Eastern China Research Articles

The Impact of Property Tax Expectations on Household Asset Allocation

Rational asset allocation is central to household wealth accumulation. This paper employs data derived from the 2019 China Household Finance Survey to methodically examine the influence of property tax expectations on the asset allocation decisions of households. This study finds that the expectation of property tax positively influences both the probability of holding risky financial assets and their proportion of household assets. The percentage of housing assets constitutes a substantial negative moderating factor affecting the relationship between property tax expectation and household investments in risky financial assets. The positive effect of property tax expectations is more significant in eastern China. A definite expectation of property tax causes a precautionary saving effect among households. This study highlights that forming reasonable expectations about property taxes can help households adjust their investment portfolios in advance, diversify their asset allocation, and mitigate the impact of changes in property tax policies.

Transboundary migration of Loxostege sticticalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) among China, Russia and Mongolia.

The beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis, a worldwide pest of many crops, performs a seasonal migration, causing periodic outbreaks in Asia, Europe and North America. Although long-distance migration is well documented in China, patterns of transboundary migration among China, Russia and Mongolia are largely unknown. We performed a phase analysis of L. sticticalis periodic outbreaks among three countries based on 30 years of historical population data, analyzed the wind systems during migration over boundary regions, and traced the migratory routes in a case study of outbreaks in 2008 by trajectory simulation. Highly synchronized outbreak years of L. sticticalis were observed between China and Mongolia, China and eastern Siberia, China and western Siberia, Mongolia and eastern Siberia, eastern Siberia and western Siberia from 1978 to 2008, indicating possible transboundary migration between these regions. Winds at 300-600 m altitude, where adult migration usually occurs, also showed a high probability of northwestern winds in Haila'er (China), Chita (Russia) and Choybalsan (Mongolia), favoring successful adult migration from these areas to northern and northeastern China. Back trajectory analysis further showed that the first-generation adults that caused the severe outbreak of second-generation larvae in 2008 originated from eastern Siberia, eastern Mongolia, and the boundary regions of China-Russia and China-Mongolia. Our findings demonstrated that the source of L. sticticalis outbreaks in northern China was closely related to the outbreaks in Siberia and Mongolia via long-distance transboundary windborne migration. This information will help guide international monitoring and management strategies against this notorious pest. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Spatial Differentiation Characteristics and Influencing Mechanisms of Intangible Cultural Heritage in China

Intangible cultural heritage represents a cultural evolution shaped by human responses to adapting and transforming environments. Unveiling the characteristics and patterns of its spatial distribution can offer a more scientific foundation for the protection of intangible cultural heritage and the development of heritage tourism. By using ArcGIS software and Geo-detector, the regional differentiation characteristics and influencing mechanisms of Intangible Cultural Heritage, specifically the Hometown of Chinese Folk Culture and Art (HCFCA), have been investigated. Results show that the distribution and structure of HCFCA in China vary significantly across regions and categories. Eastern China holds the highest number, while Southern China has fewer. Traditional fine arts and dance dominate, with folk literature being less represented. HCFCA exhibits a clear clustering trend, reflecting a "Polycentric Agglomeration" pattern, particularly in traditional drama, calligraphy, craftsmanship, sports, performing arts, and acrobatics. The study presents an influential mechanism model, with the natural environment as foundational, economic development as the primary driver, social development as supplementary support, and historical background as a catalyzing factor. This understanding not only enriches theoretical insights but also provides a scientific basis for the protection of intangible cultural heritage and the development of heritage tourism.

Synoptic controls on warm-season O3 pollution in eastern China: A focus on O3-NOx-VOC chemistry

The design of emission abatement measures to effectively reduce ozone (O3) pollution is highly complex due to non-linear chemistry, multi-source precursor emissions, and regional-scale transport. All these processes also depend on the synoptic circulation conditions. This study classified large-scale circulations to explore the synoptic controls on surface O3 pollution over eastern China (EC) during the warm seasons (May to September) from 2013 to 2022. Four prevailing circulation patterns (CPs) were identified, distinguishable by distinct differences in surface O3 anomaly distribution over the EC region. Regional meteorological variables, satellite-based precursors (NO2 and CH2O), and CH2O/NO2 ratio-based O3 formation sensitivity (OFS) were projected onto each CP to explore the underlying physiochemical mechanism of synoptic midualtion to surface O3 pollution. The results indicated that circulation-driven regional transport governed the spatial variability of surface O3 anomaly distribution on a synoptic timescale. Additionally, circulation-driven temperature changes caused unsynchronized changes in NO2 and CH2O across different CPs, leading to circulation-dependent OFS distribution. Geographical O3 anomaly changes generally followed the O3-VOC-NOx chemical principle in most synoptic circulation situations, thereby providing a framework for formulating spatiotemporal sensitivity-oriented mitigation strategies for forthcoming O3 pollution episodes with the assistance of synoptic circulation forecasts.

Anthropogenic Influence Has Increased the Nighttime Heat Stress Risks in Eastern China

Anthropogenic Influence Has Increased the Nighttime Heat Stress Risks in Eastern China

The magma evolutional constrains on the genesis of proximal Zn skarn mineralization: A case study from the Yaojialing deposit in Tongling district, eastern China

The major factors especially the roles of the magma evolution controlling the Zn/Cu mineralization in skarn deposits are still controversial. Yaojialing is a large-sized skarn Zn polymetallic deposit (1.74 Mt Zn at 3.6 %, 30.4 t Au at 4.2 g/t and 24.8 t Cu at 0.83 %) located in the Tongling district of the Middle–Lower Yangtze belt (MLYB), both the proximal and distal areas of the deposit exhibit high Zn/Cu mineralization. The intrusions in Yaojialing primarily consist of quartz monzonite porphyry (QMP) and granodiorite porphyry (GDP), and the QMP is related to skarn mineralization. Both the QMP and GDP display relatively high (87Sr/86Sr)i values (0.707907 to 0.709390), low εNd(t) values (−9.05 to −8.17) and negative εHf(t) values (−8.51 to −11.72), suggesting that they originated from a mixed source of enriched mantle and lower crust. Both the QMP and GDP contain type I and type II amphiboles, while type III amphibole exists only in QMP. Type I amphibole is acicular crystals shape, type II amphibole is euhedral in shape and relatively large in size (0.6–2.0 mm), while type III amphibole crystallized around the margin of type II amphibole. The type I amphibole from QMP and GDP show similar calculated temperatures (948–1010 ℃), pressures (2.9–6.5 kbar, corresponding depths at 11.0 to 24.4 km), fO2 (ΔFMQ = 0.2–1.9) and H2O content (4.2–6.8 wt%). Type II amphibole crystallized at 815–941 ℃, 1.2–2.9 kbar (corresponding to depth of 4.6–11.1 km), ΔFMQ = 0.7–2.1, and 4.4–5.7 wt% H2O. Type III amphibole have a lower temperature (679–795 ℃), pressure (<0.5 kbar) and water content (2.5–4.3 wt%) but higher fO2 value (ΔFMQ = 3.1–3.8) compared to type I and type II amphiboles. Reverse zoning of plagioclase and higher Mg# (74 to 89) of type III amphibole in QMP are resulted from injection of mafic magma at shallow depths, which provide sufficient metal and favorable conditions for the formation of QMP parental magma. Modeling of magma H2O solubility indicates that QMP begins to exsolve fluid at depth of 6.2–11.1 km. Initial low oxygen fugacity and ore-forming element differential release during fluid exsolution process resulted in the high Zn/Cu mineralization at Yaojialing.

Decoding the influence of servitization on green transformation in manufacturing firms: The moderating effect of artificial intelligence

This research addresses three crucial dimensions in operations management: the servitization of manufacturing, the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, and green transformation. Employing the by-production method, we construct a metric for green transformation applicable to listed firms. Our comprehensive analytical framework integrates the resource-based view and information asymmetry theories, enabling systematic investigation into the influence of manufacturing servitization on firms' green transformation. In addition, we examine the moderating effect of AI platforms on the execution of servitization strategies. The empirical foundation of our study is an annually updated dataset of 554 manufacturing firms listed on China's A-share market. Our findings reveal a strong positive correlation between the deployment of servitization strategies and the green transformation of firms. This association withstands multiple robustness tests, including core variable substitution, outlier removal, and adjustments in clustering standard errors. Our research uncovers notable nuances. The effect of servitization on green total factor productivity is more visible for eastern and central China firms. Also, state-owned enterprises demonstrate a more conspicuous influence from servitization strategies. However, we observe a slight diminishing of this effect in firms audited by the Big Four. An essential contribution of our study is the illumination of the role AI platforms play in enhancing the efficacy of servitization. These AI platforms facilitate the creation of tailored solutions that curtail resource wastage, thus amplifying the positive effect of servitization strategies on green transformation.

Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of the Retail Industry in Ningbo City in Eastern China Based on POI Data

Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of the Retail Industry in Ningbo City in Eastern China Based on POI Data

Knowledge, attitudes, and practice of physicians and pharmacists regarding the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular toxicity associated with cancer treatment

This study aimed to explore physicians’ and pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) regarding the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular toxicity associated with cancer treatment. A multicenter cross-sectional study included physicians and pharmacists between April 2023 and June 2023. The study included 918 participants (514 physicians and 404 pharmacists). The average scores of knowledge, attitudes, and practice were 11.6 ± 3.39, 24.7 ± 2.6, and 26.3 ± 6.8 points. Sufficient knowledge was significantly associated with age ≥ 41 years (odds ratio (OR) = 2.745, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.086–6.941, P = 0.033), male (OR = 2.745, 95% CI 1.150–2.223, P = 0.005), bachelor’s degree (OR = 0.084, 95% CI 0.013–0.533, P = 0.009), master’s degree and above (OR = 0.096, 95% CI 0.015–0.609, P = 0.013), physician occupation (OR = 7.601, 95% CI 1.337–43.207, P = 0.022), pharmacy department (OR = 18.858, 95% CI 3.245–109.57, P = 0.001), oncology department (OR = 4.304, 95% CI 2.426–7.634, P < 0.001), cardiology department (OR = 3.001, 95% CI 1.387–6.492, P = 0.005), hospitals located in Eastern China (OR = 1.957, 95% CI 1.120–3.418, P = 0.018), and hospitals located in Western China (OR = 3.137, 95% CI 1.783–5.518, P < 0.001). Positive attitudes were significantly associated with a senior professional title (OR = 2.989, 95% CI 1.124–7.954, P = 0.028) and hospitals located in Eastern China (OR = 0.424, 95% CI 0.257–0.698, P = 0.001), Western China (OR = 0.231, 95% CI 0.136–0.394, P < 0.001), and Southern China (OR = 0.341, 95% CI 0.198–0.587, P < 0.001). Proactive practice was significantly associated with male (OR = 1.414, 95% CI 1.029–1.943, P = 0.033), senior professional title (OR = 3.838, 95% CI 1.176–12.524, P = 0.026), oncology department (OR = 3.827, 95% CI 2.336–6.272, P < 0.001), and cardiology department (OR = 2.428, 95% CI 1.263–4.669, P = 0.008). Both physicians and pharmacists had positive attitudes toward the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular toxicity associated with cancer treatment, while their knowledge and practice were not as proactive.

Deep reinforcement learning assisted memetic scheduling of drones for railway catenary deicing

Icy rainfall and snowfall in 2024 Spring Festival struck the high-speed railway catenary systems and caused serious traffic disruptions in central and eastern China. Deicing drones are an effective method in response to these freezing events due to their fast speed and high environmental tolerance. However, the large disaster-affected area and the large scale and complexity of catenary networks make deicing drone scheduling a very difficult problem. In this paper, we formulate two versions of deicing drone scheduling problem, one for single drone scheduling and the other for multiple drone scheduling. Unlike most existing vehicle/drone routing problems, our problem aims to minimize the total negative effect caused by the freezing events on train operations, which reflects the prime concern of the decision-maker and is highly complex. To efficiently solve the problem, we propose a reinforcement learning assisted memetic optimization algorithm, which integrates global mutation and a set of neighborhood search operators adaptively selected by deep reinforcement learning. Computational results on real-world problem instances demonstrate its significant performance advantages over selected popular optimization algorithms in the literature.

Clinical characteristics and mortality of mucormycosis in hematological malignancies: a retrospective study in Eastern China

BackgroundMucormycosis is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with hematological malignancies, but its characteristics are not fully understood. This study aimed to gain a better understanding of the clinical features of mucormycosis in patients with hematological malignancies in eastern China.MethodsA single-center retrospective analysis was conducted on the demographic profile, microbiology, management, and 90-day mortality of mucormycosis patients with hematological malignancies between 2018 and 2023.ResultsA total of 50 cases were included in the study, consisting of 11 proven and 39 probable cases of mucormycosis. The median age of the patients was 39.98 ± 18.52 years, with 52% being male. Among the cases, 46% had acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 16% had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and 16% had myelodysplastic syndrome. The most common manifestations of mucormycosis were pulmonary (80%), disseminated (16%), and rhinocerebral (4%). The diagnosis was confirmed through histology, culture, microscopy, and molecular diagnostic techniques. The most commonly identified fungal species were Cunninghamella (40%), Rhizopus (26%), and Rhizomucor (22%). Treatment involved antifungals in 84% of cases and surgery in 10% of cases. The 90-day mortality rate was 76%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that treatment with amphotericin B and surgery was associated with improved survival, while neutropenia and administration of voriconazole prior to diagnosis was associated with higher mortality.ConclusionsMucormycosis continues to have a high mortality rate in patients with hematological malignancies. Early diagnosis using various techniques, including molecular biology, along with the appropriate use of amphotericin B and surgery when possible, is vital for the successful treatment of mucormycosis.

Decadal Changes in Dry and Wet Heatwaves in Eastern China: Spatial Patterns and Risk Assessment

Decadal Changes in Dry and Wet Heatwaves in Eastern China: Spatial Patterns and Risk Assessment

The Impact of Leadership Development Programs on School Management in Secondary Schools in Eastern China

The Impact of Leadership Development Programs on School Management in Secondary Schools in Eastern China

Investigating the main factors responsible for changes in income inequality in China between 2000 and 2018

Poverty, and especially the widening disparity between the rich and the poor, leads to social unrest that can interrupt the harmonious development of human society. Understanding the reasons for income inequality, and supporting the development of an effective strategy to reduce this inequality, have been major goals in socioeconomic research around the world. To identify the determinants of the income gap, we calculated the Gini coefficients for Chinese provinces and performed regression analysis and contribution analysis for heterogeneity, using data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2002 to 2018. We found that urbanization, higher education, and foreign direct investment in eastern China and energy in central and western China were important factors that increased the Gini coefficient (i.e., decreased equality). Therefore, paying more attention to the fair distribution of the factors that can increase the Gini coefficient and investing more in the factors that can reduce the Gini coefficient will be the keys to narrowing the income gap. Our approach revealed factors that should be targeted for solutions both in China and in other developing countries that are facing similar difficulties, although the details will vary among countries and contexts.

Allocation of Financial Resources and Green Economic Development: Evidence from China

Green development has recently become the theme of global economic development. Focusing on green development, this paper uses China’s interprovincial panel data from 2003–2022 to construct a spatial Durbin model to study the impact of the allocation of financial resources between the virtual economy and the real economy on green development. The findings are as follows: (1) The “virtual and real” allocation of financial resources has a significant effect on the green development of the economy; on the whole, the increase in financial resources in the virtual economy reduces the quality of green economic development. (2) The “virtual and real” allocation of financial resources has an obvious spatial spillover effect on green economic development; the increase in financial resources flowing into the virtual economy in one province (city) reduces the proportion of financial resources flowing into the virtual economy in neighboring provinces, which is conducive to the green economic development of the neighboring provinces. (3) Due to the differences in economic structure, industrial structure, and financial development level among provinces and regions, the “virtual and real” allocation of financial resources has a significant effect on the green economic development of central, eastern, and western China.

Does Industrial Structure Upgrading Promote China’s Outward Foreign Direct Investment (OFDI) in ASEAN Countries? Evidence from Provincial Panels

Numerous studies have explored the impact of Outward Foreign Direct Investment (OFDI) on upgrading industrial structures in home countries. However, a notable gap exists in the literature regarding the reverse relationship. Based on the cross-border greenfield investment data of Chinese provinces in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries from 2003 to 2021, this study employed the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model to evaluate the impact of industrial upgrading in each province on OFDI to address this gap. The findings suggest that China’s industrial structure upgrading significantly promotes OFDI toward ASEAN countries, though the effect varies by region within China and by the income levels of host countries. Regionally, industrial upgrading in eastern China notably stimulates OFDI growth, while the effect is not significant in the central and western regions, reflecting inconsistent evolution of industrial structures in various regions. Regarding host country income levels, the promotion effect of industrial structure upgrading on OFDI is influenced by the economic development level of the host country. Furthermore, we find that R&amp;D intensity acts as a moderator that links industrial structural upgrading to OFDI responses. These findings withstand robustness checks, including tests for endogeneity. Ultimately, this study provides policy insights for strengthening the virtuous cycle between industrial upgrading and OFDI.

Analyzing spatial delays of tuberculosis from surveillance and awareness surveys in Eastern China

The spatial delays of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) have been less explored. In this study, a total of 151,799 notified PTB cases were included, with median patient and diagnostic delays of 15 [interquartile range (IOR), 4–35] and 2 (IOR, 0–8) days, respectively. The spatial autocorrelation analysis and spatial–temporal scan statistics were used to determine the clusters, indicating that the regions in the southwestern and northeastern parts of Zhejiang Province exhibited high rates of long-term patient delay (LPD, delay ≥ 15 days) and long-term diagnostic delay (LDD, delay ≥ 2 days). Besides, the Mantel test indicated a moderately positive correlation between public awareness of suspicious symptoms and the LPD rate in 2018 (Mantel's r = 0.4, P < 0.05). These findings suggest that PTB delays can reveal deficiencies in public health education and the healthcare system. Also, it is essential to explore methods to shift PTB knowledge towards real changes in attitude and behavior to minimize patient delay. Addressing these issues will be crucial for improving public health outcomes related to PTB in Zhejiang Province.

The Implications of Seeping Hydrocarbon Gases in the Gunsan Basin, Central Yellow Sea, off the Southwest of Korea

A detailed analysis of high-resolution (3.5 kHz) chirp seismic profiles acquired in the Gunsan Basin of the central Yellow Sea revealed that hydrocarbon gases are actively seeping via the formation of many plumes. The uppermost sedimentary layer was acoustically confirmed to be fully or partially charged with gases. Somewhat favored by the low-tide period, episodic gas seepage is mainly associated with the underlying fault systems of Cretaceous-Cenozoic sedimentary strata in the southwestern part of the basin. Catastrophic gas expulsion seems to have formed a crater at the sidewall of a sedimentary ridge and two diapirs. Here, methane is poorly concentrated but rich in the heavy carbon isotope (δ13C, −52.6‰ to −44.7‰ The Vienna Peedee Belemnite [VPDB]), indicating that methane formed mainly through biodegradation of heavy oils at depth remains in the shallow sediments following its expulsion. Episodic rapid upward advection of porewater is also manifest by unmixed heavy methane trapped in the upper part of the primary biogenic methane (δ13C, about −90‰ VPDB)-filled sediment core. These findings imply that the Gunsan Basin fulfills the requirements for possible generation and preservation of oil and gas, like the petroliferous basins of eastern China and the Yellow Sea.

Emergence of Staphylococcus argenteus in pediatrics: Molecular insights from a hospital in East China.

Staphylococcus argenteus is a novel species within the Staphylococcus aureus complex and can cause serious bloodstream infections (BSIs) in humans, which have been mainly reported in adults, especially the elderly. In this study, we analyzed the molecular characterization of a strain of S. argenteus (22WJ8192) isolated from the peripheral vein blood sample of a seven-month-old female infant in Eastern China. The 22WJ8192 belonged to sequence type (ST)2250 and harbored six antibiotic-resistance genes and 53 virulence genes and was resistant to penicillin. Additionally, we conducted a comparative analysis of the molecular characteristics of S. argenteus sourced from various origins within the dataset, predominantly from the National Center for Biotechnology Information Collection (NCBI) genome database. Antibiotic-resistance genes blaR1, blaI_of_Z, blaZ, fosB-Saur, tet(L), aph(3")-IIIa, mecA, and dfrG were more prevalent among the strains of human origin. Virulence genes lukF-PV, sak, sdrE, scn, sdrC, and sdrD were more prevalent among strains of human origin. The presence of antibiotic-resistance genes blaR1, blaI_of_Z, blaZ, fosB-Saur, and aph(3")-IIIa in strain 22WJ8192 was also more common among strains of human origin in the dataset. Conversely, the antibiotic-resistance genes tet(L), mecA, and dfrG, typically found in strains of human origin, were not detected in 22WJ8192. Additionally, virulence genes lukF-PV, sak, sdrE, scn, sdrC, and sdrD present in 22WJ8192 exhibited a higher prevalence among strains of human origin in the dataset. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the potential of S. argenteus ST2250 to induce severe bloodstream infections in infants, shedding light on the molecular characteristics of this strain.

Efficiency and Driving Factors of Agricultural Carbon Emissions: A Study in Chinese State Farms

Promoting low-carbon agriculture is vital for climate action and food security. State farms serve as crucial agricultural production bases in China and are essential in reducing China’s carbon emissions and boosting emission efficiency. This study calculates the carbon emissions of state farms across 29 Chinese provinces using the IPCC method from 2010 to 2022. It also evaluates emission efficiency with the Super-Slack-Based Measure (Super-SBM model) and analyzes influencing factors using the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method. The findings suggest that the three largest carbon sources are rice planting, chemical fertilizers, and land tillage. Secondly, agricultural carbon emissions in state farms initially surge, stabilize with fluctuations, and ultimately decline, with higher emissions observed in northern and eastern China. Thirdly, the rise of agricultural carbon emission efficiency is driven primarily by technological progress. Lastly, economic development and industry structure promote agricultural carbon emissions, while production efficiency and labor scale reduce them. To reduce carbon emissions from state farms in China and improve agricultural carbon emission efficiency, the following measures can be taken: (1) Improve agricultural production efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in all links; (2) Optimize the agricultural industrial structure and promote the coordinated development of agriculture; (3) Reduce the agricultural labor scale and promote the specialization, professionalization, and high-quality development of agricultural labor; (4) Accelerate agricultural green technology innovation and guide the green transformation of state farms. This study enriches the theoretical foundation of low-carbon agriculture and develops a framework for assessing carbon emissions in Chinese state farms, offering guidance for future research and policy development in sustainable agriculture.