizational commitment scale, and the Utrecht work engagement scale. Data were meticulously screened and analyzed, employing descriptive analysis to summarize the demographic information, correlation analysis to test the relationship among the variables, stepwise regression analysis to explore the mediating role of calling and affective organization commitment, and the bootstrap method to test the chain mediating effect. This rigorous methodology not only ensures the reliability and validity of research findings but also instills confidence in the robustness of this research.ResultsThe results indicated a positive relationship among caring leadership, calling, affective organizational commitment, and nurses’ work engagement (p < 0.001). Specifically, caring leadership was significantly associated with nurses’ calling (β = 0.55, p < 0.001), affective organizational commitment (β = 0.21, p < 0.001), and work engagement (β = 0.05, p < 0.001). And the analysis further revealed that calling and affective organizational commitment mediate the process between caring leadership and work engagement(Effect: 0.17, 0.03, 0.05), with a relative effect size of 89.3% for the total indirect effect. These findings highlight the crucial role of these factors in enhancing nurses’ work engagement, providing valuable insights for healthcare leaders and policymakers.ConclusionCaring leadership positively predicts nurses’ work engagement and indirectly mediates calling and affective organizational commitment. The results of this study revealed that the mechanisms of caring leadership influence nurses’ work engagement, which provides a new approach to strengthening nurses’ work engagement and improving patient healthcare outcomes and organizational performance. Healthcare organizations face continuous challenges; this study embodies the significance of caring leadership in improving nurses’ work experience and increasing their work engagement. Nursing managers should enhance their knowledge of caring leadership and receive caring leadership training, thus actively improving their leadership behaviors in nurse management, enhancing leadership effectiveness, and creating more possibilities for developing healthcare organizations.

Digital economy, risk attitudes, and entrepreneurial decision-making in urban and rural households in China

Using data from the 2019 China Household Finance Survey, this study examines how the digital economy and household risk attitudes affect entrepreneurial decision-making in urban and rural Chinese households. Risk-taking families are more likely to become entrepreneurs, particularly in economically developed eastern regions. Furthermore, integrating the digital economy boosts entrepreneurial activities within households, especially in the central and western regions. Based on these findings, the government and relevant institutions should strengthen digital infrastructure in the central and western regions, as well as establish an evaluation and monitoring mechanism to ensure the effectiveness of policy measures to promote balanced economic development and sustainable growth in household entrepreneurial activity.

Construction of an Ecological Security Pattern for the National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest on the Basis of the Importance of the Function and Sensitivity of Its Ecosystem Services

The National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest (NPHTR) plays the crucial role of an ecological barrier for Hainan Island. It also serves as a valuable repository of tropical biological heritage for the world. The scientific establishment of an ecological security pattern (ESP) for the NPHTR is therefore essential for ensuring the robustness and stability of this regional ecosystem, safeguarding tropical biodiversity, and promoting sustainable development. This study integrates ecosystem service functions (ESFs) and ecological sensitivity to identify ecological sources (ESs) so that regional integrity is promoted and ecological security is ensured. Ecological corridors (ECs) are established on the basis of a minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model and circuit theory. We integrate ESs, nodes, and corridors to construct the ESP of the NPHTR. The areas of extreme importance and sensitivity in the NPHTR account for 25.17% and 25.47% of its overall area, respectively, and are predominantly situated in the higher elevations of its eastern and central regions. Further, the ESs are mainly distributed in its western region, specifically Ba Wangling (BWL), Jian Fengling (JFL), and Ying Geling (YGL), covering an area of 1624.67 km2 (38.06% of the total area) of the NPHTR. After correction, 47 ECs with a distance of 870.9 km have been established, with BWL and YGL serving as the core areas. The ecological pinch- and barrier points in the NPHTR cover areas of 11.49 km2 and 16.35 km2, respectively, primarily consisting of man-made landscapes such as farmlands and buildings. These areas are significantly disturbed by human activities. The NPHTR has an ESP of “one screen, one district, three belts, multiple points, and multiple corridors”. BWL and YGL, which contain numerous sources and corridors, are crucial ecological functional zones. To ensure the horizontal connectivity of rare wildlife, such as of Nomascus hainanus and Cervus eldii hainanus, the NPHTR should establish buffer or development zones. These findings offer valuable insights for the development and planning of ecological civilization on Hainan Island, as well as for the establishment and management of the ESP of other national parks and nature reserves.

Spatio-temporal pattern change of LULC and its response to climate in the Loess Plateau, China

Exploring land use/cover (LULC) change is essential for the sustainable development of ecologically fragile areas. The main objective of this study was to clarify the characteristics and differences in the spatiotemporal changes of LULC on the Loess Plateau (LP) based on the transfer matrix and land use dynamics and to quantitatively describe the impact of natural factors on LULC using a geodetector. The results indicated that the overall LULC change in the LP was characterized by a decrease in the area of cropland, grassland, and bare land, and an increase in the area of woodland and built-up land. This trend shows a clear phase-change characteristic around 2000. LULC changes were primarily affected by human activities in the southeastern agricultural region. The project of returning farmland to forest and grassland had a great impact on LULC change in the central region. Vegetation was sensitive to temperature and precipitation, and the impact of LULC change was significantly higher than that in the humid region in the northwest arid region. NDVI, PRE, and TEM were determined to be the main contributors to LULC changes in the LP. These results provide a scientific basis for the sustainable development of LP.

Professional qualifications and working competence of Vietnamese civil servants

The local authorities are divided into different levels in each country, of which the authorities at the lowest level are often called the grassroots authorities or defined in Vietnam as commune-level authorities. At the grassroots level, civil servants keep the role as direct implementers of state management tasks in localities and directly resolve people's requests. Therefore, the public duty performance results of civil servants are not only meaningful to the civil servants themselves in the sense that their professional qualifications and duty performance competence are clearly demonstrated, but also confirm their state agencies’ efficiency and reputation. In this study, the theoretical framework on the influence of professional qualifications and duty performance competence on civil servants’ duty performance results has been developed; Practical assessment of professional qualifications, duty performance competence and duty performance results of local commune-level civil servants in Vietnam are carried out through a survey of the opinions of 300 managers at commune-level authorities in 5 major provinces representing 3 regions of Vietnam: Thai Nguyen province, Thai Binh province (Northern region), Quang Ngai province (Central region), Tien Giang province, Hau Giang province (Southern region). Results from the survey show that duty performance competence of commune-level civil servants are not highly appreciated by their managers, even though they meet requirements of professional qualifications in terms of rank and position standards regulated by laws. The findings suggest policy adjustments to promote civil servants’ professional qualifications in practice so that Vietnamese local civil servants are capable of meeting the requirements of serving the people.

7604 Examining Disparities in Diabetes Control and Complications: A Comparative Study of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Rural and Urban Saudi Arabia

Abstract Disclosure: S.F. Alqifari: None. O. Alkomi: None. P. Amirthalingam: None. T. Alrasheed: None. M. Muqresh: None. H. Hamad: None. A. Khojah: None. N. Alshehri: None. B. Alhunayhani: None. B. AbuAlhasan: None. N. Alajlan: None. S. Alatawi: None. N. Alsabeelah: None. A. Wasel: None. A. Alqifari: None. Background: The escalating global prevalence of diabetes is also mirrored in Saudi Arabia. Approximately one in four individuals in the country is diagnosed with diabetes, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Ministry of Health has taken steps to address the needs of patients with diabetes by creating more than 20 specialized diabetes care centers in various regions throughout Saudi Arabia. However, disparities in access and utilization of primary healthcare facilities persist between rural and urban provinces within the country. Highlighting these disparities would bridge healthcare gaps between rural and urban areas to enhance diabetes management, ensure better access to specialized care, and improve the overall well-being of individuals living with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in Saudi Arabia. Objectives: This study aims to examine disparities in diabetes control and complications in patients with T2DM in rural and urban Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is an observational retrospective study conducted from November 2022 until May 2023, we collected data from 13 diabetes care centers across Saudi Arabia to assess diabetes control and complications of T2DM among patients who received their care in rural and urban Saudi Arabia. Results: Among 709 patients residing in rural and urban areas, rural area patients' recent HbA1c readings were generally within the range of 7-8%. Among these patients, around 2.6% had a history of heart disease, and 6.08% had experienced cerebrovascular events. Limb numbness was reported by 44.34% of subjects, 47.82% experienced vision complications, and renal impairment was observed in 10.43% of the participants. Additionally, among male patients, 26.41% suffered from erectile dysfunction. Remarkably, 21% of the rural patients reported having been hospitalized due to diabetes complications at least once in the past 12 months. Conclusion: The study findings emphasize the importance of considering regional disparities and socio-environmental factors when managing diabetes and its complications. Additional research is needed to understand the underlying causes and develop targeted interventions for improved diabetes care in rural and urban populations in Saudi Arabia. Presentation: 6/2/2024