Underdeveloped Regions Research Articles

Efficiency evaluation and promoter identification of primary health care system in China: an enhanced DEA-Tobit approach

BackgroundWith Primary Health Care (PHC) being a cornerstone of accessible, affordable, and effective healthcare worldwide, its efficiency, especially in developing countries like China, is crucial for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This study evaluates the efficiency of PHC systems in a southwest China municipality post-healthcare reform, identifying factors influencing efficiency and proposing strategies for improvement.MethodsUtilising a 10-year provincial panel dataset, this study employs an enhanced Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model integrating Slack-Based Measure (SBM) and Directional Distance Function (DDF) with the Global Malmquist-Luenberger (GML) index for efficiency evaluation. Tobit regression analysis identifies efficiency determinants within the context of China’s healthcare reforms, focusing on horizontal integration, fiscal spending, urbanisation rates, and workforce optimisation.ResultsThe study reveals a slight decline in PHC system efficiency across the municipality from 2009 to 2018. However, the highest-performing county achieved a 2.36% increase in Total Factor Productivity (TFP), demonstrating the potential of horizontal integration reforms and strategic fiscal investments in enhancing PHC efficiency. However, an increase in nurse density per 1,000 population negatively correlated with efficiency, indicating the need for a balanced approach to workforce expansion.ConclusionsHorizontal integration reforms, along with targeted fiscal inputs and urbanisation, are key to improving PHC efficiency in underdeveloped regions. The study underscores the importance of optimising workforce allocation and skillsets over mere expansion, providing valuable insights for policymakers aiming to strengthen PHC systems toward achieving UHC in China and similar contexts.

The global, regional, and national patterns of change in the burden of non-malignant upper gastrointestinal diseases from 1990 to 2019 and the forecast for the next decade.

Non-malignant upper gastrointestinal diseases, including peptic ulcer disease (PUD), gastritis and duodenitis (GD), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), significantly challenge global healthcare. These conditions not only impact patient health but also highlight socio-economic development issues and healthcare system accessibility and efficiency. Utilizing the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database, this study aims to assess the global burden of PUD, GD, and GERD comprehensively, examining their association with the sociodemographic index (SDI). Employing data from the GBD 2019 database, this study analyzed the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for PUD, GD, and GERD. We integrated the SDI with the inequality slope index and concentration index for an international health inequality analysis, assessing disparities in the burden of these non-malignant upper gastrointestinal diseases. Decomposition analysis was conducted to determine the effects of population growth, aging, and epidemiological shifts on disease burden. Frontier analysis was performed to identify potential improvement areas and disparities among countries by development status. Disease time trends were depicted using a Joinpoint regression model, and the Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model projected the disease burden up to 2030. Between 1990 and 2019, the age-standardized DALYs rates (ASDR) for non-malignant upper gastrointestinal diseases declined. However, global geographic heterogeneity remained evident, closely linked to the SDI. Notably, low-SDI countries experienced higher disease burdens. Population growth and aging emerged as principal contributors to the increasing disease burden. Despite development levels, many countries have considerable potential for reducing the burden of these diseases. Furthermore, significant variations in the time trends of non-malignant upper gastrointestinal diseases were observed among countries and regions with different SDI levels, a pattern expected to continue through 2030. Non-malignant upper gastrointestinal diseases demonstrate notable heterogeneity across age, gender, and geography, with the disparities most marked in underdeveloped regions or countries. Consequently, it is imperative to focus research on policy development and to enact prevention and treatment strategies tailored to high-risk groups. This targeted approach is essential for mitigating the disease burden effectively.

Analisis Pengaruh Rasio Ketergantungan, DAK Fisik Afirmasi, PDRB, Terhadap IPM Daerah Tertinggal Di Provinsi Papua Barat Tahun 2019-2023

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the variabIe Dependency Ratio, Affirmation Physical DAK, Gross RegionaI Domestic Product on the Human Development lndex in Underdeveloped Regions in West Papua Province years 2019-2023. The methodlused the studyiis paneI dataaregression analysis with the Fixed Effect ModeI (FEM) estimation. The data used in this study is the 2019-2023 period with 8 districts included in the category of disadvantaged areas. The results obtained indicate the dependency ratio has a significantlnegative effect at the Human DeveIopment lndex, if the dependency ratio decreases, the Human Development Index will increase. For DAK Physical Affirmation has no influence on the Human Development Index, because there are still development inequality in 8 underdeveloped regions in West Papua Province due to natural topography, and socio-cultural factors. While the GRDP variable own a positive as well as significant infIuence, imediately from GRDP increases, the Development Index will also increase because GRDP at constant prices reflects the economic growth of a region.

Patient satisfaction with letter-based communication of LCS pulmonary nodule results.

To analyze patient satisfaction with letter-based communication of lung cancer screening (LCS) pulmonary nodule results. Prospective randomized controlled trial of LCS between May and December 2019. All participants came from a prospective randomized controlled study on pulmonary nodule results in LCS with low-dose CT (LDCT) to analyze patient satisfaction, perception of information received via letters, preferred methods of receiving results, and dissatisfaction-relatedcharacteristics. A total of 153 patients were detected to have pulmonary nodules among 600 recruited participants in the lung cancer high-risk group screened using LDCT. Most of the patients were satisfied with receiving pulmonary nodule results via letters (78.4%; n = 120) and agreed that the letters contained an appropriate amount of information (83.7%; n = 128). Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that satisfaction was related to age (OR, 0.905; 95% CI, 0.832-0.985), education level (OR, 0.367; 95% CI, 0.041-3.250), no family history of cancer (OR, 0.100; 95% CI, 0.011-0.914), and the number of nodules (OR, 6.028; 95% CI, 1.641-22.141). Of the patients who reported dissatisfaction with letter-based communication (7.2%; n = 11), the most common reasons cited were that they contained insufficient patient education materials and that it was difficult to comprehend the medical terminology. The majority of participants (61.4%; n = 94) reported that they would prefer the letter-based communication. No correlation was identified between satisfaction and gender, smoking status, alcohol consumption, risk factors, nodule size, or nodule location. Patients were generally satisfied with receiving their LCS pulmonary nodule results via letters, reporting that the letters included adequate information about their diagnosis and follow-up steps. This may provide a basis for feasible result communication via letters for cancer screening programs in underdeveloped regions inChina.

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRY ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN URBAN AND RURAL SETTINGS: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

The performing arts industry in India significantly contributes to local economies through job creation, tourism revenue, and local business growth. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the economic impact of the performing arts in urban and rural areas, focusing on two key objectives: evaluating the economic contributions of the performing arts to urban and rural communities, and analyzing the differences in economic outcomes due to varying levels of infrastructure, investment, and audience participation. The analysis reveals that urban areas, with their superior infrastructure, higher investment levels, and diverse audiences, generate substantial economic benefits through large-scale events and festivals. These events create employment, drive tourism, and foster business growth. In contrast, rural areas, while benefiting from traditional and folk performances, face challenges such as limited infrastructure and financial constraints. However, rural arts festivals and cultural tourism initiatives have shown potential in stimulating local economies, especially in underdeveloped regions. The study highlights the need for targeted investment and policy interventions to bridge the urban-rural divide and promote equitable economic development through the performing arts. Digital platforms and government initiatives like “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” are identified as key opportunities to enhance the economic contributions of the performing arts in rural India.

Oil Economy and Society of Nigeria’s Niger Delta Region, 1956-2019

This paper studies the oil economy with a particular focus on the Nigeria’s Niger Delta Region. It argues that since the discovery and exploration of oil in commercial quantities in the Region, it has become both a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing because it has provided wealth to the people and government of the region. Some indigenes of the Nigeria Delta are owners of the oil wells others are employed to work with the oil multi-national companies like Chevron, Texaco, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Agip Oil Company, et cetera. The exploration of oil in the area under review is also a curse because it has negatively affected plants and animals (that is the destruction of flora and fauna); it has destroyed the ecosystem of the area. Using survey and documentary methods of data collection; the paper reveals that despite the discovery and exploration of oil in the said region, Nigeria’s Delta Region has remained one of the underdeveloped regions of the country. This is to say that the impact of the oil industry on the economy and society of the people is marginally felt. Based on the foregoing, these policy options are made. The government should give immediate attention to the indigenes of the region where crude oil is being extracted from. This will reduce the unrest in that region. The government should establish an institution that will ensure that the multinational oil companies are socially responsible to their host communities. Environmental pollution and the adverse effects on the host communities of oil exploration sites in the Niger Delta is an important issue that requires urgent and prompt attention because petroleum production forms the major natural-based resources on which the country depends. Therefore, Policymakers of the various oil exploration companies should realize that there is a need to protect the health, safety, and welfare of these communities. The communities and the inhabitants have to be well protected and some of the health and safety measures, which members of the company staff benefit, should be extended to members of the host communities to improve their standard of living.

Gender income differences among general practitioners with compulsory services in early career stage in underdeveloped areas: evidence from a prospective cohort study in China

BackgroundGender equality and the gender income gap in medicine are long-standing global problems. Although gender-related differences have been widely studied in developed countries, they remain unclear in underdeveloped regions. In 2010, China initiated a national compulsory service program (CSP) to train qualified general practitioners in rural and remote areas. This study aimed to evaluate gender income differences for early career CSP and non-CSP (NCSP) graduates in underdeveloped areas.MethodsA cohort study was conducted with 3620 CSP and NCSP graduates from four medical universities in Central and Western China. Baseline surveys and six follow-up surveys were conducted between 2015 and 2022. Incomes, including monthly mean income and proportion of performance-based income, were measured as the key outcome variables. Multivariate linear regression models were used to identify the gender income gap.ResultsNCSP graduates had higher average monthly incomes than CSP graduates. In the seventh year after graduation, the average monthly income for NCSP graduates was 7859 CNY while was 5379 CNY for CSP graduates. After controlling for demographic characteristics, the gender monthly income gap for CSP graduates was expanded from the fourth year (3.0%) to the sixth year (5.9%) after graduation, and that for NCSP graduates was expanded from the fifth year (11.9%) to the seventh year (16.3%) after graduation. Regarding performance-based income, it was 58.9% for NCSP graduates and 45.8% for CSP graduates in the seventh year after graduation. After controlling for performance-based income proportion, the gender income gap was reduced from 5.9 to 4.0% in the sixth year after graduation for CSP graduates, and from 16.3 to 14.4% for NCSP graduates in the seventh year after graduation.ConclusionAn extensive and ever-increasing gender income gap exists among young doctors in the early stages of their careers in underdeveloped areas of China. The high proportion of performance-based income among men is one of the main explanations for the observed difference. A more explicit compensation system must be established to enhance support for female health workers.

Comparison of specialized stent versus generic stent and bare stent combination for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation using the Viatorr stent remains relatively uncommon in underdeveloped and high-burden disease regions in Asia–Pacific, and there is a lack of comparative studies regarding its prognostic effects compared with the generic stent-graft/bare stent combination. The purpose of this retrospective study is to compare the prognostic endpoints of these two treatments in patients who underwent TIPS creation. Clinical data from 145 patients were collected, including 82 in the combination group and 63 in the Viatorr group. Differences in prognostic endpoints (shunt dysfunction, death, overt hepatic encephalopathy [OHE], rebleeding) between the two groups were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify independent risk factors for post-TIPS shunt dysfunction. The TIPS procedure was successful in all patients. After TIPS creation, both groups showed a significant decrease in porto-caval pressure gradient compared to that before TIPS creation. The stent patency rates at 6, 12, and 18 months were high in both the combination and Viatorr groups (93.7%, 88.5%, and 88.5% vs. 96.7%, 93.4%, and 93.4%, respectively). The stent patency rates was higher in the combination group than in the Viatorr group, although not statistically significant (HR = 2.105, 95% CI 0.640–6.922, Log-rank P = 0.259). There were no significant differences in other prognostic endpoints (death, OHE, rebleeding) between the two groups. The Cox model identified portal vein diameter (HR = 0.807, 95% CI 0.658–0.990, P = 0.040) and portal vein thrombosis (HR = 13.617, 95% CI 1.475–125.678, P = 0.021) as independent risk factors for post-TIPS shunt dysfunction. The shunt patency rates between the Viatorr stent and the generic stent-graft/bare stent combination showed no significant difference and the generic stent-graft/bare stent combination may be a viable alternative in areas where the Viatorr stent is not yet available.

Novel strategy for Poxviridae prevention: Thermostable combined subunit vaccine patch with intense immune response

Poxviruses gained international attention due to the sharp rise in monkeypox cases in recent years, highlighting the urgent need for the development of a secure and reliable vaccine. This study involved the development of an innovative combined subunit vaccine (CSV) targeting poxviruses, with lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) serving as the model virus. To this end, the potential sites for poxvirus vaccines were fully evaluated to develop and purify four recombinant proteins. These proteins were then successfully delivered to the dermis in a mouse model by utilizing dissolvable microneedle patches (DMPs). This approach simplified the vaccination procedure and significantly mitigated the associated risk. CSV-loaded DMPs contained four recombinant proteins and a novel adjuvant, CpG, which allowed DMPs to elicit the same intensity of humoral and cellular immunity as subcutaneous injection. Following immunization with SC and DMP, the mice exhibited notable levels of neutralizing antibodies, albeit at a low concentration. It is noteworthy that the CSV loaded into DMPs remained stable for at least 4 months at room temperature, effectively addressing the storage and transportation challenges. Based on the study findings, CSV-loaded DMPs are expected to be utilized worldwide as an innovative technique for poxvirus inoculation, especially in underdeveloped regions. This novel strategy is crucial for the development of future poxvirus vaccines.

The Concept of Local Economic Development Based on Circular Economic Specialization and Integrated Governance

This research aimed to outline the concept of Local Economic Development (LED), which aimed to address development issues, particularly in overcoming regional disparities and poverty. The research method used was qualitative. The results showed that the concept of LED was aimed at empowering all stakeholders, including communities, businesses, and governments, to collaborate and participate in economic activities and development. It adhered to the principles of circulation, integration, and sustainability. In this concept, the development of regions occured in three stages. It involved developing peripheral or underdeveloped regions with the assistance of advanced or core regions by providing resources so that previously underdeveloped areas could become advanced and prosperous. This led to the realization of integrated and competitive regions without disparities. The governance developed in this concept was Integrated, while the economic system developed was Circular Economy Specialization, which was based on a circular and sustainable economic system that renews and restores while considering social foundations and ecological limits.

Spatial and Temporal Changes and Influencing Factors of Capital Cities in Five Provinces of the Underdeveloped Regions of Northwest China

In recent years, China’s economy has experienced rapid development, and its cities have undergone rapid expansion; however, the development of cities in the northwest region has been relatively slow due to various geographical and economic constraints. Studying the urban expansion in these regions is of significant importance for regional planning and development. This study selected the provincial capitals of five underdeveloped provinces in northwestern China as the research sample and used Landsat TM/OLI remote-sensing imagery as the primary data, supplemented by Digital Elevation Model (DEM), meteorological, and socio-economic data, the study extracted urban impervious surfaces using the ENDISI and MNDWI indices. It analyzed the spatial and temporal characteristics of urban impervious surfaces from 1990 to 2020 using indicators such as urban expansion intensity, compactness and fractal dimension, centroid migration, and standard deviation ellipse. Furthermore, the study quantified the influencing factors using Geodetectors. The findings reveal the following: (1) From 1990 to 2020, impervious surfaces in the five cities continued to expand, with Xi’an experiencing the largest expansion area at 549.94 km2 and Xining the smallest at only 132.83 km2, with an expansion intensity of merely 2.99%. However, significant disparities existed in expansion intensity and area across different periods. (2) Overall, the compactness of the cities decreased by 47.6% while the overall fractal dimension increased by 2.85%, indicating a trend towards more dispersed and complex urban forms. (3) Expansion directions varied among the cities, with Xi’an and Urumqi expanding towards the northwest, Lanzhou towards the north, Yinchuan primarily towards the east, and Xining mainly towards the west. (4) Economic, demographic, and investment factors were identified as the primary influencers of urban expansion, exhibiting changes over different periods. Analyzing the similarities and differences in city development can offer valuable insights into urban construction and sustainable development in underdeveloped areas.

Analysis of demand and influencing factors for smart senior care among older adults in underdeveloped regions of western China: a case study of Lanzhou

IntroductionWith the rapid development of artificial intelligence and Internet-of-Things technology, internal support systems among families are gradually weakening, which can no longer satisfy the current demands of older adults. In this context, smart senior care has become a new development direction. However, existing studies on the demand for smart senior care are primarily concentrated in economically developed provinces and mega-cities in eastern China; their research results or conclusions may not apply to underdeveloped areas in the Western region. Therefore, our study selects Lanzhou as a representative city in an underdeveloped western region to investigate the demand of older adults for smart senior care and analyze the influencing factors.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 4,815 older adults from Lanzhou, China. A structured questionnaire was designed to investigate the demands of the older adults for smart senior care and analyze thie influencing factors. The Chi-square test was used for single factor analysis of each variable. The logistic regression model included the statistically significant variables to analyze factors influencing older adults’ demand for smart senior care. A significance level of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsAmong the surveyed older adults, 1,625 (33.75%) expressed a demand for smart senior care. The finding indicated that participants’ age, level of education, marital status, monthly income, number of children, type of endowment insurance, and knowledge of smart senior care were significantly associated with their demands for smart senior care (p < 0.05). Notably, medical care emerged as the smart senior care service with the highest demand rate (79.45%).ConclusionIn Lanzhou, older adults show a low level of knowledge but a high demand for smart senior care. Their demand is influenced by personal, family, health conditions, senior care security, and other factors. To advance smart senior care, government departments should accelerate the improvement of the laws and regulations on smart senior care while vigorously enhancing the service’s publicity to raise knowledge about it. Additionally, the service contents for smart senior care should be expanded to meet the diversified demands of older adults.

From pixels to prosperity: does the digital economy reinforce or mitigate urban economic convergence in China?

ABSTRACT In an era where the digital economy is reshaping global economic landscapes, its impact on urban economic convergence remains a subject of considerable debate. This study delves into the intricate relationship between the digital economy and urban economic convergence across 337 prefecture-level cities in China from 2006 to 2020, a critical area of research given the country’s rapid digitalization and urban development. Using the β-convergence model, our findings reveal a general trend of economic convergence among cities, with the digital economy both facilitating and hindering this process. In addition, the impact of the digital economy on urban economic convergence is found to be heterogeneous, significantly influenced by the levels of human and physical capital and the extent of digitalization within cities. This heterogeneity underscores the presence of a ‘digital divide’, where the benefits and challenges of digitalization are not uniformly experienced across urban centres. Conclusively, we recommend targeted policy interventions to bridge the digital divide, enhancing digital literacy, and developing digital infrastructure in underdeveloped urban regions. Such targeted measures are essential for ensuring that the digital economy serves as a catalyst for equitable and sustainable urban development across China’s diverse urban landscape.

Does the selection of high-quality scenic spots promote the growth of tourism economy? evidence from China's 5A-rated tourist attractions.

To stimulate the regional tourism economy, local governments often seek to increase the number of 5A-rated tourist attractions. However, there have been few analyses examining the economic benefits and influence mechanisms of 5A-rated attraction selection. Using the quality signaling theory and data from 282 prefecture-level cities spanning 2002 to 2019, this study examines the impact of 5A-rated attraction selection on the local tourism economy with the difference-in-differences method. This study's results demonstrate that the selection of 5A-rated attractions significantly contributes to the growth of the local tourism economy. The robustness test results confirm the validity of this conclusion. A mechanism analysis reveals that 5A-rated attractions positively impact the tourism economy via investments in infrastructure, popularization of informatization, and increased external openness. Furthermore, the study suggests that the effect of 5A-rated attractions is more pronounced in economically underdeveloped regions and low-level cities. The results of this study contribute to the sustainable development of China's tourism economy and may provide guidance for the establishment of tourism evaluation systems in other international locations in order to foster economic growth.

Language investment and identity construction trajectory amongst ethnic minority preparatory undergraduates in China: a narrative inquiry

ABSTRACT China has adopted preferential policies, such as the Ethnic Preparatory Education Program, to promote the opportunities of ethnic minority students from underdeveloped regions to receive high-quality education, which has caused great tension in the identity construction of these students. This study adopted a qualitative narrative inquiry approach to investigate the investments and identity construction of three ethnic minority preparatory undergraduates (EMPUs) throughout their language learning process in the preparatory stage. The findings indicate that these participants have shown varying types and degrees of investment in language learning and constructed dynamic identity as a trajectory influenced by their language learning experiences in various contexts. Their language investment and identity construction have an impact on one another and are shaped by their aspiration to participate in an imagined community and realise an imagined identity.

An opportunity or burden? Firms' engagement in poverty alleviation campaign under different business strategies

AbstractThe government‐initiated campaign for targeted poverty alleviation (TPA) not only affords corporations an opportunity to extend their presence into underdeveloped regions but also imposes a consequential burden upon them to contribute to ameliorating poverty. Firms' motivations in this endeavor are intricately linked to the alignment of their business strategies with the TPA activities. We posit that firms adopting a cost leadership approach are inclined to actively partake in poverty alleviation, due to a congruence between their strategic positioning and the activities intrinsic to poverty alleviation. And firms embracing a differentiation strategy are impelled by extrinsic pressures to engage in poverty alleviation, as they face heightened societal expectations regarding their involvement in such altruistic endeavors. Drawing from a dataset comprising Chinese listed firms from 2017 to 2020, our empirical findings bring to light a significant correlation between both cost leadership and differentiation strategies and firms' contributions to the TPA campaign. And, the impact of a cost leadership strategy on firms' involvement in poverty alleviation activities surpasses that of a differentiation strategy. This influence is further accentuated for firms contending with rivals pursuing a differentiated approach in the competitive landscape, which may block their way moving upmarket. Moreover, the nexus between a differentiation strategy and a firm's participation in poverty alleviation gains more strength where local government intervention in the economy is more pronounced. This study delves into the nuanced motivations that underpin firms' participation in the TPA campaign within the framework of business strategies, offering insights for both policymakers and business practitioners.

Research on Territorial Spatial Development Non-Equilibrium and Temporal–Spatial Patterns from a Conjugate Perspective: Evidence from Chinese Provincial Panel Data

Clarifying the intrinsic nature and formation mechanisms of the territorial spatial development non-equilibrium, optimizing the allocation of territorial resources, promoting regional balanced development, and alleviating regional development disparities have become common endeavors of all countries seeking to enhance development quality. This study, based on the land use and socio-economic data of 31 provinces and cities in China from 2006 to 2020, utilized the kernel density estimation method and ArcGIS spatial analysis to explore the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of China’s territorial spatial development non-equilibrium. The research findings are as follows: (1) From 2006 to 2020, both the land development intensity and land supply capacity showed an increasing trend, with increases of 21.4% and 8.03%, respectively. However, their spatiotemporal evolutions significantly differed. (2) The state of the territorial spatial development non-equilibrium in China significantly improved, with a rising trend in the territorial spatial equilibrium degree. Regional disparities in the territorial spatial equilibrium degree decreased. The number of provinces and cities in a state of underdevelopment decreased from 23 to 8, while the number in an equilibrium state increased from 7 to 21. The central and western regions showed more significant improvements in the territorial spatial equilibrium degree and a greater reduction in regional disparity when compared to the eastern and northeastern regions. (3) China exhibited distinct regional disparities in the territorial spatial equilibrium degree. The overdeveloped areas were Beijing and Shanghai. The underdeveloped regions were primarily concentrated in western areas, including Sichuan, Yunnan, and Xinjiang. The high-level equilibrium regions were predominantly located in the southeastern coastal provinces and the central plains region, while the low-level equilibrium regions included Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Qinghai, and the three northeastern provinces. (4) From the perspective of the number of agglomeration types, the order is HH (high–high) > LH (low–high) > LL (low–low) > HL (high–low), and China’s TSED exhibits a spatial proximity peer effect. The innovation of this study consists of the following aspects: (1) The clarification of the fact that the essence of equilibrium does not require an exact 1:1 match, as with “two horses”; rather, it entails the maintenance of a slight surplus of land supply capacity over land development intensity. This approach allows the possibility of future sustainable development by leaving room for expansion. (2) The differentiation between high-intensity conjugation (in terms of both quantity and quality) and low-intensity conjugation (quantity only) from a conjugate perspective. This categorization aids in a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the territorial spatial development non-equilibrium and its spatiotemporal patterns. It provides crucial information for the formulation of sustainable national territorial development plans and the promotion of a regional development equilibrium.

Measures for preventing norovirus outbreaks on campus in economically underdeveloped areas and countries: evidence from rural areas in Western China.

The outbreak of norovirus represents a significant public health emergency within densely populated, impoverished, and underdeveloped areas and countries. Our objective is to conduct an epidemiology study of a norovirus outbreak that occurred in a kindergarten located in rural western China. We aim to raise awareness and garner increased attention towards the prevention and control of norovirus, particularly in economically underdeveloped regions. Retrospective on-site epidemiological investigation results, including data on school layout, case symptoms, onset time, disposal methods and sample testing results, questionnaire surveys, and case-control study were conducted in a kindergarten to analyze the underlying causes of the norovirus outbreak. A total of 15 cases were identified, with an attack rate of 44.12% (15/34). Among them, 10 cases were diagnosed through laboratory tests, and 5 cases were diagnosed clinically. Vomiting (100%, 15/15) and diarrhea (93.33%, 14/15) were the most common symptoms in the outbreak. Case control study revealed that cases who had close contact (<1 m) with the patient's vomitus (OR = 5.500) and those who had close contact with similar patients (OR = 8.000) had significantly higher ORs compared to the control participants. The current study demonstrated that improper handling of vomitus is positively associated with norovirus outbreak. The absence of standardized disinfection protocols heightens the risk of norovirus outbreaks. To our knowledge, this study represents the first investigation into a norovirus outbreak in rural areas of western China. We aspire that amidst rapid economic development, a greater emphasis will be placed on the prevention and control of infectious diseases in economically underdeveloped areas and countries.

The history of migration in Northeast China in the XX-XXI centuries.

The subject of this article is the analysis of internal migration processes in Northeast China from the 20th century to the beginning of the 21st century. Special attention is paid to the dynamics of migration flows and their significant impact on the demographic situation of the region. The author examines the specific features of internal migration in different provinces: Liaoning with its subprovincial cities demonstrates a net influx of population, while Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces are characterized by a significant net outflow of population. The author explores the causes of these migration processes and their direct impact on the demographic development of the Northeast region of China. This allows us to better understand the significant changes taking place in underdeveloped regions of China and identify the main factors affecting internal migration. The study used statistical analysis of data on migration flows, demographic studies, as well as comparative analysis of data from various provinces of Northeast China to identify key factors affecting internal migration. The scientific novelty of this study lies in a detailed analysis of internal migration processes and their impact on the demographic situation in Northeast China, which has not been studied in depth before. The study revealed that the region is facing serious problems such as resource depletion and insufficient economic growth, which leads to negative population growth. Negative growth is characterized by significant regional imbalance: most prefectural-level cities, with the exception of Shenyang, Dalian and Changchun, show negative population growth. Especially high rates are observed in Suihua and Daxinganlin in Heilongjiang Province. The population of the border areas has decreased by almost a fifth. The findings of the study confirm that the population in Northeast China continues to decline, accompanied by a marked decrease in the birth rate. This steady decline requires effective measures to slow it down. The outflow of population from the northeast is increasing, while the departing population is usually younger and more educated, which leads to an acceleration of the aging process and loss of human capital. The main features of the region's demographic trends are net population outflow and migration, which makes it an excellent example for studying demographic changes in underdeveloped regions.

The role of mobile broadband in poverty alleviation: a comparison of the effects of 3G and 4G network expansion in underdeveloped regions of Indonesia

ABSTRACT Alleviating poverty remains a significant global challenge necessitating effective interventions. While Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is widely acknowledged as a contemporary solution for addressing socioeconomic issues, the impact of supply-side factors, notably mobile broadband expansion, remains uncertain. Our study bridges this gap by analyzing the effects of 3G and 4G coverage on poverty rates and gaps in 109 underdeveloped regions in Indonesia from 2017–2021. Through quantitative analysis and map charts, we ascertain that increased 3G and 4G coverage is associated with decreased poverty rates and gaps. Specifically, a 1 percent rise in 3G coverage corresponds to a 0.019 percent decrease in poverty rates and a 0.011 point reduction in the poverty gap. Similarly, a 1 percent increase in 4G coverage reduces poverty rates by 0.009 percent and the poverty gap by 0.004 points. These findings offer valuable theoretical and practical insights to inform future research and policy initiatives.