Rural Regions Of China Research Articles

Expanded PAH analysis of household air pollution in a rural region of China with high lung cancer incidence

The domestic combustion of locally sourced smoky (bituminous) coal in Xuanwei and Fuyuan counties, China, is responsible for some of the highest lung cancer rates in the world. Recent research has pointed to methylated PAHs (mPAHs), particularly 5-methylchrysene (5MC), within coal combustion products as a driving factor. Here we describe measurements of mPAHs in Xuanwei and Fuyuan derived from controlled burnings (i.e., water boiling tests, WBT, n = 27) representing exposures during stove use, and an exposure assessment (EA) study (n = 116) representing 24 h weighted exposures. Using smoky coal has led to significantly higher concentrations of known and likely human carcinogens than using smokeless coal, including 5MC (3.7 ng/m3 vs. 1.0 ng/m3 for EA samples and 100.8 ng/m3 vs. 2.2 ng/m3 for WBT samples), benzo[a]pyrene (38.0 ng/m3 vs. 7.9 ng/m3 for EA samples and 455.3 ng/m3 vs. 12.0 ng/m3 for WBT samples) and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (1.9 ng/m3 vs. 0.2 ng/m3 for EA samples and 47.7 ng/m3 vs. 0.6 ng/m3 for WBT samples). Mixed effect models for both EA samples and WBT samples revealed clear variation in mPAHs concentrations depending on smoky coal source while stove ventilation was consistently found to reduce measured concentrations (by up to nine fold and 65 fold for EA and WBT samples respectively when using smoky coal). Fuel type had a larger influence on mPAHs concentrations than stove type. These findings indicate that users of smoky coal experience exposure to many PAHs, including known and suspected human carcinogens (especially during cooking activities), many of which are not routinely tested for. Collectively, this provides insights into the potential etiologies of lung cancer in the region and further highlights the importance of targeting clean fuel transitions and stove refinements as the final goal for reducing household air pollution and its associated health risks.

Group lifestyle mobilities: understanding Chinese senior long-stay tourists in rural destinations

ABSTRACT Existing work on senior lifestyle mobilities in China has predominantly focused on therapeutic landscape imaginaries and second-home cities. This paper shifts the focus to the group-oriented lifestyle pursuits of Chinese urban seniors who temporarily reside in rural areas for extended vacations. By interviewing Chinese senior long-stay tourists in rural destinations, this study examines how their decisions to engage in long-stay tourism are driven by the quest for a communal leisure lifestyle characterised by group living routines and a sense of camaraderie. Our findings highlight the role of geo-arbitrage in facilitating and accommodating these group-oriented mobility patterns among senior tourists. Yet, their mobile later life experiences are also marked by precariousness and vulnerability due to individual and group-level health decline, as well as the disparities in senior care services between urban and rural regions in China.

Development and validation of the Chinese Rural Middle-aged and Elderly Health Literacy Scale

IntroductionA notable deficiency lies in the absence of tailored instruments for comprehensively evaluating the health literacy of middle-aged and elderly residents in rural areas of China. Given the context of...

Energy assessment in rural regions of China with various scenarios: Historical–to–futuristic

Approximately 172 million rural households in China in 2022, will still rely on traditional biofuels instead of electricity. This study explores the feasibility of achieving rural electrification in China utilization various Energy origins and assesses its potential impact on climate change mitigation. To do so, we employ the Regional Energy Model (REM) to formulate hypotheses for rural power distribution. Covering the era from 2020 until 2050. We evaluate consequences in terms of greenhouse gas discharges, principal energy consumption, associated expenses by comparing these possibilities with a Business-as-Usual (BU) scenario. Our findings reveal that diesel-based arrangements tend to produce ‘the maximum Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions, trailed by network-based solutions. Electrification focused on renewable energy-driven applications has the potential to reduce total CO2 emissions by up to 97 % and primary energy consumption by 43 % in 2050 compared to the BU scenario. We also find that electrification through decentralized diesel systems tends to be the priciest choice. Rural electrification utilizing renewable energy emerges as a cost-effective choice when the majority of end-use applications rely on renewable energy sources. However, it becomes less economical than network expansions when electric end-user appliances are predominant. In summary, this study investigates the viability of renewable energy for rural power distribution and its role in climate change abatement in rural China, offering policy suggestions.

Distributional effects of expressway access on rural entrepreneurial activities in China

Transportation infrastructure development, such as expressways, could impact economic development in local and neighboring regions differently. However, there is limited evidence of these impacts on rural and developing areas. Here, we use Heyuan, a rural region in China, as the case to examine the effects of expressway access on entrepreneurial activity. Using detailed township-level panel data from 2004 to 2016 and a multiple-period DID model with spatial effects, we find that opening entrances and exits significantly promotes entrepreneurial activities in local towns but suppress them in adjacent towns. Furthermore, we find that the development of expressways leads to a greater concentration of firms in the provincial centers of towns with better economic development. The development of expressways has had a significant boost on tertiary industries. This study shows that the construction of highways attracts entrepreneurial activities to regions with better conditions, and this maximizes economic efficiency but at the expense of creating regional economic imbalances. Therefore, this model may be the primary model of China's economic development in the future.

Occurrence of micropollutants in rural domestic wastewater in Zhejiang Province, China and corresponding wastewater-based epidemiology analysis

By 2021, rural regions in China were occupied by over 500 million residents, generating an annual volume of 19.5 billion m3 of rural domestic wastewater (RDW). This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and removal of micropollutants (MPs) in RDW treatment facilities and to perform a corresponding wastewater-based epidemiology analysis (WBE). Our findings indicated the significantly high levels of influent MPs, particularly pharmaceuticals, such as ofloxacin and diclofenac being most prevalent (ranging from several to tens of μg/L) across different facilities. After various treatments, regular water indexes in the effluent, like NH3 -N and COD, have basically satisfied the local discharge standard. However, the concentration of certain dominant MPs in effluent remained notably high, ranging from hundreds of ng/L to several μg/L. The risk quotients of MPs like diclofenac, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, diuron, and isoproturon were all above 1 in the effluent, signifying significant hazards to aquatic organisms. The quantitative meta-analysis revealed higher average standardized removal efficiency for membrane bioreactor (MBR) treatment (-11 %) compared to anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic (A2O) treatment (11 %), indicating the higher efficiency of MBR treatment in outperforming the A2O as a secondary treatment. Additionally, employing biofilter as a tertiary treatment proved to be more effective as compared to flocculation-air flotation and artificial wetlands. Moreover, the results of WBE analysis showed that diclofenac and ofloxacin emerged as the most commonly used pharmaceuticals (of seven), with consumption levels recorded at 1222 and 517 mg/(d·103 capita), with daily defined doses per day per 103 capita of 12.2/1000 and 1.29/1000, respectively. This study addresses the existing knowledge gaps regarding the occurrence and removal of MPs in RDW and offers valuable insights into pharmaceutical consumption patterns in rural regions, thereby improving our understanding of public health.

The impact of grandparenting on mental health among rural middle-aged and older adults in China: exploring the role of children's support.

In the rural regions of China, characterized by a pronounced aging demographic and limited resources, a substantial proportion of middle-aged and older adults engage in grandparenting roles. Yet, the literature lacks consistent evidence regarding the effects of grandparenting on the mental health of this cohort. Accordingly, this study aimed to explore the impact of grandparenting on the mental health of rural middle-aged and older adults, as well as the underlying mechanisms. This analysis encompassed 10,881 middle-aged and older adults, utilizing data from the 2018 Harmonized China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The mental health of participants was assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression-10 (CESD-10) scale, while support from children was categorized into financial and emotional types. The study employed logistic and OLS regression models to identify the mediating role of child support and utilized the Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) method for decomposing this mediating effect. The findings demonstrated that grandparenting had a significant negative impact on depression among rural middle-aged and older adults. Furthermore, children's support played a vital role in mediating this relationship, accounting for approximately one-third of the overall influence. Moreover, the decomposition analysis revealed that both emotional and economic support from adult children equally contributed to the declination of depression among rural middle-aged and older adults. Grandparenting significantly enhances mental well-being in rural middle-aged and older adults, with the support from adult children serving as a vital pathway for this positive impact. Both economic and emotional assistance from children hold equal importance in this dynamic. It underscores the necessity of fortifying the family support system to amplify the support provided by children, which in turn could significantly enhance the mental health of rural middle-aged and older adults.

How does digital finance affect rural capital misallocation? Evidence from China

ABSTRACT Digital finance can take advantage of new financial services to support economic growth. Its effect on rural capital misallocation is valuable to be discussed as rural capital misallocation has severely restricted rural development worldwide. This paper, with data from Chinese counties, studies the effect of digital finance on rural capital misallocation and further analyzes how it acts by exploring the moderating role of industrial structure upgrading. The system GMM method is applied to resolve the path dependence and identify the dynamic effects of capital misallocation. The findings include that (1)rural digital finance has reduced the capital misallocation for the rural area in China; (2)industrial structure upgrading will strengthen the negative effect of digital finance on capital misallocation which is more significant in the eastern and western regions, as well as in the capital over-allocation regions in rural China; (3)the impact of rural digital finance on rural capital misallocation has a spatial spillover effect, and digital finance has reduced capital misallocation not only in the local but also in neighbouring regions. This study contributes to the existing rural digital finance literature and will help regions reduce capital misallocation by improving rural digital finance.

Classification and a decade-long follow-up of rat bite injuries in the nasal region

BackgroundNasal defects due to rat bites are frequently encountered in rural regions of China. In addition to serving as disease vectors, rats can also inflict bite injuries. In this study, we delineated the characteristics of rat bite injuries in the nasal region and discussed the clinical features observed during a 10-year follow-up period. MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed hospital records for patients admitted due to rat bites. This study outlines the demographics, clinical features, and follow-up outcomes supported by comprehensive photo documentation of the patients’ progress. ResultsTwenty-five patients, with a mean age of 29 years, were admitted due to rat bites. Treatment was provided for three distinct types of injuries: nasal tip defect (type I), nasal defect (type II), and full-thickness nasal defect with loss of surrounding tissues (type III). All patients recovered fully. ConclusionsThe treatment for rat bites should be based on the wound type. The long-term follow-up outcomes are more favorable when fewer subunits of the nose affected. We recommend early surgical intervention, along with psychological therapy, to prevent interference with growth and development.

Associations of trajectories in body roundness index with incident cardiovascular disease: a prospective cohort study in rural China.

The body roundness index (BRI) has good predictive ability for both body fat and visceral adipose tissue. Longitudinal BRI trajectories can reveal the potential dynamic patterns of change over time. This prospective study assessed potential associations between BRI trajectories and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in rural regions of Northeast China. In total, 13,209 participants (mean age: 49.0 ± 10.3 years, 6,856 [51.9%] male) were enrolled with three repeated times of BRI measurements at baseline (2004-2006), 2008, and 2010, and followed up until 2017 in this prospective study. Using latent mixture model, the BRI trajectories were determined based on the data from baseline, 2008 and 2010. Composite CVD events (myocardial infarction, stroke, and CVD death combined) was the primary endpoint. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to analyze the longitudinal associations between BRI trajectories and incident CVD. Three distinct BRI trajectories were identified: high-stable (n = 538), moderate-stable (n = 1,542), and low-stable (n = 11,129). In total, 1,382 CVD events were recorded during follow-up. After adjustment for confounders, the moderate-stable and high-stable BRI groups had a higher CVD risk than did the low-stable BRI group, and the HR (95%CI) were 1.346 (1.154, 1.571) and 1.751 (1.398, 2.194), respectively. Similar associations were observed between the trajectories of BRI and the risk of stroke and CVD death. The high-stable group was also significantly and independently associated with CVD, myocardial infarction, stroke, and CVD death in participants aged <50 years. BRI trajectory was positively associated with incident CVD, providing a novel possibility for the primary prevention of CVD in rural regions of China.

Long-Term Dynamics of Atmospheric Sulfur Dioxide in Urban and Rural Regions of China: Urbanization and Policy Impacts

High levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) due to human activities pose a serious air pollution issue in China, especially in urban agglomerations. However, limited research has investigated the impact of anthropogenic emissions on higher SO2 concentrations in urban regions compared to rural areas in China. Here, we analyzed the trends in SO2 concentrations from 1980 to 2021 in China using the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2) dataset. SO2 column concentrations from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) during the years 2007–2021 were also examined for validation and comparison purposes. Eight representative areas, including four urban regions (Pearl River Delta [PRD], Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei [BTH], Yangtze River Delta [YRD], and Sichuan Basin [SCB]) and four rural regions (Northeast Region [NER], Mongolian Region [MR], West Region [WR], and Tibetan Plateau Region [TR]) were selected for the analysis. Overall, a significant but fluctuating increase in SO2 concentrations over China was observed during 1980–2021. During 1980–1997 and 2000–2010, there was an increase in SO2 concentration, while during 1997–2000 and 2010–2021, a decreasing trend was observed. The average increase in SO2 concentration was approximately 16 times higher in urban regions than in the rural background. We also found that SO2 dynamics were highly associated with expansion of urban areas, population density, and gross domestic product. Nonetheless, since 2007, SO2 concentrations have exhibited a downward trend, which is mainly attributed to the air pollution policies implemented by the Chinese government. Our findings highlight the need for further studies on the impact of SO2 on regional climate change in China.

National centralized drug procurement and health care expenditure of households-micro-evidence from CFPS.

This paper utilizes data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) to evaluate the impact of the "4 + 7" National Centralized Drug Procurement (NCDP) on Per Capita Household Health Care Expenditure (PCHHCE). The study applies the Differences-in-Differences (DID) methodology to analyze the effects of NCDP. Various robustness tests were conducted, including the Permutation test, Propensity Score Matching, alterations in regression methodologies, and consideration of individual fixed effects. Research indicates that the implementation of NCDP led to a reduction of 10.6% in PCHHCE. The results remained consistent across all robustness tests. Additionally, the research identifies diversity in NCDP effects among various household characteristics, with a more significant impact on households residing in rural regions of China, enrolled in Basic Medical Insurance for urban and rural residents and urban workers, and having an income bracket of 25-75%. These findings carry policy implications for the future expansion and advancement of NCDP in China. The study highlights the effectiveness of NCDP in reducing healthcare expenditures and suggests potential areas for policy improvement and further research.

ICT promotes smallholder farmers’ perceived self-efficacy and adaptive action to climate change: Empirical research on China's economically developed rural areas

Understanding the impact of technological advancements, such as ICT, on the climate change adaptation actions of smallholder farmers is crucial for comprehending their adaptive strategies. This study utilizes data from a survey of 2230 smallholder farmer households in the developed rural region of the Yangtze River Delta in China to examine the factors influencing their perceived self-efficacy and actions to adapt to climate change. Using binary logit regression and OLS models, we identify the role that determinants of ICT use play in shaping smallholders' perceived self-efficacy and adaptive action. Our findings corroborate that perceived self-efficacy is a robust, positive predictor of adaptive action. The data indicate that the sole presence of adaptation leaders predominantly enhances perceived self-efficacy. In contrast, adaptive investments at the village level are primarily associated with an increase in adaptive actions. However, peer effects may diminish smallholder perceived self-efficacy and adaptive action. In addition, our study indicates that while ICT has not currently supplanted traditional social networks in influencing smallholder climate change adaptation perceived self-efficacy and adaptive action, we cannot dismiss the potential substitution effect. We also clarify why the peer effects of traditional networks have starkly contrasting impacts in developed and less-developed rural regions in China. Overall, our findings underscore the importance of incorporating objective influencing factors of smallholder adaptation actions and their effects on subjective perceived self-efficacy into future climate change adaptation plans and policies to foster adaptation actions.

Development of Agriculture in Chinese Peripheral Rural Regions

Introduction. China has passed a long process on its way to the global leadership in industrial sector and services. Accompanied by rapid growth of the regional prosperity is though not equal among the territory of the country. There are several relative peripheral regions with lower population and agricultural predominance. To maintain territorial cohesion a number of top-down measures and bottom-up initiatives are required.&#x0D; Purpose. The main purpose of this paper is to analyse the territorial dimensions of maintaining a steady growth of China’s agricultural sector under the condition of the general population increasing and decreasing the share of rural population.&#x0D; Methods. The current research was carried out with application of the following methods: analysis and synthesis – to systemize the conceptual mainstream in the field of peripheral development; comparative analysis – to compare the development aspects in different regions of China depending from their urban/rural structure; deductions and inductions – to elaborate the key issues of agriculture development in Chinese peripheral rural regions; tabular and visual methods – for illustration of the research materials.&#x0D; Results. The paper overviews the dynamics of the Chinese population during the last 70 years. The urban-rural structure of the population is analysed in a spatial-temporal perspective. Traditional rural regions in China are determined. General overview of agriculture development in China has been done. From the regional perspective, the development reasons and conditions of the nine relatively typical agricultural areas in China are analysed. The trends of agriculture development in Chinese peripheral rural regions are considered.&#x0D; Discussion. Despite the great success of China in the fields of agricultural development and poverty reduction in depressed regions, there are aspects that require additional care: a broad area of issues concerning territorial cohesion, sustainable development, public- private cooperation.

Intervention Effect of a Soybean-Based Complementary Food Supplement on Anemic Infants in a Poor Rural Region in China: Evidence from Quasi-RCT.

The soybean-based Yingyang Bao complementary food supplement represents a special nutritional improvement method for anemic infants in many intervention projects across China, while its benefits lack rigorous evidence. Using a quasi-randomized controlled trial design, which adhered to randomization and control except for the blinding method, 248 anemic infants were divided randomly into an intervention group (128 cases received the Yingyang Bao intervention based on routine feeding) and a control group (120 cases only received routine feeding). Anthropometric indicators and 16 blood indicators were measured at baseline and 1 year after intervention. The levels of hemoglobin, 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D, homocysteine, retinol, vitamin D3, and soluble transferrin receptor and the height-age-Z score and weight-age-Z score of the intervention group were significantly improved after the intervention (p < 0.05). The homocysteine level improvement appeared to be moderately negatively correlated with the cobalamin level improvement (p < 0.05). The improvements of five indicators were significant correlated with the intervention duration (p < 0.05), and the corresponding three significant regression equations could predict the intervention effect and the intervention duration to a certain extent. This quasi-randomized controlled trial provided more convincing evidence that Yingyang Bao can effectively improve three kinds of malnutrition compared to previous research which only adopted self before and after comparison.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of artificial intelligence-based diabetic retinopathy screening in rural China based on the Markov model.

This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of different diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening strategies in rural regions in China by using a Markov model to make health economic evaluations. In this study, we determined the structure of a Markov model according to the research objectives, which required parameters collected through field investigation and literature retrieval. After perfecting the model with parameters and assumptions, we developed a Markov decision analytic model according to the natural history of DR in TreeAge Pro 2011. For this model, we performed Markov cohort and cost-effectiveness analyses to simulate the probabilistic distributions of different developments in DR and the cumulative cost-effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI)-based screening and ophthalmologist screening for DR in the rural population with diabetes mellitus (DM) in China. Additionally, a model-based health economic evaluation was performed by using quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Last, one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the stability of the results. From the perspective of the health system, compared with no screening, AI-based screening cost more (the incremental cost was 37,257.76 RMB (approximately 5,211.31 US dollars)), but the effect was better (the incremental utility was 0.33). Compared with AI-based screening, the cost of ophthalmologist screening was higher (the incremental cost was 14,886.76 RMB (approximately 2,070.19 US dollars)), and the effect was worse (the incremental utility was -0.31). Compared with no screening, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of AI-based DR screening was 112,146.99 RMB (15,595.47 US dollars)/QALY, which was less than the threshold for the ICER (< 3 times the per capita gross domestic product (GDP), 217,341.00 RMB (30,224.03 US dollars)). Therefore, AI-based screening was cost-effective, which meant that the increased cost for each additional quality-adjusted life year was merited. Compared with no screening and ophthalmologist screening for DR, AI-based screening was the most cost-effective, which not only saved costs but also improved the quality of life of diabetes patients. Popularizing AI-based DR screening strategies in rural areas would be economically effective and feasible and can provide a scientific basis for the further formulation of early screening programs for diabetic retinopathy.

Post-COVID-19 Community-Based Tourism Sustainable Development in China. Study Case of Hebian Village

China’s tourism sector has seen the effects of the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak. Community-based tourism has arisen as a sustainable alternative to mass tourism, benefiting local communities economically while preserving the environment and cultural heritage. Using Hebian Village as a case study, this study investigates the post-COVID-19 sustainable development of CBT in China. The study employs a qualitative methodology, including field observation and semi-structured interviews with community members, tourists, and tourism experts. The findings of this study indicate that Hebian Village has the potential for the sustainable development of CBT, as it possesses unique natural and cultural resources, and its residents are ardent about promoting tourism while maintaining their traditional way of life. Inadequate crisis management, a lack of marketing and managerial skills, and restricted access to funds are all preventing the expansion of CBT in Hebian Village. The study proposes some suggestions for the development of CBT that include the crisis of COVID-19, community participation, market orientation, and government support. CBT has the potential to contribute to the sustainable development of rural regions in China, but it requires a concerted effort on the part of all stakeholders, including the government, local communities, and tourism industry actors.

The nexus between livelihood goals and livelihood strategy selection: Evidence from rural China

ABSTRACT This study explores the nexus between livelihood goals (LGs) and livelihood strategy (LS) selection preferences. We construct a measurement of three livelihood goals (survival, security, and self-respect goals) by combining qualitative and quantitative analysis and classify livelihood strategies into three groups (agricultural, non-agricultural, and diversification) based on household income sources. The multinomial logit model with fixed effects empirically estimates the relationship between livelihood goal indices and livelihood strategy selection with panel data (2010–2018) from the China Family Panel Studies surveys (CFPS). The results show that households with survival goals are more likely to choose the agricultural and diversification strategies and less likely to select the non-agricultural strategy. Households with security and self-respect goals are more likely to choose the non-agricultural strategy and are less likely to select the agricultural strategy. Families with a higher self-respect goal level are more flexible in livelihood strategy selection. The livelihood strategy selection preference is consistent in different regions of rural China when households pursue survival and security maximization. From the low-level survival goal to the high-level self-respect goal, consistent with a gradual transition from a low-income agricultural strategy to the high-income non-agricultural strategy; the diversification strategy is the transformed livelihood strategy in this process.

The Impact of Gender on the Happiness of Middle-Aged and Elderly People in Rural Areas of China: Based on the Empirical Analysis of CHARLS (2018) Data

The well-being of individuals is a crucial focal point and fundamental objective within the realm of social development. By examining a dataset comprising 16,593 micro-level records from the CHARLS database and employing the mesomeric effect model, the following conclusions are deduced: (1) The happiness levels of middle-aged and elderly women residing in rural regions of China are lower compared to men; (2) Gender exerts an influence on the happiness of middle-aged and elderly individuals in rural areas through mediating factors marital status and personal income; (3) Among the middle-aged and elderly population in rural areas of China, their level of education, perceived health status, number of family members, and frequency of contact with children can impact their overall sense of happiness.

Economic poverty, common prosperity, and underdog entrepreneurship

This study explores underdog entrepreneurship by investigating how economic poverty affects an individual’s entrepreneurial choice with varying levels of regional common prosperity. Using a sample of 5,250 individual-year observations from nine provincial regions in rural China, we find that economic poverty is conducive to entrepreneurship. Moreover, our results show that the effect of economic poverty on the choice of entrepreneurship as a career is weakened by regional economic development but strengthened by regional income equality. Our study provides implications to enrich the discussion of common prosperity and extends existing literature on underdog entrepreneurship by considering unique aspects of regional contexts.