Provincial Cities Research Articles

Developing Vocational Education and Deepening the Integration of Industry and Education Providing Human Resources Support for Building a Strong Provincial Centre-Taking the Development of Vocational Education in Sanmenxia as an Example

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China's vocational education has experienced significant improvement and optimisation, and the group of graduates from vocational colleges and universities has grown to become the backbone of China's industrial army, which not only provides a solid support for the vigorous development of small and medium-sized enterprise clusters, but also greatly promotes the transformation and upgrading of the regional industry, and accelerates the process of urbanization, which has become an important driving force for the socio-economic development of the society. In recent years, Sanmenxia City has paid special attention to the development of vocational education in the process of strengthening the construction of provincial centre city, and has cultivated a large number of high-quality technical talents, which has provided a solid talent foundation for the transformation and development of the city's economy and society. Taking the development of vocational education in Sanmenxia as an example, this paper focuses on the inevitability and positive contribution of vocational education to the construction of Sanmenxia as a provincial central city, analyses the current situation, and puts forward countermeasures and suggestions for the future of vocational education in the provision of talent support for the construction of a provincial central city.

Prevalence, reasons, and attitude towards abortion among Iranian married women of reproductive age in Qazvin province

Background and aimsAbortion influences the composition and size of population. Estimating the overall and type-specific abortion rates, the reasons to choose the abortion can be helpful in designing and implementing preventive intervention. Therefore, the present study was designed to determine the: (i) prevalence of abortion, (ii) attitude of married women of reproductive age towards abortion, and (iii) reasons for choosing abortion by married women of reproductive age in Qazvin province.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted between February and April 2023, and comprised married women of reproductive age (N = 1571) referred to urban and rural comprehensive health centers in five cities of Qazvin province. Utilizing multi-stage proportional sampling process, data for the survey (including demographic and fertility information, reasons for choosing abortion, and attitudes toward abortion) were collected online.ResultsThe lifetime prevalence of abortion was 18.6% (among the total sample). The past-year prevalence was 22.3% (among those who reported having had an abortion). Of those reporting having had an abortion, 73.6% reported it was their first one, and 65.1% reported it was non-spontaneous . Women’s reasons for choosing abortion fell into one of three main clusters: (i) couple’s behavior, health and relationship problems, (ii) fertility-related stressful experiences, and (iii) family economic situations. The main reported reason to choose abortion was a couple’s behavior (e.g., drug use), health (e.g., physical disease, psychological problems), and relationship problems (e.g., sexual infidelity, divorce) explaining 27% of the variance. Also, pro-abortion attitude was the most important attitude towards non-spontaneous abortion explaining 26.33% of variance. The variables that increased the likelihood of non-spontaneous abortion included choosing a reason for abortion vs. having no reason (OR = 1.77, p = 0.05), having poor vs. good mental health (OR = 1.74, p = 0.03), having a pro-abortion attitude (OR = 1.09, p = 0.09), and having ≥ 3 children vs. having no children (OR = 0.53, p = 0.06).ConclusionWomen in high-risk groups for non-spontaneous abortion (i.e., those aged over 35 years, those married for more than five years, those with an infertility history, those with a lower number of children, those living in rural areas, and those having poor mental health status) should be assessed by primary healthcare services during preconception and have early prenatal counseling to help in decisions regarding abortion.

Spatio-temporal variations of energy carbon emissions in Xinjiang based on DMSP-OLS and NPP-VIIRS nighttime light remote sensing data.

With the rapid economic development of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang), energy consumption became the primary source of carbon emissions. The growth trend in energy consumption and coal-dominated energy structure are unlikely to change significantly in the short term, meaning that carbon emissions are expected to continue rising. To clarify the changes in energy-related carbon emissions in Xinjiang over the past 15 years, this paper integrates DMSP/OLS and NPP/VIIRS data to generate long-term nighttime light remote sensing data from 2005 to 2020. The data is used to analyze the distribution characteristics of carbon emissions, spatial autocorrelation, frequency of changes, and the standard deviation ellipse. The results show that: (1) From 2005 to 2020, the total carbon emissions in Xinjiang continued to grow, with noticeable urban additions although the growth rate fluctuated. In spatial distribution, non-carbon emission areas were mainly located in the northwest; low-carbon emission areas mostly small and medium-sized towns; and high-carbon emission areas were concentrated around the provincial capital and urban agglomerations. (2) There were significant regional differences in carbon emissions, with clear spatial clustering of energy consumption. The clustering stabilized, showing distinct "high-high" and "low-low" patterns. (3) Carbon emissions in central urban areas remained stable, while higher frequencies of change were seen in the peripheral areas of provincial capitals and key cities. The center of carbon emissions shifted towards southeast but later showed a trend of moving northwest. (4) Temporal and spatial variations in carbon emissions were closely linked to energy consumption intensity, population size, and economic growth. These findings provided a basis for formulating differentiated carbon emission targets and strategies, optimizing energy structures, and promoting industrial transformation to achieve low-carbon economic development in Xinjiang.

Determinants Brand Loyalty For Wardah Skincare in Riau Provinsi

This research discusses the influence of brand image, halal awareness and Islamic branding on brand loyalty among muslim consumers. This research aims to understand how these three variables interact and influence consumer decisions to remain loyal to a brand, particularly in the context of sharia based products. The method used is a quantitative approach with data collection through questionnaires distributed to consumers who use halal labeled products. The research population is the entire muslim community spread across cities in riau province. Convenience sampling is a type of sample where respondents are obtained randomly totaling 200 respondents. Research results show that a good integration of halal awareness can positively enhance brand loyalty, as consumers feel that halal awareness aligns with their personal and religious values. Unlike brand image and Islamic branding is not well integrated with brand loyalty. This research identifies gaps in the existing literature regarding the simultaneous influence of the three variables, with a significance value of 0.000.

Identifying the antecedents for the green transformation of resource-exhausted cities in China

To address the issue of green transformation in resource-exhausted cities, this study employs the Policy Modeling Consistency (PMC) index model to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness of support policies execution at both central and local levels, covering 16 policies at the different administrative levels. Meanwhile, utilizing the fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) method, the study investigates the interaction mechanisms and effects of various internal and external factors in the context of policy coordination, from the perspective of green transformation condition configurations. The findings reveal that the overall effect of supporting policies for resource-exhausted cities in China is generally commendable. Moreover, there is a notable characteristic that “the lower the administrative level, the higher the quality of the support policies”. Notably, organizational, technological, environmental, and policy conditions alone cannot solely facilitate the green transition of resource-exhausted cities. Instead, it is the harmonious configuration of these antecedents that drives successful green transformation. Additionally, the configuration of antecedent conditions for green transformation exhibits the heterogeneity of different types. Specifically, the eastern region primarily relies on technological innovation and production process improvement, while the central region focuses on both production process improvement and support policy combinations. By contrast, the western region primarily emphasizes support policy combinations and the fostering of environmental conditions. Furthermore, the green transformation of resource-exhausted cities with coal and oil types mainly depends on the combination of policy support and technological innovation. Metal, forestry, and other types of resource-exhausted cities rely on the upgrading and advancement of industrial structures. In the grouped analysis of administrative level, innovation capability, and distance to the provincial capital city, cities with higher administrative levels, higher innovation capabilities, and closer proximity to the provincial capital city are more likely to achieve green transformation. Thereby, this study emphasizes the critical role of support policies and the identification of effective pathways in promoting the green transformation of resource-exhausted cities.

Impact of vegetation coverage and configuration on urban temperatures: a comparative study of 31 provincial capital cities in China

Urban vegetation plays a crucial role in regulating temperatures and heat waves in urban areas. However, the influence of vegetation coverage and its configuration on surface temperatures in different climate zones at a national scale is unclear. To address this, we utilized high-resolution data to detect spatial patterns for 31 provincial capital cities in China. We integrated day and night surface temperatures to determine the influence of vegetative coverage and configuration on urban temperatures across different climate zones and city sizes. Our study revealed that a subtropical monsoon climate and medium-sized cities had the highest vegetative coverage and shape complexity. The best connectivity and agglomeration of vegetation were found in a temperate monsoon climate and large cities. In contrast, small cities, especially those under a temperate continental climate, had low vegetation coverage, high fragmentation, and weak agglomeration and connectivity. In addition, vegetative coverage had a negative impact on daytime surface temperatures, especially in large cities in a subtropical monsoon climate. However, an increase in vegetation coverage could result in warming at night in small cities in temperate continental climates. Although urban vegetation configuration also contributed to moderating surface temperatures, especially at night, they did not surpass the influence of vegetation coverage. The effect on nighttime temperatures of the configuration of vegetation increased by 3–6% relative to that of daytime temperatures, especially in large cities in a temperate monsoon climate. The contribution vegetation coverage and configuration interaction to cooling efficiency decreased at night, especially in medium-sized cities in a temperate continental climate by 3–5%. In addition, this study identified several moderating effects of natural and social factors on the relationship between urban vegetation coverage and surface temperatures. High duration of sunshine, low humidity and high wind speed significantly enhanced the negative impact of vegetation coverage on surface temperatures. In addition, the moderating effect of vegetation coverage was more pronounced in low population density cities and high gross domestic product. This study enhances understanding of the ecological functions of urban vegetation and provides a valuable scientific basis and strategic recommendations for optimizing urban vegetation and improving urban environmental quality.

The Role of E-Leadership on Sustainable Employee Performance with the Mediating Effect of Perceived Team Dynamics and Moderating Effect of Organizational Support

The purpose of the study is to investigate the interaction between e-leadership and sustainable performance and how this relation is affected by perceived team dynamics and perceived organizational support in software development houses. Using an empirical approach, the current study is based on quantitative research, collecting responses through online surveys from the employees of software development companies present in three main cities of Punjab province, Pakistan. Purposive sampling techniques have been used and different statistical techniques have been applied for the analysis of data. The results showed a significant relation between e-leadership and employee sustainable performance. There exists a positive mediating and moderating effect of perceived team dynamics and perceived organizational support respectively. This research has contributed to the literature on e-leadership and using the mediating and moderating effect of perceived team dynamics and perceived organizational support specifically in software development companies for sustainable employee performance.

Characteristics of Spatiotemporal Changes in China's Carbon Budget at Different Administrative Scales

Currently, scientifically and reasonably specifying carbon emission reduction measures in the context of "double carbon" has become a common concern worldwide. China's administrative divisions have a notable impact on the formulation and implementation of relevant policies. Therefore the carbon emissions must be calculated accurately under China's administrative divisions at different scales. The spatiotemporal change characteristics of absorption and carbon emissions can provide scientific basis for the formulation of reasonable and differentiated carbon emission reduction policies in different administrative regions in China. To this end, this study used multi-source data such as remote sensing and statistics and integrated ecological models, statistics, and GIS space analysis and other methods to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamic change characteristics of carbon emissions and carbon absorption at different administrative scales （provinces, cities, and counties） in China. The results showed that： ① The total carbon absorption of vegetation in China continued to increase from 2000 to 2021 and the average value gradually increased. Differences were observed in spatiotemporal changes in carbon emissions at different administrative scales. The spatiotemporal changes at smaller scales were more evident. Carbon emissions showed obvious spatial differences of "high in the north and low in the south, high in the east and low in the west." ② The spatiotemporal distribution of CPI at the administrative scale was similar to that of carbon emissions and the overall trend was increasing annually. The pressure of carbon emissions on carbon absorption gradually weakened from the east to the central and western regions. ③ Spatiotemporal hotspot analysis showed that the overall spatial distribution of cold and hot spots in China's carbon absorption was as follows： In the spatial pattern of "hot in the east and cold in the west," the spatial distribution of cold and hot spots of carbon emissions showed agglomeration characteristics. The provincial scale was primarily oscillating hotspot whereas municipal and county scales were majorly continuous hot spots. Further results revealed that： ① Carbon absorption in different regions and periods in China showed significant variability, especially in the central and eastern regions. The possibility of offsetting carbon emissions by increasing carbon absorption remains. ② At the same scale, administrative regions （such as different provinces） and lower-level administrative regions at another scale （such as different cities in the same province） showed varying degrees of variability in carbon absorption and carbon emissions. Therefore, taking provincial administrative regions as an example for subsequent formulation considering carbon trading, emission reduction, and other policies, we should first consider the coordination of emissions between different cities in the province and then consider the coordination between provinces, which is expected to better promote the implementation of relevant policies.

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.

The cadmium content in commercially key species of seafood from Shandong, China: Potential human health risk estimation

Seafood serves as a vital protein source for human nutrition, yet it also significantly contributes to the intake of dietary cadmium. In this study, we measured the cadmium content in 274 samples from 20 species, including fish, shrimp, and bivalves collected across five cities in Shandong province and assessed the associated health risks for local residents with varying consumption habits. The findings revealed a distinct increasing trend in cadmium concentrations from pelagic fish to benthic bivalve species; however, no evidence of biomagnification was observed among the studied species. Health risk assessments indicated that while there were no non-carcinogenic health risks posed by seafood consumption for local residents exposed to cadmium, carcinogen risks exceeded acceptable levels for lifetime cancer risk. Furthermore, children exhibited approximately twice as high risk indices compared to adults. Bivalve consumption emerged as the primary contributor to these health risks.

An Empirical Study on Industry Convergence in an Underdeveloped Area: Shanwei, Guangdong, China

The present paper studies the convergence of industry in Shanwei, a coastal city in Guandong province, China. The data originated from the Shanwei Statistical Yearbook 1990-2021. The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index is used to evaluate industry convergence. The Grey relational analysis assesses the contributions of the three industries’ added values to local GDP. The regression model verifies if the industry convergence is conducive to economic growth. The results first indicate that Shanwei City’s economy shows a significant increase in the proportions of the manufacturing and service sectors and a sharp decline in the ratio of the agricultural sector. Second, the service sector contributes the most to GDP, followed by the agricultural sector, with the manufacturing sector contributing the least. Third, industrial convergence is driving regional economic growth. This study’s theoretical contribution outlines the relationship between Shanwei City’s industrial convergence and regional economic development. The proposed policy recommendations are valuable for adjusting its industrial framework and promoting high-quality development.

The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Green Technology Innovation: Evidence from the Threshold Effect of Absorptive Capacity

ABSTRACT Promoting green technology innovation has become a pivotal driver for nations worldwide to achieve sustainable development as a result of the increasingly pressing challenge posed by climate change. As one of the main forms of modern capital internationalization, foreign direct investment (FDI) has become a focal point for countries aiming to leverage its potential for green technology innovation. This article employs a panel threshold model to examine the impact of FDI on green technology innovation in China from the perspective of absorptive capacity, primarily characterized by economic advancement, infrastructure construction, and environmental regulation. The results demonstrate that, first, the impact of FDI on green technology innovation exhibits a distinct threshold effect; when absorptive capacity falls below the threshold value, FDI can impede green technology innovation, but when absorptive capacity exceeds the threshold value, FDI can facilitate green technology innovation. Second, the impact of FDI on green technology innovation is more pronounced in the eastern region and the southeastern region of Hu line. Third, the impact of FDI on green technology innovation reveals a boundary effect within provincial border cities. However, the radiation effect of FDI on green technology innovation demonstrates limitations. The advancement of green technology innovation can effectively address environmental challenges. This article enhances our understanding of the impact of absorptive capacity on FDI and the role that plays on green technology innovation. The contribution of this work will broaden understanding of the relationship between FDI and green technology innovation.

The unintended consequence of environmental centralization: Evidence from firm financialization

This study examines the influence of environmental re-centralization, specifically the Vertical Management Reform (VMR) in China, on the investment decisions of polluting firms. Using a staggered difference-in-differences approach, we find that the VMR significantly increases the allocation of resources to financial assets by 12.7 %, accelerating the financialization of polluting firms. The mechanism analysis shows that environmental centralization enhances regulatory enforcement and reduces governmental support, tightening corporate financial constraints. The motivation for firm financialization can be explained by investment substitution rather than precautionary savings. We further show that private firms, firms with more tightened financial constraints and firms with fewer assets become more financialized following the centralization reform. Moreover, the impact on firm financialization diminishes with the distance from provincial capital cities. We reveal the unintended consequence of environmental centralization on firm financialization and provide meaningful implications for changes in institutional arrangements.

YOLO-V4 Based Real-Time Face Mask Detection via Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

COVID-19, which started in Wuhan city of China's Hubei province and then affected the whole world, continues to spread despite the measures taken. One of the most important of these measures is to use a mask. In some countries, while wearing a mask is mandatory in crowded environments, it is just as difficult to control it. Failure to detect individuals violating the mask causes the virus to spread, resulting in an increase in the number of cases and an increase in the number of deaths. Therefore, detecting the mask and taking action against it is an extremely important issue. In this study, in addition to making mask detection easily and quickly, mask detection is made by using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) using images taken from different angles and different heights. For mask detection from UAV images, training and validation processes were applied using the YOLO-v4 algorithm on a public dataset containing 1510 masked and unmasked human face images. As a result of the training on this dataset, mean-average precision (mAP) was achieved with a success rate of 92.06%. Then, real-time mask detection was performed on the images taken with the DJI Ryze Tello quadcopter using the trained network. The results showed that the UAV is applicable in crowded environments required for autonomous mask detection and gives successful results.

Characteristics of surface air quality over provincial capital cities in Northwestern China during 2013–2020

Characteristics of surface air quality over provincial capital cities in Northwestern China during 2013–2020

Causes Behind Escalation of Juvenile Delinquency in Quetta City A Case Study of Juvenile Prisoners in Balochistan Province

Juvenile delinquency is a substantial issue both universally and nationally, mostly in Balochistan. This study objects to explore the causes backing to juvenile delinquency in Quetta city of Balochistan Province. The research was conducted at one of the Jail, located in Quetta city of Province of Balochistan. Data was collected through two rounds of interviews: one with juvenile offenders and another with legal professionals. Information on the juveniles’ age, education, socioeconomic background, family history, and employment status was gathered through structured questionnaires. The collected data was analyzed and compiled to identify the underlying causes of delinquency. The results revealed that juvenile delinquency in Quetta is driven by multiple factors, with poverty and illiteracy emerging as the most significant contributors. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to address the socio-economic challenges faced by at-risk youth in the region and gives a comprehensive approach that tackle systematic issues, support families and provide opportunities for youth.

Study on the coordination and factors affecting the coupling of resource and environmental carrying capacity and regional economy in ecologically fragile areas

The coordinated development of the resources, environment and social economy in ecologically fragile areas has become one of the urgent issues for all countries in the world. In this study, the ecologically fragile area of Ningxia was used as the typical case area. This study constructs a “four main subjects and eight dimensions” comprehensive evaluation model based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to analyze the situation of the resource and environmental carrying capacity (RECC). This study employs the coupled coordination degree model and the obstacle degree model, integrating them with Pearson correlation analysis to quantitatively evaluate the coupled coordination relationship and influencing factors between RECC and socioeconomic development in Ningxia. The study shows that: (a) the RECC in Ningxia is on an upward trend, with obvious spatial differences, and the pressure on resources and environment in the provincial capital city is more obvious; (b) the coordination of RECC and socioeconomic development coupling in Ningxia is on a steady upward trend, but the internal development differences are more obvious, and the degree of coordination in the provincial capital cities is relatively high; (c) the coordinated development of RECC and socioeconomic development is affected by a combination of factors such as climate, water, soil, ecological resources, urbanization, and traffic accessibility in Ningxia. The findings offer scientific support for the coordination of socioeconomic development and resource environmental protection in ecologically fragile regions. Furthermore, they serve as a reference for promoting ecological civilization construction in fragile ecosystems globally.

Is It About Who You Know? The Role of Social Capital on Re-employability of Older Women in Urban China

Evidence concerning the impact of the social capital of older women on labor market outcomes is complex. This article aims to examine and demonstrate the effect of social capital on the re-employability of older retired women in urban China and to reveal the process of accessing their re-employment position via social capital. This paper seizes data from a self-reported survey conducted in four major cities of Fujian province in China among women who are fully retired or re-employed and aged from 55 to 75. The results show that social capital is still the principal method for older women to access the workforce post-retirement. Individuals’ weak ties significantly improve the re-employment possibilities of older retired women. However, the results also indicate that using social capital, especially blood capital, as solid ties do not ensure the quality of re-employment for older women, which means the benefits, wages, and labor rights of re-employment jobs are not guaranteed.

Impact of Political Instability on Tourism in West Bengal.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of political instability on tourism-related business performance, incoming tourist flows in West Bengal, and overall tourism-based earnings. The nonlinear effects of political risk and economic growth on tourism receipts are examined in this research. Nevertheless, the secondary data that is now accessible with the unobserved component model technique detection only provides a broad picture of the issue. Experts such as managers of lodging establishments, staff members of local tourism development offices, and tourism researchers were interviewed as a result. Expert interviews exposed West Bengal's tourism industry's prospects, challenges, and potential developments in the face of the region's five years of political unrest. The findings confirm earlier research showing that, in the near run, political unrest lowers tourism. However, the long-term viewpoint has yielded various results from the expert interviews with main province cities. Political instability benefits cities with developed tourism businesses that are located outside of crisis areas. Places that relied on visitors from the countries or continents like Europe, Germany, China, USA are mostly affected. The political unrest in eastern West Bengal did not significantly affect cities with low levels of tourism development.

Vyazma’s Merchant Savva Timofeev Son Altukhov: the Problem of Determining the Personality and Motivation of the Temple-Builder of the 18th Century

The article deals with the little-studied problem of merchant temple building in a provincial Russian city of the 18th century using the example of Vyazma. The author applied anthropological, systemic and critical approaches. In the 18th century, donations for the construction of churches became a characteristic feature of the daily life of the merchant elite. The focus of the study is the history of the Vyazma merchant-temple builder S.T. Altukhov. The example of this merchant shows what problems a historian may encounter in the process of research. A critical approach to the publications of the 19th century made it possible to make a more plausible assumption about the date of construction of the Vyazma temple, for which the merchant Altukhov donated his capital. Establishing the identity of the merchant, determining the approximate date of his birth, the composition of the merchant family were studied on the basis of a comprehensive study of the materials of the first and second revisions, as well as parish registers. The problem of motivation for the temple-building activity of the merchant S.T. Altukhova is considered on the basis of the study of archival documents from the fund of the Chief Magistrate. When working on the article, the funds of the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts and the State Archive of the Smolensk Region were used. This article develops the topic of articles about the Vyazma merchant-temple builders of the 18th century, published by the author earlier.