Regions Of China Research Articles

Evaluations of ground surface heat fluxes and its potential vegetation effects in the permafrost region of northeastern China

Ground surface-air temperature difference (GATD) is the primary source of sensible heat flux from the ground surface, and vegetation inevitably affects it by altering the ground surface characteristics. However, the relationship between vegetation and GATD in the permafrost region has not been well-elucidated. Using meteorological station data, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Data Record Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NOAA CDR NDVI) data, and some auxiliary data, this study aims to investigate the patterns of GATD in the Northeast China permafrost region and quantify the response of GATD to vegetation changes. The study employs trend analysis, Geodetector, and correlation analysis methods. The results show that the GATD in the Northeast China permafrost region decreased from west to east and the annual mean GATD exhibited an upward from 1982 to 2020. The relationship between NDVI and GATD trend is non-linear, in areas with low vegetation, vegetation changes amplify the GATD trend, while in areas with high vegetation, vegetation changes inhibit the GATD trend. Furthermore, the rate of GATD increase is higher in the discontinuous permafrost (DP) region than in the sporadic permafrost (SP) and isolated permafrost (IP) regions, suggesting that the DP region may have experienced a faster ground surface state change process. The findings of this study will provide new insights for evaluating permafrost degradation and studying the resulting ecological environmental effects in the permafrost region.

How the characteristics of land cover changes affect vegetation greenness in Guangdong, a rapid urbanization region of China during 2001-2022.

To evaluate the quantitative impacts of land cover change on vegetation greenness in the significantly human-impacted subtropical region, the characteristics of land cover change were explored by land use dynamic degree, transition matrix and normalized entropy. Various methods including Standardized coefficient, LMG (Lindeman-Merenda-Gold), GEN (Genizi measure) and CAR (Correlation-Adjusted Marginal Correlation) were employed to estimate the contributions of land cover changes on vegetation greenness using MODIS data during 2001-2022 in Guangdong. The conclusions revealed that land cover changes exhibited obvious temporal characteristics in Guangdong with a significantly increasing trend of normalized entropy indicating a more balanced distribution of land cover types under human intervention. NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) tended to increase likely due to the large-scale increase in evergreen forest. With regard to the contributions of impact factors on vegetation greenness, the contributions evaluated by LMG, GEN and CAR showed that the natural variation of NDVI accounted for the major contribution (> 33%), while the changes of evergreen forest and grassland had the highest contribution (> 37%) according to Standardized coefficient. These differences were mainly due to the characteristics of land cover changes in Guangdong, the correlations among impact factors and the inherent attributions of the methods. Moreover, the expansions of evergreen forest and urban at the expense of the reductions of grassland and cropland also had significant impacts on NDVI (> 10%) according to LMG, GEN and CAR indicating that human-induced land cover changes had remarkable influences on NDVI.

A multi-objective approach to optimizing the geometry and envelope of rural dwellings for energy demand, thermal comfort, and daylight in cold regions of China: A case study of Shandong province

Rural dwellings in China’s cold regions face significant challenges related to energy consumption, thermal comfort, and daylight, with a projected substantial increase in energy demand in the future. Scientifically optimized design during the early planning stages can significantly enhance indoor thermal and daylight conditions, effectively reducing energy consumption. This study focuses on Shandong Province to comprehensively analyze the optimization of geometry and envelope design of rural dwellings in China’s cold regions. It employs a multi-objective optimization method, integrating genetic algorithms with dynamic energy simulations, to minimize total energy demand while ensuring thermal comfort and sufficient daylight. Utilizing the Octopus plugin in Grasshopper, in conjunction with EnergyPlus, Ladybug, and Honeybee, this research optimizes and analyzes the impact of various design variables on energy consumption, thermal comfort and daylight, including room depth, window-to-wall ratio in different orientations, thermal performance of the envelope, and related glass material parameters. The results indicate that the selected variables have significant energy-saving potential. Compared to the case study building, the optimized solutions can reduce total energy demand by over 62.41%, with the highest savings rate reaching 88.75%. This study emphasizes the importance of integrated design and optimization strategies in enhancing the sustainability of rural dwellings. It proposes both cost-free and cost-included optimization schemes: the former maximizes the energy-saving, thermal comfort and daylight potential of the selected variables, while the latter is more practically feasible considering the economic constraints of rural areas. The proposed optimization schemes provide multiple reference solutions and theoretical foundations for users of rural dwellings in China’s cold regions.

A phenological-knowledge-independent method for automatic paddy rice mapping with time series of polarimetric SAR images

Paddy rice, which sustains more than half of the global population, requires accurate and efficient mapping to ensure food security. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has become indispensable in this process due to its remarkable ability to operate effectively in adverse weather conditions and its sensitivity to paddy rice growth. Phenological-knowledge-based (PKB) methods have been commonly employed in conjunction with time series of SAR images for paddy rice mapping, primarily because they eliminate the need for training datasets. However, PKB methods possess inherent limitations, primarily stemming from their reliance on precise phenological information regarding paddy rice growth. This information varies across regions and paddy rice varieties, making it challenging to use PKB methods effectively on a large spatial scale, such as the national or global scale, where collecting comprehensive phenological data becomes impractical. Moreover, variations in farming practices and field conditions can lead to differences in paddy rice growth stages even within the same region. Using a generalized set of phenological knowledge in PKB methods may not be suitable for all paddy fields, potentially resulting in errors in paddy rice extraction. To address the challenges posed by PKB methods, this study proposed an innovative approach known as the phenological-knowledge-independent (PKI) method for mapping paddy rice using time series of Sentinel-1 SAR images. The central innovation of the PKI method lies in its capability to map paddy rice without relying on specific knowledge of paddy rice phenology or the need for a training dataset. This was made possible by the incorporation of three novel metrics: VH and VV normalized maximum temporal changes (NMTC) and VH temporal mean, derived from the distinctions between paddy rice and other land cover types in time series of SAR images. The PKI method was rigorously evaluated across three regions in China, each featuring different paddy rice varieties. Additionally, the PKI method was compared with two prevalent phenological-knowledge-based techniques: the automated paddy rice mapping method using SAR flooding signals (ARM-SARFS) and the manual interpretation of unsupervised clustering results (MI-UCR). The PKI method achieved an average overall accuracy of 97.99%, surpassing the ARM-SARFS, which recorded an accuracy of 89.65% due to errors stemming from phenological disparities among different paddy fields. Furthermore, the PKI method delivered results on par with the MI-UCR, which relied on the fusion of SAR and optical image time series, achieving an accuracy of 97.71%. As demonstrated by these findings, the PKI method proves highly effective in mapping paddy rice across diverse regions, all without the need for phenological knowledge or a training dataset. Consequently, it holds substantial promise for efficiently mapping paddy rice on a large spatial scale. The source code used in this study is available at https://code.earthengine.google.com/f82cf10cad64fa3f971ae99027001a6e.

Phylogeography of the Sinica Group of Macaques in the Himalayas: Taxonomic and Evolutionary Implications.

Owing to the taxonomic incongruence between the morphological features and genetic relationships of the sinica group of macaques (genus Macaca), the taxonomy of this macaque group has remained inconclusive. We aimed to resolve the taxonomic quandary and improve our understanding of the historical biogeography of the group by including macaque DNA samples from previously unsampled areas in the Himalayas. We sequenced and analyzed three mitochondrial DNA loci [cytochrome b (CYTB), cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and D-loop; 2898 bp] for sequence polymorphism, phylogenetics, species delimitation, and ancestral area reconstruction. We confirmed the occurrence of Arunachal macaque (Macaca munzala) on the southern slopes of the Eastern Himalayas in the Xizang Zizhiqu (Tibet Autonomous Region) of China. The results revealed that the sinica group of macaques is a parapatric species group composed of seven distinct species. Phylogenetic and species delimitation analyses revealed that the two previously considered subspecies of Assamese macaques (the eastern subspecies M. assamensis assamensis and the western subspecies M. a. pelops) are two distinct species. The eastern Assamese macaque is a sister species to the Tibetan macaque, whereas the western Assamese macaque and Arunachal macaque are the closest genetic sister species. The sinica group of macaques underwent five vicariance and seven dispersal radiations in the past, which mainly coincided with the Quaternary climatic oscillations between the late Pliocene and the late Pleistocene. By integrating our phylogenetic and ancestral area reconstruction results with findings from previous paleontological and molecular studies, we propose a robust hypothesis about the phylogeography of the sinica group of macaques.

Quercus acutissima exhibits more adaptable water uptake patterns in response to seasonal changes compared to Pinus massoniana

BackgroundSeasonal precipitation variability significantly affects water use in forests; however, whether water uptake is adapted to changes in precipitation, particularly whether it could affect the coexistence of tree species, has rarely been quantified in forest systems. MethodIn this study, dual stable isotopes and the Li-6400 portable photosynthesis system were used to determine the water sources of a mixed conifer (Pinus massoniana) and broadleaf (Quercus acutissima) forest and changes in hydraulic characteristics during the dry and wet seasons in a southern hilly region of China. ResultsAlthough the hydraulic characteristics of P. massoniana were lower than those of Q. acutissima, it maintained a stable water source from the deep soil layer and a higher stomatal conductance (Gs), leading to a higher transpiration rate (Tr) during the growing seasons. Q. acutissima mainly absorbed water from deeper soil layers in the dry season and took up from shallow soil layers in the wet season. Its Gs values exhibited sensitivity to precipitation, while it maintained a lower Tr value during the growing seasons. The excessive water-use strategy observed in P. massoniana may confer weak drought-tolerance during higher frequency and more intense extreme precipitation events, whereas Q. acutissima may exhibit better ecological adaption to precipitation changes. ConclusionsThe overlap of water niches in mixed forests did not appear to affect the coexistence of tree species. The present study provides insights into reforestation and water management in the southern hilly regions of China.

Environmental changes and human impacts over the past 1200 years: Evidence from high-resolution pollen records from peat in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, Southwest China

Over the past millennium, the understanding of vegetation and climate changes in mountainous regions, driven by both natural and anthropogenic forces, remains unclear. In this study, we provide a high-resolution vegetation record spanning the past 1200 years from a subalpine peatland in the Niangniang Mountains, southwestern China. By analyzing pollen, charcoal, and loss-on-ignition from the peat sediment, we elucidate the interactions between vegetation, fire, and human impact. Our findings reveal that before 1150 CE, the mountains were covered with dense broadleaf forests and experienced minimal human activity. Natural forcings, primarily climatic conditions, drove vegetation succession and forest fires. After 1150 CE, the Human Influence Index (HII) increased sharply, coinciding with a rise in cereal-type pollen. Significant agricultural activities in the southwestern mountainous regions of China began after 1150 CE, which is later than those in the low-altitude lake basins of southwestern China. During the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA, 836–1400 CE), the Niangniang Mountains were characterized by warm and humid climatic conditions, a stable forested landscape, and a high peat carbon accumulation rate. Although human activities increased markedly during this period, the arbors did not undergo notable changes, and climate forcings continued to have a greater impact on vegetation than anthropogenic forcings. During the Little Ice Age (LIA, 1400–1900 CE), the regional vegetation landscape transitioned from dense forests to open grasslands as climate conditions became cold and dry, reducing peat carbon accumulation rate. This period also saw increased forest fires and significant human-driven deforestation, with anthropogenic forcings becoming dominant. After 1900 CE, vegetation changes were increasingly influenced by government policies. Comparison with major climate forcings and spectrum analysis have shown that variations in monsoon intensity, regulated by solar and volcanic activity, have influenced the climate and peat depositional environment in the Niangniang Mountains. Our research offers meaningful insights into forest conservation in the mountainous regions of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.

Genetic characteristics of human parainfluenza viruses 1-4 associated with acute lower respiratory tract infection in Chinese children, during 2015-2021.

Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) are a significant cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTIs) among young children and elderly individuals worldwide. The four types of HPIVs (HPIV1-4) can cause recurrent infections and pose a significant economic burden on health care systems globally. However, owing to the limited availability of complete genome sequences, the genetic evolution of these viruses and the development of vaccines and antiviral treatments are hampered. To address this issue, this study utilized next-generation sequencing to obtain 156 complete genome sequences of HPIV1-4, which were isolated from hospitalized children with ALRTIs in six regions of China between 2015 and 2021. This study revealed multiple clades, lineages, or sublineages of HPIVs circulating in mainland China, with a novel clade D of HPIV1 identified as geographically restricted to China. Moreover, this study identified the endemic dominant genotype of HPIV3, lineage C3, which has widely spread and continuously circulated in China. Bioinformatic analysis of the genome sequences revealed that the proteins of HPIV3 possessed the most variable sites, with the P protein showing more diversity than the other proteins among all types of HPIVs. The HN proteins of HPIV1-3 are all under negative/purifying selection, and two amino acid substitutions in the HN proteins correspond to known mAb neutralizing sites in the two HPIV3 strains. These findings provide crucial insights into the genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of HPIVs circulating among children in China and may facilitate research on the molecular diagnosis, vaccine development, and surveillance of HPIVs.IMPORTANCEPhylogenetic analysis revealed the prevalence of multiple clades, lineages, or sublineages of human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) circulating in mainland China. Notably, a unique evolutionary branch of HPIV1 containing only Chinese strains was identified and designated clade D. Furthermore, in 2023, HPIV3 strains from Pakistan and Russia formed a new lineage within clade C, named C6. The first HPIV4b sequence obtained in this study from China belongs to lineage C2. Evolutionary rate assessments revealed that both the HN and whole-genome sequences of HPIV3 presented the lowest evolutionary rates compared with those of the other HPIV types, with rates of 6.98E-04 substitutions/site/year (95% HPD: 5.87E-04 to 8.25E-03) and 5.85E-04 substitutions/site/year (95% HPD: 5.12E-04 to 6.62E-04), respectively. Recombination analysis revealed a potential recombination event in the F gene of an HPIV1 strain in this study. Additionally, all the newly obtained HPIV1-3 strains exhibited negative selection pressure, and two mutations were identified in the HN protein of two HPIV3 strains at monoclonal antibody-binding sites.

Community-based interventions for mitigating cognitive-linguistic decline in older adults.

This study focuses on exploring the effectiveness of interventions in two community-based language rehabilitation care centers located in an economically underdeveloped region of northwest China. The research focuses on 35 older adults with cognitive-linguistic decline enrolled in both centers. The interventions provided to the participants include auditory training, sign language use enhancement, second language interest classes, and the promotion of elderly-mode applications on smartphones. The interventions were particularly effective in enhancing auditory processing and language comprehension skills. Additionally, the promotion of elderly-mode applications on smartphones proved to be a valuable tool in improving participants' language cognition. The study underscores the importance of tailored community-based interventions in improving language skills and cognition and provides a basis for further research in this area.

Impact of climate change on agricultural productivity: a combination of spatial Durbin model and entropy approaches

PurposeGlobal climate change characterized by an increase in temperature has become the focus of attention all over the world. China is a sensitive and significant area of global climate change. This paper specifically aims to examine the association between agricultural productivity and the climate change by using China’s provincial agricultural input–output data from 2000 to 2019 and the climatic data of the ground meteorological stations.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used the three-stage spatial Durbin model (SDM) model and entropy method for analysis of collected data; further, the authors also empirically tested the climate change marginal effect on agricultural productivity by using ordinary least square and SDM approaches.FindingsThe results revealed that climate change has a significant negative effect on agricultural productivity, which showed significance in robustness tests, including index replacement, quantile regression and tail reduction. The results of this study also indicated that by subdividing the climatic factors, annual precipitation had no significant impact on the growth of agricultural productivity; further, other climatic variables, including wind speed and temperature, had a substantial adverse effect on agricultural productivity. The heterogeneity test showed that climatic changes ominously hinder agricultural productivity growth only in the western region of China, and in the eastern and central regions, climate change had no effect.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study highlight the importance of various social connections of farm households in designing policies to improve their responses to climate change and expand land productivity in different regions. The study also provides a hypothetical approach to prioritize developing regions that need proper attention to improve crop productivity.Originality/valueThe paper explores the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity by using the climatic data of China. Empirical evidence previously missing in the body of knowledge will support governments and researchers to establish a mechanism to improve climate change mitigation tools in China.

Stand characteristics regulate forest water use efficiency in the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program region of China

Abstract The Three-North Shelter Forest Program (TNSFP) of China, one of the largest forestry ecological projects, serves as a nature-based solution to addressing ecological, social, and economic challenges and issues. This program, mainly situated in arid and semi-arid regions, critically focuses on improving water use efficiency (WUE) - maximizing carbon sequestration per unit of water consumed - as a key strategy for optimizing water resource utilization and ensuring the long-term success of vegetation restoration efforts. However, the regulatory mechanisms of forest WUE in this region remain unclear. Here, we adopted an interpretative machine-learning method to investigate the influence of main environmental elements, topographical conditions, and stand characteristics on forest WUE in the TNSFP region from 2001 to 2022 based on remote sensing products, ground monitoring data, and forest inventory data. Our study identified soil moisture (SM) as the primary factor influencing forest WUE across the TNSFP region, with higher SM levels generally leading to improved WUE in forests. However, stand characteristics strongly mediated their relationship. Specifically, forest WUE initially increases against forest density before peaking at about 1000 trees hm–2 for needle-leaved forests and 800 trees hm–2 for broad-leaved forests, respectively, then gradually declining due to water competition. When SM is relatively adequate, moderate thinning could significantly enhance forest WUE. Furthermore, implementing management strategies to improve WUE is crucial as needle-leaved forests mature. This study emphasizes the significant impacts of stand characteristics on forest WUE in the TNSFP region, offering essential insights for optimizing water resource management in managed forests across arid and semi-arid regions.

Chromium(VI) Adsorption and Reduction in Soils under Anoxic Conditions: The Relative Roles of Iron (oxyhr)oxides, Iron(II), Organic Matters, and Microbes.

Chromium (Cr) transformation in soils mediated by iron (Fe) (oxyhr)oxides, Fe(II), organic matter (OM), and microbes is largely unexplored. Here, their coupling processes and mechanisms were investigated during anoxic incubation experiments of four Cr(VI) spiked soil samples with distinct physicochemical properties from the tropical and subtropical regions of China. It demonstrates that easily oxidizable organic carbon (EOC, 55-84%) and microbes (16-48%) drive Cr(VI) reduction in soils enriched with goethite and/or hematite, among which in dryland soils microbial sulfate reduction may also be involved. In contrast, EOC (38 ± 1%), microbes (33 ± 1%), and exchangeable and poorly crystalline Fe (oxyhr)oxide-associated Fe(II) (29 ± 3%) contribute to Cr(VI) reduction in paddy soils enriched with ferrihydrite. Additionally, exogenous Fe(II) and microbes significantly enhance Cr(VI) reduction in ferrihydrite- and goethite-rich soils, and Fe(II) greatly promotes but microbes slightly inhibit Cr passivation. Both Fe(II) and microbes, especially the latter, promote OM mineralization and result in the most substantial OM loss in ferrihydrite-rich paddy soils. During the incubation, part of the ferrihydrite converts to goethite but microbes may hinder the transformation. These results provide deep insights into the geochemical fates of redox-sensitive heavy metals mediated by the complicated effects of Fe, OM, and microbes in natural and engineered environments.

The relationship between visual health and influencing factors among primary and secondary school students: a survey based in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China.

The myopia rate of young people around the world, especially in China, has continued to rise, and the vision health of primary and secondary school students has gradually become a global concern. It was to explore the current characteristics of vision status and their intrinsic links to influencing factors of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region primary and secondary school students under regional characteristics. 1,670 primary and secondary school students in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region were surveyed using Vision examination, International Physical Activity Scale, Lifestyle Behavior Scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 23.0. The prevalence of myopia among primary and secondary school students in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was 27.3%, with rates of 31.5% for girls and 23.4% for boys. There was a significant negative correlation between lifestyle behaviors (r = -0.36, p < 0.01) and physical activity level (r = -0.06, p < 0.05) with vision status. The physical activity level played a significant masking effect between lifestyle behaviors and vision status (a*b = 0.002, c' = -0.044). Gender moderated the effects of lifestyle behaviors on physical activity level and vision status, as well as the effects of physical activity level on vision status. These factors constituted a mixed model with mediating and moderation. The model fitted well (RMSEA = 0.028, CFI = 0.951, NFI = 0.918). The prevalence of myopia among primary and secondary school students in this region is lower than the national average in China, and it is associated with lifestyle behaviors, physical activity level, and gender. When effectively controlled, the physical activity level significantly will reduce the prevalence of myopia as a masking variable. Gender, as a moderating variable, provides theoretical support for the classification and prevention of myopia. Regional surveys enriched the global database on adolescent myopia research, revealing the characteristics and common factors of visual problems in adolescents. Relevant departments and schools should integrate eye care into the national health security system, implement policies related to myopia prevention and control and safeguard the visual health of primary and secondary school students.

Effect of Long-Term Fertilization Practices on the Stability of Soil Organic Matter in the Northeast Black Soil Region in China

Soil organic matter (SOM) is an important carbon pool in terrestrial ecosystems and plays a key role in soil functions. Nevertheless, the effects of fertilization practices on the physical, chemical, biological, and comprehensive stability of SOM are still unclear. We carried out a long-term field experiment in the northeast black soil region in China with four different fertilization practices: no fertilizer (CK), single chemical fertilizer (NPK), chemical fertilizer + straw (NPKJ), and chemical fertilizer + organic manure (NPKM). The content of particulate organic matter (POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM), compound composition of SOM, carbon mineralization characteristics, active soil organic matter (ASOM), and inert soil organic matter (ISOM) were tested. The results showed that the application of fertilizers significantly increased the contents of POM and MAOM to 2.59–4.65 g kg−1 and 32.69–34.65 g kg−1 (p &lt; 0.05), but decreased the MAOM/POM values by 37.8–42.4%, indicating reduced the physical stability of SOM. Fertilization practices increased the contents of aromatic, nitrogen-containing compounds and decreased the oxygen compounds of SOM, representing enhancement of the chemical stability. The contents of ASOM and ISOM increased in fertilization practices, while the biological stability index (BSI) under the NPKJ and NPKM treatments was lower than the CK treatment, suggesting that the biological stability decreased under the manure and straw application. In addition, the comprehensive stability of SOM increased by 26–116% through a reduction in the physical and biological stability, coupled with an increase in the chemical stability. Collectively, our study demonstrated that the application of manure and straw enhanced both the comprehensive stability and content of SOM and reduced the physical and biological stabilities while increasing the chemical stability, which made the largest contribution to the comprehensive stability.

Morality through the lens of Confucian heritage countries: collective self variations and moral worldviews.

The issue of Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) samples dominating research has been ongoing for decades, and now the emerging trend is to turn to theoretical perspectives from the Majority World. Adopting Western-centric methods based on reductionism can overlook important details and differences between similar cultures, particularly in East Asian cultures, where the Confucian values of relational harmony take many forms. We discuss a novel theoretical perspective on moral constitutions in Confucian heritage cultures. Our central tenet is that divergent moral concepts and ideals are present in Confucian cultures because each culture emphasizes a specific pillar and the self is situated differently in the social relationships that define the scope of interpersonal moral obligations. We consider three Confucian countries: China, Japan, and South Korea as examples. Despite geographical proximity and conventional categorization in cultural psychology, each Confucian country manifests distinct patterns of the self, moral ideals, and behavior in socio-moral contexts. To understand how and why moral worldviews vary within a region, we need to examine how the self in socio-cultural contexts differs and guides interpersonal norms and behaviors across sociocultural contexts. We conclude this paper by offering methodological recommendations for including indigenous moral concepts outside the WEIRD context.

Impact of Green Technology Innovation on Green Economy: Evidence from China

The impact of green technology innovation and the digital economy on the sustainability of the green economy is increasing. To delve deeper into this subject, this paper utilizes fixed- effect models and threshold effect models. It examines data from 34 provincial administrative regions of China. The aim is to uncover the patterns of influence the green technology innovation and the digital economy have on the sustainability of the green economy. The research findings are as follows: (1) The green technology innovation, digital economy, and their interaction contribute to promoting the high-quality sustainability of the green economy. The sustainability of the green economy relies on the support of green technology innovation and the digital economy. By optimizing the capabilities of green technology innovation and the level of digital economy, managers could enhance the high-quality sustainability of the green economy. (2) The digital economy exhibits a dual threshold effect in driving the sustainability of the green economy through green technology innovation. When the digital economy surpasses the first threshold, the influence of green technology innovation on the green economy experiences a notable increase. However, once the digital economy surpasses the second threshold, the impact of green technology innovation on the green economy begins to diminish significantly. (3) There are notable regional variations in the impact of green technology innovation and digital economy on the sustainability of the green economy across different regions of China. Considering these findings, it is vital for stakeholders in China to implement customized measures. These measures should aim to actively promote the sustainability of China’s green economy. The relevant stakeholders include businesses and the government.

Nutritional and Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Edible Stems of Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)

Smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) is a native salt marsh plant along the Atlantic coast but has become an invasive species in coastal regions in China, as well as other areas. Utilizing it for resources has become a control measure in reducing the spread of S. alterniflora. This study assesses the nutritional and phytochemical properties of the edible stems of S. alterniflora collected from three locations in Fujian province, China. The tender stems of S. alterniflora exhibit a rich nutritional profile, with high levels of protein, carbohydrates, and fats, and significant amounts of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, indicating their potential as a nutritious addition to the diet or forage. In addition, the levels of potential contaminants, including nitrate, nitrite, cadmium, lead, and chromium, are below the established safe thresholds for consumption. Our results provide valuable information for the sustainable utilization of S. alterniflora resources and will contribute to the integrated control of S. alterniflora.

Media Literacy and Its Potential Influence on Mpox-Related Perceptions and Prevention Intentions in China During the 2022 Multi-Country Outbreak of Mpox

ABSTRACT Media literacy plays an increasingly important role in health communication during public health emergencies. The present study aimed to investigate the level of media literacy and its association with disease perceptions and behavioral intentions of receiving vaccination services among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in China during the 2022 multi-country mpox outbreak. The data were from a large-scale cross-sectional survey conducted among 2,493 YMSM aged 18–29 years in six provincial regions in China in September 2022. A total of 2,079 YMSM who had obtained mpox information from social media platforms were included in this study. Correlation analysis and path analysis were conducted. The mean age of the sample was 24.7. After controlling for background variables, significant positive correlations were found in several pairs between media literacy, mpox-related perceptions (including perceived susceptibility to mpox, perceived severity of mpox, perceived benefits of mpox vaccination, and self-efficacy of receiving mpox vaccination), and the behavioral intention of receiving mpox vaccination. The mpox-related perceptions played a significant mediation role in the association between media literacy and intention of receiving mpox vaccination (indirect effect = 0.165, p < .001, effect size = 82.1%). Media literacy is crucial for developing disease perceptions during public health emergencies and may further influence the adoption of preventive measures. As social media platforms have become the main battle field of health communication during disease outbreaks, improvement of media literacy is urgently warranted.

Crustal structures and anisotropy in southeastern China: Continental collision and intraplate earthquakes

This study investigates the role of crustal structures and anisotropy in southeastern China regarding intraplate earthquakes within the context of concentrated and perturbed tectonic stresses. The region is characterized by a complex multiphase tectonic history,including the ongoing collision between the Philippine Plate and the South China Sea margin. Utilizing the teleseismic receiver function method, we offer a comprehensive depiction of the crustal structures and layered anisotropy in Guangdong and Fujian, two earthquake-prone areas. Our results reveal that the crustal anisotropy is stratified into two layers, with a slow axis perpendicular to the orogenic belt in the upper-middle crust, whereas the fast axis aligns perpendicularly at lower crust levels. The lateral heterogeneity and anisotropy of the crustal structure emphasize both the boundary delineation and differential movement between continental blocks. The observed increase in density and intensity of intraplate earthquakes across this boundary supports our conclusion regarding a connection between decoupled crustal deformation and seismicity. Specifically, the foliation of metamorphic rocks during the Mesozoic collision generated orogen-parallel fabrics in the upper-middle crust, while ductile shearing resulted in orogen-perpendicular fast directions at lower crust levels. In contrast, mismatch evolution between continental blocks reactivated by present collision provides stress conditions conducive to earthquake occurrence in southeastern China. Our findings provide valuable insights into mechanisms behind intraplate earthquakes as well as tectonic evolution within continental collision zones.Plain Language SummaryThe mechanism of intraplate earthquakes is a topic of great interest in the study of continental collision and regional tectonic evolution. The controlling factors behind these earthquakes are highly complex and uncertain. In this study, we aim to investigate the role of crustal structures and anisotropy in southeastern China within the context of intraplate seismic activity. This region, which is currently experiencing a collision between the Philippine Plate and the South China Sea Margin, has a multiphase tectonic history that includes remnants of paleo-Pacific subduction. By utilizing the receiver function method, we provide a detailed picture of crustal structures and layered anisotropy in Guangdong and Fujian, two earthquake-prone regions in southeastern China. Our findings reveal that anisotropy in the crust can be stratified into two layers: an upper-middle crust and a lower crust with a slow axis and a fast axis, both perpendicular to the orogeny, respectively. The lateral heterogeneity and anisotropy of the crustal structure highlight the boundary and differential movement between the continental blocks. The enhanced density and intensity of the intraplate earthquakes across this boundary provide evidence for a connection between decoupled crustal deformation and seismicity. Specifically, our observations suggest that (1) the Mesozoic continental collision induced metamorphic foliation in the upper-middle crust, (2) ductile shearing is characteristic of the lower crust, and (3) ongoing collision has led to mismatch evolution between continental blocks, which creates stress conditions favorable for earthquake occurrence.

Nenghai: A Perspective from Han-Tibetan Cultural Interaction

Abstract Nenghai 能海, a distinguished patriotic monk in the history of modern Chinese Buddhism, made remarkable contributions to the revitalization of Han Buddhism and the promotion of Han-Tibetan cultural exchanges. He journeyed to Xizang twice, studying under Khang Gsar Rinpoche 康萨仁波切 (1890–1941) and mastering both the exoteric and esoteric teachings of Buddhism. Upon his return to the Han regions of China, he founded “the Great Prajñāpāramitā Sect 大般若宗”, guiding disciples through Tibetan Lamrim and managing monasteries according to Han traditions, thereby adeptly propagating the integrated teachings of exoteric and esoteric Buddhism. During times of national turmoil and ethnic crises, he strove to revive the declining influence of Buddhism, fearlessly persevering against adversities. His efforts significantly contributed to preserving the integrity of Buddhist doctrines in China and fostering the diversity and prosperity of various Buddhist sects.