Eastern Coastal Areas Of China Research Articles

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.

Political Hierarchy of Opening-Up Policy and China’s Carbon Reduction: Empirical Research Based on Spatial Regression Discontinuity

This paper constructs a counterfactual framework based on the opening-up policies of provinces in the eastern coastal region. It analyzes the role of the political hierarchy of the opening-up policy in China’s carbon reduction at the county level by using Spatial Regression Discontinuity, and the data used are from 1997 to 2017. The study found the following: (1) The improvement of the political hierarchy of the opening-up policy is negatively related to the carbon reduction, which has significantly boosted the carbon emission of counties in the eastern coastal areas of China. (2) The impact on border counties is more significant, and there is an obvious boundary effect. In terms of net carbon emissions, the political-hierarchy difference has a significant impact only in the area adjacent to the border. (3) There is strong heterogeneity among provinces, showing the boundary jump effect and boundary depression effect. (4) The political-hierarchy differences are significantly related to the regional carbon reduction by changing policy intensity, resulting in fiscal subsidies effects and gradient transfer effects. The location selection for the implementation of the opening-up policy significantly impacted the carbon reductions.

Incidence and genetic variants of inborn errors of metabolism identified through newborn screening: A 7-year study in eastern coastal areas of China.

The incidence of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) varies across countries and areas. Currently, there are no studies on IEM using newborn screening (NBS) in eastern coastal areas of China. We aimed to estimate the incidence and genetic variants of IEM and understand the spectrum of diseases caused by IEM and variants among them in this area. The NBS performed by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) from 2016 to 2021 was retrospectively reviewed. Heel blood was collected from all newborns 72 h after birth. Targeted massively parallel sequencing was performed for genetic analysis. Among 245,194 newborns, 95 were diagnosed with IEM, the overall incidence observed was-IEM: 1/2581; amino acid metabolism disorder: 1/4715; organic acid metabolism disorder: 1/11676; and fatty acid metabolism disorder: 1/11145. The incidence of different IEM was in the range of 1/245194 to 1/6452. Phenylketonuria (PKU, 1/7211) was the most common IEM, followed by methylmalonic acidemia (MMA, 1/27244), short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (SCADD, 1/30649), and citrin deficiency (CD, 1/35028). For genetic variants, the common hotspot variants found were-PAH gene for PKU: c.728G > A, c.442-1G > A, c.611A > G, c.721C > T; PTS gene for non-classical PKU: c.259C > T; MMACHC gene for MMA: c.658_660delAAG, c.609G > A; MMUT gene for MMA: c.1663G > A; ACADS gene for SCADD: c.1031A > G and c.1130C > T; and SLC25A13 gene for CD: c.1638_1660dup, c.852_855del. This study displayed the diseases and varied spectrum of IEM in eastern coastal areas of China. Implementing NBS for IEM by MS/MS combined with massively parallel sequencing can offer an improved plan for NBS to detect IEM.

The Clustering Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Tourist Preference for 5A Scenic Spots from the Dynamic Spatio-Temporal Perspective: A Case of Jiangsu in Eastern Coastal Area of China

In the era of tourism 4.0, the subjective preferences and experiences of tourists directly affects the future development of scenic spots. Among them, 5A scenic spots represent China’s world-class boutique tourist scenic ranking, which pays more attention to humanization and detailing, and better reflect tourists’ general psychological demand for tourist attractions. Therefore, it becomes an important scientific issue to explore the spatial and temporal characteristics of 5A tourists’ preferences and their deeper reasons. China’s eastern coastal provinces have played a very important role in promoting regional tourism culture, promoting regional economic development, and building a strong coastal province. Taking Jiangsu as an example, this study introduces the standard deviation ellipse and kernel density estimation to explore the characteristics and trends of tourist preference clustering in 5A scenic spots and their internal and external driving mechanisms from 2012–2021, which is based on a new perspective of geotemporal dynamic analysis. The empirical results show that: (1) the network attention of 5A scenic spots in Jiangsu generally showed a “barb-type” trend in 2012–2021, the highest network attention is concentrated in April and October, accounting for 82%, and tourists pay the most attention to cultural relics scenic spots, peaking on Sunday; (2) the tourist preference for 5A scenic spots in Jiangsu shows a relative clustering distribution pattern in general, with a slightly higher clustering trend in the northwest-southeast direction than in the northeast-southwest direction. Furthermore, the nucleus of the density values range from 0 to 115.43, showing the spatial pattern of “one belt and two cores”; (3) the internal driving factors include the types, the culture nature, the characteristics nature, the spatial proximity, and the infrastructure of scenic spots, and the external driving factors include geographical location, industrial development policy, climate comfort, economic development level, traffic accessibility, and the impact of COVID-19 epidemic. On this basis, this study puts forward feasible suggestions for improving scenic area management and increasing the reception capacity, so as to provide fine scientific guidelines for the high-quality development of 5A scenic spots in Jiangsu and provide reference for further enhancing the attractiveness of 5A scenic spots and their synergistic development in the eastern coastal provinces.

Response mechanism of harmful algae Phaeocystis globosa to ocean warming and acidification

Simultaneous ocean warming and acidification will alter marine ecosystem structure and directly affect marine organisms. The alga Phaeocystis globosa commonly causes harmful algal blooms in coastal areas of eastern China. P. globosa often outcompetes other species due to its heterotypic life cycle, primarily including colonies and various types of solitary cells. However, little is known about the adaptive response of P. globosa to ocean warming and acidification. This study aimed to reveal the global molecular regulatory networks implicated in the response of P. globosa to simultaneous warming and acidification. After exposure to warming and acidification, the phosphatidylinositol (PI) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways of P. globosa were activated to regulate other molecular pathways in the cell, while the light harvesting complex (LHC) genes were downregulated to decrease photosynthesis. Exposure to warming and acidification also altered the intracellular energy flow, with more energy allocated to the TCA cycle rather than to the biosynthesis of fatty acids and hemolytic substances. The upregulation of genes associated with glycosaminoglycan (GAG) degradation prevented the accumulation of polysaccharides, which led to a reduction in colony formation. Finally, the upregulation of the Mre11 and Rad50 genes in response to warming and acidification implied an increase in meiosis, which may be used by P. globosa to increase the number of solitary cells. The increase in genetic diversity through sexual reproduction may be a strategy of P. globosa that supports rapid response to complex environments. Thus, the life cycle of P. globosa underwent a transition from colonies to solitary cells in response to warming and acidification, suggesting that this species may be able to rapidly adapt to future climate changes through life cycle transitions.

Development and Influence of Pore Pressure around a Bucket Foundation in Silty Soil

Silty soil is common in the seabed of eastern coastal areas of China. The behaviors of the silty soil and a bucket foundation installed within it need more study. In this work, model tests of a bucket foundation in silty soil were performed. The development of the excess pore water pressures in the different positions around the bucket was measured. Different loading conditions, with a change in the horizontal cyclic load amplitude ratio, horizontal cyclic frequency, and vertical load ratio, were considered. The effects of the pore water pressure on the shear strength of the soil around the bucket and the horizontal bearing capacity of the bucket foundation were investigated. The results show that the normalized pore water pressures close to the bucket wall at depths between 0.1 L and 0.3 L exhibit distinct change under the cyclic load. Consistent with the distribution of the pore water pressure, the degradation of the undrained shear strength is more obvious with a greater load amplitude ratio, a greater load frequency, and a smaller vertical load. The degradation rate of the static horizontal ultimate bearing capacity is in a range of 1.57% to 14.90%, under different loading conditions.

Impact of outward foreign direct investment on employment volatility: Evidence from China

AbstractDoes outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) help stabilize employment in the home country? This paper studies the relationship between the volatility of employment growth and the OFDI of a firm using matched data of Chinese firms from 2000 to 2019. The empirical analysis shows that employment in OFDI firms is less volatile than that in non‐OFDI firms. For firms in the eastern coastal areas of China, OFDI has a more obvious effect in restraining employment volatility. OFDI is also conducive to reducing employment volatility for firms that conduct OFDI in Asian, European, and American countries. Firms in the service sector conducting OFDI see a greater reduction in employment volatility. In addition, OFDI affects employment volatility mainly through the channels of technological innovation and production transfers. This study recommends that the government enact reforms in the domestic market to encourage more firms in China to invest.