Greater Bay Area Research Articles

Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics Associated with Genetic Testing among Cancer Survivors: Evidence from Three Cancer Registries.

Genetic tests, including germline and tumor (somatic) testing, can optimize the clinical care and outcomes for cancer patients and their family members. However, evidence on cancer patients' use of genetic testing and discussions about it with healthcare providers is limited. Study participants included cancer survivors aged 18 or older, drawn from the 2021 Health Information and National Trends Survey (HINTS)-Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) linked database, which comprises three US cancer registries: Iowa, New Mexico, and the Greater Bay Area. Sociodemographic factors (e.g., age, sex, income, education) at the time of the survey and clinical characteristics (e.g., cancer site, stage) at the time of diagnosis were compared based on self-reported genetic testing status and provider discussions, using survey design-adjusted analysis. The weighted study sample comprised 415,978 cancer survivors with a mean age of 70.5 years at the time of the survey. Overall, 17.0% reported having germline testing, 8.5% having tumor testing, and 8.6% discussing tumor testing with their healthcare providers. Higher proportions of germline genetic testing were observed among survivors under age 65 at the time of the survey, females, holding college degrees, and with private insurance coverage compared to their respective counterparts - males, aged 65 or above when surveyed, with lower educational attainment, and with public insurance or uninsured. The proportion of those who reported tumor testing was greater for those diagnosed in recent years (2015-2017 vs. before 2002). Regarding clinical characteristics, survivors with ovarian and breast cancers had a 7.0-36.4% higher prevalence of both testing compared to those with other cancer types lacking germline indication. More cancer survivors diagnosed at distant stages (vs. regional) or between 2015 and 2017 (vs. 2003-2010) reported having provider discussions about tumor testing. Findings showed that the highest reports of germline testing were among young female cancer survivors and those with higher education and private insurance. Survivors diagnosed in recent years or with advanced-stage disease were more likely to report discussing tumor testing with providers. Further research is warranted to better understand the barriers and educational needs of cancer patients, caregivers, and providers to optimize genetic testing strategies.

Urban sprawl and thermal response in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, 2000–2020

The urban heat island (UHI) environment is closely related to the daily life of residents, and the impact of UHI is further expanding in the era of rapid urbanization, which is particularly obvious in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). To explore the connection between UHI and urban expansion, this study takes GBA as the study area, based on Google Earth Engine platform and Landsat satellite data. The urban-rural temperature difference method was used to analyze the heat island zoning in the GBA from 2000 to 2020, and the direction and type of urban expansion in the GBA were investigated by standard deviation ellipse and LEI, to explore the link between the type of urban expansion and the heat island region through geospatial analysis methods. The results of the study show that: (1) The proportion of the area of strong and extreme heat islands in the GBA was 37.64% in 2000; 38.61% in 2005; 47.07% in 2010; 55.76% in 2015; and finally 59.69% in 2020. The proportion of the area of heat island regions in the period from 2000 to 2020 showed an overall increasing trend, with the largest increase in heat island regions in the period from 2015 to 2020. (2) The intensity of urban expansion in the GBA is 32% in both 2000–2005 and 2005–2010, which is significantly higher than the 9% in 2010–2015, and then increases to 24 per cent in 2015–2020. The speed of movement of urban centroids decreases in 2000–2015 and increases in 2015–2020. The direction of urban expansion in the first 5 years is dominated by the northeast, and the direction of urban expansion in the latter 15 years is generally dominated by the southwest, and the type of urban expansion is dominated by the fringe type, with the enclave type of expansion accounting for a smaller proportion. (3) Pearson correlation analysis further confirms that there is a significant positive correlation between urban sprawl and the urban heat island effect, with a correlation coefficient of 0.78 and a p-value of 0.041. There is a high degree of spatial consistency between the distribution of built-up urban areas and the distribution of heat island areas in GBA, and the direction of the evolution of the urban heat island areas is the same as the direction of the evolution of the built-up urban areas in general, and the thermal response of the marginal expansion to the ground surface temperature is stronger than that of enclave expansion. The thermal response to the surface temperature is stronger than that of the enclave type of expansion.

The factors driving industrial integration: A fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis

The integration of modern service and advanced manufacturing industries represents deep industrial reform and profound change in quality concepts, mechanisms, and practices. Integrating these two industries is important for achieving high-quality development and is an area of interest for policymakers and academia. This study analyzes the data of 11 regions in 2021 in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area using the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis method from the configuration perspective. This study explores the effects of multiple factors, such as economic efficiency, technological innovation, and the policy environment, on improving the coupling coordination level of the modern service and advanced manufacturing industries, and analyzes the path selection of industrial integration development. Overall, economic efficiency, technological innovation, and policy environment factors are not necessary conditions for the integration development of the modern service and advanced manufacturing industries. The multiple impacts of economic efficiency, technological innovation, and policy environment form a multi-restructuring path that drives the integration of the two industries. Owing to the economic development level and resource endowment of different regions, the path dictating the degree of integration between the two industries varies by region. From a holistic perspective, all regions should strive to coordinate the multiple conditions of economic efficiency, technological innovation, and policy environment to break through objective constraints such as the government's conditions and external environment based on their own organizational conditions and resource endowments. Additionally, all regions should strengthen exchanges, cooperation, and integration mechanisms and implement complementary development and distinctive development in core cities in the Greater Bay Area. The results clarify the factors affecting industrial convergence in the Greater Bay Area, enriching existing research methods and laying a foundation for a decision-making theory of industrial integration development.

Marine Tech for Tourism Industrial Transformation in Developing Emerging Marine Tourism for Environmental Sustainability in the Greater Bay Area

Marine Tech for Tourism Industrial Transformation in Developing Emerging Marine Tourism for Environmental Sustainability in the Greater Bay Area

L2 English listeners’ perceived comprehensibility and attitudes towards speech produced by L3 English learners from China

ABSTRACT This study investigated the perceptions of second language (L2) English learners from Hong Kong on the speech produced by third language (L3) English learners from the Greater Bay Area (GBA) of China. Twenty L2 learners from a local university were asked to listen to speech recordings from two L3 learners, and then complete an online survey, which focused on comprehension of the speech and four dimensions of language attitudes, namely Appropriateness, Solidarity, Status, and Dynamism. Results showed correlations between the phonological performance of learners and the perception of listeners. Specifically, vowel replacement and addition, as well as consonant addition were found to have a negative correlation with the learners’ actual comprehensibility. Replacing /ə/ with Chinese ‘er’ /ɚ/ only affected their perceived comprehensibility. For perceived attitude, the presence of vowel replacement and addition had an adverse effect on the rating of Dynamism. These two features, along with consonant addition, also negatively affected the rating of Status. Moreover, consonant addition was the sole factor that negatively affected the rating of Solidarity. These findings provided pedagogical insights for learners to communicate in English as well as social implications for language paradigm, particularly in a multilingual and multicultural context such as the GBA.

New Perspective to Evaluate the Carbon Offsetting by Urban Blue-Green Infrastructure: Direct Carbon Sequestration and Indirect Carbon Reduction.

Urban blue-green infrastructure (BGI) offers a multitude of ecological advantages to residents, thereby playing a pivotal role in fortifying urban resilience and fostering the development of climate-resilient cities. Nonetheless, current research falls short of a comprehensive analysis of BGI's overall potential for carbon reduction and its indirect carbon reduction impact. To fill this research gap, we utilized the integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs model and remote sensing estimation algorithm to quantify the direct carbon sequestration and resultant indirect carbon reduction facilitated by the BGI within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) (China). To identify the regions that made noteworthy contributions to carbon offsets and outliers, spatial autocorrelation analysis was also employed. The findings of this study reveal that in 2019, the BGI within the study area contributed an overall carbon offset of 1.5 × 108 t·C/yr, of which 3.5 × 107 and 11.0 × 107 t·C/yr were the result of direct carbon sequestration and indirect carbon reduction, respectively. The GBA's total CO2 emissions were 1.1 × 108 t in 2019. While the direct carbon sequestration offset 32.0% of carbon emissions, the indirect carbon reduction mitigated 49.9% of potential carbon emissions. These results highlight the critical importance of evaluating BGI's indirect contribution to carbon reduction. The findings of this study provide a valuable reference for shaping management policies that prioritize the protection and restoration of specific areas, thereby facilitating the harmonized development of carbon offset capabilities within urban agglomerations.

Exploring the conservation of historic avian corridors under urbanization threats in China: A case study of egrets in the Greater Bay Area

This study explores the conservation of historic flyway corridors for egret in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), with a focus on habitat connectivity and dynamic corridors. To address the gaps in previous research, we used field observations, bio-climatic data and landcover information spanning three decades. Our approach involves MaxENT modeling and the Linkage Mapper method. The results showed that the MaxENT model effectively simulated the egret habitats at different levels, with coastlines and riverbanks emerging as primary habitat zones. Moreover, bio-climatic factors, particularly Bio 19 and Bio 8, played a dominant role, accounting for 90 % of the habitat suitability in 2020. Other factors contributed rather minimally. Through the utilization of resistance surface and corridor extraction methods, noteworthy alterations in the flyway networks emerged post-2000, followed by a gradual return to normal. Connectivity analyses highlighted a critical 30 km threshold for the egret preservation. Corridor widths should be determined based on cost-effective considerations. We conclude that combining MaxENT with the Linkage Mapper method, even with limited egret observations and integrating multi-source data, such as land cover, might simulate potential suitable habitats and flyway dynamics for waterbirds such as egrets. This study provides valuable insights for the egret conservation and the preservation of their habitats in the GBA, contributing to a global waterbird diversity and habitat quality.

Exploring the Integrated Development of Culture and Tourism in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Greater Bay Area

This study seeks to examine the present status, advantages, and various challenges encountered in the advancement of culture and tourism in the Greater Bay Area of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, in light of their deep integration. Additionally, the study aims to provide specific strategic recommendations to address these issues. Through a combination of qualitative analyses and case studies, this study provides a comprehensive interpretation of the distribution of cultural and tourism resources, integration mechanisms and policy environment in the Greater Bay Area. The investigation reveals that while the cultural and tourism industry in the Greater Bay Area has exhibited diversification and offers significant opportunities for collaboration, there remain substantial challenges in terms of resource integration and regional coordination. The integration and expansion of the cultural and tourism sectors represent a demanding yet rewarding journey. By fully tapping into their respective cultural characteristics and tourism resources, and strengthening regional collaboration and policy support, the Greater Bay Area is anticipated to evolve into a globally recognized exemplar of integrated cultural and tourism development, exerting a profound and enduring influence on the regional economy.

Pedagogy in Legal Terminology Translation: A Corpus-based Approach

This paper explores effective pedagogical practices to train high-end foreign legal professionals in China’s Greater Bay Area by answering two research questions. First, can corpus-based teaching be applied as a productive pedagogical method? Second, how can beginner professionals be cultivated in legal translation capabilities in the legal domain? The paper proposes a module entitled “Introduction to Legal Terminology Translation,” which includes sessions on legal systems and legalese, corpus approach, and group presentation. A sequential mixed-method survey was conducted using qualitative methods, such as focus groups and interviews, followed by quantitative research using a questionnaire. A preliminary pilot study involved a focus group, questionnaire, and interview. Two identical questionnaires were distributed to two groups of students: one control and one experimental. In the ten-student experiment group, an instructor taught legalese and distributed a follow-up questionnaire. In the twenty-two-student control group, the instructor (more knowledgeable other) did not teach legalese but used a corpus-based questionnaire to assess student entry into the zone of proximal development. In the questionnaire, entry-level Latin legalese examples were provided. During interviews, junior university students preferred a mixture of all three pedagogical methods, while senior university students preferred the corpus approach due to its enhanced efficiency and accuracy.

Advancing Regional–Scale Spatio–Temporal Dynamics of FFCO2 Emissions in Great Bay Area

Estimating city–scale emissions using gridded inventories lacks direct, precise measurements, resulting in significant uncertainty. A Kalman filter integrates diverse, uncertain information sources to deliver a reliable, accurate estimate of the true system state. By leveraging multiple gridded inventories and a Kalman filter fusion method, we developed an optimal city–scale (3 km) FFCO2 emission product that incorporates quantified uncertainties and connects global–regional–city scales. Our findings reveal the following: (1) Kalman fusion post–reconstruction reduces estimate uncertainties for 2000–2014 and 2015–2021 to ±9.77% and ±11.39%, respectively, outperforming other inventories and improving accuracy to 73% compared to ODIAC and EDGAR (57%, 65%). (2) Long–term trends in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) show an upward trajectory, with a 2.8% rise during the global financial crisis and a −0.19% decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. Spatial analysis uncovers a “core–subcore–periphery” emission pattern. (3) The core city GZ consistently contributes the largest emissions, followed by DG as the second–largest emitter, and HK as the seventh–highest emitter. Factors influencing the center–shift of the pattern include the urban form of cities, population migration, GDP contribution, but not electricity consumption. The reconstructed method and product offer a reliable solution for the lack of directly observed emissions, enhancing decision–making accuracy for policymakers.

Determinants for the development of creative tourism: A stakeholder perspective

This study aims to investigate the determinants that contribute to the sustainable development of creative tourism, a transformative shift from traditional cultural tourism which possess high economic potential. Grounded in stakeholder theory, a qualitative approach was employed to explore the perspectives of 23 existing suppliers of creative tourism in the Greater Bay Area, China, through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with key management in exiting business, this study uncovers determinants for the development of creative tourism. The findings shed light on the significance of fostering creative synergies and their implications for sustainable growth in the industry. While a positive attitude from suppliers is crucial, this study emphasizes the importance of mutual understanding of creativity to generate momentum, integration of local culture and regional knowledge, and the development of creative products. Moreover, removing barriers faced by suppliers such as a lack of financial support, insufficient government policies and regulations, and inadequate infrastructure is imperative for sustainable development. This research significantly contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing an overview of the current research status on suppliers' perspectives towards creative tourism. It offers valuable directions for future scholarly inquiry in this field. Moreover, the research offers valuable insights that can assist policymakers and destination planners in developing efficient policies and sustainable planning approaches.

Global insights from local actions: a case study on enhancing flood disaster management efficiency in China's Greater Bay Area.

This study examines the flood disaster management network within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) from 2015 to 2021, identifying government department involvement and influence shifts. Key findings indicate a decrease in the centrality of the Public Security Office and Department of Transportation, suggesting a strategic shift toward more specialized, technology-driven disaster management. Conversely, the Science Bureau's increased engagement, from 8.43% to 12.84%, highlights a policy shift toward scientific research and technological innovation in managing flood risks. The analysis reveals underutilized communication between the Central Committee, the Poverty Alleviation Office, and the Publicity Department, highlighting opportunities for improved integration in disaster management and public communication strategies. To address these issues, the study suggests strengthening inter-departmental collaboration to leverage technological advancements in disaster management. It also recommends integrating flood disaster management with poverty alleviation initiatives to support affected populations comprehensively. Increasing the involvement of the Publicity Department is crucial for improving timely and transparent communication of flood-related data to the public. The conclusions advocate for an adaptive, strategically planned network approach to flood disaster management in the GBA, aiming to bolster responsiveness and preparedness for future flood events.

Small-Intensity Rainfall Triggers Greater Contamination of Rubber-Derived Chemicals in Road Stormwater Runoff from Various Functional Areas in Megalopolis Cities.

Rubber-derived chemicals (RDCs) originating from tire and road wear particles are transported into road stormwater runoff, potentially threatening organisms in receiving watersheds. However, there is a lack of knowledge on time variation of novel RDCs in runoff, limiting initial rainwater treatment and subsequent rainwater resource utilization. In this study, we investigated the levels and time-concentration profiles of 35 target RDCs in road stormwater runoff from eight functional areas in the Greater Bay Area, South China. The results showed that the total concentrations of RDCs were the highest on the expressway compared with other seven functional areas. N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD), 6PPD-quinone, benzothiazole, and 1,3-diphenylguanidine were the top four highlighted RDCs (ND-228840 ng/L). Seasonal and spatial differences revealed higher RDC concentrations in the dry season as well as in less-developed regions. A lag effect of reaching RDC peak concentrations in road stormwater runoff was revealed, with a lag time of 10-90 min on expressways. Small-intensity rainfall triggers greater contamination of rubber-derived chemicals in road stormwater runoff. Environmental risk assessment indicated that 35% of the RDCs posed a high risk, especially PPD-quinones (risk quotient up to 2663). Our findings contribute to a better understanding of managing road stormwater runoff for RDC pollution.

Life-cycle performance prediction and interpretation for coastal and marine RC structures: An ensemble learning framework

Long-term exposure to coastal and marine environments accelerates the aging of reinforced concrete (RC) structures, impacting their structural safety and society impact. Traditional assessments of long-term performance deterioration in RC structures involve complex, nonlinear, and time-intensive studies of physical mechanisms. While existing machine learning (ML) methods can assess the lifetime of these structures, they often prioritize data regression over mechanistic interpretation. To enhance the efficiency and interpretability of predicting the life-cycle performance of RC structures, this study introduces a generic framework based on interpretable ensemble learning (EL) methods. The framework predicts life-cycle performance efficiently and accurately, with optimal hyperparameters automatically tuned through Bayesian optimization. Interpretability algorithms clarify the influence of environmental, durability, and mechanical parameters on structural durability and mechanical predictions. Validation employs real-world cases of RC hollow beams in the coastal area of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The comprehensive model for RC structures integrates actual data on temperature, humidity, and surface chloride content in the GBA, considering diffusion, convection, and binding effects of chloride ions, corrosion non-uniformity, and crack impact on durability estimation. Comparative analysis with existing ML methods underscores the effectiveness of the framework. The findings highlight the dynamic evolution of feature importance rankings throughout the service life, shedding light on the continuous changes in the significance of different factors when predicting mechanical resistance.

Assessing spatiotemporal population density dynamics from 2000 to 2020 in megacities using urban and rural morphologies

Rapid urbanization has resulted in the substantial population growth in metropolitan areas. However, existing research on population change of the cities predominantly draws on grid statistical data at the administrative level, overlooking the intra-urban variegation of population change. Particularly, there is a lack of attention given to the spatio-temporal change of population across different urban forms and functions. This paper therefore fills in the lacuna by clarifying the spatio-temporal characteristics of population growth in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) from 2000 to 2020 through the methods of local climate zone (LCZ) scheme and urban–rural gradients. The results showed that: (1) High population density was observed in the compact high-rise (LCZ 1) areas, with a noticeable decline along urban–rural gradients. (2) The city centers of GBA experienced the most significant population growth, while certain urban fringes and rural areas witnessed significant population shrinkage. (3) The rate of growth tended to slow down after 2010, but the uneven development of population-based urbanization was also noticeable, as urbanization and industrialization varied across different LCZ types and cities in GBA. This paper therefore contributes to a deeper understanding of population change and urbanization by clarifying their spatio-temporal contingences at landscape level.

Long-term trend of surface wind speed in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area during 1980–2020: Spatiotemporal variation and urbanization effect

Understanding the surface wind speed variations is important for the climate and air quality assessment in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA), known as the world class urban agglomeration in China. This study investigates the spatial and temporal variations of surface mean wind speed (MWS) in the GBA from 1980 to 2020, drawing upon ground observations and reanalysis data. After accounting for station relocations, the observed wind speed demonstrated a fluctuating declining trend of −0.036 m∙s−1 per decade over the examined period in line with reanalysis data. Wind speeds were found stronger during winter and daytime than summer and nighttime. The southern coastal regions exhibited higher MWS compared with northern mountainous areas. The Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) revealed the dominant mode of MWS changes was characterized by a cyclical pattern lasting over 20 years, probably influenced by atmospheric circulation. The urbanization reduced the observed wind speeds by 4.71% - 10.11% over the past decade (2011−2020) in urban areas of the GBA based on urban-minus-rural (UMR), observation-minus-reanalysis (OMR), and urban impact factor (UIF) methods. The long-term spatio-temporal analyses of MWS could benefit the climate and air quality studies and provide data support for regional and micro-scale modeling in the GBA.

Study on the Path of Integration of Southeast Gui Townships into Guangdong's Great Bay Area

As one of the key strategies for China to lead the economic development in the new era, since the in-depth implementation of the reform and opening up for forty years, the Guangdong Greater Bay Area, with its diversified industrial pattern, has vigorously promoted the rapid growth of China's economy and played an indispensable role in the global competition. Its unique geographical location and all-round policy support, as well as its huge economic hinterland, have laid a solid foundation for the synergistic development of industries in the region. Of particular concern is that the town cluster of southeast Gui, consisting of Wuzhou, Yulin and Guigang, is seizing the favorable opportunity of the Pearl River-West River Economic Belt to fully tap its own regional potential, actively expand the scope of external cooperation and exchange, take the initiative to initiate beneficial docking with many developed regions such as Guangdong, do a good job of undertaking industrial relocation, and rely on the Xijiang Golden Waterway to promote the development of advantageous industries and build up a A town system with clear division of labor and mutual cooperation. This innovative theory of synergistic regional economic development provides valuable ideas for the current stage of economic transformation and upgrading in China. It is crucial for the linkage development between the two regions. Therefore, the establishment of Guangdong's Greater Bay Area opens up a broader space for the development of Guandong's southeastern town clusters, while the latter likewise needs to be actively involved in the construction of the Greater Bay Area, to meet the challenges and grasp the opportunities, and to realize the mutual benefits and win-win situation between the regions.This paper takes the main line of researching the integration of Gui-Southeast Townships into the construction of Guangdong Great Bay Area as the main line, and summarizes the content of the article research by finding relevant information, collecting literature monographs, etc. The content of the whole article is divided into five major parts for comprehensive elaboration, firstly, based on the research experience of relevant scholars, combining theoretical foundations and relevant concepts, and then, from the status quo and problems of the integration of Gui-Southeast Townships into the Guangdong Great Bay Area, the analysis of the degree of industrial synergies between the Gui-Southeast Analysis of the degree of industrial synergy between the urban agglomeration and the Guangdong region, and finally propose important paths and countermeasures for integration based on the results of the analysis.The results of the study found that:First, the degree of industrial association between different counties and cities and the Guangdong Greater Bay Area is affected by the structure of their respective three industries. Second, the development indexes of Guigang, Yulin and the whole Guangdong region show an upward trend, while Wuzhou's development index is lower in comparison, and it is found that the development indexes of Gui-Southeast can be narrowed through the vigorous development of Gui-Southeast. Thirdly, the synergies between the Gui-Southeast urban agglomeration and the Guangdong Bay Area are at a low level, and there is a serious lack of synergy for some time. Therefore, in order to integrate into the Greater Bay Area of Guangdong, it is necessary to study and learn from the advanced development experiences at home and abroad, optimize the industrial structure, improve the system of accepting industrial transfer, improve the transportation facilities, accelerate the promotion of connectivity to improve the quality and increase the quantity, deepen the reform of the system and at the same time clarify the positioning to undertake the major industrial projects that are difficult to be arranged in the layout of the Greater Bay Area of Guangdong, with the aim of realizing a better integration of the South-East Gui Townships into the construction of the Greater Bay Area, and to create a better environment for resource sharing and cooperation between the two regions. Create a situation of resource sharing and win-win cooperation between the two places.

Impacts of Absorbing Aerosols and PM10 on Ozone Changes in the Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao and Greater Bay Area, China

Impacts of Absorbing Aerosols and PM10 on Ozone Changes in the Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao and Greater Bay Area, China

Potential and Influencing Factors of Urban Spatial Development under Natural Constraints: A Case Study of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

As urbanization in China progresses, urban spatial development is transitioning from rapid expansion to more intensive and compact growth. This study examined the role of physical geography and environmental factors in shaping the urban spatial development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Based on the current natural conditions, we selected evaluation indices from topography, hydrogeology, climatic conditions, and natural disasters. These indices were used to create a carrying capacity and suitability evaluation system for development land under natural constraints. Finally, the spatial development potential of the city was finalized by taking into account the current state of the built-up area of the city. Meanwhile, we employed the Optimal Parameters-based Geographical Detector and assessed the impact of 14 natural factors on the spatial development of urban built-up areas. In 2020, the GBA had 52,168.77 km2 of land suitable for construction, of which 34,241.13 km2 was highly suitable (61.29%) and 17,927.64 km2 was moderately suitable (32.09%). At the Bay Area level, 90.15% of the development potential remains untapped; at the city level, Zhaoqing City has the highest potential at 99.56%, while Macao has the lowest at 26.83%. Key factors influencing urban development include silty sand content, annual average relative humidity, and cumulative temperature above 0 °C, with varying impacts across different urban scales. At the Bay Area level, the silty sand content, annual average relative humidity, and cumulative temperature above 0 °C are the main influencing factors on the spatial development of urban built-up areas; at the city level, the main factors are annual average relative humidity and cumulative active temperature above 0 °C. This study reveals the important influence of natural environmental factors on urban spatial development, which is conducive to promoting sustainable development of land resources in GBA.

Emerging digital inequality in early life: Parenting and differential usage of digital devices among urban preschoolers in China

AbstractObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the following questions: (1) how Chinese preschoolers’ usage of digital devices differ by their family socioeconomic status (SES), and (2) how socioeconomic differences in children's usage of digital devices can be accounted for by parents’ digital parenting attitudes and behaviors.BackgroundScholars in social stratification and inequality have warned about “Digital Inequality” and argued that the fact that people from different socioeconomic backgrounds differ in their access to digital equipment and their knowledge of how to use digital devices effectively would eventually contribute to social inequality. Unfortunately, most of the current studies on digital inequality focus on the population of adults or adolescents; whether and how digital inequality emerges in early life remains heavily understudied.MethodsWe use data from Early Childhood Study‐The Great Bay Area (ECS‐GB), a regional representative survey conducted in 2018 and designed to assess preschool children's social‐emotional and cognitive development in Guangdong, a coastal province in South China. Our analytical sample consists of 11,445 preschool children aged from 3 to 6 with urban hukou.ResultsOur results show that compared with children from lower‐SES families, preschoolers from higher‐SES families spend less time on digital devices daily, are less likely to use digital devices for prolonged time, and spend significantly less time on non‐education purposed and leisure activities. These socioeconomic differences in children's digital usage in terms of time and types of activities are attributable to the fact that parents of higher SES families impose more restrictions, provide more guidance to their children's digital activities, and are more conscious about their children's digital usage in daily life.ConclusionIn contemporary China, digital inequality emerges in early life and such inequality is closely related to family's digital parenting practices.