Yangtze Delta Of China Research Articles

Integration of multiomics with precision nutrition for gestational diabetes: Study protocol for the Westlake Precision Birth Cohort

Integration of multiomics with precision nutrition for gestational diabetes: Study protocol for the Westlake Precision Birth Cohort

Testing the applicability of standardised growth curves (SGCs) for OSL signals of quartz grains from the Yangtze Delta, China

The standardised growth curve (SGC) technique has the potential to save instrument time for equivalent dose (D e ) determination when applying single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol during optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) measurements. In this study, we test the applicability of two commonly used SGC procedures for OSL signals of quartz grains from aqueous deposits of the Yangtze Delta in China, which have been reported for weak luminescence signals and suffering from partial bleaching. Multiple silt-sized and sand-sized fractions of quartz samples from eight cores are used to construct SGCs by test dose standardisation (TD-SGC) and least-squares normalisation (LS-SGC), respectively. Three strategies, i.e. region-specific (SGC R ), region with core-specific (SGC R + C ) and core-specific (SGC C ), are adopted to categorise these normalised data into different SGC datasets. The large variability of dose response signals is substantially reduced by the SGC procedures for most of these datasets. Hence, common SGCs for a variety of samples from the Yangtze Delta can be established, irrespective of their distinctive particle sizes and luminescence characteristics. The D e values are then estimated using both TD-SGC and LS-SGC procedures for samples from a specific core. Comparing to the full SAR protocol, the TD-SGC procedure roughly gives reproducible D e estimates lower than ∼100 Gy while the LS-SGC procedure derives generally consistent D e estimates of up to ∼230 Gy. Although LS-SGC C and LS-SGC R + C procedures replicate the most consistent D e values, the LS-SGC R procedure performs better in efficiency with a slightly less accuracy. In addition to careful comparison of LS-SGC and full SAR procedures, we suggest that a synchronous ratio derived by the chosen regenerative dose and its response signal for re-normalisation can be used to predict the LS-SGC D e reliability on samples from similar sedimentary environments. • Standardised growth curves (SGCs) are applied to quartz samples from the Yangtze Delta. • SGC procedures are compared using three strategies. • Least-squares (LS) SGC D e values are consistent with those obtained by full SAR. • LS-SGC D e reliability is predicted by the chosen regenerative dose and signal.

중국 장강 삼각주 항만 물류의 경쟁력 및 한국에 주는 시사점

Purpose This study attempted to analyze the competitiveness of the three major ports, Shanghai Port, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, and Lianyungang Port, and put forward policy implications for the development of the ports in the Yangtze River Delta to enlighten the development of port logistics in South Korea and propose the possibility of cooperation between South Korean and Chinese ports. Design/Methodology/Approach In this study, two influencing factors were analyzed by deriving the sub-factors of four determinants of Porter’s diamond model, and the competitiveness of port logistics in the Yangtze Delta in China was analyzed using the Regional Innovation System (RIS) model. Findings Through the analysis of each representative port in the Yangtze Delta region, the overall competitiveness of port logistics is in relatively good condition. Except for the relatively low logistics competitiveness of ports such as the Lianyun River Port, most ports, including Shanghai Port and Ningbo-Zhou San Port, are already high. Research Implications First, it is necessary to establish a diversified cooperative system for the distribution of port logistics between Korea and China. Second, it is indispensable to take full advantage of a policy to revitalize regional ports at a national level. Third, it is necessary to continue to expand the industrial supply network and ties in the port hinterland of the Yangtze River Delta region of China. Fourth, it is necessary to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the regional innovation system and establish a business strategy for port logistics toward China.

Human Capital Spillovers from Special Economic Zones: Evidence from Yangtze Delta in China

This paper evaluates the effects of a place-based program in the Yangtze Delta of China—Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Taking into account spatial proximity, this paper quantifies the spillover effects of the human capital in SEZs. One major finding is that regional productivity benefits from the human capital in SEZs. The spillover effects are not only confined to their own counties, but also neighboring counties. SEZs contribute more to the regional productivity of neighboring counties than the one of the hosting county itself. Moreover, positive spillover effects of the human capital in SEZs still hold for the growth of regional productivity.

Using Systems Thinking and Modelling: Ecological Land Utilisation Efficiency in the Yangtze Delta in China

Ecological land has two definitions: the broad category and the narrow category. This paper studied the narrow category, which refers to the land whose main purpose is to provide ecological services, such as environmental regulation and biological conservation. Ecological land areas are likely to decrease with the development of urbanisation all over the world, which poses potential risks to the environment, society, and public health, and low utilisation efficiency of ecological land will exacerbate this risk. Based on the actual input–output situation of ecological land utilisation, we constructed an index system in the Yangtze Delta to measure the ecological land utilisation efficiency with a Slack-Based Model (SBM) in the data envelopment analysis (DEA). The results revealed that the comprehensive efficiency exhibited an increasing trend from 2012 to 2020, and more high-efficiency cities appeared in the areas closer to Shanghai. Both the technical efficiency and scale efficiency increased over the research period. The technical efficiencies in most cities were efficient and equal to the scale efficiencies. Among the remaining cities, the technical efficiencies and scale efficiencies were inefficient and not synchronous. In addition, we found that the that poor efficiencies of some cities can mainly be attributed to low-technology, an unsuited-scale, or a combination of these. In the future, improvement should be focused on the economical and intensive use of ecological land, technical innovations, and the optimal scale. The present results can provide references for making scientific decisions regarding the efficient utilisation of ecological land in the Yangtze Delta and other similar rapid-urbanization areas.

Spatiotemporal changes of manufacturing firms in the flood prone Yangtze Delta

ABSTRACT Manufacturing firms in flood prone areas (FPAs) are a vital component of flood exposure, driving the non-stationarity of flood risks. This paper explores the spatiotemporal patterns of manufacturing firms in the FPAs of Yangtze Delta in China during 1998-2013. It is found that the number of firms in the FPAs increases remarkably by 44,385, with an annual growth rate of 10.2%. Established firms are located much closer to water bodies, mainly agglomerating along the coasts, the Yangtze River, and around the Taihu Lake. Several vulnerable sectors, including chemical feedstock and chemical manufacturing, computer and communication equipment, maintain a high growth and share in the FPAs. The small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with less flood coping capabilities increase rapidly. The main drivers of firm expansion in the FPAs include policy promotion, agglomeration benefit and levee effect. Exposed firms show a high spatial co-locality with industrial parks and an upward trend similar to the length of levees, suggesting that government policies and flood defense strategies encourage flood exposure. The increase in exposed firms is positively correlated with the rise of flood losses in industrial sectors. Besides defense strategies, more attention should be paid to enhancing flood resilience at regional and firm levels.

Phytoplankton functional groups succession and their driving factors in a shallow subtropical lake

The succession of phytoplankton functional groups and environmental variables were investigated from January to December 2018 in a shallow subtropical lake, East Taihu Lake, located in the Yangtze Delta of China. Altogether, 125 genera, 21 functional groups, and 7 predominant functional groups, D (Fragilaria acus, Synedra acus, and Nitzschia spp.), P (Fragilaria capucina and Aulacoseira granulate), MP (Oscillatoria spp., Diploneis ovalis, Gomphonema angustatum, Nitzschia palea, and Achnanthes spp.), Y (Cryptomonas ovata, Cryptomonas erosa, Chroomonas acuta, and Ceratium spp.), H2 (Anabaena spp.), M (Microcystis spp.), and W1 (Euglenoids spp.), were identified, and these predominant functional groups exhibited strong seasonal variations. Groups Y and W1 dominated from winter to spring when temperature and light were low. The external pollution load and high levels of nutrients entered the lake in June, allowing group M to become dominant, even ultimately triggering Microcystis blooming. Meanwhile, the abundance of aquatic plants in summer, combined with high levels of transparency and light availability, resulted in Group M being replaced by Group P and then Groups M and H2 rebounding in autumn. The redundancy analysis revealed that water temperature, nutrients, and light availability (Zeu/Zmix) were the key factors promoting phytoplankton succession. The ecological assessment results demonstrated a good ecological status based on the assemblage index (Q average = 3.0). This work emphasizes the fact that temperature, nutrients, and light were the driving factors for phytoplankton dynamics, and aquatic plants and external pollution were important external factors for the succession of phytoplankton.

Rice Rotation System Affects the Spatial Dynamics of the Diazotrophic Community in Paddy Soil of the Yangtze Delta, China

Rice-wheat (RW), rice-fallow (RF), and rice-Chinese milk vetch (RM) are the three major rice rotation systems currently used in the Yangtze Delta of China. However, it remains poorly understood how these systems affect microbial communities in soils. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were used to analyze the composition, abundance and diversity of diazotrophic community at different depths in soils under RW, RF and RM treatments. The results showed that rice yields were significantly higher in RM as compared to those in RF and RW in all years from 2011 to 2016. Diazotrophic communities at soil depths of 10–20 cm and 40–80 cm under RM were significantly more diverse than those under the other treatments. Sequences affiliated with Geoalkalibacter spp. showed the greatest abundance under RW at all soil depths, while Desulfovibrio and Pseudacidovorax spp. were both more abundant under RM at the 40–80 cm depth. Redundancy analysis (RDA) identified that the diazotrophic community within the 40–80 cm layer of soil under RM was positively associated with soil macro-aggregates. In conclusion, the RM treatment was characterized by significantly higher diversity of diazotrophic community in subsoil and increased rice yields as compared to the other treatments.

Modelling the electrical conductivity of soil in the Yangtze delta in three dimensions

Numerous processes, past and present, have given rise to lateral and vertical variation in the soil and to its individual properties such as its salinity and electrical conductivity. The resulting patterns of variation are complex and appear to comprise both random and deterministic components. The latter dominates vertically as trends in most soil profiles, and in the situation we describe it is prominent in the horizontal plane, too. Describing this variation requires flexible choice of covariance function. The processes of model estimation and prediction by kriging in three dimensions are similar to those in two dimensions. The extra complexity of the three-dimensional variation requires practitioners to appreciate fully the assumptions that their choices of model imply and to establish ways of testing the validity of these assumptions. We have examined several covariance functions more commonly used to describe simultaneously variation in space and time and adapted them to model three-dimensional variation in soil. We have applied these covariance functions to model the variation in salinity in reclaimed land in the Yangtze delta of China where the apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) has been measured at numerous points down to 1.1m. The models take into account random and deterministic components in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions. The most suitable mixed model was then used to krige the ECa on a fine grid from which three-dimensional diagrams of the salinity are displayed.

Sources of heavy metal pollution in agricultural soils of a rapidly industrializing area in the Yangtze Delta of China

The rapid industrialization and urbanization in developing countries have increased pollution by heavy metals, which is a concern for human health and the environment. In this study, 230 surface soil samples (0–20cm) were collected from agricultural areas of Jiaxing, a rapidly industrializing area in the Yangtze Delta of China. Sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS) and multivariate factorial kriging analysis (FKA) were used to identify and explore the sources of heavy metal pollution for eight metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cd, Hg and As). Localized hot-spots of pollution were identified for Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni and Cd with area percentages of 0.48 percent, 0.58 percent, 2.84 percent, 2.41 percent, 0.74 percent, and 0.68 percent, respectively. The areas with Hg pollution covered approximately 38 percent whereas no potential pollution risk was found for As. The soil parent material and point sources of pollution had significant influences on Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd levels, except for the influence of agricultural management practices also accounted for micro-scale variations (nugget effect) for Cu and Zn pollution. Short-range (4km) diffusion processes had a significant influence on Cu levels, although they did not appear to be the dominant sources of Zn and Cd variation. The short-range diffusion pollution arising from current and historic industrial emissions and urbanization, and long-range (33km) variations in soil parent materials and/or diffusion jointly determined the current concentrations of soil Pb. The sources of Hg pollution risk may be attributed to the atmosphere deposition of industrial emission and historical use of Hg-containing pesticides.

Time-series analysis of subsidence associated with rapid urbanization in Shanghai, China measured with SBAS InSAR method

River delta plains (deltas) are susceptible to subsidence producing undesirable environmental impact and affecting dense population. The City of Shanghai, located in the easternmost of Yangtze Delta in China, is one of the most developed regions in China that experiences the greatest land subsidence. Excessive groundwater withdrawal is thought to be the primary cause of the land subsidence, but rapid urbanization and economic development, mass construction of skyscrapers, metro lines and highways are also contributing factors. In this paper, a spatial–temporal analysis of the land subsidence in Shanghai was performed with the help of the Small Baseline Subset Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar. Twenty l-band ALOS PALSAR images acquired during 2007–2010 were used to produce a linear deformation rate map and to derive time series of ground deformation. The results show homogeneous subsidence within the research area, but exceptionally rapid subsidence around skyscrapers, along metro lines, elevated roads and highways was also observed. Because groundwater exploitation and rapid urbanization responsible for much of the subsidence in the Shanghai region are expected to continue, future subsidence monitoring is warranted.

New product development period and competitive advantage resulting from manufacturing-marketing interaction: an empirical study of SMEs in the Yangtze Delta in China

To better understand the advantages and disadvantages of manufacturing-marketing interaction (MMI) in new product development (NPD), this paper focuses on verification of project period dimension and product competitive advantage which is one dimension of possible benefit from MMI in NPD. A path analysis of data from 322 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Yangtze Delta which have completed NPD projects shows that increased MMI at each stage of product development is associated with greater product competitive advantage, which in turn is associated with high project return on investment (ROI). While the results of our analysis indicate that MMI is associated with almost all NPD performance dimensions as expected, the results indicate that the influence of MMI on project ROI is much more strongly positive than negative. MMI is strongly associated with greater product competitive advantage, which in turn is a strong driver of ROI. Although MMI is also associated with longer project period, at least in market analysis and product commercialisation project stages, the impacts of these associations on ROI appear to be negligible. Thus, the total effect of MMI on ROI is strongly positive.

Mapping the three-dimensional variation of soil salinity in a rice-paddy soil

Soil salinity is widespread in a variety of environments, and land managers need to map its severity and extent both laterally and vertically. In this research we explore the inversion of apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) measured with an EM38 using a linear model and Tikhonov regularization to model electrical conductivity (σ) profiles in a saline paddy field in the Yangtze delta of China. The modelled σ matched closely the directly measured bulk electrical conductivity (σb) in the topsoil within our calibration field. Discrepancies were greatest between 0.4 and 0.8m, below which they converged again, and were judged small enough to map soil salinity. Equivalent ECa data, recorded in an adjacent field, was similarly inverted with the modelled σ analysed geostatistically. In this regard, the σ data at 10 depths were treated as 10 correlated variates, and experimental auto-and cross-variograms were computed by the method of moments from them. A linear model of coregionalization fitted well, and it was used to cokrige σ on 5m×5m blocks on a fine grid. The kriging errors, computed as the square roots of the cokriging variances, were typically about 5% of the kriged estimates. Estimates of σ were then converted into the universal standard of soil salinity measurement (i.e. electrical conductivity of a saturated soil paste extract — ECe). The results indicate that an irregularly shaped patch of strongly saline topsoil (i.e. 8–12dSm−1) and subsoil salinity (i.e. >16dSm−1) at the southern end of the field was consistent with a yield reduction of some 33%; and as compared with the weakly saline conditions evident at the northern end of the field (e.g. topsoil ECe 2–4dSm−1) where yield was much larger. We conclude that the approach has merit and might be useful in providing a baseline set of data and a method that can used to monitor and evaluate the management of salinity.

STOX1 overexpression in mice induces severe preeclampsia-like symptoms prevented by aspirin at low doses

Soil salinity is widespread in a variety of environments, and land managers need to map its severity and extent both laterally and vertically. In this research we explore the inversion of apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) measured with an EM38 using a linear model and Tikhonov regularization to model electrical conductivity (σ) profiles in a saline paddy field in the Yangtze delta of China. The modelled σ matched closely the directly measured bulk electrical conductivity (σb) in the topsoil within our calibration field. Discrepancies were greatest between 0.4 and 0.8 m, below which they converged again, and were judged small enough to map soil salinity. Equivalent ECa data, recorded in an adjacent field, was similarly inverted with the modelled σ analysed geostatistically. In this regard, the σ data at 10 depths were treated as 10 correlated variates, and experimental auto-and cross-variograms were computed by the method of moments from them. A linear model of coregionalization fitted well, and it was used to cokrige σ on 5 m × 5 m blocks on a fine grid. The kriging errors, computed as the square roots of the cokriging variances, were typically about 5% of the kriged estimates. Estimates of σ were then converted into the universal standard of soil salinity measurement (i.e. electrical conductivity of a saturated soil paste extract — ECe). The results indicate that an irregularly shaped patch of strongly saline topsoil (i.e. 8–12 dS m− 1) and subsoil salinity (i.e. > 16 dS m− 1) at the southern end of the field was consistent with a yield reduction of some 33%; and as compared with the weakly saline conditions evident at the northern end of the field (e.g. topsoil ECe 2–4 dS m− 1) where yield was much larger. We conclude that the approach has merit and might be useful in providing a baseline set of data and a method that can used to monitor and evaluate the management of salinity.

Preliminary discussion on large-scale water conservancy in ancient Liangzhu City Area, Yangtze Delta of China: Highlight of early agricultural civilization

Zhang Li* (张立) Key Laboratory of Geography Information Science, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China Chen Zhongyuan (陈中原), Wang Zhanghua (王张华) State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China Wu Jianping (吴健平) Key Laboratory of Geography Information Science, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China

Assessing the values of ecosystem services of the Yangtze Delta, China

The ecosystem services of the Yangtze Delta in China were measured using Costanza's method. The results showed that their value is US$27.2 billion per annum (at 1995 prices), made up of US$4.5 billion or 16.65% from forest ecosystems, US$5.8 billion or 21.53% from estuary and wetland ecosystems, US$0.4 billion or 1.5% from cropland ecosystems, US$12.9 billion or 47.54% from lake and river ecosystems, and US$3.5 billion or 12.84% from neritic ecosystems. The water ecosystems are a key factor in sustainable development of the region. The results also indicate that the value of ecosystem services per unit area and per GDP was bigger than the national average. In addition, the value of the ecosystem services in mitigating floods and droughts, purification and supply of water, and detoxification and decomposition of wastes was higher than the national average.

Assessing the impact of ambient ozone on growth and yield of a rice ( Oryza sativa L.) and a wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar grown in the Yangtze Delta, China, using three rates of application of ethylenediurea (EDU)

Foliar applications of ethylenediurea (abbreviated as EDU) were made at 0, 150, 300 or 450 ppm to field-grown rice and wheat in the Yangtze Delta in China. Rice and wheat responded differently to ambient ozone and EDU applications. For wheat, some growth characteristics, such as yield, seed number per plant, seed set rate and harvest index, increased significantly at 300 ppm EDU treatment, while for rice no parameters measured were statistically different regarding EDU application. The reason may be that the wheat cultivar used may be more sensitive to ozone than the rice cultivar. EDU was effective in demonstrating ozone effects on the wheat cultivar, but not on the rice cultivar. Cultivar sensitivity might be an important consideration when assessing the effects of ambient ozone on plants.

Ozone Concentrations in Rural Regions of the Yangtze Delta in China

Elevated concentrations of ozone have been observed at six non-urban, surface monitoring sites in the Yangtze Delta of China during a 16-month field experiment carried out in 1999 and 2000 as part of the joint Chinese-American China-MAP Project (the Yangtze Delta of china as an Evolving Metro-Agro-Plex). The average daytime (0900–1600 h) ozone levels for the monitoring period at sites ranged from 35 to 47 ppbv (parts per billion by volume) and the mean ozone levels from 26 to 35 ppbv. Observed data show seasonal variation obviously, with highest mixing ratios of ozone in May. Average daytime ozone levels in May at sites were between 60 and 79 ppbv. High ozone concentrations were most prevalent during the late spring. Frequency counts of hourly mean ozone concentration over 60 ppbv and 40 ppbv appeared peak values of 22–39% and 42–74% in May at sites. Even higher daytime ozone levels were observed during two regional episodes, in which average daytime (0900–1600 h) ozone concentrations during 10 May and 23 May 2000 were 68 to 81 ppbv, during Oct. 18 and Oct. 28, 1999 were 59 to 67 ppbv at sites.

Emission characteristics of CO, NOx, SO2and indications of biomass burning observed at a rural site in eastern China

Atmospheric O3, CO, SO2, and NOy* (NOy* ≈ NO + NO2+ PAN + organic nitrates + HNO3+ N2O5+ ⋯) were measured in 1999–2000 at a rural/agricultural site in the Yangtze Delta of China. In this paper we analyze the measurement results to show the emission characteristics of the measured gases and to infer relevant emission ratios. Positive correlations were found between CO and NOy* with a slope (Δ[CO]/Δ[NOy*]) of 36 (ppbv/ppbv) for the winter and nighttime measurements. The ratio is considerably larger than that (≈10 ppbv/ppbv) observed in the industrialized countries. The highest CO/NOy* ratio (30–40 ppbv/ppbv) occurred in September–December 1999 and June 2000. The good correlation between CO and the biomass burning tracer CH3Cl and the lack of correlation with the industrial tracer C2Cl4suggests that the burning of biofuels and crop residues is a major source for the elevated CO and possibly for other trace gases as well. The average SO2to NOy* ratio was 1.37 ppbv/ppbv, resulting from the use of relatively high‐sulfur coals in China. The measured SO2/NOy* and ΔCO/ΔNOy* were compared with the respective ratios from the current emission inventories for the study region, which indicated a comparable SO2/NOxemission ratio but a large discrepancy for CO/NOx. The observed CO to NOy* ratio was more than 3 times the emission ratio derived from the inventories, indicating the need for further improvement of emission estimates for the rural/agricultural regions in China. Additional research will be needed to study the implications of rural emissions to atmospheric chemistry and climate on both regional and global scales.

Observational study of ozone pollution at a rural site in the Yangtze Delta of China

Ozone and related trace gases (CO, NO x , and SO 2) were measured from June 1999 to July 2000 at a rural site in the Yangtze Delta of China, a region of intensive anthropogenic activity. Elevated ozone levels were frequently observed during the study period, with the highest frequency in late spring and early summer. Over a 1 yr period, 21 d were found to have ozone concentrations exceeding the new US 8-h 80 ppb health standard. Calculation of the “SUM06” exposure index also shows relatively high (>15 ppm h) values for each season except winter. At these levels ozone may have adverse effects on human health as well as agricultural crops. Analysis of meteorological data shows that the high ozone days were associated with large-scale stagnation, intense solar radiation, and minimum rainfall. Large-scale back trajectories indicate a slow-moving/re-circulating airmass during the episodic days. Examination of chemical data shows that the observed daytime high ozone concentrations were due to downward mixing of ozone-rich air, in situ photochemical formation, and in some cases, advection to the site of aged plumes. The very high CO levels (and high CO to NO x ratios) were found to coincide with many of the ozone episodes, suggesting a contribution from sources of emission involving incomplete combustion. It is suggested that the burning of biomass (e.g., biofeuls and crop residues) may be an important source for the observed high CO and O 3 values.