Guangzhou Area Research Articles

Urban flooding damage prediction in matrix scenarios of extreme rainfall using a convolutional neural network

The pivotal role of quantitative risk assessment in managing urban stormwater is underscored by the high spatial heterogeneity and complex non-stationarity complex of urban flooding. Conventional methods, reliant on measurable data, often fall short in accurately mapping spatial variations and gauging the full impacts of urban flooding. Addressing this gap, this study proposed a robust convolutional neural networks (CNN)-based tool, specifically designed for urban flooding risk and economic losses estimation under extreme design rainfall scenarios. Furthermore, the study validates the transferability of CNN models trained in data-abundant regions to similar but data-scarce regions, using Guangzhou as a case study for urban flooding damage prediction. The findings reveal that the most affected areas, particularly the old, densely built-up urban areas in the south-central Guangzhou, are susceptible to significant economic losses during extreme rainfall events. Notably, under the most severe scenario (Scenario 5), estimated economic losses amount to approximately $6359.91 million, with industrial and residential sectors bearing the brunt, accounting for 28.29 % and 39.94 % of the total losses, respectively. These insights are crucial for prioritizing mitigation efforts and formulating effective evacuation strategies in high-risk areas, ultimately aiding in the reduction of economic losses.

Effects of spatial and temporal crop changes on bird diversity in peri‑urban agricultural lands

Numerous studies have investigated bird diversity-environment relationships in agricultural landscapes. While many studies have emphasized the importance of natural/semi-natural elements and their diversity within or surrounding farmlands, it remains unclear how crop diversity impacts birds. There is also a significant gap in our knowledge regarding the effects of temporal changes in crop composition on bird diversity. Using small farmlands in a sub-tropical city of China, we examined how spatial and temporal variation of crops and other local farmland features was linked to species diversity of birds and their traits. In small peri‑urban agricultural areas of Guangzhou, we collected bird and crop/non-crop data approximately bimonthly from December 2021 to October 2022. Overall crop diversity and seasonal crop changes were indexed by alpha diversity (Shannon-Wiener index) and beta diversity, respectively. Both alpha and beta crop diversities were positively associated with Shannon-Wiener diversity of birds. Alpha crop diversity also tended to have a positive impact on species richness. Percent cover of woody vegetation showed a positive effect on all three bird diversity indices, i.e., species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity, and evenness. Percent cover of rice affected species richness positively and evenness negatively, whereas the effects of percent cover of corn were the opposite. In a fourth-corner analysis, the abundance of plant/seed-eating birds was negatively associated with alpha crop diversity, whereas the abundance of ground-foraging birds was positively associated with beta crop diversity. These patterns indicate that seasonally dynamic crop changes as well as local crop diversity can influence bird diversity and traits in small farmlands. They also suggest that natural/semi-natural woody vegetation, such as trees and shrubs, play a critical role in enhancing species diversity of birds in farmlands dominated by herbaceous edible crops.

Epidemiology and genetic diversity of bocavirus in wild rodents in urban areas of Guangzhou, Southern China

Members of the genus Bocaparvovirus have a significant impact on human health and can infect a wide range of hosts, increasing the likelihood of crossing species barriers. Among the various mammalian hosts, rodents are widely recognized as important reservoirs for emerging and zoonotic viruses. However, despite recent reports of bocavirus infections in rodents, our current understanding of rat bocavirus (RBoV) genetic diversity and evolution is limited. In this study, rodent samples were collected from the urban areas of Guangzhou city, Southern China, to investigate the presence and genetic diversity of RBoV. Through PCR-based screening of 296 rodent spleens, 54 samples were determined to be positive for RBoV infection, and 12 nearly complete genome sequences of RBoV were recovered. Phylogenetic analysis revealed distinct lineages and sub-lineages of RBoV, and six recombination events with strong statistical support were identified, with five of these events involving sequences obtained from this study. These results highlight the genetic diversity of RBoV circulating in rodents in Guangzhou city and emphasize the importance of extensive surveillance to gain a better understanding of RBoV epidemiology, evolutionary characteristics, and potential for cross-species transmission.

The Effect of Long-Term Particulate Matter Exposure on Respiratory Mortality: Cohort Study in China.

Particulate matter (PM), which affects respiratory health, has been well documented; however, substantial evidence from large cohorts is still limited, particularly in highly polluted countries and for PM1. Our objective was to examine the potential causal links between long-term exposure to PMs (PM2.5, PM10, and more importantly, PM1) and respiratory mortality. A total of 580,757 participants from the Guangzhou area, China, were recruited from 2009 to 2015 and followed up through 2020. The annual average concentrations of PMs at a 1-km spatial resolution around the residential addresses were estimated using validated spatiotemporal models. The marginal structural Cox model was used to estimate the associations of PM exposure with respiratory mortality, accounting for time-varying PM exposure. Results were stratified by demographics and lifestyle behaviors factors. Among the participants, the mean age was 48.33 (SD 17.55) years, and 275,676 (47.47%) of them were men. During the follow-up period, 7260 deaths occurred due to respiratory diseases. The annual average concentrations of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 showed a declining trend during the follow-up period. After adjusting for confounders, a 6.6% (95% CI 5.6%-7.6%), 4.2% (95% CI 3.6%-4.7%), and 4.0% (95% CI 3.6%-4.5%) increase in the risk of respiratory mortality was observed following each 1-μg/m3 increase in concentrations of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, respectively. In addition, older participants, nonsmokers, participants with higher exercise frequency, and those exposed to a lower normalized difference vegetation index tended to be more susceptible to the effects of PMs. Furthermore, participants in the low-exposure group tended to be at a 7.6% and 2.7% greater risk of respiratory mortality following PM1 and PM10 exposure, respectively, compared to the entire cohort. This cohort study provides causal clues of the respiratory impact of long-term ambient PM exposure, indicating that PM reduction efforts may continuously benefit the population's respiratory health.

Mining of dynamic traffic-meteorology-atmospheric pollutant association rules based on Eclat method

With the rapid increase of urban vehicles, the atmospheric compound pollutants, notably PM2.5 and O3, have significantly increased and seriously affected public health. Traffic and meteorological conditions are the primary influencing factors of pollutant concentrations, and their spatial and temporal changes affect the dispersion of pollutants. Increasing use of high-resolution big data offers opportunities to explore these correlations. More extensive quantitative studies are essential for effective air pollution control. This study presents an Eclat algorithm to quantitatively reveal the relationship between traffic, meteorology and pollutants with hourly and 5-minute scale data in the urban area of Guangzhou. We establish a research framework covering temporal pollution analysis, multifactor rule mining, and spatial effects. The results show that PM2.5 and O3 exhibit coordinated trends on the daily scale influenced by traffic flow and meteorology conditions, but on the hourly scale, they are negatively correlated. At the 5-minute scale, synchronized variations occur only during specific periods. This finer scale better identifies association rules for high-concentration pollutant scenarios, and non-roadside sites outperform roadside sites in mining these associations. For example, when humidity is below 37%, atmospheric pressure is 1016.2–1020.3 Pa, wind speed is 1.7–2.6 m/s, and the traffic volume on Jiefang North Road exceeds 635 vehicles every 5 min, there is a 92.86% probability that the PM2.5 concentration at GYQ (a non-roadside monitoring site) will exceed 127 μg/m3. These findings enhance our understanding of how dynamic traffic and meteorological conditions impact atmospheric pollutants and provide a scientific basis for regional collaborative pollution prevention.

Translation of signs and a renewed understanding of the post-pandemic cosmopolis: a diachronic study of street signs in the hybridised area of Guangzhou

ABSTRACT From a translational perspective, the researcher conducts a diachronic study of the changing street signs in one of the hybridised areas in Guangzhou. The street signs in the present study were investigated through an ethnographic process and were compared and discussed in relation to their changing contexts before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings show a decrease in multilingual signs in the area post-pandemic time, which may indicate the influence of the pandemic on international visitors. In contrast, increasing monolingual Chinese signs exhibit the authorities’ reassertion of the dominant ideology and restoration of social order. On the other hand, however, a large number of bilingual and monolingual English signs in multifarious modes, among which many are from the business sectors in the 2023 corpus, may signal the open nature of an export-oriented economy in the area and recovery of international business after the pandemic. The changing translational landscape of the area constructs a gateway for us to renew our understanding of the influence of the pandemic on the cosmopolitan city and the relationship between language practice and the city.

Exploring the Opportunities and Gaps in the Transformation of Modern Rural Housing in Southern China to Net Zero Energy Buildings

This study explores modern residential buildings in rural areas of Wuhan and Guangzhou to assess the feasibility of achieving net zero energy buildings (NZEBs) through the transformation of existing buildings in southern China’s hot-summer–cold-winter and hot-summer–warm-winter regions. Energy simulations under various climatic scenarios identify effective energy-saving measures, such as the use of photovoltaic power generation. The results highlight substantial renovation potential, with energy reductions of approximately 85 kWh/m² (RCP2.6), 90 kWh/m² (RCP4.5), and 115 kWh/m² (RCP8.5). Living patterns significantly influence energy use, especially in buildings with more rooms, where the gaps in the energy demand with net zero standards can reach 560.56 kWh. At the monthly scale, different climate scenarios impact the feasibility of achieving NZEBs, particularly under RCP8.5, where eight rural housing types fail to meet the requirements, with six exceeding 200 kWh energy deficits and the largest energy deficit occurs in June 2090 in Guangzhou, reaching 592.53 kWh, while under RCP2.6, only two buildings with more rooms fail to meet NZE. In summary, in the hot-summer cold-winter region, the energy demand is higher but so is the solar yield. Therefore, under the most adverse RCP8.5 scenario, NZEBs are achievable for 9 months of the year, which is 2 months more compared to Guangzhou under similar conditions. Even after net zero transformation, new rural housing will face greater energy-saving challenges in future climatic conditions, especially under higher concentration pathways.

Dietary patterns and association with Iron deficiency among children and adolescents aged 9-17 years in rural Guangzhou, China: a cross-sectional study.

Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia cause a huge disease burden worldwide. Diet is an important factor affecting the iron levels. This study aims to explore the dietary patterns of school-aged children in rural areas of Guangzhou and their association with iron deficiency. Data on dietary surveys, lifestyle, demographic and laboratory tests were gathered from rural school-age children in Guangzhou. Factor analysis was applied to derive dietary patterns. Robust Poisson regression and subgroup analysis were used to analyze the association between dietary patterns and iron deficiency. A total of 2,530 children and adolescents aged 9-17 years were enrolled. The prevalence of iron deficiency was 13.36%. Four dietary patterns were identified including snack and fast-food pattern, fruit and vegetable pattern, cereal and tuber pattern and meat and offal pattern. Both children and adolescents in the Q4 group (the highest propensity) of snack and fast-food pattern and cereal and tuber pattern had a higher risk of iron deficiency than the Q1 group (the lowest propensity). Both children and adolescents in the Q4 group of meat and offal pattern and fruit and vegetable pattern had a lower risk of iron deficiency than the Q1 group. The results of stratified analysis showed the negative effect of snack and fast-food pattern and the protective benefits of meat and offal pattern are more obvious for boys, and the negative effect of cereal and tuber pattern were obvious for girls. The negative effect or protective benefits of the four dietary patterns were obvious for children aged 9-13. Females, older children, and those with shorter sleep duration are at higher risk of iron deficiency. Snack and fast-food pattern and cereal and tuber pattern are risk factors for iron deficiency, and fruit and vegetable pattern and meat and offal pattern are protective factors for iron deficiency. The impact of diet on body iron levels is more obvious in boys and younger children. The findings of this study can provide evidence for formulating prevention and control measures on children and adolescents iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia.

Analysis of Clinical Isolation Characteristics of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria and Drug Sensitivity of Rapidly Growing Mycobacteria in the General Hospital of Guangzhou, China.

The clinical distribution characteristics of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in general hospital were explored to guide the clinical diagnosis and treatment of NTM infection. Samples with positive mycobacterium culture in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were collected and identified through PCR. Phenotypic drug sensitivity experiments were conducted on 44 Mycobacteroides abscessus isolated from clinical departments with broth microdilution method, and rrl, rrs and erm (41) genes associated with drug resistance were detected. From September 2020 to July 2023, 314 mycobacterium-positive isolates were separated from patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, with 147 (46.8%) NTM isolates were included in our study. The samples were respiratory tract specimens mainly, with 64% bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Of 144 cases identified, samples were from 133 patients (60 males and 73 females; gender ratio of 0.82:1). NTM was mainly isolated from the people aged 40 and above, especially females (χ2 = 10.688, P = 0.014). M. abscessus (61, 42.36%), M. intracellulare (35, 24.31%) were the two most NTMs in this hospital. Clinical strains of M. abscessus exhibited high resistance to antibiotics, except for cefoxitin (31.8%), linezolid (25.0%), amikacin (0%), and clarithromycin (18.2%). Among 8 strains of M. abscessus with clarithromycin acquired resistance, just 4 strains (50.0%) showed mutations (A2270G, A2271G) in rrl gene, but a new mutation (C2750T) was detected in 1 strain. Among 14 strains of M. abscessus with clarithromycin-induced resistance, 13 (93.0%) strains had T28 erm (41) gene and 1 (7.0%) strain had C28 erm (41) gene. M. avium-intracellulare complex was gradually becoming predominant strain in Guangzhou area. The resistant situation of M. abscessus in general hospital had shown severe. Potential mutation in rrl gene associated with clarithromycin acquired resistance of M. abscessus were found, but drug-resistant mechanism remained unclear.

Characterizing nitrogen deposited on urban road surfaces: Implication for stormwater runoff pollution control

Nitrogen (N) is one of the most important pollutants on urban road surfaces. Understanding the N deposition forms, load characteristics, and influential factors can help to provide management and control strategies for road stormwater runoff pollution. This study focuses on a highly urbanized area in Guangzhou, China, and presents the characteristics of both dissolved and particulate N deposition forms as well as their correlations with land-use types and traffic factors. In addition, an artificial neural network (ANN) based classification model is utilized to estimate N pollution hotspot area and total nitrogen (TN) flux from road to receiving water bodies. The results showed that N on urban road surfaces mainly existed in the form of particulate organic nitrogen. Land use types dominated by residential area (RA) and urban village (UV) have higher TN build-up loads. Geodetector analysis indicated that land use has a greater impact on nitrogen build-up loads than traffic factors. Through classification and estimation using the ANN model, RA, and UV were classified as hotspot areas, and the TN flux from roads in the study area was calculated to be 3.35 × 105 g. Furthermore, it was estimated that the annual TN flux from roads in Guangzhou accounts for 19 % of the city's total urban domestic discharge. These findings are expected to contribute to the pollution control of stormwater runoff from urban road surfaces and provide valuable guidance for enhancing the ecological health of urban water environments.

Integrating carbon and water footprint into nature-based solution (NBS) for urban planning in a highly built-up area in Guangzhou, China

Stormwater management problems have been deteriorated with the high frequency and intensity of precipitation owing to rapid urbanization and climate variability, especially in urban highly built-up area. Nature-based solutions (NBS) have emerged as a powerful measure for rising these challenges due to their ability to mitigate urban waterlogging and increase carbon sequestration. Identifying optimal locations for NBS implementation remains a critical research focus. This study integrates carbon and water footprint accounting into NBS-based planning for sustainable urban development in central Guangzhou, China, to enhance urban flooding mitigation and carbon sequestration. Through carbon-water footprint analysis and weighting, we prioritized NBS planning. To achieve the objectives of increasing sequestered carbon and reducing urban runoff, three types of NBS—green roofs, permeable pavements, and bioretention systems—were optimized for a high-priority town street. The results showed that the implementation of green roof and permeable pavement reduced the surface runoff by 3.58 %, while the biological retention system reduced the runoff gray water by 27 %. Moreover, the application of green roof and biological retention increased the carbon sequestration by 2.57 million kg CO2-eq (life cycle). The findings of this study provide comprehensive insights into optimization of NBS planning based on carbon-water footprint accounting, facilitating to enhance mitigation of urban flooding vulnerability and carbon sequestration.

Socio-spatial features of neighbourhoods supporting social interaction between locals and migrants in peri-urban China

Western literature shows evidence of a positive relationship between socio-spatial features of neighbourhoods and social interaction. However, there is little research exploring this relationship in the Chinese context, particularly between locals and migrants in peri-urban China where significant housing is being created. This paper studies the socio-spatial features of neighbourhoods in supporting social interaction between locals and migrants across different neighbourhood types in the peri-urban areas in Guangzhou. In this research, data were collected using door-to-door questionnaires and site surveys in 9 peri-urban neighbourhoods in Guangzhou. The nature and strength of relationships between socio-spatial features of neighbourhoods and social interaction were examined through statistical analysis. The results of this study suggest that the level of maintenance and accessibility can help improve social interaction for locals and migrants living together in villages, redeveloped villages, and commodity housing. Neighbourhood boundaries and quality of neighbourhoods were found to be positively related to social interaction for locals and migrants in redeveloped villages only. In addition, the perceived character of the neighbourhood can positively impact social interaction for locals in villages only. This study demonstrates that high-quality neighbourhoods can improve social interaction between migrants and locals in peri-urban villages, commodity housing, and redeveloped villages in China. The study provides a guide for neighbourhood designers, urban planners, and property managers in peri-urban China regarding how to create a neighbourhood supporting social interaction between locals and migrants in villages, redeveloped villages and commodity housing respectively.

Investigating the Mechanism of Land Subsidence Due to Water Network Integration at the Guangzhou Longgui Salt Mine and Its Impact on Adjacent Subway

Water-soluble mining was invariably associated with surface subsidence, which in some cases escalated to the movement, deformation, and even collapse of the overlying rock layers, triggering grave subsidence calamities. The caprock of the salt-bearing strata in the Longgui salt rock mining area was closely adjacent to the third aquifer, which mainly consisted of fractured, porous, high-permeability materials such as mudstone conglomerates, rendering the geological conditions highly complex. Years of water-soluble mining had led to significant surface subsidence in the mining area, with a trend toward accelerated subsidence. In this study, the geological conditions of the Longgui salt rock mining area were analyzed, and through simulated experiments of pillar dissolution mining, the mechanisms of surface subsidence in the area were examined. Over time, the dissolution gradually perforated the pillars and caprock, with the pillars ceasing to support the caprock, ultimately transforming small cavities into a large single cavity. Utilizing subsidence data, this research employed numerical simulation to inverse and predict subsidence patterns from 2019 to 2025, revealing that the maximum subsidence reached 1367.6 mm in mining area I and 1879.5 mm in mining area II, with subsidence rates of 12.05 mm/y and 44.78 mm/y, respectively. Moreover, the impact of ground subsidence on the construction of adjacent subways was assessed by establishing monitoring points and evaluating subsidence along subway cross-sections and longitudinal directions. The findings provided valuable insights for guiding the prevention and control of surface subsidence calamities in the Longgui salt rock mine and similar mining areas in Guangzhou, China.

Early Cretaceous fayalite-, ferrosilite-, and biotite-bearing rhyolitic porphyries in the Baishuizhai area, South China: Formation by fractional crystallization in the shallow crust

Fayalite- and ferrosilite-bearing felsic igneous rocks are a distinctive category of A-type granitic magmas, and the origins of these rocks have proved controversial. In addition, the shallow-crust high-silica rhyolitic magmas responsible for such rocks are considered to have higher viscosities than their plutonic equivalents, which casts doubt on whether fractional crystallization could have occurred during the evolution of these high-silica melts. Here, we report a study of earliest Early Cretaceous (145–142 Ma) fayalite- and ferrosilite-bearing rhyolitic porphyries (FFBRPs) and closely associated biotite-bearing rhyolitic porphyries (BBRPs) from the Baishuizhai area, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, South China. The Baishuizhai suite provides an excellent opportunity to establish the magmatic origins and evolutionary processes responsible for the FFBRPs. Rocks from the Baishuizhai suite have SiO2 contents of 73.2–77.7 wt%, Na2O + K2O contents of 7.83–9.42 wt%, and Fe2O3T contents of 1.52–2.97 wt%. They have A-type granite features including mineral assemblages (euhedral fayalite and ferrosilite in addition to anhedral amphibole and biotite) and geochemical characteristics [e.g., high 10,000 × Ga/Al values (3.7–4.7), high FeOT/MgO ratios (13.0–34.8), and high Zr (245–514 ppm) and Nb (56.4–96.5 ppm) contents]. The rocks have slightly enriched in situ plagioclase Sr [(87Sr/86Sr)i = 0.7070–0.7076] and whole-rock Nd [εNd(t) = −2.3 to −2.0] compositions and depleted zircon Hf isotopic compositions [εHf(t) = −0.9 to +7.0] relative to chondrite, as well as higher zircon δ18O values (6.3‰–7.8‰) and intermediate in situ plagioclase Pb isotopic compositions [(206Pb/204Pb)i = 18.368–18.727, (207Pb/204Pb)i = 15.488–15.673, and (208Pb/204Pb)i = 38.049–38.801] compared with depleted mantle. We infer that the primary magmas of this rock suite were formed by mixing of mantle-derived magmas with subordinate (20%–50%) metasedimentary-rock-derived magmas. Fayalite and ferrosilite in the FFBRPs were most likely crystallized from dry, hot, and reduced magma in a lower (<16.5 km depth) chamber. The lower magma gradually evolved during ascent to a water-enriched magma in an intermediate chamber at a shallow depth (3–4 km), forming the FFBRPs (elevation: 129–168 m). Finally, the residual melts migrated upward and resided in an upper (<3 km depth) chamber, forming the BBRPs (elevation: 196–824 m). According to the established temporal–spatial distribution of Early Cretaceous A-type granites and adakitic rocks in South China, we suggest that the Paleo-Pacific plate underwent diachronous rollback, starting during the earliest Early Cretaceous. This rollback enhanced the degree of crust–mantle interaction in the Guangzhou area.

Reasons, experiences and expectations of women with delayed medical care for ectopic pregnancies in Chinese urban edges: a qualitative study

ObjectiveTo explore the experiences of patients with ectopic pregnancies with delayed medical care, with the goals to promote timely access to care, reduce subsequent physical and psychological impacts, and provide...

Consumption Patterns of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Association with Undernutrition among Children Aged 9-17 Years in Guangzhou, China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Globally, the high consumption levels of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and their effect on health have drawn significant attention. This study aimed to identify the consumption patterns of SSBs among children in rural areas of Guangzhou, China, and explore their association with undernutrition. A total of 1864 children aged 9-17 years old were included in this study. Demographics, lifestyle behaviors, and anthropometric and dietary information were collected. Factor analysis was used to identify patterns of SSBs, while nutritional status was assessed using Body Mass Index (BMI). Latent class analysis was used to establish dietary preference models. Log-binomial regression analysis was used to analyze the association between SSBs consumption patterns and undernutrition. The undernutrition prevalence in children was 14.54-19.94% in boys and 9.07% in girls. Three SSB consumption patterns were identified, including the plant protein pattern, dairy-containing pattern, and coffee pattern. Both medium-high (Q3) and the highest (Q4) scores in the dairy-containing pattern were positively associated with the risk of undernutrition, especially in boys. Furthermore, the highest scores in the plant protein pattern and coffee pattern were positively associated with the risk of undernutrition in children aged 9-10 years old. The dairy-containing pattern was a risk factor for undernutrition in children, especially for boys; the plant protein patterns and coffee patterns were risk factors for undernutrition in children aged 9-10 years old. The findings of the study can provide scientific evidence and policy recommendations for improving children's health conditions.

The Impact of Commercial-Industry Development of Urban Vitality: A Study on the Central Urban Area of Guangzhou Using Multisource Data

Urban commercial centers play a critical role in the development of cities, and it is of significant relevance to research the influencing variables of the urban vitality of commercial centers to improve the quality of urban commercial centers. This study employs big data to construct a multiple linear regression model in order to uncover the spatial-distribution characteristics of urban vitality and commercial sectors in commercial centers within the primary urban region of Guangzhou. The findings indicate that the commercial sectors of life, business, finance, and leisure have a substantial influence on the fluctuation of pedestrian flow in commercial centers throughout the day. Conversely, public service commercial sectors do not have a significant impact on pedestrian flow. Furthermore, the effect of various commercial sectors on the vibrancy of urban commercial centers varies, and their performance differs on weekdays and holidays. Additionally, the level of integration among commercial sectors affects the vitality of the city’s commercial space. This research presents empirical facts that can be used to optimize the logical allocation of urban commercial resources in urban planning.

Information literacy of higher vocational college students in digital age

The digital age presents greater challenges to information literacy. However, the level of information literacy in different regions and populations is still controversial, especially for students in college or university. To investigate the information literacy level of college students in Guangzhou area of Guangdong Province, China, and provide a basis for guiding students to improve information literacy. A multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2023. The information literacy questionnaire was used to evaluate student’s information literacy, which included basic information and information literacy scale. Statistical description, non-parametric testing, and multiple linear regression were used for data analysis. A total of 1700 participants, 57.6% of the students had medium information literacy, and average score of information literacy was 226.84 ± 39.83. The number of students using laptops and mobile phones reached 83.8 and 86.5%, respectively. 45.7% of the students had their first contact with mobile phones in junior high school, 49.9% in primary school, but their information literacy is not ideal. The lowest score was 3.74 for information management and communication, followed by 3.75 for information retrieval and acquisition. The results of regression analysis demonstrated that grade, place of high school study, information literacy course, the time of first contact with mobile phones and the type of using electronic information equipment affected students' information literacy ( p &lt; 0.05). The information literacy of students in higher vocational colleges is in the middle level. Although the use of electronic information equipment is popular, the overall level of information literacy still needs to be strengthened, especially for attach importance to information retrieval and acquisition, management and communication literacy. Students’ systematic learning process requires colleges to provide systematic and professional information literacy curriculum teaching.

Construction of ecological network with protected areas as the main region in Guangzhou City, China

In the context of the national ecological security development strategy, constructing regional ecological networks centered on protected areas and ecological corridors has become an urgent issue in protected areas system development of China. We focused on strengthening ecological connections between protected areas in Guangzhou, identified the ecological resource patches, ecological corridors, and ecological nodes by using Invest model, connectivity analysis, circuit theory models, and graph-theoretical network structure evaluation, and constructed an ecological network for the Guangzhou with nature reserves as the core. The results showed that 52 ecological resource patches were identified in the study area, covering a total area of 1450.01 km2. Nature reserves accounted for 76.4% of the total area, forming the main part of the ecological resource patches. 115 ecological corridors were identified, with a total length of 900.56 km and an average length of 7.83 km. Furthermore, 72 ecological key points were identified, covering a total area of 17.57 km2, and 81 ecological breakpoints, with a total area of 35.9 km2. The network structure indices (α=0.65, β=2.21, and γ=0.77) indicated a reasonably structured and well-connected network. By exploring pathways for constructing regional ecological networks under the protected areas system and enriching the application of circuit theory models in ecological network construction, this study provides scientific basis for regional ecological security and biodiversity conservation.

Probing the microbiome in stormwater pipeline sediments: Co-occurrence patterns and novel functionalities

Stormwater pipeline is an essential pathway to transfer stormwater runoff into nearby receiving water bodies. Understanding the composition, co-occurrence patterns, and function of the microbial communities in stormwater pipeline sediments can help to provide management and control strategies for stormwater runoff pollution to safeguard water safety and ecological health of the urban water environment. This study employs 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to probe the microbial communities in stormwater pipeline sediments of a highly urbanized area in Guangzhou, China. Results show that the sediment bacterial community is rich in Listeria, Prevotella, Stenotrophomonas, and Pseudomonas, which all pertain to pathogens. Methanogens (Methanobacterium, Methanosaeta, Methanosarcina, and Methanobrevibacter) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (Ca. Nitrosopelagicus, Ca. Nitrososphaera, and Ca. Nitrosotenuis) dominated the archaeal community in stormwater pipeline sediments. These microbial functions are further validated by the function prediction of the overall microbial community. The co-occurrence network and microbe-environment correlation analyses suggest that particulate C-N-P components play a more crucial role, in comparison to dissolved ones in regulating the sediment microbiome, although not all samples follow this mechanism. These findings are expected to contribute to the pollution control of stormwater runoff in stormwater pipeline systems and provide valuable guidance for improving the environmental well-being of urban water ecosystems.