Eastern Coastal Areas Of China Research Articles

The Impact of Pilot Policies for Smart Cities on Carbon Emissions in Cities along the Eastern Coast of China

Based on panel data from 111 prefecture level cities in the eastern coastal region of China from 2006 to 2021, this article regards the three batches of smart city pilot policies implemented since 2012 as a "quasi natural experiment", uses the asymptotic difference in differencesAA (DID) method to explore their impact on carbon emissions in the eastern coastal region of China, and verifies the scientific and credibility of the research results through multiple robustness tests. Then, heterogeneity analysis and mechanism analysis are conducted to explore the impact mechanism of smart cities on carbon reduction according to policies. The research results indicate that, firstly, the pilot policy of smart cities is beneficial for reducing carbon emissions in the eastern coastal areas of China, and this result remains robust after robustness tests such as PSM-DID (propensity score matching), placebo test, and exclusion of other policy interferences. Secondly, the pilot policies of smart cities have different carbon emission reduction effects in cities with different characteristics, and have more significant carbon emission reduction effects on small cities, non resource-based cities, and high GDP cities. Thirdly, the pilot policy of smart cities promotes the green and low-carbon development of cities in the eastern coastal areas of China by enhancing technological level and optimizing industrial structure.

Health equity and synergistic abatement strategies of carbon dioxide and air pollutant emissions reduction in China’s eastern coastal area

Abstract Quantifying regional health disparities linked to air pollution is essential for enhancing air quality and attaining carbon neutrality objectives. Nonetheless, the efficacy of proactive policies in ensuring equitable health protection in China’s Eastern Coastal Area (ECA) remains uncertain. Here, we employed an integrated assessment model to assess the combined reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) and atmospheric pollutants and their health repercussions in the ECA of China. Our findings reveal that 273 000 premature deaths are attributable to air pollution in 2060 in the ECA in the absence of mitigation policies. Conversely, carbon reduction policies are poised to curtail 80% of CO2 emissions, alongside reductions of 76% for NOx, 79% for SO2, 80% for PM2.5, 72% for VOCs, and 66% for NH3 emissions. Air pollution control policies could mitigate premature deaths by 19 600, while carbon reduction policies could potentially lower them by 50 800. The health inequality coefficient among provinces stands at 0.19, primarily attributable to significantly higher mortality rates in Hebei and Shandong. These findings yield valuable insights for crafting synergistic abatement strategies in similarly imbalanced developmental regions grappling with comparable environmental challenges.

Regional-Scale Assessment of the Potential for Shallow Geothermal Energy Development Using Vertical Ground Source Heat Pumps

Shallow geothermal energy (SGE) is a widely prevalent geological resource underground, and its utilization offer significant energy conservation and emission reduction benefits, contributing to the achievement of carbon neutrality goals. Assessing the development potential of regional SGE can ensure sustainable development of these resources and prevent adverse effects induced by overexploitation. Jiangsu Province, a developed region in the eastern coastal area of China, has a strong demand for cooling and heating in urban buildings. The primary form of utilizing SGE in this area is through vertical ground source heat pumps (VGSHP). Based on the analysis of the impact of regional geological conditions on the development of SGE, this study specifically evaluated the suitability of developing SGE through VGSHP. After excluding areas unsuitable for development, the heat exchange capacity, heating or cooling area per unit area, and energy conservation and emission reduction benefits of VGSHP were calculated. The results indicate that the area suitable and moderately suitable for developing SGE through VGSHP in Jiangsu Province amounts to 76,453 km2. The total heat exchange capacity for summer is 1.21 × 109 kW, which can provide cooling for an area of 1.21 × 1010 m2. The total heat exchange capacity for winter is 8.70 × 108 kW, which can provide heating for an area of 1.09 × 1010 m2. The annual available resource amount is 2.68 × 1012 kWh, equivalent to 3.30 × 108 tons of standard coal, and a CO2 reduction of 7.86 × 108 tons.

Evolution and prediction of rural ecological environment quality in eastern coastal area of China

Introduction: Rural ecological environment construction, as a pivotal component of the rural revitalization strategy and ecological civilization construction strategy, plays an indispensable role in promoting sustainable agricultural development and safeguarding ecological security. An accurate assessment and prediction of Rural Ecological Environment Quality (REEQ) serves as the theoretical basis to achieving these goals, and provide scientific guidance for future rural ecological environment construction and planning. The field of regional ecology, proposed in the mid-20th century, represents an emerging interdisciplinary domain that integrates ecology, geography, and economics. It plays a pivotal role in addressing large-scale ecological challenges and fostering social sustainability. As global urbanization continues to advance, urban ecological environments undergo significant transformations under the pressures of intense human activities. Scholars have increasingly focused on the essence, evolutionary patterns, and causal mechanisms shaping urban ecological environment quality. Consequently, ecological environment assessments have evolved from singular pollution evaluations to comprehensive ecological appraisals. However, coastal rural area with complex geographical conditions and fragile ecological environments are often neglected and marginalized. Currently, there are few specialized evaluation systems for REEQ, making it difficult to accurately reveal the evolution pattern of rural ecological environment. This weakens its guidance on practical rural ecological environment governance and restoration.Methods: The Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model can simplify the identification process of driving factors for REEQ, reflect the feedback mechanism between indicators, and is conducive to scientific and accurate evaluation of REEQ. Therefore, we constructed an evaluation index system for REEQ based on the PSR. We measured REEQ in the eastern coastal area of China, analyzed its spatiotemporal characteristics and development trends, and used the obstacle degree model to identify obstacle factors. It is beneficial for rural areas to grasp the evolution laws of REEQ, provide theoretical basis for the formulation of sustainable development policies, and provide scientific policy recommendations.Results: Our findings indicate that: 1) From 2000 to 2020, REEQ in the eastern coastal area of China has continuously improved, with the index value increasing from 0.454 to 0.525, a total growth of 15.64%. The number of high-level REEQ areas increased from 0 to 29, showing a positive development trend. 2) High-density areas of REEQ in the eastern coastal area of China are concentrated in the northern parts of Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces. The center of REEQ has shifted from the southwest to the northeast. 3) The obstacle degrees of various criteria layers in REEQ are relatively stable, with the response subsystem being the highest, followed by the state and pressure subsystems. Forest coverage, per capita grain production, effective irrigation rate of farmland, afforestation area in the current year, per capita disposable income of rural residents, and per capita mechanical power of farmers are the main obstacle indicators. 4) From 2020 to 2035, REEQ in the eastern coastal area of China will continue to improve. The standard deviation ellipse will move towards the northwest, the center will shift from the southwest to the northeast, the rotation angle will slowly decrease, showing a northwestward trend.

Accounting for the value of ecosystem assets: from value judgments to management needs—take Yancheng City as an example

Ecosystem assets form a significant portion of natural resource assets. Accounting for natural resource assets accurately interprets the theory of 'lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets'. This facilitates effective and unified management of ‘mountains, water, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and desert ecosystem’ and serves as a crucial bridge from qualitative understanding to the valuation of the theory of ecosystem services and from theoretical discussion to management practice. Yancheng is the only coastal ecological wetland city with world natural heritage on China’s 10,000-mile coastline integrating three green genes and biodiversity of ocean, forest, and wetland. Yancheng, selected as a study case, is an important ecological barrier and a treasure trove of ecological resources in the eastern coastal areas of China. The ecosystem service value of Yancheng City from 2019 to 2021 was calculated respectively. The income-capitalization method was used to divide the annual ecosystem service value by the bank loan interest rate in the same period to obtain the ecosystem asset stock value of the past 3 years. The value of ecosystem services in Yancheng City are classified to three parts based on their value attributes: first, ecological products with use value attributes that have already been realized; second, the value of those with use value attributes but have not yet been realized; and third, the value of support services with nonuse value attributes. By comparing the value components of supply, regulation, and cultural ecological products in Yancheng, the intensity of existing development and the potential for future growth of Yancheng ecosystem services are assessed. The Yancheng case shows that ecosystem asset value accounting is an practical assessment tool that transitions from value judgment to service management needs, which can provide a scientific basis for ecological environment management.

Evaluation of Precipitation Forecast by the Operational China Meteorological Administration Mesoscale Model During the 2020 Meiyu Period

AbstractThis study evaluated the precipitation forecast produced by the operational China Meteorological Administration Mesoscale model (CMA‐MESO) during the “super violent” Meiyu season of 2020. Generally, CMA‐MESO, which runs with ∼3‐km‐grid resolution, is able to reproduce the distribution and diurnal variation of precipitation. However, the precipitation amount is greatly overestimated, especially in eastern coastal areas of China. Precipitation in that region usually occurs with two peaks: one in the morning that mostly reflects organized precipitation systems, and the other in the afternoon generated mostly by local convection. Analyses showed that overestimation of low‐level wind speed is the main reason for the overestimation of precipitation. CMA‐MESO produces low‐level winds that are overly strong, which greatly enhance the predicted convergence at night, leading to overestimation of precipitation. Additionally, the stronger wind speed increases the estimated transport of water vapor to the eastern coastal area, producing fake convection near the coastal mountains as the perturbed wind direction turns toward the mountain area in the afternoon. In comparison with ERA5, CMA‐MESO tends to overestimate (underestimate) the temperature in the northwest (southeast), and the larger temperature gradient increases the pressure gradient, resulting in the stronger low‐level wind speed.

Characterization of Flavor Profile of Sauced Pork from Different Regions of China Based on E-Nose, E-Tongue and Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Spectroscopy.

This study aimed to investigate the volatile flavor compounds and tastes of six kinds of sauced pork from the southwest and eastern coastal areas of China using gas chromatography-ion mobility spectroscopy (GC-IMS) combined with an electronic nose (E-nose) and electronic tongue (E-tongue). The results showed that the combined use of the E-nose and E-tongue could effectively identify different kinds of sauced pork. A total of 52 volatile flavor compounds were identified, with aldehydes being the main flavor compounds in sauced pork. The relative odor activity value (ROAV) showed that seven key volatile compounds, including 2-methylbutanal, 2-ethyl-3, 5-dimethylpyrazine, 3-octanone, ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, dimethyl disulfide, 2,3-butanedione, and heptane, contributed the most to the flavor of sauced pork (ROAV ≥1). Multivariate data analysis showed that 13 volatile compounds with the variable importance in projection (VIP) values > 1 could be used as flavor markers to distinguish six kinds of sauced pork. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant link between the E-nose sensor and alcohols, aldehydes, terpenes, esters, and hetero-cycle compounds. The results of the current study provide insights into the volatile flavor compounds and tastes of sauced pork. Additionally, intelligent sensory technologies can be a promising tool for discriminating different types of sauced pork.

Distributions, spatial patterns and source identification of n-alkanes in air and bulk deposition in the eastern coastal areas of China: Fluxes and removal efficiency of bulk deposition

Normal alkanes (n-alkanes) are crucial components of organic carbon in the atmosphere. Low-carbon number n-alkanes act as precursors for secondary organic aerosols, while long-chain alkanes are difficult to degrade after deposition, posing risks to human health and garnering widespread attention. However, their environmental partitioning, chemical composition, removal efficiency by bulk deposition, and sources in the eastern coastal areas of China remain understudied. To address this, this study investigated n-alkanes (C11 to C40) in the air and bulk deposition. This investigation was conducted by applying passive sampling-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis technology in Qingdao from December 2019 to October 2020. The mean concentrations of n-alkanes in the atmosphere and bulk deposition were 160 ng/m3 and 15.6 μg/m2/d, respectively, throughout the year. Deposition fluxes followed this order: background site > suburban > rural > urban, while atmospheric n-alkanes showed the reverse trend. Plant sources contributed more to n-alkanes in bulk deposition than in the atmosphere. N-alkanes with medium to high-carbon numbers (C20–C36) were more efficiently removed from the atmosphere during summer-autumn. Based on carbon preference index (CPI) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis, the main contributors to n-alkanes in air and bulk deposition were fossil fuel combustion, emissions from higher plants, and motor vehicle exhaust.

Can industrial co-agglomeration improve carbon emission efficiency? Empirical evidence based on the eastern coastal areas of China.

The goal of "carbon peak and carbon neutrality" is the key to coping with global warming and achieving high-quality development. Producer services and manufacturing co-agglomeration (Coagglo) is an important path to achieve low-carbon development. Therefore, the relationship between industrial co-agglomeration and carbon emission efficiency (CEE) needs to be discussed. Based on the panel data of 114 cities along the eastern coast of China from 2006 to 2021, this study uses a panel quantile regression model and dynamic spatial Durbin model to evaluate the impact and spatial effect of Coagglo on CEE. The results show that there is a nonlinear relationship between Coagglo and CEE. When it exceeds the 50th quantile, the degree of influence decreases slightly, but it still shows a significant positive correlation. When considering industry heterogeneity, we find that the co-agglomeration of warehousing and postal industry (TRA) and manufacturing has the most significant impact on CEE, while the co-agglomeration of leasing and commercial service industry (LEA) and manufacturing has the least impact on CEE. Regional heterogeneity shows that the Coagglo has a greater impact on carbon emission efficiency in the northern region than in the southern region. In addition, Coagglo promotes the spillover of knowledge and technology and has a positive spatial spillover effect on CEE. This conclusion provides a theoretical reference for carbon emission reduction in eastern coastal areas of China.

Influencing Mechanism of Tidal Disasters on Locust Breeding Area Evolution in the Eastern Coastal Area of China during the Ming and Qing Dynasties

Locust plagues and tidal disasters are primary natural hazards in China’s eastern coastal regions, yet their interrelationship remains unclear. This study, drawing on historical documents from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1911 AD), focuses on Zhejiang Province and its Hangzhou Bay coastline, areas typically affected by tidal disasters. Employing advanced quantitative analysis and spatiotemporal models, the research aims to reveal the mechanisms behind tidal disasters and their impact on locust population dynamics. The findings indicate a limited spatiotemporal correlation between locust plagues and tidal or drought disasters but a significant association with flooding. The relationship between locust infestations and floods is notably strong in the unique geographical context of Hangzhou Bay’s northern shore. The ‘hydromarginal’ nature of the north coast creates an ideal habitat for locusts. This study pioneers in identifying flooding as a crucial mediator between tidal disasters and locust plagues, shedding light on the ‘typhoon-tidal-flood-locust’ disaster sequence and offering new insights into understanding and mitigating natural disasters in the region. In this study, we primarily employ a quantitative methodology, utilizing advanced data analysis and sophisticated spatiotemporal modeling to investigate the interplay between locust plagues and tidal disasters. Although some progress has been made in the study of historical natural disasters, systematic studies of the relationship between tidal floods and locust breeding sites along the east coast of China during the Ming and Qing dynasties are still scarce. This study fills this gap by employing advanced GIS and time series analysis techniques, combining traditional historical documentary studies with modern scientific methods and providing a new methodological approach to the analysis of historical disaster patterns.

Spatio-temporal variation in quartz luminescence sensitivity in the coastal area of China

Quartz luminescence signals have been proven to be an effective index for identifying sediment provenance. The provenance of quartz minerals on typical sandy coasts along the east coast of China serves as important evidence for estuarine and coastal aeolian geomorphological processes in coastal zones. However, the temporal and spatial differences in the sensitivity characteristics of quartz grains on the east coast of China remain controversial owing to a lack of systematic analyses of coastal sediments. In this study, we present the thermoluminescence (TL) and optical luminescence (OSL) sensitivity of quartz minerals from core FN1 in the coastal area of Fujian Province, and the relative OSL sensitivity of quartz minerals obtained from Hebei, Fujian, Hainan, and Taiwan provinces. Our results indicate that (1) the OSL sensitivity values of quartz grains in the FN1 core are closely correlated with the mean grain size, electrical conductivity, potential of hydrogen, and end-member, suggesting that the change in luminescence sensitivity may be closely related to climate changes; specifically, cold climatic events during this period can cause significant fluctuations in the sensitivity; further, the percentage contents of fast, medium, and slow components are also different; (2) spatially, there are clear differences between the %FAST value of quartz grains from different sandy coasts; in these coastal dune samples, the %FAST value of the quartz grains during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) was significantly different from that of the quartz grains during the interglacial; thus, %FAST can be used to distinguish between glacial and interglacial samples; specifically, the sensitivity of quartz from the glacial dune was higher than that from the interglacial dune, and the sensitivity dispersion of quartz from the glacial as smaller than that from the interglacial coastal dune sand; and (3) the change in the luminescence sensitivity of quartz grains was ultimately controlled by the provenance change. In different geological periods, transgression, regression, and abrupt climate change trigger changes in the supply range of sources, which indirectly affects the sensitivity characteristics of quartz minerals. The spatial difference in quartz sensitivity in the eastern coastal area of China is mainly affected by the characteristics of quartz crystals and types of bedrock, which require further systematic study.

Urban Resilience of Important Node Cities in Population Migration under the Influence of COVID-19 Based on Mamdani Fuzzy Inference System

COVID-19 has resulted in a great inconvenience and has had a severe impact on the economy and residents’ daily life in China and even the world. Urban resilience, as the key representation of social and economic stability, can directly reflect the development and stability of cities. In addition, the Mamdani fuzzy inference system (MFIS), as one of the commonly used fuzzy inference systems, has been successfully applied in various application problems involving imprecise or vague information since it was proposed. In this paper, we mainly consider the urban resilience of 50 important node cities for population migration (50INCPM) in China in 2020 under the influence of COVID-19. We apply MFIS for approximating the urban resilience index (URI) based on multiple inputs, which includes the population density resilience index (PRI), gross domestic product per capita resilience index (GRI), in-degree centrality resilience index (IRI), out-degree centrality resilience index (ORI), confirmed cases number (CCN), recovery rate (RR) and mortality rate (MR). Meanwhile, based on the big data of population migration and COVID-19 data in China from 15 January to 15 March in 2020, we calculate the URI of 50INCPM in China in 2020 under the influence of COVID-19. Moreover, we show the spatial difference of URI and its changes in different stages. The results show that (1) the URI of 50INCPM decreases from the eastern coastal area to the western inland, and the cities with URI more than 0.5 are gathered in the eastern coastal area of China. As COVID-19 is controlled, the URI is gradually rising, and the growth rate of URI in southeast coastal cities exceeds that of inland cities. (2) The second-tier and third-tier cities have stronger resilience in the case of large-scale emergencies. (3) There exists a positive correlation in URI and RR. The expectation of the research finding gives a basis for judging the economic and social situation under the impact of COVID-19, which can help local governments accurately judge city resilience, and provide a reference for the decision on resuming production and work, so it is of positive significance for national economic resilience and social stability. Finally, on the basis of universal vaccine coverage, we hold that the GOC should promote the cities’ resilience in China, especially in the first-tier city in inland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen). On the other hand, on the premise of implementing epidemic prevention and control measures, local governments should stimulate the resilience of each city in terms of population and economy.

Analysis of the Temporal and Spatial Characteristics of PWV and Rainfall with the Typhoon Movement: A Case Study of ‘Meihua’ in 2022

The serious and frequent typhoon activities can easily cause extreme precipitation weather in the eastern coastal area of China, which is affected by land and sea differences. To explore the temporal and spatial characteristics of Precipitable Water Vapor (PWV) and rainfall during the typhoon period, the data of the conspicuous case named ‘Meihua’ in 2022 is adopted in analysis. In this paper, firstly, the accuracy of the PWV retrieved by ERA5 was evaluated, which met the experimental analysis requirements, compared with the conference value of the Radiosonde (RS). Secondly, the correlation between PWV, rainfall and the typhoon path were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, using 16 meteorological stations in the typhoon path. The results indicated that PWV reached its peak value 2–6 h than rainfall, which was an important reference for rainfall forecasting. Then, the ‘Pearson correlation coefficient’ method was used for the quantitative evaluation of the correlation between PWV and the distance of the ‘weather station-typhoon’. The results showed that PWV had an obvious upward trend, with a decrease in the distance between the ‘weather station-typhoon’. The variation in PWV is intense at a reduced distance, and can reach its peak 16 h before the arrival of the typhoon. A strong negative correlation was demonstrated, with an average value of −0.73 for the Pearson correlation coefficient. Analyzing the temporal and spatial changes of the typhoon track, PWV and rainfall, the results show that before the typhoon passes through the region, both the PWV and rainfall certainly reach their maximum. The variation trends of PWV and rainfall in the period of the typhoon are significantly consistent. The center of PWV and rainfall is mainly located on the northwest side of the typhoon center, which showed obvious asymmetry.

Preterm birth and its associated factors in coastal areas of eastern China: a multicenter retrospective study

Abstract Aim Preterm birth (PTB) is considered to be an important cause of neonatal mortality. However, most parts of China lack data or studies with large sample sizes to quantify the true burden of PTB. The current study aimed to determine the incidence of and factors associated with PTB in coastal areas of eastern China. Subject and methods This retrospective study included all eligible pregnant women who delivered in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, eastern China, between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the associated factors of PTB. Results A total of 29,807 pregnant women were included, and the incidence of PTB was found to be 5.1%. Multivariate regression analysis showed that pregnant women aged 18 years or younger (OR: 1.706, 95% CI: 1.207–2.409), who were 35 years or older (OR: 1.519, 95% CI: 1.312–1.760), or who had had a cesarean section delivery (OR: 1.542, 95% CI: 1.360–1.748), two or more perinatal births (OR: 14.557, 95% CI: 11.507–18.415), or four or more deliveries (OR: 1.614, 95% CI: 1.192–2.186) had a higher risk of PTB. Pregnant women with five or more prenatal visits (OR: 0.299, 95% CI: 0.241–0.372) had a lower risk of preterm delivery. In addition, pregnant women with hypertension (OR: 2.184, 95% CI: 1.666–2.863), preeclampsia (OR: 4.948, 95% CI: 3.014–8.124), gestational diabetes mellitus (OR: 1.610, 95% CI: 1.328–1.952), placenta previa (OR: 2.543, 95% CI: 1.836–3.523), or a history of PTB (OR: 9.028, 95% CI: 5.667–14.383) were more likely to have PTB. Conclusion The incidence of PTB was high and was affected by many factors. Early identification and management can reduce the incidence of PTB.

Human activities dominate a staged degradation pattern of coastal tidal wetlands in Jiangsu province, China

The tidal wetlands in Jiangsu Province (JS) play a crucial role as a major blue carbon sink in the eastern coastal area of China. These wetlands also contribute significantly function to biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services. However, due to the escalating impact of anthropogenic activities and climatic changes, the ecological scope, structure, and function of tidal wetlands have changed drastically. This study aims to depict the spatiotemporal dynamics of these wetlands and explore the driving forces behind these changes. Based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of all the available Landsat imagery (5096 images, 30-m spatial resolution) using the Continuous Change Detection and Classification (CCDC) algorithm. The outputs consist of annual land cover maps of JS coastal zone, from 1990 to 2020. Results indicate that the generated coastal maps generally exhibit an exceptionally high average accuracy (92.62%) and there were 2666.54 km2 of tidal wetlands (Spartina alterniflora: 240.86 km2, Suaeda salsa: 37.31 km2, Phragmites australis: 150.63 km2, intertidal flat: 2158.18 km2, supratidal barren flat: 79.53 km2) in 2020, amounting to a 23.43% decrease of the initial year 1990. The tidal wetlands landscape had a staged decline during 1990–2020, and the hydrological vegetation habitat was the area with the greatest variability. Over the past three decades, the losses of tidal wetlands amounted to 1,466.22 km2, partially offset by gains of 650.05 km2. The two most substantial sources of losses were intertidal flat and Suaeda salsa with the most significant ratio of loss to gain (4.80, 10.31, respectively). Generally, we categorized tidal wetlands degradation into three transformation processes: human activities, species invasion, and natural succession. Human activities, particularly the conversion of intertidal flat into aquafarm, dominated the entire degradation process. Meanwhile, in the main driving analysis, we discovered that 60% of these losses and gains were directly tied to human activities. The indirect driving process includes natural coastal movements, climate change, unobservable human activities, and their aggregate effects, which gradually assist tidal wetlands ecosystems to re-establish and recover. The annual coastal wetland maps and detailed information on the evolutionary patterns and the corresponding drivers are valuable for identifying blue carbon distribution and enhancing the ecological services of the coastal zone.

Impacts of Climate Change and Human Activities on NDVI Change in Eastern Coastal Areas of China

Based on the datasets of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation and the methods of trend, partial correlation, and residual analyses, this study explored the spatiotemporal variation in NDVI and its response to climate change from 1982 to 2019 in eastern coastal areas of China. Then, the effects of climate change and non-climatic factors (e.g., human activities) on NDVI trends were analyzed. The results showed that:① the NDVI trend varied greatly in different regions, stages, and seasons. On average, the growing season NDVI increased faster during 1982-2000 (stage I) than that during 2001-2019 (stage Ⅱ) in the study area. Moreover, NDVI in spring showed a more rapid increase than that in other seasons in both stages. ② For a given stage, the relationships between NDVI and each climatic factor varied in different seasons. For a given season, the major climatic factors associated with NDVI change were different between the two stages. The relationships between NDVI and each climatic factor showed great spatial differences in the study period. In general, the increase in growing season NDVI in the study area from 1982 to 2019 was closely related to the rapid warming. The increase in precipitation and solar radiation in stage Ⅱ also played a positive role. ③ In the past 38 years, climate change played a greater role in the change in growing season NDVI than non-climatic factors, including human activities. Whereas non-climatic factors dominated the increase in growing season NDVI during stage I, climate change played a major role during stage Ⅱ. We suggest that more attention should be paid to the impacts of various factors on vegetation cover variation during different periods to promote the understanding of terrestrial ecosystem changes.

The seroprevalence of canine dirofilariosis in dogs in the eastern coastal areas of China

Background and objectivesThe present study was carried out to assess the presence of canine Dirofilaria immitis infection in pet dogs in China. Materials and methodsFrom October 2018 to November 2019, a total of 216 sera were collected from pet hospitals in Shandong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Fujian regions of Eastern China. The sera were tested by using a commercial canine heartworm antibody ELISA test kit. Results70.8% of the pets had significant clinical symptoms resembled to heartworm infection; the overall dirofilariosis positivity found was 12.5% (27/216); Significant positive rates differences were observed between symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs (P < 0.05) (i.e. 15.7% and 4.7% respectively).The prevalence of infection in Shandong Province (15.5%) was the highest among the surveyed areas, but the difference among the geographic regions was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the prevalence detected in summer (28.2%) was significantly higher than in other seasons (P < 0.05). In addition, no significant difference was observed between male and female sex (P > 0.05). ConclusionsAltogether, these results suggest that an epidemic of dirofilariosis exists in eastern coastal China, as such preventive measures should be taken to control the spread of dirofilariosis to reduce the risk of human and pet infection with heartworm.

Highly-Selective Analytical Strategy for 90 Pesticides and Metabolites Residues in Fish and Shrimp Samples.

The analysis of pesticide residues in aquatic products is challenging due to low residue levels and the complex matrix interference. In this study, we developed a simple, fast method for the trace analysis of 90 pesticides and metabolites in aquatic products. The analytes covered a wide polarity range with log Kow (log octanol-water partition coefficient) ranging from -1.2 to 6.37. Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) and prawn (Penaeus chinensis) samples were chosen to validate the quantification method. The samples were extracted by 0.2% formic-acetonitrile, cleaned by solid-phase extraction (PRiME HLB), and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The results showed good linearities for the analytes and were observed in the range of 0.05-50 μg/L. The recoveries of the method were within 50.4-118.6%, with the relative standard deviations being lower than 20%. The limits of quantifications (LOQs) of the method were in the range of 0.05-5.0 μg/kg, which were superior to values compared with other research. The developed method was applied to detect pesticide residues in prawn samples from eastern coastal areas of China. Three herbicide residues of diuron, prometryn, and atrazine were detected in prawn samples. The method was sensitive and efficient, which is of significance in expanding the screening scope and improving the quantitative analysis efficiency in aquatic products.

An Analysis of Employment Inequalities on the Eastern Coast of China

In this paper, we analyze the disadvantage and discrimination of women in the eastern coastal areas of China. We hope that through our analysis and suggestions, we can spread the word about gender equality in the workplace and increase people's knowledge of it. Through already-existing legislation and the theories of the majority of researchers today, we have defined the definition of gender discrimination in the workplace. Method of literature review is applied in this paper to enumerate and to analyze the disadvantages of women in the workplace from three aspects: Recruitment level, Promotion Level and Salary level. Then we find out several factors that affect gender discrimination in the workplace, like economic benefits, business operations heavy pressure caused by Womens pregnancy and childbirth and the stereotypical constraints of traditional gender concepts. Finally, we suppose that issues regarding pregnancy are the single largest factor contributing to existing gender discrimination and come up with two approaches to relieve the problem. Firstly, it is crucial to rely on the law to clearly define the type and duration of maternity leave and that this leave will be shared by both spouses. Secondly, ensuring the right of men to take maternity leave will make a positive impact.

Spatial Characteristics and Influencing Factors of the Coupling and Coordination of High-Quality Development in Eastern Coastal Areas of China

China’s pursuit of sustainable and healthy economic growth requires the promotion of high-quality development. While many scholars have studied high-quality development, few have examined the coupling and coordination among its internal systems. The study aims to analyze the influencing factors of high-quality coordinated development, identify problem areas based on the five development statuses, and provide practical recommendations for optimizing the spatial layout of high-quality development in these areas. By applying a coupling coordination model and a geographically weighted regression model, the comprehensive level of high-quality coordinated development in the eastern coastal areas was evaluated. The results revealed that the majority of the eastern coastal region exhibited weak coordination and significant spatial differences in their comprehensive level. The problem cities were predominantly located in the southern and northern coastal areas. An economic foundation and innovation potential have a positive and stable impact on high-quality coordinated development.