Regional Strategies Research Articles

European Integration, Opportunities and Risks of Business and Agriculture in Albania

The Integration Process of Albania in the European Union started in 1993 and is considered a long road with many challenges. The signing of the Stabilization-Association Agreement in 2006 is the most important moment of this process, including the harmonization of legislation, to prepare the final EU membership process. This article analyses business opportunities and risks, mainly those of the agri-food sector on its way to the EU. In this framework, trade agreements with the EU and Free Trade Agreements (CEFTA) have influenced the liberalization of trade for agri-food products, intensifying and increasing the level of trade with Europe and the countries of the region. This article also deals with the identification of comparative advantages for the agri-industry sector, where facing the regulated European market, not only challenges are analyzed, but also serious limitations, increasing the need for a structural change in trade relations. In the focus of this paper, are the economic and regional strategies, as well as the progress of the business and agri-food processes, also addressing the trade flows of Albania with the countries of the region and the EU. The analysis of this paper consists of three main premises: 1) in the framework of European integration, costs and benefits in terms of economy and business are more visible in the medium and long term; 2) the integration in the medium term brings a higher economic growth for the countries that aspire to join the EU; and 3) the European integration makes the economy more efficient, bringing about an increase in the ratio of investments, in relation to income, through the reduction of risk with a tendency to increase capital and income per capita (European Commission Report, 2023). The analysis of empirical data shows that the results are not as convincing as expected, thus confirming other previous studies by experts in the field. The main conclusion of this paper is that the integration process has influenced reforms and economic policies in terms of formal and content, both in terms of costs and benefits. In substantive terms, the data analysis shows that the process of European integration has served as a strong impetus for the development of institutions in the country, inter-institutional coordination, the establishment of new institutions, the improvement of human resources, local markets, and the increase of absorptive capacities of funds from the EU. On the other hand, it is concluded that in specific areas of domestic business, such as agri-industry, the effects of EU integration are either not felt yet or are minimal.

A Study on the Techno-Economics Feasibility of a 19.38 KWp Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic System at Al-Abrar Mosque, Saudi Arabia

This research paper presents a comprehensive study on the implementation of photovoltaic (PV) energy systems at Al-Abrar Mosque in Saudi Arabia. The primary objective was to explore optimal regional solar power strategies. By synergistically integrating technical evaluations of the PV system with economic analyses, including the payback period and levelized cost of energy (LCOE), alongside an investigation of net metering and net billing scenarios, we delineated a pathway toward achieving net zero billing for the mosque’s energy requirements. This study examined two scenarios: Scenario I involved net metering, while Scenario II explored net billing. Our theoretical and simulation results, derived from detailed analyses conducted using PVsyst software, unequivocally demonstrated the superiority of net metering for this specific application. With net metering, the mosque’s energy needs can be efficiently met using minimal infrastructure—comprising only 34 photovoltaic modules and a single inverter. In contrast, net billing requires significantly higher resource demands, underscoring the economic and spatial advantages of net metering. Additionally, the payback period for Scenario I is 7.9 years, while for Scenario II, it extends to 87 years. Through rigorous simulations, this study reaffirmed the practicality and feasibility of the net metering approach within the context of Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, our research provides actionable insights for implementing sustainable solutions at specific sites, such as the Al-Abrar Mosque, and contributes to advancing renewable energy knowledge in the region.

Commonsense sovereignty: a practice theory of Flanders’ paradiplomacy to the European Union

ABSTRACT European regions implement up to 70% of EU legislation, yet they are generally considered ‘objects’ rather than ‘subjects’ of European governance. This article proposes an original conceptual framework derived from practice theory in IR for the analysis of regional paradiplomacy in multilateral institutions. Through a case study of the Delegation of Flanders to the EU based on interviews with Flemish and Federal members of the Belgian Permanent Representation, this research contributes to the literature on paradiplomacy by critically examining the commonsense acceptance that sovereign authority can be delegated to substate actors while the unity of sovereign political representation must remain unchallenged. The analysis therefore shows that regional strategies of engagement with the EU are not only determined by formal institutions but are also shaped by taken for granted understandings of sovereignty which set the standards of competent diplomatic practice and inclusion for substate representatives.

Evaluating the temperature–mortality relationship over 16 years in Cyprus

ABSTRACT In many regions of the world, the relationship between ambient temperature and mortality is well-documented, but little is known about Cyprus, a Mediterranean island country where climate change is progressing faster than the global average. We Examined the association between daily ambient temperature and all-cause mortality risk in Cyprus. We conducted a time-series analysis with quasipoisson distribution and distributed lag non-linear models to investigate the association between temperature and all-cause mortality from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2019 in five districts in Cyprus. We then performed a meta-analysis to estimate the overall temperature-mortality dose-response relationship in Cyprus. Excess mortality was computed to determine the public health burden caused by extreme temperatures. We did not find evidence of heterogeneity between the five districts (p = 0.47). The pooled results show that for cold effects, comparing the 1st, 2.5th, and 5th percentiles to the optimal temperature (temperature associated with least mortality, 25 ℃), the overall relative risks of mortality were 1.55 (95% CI: 1.32, 1.82), 1.41 (95% CI: 1.21, 1.64), and 1.32 (95% CI: 1.15, 1.52), respectively. For heat effects, the overall relative risks of mortality at the 95th, 97.5th and 99th percentiles were 1.10 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.16), 1.17 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.29), and 1.29 (95% CI: 1.11, 1.5), respectively. The excess mortality attributable to cold days accounted for 8.0 deaths (95% empirical CI: 4.5–10.8) for every 100 deaths, while the excess mortality attributable to heat days accounted for 1.3 deaths (95% empirical CI: 0.7–1.7) for every 100 deaths. The results prompt additional research into environmental risk prevention in this under-studied hot and dry region that could experience disproportionate climate change related exposures. Implications: The quantification of excess mortality attributable to temperature extremes shows an urgent need for targeted public health interventions and climate adaptation strategies in Cyprus and similar regions facing rapid climate change. Future steps should look into subpopulation sensitivity, coping strategies, and adaptive interventions to reduce potential future risks.

Effects of denitrification on speciation and redistribution of arsenic in estuarine sediments

Microbially-mediated redox processes involving arsenic (As) and its host minerals significantly contribute to the mobilization of As in estuarine sediments. Despite its significance, the coupling between As dynamics and denitrification processes in these sediments is not well understood. This study employed sequential sediment extractions and simultaneous monitoring of dissolved iron (Fe), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) to investigate the impact of nitrate (NO3−) on the speciation and redistribution of As, alongside changes in microbial community composition. Our results indicated that NO3− additions significantly enhance anaerobic arsenite (As(III)) oxidation, facilitating its immobilization by increased adsorption onto sediment matrices in As-contaminated estuarine settings. Furthermore, NO3− promoted the conversion of As bound to troilite (FeS) and pyrite (FeS2) into forms associated with Fe oxides, challenging the previously assumed stability of FeS/FeS2-bound As in such environments. Continuous NO3− additions ensured As and Fe oxidation, thereby preventing their reductive dissolution and stabilizing the process that reduces As mobility. Changes in the abundance of bacterial communities and correlation analyses revealed that uncultured Anaerolineaceae and Thioalkalispira may be the main genus involved in these transformations. This study underscores the critical role of NO3− availability in modulating the biogeochemical cycle of As in estuarine sediments, offering profound insights for enhancing As immobilization techniques and informing environmental management and remediation strategies in As-contaminated coastal regions.

Groundwater salinization risk in coastal regions triggered by earthquake-induced saltwater intrusion

Anthropogenic factors such as over-pumping and natural events such as earthquakes impact coastal aquifers by reducing freshwater recharge, aquifer water budgets, and increasing saltwater intrusion (SWI). This study investigates the impact of hydrodynamic forces induced by earthquakes on SWI in one hypothetical case, namely, the Henry problem, and a real case of the Biscayne aquifer located in Florida, USA. The analysis was carried out using the analytical solution of estimating the earthquake’s induced hydrodynamic pressure and applying the SEAWAT code to investigate the SWI for the base case and three scenarios, namely for the horizontal acceleration (αh) by 0.10 g, 0.20 g, and 0.30 g. The results show that earthquakes might considerably increase the SWI in coastal aquifers. Moreover, the rise in salinity across expansive land areas significantly threatens agricultural productivity and jeopardizes food security. Namely, in the case of Biscayne aquifer, salinity was increased by 12.10%, 21.90%, and 45.70% for the horizontal seismic acceleration of 0.1 g, 0.20 g, and 0.30 g, respectively. Hence, the conclusions drawn from this study underscore the need for carefull consideration of earthquake impacts in future planning and water management strategies for coastal regions. This proactive approach is crucial to preemptively address and mitigate the groundwater salinization hazard associated with SWI fluctuations due to earthquakes.

Integrated evaluation of city-level CO2 emissions and sinks from 2010 to 2019: Spatio-temporal patterns in the Yangtze River Economic Belt of China

The intensifying impact of global climate change has led to increased attention being paid to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and sinks. However, it remains a challenge to accurately assess and map the spatial distribution of CO2 emissions and sinks. Previous studies have primarily focused on national and provincial level research, leaving city-level studies relatively overlooked. Acknowledging the significance of interregional differences and the crucial ecological and economic aspects of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB), we devised a research framework to analyse spatio-temporal patterns through city-level CO2 emissions and sinks. The city-level CO2 emissions were estimated using provincial data and linear allocation models, while CO2 sinks were estimated based on the areas of ecosystems and their corresponding sink coefficients. The analysis of YERB's spatio-temporal patterns focuses on regional hotspots, outliers, and time-series clustering. The findings show that: (1) Between 2010 and 2019, ecosystems within YREB absorbed approximately 41.17%–46.70% of CO2 emissions, with the increase rate of CO2 emissions being lower than that of sinks. (2) City-level CO2 in Western Region of YREB exhibited low emissions and high sinks, while Eastern Region showed high emissions and low sinks, and these characteristics were intensifying. (3) City-level CO2 emissions and sinks demonstrated a “core-periphery” clustering pattern. (4) The regional CO2 balance was predominantly driven by most cities in Eastern Region. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of CO2 emissions and sinks at the city level and offers valuable insights for developing regional collaborative emission reduction strategies in YREB.

Increased farmer willingness to pay for quality cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) planting materials: evidence from experimental auctions in Cambodia and Lao PDR

AbstractVarietal turnover is a major mechanism for farmer adaptation to rapidly changing environmental and market conditions. Understanding factors related to varietal turnover is critical for safeguarding food security in the face of increasingly rapid changes to production contexts. Preference elicitation methods like experimental auctions reveal farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for seeds with different characteristics. We engaged farmers growing cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) across a wide geographic scope in Cambodia (n = 321, 4 provinces) and Lao PDR (n = 391, 5 provinces) in modified second-price experimental auctions to determine WTP for three cassava seed classes: farmer-produced planting stems of an undescribed variety, farmer-produced planting stems of an elite variety with lower susceptibility to Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD), and virus-free tested planting stems of the same elite variety. In Lao PDR, mean auction bids for a bundle of 20 planting stems were 0.54, 0.92, and 1.40 USD for farmer, elite, and elite tested stems, while in Cambodia the analogous mean bids were 0.58, 0.77, and 1.16 USD, respectively. A significantly higher WTP associated with elite variety and tested stems in both countries was influenced by both geographic location (province) and individual socioeconomic farmer characteristics. In Lao PDR this included lower WTP of women, higher WTP of ethnic minorities, and, for improved stems, lower WTP of farmers with increased cassava growing experience. In Cambodia fewer socioeconomic variables affected WTP. Our results indicate significant increases in WTP for clean planting materials and new varieties, supporting market-based clean seed approaches as a component of regional control strategies for the CMD epidemic currently threatening a global agri-food value chain.

Development and Applicability Evaluation of Damage Scale Analysis Techniques for Agricultural Drought

In recent years, the intensity and frequency of droughts have been increasing with the advent of the climate crisis. Agricultural droughts have a significant economic and social impact. Agricultural drought is not only a natural disaster but also leads to food security threats and reduced economic activities, such as decreased productivity. Therefore, it is very important to specify the scale of agricultural drought and quantitatively estimate the economic damage. In this study, we developed an analytical methodology to quantitatively assess the economic damage of agricultural drought and estimated the damage of agricultural drought in 2018 and 2019 for the Republic of Korea. The 2018 agricultural drought was estimated to have caused USD 4.438 million in damage cost and USD 5.180 million in recovery cost. The 2019 drought was less damaging than the previous year, with an estimated damage cost of USD 286,000 and recovery costs of USD 218,000. The results suggest that the economic impact of agricultural drought varies by region depending on the frequency and intensity of the drought and confirm the importance of regional strategies for effective drought management and response. The impacts of agricultural drought go beyond short-term agricultural losses and lead to long-term economic burdens. Therefore, the results of this study are expected to be used as a basis for understanding the impacts of agricultural drought on national economies and for developing policies and strategies to minimize impacts.

A mid-range approximation method assisted by trust region strategy for aerodynamic shape optimization

This paper presents an efficient solution for high-fidelity large-scale aerodynamic shape optimization problems based on several developments in the mid-range approximation method within a trust region optimization framework. The mid-range approximation method is an iterative optimization technique that utilizes mid-range approximations to replace the physical experiments or simulations during the optimization based on the selected trust region strategy. It could transform the original optimization problem into a sequence of approximate sub-optimization problems. In this work, an improved trust region strategy is proposed to contain more optimization states with a flexible and controllable performance to suit different types of problems. A metamodel assembly technique and its gradient-enhanced version are developed to further relax the requirements of computational costs in the mid-range approximation method. Its performance is discussed through a detailed comparison of metamodel performance using a mathematical benchmark case named Vanderplaats scalable beam. The wing only of the Common Research Model is offered to the proposed method for aerodynamic shape optimization. The optimization has 1 design objective, 232 design variables, and 135 design constraints. With all constraints satisfied, the optimized configuration has a 4.85 % improvement in wing drag performance. The shock region is greatly reduced and the wing pressure distribution is smooth and nearly parallel. These results show that the proposed method could achieve the design goal successfully within a reasonable computational cost for large-scale problems.

Variation in Debris-Flow-Prone Areas with Ecosystem Stability: A Case Study of the Qipan Catchment in the Wenchuan Earthquake Region

The spatial distribution of vegetation in a basin has a far-reaching influence on the potential for sediment separation and transport capacity. However, many landslides induced by strong earthquakes have greatly changed the existing pattern, which further increases the probability of debris flow in a basin during heavy rainfall and has a significant impact on the stability of the basin. Thus, this study selected the debris flow basin in the Qipan catchment of the Wenchuan earthquake area as the research object. Multisource and high-precision remote sensing images were used to analyze the land use changes in the basin, and the index of connectivity (IC) was introduced to analyze the evolution of sediment transport capacity. An ecosystem stability assessment method suitable for post-earthquake debris flow basins was proposed. Through quantitative assessment of the ecosystem stability of the basin after the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 and the two debris flow events after the earthquake, the dynamic relationship between the debris-flow-prone area and the ecosystem stability of the basin was revealed. The results showed that the stability of the ecosystem in the Qipan catchment increased annually, indicating a stable and substable state. The spatial distribution characteristics were lower in the north and south and greater in the middle. By comparing the evaluation results with the actual terrain change trend, the accuracy and feasibility of the evaluation method are verified. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for the formulation of regional disaster prevention strategies and help to accelerate the improvement of regional stability in debris-flow-prone areas.

Assessment of air quality benefits of vegetation in an urban‐industrial region of India by integrating air monitoring with i‐Tree Eco model

AbstractIn the last few years, urban trees have emerged as an effective nature‐based solution to mitigate increasing air pollutant levels due to urbanization and industrialization. This study aims to assess the synergistic effect of urban trees on improving air quality by combining real‐time PM2.5 monitoring with the i‐Tree Eco model. The monitoring was conducted during rush hours with high traffic volume and during non‐rush hours, in both the tree alley and a non‐tree road section within the industrial areas of the north‐west region of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, India. The i‐Tree Eco model was run using the diameter at breast height values of tree species present in the study area, and the PM2.5 reduction ability of the trees was quantified. The results from both approaches indicated that urban trees can significantly reduce the traffic‐fed PM2.5 concentrations. Therefore, it is suggested that tree plantations be integrated into air pollution management strategies in urbanized regions with high traffic volumes. Although this study explores the initial link between trees and air quality in Delhi, further research incorporating local wind speed and direction measurements would provide a more comprehensive understanding of how trees influence air quality in any highly polluted urban setting.

Abstract PO4-19-04: AXSANA – EUBREAST-3: An international prospective multicenter cohort study to evaluate different surgical methods of axillary staging in clinically node-positive breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Abstract Background The optimal surgical staging procedure of the axilla in patients who convert from a clinically positive (cN+) to a clinically negative node status (ycN0) through neoadjuvant chemotherapy is still controversial. Widely diverse techniques such as full Axillary Lymph Node Dissection (ALND), Targeted Axillary Dissection (TAD), Targeted Lymph Node Biopsy (TLNB) and Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) alone are given preference in different international guidelines. So far, no comparative data on the oncological outcome or the morbidity of the different procedures are available. Further research is needed to safely de-escalate the extent of axillary surgery in this patient group. Trial design The AXSANA study is an international prospective cohort study including cN+ patients converting to ycN0 status and treated with different axillary staging techniques according to the standard at their treating institution. The study was initiated by the EUBREAST network. The trial includes patients with cT1-4c tumors, who present initially with axillary lymph node metastasis scheduled for neoadjuvant chemotherapy. According to an amendment in 2020 the inclusion of patients with highly suspicious nodes without confirmation using a minimally invasive biopsy is allowed. All patients converting to ycN0 status undergo follow-up for 5 years irrespectively of the ypN status. Primary endpoints: Invasive disease-free survival, axillary recurrence rate and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). HRQoL are evaluated using four standardized questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C 30, EORTC QLQ-BR 23, Lymph ICF and SOC-13) at baseline and after 1, 3 and 5 years after surgery. Secondary endpoints are the feasibility and performance of different axillary staging techniques (detection rate, number of removed lymph nodes and association with complications, arm morbidity and quality of life, operating time and use of clinical and economic resources); impact of learning curve, and the detailed mapping of surgical and oncological treatment standards in different countries. The impact on different regional treatment strategies (radiotherapy, ALND) in patients with ypN0(i+), ypN1(mi) and ypN1 is assessed. Current status of the study: 4336 patients from 284 study sites and 26 countries were enrolled in the study between June 2020 and June 2023. Among 3722 patients with a defined surgical concept 1631 women were scheduled for TAD, 1483 for ALND, 469 for SLNB, 25 for TLNB and 109 for other procedures. A target lymph node was marked in 2309 patients, most frequently using clips/coils (1850, 80.1%), followed by magnetic seeds (219, 9.5%), carbon ink (171, 7.4%), radar marker (80, 3.5%), radioactive seeds (4, 0.2%) and other techniques (24, 1.0%). Funding: AGO-B, GBG, Claudia-von Schilling Foundation, Ehmann Foundation, Eugen und Irmgard Hahn Foundation, AWOgyn, Merit Medical, Endomagnetics, Mammotome Contact information: Prof. Dr. Thorsten Kühn Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics University of Ulm, Germany Baumreute 37 D-73730 Esslingen Germany E-Mail: kuehn.thorsten@t-online.de Citation Format: Thorsten Kühn, Steffi Hartmann, Elmar Stickeler, Jana de Boniface, Oreste Davide Gentilini, Sarah Fröhlich, Franziska Ruf, Marc Thill, Michael Hauptmann, Guldeniz Karadeniz Cakmak, Isabel Rubio, Maria Luisa Gasparri, Michalis Kontos, Eduard-Alexandru Bonci, Laura Niinikoski, Bilge Aktas Sezen, Rosa Di Micco, Dawid Murawa, Geeta Kadayaprath, David Pinto, Florentia Peintinger, Matilda Appelgren, Janine M. Simons, Marjolein Smidt, Ellen Schlichting, Lukas Dostalek, Elisabeth Thiemann, Markus Hahn, Michael Schrauder, Semra Gunay, Gunay Gurleyik, Nina Helidon, Hagigat Valiyeva, Ashutosh Kothari, Marian Vanhoeij, Andraz Perhavec, Tsvetomir Ivanov, Dov Zippel, Lia Rebaza, Sarun Thongvitokomarn, Sibylle Loibl, Maggie Banys-Paluchowski. AXSANA – EUBREAST-3: An international prospective multicenter cohort study to evaluate different surgical methods of axillary staging in clinically node-positive breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO4-19-04.

A serotype-specific and tiled amplicon multiplex PCR method for whole genome sequencing of dengue virus

Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease of significant public health concern in tropical and subtropical regions, is caused by any of the four serotypes of the dengue virus (DENV1–4). Cutting-edge technologies like next-generation sequencing (NGS) are revolutionizing virology, enabling in-depth exploration of DENV's genetic diversity. Here, we present an optimized workflow for full-genome sequencing of DENV 1–4 utilizing tiled amplicon multiplex PCR and Illumina sequencing. Our assay, sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq platform, demonstrates its ability to recover the full-length dengue genome across various viral abundances in clinical specimens with high-quality base coverage. This high quality underscores its suitability for precise examination of intra-host diversity, enriching our understanding of viral evolution and holding potential for improved diagnostic and intervention strategies in regions facing dengue outbreaks.

Tropical cyclone activities in the Western North Pacific in 2022

Based on the best-track dataset from the Shanghai Typhoon Institute/China Meteorological Administration, the paper provides a comprehensive summary and analysis of tropical cyclone (TC) activities in the Western North Pacific (WNP) and the South China Sea (SCS) for 2022. Using the historical climatology from 1951 to 2020, the anomalous conditions during 2022 in TC frequency, origin locations, tracks, intensity, and duration for the entire ocean basin as well as landfall events in China are examined. Results show that the overall TC frequency is slightly lower than normal, but the multiple TC events have a very high frequency of occurrence. Origin locations of TCs, which mark the starting points of their paths, show a large westward and northward deviation from climatology. Around 40% of the named TCs exhibit a shift in their direction of movement from westerly to easterly. Additionally, comparisons of the means, medians, upper and lower quartiles all indicate that the intensity of TCs in 2022 is generally lower than the climatology, with the duration of TCs at tropical storm intensity or above being shorter than usual. A notable observation is the fewer incidence of TC landfalls in China, but with a geographical concentration in Guangdong Province. These anomalous annual TC activities are influenced by related atmospheric and oceanic environmental conditions modulated by multi-scale climate variability. The findings provide useful information for enhancing disaster mitigation strategies in the Asia-Pacific region.

Spatial Transformation Analysis in Menganti Subdistrict: A Study of Peri-Urban Area Typologies in the Face of Urban Expansion

The swift urbanization of Indonesian cities, notably Surabaya, has spurred population growth and a heightened demand for land, leading to the expansion of urban areas into peri-urban regions like Menganti District. This district, bordering Surabaya, experiences significant land-use change shaped by the city’s expansion, making it a compelling area for analysis due to its complex dynamics. This study aims to analyze Menganti’s peri-urban spatial transformation and its typology based on the land-use triangle continuum theory. Using indicators like land-use proportions, building density, and educational and healthcare facility distribution, the analysis delineates four zones: Urban fringe, Urban-Rural fringe, Rural-Urban fringe, and Rural-fringe zones. The analysis further involves comparing land-use maps from 2017 and 2022, revealing that Urban fringe and Rural fringe zones primarily witness residential land use growth, while Urban-Rural fringe and Rural-Urban fringe display a mix of residential, industrial, commercial, and warehouse land use growth. Analyzing factors influencing spatial transformation in Menganti’s peri-urban area through Delphi and AHP techniques underscores elements like trend of land-use change, road networks, trade facilities, distance from the district center and Surabaya city, and land prices as pivotal influences. Understanding these dynamics aids in comprehending the evolving landscape and guiding sustainable development strategies in peri-urban regions experiencing urban expansion.

Theoretical Analysis of Trade and Circulation Statistics in Regional Development

This paper aims to explore the theoretical analysis of commercial circulation statistics in regional development, emphasizing its crucial role in promoting the optimization of regional economic structure and enhancing competitiveness. The study employs methods of literature review and theoretical construction to systematically sort out the basic concepts, functions, and applications of commercial circulation statistics in regional development. Firstly, the paper defines the scope of commercial circulation statistics, including the statistical indicator systems for commodity circulation, service circulation, and information circulation. Secondly, it analyzes the impact mechanisms of commercial circulation statistics on regional economic development, such as optimizing resource allocation, promoting industrial upgrading, and enhancing market transparency. The paper further constructs a theoretical framework for the interaction between commercial circulation statistics and regional development, exploring the applications of commercial statistical data in decision support, industrial guidance, and market monitoring. Finally, the paper concludes that commercial circulation statistics are not only an important tool for measuring regional economic vitality but also a key factor in promoting the sustainable development of regional economies. By enhancing the accuracy and timeliness of commercial circulation statistics, it can effectively support the formulation and implementation of regional development strategies, promoting balanced and coordinated economic development.

Comparative analysis of greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting as supplementary water sources for conventional urban and tourist resort water supplies

Freshwater scarcity combined with high water demand from rapid urbanization, population growth, and changing consumption has resulted in increasing stress on urban water supply systems. Seasonal fluctuations in the population of tourist destinations are especially evident in tourist resorts. Greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting have been proposed as the most widely used valuable strategies to address water scarcity. By taking the conventional water supply system and the water supply of tourist resorts as examples, this study systematically compares and analyzes the advantages and limitations of greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting by enumerating the stress of water supply in different systems, discussing the benefits of both strategies and comparing the differences when using them for tourist destinations. The results showed that pumping systems or elevated tanks used to meet the water supply needs of high-rise buildings pose energy challenges. The water use characteristics of tourist resorts cause it to be closely related to the seasonal influx of tourists. Greywater recycling is more effective than rainwater harvesting in mitigating tourist resorts' water shortage problem. Suggestions for ways to implement these strategies for different regions are also given to make informed decisions about water distribution efforts. This study provides a reference for sustainable urban water resource management.

A Year-Long Measurement and Source Contributions of Volatile Organic Compounds in Nanning, South China

Severe ozone (O3) pollution has been recorded in China in recent years. The key precursor, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), is still not well understood in Nanning, which is a less developed city compared to other megacities in China. In this study, a year-long measurement of VOCs was conducted from 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021, to characterize the ambient variations and apportion the source contributions of VOCs. The daily-averaged concentration of VOCs was measured to be 26.4 ppb, ranging from 3.2 ppb to 136.2 ppb across the whole year. Alkanes and oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) were major species, contributing 46.9% and 25.2% of total VOC concentrations, respectively. Propane, ethane, and ethanol were the most abundant in Nanning, which differed from the other significant species, such as toluene (3.7 ppb) in Guangzhou, ethylene (3.8 ppb) in Nanjing, and isopentane (5.5 ppb), in Chengdu. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model resolved six source factors, including vehicular emission (contributing 33% of total VOCs), NG and LPG combustion (19%), fuel burning (17%), solvent use (16%), industry emission (10%), and biogenic emission (5%). This indicated that Nanning was less affected by industrial emission compared with other megacities of China, with industry contributing 12–50%. Ethylene, m/p-xylene, butane, propylene, and isoprene were key species determined by ozone formation potential (OFP) analysis, which should be priority-controlled. The variations in estimated OFP and observed O3 concentrations were significantly different, suggesting that VOC reactivity-based strategies as well as meteorological and NOx effects should be considered collectively in controlling O3 pollution. This study presents a year-long dataset of VOC measurements in Nanning, which gives valuable implications for VOC control in terms of key sources and reactive species and is also beneficial to the formulation of effective ozone control strategies in other less developed regions of China.

Temporal evolution of speciated volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from solvent use sources in the Pearl River Delta Region, China (2006–2019)

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from solvent use sources constitute an important part of ozone (O3) and secondary organic aerosols (SOA) in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, China. While stringent control measures targeting VOCs have been implemented in recent years, an assessment of historical trends is imperative to evaluate their effectiveness. In this study, trends of VOC emissions, compositions, and reactivity from solvent use sources in the PRD region from 2006 to 2019 were estimated using a developed methodology, which considered the improvement of manufacturing equipment and removal efficiency. Results showed that total VOC emissions from solvent use sources displayed an overall increase from 277 kt in 2006 to 400 kt in 2019 despites some fluctuations, with metal products contributing more than 20 % each year. Aromatics and oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) accounted for over 70 % of total VOC emissions, increasing by 21 kt and 52 kt respectively. OFP and SOAFP increased by 40 % and 23 % respectively from 2006 to 2019. Specific aromatic species, including m/p-xylene, toluene, 1,2,3,5-tetramethylbenzene, o-xylene and ethylbenzene were identified as key species in both VOC emission amount and reactivity. This study aims to facilitate the understanding of VOC emission evolution from solvent use sources in the region and provide insights into the impact of enacted measures, aiding in the future development of more targeted and efficient strategies in the PRD region.