Regional Production Research Articles

Assessment of health risk and socio-economic losses associated with nutrition-related non-communicable diseases

Mortality among the Irkutsk region population was chosen as a research object. The aim of this study was to assess socioeconomic losses and the epidemiological risk caused by nutrition-related non-communicable diseases, including diseases of the circulatory system, among adult working age population in the Irkutsk region. The study was cross-sectional and observational. We analyzed data on mortality, gross regional product and employment provided by the Territorial office of the Federal State Statistic Service in the Irkutsk region over 2011–2020. Social and economic losses caused by early mortality among the population in the Irkutsk region were calculated in accordance with the Methodical Guidelines on using the Potential years of life lost (PYLL) indicator to establish priority health issues of the Russian population at the federal, regional and municipal level. Data were analyzed using Statistica 6.0. The assessment revealed that over 2011–2020 mortality caused by nutrition-related non-communicable diseases on average accounted for 13.85 % (13.64; 14.07) of the overall population mortality. Average annual social losses equaled 154,827.00 (153,098.56; 156,555.44) person-years lost before a person reached the end of working age. Accompanying probable economic losses aggregated over the analyzed period ranged between 9,560.58 and 15,934.29 million rubles. We managed to build acceptable predictive models (R2 > 0.5) on the growth in economic losses due to mortality caused by nutrition-related non-communicable diseases for both sexes and for males living in the Irkutsk region. Our findings highlight the significance of socioeconomic losses caused by nutrition-related non-communicable diseases and give evidence of suboptimal diets being widely spread among the population of the Baikal region.

Regional aspects in assessment of performance and effectiveness of the risk-based model for control and surveillance activities in provision of sanitary-epidemiological wellbeing of the population

This research is relevant since it is important to assess performance and effectiveness of activities performed by Rospotrebnadzor bodies and organizations in RF regions. The aim of this study was to assess performance and effectiveness of control and surveillance activities performed by a territorial office of Rospotrebnadzor given the current reduction in scheduled inspections. Control and surveillance activities performed by the Rospotrebnadzor Rostov Regional Office in 2023 were selected as the research object. They were aimed at improving the quality of the environment for the region population and indirectly at reducing population incidence and mortality associated with exposures to harmful risk factors represented by ambient air, water, and soil pollution etc. The study was accomplished relying on methodical instruments developed by the Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies and approved by the RF Chief Sanitary Inspector. The basic methodology establishes rules for calculating economic losses associated with population mortality and incidence (children, working age population and population older than working age) caused by environmental exposures. Calculations were based on the results of instrumental measurements of the environment quality in cities in the Rostov region and the results of scheduled and off-schedule control activities performed by the Rospotrebnadzor Rostov Regional Office in 2023. It was established that control and surveillance activities performed by the Service managed to prevent approximately 1760 deaths and more than 152.4 thousand diseases, which could actually occur should the Service fail to perform its regulatory actions. The total prevented economic losses equaled approximately 2.1 billion rubles in 2023. Economic effectiveness was established relying on prevented losses of the gross regional product and equaled 7.25 rubles per 1 spent ruble in 2023 prices. There are several promising trends in the scientific and methodical support provided by practical activities performed by Rospotrebnadzor. They include development and implementation of methodical approaches to assessing effectiveness of prevention activities; searching for new approaches to assessing performance and effectiveness of other activities accomplished by the Service (licensing, registration of new and hazardous chemicals and products, etc.).

Piston reactor for chemical energy storage: Modeling study to explore electro-mechanical conversion route using propane feedstock

Within the context of renewables and chemical energy storage, this work aims to explore chemical reaction conversion through the electro-mechanical route which is different from the commonly employed electro-thermal and electro-chemical conversion methods. Piston reactor is a novel equipment concept that can couple the rotational movement from an electric motor to a reciprocating piston within an enclosed reaction chamber resembling the operation of an internal combustion engine. Exploration of a reactor technology still in the laboratory stage requires an assessment of reaction intermediate mixtures to identify potential leads. This work uses a systematic methodology to assess these intermediate mixtures beyond typical reactor yield metrics to include economic values as part of the decision-making toward identifying lead candidates. Rather than focusing on a specific target reaction or product, this work is carried out as a model-driven study to cover a wider range of conditions and product scenarios. Propane as the main feedstock is selected because it is easier to trigger in the piston reactor, it is not a complex feed, a detailed kinetic mechanistic model is available to study it, and most importantly it can generate a wide range of industrially relevant products to serve the purpose of this study. The study revealed that the highly endothermic propane pyrolysis reaction requires intake temperatures larger than 950 K which is impractical. Diluting the feed with argon is one way to lower this intake temperature and achieve desirable conversion. This however is impractical because of additional separation steps and reduced production capacity. Thermal coupling of propane pyrolysis with exothermic side reactions by co-feeding oxygen, water, or carbon dioxide are investigated and showed promising results. A diverse range of products are produced such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, ethylene, and propylene, achieving high conversions (>90 %), while simultaneously generating useful work and process heat. Unconventional triggers such as using ozone to generate radicals and trigger ignition are investigated to further lower the intake temperature requirements. The explored solution space is then evaluated considering a new reactor metric as the value of products mixture stream. Regions of high-value products do not match those obtained using the traditional yield metrics. This shows the importance of what metrics to use for assessing reactors with wide range of reaction mixture intermediates as the piston reactor. Full economic analysis and optimization are the right direction in the future to properly assess the potential of piston reactor technology.

Снижение экологической нагрузки на регион за счет рационального способа утилизации фторангидрита

The article considers the chemical industry technologies contaminating the environment with sulfate-calcium waste in three regions of the former Soviet Union, i.e., the Tomsk region (SHK LLC, Seversk), the Perm territory (Galopolimer JSC, Perm), and East Kazakhstan region (UMZ JSC, Ust-Kamenogorsk). The differences and similarities of technological processes of anhydrous calcium sulfate production in the above-mentioned regions have been considered. Some properties of sulfate calcium (acid fluoride) that until recently was the main environmental contaminator used in the technology of hydrogen fluoride production have been specified. The objective of the study is to provide generalized positive results obtained by the authors of the article in the field of optimization of sulfuric decomposition of fluorspar not changing the production conditions and the quality of the main product — hydrogen fluoride. As a result of the process, the solid waste of hydrogen fluoride production is transformed into a target product, i.e., a technogenic anhydrite binder that can be an alternative to Portland cement and gypsum binders in the construction industry. Therefore, acid fluoride waste is removed from the hydrogen fluoride technology, and the environmental contamination with sulfate-calcium waste is prevented. In addition, a new trend in the construction industry is set, which is the industry production of anhydrite materials and products. The list of pilot-industrial and semi-industrial tests of the production of various anhydrite products has been provided (as an image listing the fields of use of acid fluoride in the industry of construction materials). In conclusion, the amount of environmental damage caused by the acid fluoride waste has been specified. In the Ob basin of the West Siberian region, it was 270 million rubles for 2023.

Carbon Tax vs. Carbon Cap-and-Trade: Implementation of carbon border tax in cross-regional production

Carbon Tax and Carbon Cap-and-Trade policies, as the primary carbon pricing instruments, are designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, inconsistent global regulations for emissions may lead to emissions leakage, as firms strategically relocate production to regions with less stringent controls. This study contributes to existing research by evaluating Carbon Tax and Carbon Cap-and-Trade policies in conjunction with the impending Carbon Border Tax (CBT), designed to mitigate emissions leakage from cross-regional production. Specifically, we examine a firm's equilibrium strategies in investment and production in both domestic and offshore regions under two different carbon pricing instruments while subject to the CBT. The analysis includes a comparative assessment of technology investment, total greenhouse gas emissions, and social welfare. Our findings indicate that the Carbon Tax policy can be associated with lower emission intensity, albeit generating greater total emissions compared to the Carbon Cap-and-Trade policy. Notably, the CBT can serve as an equivalent stimulant for technology investment and a reducer of aggregate emissions under both pricing instruments. Moreover, the Carbon Cap-and-Trade policy proves more beneficial in terms of social welfare when the firm's optimal strategy is confined to either domestic or offshore production. Conversely, the Carbon Tax policy yields higher social welfare in cases of high emission prices when the firm's optimal strategy is cross-regional production. The introduction of the CBT enlarges the set of conditions under which the Carbon Tax policy proves more advantageous for social welfare.

Tracing the origin and authenticity of Spanish PDO honey using metagenomics and machine learning

The Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) indication for foods intends to guarantee the conditions of production and the geographical origin of regional products within the European Union. Honey products are widely consumed due to their health-promoting properties and there is a general interest in tracing their authenticity. In this regard, metagenomics sequencing and machine learning (ML) have been proposed as complementary technologies to improve the traceability methods of foods. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the metagenomic profiles of Spanish honeys from three different PDOs (Granada, Tenerife and Villuercas-Ibores), and compare them with non-PDO honeys using ML models (PLS, RF, LOGITBOOST, and NNET). According to the results obtained, non-PDO honeys and Granada PDO showed higher beta diversity values than Tenerife and Villuercas-Ibores PDOs. ML classification of honey products allowed the identification of different microbial biomarkers of the geographical origin of honeys: Lactobacillus kunkeei, Parasaccharibacter apium and Lactobacillus helsingborgensis for PDO honeys and Paenibacillus larvae, Lactobacillus apinorum and Klebsiella pneumoniae for non-PDO honeys. In addition, potential microbial biomarkers of some honey varieties including L. kunkeei for Albaida and Retama del Teide varieties, and P. apium for Tajinaste variety, were identified. ML models were validated on an independent set of samples leading to high accuracy rates (above 90 %). This work demonstrates the potential of ML to differentiate different types of honey using metagenome-based methods, leading to high performance metrics. In addition, ML models discriminate both the geographical origin and variety of products corresponding to different PDOs and non-PDO products. Results here presented may contribute to develop enhanced traceability and authenticity methods that could be applied to a wide range of foods.

Estimation of the economic impact of heat stress on the Chilean dairy regions by using two comfort thermal indices.

The study aimed to estimate economic losses associated with heat stress in the eight dairy production regions (DPR), defined by the Dairy Chilean Consortium, using two comfort thermal indices, namely, the temperature-humidity index (THI) and the THI adjusted for solar radiation and wind speed (THIa). Hourly records from 19 weather stations (Nov - Mar 2017-2022) were collected to estimate the comfort thermal indices. The economic impact was estimated considering a critical threshold of 65 for both indices and the effect of higher values on loss in milk yield, days open, culling rate, and deaths. There were differences in the number of hours above the threshold among DPRs, independent of the thermal index used (P < 0.01). The greatest values were observed in DPRs I, II, and VIII, which concentrate most dairy cows. Average losses in milk yield were between 2.0 and 6.4 times higher when THIa was used instead of THI, which also depends on the DPR (P < 0.01). These estimations coincide with those observed empirically by producers. The lowest average economic losses per cow during the summer season (5 seasons average) occurred in DPR VI (US $ 91.5), and the highest losses were observed in DPR I (US $ 184.2) both using THIa. At the country level, economic losses fluctuate between US $ 29.0 and 108.4million per summer season, depending on the comfort thermal index used. Finally, heat stress impacts negatively and significantly the Chilean dairy sector, which is highly dependent on the DPR.

Enhancing Wheat Growth, Physiology, Yield, and Water Use Efficiency under Deficit Irrigation by Integrating Foliar Application of Salicylic Acid and Nutrients at Critical Growth Stages.

Transitioning from full to deficit irrigation (DI) has become a key strategy in arid regions to combat water scarcity and enhance irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE). However, implementing DI requires additional approaches to counter its negative effects on wheat production. One effective approach is the foliar application of salicylic acid (SA), micronutrients (Mic; zinc and manganese), and macronutrients (Mac; nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). However, there is a lack of knowledge on the optimal combinations and timing of foliar application for these components to maximize their benefits under arid conditions, which is the primary focus of this study. A two-year field study was conducted to assess the impact of the foliar application of SA alone and in combination with Mic (SA + Mic) or Mic and Mac (SA + Mic + Mac) at various critical growth stages on wheat growth, physiology, productivity, and IWUE under DI conditions. Our result demonstrated that the foliar application of different components, the timing of application, and their interaction had significant effects on all investigated wheat parameters with few exceptions. Applying different components through foliar application at multiple growth stages, such as tillering and heading or tillering, heading, and grain filling, led to significant enhancements in various wheat parameters. The improvements ranged from 7.7% to 23.2% for growth parameters, 8.7% to 24.0% for physiological traits, 1.4% to 21.0% for yield and yield components, and 14.8% to 19.0% for IWUE compared to applying the components only at the tillering stage. Plants treated with different components (SA, Mic, Mac) exhibited enhanced growth, production, and IWUE in wheat compared to untreated plants. The most effective treatment was SA + Mic, followed by SA alone and SA + Mic + Mac. The foliar application of SA, SA + Mic, and SA + Mic + Mac improved growth parameters by 1.2-50.8%, 2.7-54.6%, and 2.5-43.9%, respectively. Yield parameters were also enhanced by 1.3-33.0%, 2.4-37.2%, and 3.0-26.6% while IWUE increased by 28.6%, 33.0%, and 18.5% compared to untreated plants. A heatmap analysis revealed that the foliar application of SA + Mic at multiple growth stages resulted in the highest values for all parameters, followed by SA alone and SA + Mic + Mac applications at multiple growth stages. The lowest values were observed in untreated plants and with the foliar application of different components only at the tillering stage. Thus, this study suggested that the foliar application of SA + Mic at various growth stages can help sustain wheat production in arid regions with limited water resources.

Analysis Of Government Expenditure On Gross Regional Domestic Product In Eastern Kalimantan

Government spending plays a crucial role in a region's economy, especially in Eastern Kalimantan, which has a wealth of natural resources becoming one of the main drivers of the Indonesian economy. The study aims to analyze the influence of government spending on Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) in Eastern Kalimantan from 2010-2023. The dependent variable of the study is regional gross domestic product while the independent variable is health spending, education expenditure, public service spending and housing and public facilities spending. The research method used is a double linear regression analysis with time series data. The results of the study show that government spending on education, public services and housing, and public facilities has a significant influence on the increase in GRDP in Eastern Kalimantan. It highlights the importance of strategically allocating government spending to boost the regional economy.

From fragments to system: a research on the mesoscale structure of vernacular landscapes in the Hang-Jia-Hu area, China

ABSTRACT Vernacular landscape incorporates spatial structures intimately associated with regional environments, agricultural production, and rural life. Analyzing and understanding these structures can help reveal spatial patterns and intrinsic mechanisms of vernacular landscapes and provide reference for contemporary rural construction. This paper aims to analyze the mesoscale structure of vernacular landscapes in the Hang-Jia-Hu area by discussing spatial relationships between four main elemental patches: water systems, farmlands, settlements and hills. Special attention is given to the correlations between landscape structure and local agriculture. Initially adopting a grid sampling approach, the paper extracts 31 fragment samples of vernacular landscape images (each 2 × 2 km) from the satellite imagery of the Hang-Jia-Hu area. Subsequently, via semantic segmentation, the four elements are identified and differentiated. Integrating related knowledge from environmental history, agricultural history, human geography, and other disciplines, the paper carries out a typological analysis on the vernacular fragment samples, deriving the latent structural types, which consist of concepts and abstract schemas. Based on the association between these structural types, establishes a structural system, as the primary integrated conclusion of this research, and looking forward to offering framework reference for contemporary rural construction.

SPATIALLY INFORMED INSIGHTS: MODELING PERCENTAGE POVERTY IN EAST JAVA PROVINCE USING SEM WITH SPATIAL WEIGHT VARIATIONS

The East Java Province stands as one of Indonesia's regions grappling with a notably elevated poverty rate, accounting for 11.32% of the populace. A strategic approach employed to comprehend and redress this issue involves the application of spatial analysis, wherein spatial factors are intricately integrated into the modeling and cartographic representation of poverty data. The primary objective of this research is to discern the principal determinants influencing the incidence of poverty in East Java Province, employing data reflective of the population's poverty percentages within the province for the year 2021. The study incorporates six pivotal variables, namely: the population poverty rate, open unemployment rate, labor force participation rate, average years of schooling, adjusted per capita expenditure, and the gross regional domestic product (GRDP), predicated on adjusted expenditure. Diverse weighting schemes are applied based on both distance (1) and contiguity (2). The optimal predictive model utilized is the Spatial Error Model (SEM) incorporating a Distance Band Weighing (DBW) mechanism with a designated maximum distance ( ) of 75000 meters. Outcomes indicate that the variable wielding the most substantial influence on the poverty percentage in East Java Province is the average years of schooling. Specifically, an increase in the pursuit of formal education manifests as a negative correlate to the poverty percentage, implying an inverse relationship. Moreover, the SEM model adheres to the requisite assumptions, encompassing (1) the normality of residuals, (2) homogeneity of residuals, and (3) non-spatial autocorrelation of residuals. Comparative analyses reveal that the SEM model utilizing DBW yields diminished values for MAE, MSE, RMSE, AIC, and MAPE in comparison to its linear regression counterpart. Furthermore, the pseudo- values obtained from the SEM surpass those derived from the linear regression model. Rigorous likelihood ratio tests underscore substantial disparities between the SEM and linear regression models, with the former proving more efficient and markedly enhancing the model's explanatory prowess concerning variations in the dataset.

Improving cotton productivity and nitrogen use efficiency through late nitrogen fertilization: Evidence from a three-year field experiment in the Xinjiang

ContextPremature senescence is a major concern for crop production especially for high-density cotton in Xinjiang, China, when nitrogen (N) rates are reduced. This study aimed to examine the potential of late N fertilization in mitigating senescence, improving light and N use efficiency, and enhancing cotton productivity under reduced N rate. MethodsA three-year field experiment was conducted from 2019 to 2021, employing a total of 240 kg N ha-1, which was one-third lower than the traditional rate of 360 kg ha-1. Five different N application ratios based on cotton stages were tested, with N064 (0:6:4 ratio at early: middle: late growth stages) representing late N fertilization, and N262 representing traditional ratio in fertilization. The effects of N application timing-based ratios on yield components, N use efficiency, canopy photosynthesis, and root traits were evaluated. ResultsThe results showed that N064 had the highest lint yield 2727–3305 kg ha-1 (2019–2021) among all treatments over the three years. Late N fertilization (N064) resulted in significant increases in boll density (4.6–10.7%), seed cotton yield (5.8–8.1%), and N use efficiency (10.5–14.1%) when compared to traditional N262. During late peak boll-setting to boll opening stages, N064 decreased leaf area index (3.5–6.6%), canopy light interception rate (3.8–11.4%), and boll capacity of root (18.1%) compared to N262, while increasing SPAD (2.3–4.8%), diffuse non-interceptance (3.9–16.6%), canopy apparent photosynthetic rate (13.2–49.4%), root biomass (19.5%), root/shoot ratio (15.0%). N064 also resulted in a higher root surface area density in deep soil than N262. ConclusionsLate N fertigation enhanced post-flowering canopy photosynthetic production by improving the cotton root-shoot relationship and delaying root and canopy senescence, resulting in improved yields and N use efficiency. This N management strategy implemented under reduced N cultivation shows promise for sustainable cotton production in Xinjiang and similar ecological regions.

Ecosystem structure and function of the North Water Polynya

The North Water Polynya is one of the most productive Arctic regions on Earth, sustaining the world’s northernmost Inuit communities for millennia. The polynya is a large and persistent region of open water surrounded by sea ice and exhibits high primary productivity, is a high biodiversity hotspot and is a key habitat and migration corridor for Arctic species. Many aspects of the ecosystem structure and the role of resident species in the North Water Polynya remain uncertain. To shed light on these, we developed the first representation of the North Water Polynya food web using the Ecopath modelling framework. Modelled trophic flows indicated that pelagic and benthic communities were primarily connected by Age 1+ Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida), walrus (Odobenus rosmarus), and ringed seal (Pusa hispida). Large copepods, Age 1+ Arctic cod, and bivalves were key prey species. Overall productivity in the North Water Polynya was higher compared to Western Baffin Bay and Western Greenland, corroborating expectations of relatively high productivity within the polynya. This model provides a baseline description of the North Water Polynya ecosystem structure and function prior to future climate-driven food web changes and the emergence of large-scale commercial fisheries.

Integrated Models of Cleaner Production Technologies for Maize Cultivation in China’s Black Soil Regions

Incorporating carbon footprints into the production efficiency framework to construct a standardized technology model for cleaner production in black soil regions is of great significance for improving the soil environment and the sustainable development of agriculture. This study used an orthogonal experimental design and the DEA–Malmquist method to calculate the carbon footprint and total factor productivity of orthogonal experimental groups of cleaner production technologies for maize cultivation in China’s black soil region and then identified integrated models of cleaner production technology in the black soil region. The results showed that the carbon footprint of maize cultivation and total factor productivity were generally higher in the experimental group using cleaner production techniques than in the control group. Still, none of them reached the optimum. In the future, the synergistic effect of technological progress and technological efficiency enhancement should be brought into play, and the integrated models of “Soil testing and formulation + Full mobile sprinkler irrigation + Straw tilling and field return” and “No tillage in spring + Soil testing and formulation + Straw tilling and field return” should be promoted in semi-arid and semi-humid black soil regions, which can improve the low carbon productivity of maize by 20.3% and 15.4%, respectively.

Toward the full implementation of the water-energy-food nexus in computable general equilibrium modelling: methods and macroeconomic implications

This paper contributes to the advancement of Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modelling in addressing the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus. As such, it introduces water resources as a production factor for both the energy sector and irrigated agriculture, as well as their competition for the endowment, aiming to explicitly represent additional components of the WEF with respect to a standard CGE in the literature. Thus, it develops different modelling structures by computing impacts on regional GDP, sectorial prices, and production outputs in response to hypothetical water scarcity scenarios. This analysis allows for the determination of the role of data and modelling assumptions, such as production function, water substitutability with other endowments, water mobility across sectors, and sectorial water intensity, in influencing the results. Finally, the paper develops a dynamic scenario analysis, showing that an enhanced representation of the Nexus can significantly affect the macroeconomic dynamics of the simulations and their regional implications.

Keeping Nitrogen Use in China within the Planetary Boundary Using a Spatially Explicit Approach.

Nitrogen (N) supports food production, but its excess causes water pollution. We lack an understanding of the boundary of N for water quality while considering complex relationships between N inputs and in-stream N concentrations. Our knowledge is limited to regional reduction targets to secure food production. Here, we aim to derive a spatially explicit boundary of N inputs to rivers for surface water quality using a bottom-up approach and to explore ways to meet the derived N boundary while considering the associated impacts on both surface water quality and food production in China. We modified a multiscale nutrient modeling system simulating around 6.5 Tg of N inputs to rivers that are allowed for whole of China in 2012. Maximum allowed N inputs to rivers are higher for intensive food production regions and lower for highly urbanized regions. When fertilizer and manure use is reduced, 45-76% of the streams could meet the N water quality threshold under different scenarios. A comparison of "water quality first" and "food production first" scenarios indicates that trade-offs between water quality and food production exist in 2-8% of the streams, which may put 7-28% of crop production at stake. Our insights could support region-specific policies for improving water quality.

Comparative analysis of bacterial community structure and physicochemical quality in high-temperature Daqu of different colors in Qingzhou production area

To compare the effects of differences in Daqu making technology and production regions on the bacterial composition and physicochemical properties of high-temperature Daqu (HTD), this study analyzed the bacterial community structure of three colors of HTD in the Qingzhou production area and measured their physicochemical quality. At the same time, a comparative analysis was conducted on the bacterial composition of Qingzhou and Xiangyang regions. The results revealed that the HTD in the Qingzhou area exhibited a diverse bacterial community dominated by Lentibacillus, Scopulibacillus, and Staphylococcus. The black HTD displayed the lowest bacterial richness (P < 0.05) and a relatively unique microbial structure. Significant variations were observed in the physicochemical qualities of the three colors of HTD. Notably, white HTD demonstrated higher moisture and ash content, saccharification and liquor-producing power. Yellow HTD exhibited higher amino nitrogen and protein content, and black HTD displayed higher water activity, acidity, and starch content. The variation in Bacillus, Limosilactobacillus, and Weissella distributions across different colors of HTD primarily contributed to these findings. From the HTD samples in the Qingzhou area, Bacillus (61.90 %) and lactic acid bacteria (17.46 %) being the predominant cultivable communities. Cluster analysis identified significant differences in bacterial communities among HTD samples from various production areas. It can enhance the understanding of HTD quality in the Qingzhou area and offer insights for optimizing HTD and Maotai-flavor Baijiu quality.

Asian winter monsoon controls marine primary productivity in north Arabian Sea during the Holocene

The Arabian Sea (AS), which is strongly impacted by monsoon winds, is one of the most biologically productive regions. The forcing of Asian monsoons on Holocene productivity remains debated in north AS, an area influenced by summer and winter monsoon. A sediment core from Makran margin was utilized to analyze organic biomarkers and high-resolution bromine intensities, unveiling the forces of biological productivity through the past 8000 years. Alkenone sea surface temperature (SST) records show significant cooling in north AS and augmented SST difference between north and west AS toward the late Holocene, suggesting Asian winter monsoon (AWM) strengthening during the period. The Holocene productivity signals in north AS, indicated by the bromine to rubidium ratio and multiple biomarkers, are responsive to SST changes and thus mainly controlled by the AWM variation, not modulated by Asian summer monsoon (ASM). Millennial-to-centennial-scale variability of marine productivity during the Holocene is closely related to North Atlantic climate oscillations, mainly through atmospheric circulations in winter.

Assessing the Impacts of Mulching-Induced Warming Effects on Machine-Picked Cotton Zones

The 20th century saw notable fluctuations in global temperatures, which significantly impacted agricultural climate zones across the Earth. Focusing on Xinjiang, China, a leading region in machine-picked cotton production, we identified several key thermal indicators influencing the yield, including the sum of active temperatures ≥ 10 °C, the mean temperature in July, the climatological growing season length, the April–May sum of active temperatures, the last frost day, and the defoliant spray time. Using meteorological data from 58 weather stations in Xinjiang, we examined the spatiotemporal trends of these indicators during the 1981–2020 period. Additionally, we attempted to determine the effects of plastic mulching on the sowing area and the zoning area of machine-picked cotton in different suitable zones based on these indicators. In conclusion, the overall thermal resources in Xinjiang are exhibiting an upward trend and show a distribution pattern of “more in the south of Xinjiang than in the north of Xinjiang, and more in the plains and basins than in the mountains”. Under the plastic-mulching mechanism, the zoning area of the suitable zone has increased by 15.7% (2.15 × 103 km2), suggesting that climate warming and the widespread application of mulching technology provide unexplored potential for the most suitable regions for machine-picked cotton in Xinjiang, while the 14.5% (0.26 × 103 km2) and 7.8% (0.17 × 103 km2) reductions in the unsuitable and less suitable zones, respectively, suggest that the planting areas of machine-picked cotton in both the less suitable and unsuitable zones, particularly with the existing regional planning, continue to demonstrate an irrational expansion. Therefore, to sustain Xinjiang’s cotton industry’s resilience and productivity, policymakers need to prioritize proactive land management and sustainable land allocation practices in response to changing climate patterns to optimize cotton production.

The impact of the Christchurch earthquakes (2010–2011) on labour productivity in the Canterbury region in New Zealand

ABSTRACT We examine the impact of the earthquake sequence in 2010–2012 on labour productivity in New Zealand's Canterbury region, utilising a dynamic Difference-in-Differences approach and a comprehensive administrative dataset of all firms operating in New Zealand. We find a statistically significant and large positive effect on labour productivity in Christchurch City, particularly in the construction sector. This led to an observable increase in overall regional labour productivity in the Canterbury region in 2013, 2015, and 2016. In Christchurch City itself (the area most heavily impacted by the earthquakes), the positive effect lasts until 2018 and possibly later (though it is no longer statistically observable). The re-construction of the region will not continue forever, so the implications of this winding down in re-construction for labour productivity and income are potentially a matter of present and future concern.