Search Results (5,184)

Water resources, energy, and food are essential for the development of society, and they are strongly interdependent. The coupling and coordination relationships of the water–energy–food (WEF) system are important for regional resource security and high-quality development. The Yellow River Irrigation Area in Shandong Province, China, is a grain production base and has a substantial impact on national food security. To examine the water, energy, and food subsystem dynamics in this area, an evaluation system for the WEF system was established. A comprehensive weighting method based on game theory was employed to determine index weights. TOPSIS was used to assess the development level of the WEF system. A coupling coordination degree model was used to analyze the evolution of the coupling coordination degree of the WEF system from 2000 to 2020, and a GWR model was constructed to explore the spatial heterogeneity of its driving factors. The findings indicated that the development level of the WEF system in the study area was moderate, with a gradual upward trend. The coupling coordination degree fluctuated between 0.62 and 0.739. The GWR model revealed that temperature had an overall negative effect on the coupling coordination degree, with the greatest impact on the central irrigation area; the slope and NDVI had a negative effect, with increasing intensity from the southwest to the northeast; and rainfall had an overall positive effect, with the greatest impact on the irrigation area near the estuary in the northeast. Overall, the building area ratio had a negative effect on the coupling coordination degree, with exceptions in some areas. These research outcomes provide theoretical support for sustainable agricultural development in the Yellow River irrigation areas of Shandong Province and methodological reference data for studying collaborative resource utilization in irrigation regions. Full article

Fractional vegetation cover (FVC) is a crucial indicator for measuring the growth of surface vegetation. The changes and predictions of FVC significantly impact biodiversity conservation, ecosystem health and stability, and climate change response and prediction. Southwest China (SWC) is characterized by complex topography, diverse climate types, and rich vegetation types. This study first analyzed the spatiotemporal variation of FVC at various timescales in SWC from 2000 to 2020 using FVC values derived from pixel dichotomy model. Next, we constructed four machine learning models—light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), support vector regression (SVR), k-nearest neighbor (KNN), and ridge regression (RR)—along with a weighted average heterogeneous ensemble model (WAHEM) to predict growing-season FVC in SWC from 2000 to 2023. Finally, the performance of the different ML models was comprehensively evaluated using tenfold cross-validation and multiple performance metrics. The results indicated that the overall FVC in SWC predominantly increased from 2000 to 2020. Over the 21 years, the FVC spatial distribution in SWC generally showed a high east and low west pattern, with extremely low FVC in the western plateau of Tibet and higher FVC in parts of eastern Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, and Yunnan. The determination coefficient R² scores from tenfold cross-validation for the four ML models indicated that LightGBM had the strongest predictive ability whereas RR had the weakest. WAHEM and LightGBM models performed the best overall in the training, validation, and test sets, with RR performing the worst. The predicted spatial change trends were consistent with the MODIS-MOD13A3-FVC and FY3D-MERSI-FVC, although the predicted FVC values were slightly higher but closer to the MODIS-MOD13A3-FVC. The feature importance scores from the LightGBM model indicated that digital elevation model (DEM) had the most significant influence on FVC among the six input features. In contrast, soil surface water retention capacity (SSWRC) was the most influential climate factor. The results of this study provided valuable insights and references for monitoring and predicting the vegetation cover in regions with complex topography, diverse climate types, and rich vegetation. Additionally, they offered guidance for selecting remote sensing products for vegetation cover and optimizing different ML models. Full article

UAV thermal infrared remote sensing technology, with its high flexibility and high temporal and spatial resolution, is crucial for understanding surface microthermal environments. Despite DJI Drones’ industry-leading position, the JPG format of their thermal images limits direct image stitching and further analysis, hindering their broad application. To address this, a format conversion system, ThermoSwitcher, was developed for DJI thermal JPG images, and this system was applied to surface microthermal environment analysis, taking two regions with various local zones in Nanjing as the research area. The results showed that ThermoSwitcher can quickly and losslessly convert thermal JPG images to the Geotiff format, which is further convenient for producing image mosaics and for local temperature extraction. The results also indicated significant heterogeneity in the study area’s temperature distribution, with high temperatures concentrated on sunlit artificial surfaces, and low temperatures corresponding to building shadows, dense vegetation, and water areas. The temperature distribution and change rates in different local zones were significantly influenced by surface cover type, material thermal properties, vegetation coverage, and building layout. Higher temperature change rates were observed in high-rise building and subway station areas, while lower rates were noted in water and vegetation-covered areas. Additionally, comparing the temperature distribution before and after image stitching revealed that the stitching process affected the temperature uniformity to some extent. The described format conversion system significantly enhances preprocessing efficiency, promoting advancements in drone remote sensing and refined surface microthermal environment research. Full article

Currently, accelerating the construction of a new development pattern with dual economic circulations is strategically significant for enhancing the autonomy and sustainability of China’s economic development. First of all, this paper, from the perspective of green innovation in marine science and technology, measures its efficiency using the SBM super-efficiency model. Then, a coupling coordination model calculates the coordination degree of dual economic circulations after measuring the domestic and international economic circulations based on the TOPSIS method. Secondly, a two-way fixed effects model is employed to examine the impact of green innovation in marine science and technology on domestic economic circulation, international economic circulation, and dual economic circulations. The study finds that green innovation in marine science and technology effectively promotes domestic economic circulation, international economic circulation, and the dual economic circulations. Additionally, green innovation in marine science and technology mitigates the impact of inter-regional resource misalignment on domestic economic circulation and influences international economic circulation by promoting the high-quality development of the marine economy. Finally, it is discovered that green innovation in marine science and technology exhibits a single-threshold heterogeneous effect on domestic economic circulation and international economic circulation. Full article

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is correlated with serious morbidity and mortality. Efforts have been made to establish and validate mortality predictive scores based mainly on clinical parameters. Patients with PE and traditional indices of echocardiographic right ventricular (RV) dysfunction or pressure overload have a higher probability of a worse outcome. During the last two decades, studies regarding the use of two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) and its derived indices in the setting of acute PE have been conducted. In this comprehensive review of the literature, we aimed to summarize these studies. Safe conclusions and comparisons among the reviewed studies are prone to statistical errors, mainly because the studies published were heterogenous in design, different 2DSTE-derived parameters were tested, and different clinical outcomes were used as endpoints. Nonetheless, RV strain indices and, more commonly, regional longitudinal strain of the RV free wall have shown a promising correlation with mortality, assisting in the differential diagnosis between PE and other acute or chronic disorders. Full article

The effect of digital finance on the income disparity between urban and rural areas has attracted wide attention from scholars, and this paper focuses on the mediating role of employment structural transformation, which can contribute more insights to address regional development imbalances and achieve common prosperity. Taking panel data of China’s province from 2010 to 2020 as a sample, we use the fixed effect model to integrally test the relationship between the three factors. Our findings indicate that (1) the development of digital finance significantly narrows the urban–rural income gap. The digital finance index increased by 1% and the rural–urban income gap decreased by about 0.34%. The results still hold after considering the endogeneity problem and a series of robustness tests; (2) mechanism analysis shows that digital finance could reduce the urban–rural income gap through the employment structural transformation; and (3) the results of regional heterogeneity show that the reduction effect of digital finance on the urban–rural income gap is stronger in areas with high marketization and in northern regions. Such insights can assist the government in strategically developing rural digital finance, thereby expediting the reduction of regional inequalities and achieving sustainable economic growth. Additionally, the government should focus on guiding rural employment structure transformation to better realize the reduction effect of digital finance on the urban–rural income gap. Full article

The green, low-carbon transition is a broad and profound change. The low-carbon city pilot policy (LCCP) is one of the most important strategies in China, aimed at dealing with climate change and realizing the green, low-carbon transition. Therefore, a quantitative evaluation of the implementation effect of the pilot policy is conducive to better promoting low-carbon work in the pilot areas. Based on 283 cities in China from 2005 to 2021, this paper constructs a double-difference model to empirically test the implementation effect, long-term mechanisms, and industrial upgrading of the pilot policy. The results show that the LCCP significantly promotes high-quality economic development and employment stability. After a series of robustness and endogenic tests, the conclusions in this study are still valid. Further analysis of the findings in this paper shows that the pilot programs promote the optimization and upgrading of industrial structures. The mediating effect shows that the LCCP has established three long-term mechanisms: developing alternative industries, expanding the level of openness, and promoting innovation. The heterogeneity analysis shows that the pilot policy’s implementation effect is more significant in cities located in central and western regions, as well as in non-resource-based cities. This study proposes the continuation of the promotion and implementation of the pilot policy, an increase in financial funds and policy support, the need to strengthen the labor market’s adaptability and protection mechanisms, the adaptation to local conditions to promote policy implementation, and the need to step up efforts to publicize pilot policies. Full article

42CrMo4-type steel grades are widely used in a great variety of components that require ad hoc mechanical properties. However, due to the dimensions of large components and the previous thermomechanical treatments, the presence of heterogeneities in the chemical compositions are expected to impact those mechanical properties. In the present work, a detailed analysis of phase transformation behavior upon cooling was carried out through a dilatometry test on samples of 42CrMo4 belonging to a component that has a non-homogeneous chemical distribution. The analysis of the dilatation signals and the quantitative metallography shows a rather complex behavior depending on the cooling rate as well as on the region of observation. Two different phase transformation models based on Li’s approach were applied to the present composition to determine the CCT curve as well as the fraction of the microconstituents. An extensive discussion was carried out on some aspects about Kirkaldy-based approaches that need to be improved so as to attain more reliable quantitative results when modeling phase transformations in heterogenous systems. Full article

The issue of grain quality has attracted increasing attention with the gradual growth and stabilization of grain output. We take the successive agricultural support and protection subsidy policies introduced in 2015 as a quasi-natural experiment and use a multi-period double-difference model to analyze a panel of data from 298 prefecture-level cities in China from 2007 to 2020. Our findings confirm that implementing agricultural support protection subsidy policies has had initial success regarding grain output growth and quality improvement at the point of contradiction. This success is also due to its scale and technology effects, which can ensure that grain output and quality have achieved growth. The level of agricultural machinery also plays a crucial positive role in the impact of the subsidy policy on food production and food security. Further heterogeneity analysis shows that the impacts of agricultural support and protection subsidy policies on food quality and yield security differ significantly across different geographic regions, food crop production, and pollutant type levels. Therefore, the positive impact of subsidy policies on the food industry should be better promoted to enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of agriculture. Full article

As energy demand continues to grow, the enhancement of natural gas storage and peaking capacity has become an important measure to ensure national energy security and to achieve the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. Gas storage and peaking have mature development models in the international arena, and China is making every effort to develop this system. This study reveals the impact and promotion of natural gas storage and peaking technology on high-quality economic growth in different regional economic environments through sample data from 30 provinces in China, from 2006 to 2022. The results show that natural gas storage and peaking directly promote high-quality economic development and have a positive spatial spillover effect on high-quality development in neighboring regions, a finding verified by the robustness test and endogeneity test. A heterogeneity analysis further revealed that there are significant differences among eastern, central, and western regions in terms of natural gas storage and peaking capacity and quality of economic development. The eastern region has a stronger gas storage and peaking capacity, while the central and western regions have a weaker capacity. Mechanism analysis shows that R and D technology (RDT) efficiency and green finance have a positive moderating effect on the benchmark effect. This has significant implications for policymakers and business leaders, suggesting that peak gas storage and peaking can drive improvements in broader regional corporate sustainability practices and increase regional levels of high-quality development. Full article

With the rapid development of the world economy, pollution of urban and rural ecological environments and the decline in anti-risk capabilities are becoming more serious. In order to promote sustainable improvement of urban and rural ecological resilience, based on previous independent research on urban and rural resilience, this paper combines the two to carry out collaborative development research. The dynamic evolution and driving force heterogeneity in the coordinated development level of urban and rural ecological resilience in Yunnan Province in China from 2013 to 2022 were studied using the coordination degree model of composite system and geographical detector. The results show the following: (1) The urban and rural ecological resilience levels in Yunnan Province increased annually, but urban ecological resilience (0.178) lagged behind that of rural areas (0.376). Compared to rural areas, the overall spatial difference in urban ecological resilience level is significant. (2) The overall level of urban–rural ecological resilience synergy in Yunnan Province has been increasing annually, from “no synergy” to “primary synergy”. However, there are great differences between prefectures and cities. (3) The combination of urban and rural driving factors is more conducive to improving urban–rural ecological resilience. The interaction between the per capita water supply and fertilizer consumption is the primary and critical driving factor. In the future, we will continue to take the coordinated development of urban and rural ecological resilience as the theme, further expand the research field, and carry out future development trend prediction research. This study provides new ideas for the construction of ecological resilience in similar countries and regions worldwide. Full article

Balancing food production and biodiversity conservation is a big challenge around the world. Eco-friendly agriculture has the potential to overcome these challenges and achieve sustainability. Although some studies show the high valuation of flagship species (e.g., attractive birds and fish) in paddy land where eco-friendly rice is cultivated, limited research has been performed concerning non-specific species such as generalists inhabiting rice paddies that also contribute to agro-biodiversity and ecosystem services. Therefore, this study assesses the valuation of non-flagship vertebrates and invertebrates by applying a choice experiment to vertebrate- and invertebrate-friendly rice. To understand the spatial/regional heterogeneity of the valuation, a questionnaire survey was distributed to both urban and rural citizens in Japan. Our results demonstrated that almost all respondents expressed a desire to protect both vertebrates and invertebrates, with more appreciation for vertebrates than for invertebrates. The analysis also found regional heterogeneity between urban and rural areas in terms of vertebrate and invertebrate evaluations and purchasing intentions. Our findings indicate marketing potential in Japan to promote eco-friendly rice production in relation to vertebrate and invertebrate conservation. Full article

Surface water is a crucial part of terrestrial ecosystems and is crucial to maintaining ecosystem health, ensuring social stability, and promoting high-quality regional economic development. The surface water in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) has a high sediment content and spatially heterogeneous sediment distribution, presenting a significant challenge for surface water extraction. In this study, we first analyze the applicability of nine water indexes in the YRB by using the Landsat series images (Landsat 5, 7, 8) and then examine the correlation between the accuracy of the water indexes and suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations. On this basis, we propose a surface water extraction method considering the SPM concentrations (SWE-CSPM). Finally, we examine the dynamic variations in the surface water in the YRB at four scales: the global scale, the secondary water resource zoning scale, the provincial scale, and the typical water scale. The results indicate that (1) among the nine water indexes, the MBWI has the highest water extraction accuracy, followed by the AWEInsh and WI2021, while the NDWI has the lowest. (2) Compared with the nine water indexes and the multi-index water extraction rule method (MIWER), the SWE-CSPM can effectively reduce the commission errors of surface water extraction, and the water extraction accuracy is the highest (overall accuracy 95.44%, kappa coefficient 90.62%). (3) At the global scale, the maximum water area of the YRB shows a decreasing trend, but the change amount is small. The permanent water area shows an uptrend, whereas the seasonal water area shows a downtrend year by year. The reason may be that the increase in surface runoff and the construction of reservoir projects have led to the transformation of some seasonal water into permanent water. (4) At the secondary water resource zoning scale, the permanent water area of other secondary water resource zonings shows an increasing trend in different degrees, except for the Interior Drainage Area. (5) At the provincial scale, the permanent water area of all provinces shows an uptrend, while the seasonal water areas show a fluctuating downtrend. The maximum water area of Shandong, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Qinghai increases slowly, while the other provinces show a decreasing trend. (6) At the typical water scale, there are significant differences in the water area variation process in Zhaling Lake, Eling Lake, Wuliangsuhai, Hongjiannao, and Dongping Lake, but the permanent water area and maximum water area of these waters have increased over the past decade. This study offers significant technical support for the dynamic monitoring of surface water and helps to deeply understand the spatiotemporal variations in surface water in the YRB. Full article

Economic development often results in significant greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global climate change, which demands immediate attention. Despite implementing various low-carbon policies to promote sustainable economic and environmental progress, current evaluations reveal limitations and deficiencies. Therefore, this study utilizes a dataset detailing policy intensity at a prefecture-level city in China to investigate the impacts of these policies on carbon emission reduction from 2007 to 2022 in 334 prefecture-level cities, employing a fixed-effects model. Additionally, it assesses the policies’ efficacy. The findings indicate a significant negative correlation between China’s low-carbon policies and carbon emissions, supported robustly by multiple tests. Specifically, a one-unit increase in China’s policy intensity correlates with a 0.53-unit reduction in carbon emissions. Furthermore, the heterogeneity analysis shows that variations in urban agglomerations, environmental resource endowments, pollution levels, and low-carbon policy intensities influence the effectiveness of these policies in reducing carbon emissions. This analysis underscores that policy intensity achieves emission reductions through technological innovation, industrial transformation, welfare crowding out, and pollution transfer, with varying impacts across different environmental contexts, pollution levels, and policy intensities. Based on this analysis, we recommend several policies: formulating low-carbon strategies tailored to local conditions, enhancing regional low-carbon policies, establishing cross-regional coordination mechanisms, and so on. These recommendations not only offer valuable policy insights for China but also serve as useful references for the green and sustainable development of other developing countries. Full article

This study investigates the crucial role of green finance in addressing the imperative of reducing industrial carbon emissions for a sustainable global economy. Encompassing facets, such as green credit, insurance, investment, and governmental help for growth in green businesses. Our research on the strength of a comprehensive dataset covering China’s 30 provinces between 2010 and 2019 employs a fixed-effects regression and heterogeneity assessment, revealing an inverse association between green finance and industrial carbon emissions. This verifies the notion that green finance serves as a deterrent to carbon emissions from the industrial sector. According to the results of this study, green financing can significantly lower the CO₂ emissions from industries, which in turn can lead to an enhancement in environmental quality. Notably, our findings revealed substantial regional variations in this relationship. By proposing actionable recommendations, we advocate strategies to address regional disparities, standardize measurement protocols for green finance, optimize the environment for technological innovation, and realize industrial structures. By acknowledging these nuanced dynamics, our study not only contributes to the understanding of the impact of green finance but also offers targeted solutions to foster high-quality sustainable development in China, ensuring a more effective and comprehensive approach to mitigating carbon emissions in the industrial sector. Full article