Urban Rural Research Articles

The Urban-Rural Heterogeneous Effect of Family SES on Achievement: The Mediating Role of Culture.

Previous studies have fully discussed the relationship between family socioeconomic status (SES) and achievement, but few of them regarded urban-rural differences as the moderating factor, which is an essential issue in urban-rural educational equalization in terms of educational outcomes. This study discusses the urban-rural heterogeneous effect of family SES on achievement and manifests the mediating role of education-related cultural factors. Based on the China Education Panel Survey data of 18,672 junior high school students, this study found the following: (1) family SES had a weaker positive effect among rural children than among urban children; (2) the urban-rural heterogeneous effect could be mediated by education-related cultural factors, i.e., learning environments and beliefs; and (3) in this regard, contemporary China is experiencing cultural reproduction rather than a cultural mobility mode. In Conclusion, although the urban-rural achievement gap will be maintained or even expanded in China, improving rural children's learning environments and beliefs opens up the possibility of alleviating disadvantages in achievement resulting from family socioeconomic disadvantages. Therefore, narrowing down the urban-rural achievement gap from a cultural perspective provides policy implications for educational development in rural areas.

Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Prevalence, Morbidity, and Mortality in Colombia: Findings from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Study.

Controversies exist on whether the presence of cardiovascular risk factors and their association with major cardiovascular events (MACE) is different between men and women. Most of the evidence comes from high-income countries, hindering extrapolation of sociocultural and demographic factors of other regions. To evaluate sex differences in the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and the incidence of MACE and diabetes in Colombian adults. We performed a survival analysis from women and men aged 35-70 belonging to the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology-Colombia prospective study. Incidence rates for MACE composite (myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, death) and each outcome and diabetes were calculated. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were performed. The association between demographic, behavioral, and metabolic variables with MACE and diabetes were evaluated with Cox proportional hazards models. 7,552 participants (50±9.7 years) were included; 64% were women. Women had higher hypertension prevalence, body mass index, levels of total cholesterol, LDL-c, and HDL-c but lower triglycerides levels. Women were more sedentary but fewer smokers or active alcohol consumers and had higher educational levels. After 12-year mean follow-up (SD 2.3), the incidence rate of MACE composite was higher in men [4.2 (3.6-4.9) vs. 3.2 (2.8-3.7) cases per 1000 person-years]. Diabetes had the greatest association with MACE (HR = 2.63 95%CI:1.85;3.76), followed by hypertension (HR = 1.75 95%CI:1.30;2.35), low relative grip strength (HR = 1.53 95%CI:1.15;2.02), smoking (HR = 1.47 95%CI: 1.11;1.93), low physical activity (HR = 1.42 95%CI: 1.03;1.96). When evaluating risk factors by sex, only an increased waist-to-hip ratio was more strongly associated with MACE in men (p-interaction <0.05). The composite MACE outcome was higher in men despite having a lower overall burden of risk factors. The risk factors contribution was similar, leading us to reconsider the need to carrying out differentiated cardiovascular risk prevention and management campaigns, at least in our region.

The Restoration of Degraded Landscapes along the Urban–Rural Gradient of Lubumbashi City (Democratic Republic of the Congo) by Acacia auriculiformis Plantations: Their Spatial Dynamics and Impact on Plant Diversity

This study examines the spatio-temporal dynamics of Acacia auriculiformis in Lubumbashi city, southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in the context of rapid urbanization following the liberalization of the mining sector. The city has experienced significant demographic growth and unplanned spatial expansion, resulting in a decrease in vegetation cover. The introduction and proliferation of A. auriculiformis, an exotic tree species, have occurred without strategic planning or monitoring. Utilizing digitized remote sensing imagery from 2006, 2014, and 2021, we quantified the expansion of A. auriculiformis along the urban–rural gradient. Additionally, a floristic inventory conducted in 2021 provided insights into tree diversity within A. auriculiformis plantations. Our findings indicate a substantial increase in the number and area of A. auriculiformis patches, predominantly in urban zones. However, the patch values, highest in 2006, were shown to decline by 2021, especially in urban areas. The floristic inventory identified 39 tree species within A. auriculiformis plantations, including predominant species such as Albizia lebbeck, Albizia alba, and Leucaena leucocephala. Notably, 20 of these species are exotic, with half being invasive. In contrast, the 19 indigenous species were primarily found in peri-urban areas. While a greater number of tree species were observed in urban zones, larger average diameters were recorded in peri-urban zones. The persistence and expansion of A. auriculiformis in a landscape characterized by declining tree cover suggest its potential sustainability in this setting. However, A. auriculiformis plantations have facilitated the establishment of predominantly exotic and potentially invasive species. These findings highlight the need for the strategic management of A. auriculiformis and associated exotic flora to mitigate their spread and to consider their role in the restoration of degraded lands.

Risk factors for recognized and unrecognized SARS-CoV-2 infection: a seroepidemiologic analysis of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study.

There are limited data on individual risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection (including unrecognized infection). In this seroepidemiologic substudy of an ongoing prospective cohort study of community-dwelling adults, participants were thoroughly characterized pre-pandemic. The SARS-CoV-2 infection was ascertained by serology. Among 8,719 participants from 11 high-, middle-, and low-income countries, 3,009 (35%) were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2. Characteristics independently associated with seropositivity were younger age (odds ratio, OR; 95% confidence interval, CI, per five-year increase: 0.95; 0.91-0.98) and body mass index >25 kg/m2 (OR, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.01-1.34). Smoking (as compared with never smoking, OR, 95% CI: 0.83, 0.70-0.97) and COVID-19 vaccination (OR, 95% CI: 0.70, 0.60-0.82) were associated with a reduced risk of seropositivity. Among seropositive participants, 83% were unaware of having been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Seropositivity and a lack of awareness of infection were more common in lower-income countries. The COVID-19 vaccination reduces the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection (including recognized and unrecognized infections). Overweight or obesity is an independent risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Infection and lack of infection awareness are more common in lower-income countries.IMPORTANCEIn this large, international study, evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was obtained by testing blood specimens from 8,719 community-dwelling adults from 11 countries. The key findings are that (i) the large majority (83%) of community-dwelling adults from several high-, middle-, and low-income countries with blood test evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection were unaware of this infection-especially in lower-income countries; and (ii) overweight/obesity predisposes to SARS-CoV-2 infection, while COVID-19 vaccination is associated with a reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. These observations are not attributable to other individual characteristics, highlighting the importance of the COVID-19 vaccination to prevent not only severe infection but possibly any infection. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms by which overweight/obesity might increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Research on China's agricultural land circulation-taking central agricultural areas as an example

The transfer of land involves many aspects in China, include property rights and transactions of land, the mode of land transfer, and the principal element is the farmer’s willingness. In order to study the basic situation of land transfer in central China and analyze the main factors affecting rural land transfer in China. This research takes Henan Province-a sizable agricultural province in central China-as the research object. Researches the principal modes of land transfer, and analyzes the effectiveness of pastoral land transfer. It uses quantitative analysis methods to determine the influencing factors of land transfer. The analyses consisted of five aspects, the level of non-agricultural industry progress, the level of agrarian modernization development, urbanization development, per capita net income of farmers, and the number of labor transfer. The conclusion is the growth rate of land transfer in Henan Province has shown a downward trend, and the gradual growth of land transfer has cut the urbanization process in Henan Province. Relevant government departments need to take effective measures to solve this problem, to promote the transfer of rural land urbanization.

Spatial pattern and driving mechanism of the coordinated development of rural revitalization and new urbanization in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River

Spatial pattern and driving mechanism of the coordinated development of rural revitalization and new urbanization in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River

Coordination relationship and identification of obstacle factors between harmonious and beautiful rural construction and tourism urbanization: Take Wuling Mountain Area as an example

Coordination relationship and identification of obstacle factors between harmonious and beautiful rural construction and tourism urbanization: Take Wuling Mountain Area as an example

Rural–Urban Divide in Mental Health Care in India: Bridging the Gaps

There are significant gaps in the distribution and utilization of mental health services between rural and urban areas in India. The rural–urban divide is prominently seen in livelihood opportunities and lifestyle, which is a matter of concern. Rural populations, constituting a large proportion in India and globally, exhibit distinct environmental profiles and lifestyle factors influencing mental health. Rural populations have unique choices regarding occupation, different social structures, expressions of illness, health belief systems, and help-seeking behavior. The treatment gap in rural regions stems from various factors, including inadequate investment in mental health, stigma, discrimination, low literacy levels, and poor motivation of mental health professionals for working in rural areas. The changes in social dynamics and family values further strain rural mental health care. India faces a considerable challenge in bridging the treatment gaps and providing mental health services that are accessible and acceptable in rural areas. The true implementation of the new Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 requires consideration of the ground realities of rural settings. While innovations and digital interventions show promise in bridging the inequalities in treatment settings, these need to be highly tailor-made keeping in view the local needs. Furthermore, integrating public mental health into general public health programs can alleviate the burden of mental disorders. It is imperative to recognize the positives in rural areas and establish effective links between urban and rural services which is crucial for providing comprehensive mental health care in these dynamic populations.

Supplemental Material for Tele-Mental Health Utilization Trends With Rural–Urban Disparities in Mississippi: 2020–2023

Supplemental Material for Tele-Mental Health Utilization Trends With Rural–Urban Disparities in Mississippi: 2020–2023

Uncertainties of Urban Heat Island Estimation With Diverse Reference Delineation Methods Based on Urban–Rural Division and Local Climate Zone

Uncertainties of Urban Heat Island Estimation With Diverse Reference Delineation Methods Based on Urban–Rural Division and Local Climate Zone

Spatial Patterns of Vegetation Phenology Along the Urban–Rural Gradients in Different Local Climate Zones

Spatial Patterns of Vegetation Phenology Along the Urban–Rural Gradients in Different Local Climate Zones

Introduction and Validation of a New Suchitra Scoring System and Determining the Cut off Value for Healthy Lifestyle Among College Students - Kumbakonam Urban Rural Epidemiological Study- KURES- 8

College students face a range of problems that might have an impact on their lifestyle, such as academic stress, restricted time, and money, as well as exposure to bad habits. As a result, understanding and promoting healthy lifestyle behaviours is crucial for college students' general health and academic achievement. The development and validation of an instrument (questionnaire) to assess college students' lifestyle practises provides an objective and trustworthy tool for analysing their lifestyle. The intent of this study sought to develop and test a lifestyle questionnaire for college students. The 11-question questionnaire was created to evaluate different areas of a student's lifestyle, including exercise routines, eating habits, sleep quality, stress management, and social behaviour. On a sample of 245 college students, the questionnaire was validated using target population, expert content validity, construct with other known scores, test and retest, alpha, and Pearson correlation analysis. The cut-off value for a good lifestyle was determined to be 21.5, with scores over this amount indicating a good living. Even though most students had poor sleep quality, little physical activity, and poor dietary pattern, we had a low incidence of alcohol and smoking in our sample. The majority were non-vegetarians, and fast-food consumption was much higher. To conclude, the questionnaire (Suchitra score), developed and validated for measuring lifestyle in college students is a reliable and valid tool for assessing various aspects of a student's lifestyle.

Komparasi Konsep Penciptaan Tempat dan Keterikatan Desa Kota Studi Kasus Kota Denpasar

This study aims to compare the concept of place creation and place attachment in Denpasar City, Bali. In the context of rapid urbanization, urban development is becoming increasingly important in maintaining cultural identity and environmental sustainability. The main problem in this study is the difference in understanding and implementation of the concept of place creation and the level of place attachment by communities that focus on rural and urban urbanization. The urgency of the research lies in the need to understand Denpasar City as a center of cultural and tourism activities, blending urban growth with cultural and environmental preservation. The analysis was carried out on a review of government archives in the form of narratives, observations of service use, purchase of goods and vehicle movements, as well as examination of physical and spatial components. The results showed variations in people's perceptions of the concept of place creation, focusing on cultural and environmental preservation. In addition, the degree of attachment to places is related to the active participation of the community in the preservation of the cultural and environmental heritage of the city. This research reveals the importance of integrating people's aspirations in urban planning as well as promoting cultural and environmental sustainability as an integral part of the development of a better Denpasar City.

RURAL–URBAN DIFFERENCES IN INFORMAL CAREGIVER RESOURCES, CAREGIVING INTENSITY, AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE

Abstract Rural-urban health disparities are pervasive among older adults and their caregivers. Rural areas in the US have a disproportionately high population of older adults, have reduced access to services, and are more reliant on family and friends for care. Research examining rural-urban disparities for informal caregivers is limited. There is a critical need to understand how caregiving intensity, access to resources, and caregiver health-related quality of life (HRQoL) differ by rural-urban status. Study objectives were to explore rural-urban differences in caregiving resources, intensity, and HRQoL. Data were abstracted from Waves 1 and 5 of the National Study of Caregiving. Rural-urban status was based on Rural Urban Continuum Codes. Generalized linear models, accounting for complex sampling, were used to explore associations between rural-urban status and caregiver resource utilization, caregiving intensity, and HRQoL. Compared to urban caregivers, rural caregivers were significantly more likely to be female (OR 1.19, 95%CI 1.12-1.26), older (beta=1.13 years, 95%CI 0.70-1.55), have obesity (OR 1.25, 95%CI 1.17-1.32), report poor/fair health (OR 1.08, 95%CI 1.01-1.16), and higher numbers of comorbidities (beta=0.18, 95%CI 0.13-0.22). Compared to urban caregivers, rural caregivers were significantly less likely to attend support groups (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.46-0.65), but more likely to have caregiver training (OR 1.46, 95%CI 1.33-1.62). They assisted with fewer instrumental activities of daily living (beta=0.54, 95%CI 0.44-0.65), although there was not a significant difference for activities of daily living. Findings can facilitate the translation and adaption of policies, programs, and interventions to support and address the unique needs of rural caregivers.

Medical behaviours and medication adherence of older hypertensive patients in different medical insurance programs in Beijing, China: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundGrassroots medical institutions are the primary “battlefield” of hypertension management based on hierarchical diagnosis and treatment policies in China. There is a considerable difference in the insured population and reimbursement ratio between different medical insurance programs. The management of hypertension directly affects the development trend of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.MethodsTo understand the difference between different medical insurance programs regarding the management of older hypertensive patients, all outpatients aged 60 and above with hypertension in the basic medical insurance database of Beijing, China, from April 1, 2019, to January 31, 2020, were included. Medical behaviours included patients’ choice of hospital level, type of hospital, number of hospitals visited, grassroots medical institutions and cross-district visits. Medication adherence was evaluated by calculating the medication possession ratio of antihypertensive medications. First, we adopted a statistical description for medical behaviours and medication adherence. Then, multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse the influencing factors of medication adherence.ResultsThis study included 1.29 million patients with Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) and 0.31 million patients with Urban‒Rural Resident Basic Medical Insurance (URRBMI). The proportions of patients with UEBMI who chose tertiary hospitals, comprehensive hospitals, grassroots medical institutions and cross-district visits were 25.84%, 56.09%, 57.34% and 39.32%, respectively, while those of patients with URRBMI were 11.14%, 60.59%, 81.28% and 6.07%, respectively. The medication adherence rates of men and women taking one medication were 61.04% and 55.86%, respectively. UEBMI patients who took their medication accounted for 62.36%, while only 40.27% of URRBMI patients adhered to their medication. The percentages of young-old, old-old and oldest-old patients who took their antihypertensive medications were 58.05%, 59.09% and 56.78%, respectively. The adherence to taking ≥ 2 medications (35.47%) was lower than that to taking one medication (58.33%). The medication adherence rates of patients with UEBMI and URRBMI for taking ≥ 2 medications were 37.21% and 27.45%, respectively.ConclusionsPatients with UEBMI were more inclined to choose tertiary hospitals and cross-district visits than patients with URRBMI. The adherence of patients with UEBMI was better than that of patients with URRBMI in China.

Associations of dietary copper intake with cardiovascular disease and mortality: findings from the Chinese Perspective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE-China) Study

BackgroundPrevious in vitro and animal experiments have shown that copper plays an important role in cardiovascular health. Dietary copper is the main source of copper in the human body and the association between dietary copper and cardiovascular disease remains unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the associations of dietary copper intake with the risk of major cardiovascular disease incidence, cardiovascular disease mortality, and all-cause mortality in Chinese adults.MethodsOur study is based on Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology China (PURE-China), a large prospective cohort study of 47 931 individuals aged 35–70 years from 12 provinces in China. Dietary intake was recorded using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire designed specifically for the Chinese population. The daily intake of copper was obtained by multiplying the daily food intake with the nutrient content provided in the Chinese Food Composition Table (2002). Cox frailty proportional hazards models were developed to evaluate the association between dietary copper intake with mortality, major cardiovascular disease events, and their composite.ResultsA total of 45 101 participants (mean age: 51.1 ± 9.7 years old) with complete information were included in the current study. The mean dietary copper intake was 2.6 ± 1.1 mg/d. During the 482 833 person-years of follow-up, 2 644(5.9%) participants died, 4 012(8.9%) developed new cardiovascular diseases, and 5 608(12.4%) participants experienced the composite endpoint. Compared with those in the first and second quartile of dietary copper intake, individuals in the third and fourth quantile had higher risk of composite outcomes, all-cause death, cardiovascular disease death, major cardiovascular disease and stroke occurrences. The associations remained similar in the subgroup and sensitivity analyses.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrated that excessive dietary copper intake was associated with higher risks of death and cardiovascular diseases in Chinese adults. Further studies in populations with different dietary characteristics are needed to obtain dose–response relationships and to refine global dietary recommendations.

The Urban Voter: Emerging Trend and Changing Pattern

The recent phenomenon of growing urbanization in India has shifted the focus from rural vote to urban vote in electoral politics. The discussion on urban politics and urban vote revolves largely around two issues—first the issue of turnout and second, a somewhat different political choice among the urban voters compared to the rural voters. The two issues have been highlighted by the fact that urban constituencies have registered lower turnout compared to the turnout in rural constituencies. Among the former, the constituencies of big metropolitan cities register much lower turnout compared to the constituencies of small and medium towns. Results of various elections in the past indicate that the backbone of electoral support of the BJP during the late 1990s is its strong support among the urban voters. The BJP’s strong support base among the urban voters enabled it to emerge as the single largest party in the Lok Sabha during the 1998 and 1999 Lok Sabha elections enabling it to form a coalition government along with other regional parties. This article tries to seek answers to the question, why do we see this distinct difference in voting patterns among rural and urban voters, especially till 2009 Lok Sabha elections, though it has changed somewhat during the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections? Is it because the rural India and Urban India represent two different kinds of voters, or is it because the issues and concerns of rural and urban voters are vastly different from each other which make them vote differently?

Abstract C009: Estimating the true contribution of rural residence and area deprivation on cancer mortality

Abstract Introduction True estimation of the rural effect on cancer mortality requires causal inference methodology, consideration of area-level socioeconomic status and examination of area designations (e.g., measurement of rural vs urban). Methods Utilizing Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results data we identified key incident cancers diagnosed between 2000 and 2016 at age ≥20 (n=3,788,273). Cancer types were selected based on prior evidence of rural mortality disparities. A 20% random sample was examined (n=757,655). Rurality was defined using the Rural Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC). County indicators were linked with the Area Deprivation Index (ADI, 0 least deprived to 100 highest deprivation). Standardized competing risk and survival models estimated causal impact of rural residence on cancer-specific mortality. All models controlled for age at diagnosis, sex, race/ethnicity, year of diagnosis, and ADI. We estimated rural residence and ADI’s attributable fraction to the probability of mortality. Models were run overall and by stage. Finally, we identified county measurement issues contributing to county rates discordant from hypothesized mortality rates (i.e., urban counties with mortality&amp;gt;median or rural counties with mortality≤median). Results Approximately 45% were diagnosed ≥65y, 51% were female, 71% non-Hispanic white, and 12% non-Hispanic Black. Cancer diagnoses included those with screening recommendations (70%), obesity related (57%), and tobacco-related cancers (21%). The majority of patients were diagnosed with in situ or localized disease (53%). The 5y standardized failure probability for cancer-specific mortality for rural patients was 33.9% vs. 31.6% among urban. Rural + high ADI mortality was 37.9% vs. 30.7% for urban + low ADI. Rural residence attributable fraction to the probability of cancer mortality was 1.04% at Year 1, declining to 0.9% by Year 5. The rural fraction was highest among local stage disease (Y1 2.1% to Y5 1.9%). Attributable fraction of high ADI was 3.3% in Y1 to 2.9% in Y5, while the joint effect of rural+high ADI ranged from 4.3% in Y1 to 3.7% in Y5. Discordance between hypothesized and actual mortality was greater with urban/rural definitions vs ADI cut-offs (i.e., ADI distinguishes between high and low mortality better). Among 256 urban counties, 21.7% (n=89) had a higher mortality rate than hypothesized (mortality rate &amp;gt; median). Of those, 27 counties had no metropolitan area, but were “attached” to a nearby metro-area according to US Economic Research Service. When these 27 counties were reclassified as rural, the rural fraction was 1.4% at Y1 and 1.2% at Y5. This was a 35% and 26% relative increase, respectively. Among 349 rural counties, 15% had mortality rates higher than expected. Conclusion: Rural residence holds a small independent contribution to cancer mortality; higher among localized disease and in areas with greater deprivation. Urban/rural county designations using standard metrics may mask high need urban counties, limiting eligibility to state or federal resources dedicated to rural areas. Citation Format: Kelly Kenzik, Elizabeth Davis, Jeffrey Franks, Smita Bhatia. Estimating the true contribution of rural residence and area deprivation on cancer mortality [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C009.

The Transformation of Rural Areas Located in China’s Agricultural Heritage Systems under the Evolution of Urban–Rural Relationships

The sustainable logic between the Agricultural Heritage System (AHS) and environmental synergy has been significantly changing with China’s urban–rural relationship shift from binary opposition to a stronger network exchange. During the process of transformation, China’s AHS rural areas encounter two major development trends and social realities, i.e., whether to continue conventional characteristic agricultural development or detach from conventional characteristic agricultural resources to achieve industrial transformation. Our aim is to analyze the structure, identity and functional transformation characteristics of AHS rural areas from the urban and rural scale, as well as to build an explanatory framework for transformation mechanisms. A total of 109 counties and five cases of important AHS areas in China are taken as research objects, combining quantitative and qualitative analyses to analyze the transformation of AHS rural areas from two aspects. On the one hand, for changes in single development elements, there are three development elements and corresponding transformation dimensions: (1) Land structure: there is a synergistic change between the increase in urbanization rate and the loss of rural land, with associated changes in space and production structure. (2) Population identity: the rural population loss in high-urbanization-level areas is severe, where farmers are combined or separated from traditional agriculture. (3) Industry function: the trend of non-agricultural development of the industrial economy is obvious, and the traditional functions of agriculture are facing a continuation or a deep transformation. On the other hand, for relations among development elements, combined with a regression analysis and field investigation, we try to explain how the development elements and characteristic elements influence each other while working together on the transformation of AHS rural areas. The transformation depends on the path of the original industrial structure, while the urban–rural income ratio, regional distribution and land urbanization rate all positively stimulate the transformation from agricultural industries to non-agricultural ones. Moreover, the transformation of AHS rural areas is also affected by the characteristic elements of their special agricultural heritage, specifically, whether the heritage is scalable, scarce or socialized, etc., and these special attributes can determine the different development forms of heritage elements in the modern agricultural industrial system.

Responses of Vegetation Phenology to Urbanization in Plateau Mountains in Yunnan, China

The process of urbanization alters the distribution of land use and gives rise to certain climatic modifications that have a direct influence on vegetation phenology. Mountainous areas have a fragile biological environment, and vegetation phenology is relatively sensitive to urbanization. However, there is a paucity of research on the impact of urbanization in mountainous areas on vegetation phenology. The Urban Agglomeration of Central Yunnan (UACY) is located on the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau in China. This study explored the vegetation phenological changes in different terrains from 2001 to 2020 in the UACY based on remote sensing data. Using the dynamic gradient method, we examined the response of vegetation phenology to urbanization from three aspects: urban–rural gradient, urbanization intensity (UI), and population density. The results showed that landform has a significant impact on SOS (start of growing season), with a topographic relief difference of 200 m acting as the dividing line. The findings derived from the dynamic gradient analysis indicate that UI has the most significant effect. SOS advances by 5.77 days (R2 = 0.96), EOS (end of growing season) advances by 2.30 days (R2 = 0.83), and LOS (length of growing season) lengthens by 2.59 days (R2 = 0.87) for every 10% increase in UI. This study has the potential to serve as a valuable resource for future urban planning and administration in the UACY. Additionally, it could provide decision-making support for the development of mountainous urban agglomerations in ecological environments.