Regions Of China Research Articles

'They are conspiring against us': How outgroup conspiracy theories stimulate environmental neglect in intergroup resource dilemmas.

Natural resources are limited, and people often share these limited resources in groups, which creates an intergroup resource dilemma. To understand individuals' sustainable behaviours in intergroup resource dilemmas in the context of group interactions, the present research systematically investigates the effect of outgroup conspiracy theories on sustainable behaviours and preliminarily explores the internal mechanism underlying this effect. First, a survey study (Study 1) relying on real-world intergroup relations first confirmed the negative correlation between outgroup conspiracy beliefs and sustainable intentions in intergroup resource dilemmas. Then, an online experimental study that utilized the real situation of a region in China (Study 2) tested the causal relationship between exposure to an outgroup conspiracy theory and sustainable intentions, as well as showing the mediating role of intergroup threat perception underlying this relationship. Finally, a preregistered experimental laboratory study (Study 3) further verified the causal effect of exposure to an outgroup conspiracy theory on sustainable behaviours, again confirming the mediating role of intergroup threat perception. In general, our research demonstrates that exposure to an outgroup conspiracy theory stimulates individuals' environmental neglect and reduces their sustainable behaviours by increasing their perceptions of intergroup threat when faced with intergroup resource dilemmas.

The impact of regional sports industry aggregation on residents’ health level in China

Health is the basis for human survival and development and is an important symbol to evaluate a country's economic growth and social progress. This article measures the degree of sports industry agglomeration in different regions of China and uses the Moran index to verify the existence of global autocorrelation in sports agglomeration. Next, the spatial Durbin model was used to verify the spatial spillover effect of sports industry agglomeration on the health level of residents, and the following conclusions were obtained.Firstly, there is spatial autocorrelation and heterogeneity in the clustering level of China's sports industry. The spatial distribution is extremely uneven, and different regions have formed relatively stable spatial patterns. Secondly, the degree of aggregation of the sports industry can reduce the number of per capita visits and have a positive spatial spillover effect on the health of residents. Not only can it promote the health level of residents in the province, but it also has spatial spillover effects on surrounding areas.Finally, based on the research results, the following conclusions are proposed in this article. Policy recommendations include increasing investment in sports talent cultivation, accelerating the construction of sports center cities, and increasing residents' attention to sports to improve residents' health.

Positioning Improvement for Spaceborne Laser Footprint Based on Precisely Terrain Data

Abstract. Spaceborne laser altimetry represents a novel active remote sensing technology applicable to earth observation, which together with imaging spectroscopy and synthetic aperture radar as a core technology for data acquisition in the earth observation systems. However, the accuracy of horizontal positioning for laser footprints from spaceborne laser altimeters declines due to various factors such as the changes in the orbital environment and the deterioration of performance. Moreover, the limited frequency of in-orbit calibration of the spaceborne laser altimeters and the non-disclosure of calibration parameters mean that users are heavily reliant on positioning accuracy of the altimetry data provided. To address this issue, a new algorithm is proposed in this study for enhancing the accuracy of horizontal positioning for laser footprints in the absence of satellite altimeter pointing and ranging parameters. In this algorithm, high-resolution DSM is taken as the reference terrain data to take advantage of the higher precision in elevation over horizontal positioning of the laser footprints. By adjusting the horizontal position of the laser footprint within a small area, the algorithm achieves the optimal alignment of laser elevation data with the reference terrain. Then, the resulting shift in the horizontal position of the laser footprints is referenced to correct their horizontal positioning during that period. Based on the high-accuracy DSM data collected from the Xinjiang autonomous region in China and the data collected by the GF-7 satellite, simulation experiments are performed in this study to analyze and validate the proposed algorithm. According to the experimental results, the horizontal accuracy of the laser footprints improves significantly from 12.56 m to 3.11 m after optimization by the proposed method. With the elimination of 9.45 m horizontal error, accuracy is improved by 75.23%. This method is demonstrated as effective in further optimizing the horizontal position of laser altimetry data products in the absence of altimeter parameters and original data, which promotes the application of spaceborne laser data.

Incorporating canopy radiation enhances the explanation of maize yield change and increases model accuracy under film mulching

Plastic film mulching (PM) has been extensively used to increase crop yields in dryland regions in China. However, the impact of differently colored PM on crop radiation utilization due to the optical properties of the underlying PM surfaces remains unclear. We conducted a two-year field experiment in northwest China to evaluate the dynamics of photosynthetically active radiation interception and absorption (fIPAR and fAPAR), as well as the radiation use efficiency for intercepted and absorbed radiation (RUEi and RUEa) during spring maize (Zea mays L.) growth periods. Two fertilization levels (high and low) and 3 PM treatments (transparent film, black film, and no film) were considered in this study. We also developed empirical regression functions to calculate canopy fAPAR, accounting for both canopy and underlying surface characteristics. Furthermore, we used canopy absorption radiation to drive the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum System (SPACSYS) model to simulate maize biomass and yield. We found that transparent film mulching (TM) exhibited higher fIPAR and fAPAR than black film mulching and no mulching (CK). TM had an increase of RUEi and RUEa by 10.6% and 9.7%, respectively, relative to CK, resulting in a 9.3–19.2% increase in maize yield and a 25.8–30.2% increase in the partial factor productivity of nitrogen. These increases were mainly attributed to the increased relative chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis rate, and extended grain-filling period under TM. We found that the modified radiation input increased the accuracy of the SPACSYS model in simulating maize biomass and yield. We underscore the importance of using TM in dryland areas to increase crop yields and advocate for incorporating canopy radiation data into crop models, especially in agricultural regions where plastic film mulching is used, to enhance the accuracy of yield simulations.

Atmospheric Oxidation Capacity Elevated during 2020 Spring Lockdown in Chengdu, China: Lessons for Future Secondary Pollution Control.

This study presents the measurement of photochemical precursors during the lockdown period from January 23, 2020, to March 14, 2020, in Chengdu in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. To derive the lockdown impact on air quality, the observations are compared to the equivalent periods in the last 2 years. An observation-based model is used to investigate the atmospheric oxidation capacity change during lockdown. OH, HO2, and RO2 concentrations are simulated, which are elevated by 42, 220, and 277%, respectively, during the lockdown period, mainly due to the reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx). However, the radical turnover rates, i.e., OH oxidation rate L(OH) and local ozone production rate P(O3), which determine the secondary intermediates formation and O3 formation, only increase by 24 and 48%, respectively. Therefore, the oxidation capacity increases slightly during lockdown, which is partly attributed to unchanged alkene concentrations. During the lockdown, alkene ozonolysis seems to be a significant radical primary source due to the elevated O3 concentrations. This unique data set during the lockdown period highlights the importance of controlling alkene emission to mitigate secondary pollution formation in Chengdu and may also be applicable in other regions of China given an expected NOx reduction due to the rapid transformation to electrified fleets in the future.

Analysis of extreme precipitation variation characteristics in mountain grasslands of arid and semi-arid regions in China

Introduction: With global warming, the disaster losses caused by extreme precipitation events are increasing. The poor natural conditions and climate change make the arid and semi-arid mountainous grassland area a sensitive region of climate change. The study on the spatio-temporal variation characteristics of extreme precipitation events in this region is helpful to improve the ability of climate prediction and disaster prevention and reduction in grassland.Methods: Based on the daily precipitation data of four meteorological monitoring stations in the Yinshanbeilu from 1970 to 2020, the trend analysis, M-K test and wavelet analysis were used to select seven typical extreme precipitation indicators to analyze the temporal and spatial characteristics of extreme precipitation.Results and Discussion: The results showed that the precipitation in the Yinshanbeilu increased in the past 51a, and the number of heavy rain days increased significantly. The significance test of CDD and CWD showed that the number of continuous dry days and continuous wet days decreased abruptly. The spatial analysis showed that the high value areas of R95p, R95d and PRCRTOT were all located in Siziwang Banner, and it could be concluded that the extreme precipitation risk was the highest in Siziwang Banner, while the low value areas of SDII, Rx1day, R95p and PRCRTOT were all located in Sonid Right Banner, which could be inferred that the Sonid Right Banner was relatively dry. The first main cycle of the seven indexes of extreme precipitation almost runs through the whole time series, and the starting point of the minimum main cycle changes inconsistent. In addition to the number of consecutive dry days, the other indices have a good correlation with annual precipitation, flood season and monthly precipitation from June to September, and July is the peak period of extreme precipitation events.

Static and dynamic strength properties of highly structured clay-rich diatomite in Shengzhou, China

Diatomite is a widespread geological substance found in coastal and lake areas worldwide. Although diatomites are increasingly used in geotechnical engineering construction, a significant knowledge gap exists regarding their mechanical responses to static and dynamic loadings, particularly in high-speed railway projects. This study investigates the static and dynamic behaviors of diatomites through extensive experiments, considering both natural and remolded states. It focuses on representative diatomite specimens obtained from the Shengzhou region in China, an area intersected by the Hang-Shao-Tai high-speed railway. The results of uniaxial compression and undrained triaxial shear tests show that the structural degradation of diatomite significantly impacts its stress-strain responses, failure patterns, and mechanical parameters under static and dynamic loading conditions. The structural effects of natural diatomite tend to degrade as the confining pressure level increases, resulting in corresponding changes in its mechanical parameters. Undrained triaxial shear tests conducted on natural diatomite reveal that the inclinations of the shear band closely correspond to those predicted by the Mohr-Coulomb solution. Additionally, we present a modified hyperbolic-type model to evaluate the damping ratio of diatomites. Furthermore, a power-law model based on Hardin's formula was used to predict the maximum shear modulus of diatomites under varying stress levels and void ratios. Microstructural and chemical analyses were conducted using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction to gain insights into the observed structural effects at the microscale.

Morphological and molecular characteristics of a Trypanosoma sp. from triatomines (Triatoma rubrofasciata) in China

BackgroundTriatomines (kissing bugs) are natural vectors of trypanosomes, which are single-celled parasitic protozoans, such as Trypanosoma cruzi, T. conorhini and T. rangeli. The understanding of the transmission cycle of T. conorhini and Triatoma rubrofasciata in China is not fully known.MethodsThe parasites in the faeces and intestinal contents of the Tr. rubrofasciata were collected, and morphology indices were measured under a microscope to determine the species. DNA was extracted from the samples, and fragments of 18S rRNA, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gGAPDH) were amplified and sequenced. The obtained sequences were then identified using the BLAST search engine, followed by several phylogenetic analyses. Finally, laboratory infections were conducted to test whether Tr. rubrofasciata transmit the parasite to rats (or mice) through bites. Moreover, 135 Tr. rubrofasciata samples were collected from the Guangxi region and were used in assays to investigate the prevalence of trypanosome infection.ResultsTrypanosoma sp. were found in the faeces and intestinal contents of Tr. rubrofasciata, which were collected in the Guangxi region of southern China and mostly exhibited characteristics typical of epimastigotes, such as the presence of a nucleus, a free flagellum and a kinetoplast. The body length ranged from 6.3 to 33.9 µm, the flagellum length ranged from 8.7 to 29.8 µm, the nucleus index was 0.6 and the kinetoplast length was −4.6. BLAST analysis revealed that the 18S rRNA, HSP70 and gGAPDH sequences of Trypanosoma sp. exhibited the highest degree of similarity with those of T. conorhini (99.7%, 99.0% and 99.0%, respectively) and formed a well-supported clade close to T. conorhini and T. vespertilionis but were distinct from those of T. rangeli and T. cruzi. Laboratory experiments revealed that both rats and mice developed low parasitaemia after inoculation with Trypanosoma sp. and laboratory-fed Tr. rubrofasciata became infected after feeding on trypanosome-positive rats and mice. However, the infected Tr. rubrofasciata did not transmit Trypanosoma sp. to their offspring. Moreover, our investigation revealed a high prevalence of Trypanosoma sp. infection in Tr. rubrofasciata, with up to 36.3% of specimens tested in the field being infected.ConclusionsOur study is the first to provide a solid record of T. conorhini from Tr. rubrofasciata in China with morphological and molecular evidence. This Chinese T. conorhini is unlikely to have spread through transovarial transmission in Tr. rubrofasciata, but instead, it is more likely that the parasite is transmitted between Tr. rubrofasciata and mice (or rats). However, there was a high prevalence of T. conorhini in the Tr. rubrofasciata from our collection sites and numerous human cases of Tr. rubrofasciata bites were recorded. Moreover, whether these T. conorhini strains are pathogenic to humans has not been investigated.Graphical

Spatiotemporal dynamics of urban sprawl in China from 2000 to 2020

ABSTRACT Accurately and timely quantifying the dynamics of urban sprawl is essential for improving land use efficiency and land use planning. However, existing research mainly focused on the sprawl of a single city or urban agglomerations in China, while national scale studies mainly used short-term remote sensing data to quantify urban sprawl. Therefore, we still lack a long term and most up-to-date understanding of urban sprawl in China, especially in different regions, cities of different sizes. Here, we quantified the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban sprawl using urban sprawl index (USI) based on the latest population census, and analyzed its driving force in China during 2000 ~ 2020 using the optimal parameters-based geographical detector. The results showed that in the past two decades, Chinese cities were still experiencing urban sprawl, with an average USI of 3.04, indicating that the average annual growth rate of urban lands was 3.04% higher than that of the urban population. Overall, the sprawl showed a slowdown, with the USI dropping from 3.55 in 2000 ~ 2010 to 2.53 in 2010 ~ 2020. Among regions, urban sprawl was more severe in the western region, where the USI was 5.33 during 2000 ~ 2020 and 89.3% of the cities exceeded the national average sprawl speed. Recently, the driving force of transportation on urban sprawl substantially increased. In the future, the Territorial Spatial Planning should pay attention to confining excessive sprawl of small- and medium-sized cities in the western region of China.

E-commerce development, poverty reduction and income growth in rural China

PurposeThis research examines the impact of the National Rural E-commerce Comprehensive Demonstration Project (NRECDP) on poverty reduction and income growth in rural China.Design/methodology/approachThe study develops a theoretical framework, which considers the role of geographical, technological, institutional and cultural factors for the e-commerce poverty alleviation (e-CPA) model. Empirically, this study applies the difference-in-differences (DID) model and the event study approach to evaluate the effectiveness of NRECDP on the basis of large-scale county-level and household-level panel data spanning 2010 to 2020.FindingsThe study found that the NRECDP, as a government-led, information and communication technology (ICT)-enabled, market-based program, has led to a significant increase in per capita output of primary industry employees, as well as in the disposable income of rural residents, especially those in national-level poverty-stricken (NP) counties. The interventions of the NRECDP achieved these positive outcomes through transportation and Internet infrastructure improvement, ICT adoption and human capital accumulation in impoverished towns and villages in remote rural areas. These effects are larger in the eastern region of China, followed by the central region, whereas the weakest effects were found in the western region. However, we found little evidence of the NRECDP increasing household developmental expenditure.Research limitations/implicationsThe study findings have important practical and policy implications for rural e-commerce development and self-sustained poverty alleviation solutions. The research revealed the significance of government NRECDP interventions for increasing rural income, reducing living costs, and empowering the rural population in its multiple social roles, namely, as consumers, producers, employees and microentrepreneurs. The local cultural context may also play a role in ICT adoption and entrepreneurship cultivation with a downstream effect on the effectiveness of e-CPA practices. Policymakers would need to ensure a supportive entrepreneur-friendly environment for rural e-commerce development and continue implementing progressive policies for poverty alleviation.Originality/valueThis study explores poverty alleviation issues in China by developing for the first time a multi-faceted framework that is subsequently tested by both county-level and household-level large-scale observations. Also, it is the first study to provide nationwide empirical evidence on the effectiveness of e-CPA in narrowing down the spatial and digital divides in China. In addition to the impact of geography, technology and governmental support, this study also sheds light on the role of culture in the adoption and diffusion of digital technologies and as a source of local entrepreneurial opportunities.

Enhancement of the Vegetation Carbon Uptake by the Synergistic Approach to Air Pollution Control and Carbon Neutrality in China

Carbon sinks provided by land ecosystems play a crucial role in achieving carbon neutrality. However, the future potential of carbon sequestration remains highly uncertain. The impact of pollutant emission reduction (PER) introduced by the proposed synergistic approach to air pollution control and carbon neutrality on carbon sinks in China has not yet been fully evaluated. In this study, we analyzed the effects of regional carbon-neutral PER policies, global climate change, and their coupled effects on China’s terrestrial gross primary productivity (GPP) by conducting numerical experiments using the weather research and forecasting model coupled with chemistry (WRF-Chem) and the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer photosynthesis algorithm (MODIS-PSN). We found that carbon-neutral PER policies could promote GPP growth in most regions of China in 2060, particularly during April and October, resulting in a total increase of at least 21.84 TgC compared to that in 2016, which offset the adverse effects of global climate change up to fourfold. The aerosol radiative effects drive GPP growth under carbon-neutral PER policies, primarily through an increase in daily minimum temperature during winter and an increase in shortwave radiation during other seasons. Our research highlights that reducing pollutant emissions enhances future potential for carbon sequestration, revealing positive feedback towards achieving the target of carbon neutrality.

Researching the Influence of Rural University Campuses on Rural Economic Development: Evidence from Chinese Counties between 2001 and 2020

While there have been studies on the relationship between higher education institutions and regional economic growth, few have delved into the economic impact of decentralized higher education institutions at the county level and associated reginal disparities in terms of socio-economic development. Utilizing the data of the Chinese universities that started to establish their campuses in counties since the year 1999, this study investigates the influence of rural university campuses on county-level GDP and industrial composition spanning from 2001 to 2020. It also delves into the temporal dynamics and regional discrepancies associated with this impact. The findings of this study show that (a) rural university campuses wield a notable positive influence on the GDP of their respective counties, particularly shaping the structure and ratio of secondary and tertiary industries; (b) the magnitude of this effect is contingent upon the duration of campus establishment and growth, intensifying over time; (c) variations in this impact are evident across the eastern, central, and western regions of China, where there are vast socio-economic differences. This study underscores the significant spillover effect of higher education decentralization on county-level economies and advocates for the pivotal role of rural university campuses in propelling county-level economic progress. Additionally, it proposes coordinated policy support from national, regional, and rural university campus authorities; the establishment of requisite support structures; and the comprehensive consideration of regional nuances.

Multi-condition simulation analysis of a sliding hydraulic support system based on elastoplastic mechanics

In response to the challenges of supporting fractured and weak surrounding rock in deep coal mines in the Huainan region of China, a self-moving hydraulic support system for roof support was designed and developed. This innovative solution addresses the difficulties encountered in providing continuous support to roof structures. Based on the theory of elastoplastic mechanics, a numerical analysis model was established to calculate the mechanical parameters such as the displacement, stress, and strain of hydraulic supports during the stepping process under multiple operating conditions. The results of the numerical simulation were compared and verified with those from an actual working site. The results show that the maximum equivalent stress is 245.33 MPa for operating condition 1, 246.82 MPa for operating condition 2, and 245.27 MPa for operating condition 3. The maximum stress values under the three working conditions do not exceed the yield strength of the material, satisfying the requirements for normal bracket support operations. These research findings can establish a theoretical framework for the comprehensive assessment of the reliability and stability of hydraulic supports and the optimization of construction processes.

Clinical analysis and quality of life survey of hemophilia B patients in the central and western regions of China

ObjectiveTo study the current status of hemophilia B (HB) patients in the central and western regions of China.MethodsThis cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted in seven provinces in the central and western regions of China from April 2019 to June 2023. Samples were collected for the factor IX activity, inhibitor screen, and gene mutation. Furthermore, the status of six index joints and quality of life (QoL) were assessed.ResultsA total of 185 HB patients (mild 15, moderate 75, and severe 95) with a median age of 12.17 years were enrolled. 30.3% (56/185) of patients had a family history of HB. 34.6% (64/185) of HB patients had diagnostic delay and 38.5% (69/179) experienced treatment delay. The incidence of inhibitors was 6.1% (11/179). We identified 123 genetic variants in this study, with missense mutations being the most common. 84.0% (89/106) of HB mothers were genetically identified as carriers, with 27.7% (13/47) of carriers having clotting factor levels less than 0.40 IU/ml. 71.4% (132/185) of HB patients had a history of joint hemorrhage, with a rate of target joint in these patients was 64.4% (85/132). Lower extremity joints were most often affected in patients. The Hemophilia Joint Health Score (HJHS) score was significantly positively correlated with the Hemophilia Early Arthropathy Detection with Ultrasound in China (HEAD-US-C) (r = 0.542, P < 0.001). Patients who received prevention treatment, inhibitor negative, without treatment delay, and without high-intensity replacement therapy showed a higher total score of the short form-36 health survey (SF-36).ConclusionsOne-third of HB patients had delay in diagnosis and treatment, and the incidence of inhibitors was 6.1%. Target joints were present in nearly half of HB patients. Missense was the main mutation type. 84.0% of mothers of HB patients in this study were found to be carriers. HEAD-US-C and HJHS can complement each other in the evaluation of joint status and give a valid basis for early clinical management. Early detection and preventive treatment, as well as reducing high-intensity replacement therapy and inhibitor generation, can effectively improve the QoL of patients.

National-scale 10 m annual maize maps for China and the contiguous United States using a robust index from Sentinel-2 time series

Accurate and continuous maps of maize distribution are essential for food security and sustainable agricultural development. However, there are no continuous national-scale and fine-resolution maize maps and explicit updated information on the spatiotemporal dynamics of maize for most countries. Maize mapping at the national scale is challenging due to the spectral heterogeneity caused by crop growth conditions, cropping patterns, and inter-annual variations. To this end, this study developed a novel crop index-based algorithm for national-scale maize mapping. Compared to other crops, maize is characterized by large-leaf-dominated canopies and high photosynthetic efficiency. Maize shows significant changes in chlorophyll and anthocyanin content. Therefore, a robust maize index was established by exploring the temporal Variation of the Vegetation-Pigment index (VVP) during the growing period. A simple decision rule was coded on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, which was used for maize mapping based on the Sentinel-2 time series in China and the contiguous United States (US) from 2018 to 2022. The national-scale 10 m annual maize maps for China and the contiguous US were developed and in good agreement with the corresponding agricultural statistics data for many years (R2 > 0.94) and 9,412 reference points (overall accuracy of 90.09 %). Compared with simply applying the vegetation index, the VVP index took account of spectral heterogeneity caused by variations in crop growth conditions, cropping patterns, and inter-annual, and the omission error of maize was reduced by over 20 %. Moreover, the VVP index can significantly improve the spatial transferability of the Random Forest (RF) classifier. The first 10 m annual maize maps for China revealed that the planted area trend decreased and then increased from 2018 to 2022. The year 2020 was the turning point. The maize planted area consisted of 68 % single maize and 32 % double cropping with maize in 2020, with the northern boundary for double cropping with maize in the Yanshan Mountains. The maize planted area in China consistently decreased by 39,352 km2 (about 9 %) from 2018 to 2020. This is mainly due to the adjustment of the maize-planted structure in the “Sickle Bend” region of China (the “Sickle Bend” policy). However, the maize planted area gradually recovered from 2020 to 2022, primarily concentrated in regions with ever-planted. This study will provide essential information for cropping structure adjustment and related agricultural policy formulation and contribute to sustainable agricultural development by mapping maize from a national to a global scale.

Genomic and spatial analysis reveal the transmission dynamics of tuberculosis in areas with high incidence of Zhejiang, China: A prospective cohort study

In the mountainous, rural regions of eastern China, tuberculosis (TB) remains a formidable challenge; however, the long-term molecular epidemiological surveillance in these regions is limited. This study aimed to investigate molecular and spatial epidemiology of TB in two mountainous, rural counties of Zhejiang Province, China, from 2015 to 2021, to elucidate the recent transmission and drug-resistance profiles. The predominant Lineage 2 (L2) Beijing family accounted for 80.1% of total 532 sequenced Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains, showing consistent prevalence over seven years. Gene mutations associated with drug resistance were identified in 19.4% (103/532) of strains, including 47 rifampicin or isoniazid-resistant strains, eight multi-drug-resistant (MDR) strains, and five pre-extensively drug-resistant (pre-XDR) strains. Genomic clustering revealed 53 distinct clusters with an overall transmission clustering rate of 23.9% (127/532). Patients with a history of retreatment and those infected with L2 strains had a higher risk of recent transmission. Spatial and epidemiological analysis unveiled significant transmission hotspots, especially in densely populated urban areas, involving various public places such as medical institutions, farmlands, markets, and cardrooms. The study emphasizes the pivotal role of Beijing strains and urban-based TB transmission in the western mountainous regions in Zhejiang, highlighting the urgent requirement for specific interventions to mitigate the impact of TB in these unique communities.

Impacts of Fengyun-4A and Ground-Based Observation Data Assimilation on the Forecast of Kaifeng’s Heavy Rainfall (2022) and Mechanism Analysis of the Event

The advancement of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) is pivotal for enhancing high-impact weather forecasting and warning systems. However, due to the high spatial and temporal inhomogeneity, the moisture field is difficult to describe by initial conditions in NWP models, which is the essential thermodynamic variable in the simulation of various physical processes. Data Assimilation techniques are central to addressing these challenges, integrating observational data with background fields to refine initial conditions and improve forecasting accuracy. This study evaluates the effectiveness of integrating observations from the Fengyun-4A (FY-4A) Advanced Geosynchronous Radiation Imager (AGRI) and ground-based microwave radiometer (MWR) in forecasts and mechanism analysis of a heavy rainfall event in the Kaifeng region of central China. Our findings reveal that jointly assimilating AGRI radiance and MWR data significantly enhances the model’s humidity profile accuracy across all atmospheric layers, resulting in improved heavy rainfall predictions. Analysis of the moisture sources indicates that the storm’s water vapor predominantly originates from westward air movement ahead of a high-altitude trough, with sustained channeling towards the rainfall zone, ensuring a continuous supply of moisture. The storm’s development is further facilitated by a series of atmospheric processes, including the interplay of high and low-level vorticity and divergence, vertical updrafts, the formation of a low-level jet, and the generation of unstable atmospheric energy. Additionally, this study examines the influence of Tai-hang Mountain’s terrain on precipitation patterns in the Kaifeng area. Our experiments, comparing a control setup (CTL) with varied terrain heights, demonstrate that reducing terrain height by 50–60% significantly decreases precipitation coverage and intensity. In contrast, increasing terrain height enhances precipitation, although this effect plateaus when the elevation increase exceeds 100%, closely mirroring the precipitation changes observed with a 75% terrain height increment.

The simulation of droplet impact on liquid film evaporation in horizontal falling film evaporator based on smoothed particle hydrodynamics

Purpose In this paper, the complex flow evaporation process of droplet impact on the liquid film in a horizontal falling film evaporator is numerically studied based on smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method. The purpose of this paper is to present the mechanism of the water treatment problem of the falling film evaporation for the high salinity mine water in Xinjiang region of China. Design/methodology/approach To effectively characterize the phase transition problem, the particle splitting and merging techniques are introduced. And the particle absorbing layer is proposed to improve the nonphysical aggregation phenomenon caused by the continuous splitting of gas phase particles. The multiresolution model and the artificial viscosity are adopted. Findings The SPH model is validated qualitatively with experiment results and then applied to the evaporation of the droplet impact on the liquid film. It is shown that the larger single droplet initial velocity and the smaller single droplet initial temperature difference between the droplet and liquid film improve the liquid film evaporation. The heat transfer effect of a single droplet is preferable to that of multiple droplets. Originality/value A multiphase SPH model for evaporation after the droplet impact on the liquid film is developed and validated. The effects of different factors on liquid film evaporation, including single droplet initial velocity, single droplet initial temperature and multiple droplets are investigated.

Reconstructing and tracing the evolution of the road networks in the Haidai region of China during the Bronze and Early Iron Ages

Reconstructing ancient transportation networks is critical to studying past human mobility patterns. China’s Haidai region was a thriving political and economic hub during the Bronze and Early Iron Ages. We used GIS spatial analysis techniques to build a “Settlement Interaction Model” based on archaeological data from the Haidai region during the Bronze and Early Iron Age (Shang Dynasty, Western Zhou Dynasty, Spring & Autumn Period, and Warring States period). The eight-level road network maps with traffic attributes were distinguished based on topography and settlement size. The total lengths of the road networks were estimated to be 19,112 km in the Shang Dynasty, 35,269 km in the Western Zhou Dynasty, 51,555 km in the Spring & Autumn Period, and 77,456 km in the Warring States Period, with the average road flows of 6.6, 31.7, 42.8, and 75.5, respectively. The Z score and one-sample t-test (p < 0.01) confirmed the reliability of the reconstructed road networks. The Shang Dynasty saw the sporadic appearance of simple road routes. More complex routes emerged during the Western Zhou Dynasty and Spring & Autumn Period. The road networks were finally built during the Warring States Period. The development of road networks was closely related to population growth and urbanization. Exploring methods for reconstructing road networks may help us uncover ancient road networks and better understand ancient cultural exchanges.

Spatiotemporal variation in rice water requirements and area in the cold rice cultivation region of China: Past and Future

Studying rice water requirements (ETc) and area is crucial for developing irrigation schedules and adjusting crop structures. The cold rice cultivation region is China’s main high-quality rice production base and has the lowest temperature, highest latitude, and greatest sensitivity to climate. However, little research has focused on its past rice distributions and ETc, and its future variations are not yet clear. Past ETc was calculated by the Penman–Monteith and crop-corrected coefficient method, and past rice distribution patterns were analyzed based on the annual paddy rice planting area datasets. Future reference crop evapotranspiration (ET0) was projected by the statistical downscaling model (SDSM) based on the CMIP6 ensemble of daily predictor variables. The food and agriculture projections to 2050 datasets were used to project future rice areas, and the patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model simulated rice distribution. Finally, we projected future rice water supply demand. The results showed that ETc showed a decreasing trend, and the total rice area and production increased by 4.52 and 5.49 times from 1990 to 2020. Both in the past and future, rice was densely distributed in and expanded into the Sanjiang and Songnen Plains, and the spatial characteristic of ETc was as follows: the west was larger than the east, the north was larger than the south, and the central was in between. In the four future periods, the total ETc demonstrated an upward trend, increasing by 7.44–21.04, 15.64–34.74, 24.74–45.84, and 16.14–41.14 mm under the SSP126, SSP245, SSP370, and SSP585 scenarios, respectively, compared to the historical period. And it is generally ranked as SSP370 > SSP245 > SSP126. Finally, we projected future rice water supply meet the demand caused by rice area expansion.