Provincial Capital Cities Research Articles

Carbon Emissions from Food Consumption and Reduction Potential in Urban Residents: A Case Study of Provincial Capitals in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yellow River

Existing studies have established reliable methods for estimating carbon emissions from food consumption, yet there remains a lack of quantitative analysis on the decarbonization effects of energy transition and resource recycling. This study integrates lifecycle analysis and scenario analysis, based on data from 2006 to 2020, to conduct an empirical investigation of four provincial capital cities (Zhengzhou, Xi’an, Jinan, and Taiyuan) in the lower and middle reaches of the Yellow River, exploring the potential for reducing carbon emissions from food consumption and examining the driving effects of energy transition and resource recycling. The results indicate the following: (1) Per capita carbon emissions from food consumption decreased after 2016. (2) Incineration for power generation has a significantly higher carbon reduction effect than landfilling. The proportion of carbon emissions from food waste disposal decreased from 20% to around 6%, with the decarbonization potential of recycling transformation being 8.8%, 8.3%, 11.5%, and 14.4% in Zhengzhou, Xi’an, Jinan, and Taiyuan, respectively. Our findings suggest that promoting the widespread adoption of new-energy vehicles, increasing the share of renewable energy in power generation, optimizing food recycling technologies, and reducing food waste are crucial for achieving future reductions in carbon emissions from urban food consumption. The proposed methodology for assessing carbon emissions and reduction potential in food consumption can also be applied to other regions with varying geographical, economic, and policy contexts.

Validation Status of Electronic Sphygmomanometers in China: A National Survey.

Although the information on the validation status of electronic sphygmomanometer (ES) devices in use in health care institutions and households is much more clinically relevant than that of ES models available on the market, it remains insufficient. A national survey was conducted across all administrative regions of mainland China to assess the validation status of ESs. Fifty-eight cities were selected with stratification by municipality, provincial capital, and other cities, and health care institutions and households in each city were chosen by convenience to identify ES devices in use according to the study protocol. Information on devices' model, type, was collected. The validation status of each device was ascertained through searching international online registries of its models. A total of 3230 ES devices (1924 from health care institutions and 1306 from households), encompassing 498 ES models, were actually selected. The weighted proportion of accuracy-validated devices was significantly higher in health care institutions (33.9% [95% CI, 31.8-36.0%]) compared with households (23.0% [95% CI, 20.8-25.4%]; P<0.001), and both exceeded the proportions for models (17.7% [95% CI, 13.7-22.6%] and 12.5% [95% CI, 9.5-16.3%], respectively). Regional economic development, device type, and years in use were associated with the proportion of accuracy-validated devices. Notably, 8.8% of devices used in secondary hospitals were wrist type. The accuracy validation status of ESs in China in the number of devices in use shows a more favorable situation than that in the number of models but remains low and concerning. Policies are urgently needed to promote the widespread adoption of accuracy-validated models among all users.

Molecular Epidemiology and Clinical Aspects of Dermatophytosis in Guiyang, Southwest China (2017-2023): A Single-Institution Retrospective Study.

Epidemiological studies combining taxonomic and clinical data have been limited globally, particularly Guiyang, the most under-developed economic provincial capital city in southwestern China. A retrospective analysis was performed of dermatophyte epidemiology involving all culture-positive cases received between May 2017 and May 2023 at the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted on 391 dermatophyte isolates collected from patients using the rDNA internal transcribed spacer sequences. Clinical relevance information was analyzed statistically using T-test, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Chi-square test. Eight species were recognized, and their identity was confirmed on the basis of phylogenetics. Trichophyton rubrum (n = 308, 78.77%) ranked first, followed by T. mentagrophytes (n = 39, 9.97%) and Microsporum canis (n = 32, 8.18%). Tinea unguium (48.56%) was the most common type of dermatophytosis in this study, rates of detection being impacted by the host population's attention for dermatophyte infections. The hypothesized patterns of evolution in the M. canis series, T. mentagrophytes series and T. rubrum series, i.e. from zoophilic to a preponderantly anthropophilic nature, was reflected in clinical parameters such as host age, occupational background, infection pattern, degree of skin involvement and site preference. To the best of our knowledge, we provide the first detailed analysis of epidemiological characteristics and pathogenic patterns of dermatophytosis in Guiyang.

The impact of water rights reform on economic development: Evidence from city-level panel data in China.

The water rights reform (WRR) is an important way to achieve market-oriented allocation of water resources. This article uses city-level panel data to analyze the economic effects of WRR in China. The results show that the WRR can increase overall value added by 4.40%. However, the average impact of WRR on agricultural value added is not significant, but it can significantly increase non-agricultural value added by 3.83%. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the WRR in cities with water rights conversion experience or in provincial capital or sub-provincial cities will have a smaller promotion effect on the overall economy than in other cities; in places with lower total water resources, the WRR will have a greater promoting effect on the overall economy. In areas where the total amount of water resources or sown area is small, the WRR can also promote the added value of agriculture. Cities participating in water rights conversion will achieve lower non-agricultural economic effects after the WRR, but in areas with higher population density, the non-agricultural economic effects the WRR can achieve will be greater. Further analysis shows that the WRR can promote the increase in the proportion of non-agricultural value added, and the increase in non-agricultural value added mainly comes from the industrial sector. Furthermore, the WRR does not threaten food security.

Understanding the association between urban noise and nighttime light in China

Nighttime light data partially reflects the process of urban modernization and its reaction to urban scale, but its correlation with noise remains unclear, especially over a long-term time series, remains unclear. To address this gap, we examine 31 provincial capital cities and municipalities in China as the study area, utilizing noise monitoring data and nighttime light data to explore their relationship in urban areas from 2012 to 2021. The results show that: (1) During the study period, the regional environmental noise and night light index of 31 major cities exhibited a consistent upward trend, with the average equivalent sound level of environmental noise in most urban areas fluctuating between 50.1 dB (A) and 60.0 dB (A). The overall quality evaluation was average, indicating that the effectiveness of noise pollution prevention and control was difficult to sustain in the long term. (2) The driving factor affecting the change in environmental noise quality in urban areas is population density. (3) There is a significant correlation between different types of noise proportion and urban construction and development, with the closest correlation observed with the urban economy, urban built-up area, and urban construction land area. Cities with high levels of urbanization tend to have more vulnerable acoustic environments. (4) Industrial noise percentage of urban environmental noise has a significant positive impact on nighttime light data. This study provides valuable insights for promoting the coordinated development between urbanization and acoustic environment optimization, as well as fostering a healthy and sustainable living environment.

Evaluating Eco-Efficiency as a metric for sustainable urban Growth: A comparative study of provincial capital cities in China

Evaluating Eco-Efficiency as a metric for sustainable urban Growth: A comparative study of provincial capital cities in China

Indoor Radon Survey in 31 Provincial Capital Cities and Estimation of Lung Cancer Risk in Urban Areas of China.

We aimed to analyze the current indoor radon level and estimate the population risk of radon-induced lung cancer in urban areas of China. Using the passive monitoring method, a new survey on indoor radon concentrations was conducted in 2,875 dwellings across 31 provincial capital cities in Chinese mainland from 2018 to 2023. The attributable risk of lung cancer induced by indoor radon exposure was estimated based on the risk assessment model. The arithmetic mean (AM) and geometric mean (GM) of indoor radon concentrations were 65 Bq/m³ and 55 Bq/m³, respectively, with 13.6% of measured dwellings exceeding 100 Bq/m³ and 0.6% exceeding 300 Bq/m³. The estimated number of lung cancer deaths induced by indoor radon exposure was 150,795, accounting for 20.30% (95% CI: 20.21%-20.49%) of the lung cancer death toll. This study provided the most recent data on national indoor radon levels in urban areas and the attributable risk of lung cancer. These results served as an important foundation for further research on the disease burden of indoor radon exposure and radon mitigation efforts.

Effects of comprehensive smoke-free legislation on smoking behaviours and macroeconomic outcomes in Shanghai, China: a difference-in-differences analysis and modelling study

China has one of the highest levels of tobacco consumption globally, and there is no national smoke-free legislation. Although more than 20 Chinese cities have passed local smoke-free laws since 2008, evidence on their effectiveness in reducing smoking behaviours and their economic benefits is scarce. By exploiting a natural quasi-experiment, whereby a comprehensive public smoking ban was implemented in Shanghai in March, 2017, this study aims to assess the impact of the policy on individual smoking behaviours and quantify its effect on macroeconomic outcomes. In this difference-in-differences analysis and modelling study, we used data on smoking behaviours from the 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018 waves of the China Family Panel Studies. We used a difference-in-differences approach to investigate trends in smoking prevalence in respondents in Shanghai, relative to respondents from other direct-administered municipalities, provincial capital cities, and subprovincial municipalities (control group), after the implementation of a smoking ban in 2017. All respondents aged 18 years or older were included, with the exception of people who lived in Beijing and rural areas. The primary variable of interest in the difference-in-differences analysis was self-reported smoking status. Based on the difference-in-differences estimation of reduction in smoking prevalence, we then used a health-augmented macroeconomic model to estimate the potential macroeconomic gains if such a ban was implemented across China for the period 2017-35. 14 688 respondents were included in the analysis: 5766 from Shanghai and 8922 from the control group. After the implementation of the smoking ban in Shanghai in 2017, smoking prevalence decreased by 2·2 percentage points (95% CI 2·1-2·3), equivalent to an 8·4% reduction in the number of current smokers. The smoking ban had a larger effect on men, people with a higher level of education, unmarried people, and younger people when compared with their respective counterparts. The modelling analysis showed that implementing a nationwide comprehensive public smoking ban similar to that in Shanghai would result in a 0·04-0·07% increase in the national gross domestic product in China between 2017 and 2035, outweighing the economic costs of smoking ban enforcement. The smoking ban in Shanghai shows that a comprehensive public smoking ban with strict enforcement is effective in curbing smoking behaviours. Moreover, the implementation of a comprehensive public smoking ban across China would be cost-effective. National Social Science Fund of China.

Spatial heterogeneity of human settlements suitability from multidimensional perspectives in 31 provincial capital cities of China

Human settlements suitability (HEI) is the foundation of urban development and is critical for achieving sustainable urban development and the United Nations’ development goals. Existing studies on HEI have paid little attention to the characteristics of HEI at different urban scales and climate zones or to the spatial differences along urban–rural gradients (URGs). This study used multisource data to select natural and humanistic elements and constructed a framework for evaluating the HEI of 31 provincial capital cities in China, aiming to address the limitations. The results showed that: (1) the HEI of provincial capital cities in China ranged from 0 to 51.54, showing an overall increasing trend from northwest to southeast, and the HEI of coastal cities was considerably higher than that of inland cities. (2) The HEI of built-up areas at different urban scales conformed to the trend of gradually increasing with the expansion of urban scales, with obvious differences in the average HEI of built-up areas in different climate zones, shown as follows: tropical monsoon > subtropical monsoon > temperate monsoon > plateau mountain > temperate continental. (3) When the distance from the city centre increased, provincial capital cities showed a gradually decreasing trend in HEI, albeit with varying degrees of decrease. Further, the discrepancies in the HEI along the URGs were closely related to urban scales and climate zones. Scientific and objective evaluation of HEI is a prerequisite for optimising the spatial development patterns of national spatial planning. Based on the multidimensional perspectives of different urban scales, climate zones, and URGs, the breadth of HEI research has been enriched, which is of strategic significance in governing urban spatial planning and augmenting urban competitiveness.

Spatio-temporal heterogeneity and influencing factors in the synergistic enhancement of urban ecological resilience: Evidence from the Yellow River Basin of China

Urban ecological resilience (UER) reflects the ability of cities to adapt to environmental changes and cope with natural disasters. Further, UER is an important perspective for understanding human–land relations in the Yellow River Basin (YRB). We constructed a novel system of UER evaluation indicators from the perspective of synergistic enhancement, with 99 cities in the YRB as objects for the research conducted from 2011 to 2021. The spatiotemporal heterogeneity and network pattern of UER were measured using the Theil index and modified gravity model. The factors influencing UER in the YRB were analysed using a multiscale geographically weighted regression model. The results show that (1) regarding time-series analysis, the UER in the YRB shows a fluctuating upward trend from 20.89 in 2011 to 26.23 in 2021, with the contribution of ecological image being the largest. The UER at different reaches, urban agglomerations, and cities varied considerably. (2) Regarding spatial analysis, the UER has a ‘center-periphery’ spatial distribution pattern dominated by provincial capital cities. The spatial network shows a '几'-shaped distribution pattern similar to the YRB mainstream distribution. Regarding UER connectivity, the ability for cross-regional joint development has improved. (3) The main influencing factors were urbanisation rate, education level, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, and upgrading of the industrial structure, which represent urban development progress and geographical ecological characteristics. This study expands UER measurement and provides a basis and reference for synergistic enhancement of UER in the YRB.

Exploration of PrEP/PEP service delivery model in China: A pilot in eastern, central and western region.

Since 2017, China has started a pilot exploration of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)/post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) service aiming for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) control. Efforts to summarize the pilot experience and sort out the gaps in service provision must be prioritized. In June-October, 2023, three provincial capital cities with two years of PrEP/PEP pilot experience in eastern, central and western China were chosen. A structural information collective tool was developed, as a framework to identify key links and steps in reviewing service procedures for PrEP/PEP service. Two main service models have been formed, including the independent offline service model led by professional health institutions and Multi-agencies (health institution/Community Based Organizations (CBOs)/Internet platform) online and offline collaborative service model. The pilot experience conceptualizes opportunities to integrate PrEP/PEP into HIV prevention efforts and, illustrates the optimizing path to move forward to reach for a high level HIV prevention and care continuum. Systematic barriers during the process of integration need to be noted and addressed. It is urgent to establish a realistic and feasible online and offline monitoring system to achieve a balance between standardized, safe, simplified and convenient services.

The unintended consequence of environmental centralization: Evidence from firm financialization

This study examines the influence of environmental re-centralization, specifically the Vertical Management Reform (VMR) in China, on the investment decisions of polluting firms. Using a staggered difference-in-differences approach, we find that the VMR significantly increases the allocation of resources to financial assets by 12.7 %, accelerating the financialization of polluting firms. The mechanism analysis shows that environmental centralization enhances regulatory enforcement and reduces governmental support, tightening corporate financial constraints. The motivation for firm financialization can be explained by investment substitution rather than precautionary savings. We further show that private firms, firms with more tightened financial constraints and firms with fewer assets become more financialized following the centralization reform. Moreover, the impact on firm financialization diminishes with the distance from provincial capital cities. We reveal the unintended consequence of environmental centralization on firm financialization and provide meaningful implications for changes in institutional arrangements.

Identifying the antecedents for the green transformation of resource-exhausted cities in China

To address the issue of green transformation in resource-exhausted cities, this study employs the Policy Modeling Consistency (PMC) index model to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness of support policies execution at both central and local levels, covering 16 policies at the different administrative levels. Meanwhile, utilizing the fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) method, the study investigates the interaction mechanisms and effects of various internal and external factors in the context of policy coordination, from the perspective of green transformation condition configurations. The findings reveal that the overall effect of supporting policies for resource-exhausted cities in China is generally commendable. Moreover, there is a notable characteristic that “the lower the administrative level, the higher the quality of the support policies”. Notably, organizational, technological, environmental, and policy conditions alone cannot solely facilitate the green transition of resource-exhausted cities. Instead, it is the harmonious configuration of these antecedents that drives successful green transformation. Additionally, the configuration of antecedent conditions for green transformation exhibits the heterogeneity of different types. Specifically, the eastern region primarily relies on technological innovation and production process improvement, while the central region focuses on both production process improvement and support policy combinations. By contrast, the western region primarily emphasizes support policy combinations and the fostering of environmental conditions. Furthermore, the green transformation of resource-exhausted cities with coal and oil types mainly depends on the combination of policy support and technological innovation. Metal, forestry, and other types of resource-exhausted cities rely on the upgrading and advancement of industrial structures. In the grouped analysis of administrative level, innovation capability, and distance to the provincial capital city, cities with higher administrative levels, higher innovation capabilities, and closer proximity to the provincial capital city are more likely to achieve green transformation. Thereby, this study emphasizes the critical role of support policies and the identification of effective pathways in promoting the green transformation of resource-exhausted cities.

Impact of vegetation coverage and configuration on urban temperatures: a comparative study of 31 provincial capital cities in China

Urban vegetation plays a crucial role in regulating temperatures and heat waves in urban areas. However, the influence of vegetation coverage and its configuration on surface temperatures in different climate zones at a national scale is unclear. To address this, we utilized high-resolution data to detect spatial patterns for 31 provincial capital cities in China. We integrated day and night surface temperatures to determine the influence of vegetative coverage and configuration on urban temperatures across different climate zones and city sizes. Our study revealed that a subtropical monsoon climate and medium-sized cities had the highest vegetative coverage and shape complexity. The best connectivity and agglomeration of vegetation were found in a temperate monsoon climate and large cities. In contrast, small cities, especially those under a temperate continental climate, had low vegetation coverage, high fragmentation, and weak agglomeration and connectivity. In addition, vegetative coverage had a negative impact on daytime surface temperatures, especially in large cities in a subtropical monsoon climate. However, an increase in vegetation coverage could result in warming at night in small cities in temperate continental climates. Although urban vegetation configuration also contributed to moderating surface temperatures, especially at night, they did not surpass the influence of vegetation coverage. The effect on nighttime temperatures of the configuration of vegetation increased by 3–6% relative to that of daytime temperatures, especially in large cities in a temperate monsoon climate. The contribution vegetation coverage and configuration interaction to cooling efficiency decreased at night, especially in medium-sized cities in a temperate continental climate by 3–5%. In addition, this study identified several moderating effects of natural and social factors on the relationship between urban vegetation coverage and surface temperatures. High duration of sunshine, low humidity and high wind speed significantly enhanced the negative impact of vegetation coverage on surface temperatures. In addition, the moderating effect of vegetation coverage was more pronounced in low population density cities and high gross domestic product. This study enhances understanding of the ecological functions of urban vegetation and provides a valuable scientific basis and strategic recommendations for optimizing urban vegetation and improving urban environmental quality.

Clustering of Basic Educational Resources and Urban Resilience Development in the Central Region of China—An Empirical Study Based on POI Data

This paper presents an urban resilience evaluation index system and evaluation on the clustering of educational resources based on the data of 80 prefecture-level cities in China’s central region in 2012, 2016, and 2020. The results reveal a rising trend of urban resilience in the central region of China, with the provincial capital cities exhibiting the highest levels of resilience. Educational resources are clustered in urban areas of provincial capital cities and other prefectural-level cities. Furthermore, clustering of educational resources has a significant impact on urban resilience. Policy factors play a significant role in moderating the relationship between educational resource clustering and urban resilience in large cities; however, this moderating role is not significant in small cities. These findings have significant implications for the optimal allocation of educational resources, promotion of urban resilience, and advancement of social equity.

Characteristics of surface air quality over provincial capital cities in Northwestern China during 2013–2020

Characteristics of surface air quality over provincial capital cities in Northwestern China during 2013–2020

Study on the coordination and factors affecting the coupling of resource and environmental carrying capacity and regional economy in ecologically fragile areas

The coordinated development of the resources, environment and social economy in ecologically fragile areas has become one of the urgent issues for all countries in the world. In this study, the ecologically fragile area of Ningxia was used as the typical case area. This study constructs a “four main subjects and eight dimensions” comprehensive evaluation model based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to analyze the situation of the resource and environmental carrying capacity (RECC). This study employs the coupled coordination degree model and the obstacle degree model, integrating them with Pearson correlation analysis to quantitatively evaluate the coupled coordination relationship and influencing factors between RECC and socioeconomic development in Ningxia. The study shows that: (a) the RECC in Ningxia is on an upward trend, with obvious spatial differences, and the pressure on resources and environment in the provincial capital city is more obvious; (b) the coordination of RECC and socioeconomic development coupling in Ningxia is on a steady upward trend, but the internal development differences are more obvious, and the degree of coordination in the provincial capital cities is relatively high; (c) the coordinated development of RECC and socioeconomic development is affected by a combination of factors such as climate, water, soil, ecological resources, urbanization, and traffic accessibility in Ningxia. The findings offer scientific support for the coordination of socioeconomic development and resource environmental protection in ecologically fragile regions. Furthermore, they serve as a reference for promoting ecological civilization construction in fragile ecosystems globally.

Exploration of radical chemistry, precursor sensitivity and O3 control strategies in a provincial capital city, northwestern China

As the core city in northwestern China, Xi'an has suffered from serious O3 pollution in recent years. An observational model, coupled with the Master Chemical Mechanism (V3.3.1) and comprehensive data, analyzed atmospheric oxidation capacity (AOC), O3 formation mechanism, precursor sensitivity and control strategies in Xi'an. The study examined two periods (period I and II), with notable temperature and humidity differences. Despite lower precursor levels in period I, an O3 episode (peak value: 102.68 ppb) occurred only in period I, highlighting the crucial influence of meteorological conditions. Higher removal rate of primary pollutants occurs in period I, but meteorological conditions may not alter the dominant factor of AOC. Period I exhibited markedly high OH reactivity, with aromatics, alkenes, and NOx being the main contributors. HONO photolysis (50.78%) in the morning and O3 photolysis (34.13%) in the afternoon were the main HOx sources in period I, while HONO photolysis (62.86–80.68%) was significant at daytime for period II. Higher temperatures in period I accelerated all reaction rates involved in radical cycling, especially emphasizing RO2 + NO → RO + NO2. The results of sensitivity analysis showed that O3 sensitivity regime is VOC-limited in Xi'an, but the specific reactive species target VOC reductions emissions exhibited discrepancies for two distinct periods. A 20% decrease in VOCs and a 50% decrease in NOx (VOCs/NOx = 0.4) was proposed to be the optimal solution to achieve the O3 control target in period I. This study enhances our understanding of O3 formation under different meteorological conditions and provides scientific evidence for O3 pollution abatement policies in northwestern China, with potential applicability to other cities in this region and similar countries.

Resilience analysis of cities' air accessibility under disruptions

Air transportation stands as an indispensable pillar of a city's economy. An effective and reliable air transport service plays an important role for the prosperity of a city. Moreover, in many cases, a city has multiple airports within its catchment area and the collaborative relationships under disruptions between these airport services have often been overlooked in prior studies. To bridge this gap, this paper firstly introduces the concept of “instant air accessibility” for a city and develops a resilience metric aimed at quantifying the impact of airport disruptions on a city's air accessibility, taking into account the perspective of a multi-airport system. We apply the metrics to a network with 48 cities at or above the second-tier level in China. Results of the air accessibility analysis show that some relatively small cities have high accessibility that are comparable to megacities in China, but some provincial capital cities have low accessibilities, although they maintain superior political and economic status among the cities. Most of the cities' accessibility are vulnerable to targeted disruptions. Additionally, we identify critical airports that wield significant influence over the overall accessibility performance of the entire network. The findings from this study offer valuable insights for the management of air transport resources and the enhancement of the resilience of cities' air accessibility.

What does it take to revolutionize Chinese diets: evidence from a choice experiment on urban Chinese consumers

PurposeThe purpose is to understand the factors affecting Chinese diet selections and propose strategies for revolutionizing Chinese diets toward healthy ones.Design/methodology/approachThis study implemented an online discrete choice experiment to identify the factors affecting diet selections among urban Chinese consumers. Four different diet patterns were used to label each of the product alternatives in the experiment, which varied in taste and cost. Specifically, implying the healthiness and sustainability of a diet, the diet alternatives included the average diet, the Chinese Food Guide Pagoda diet, the EAT-Lancet diet and the Flexitarian diet. Using consumer data from six provincial capital cities, we used random parameter logit models to estimate their preferences.FindingsDiet type and diet cost were found to be more important in urban Chinese consumers' diet selections than the ability to customize taste. The average diet, although not healthy and sustainable, was preferred most by respondents, signaling the challenges of shifting the consumer diet in China. Increasing the cost of the average diet can significantly promote sustainable healthy diet choices among urban Chinese residents. In other words, improving the affordability of sustainable healthy diets would have the potential to fuel the diet revolution in China.Originality/valueInstead of choices of a single food item, this paper focused on the individual selection of a diet, where different food products can act as substitutes or as complements for one another. We also proposed a way to assess individual preferences and valuations for several different diets.