Evaluation of urban sprawl and urban landscape pattern in a rapidly developing region

Urban sprawl is a worldwide phenomenon happening particularly in rapidly developing regions. A study on the spatiotemporal characteristics of urban sprawl and urban pattern is useful for the sustainable management of land management and urban land planning. The present research explores the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban sprawl in the context of a rapid urbanization process in a booming economic region of southern China from 1979 to 2005. Three urban sprawl types are distinguished by analyzing overlaid urban area maps of two adjacent study years which originated from the interpretation of remote sensed images and vector land use maps. Landscape metrics are used to analyze the spatiotemporal pattern of urban sprawl for each study period. Study results show that urban areas have expanded dramatically, and the spatiotemporal landscape pattern configured by the three sprawl types changed obviously. The different sprawl type patterns in five study periods have transformed significantly, with their proportions altered both in terms of quantity and of location. The present research proves that urban sprawl quantification and pattern analysis can provide a clear perspective of the urbanization process during a long time period. Particularly, the present study on urban sprawl and sprawl patterns can be used by land use and urban planners.     

Characteristics of surface ozone at an urban site of Xi'an in Northwest China

Surface ozone concentrations in Xi'an, China were monitored from March 23, 2008 to January 12, 2009 using the Model ML/EC9810 ozone analyzer. The daily average O(3) ranged from <1 ppb to 64.2 ppbv with an annual average of 16.0 ppbv. The seasonal average of O(3) in summer (32.5 ppbv) was more than 10 times higher than that in winter (3.0 ppbv). A significant positive correlation was found between ozone concentration and ambient temperature, indicating that the intensity of solar radiation was one of the several major factors controlling surface ozone production. Using the NOAA HYSPLIT 4 trajectory model, the three longest O(3) pollution episodes were found to be associated with the high biogenic volatile organic carbon (BVOC) emissions from the vegetation of Qinling Mountains. No significant weekday and weekend difference in O(3) levels was detected due to the non-significant change in NO(x) emissions. O(3) depletion by NO emission directly emitted from vehicles, low oxygenated VOC concentrations, and low-level solar radiation caused by high aerosol loading all contributed to the low levels of O(3) found in Xi'an compared to other cities and rural areas.     

Population Distribution and Influencing Factors Based on ESDA

Based on the exploratory spatial data analysis(ESDA) technique and geographic information system(GIS) platform,with statistic data of counties in 2005,this paper confirms that there is a large population density gap between counties in 2005 because the Gini coefficient is 0.55.Population distribution does not change a lot during the past decades,and the southeast China is still much more densely populated than the northwest China.The global spatial autocorrelation of population distribution is obvious because Moran’s I scores 0.42 and local spatial autocorrelation is partly significant.Climate and elevation are still the main natural influencing factors.Meanwhile industrial structure and transportation significantly influence population distribution.Different combinations of natural factors have different effects on population distribution.For a long term,climate and terrain factor stability affect population distribution.But its influence will be weakened by progress of technology.Economic development is the main factor that changes population distribution for a short term.     

高校建立专项档案数据库的必要性

高校档案具有类型多、范围广、数量大等特点。随着教育事业的发展,高校的管理方式、培养模式发生了改变,高校的档案产生途径和利用范围也随之发生了变化。因此,必须实现档案信息数字化管理,建立专项数据库。建库要有专业人员,依据国标或行业标准,要注重实效性和安全性。专项数据库建设和信息资源建设是数字化档案馆建设的基础和必由之路。     

Vinegar residue compost as a growth substrate enhances cucumber resistance against the Fusarium wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum by regulating physiological and biochemical responses

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Fusarium wilt caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum (FOC) is the most severe soil-borne disease attacking cucumber. To assess the...     

Empirical research on coordination evaluation and sustainable development mechanism of regional logistics and new-type urbanization: a panel data analysis from 2000 to 2015 for Liaoning Province in China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - As the largest developing country in the world, China has witnessed fast-paced urbanization over the past three decades with rapid economic growth. In...     

Enhanced removal of humic acid from micro-polluted source water in a surface discharge plasma system coupled with activated carbon

Surface discharge plasma (SDP) combined with activated carbon (AC) was employed to eliminate dissolved organic matter from micro-polluted source water, with humic acid (HA) as the model pollutant. Synergistic effect on HA removal was observed in the SDP-AC system; HA removal efficiency reached 60.9% within 5-min treatment in the SDP-AC system with 5.0 g AC addition, whereas 16.7 and 17.4% of HA were removed in sole SDP system and AC adsorption, respectively. Scanning electron microscope and Boehm titration analysis showed that chemical reactions between active species and functional groups of AC occurred. The existence of isopropanol or benzoquinone exhibited inhibitive effects on HA removal in the SDP system, while these inhibitive effects were weakened in the SDP-AC system. The influences of AC on ozone equivalent concentration and H₂O₂ concentration were evaluated, and there were approximately 39 and 20% decline in ozone equivalent concentration and H₂O₂ concentration within 6-min treatment in the SDP-AC system, respectively, compared with those in the sole SDP system. Dissolved organic carbon, specific ultraviolet absorbance, and UV absorption ratios analysis demonstrated that the SDP treatment destroyed the chromophoric groups, double bonds, and aromatic structure of HA molecules, and these destructive actions were strengthened by AC.     

三苯基锡对假微型海链藻(Thalassiosira pseudonana)的生长抑制及温度的影响

在我国近岸海域环境中,三苯基锡分布十分广泛。本研究以假微型海链藻(Thalassiosira pseudonana)为目标物种,研究了4个不同温度条件下(10℃、15℃、25℃与30℃)三苯基锡暴露对其细胞生长以及光合作用参数(Fv/Fm与ФII)的影响。结果表明,假微型海链藻的细胞生长速率在高温与低温条件下均显著下降,而光合作用参数仅在30℃条件下受到显著影响。在暴露温度为10℃、15℃、25℃与30℃时,三苯基锡(triphenyltin,TPT)对假微型海链藻的生长抑制IC50值分别为1.81、1.69、1.09与0.73μg·L-1。TPT对假微型海链藻光合作用抑制的IC50随着温度的升高呈降低趋势。Two-way ANOVA分析结果显示,温度与三苯基锡的相互作用显著影响假微型海链藻的光合作用。上述研究结果可以为了解不同温度下三苯基锡对海洋微藻的毒性效应提供科学依据。     

Different exposure levels of fine particulate matter and preterm birth: a meta-analysis based on cohort studies

The previous studies estimated the association between PM_2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 μm) exposure during pregnancy and preterm birth, only considered and highlighted the hazard effects of high levels of air pollutant exposure, and underestimated that low levels of pollutant exposure might also affect pregnancy outcome. We conducted a meta-analysis of 11 cohort studies, a total of more than 1,500,000 subjects. The results of these studies were pooled by exposure levels and study periods. PM_2.5 exposure during pregnancy was positively associated with preterm birth (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.07–1.23), and during the first trimester of pregnancy, low levels of PM_2.5 exposure were also positively associated with preterm birth (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.04–1.30). It is important to protect pregnant women from PM_2.5 exposures, especially during their first trimester of pregnancy even when the ambient PM_2.5 concentration is relatively low. More relevant health policy should be carried out to prevent hazard effect of air pollutants.