Analysis of Environmental and Socio-economic Determinants Affecting Population Longevity Level at County Level in China

INTRODUCTIONIn recent thirty years, due to the decreasing fertility andincreasing life expectancy, China's population is aging ata very rapid pace and the elderly population size is keepingon growing. During the dramatic aging progress, the oldestold group in China is catching our eyes. More and moreold people of China are becoming the oldest old. Theextremely old population (aged 80 and above) is increasingat 5.1% annually, while the old population above 65 isincreasing at 2.9%, and the…     

Theoretical and Empirical Analysis on Influence Factors of Modern Agricultural Equipment Level in the Process of Agricultural Sustainable Development

Abstract

To promote modern agricultural equipment level is one characteristic of constructing and developing modern agriculture in China. This paper makes up stepwise linear regression analysis model of influence factors of modern agricultural equipment level, and chooses rural labor, per capita income of rural residents, rural investment, proportion of people at secondary education level and at higher level in per hundred rural labor force and arable land area as independent variables, and total power of machine as induced variable. The major results show that the relativity of modern agricultural equipment level, rural investment and education level of peasants is remarkable, and they are the major influence factors of modern agricultural equipment level. Raising investment level of rural infrastructure construction as well as and research and development and promotion of advanced and applicable modern agricultural equipment, improving quality and education level of peasants can accelerate the development of China’s modern agricultural equipment effectively in the process of agricultural sustainable development.     

Empirical Research on Factors Influencing Level of Environmental Protection Information Disclosure in Annual Reports by Listed Companies

Taking 248 A-share manufacturing listed companies in 2006 Shanghai Stock Exchange as example, using ＂index method＂ to measure level of environmental protection information disclosure, this paper examines the factors influencing level of environmental protection information disclosure. The findings show that the disclosure level has improved, but the overall level is still low and unable to satisfy information users; there is positive correlation between corporate size, industry type, accounting firm＇s type and corporate environmental disclosure index. The companies of large scale and heavy pollution and those audited by international ＂Big 4＂ and domestic ＂Big 10＂ accounting firms have a high level of environmental disclosure, while the profitability and financial leverage has no impact on the disclosure level. Finally some suggestions are put forward to establish environmental information disclosure system in China.     

The Impact on Environmental Kuznets Curve by Trade and Foreign Direct Investment in China

Abstract

Based on data of trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), economic development and environmental conditions in China's 30 provinces between 1990–2002, this paper deals with the impact on Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) of trade and FDI in China. The results show no direct impact on EKC of trade, on the one hand. However, trade contributes significantly to economic growth, and has played a positive role in introducing advanced pollution prevention technology and environmental management methodology to China. Therefore, a proactive trade policy will help solve the environmental pollution problem brought by economic growth. On the other hand, there is a positive correlation between FDI and pollutant emission, which proves that FDI does have some negative influence on environment in China due to hasty introduction of foreign capital and inadequate environmental management system in China.     

Education in environmental health of health care professionals: What needs to be done?

BackgroundHealth professionals are key actors in environmental health. Taking on this role requires a certain degree of competence. That is the reason why education in environmental health of health care professionals became a major concern at international level, notably at WHO level. However, in the European Union only the individual Member States are responsible for organizing education and no official body seems to have started outlining recommendations on how to set up this kind of training.ObjectivesWe set out to draw up some propositions for training in environmental health on the basis of the practice of educational institutions involved in training health care professionals.MethodsA survey was conducted in 934 educational institutions involved in training health care professionals in 11 European countries and in Canada.ResultsOur data reveal that, whereas there are many establishments — nearly half of those that replied — engaged in educating health care professionals in environmental health, they do so in a great variety of ways, whether in terms of objectives, content, the number of teaching hours, or their target groups. Moreover, there is only limited evaluation of this training, which makes the question of recognition a very difficult one.ConclusionsNumerous difficulties have been raised in relation to education in environmental health, both by trainers and trainees. Some solutions to these difficulties are suggested but the need of official guidelines keeps going.     

Impacts of Social and Demographic Factors on Residents’ Subjective Well-being in Rural China

Abstract

The objective of social development is to construct a harmonious society. In China, the key to a harmonious society is the happiness of more than 900 million farmers living in the rural areas. This study aimed to measure rural residents’ subjective well-being (SWB) through the day reconstruction method, as well as to analyze SWB’s influencing factors through a variety of statistical methods. The results showed that the average U index was 12.79%, indicating that respondents were unhappy 12.79% of the time. Twenty-seven percent of the population had a U index greater than 0, with the average value being 47%, indicating that these people were unhappy 47% of the time. The study also found that SWB varied according to the characteristics of the respondents. Logistic regression analysis showed that social and demographic factors, including age, education, county, household size, generation number, per capita income, migration status and social networking, which significantly affected rural residents’ SWB. The size of the impact varied with the different factors.     

川中丘陵县域土壤pH空间变异及影响因素分析——以四川仁寿县为例

利用2012年在仁寿县采集的555个表层土样(0~20cm),应用地统计学方法分析了该县域尺度表层土壤pH值的空间变异特征;并采用方差分析和回归分析量化主要影响因素对土壤pH值空间变异的影响程度。结果表明:研究区土壤pH值在4.02~8.14之间,平均为6.80,总体上以中性和碱性土壤为主;变异系数为14.48%,属中等程度的空间变异性。地统计分析表明,研究区土壤pH值变异函数的最佳理论模型为球状模型,具有中等程度的空间自相关性,且空间自相关范围较大。方差分析和回归分析表明,土壤类型、成土母质和土地利用方式是显著影响土壤pH值的主要因素。其中,成土母质和土地利用方式分别能独立解释76.2%和4.8%的土壤pH值空间变异。土壤类型的解释能力与分类级别有关,土类、亚类和土属可分别独立解释41.3%、57.3%和83.7%的土壤pH值空间变异,因而能反映成土过程和母质特性的土属是研究区土壤pH值空间变异的主控因素。研究结果可为川中丘陵县域尺度土壤pH空间变异分析及区域生态环境管理与建设提供有益参考。     

Lower placental telomere length may be attributed to maternal residential traffic exposure; a twin study

BackgroundHigh variation in telomere length between individuals is already present before birth and is as wide among newborns as in adults. Environmental exposures likely have an impact on this observation, but remain largely unidentified. We hypothesize that placental telomere length in twins is associated with residential traffic exposure, an important environmental source of free radicals that might accelerate aging. Next, we intend to unravel the nature-nurture contribution to placental telomere length by estimating the heritability of placental telomere length.MethodsWe measured the telomere length in placental tissues of 211 twins in the East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey. Maternal traffic exposure was determined using a geographic information system. Additionally, we estimated the relative importance of genetic and environmental sources of variance.ResultsIn this twin study, a variation in telomere length in the placental tissue was mainly determined by the common environment. Maternal residential proximity to a major road was associated with placental telomere length: a doubling in the distance to the nearest major road was associated with a 5.32% (95% CI: 1.90 to 8.86%; p = 0.003) longer placental telomere length at birth. In addition, an interquartile increase (22%) in maternal residential surrounding greenness (5 km buffer) was associated with an increase of 3.62% (95% CI: 0.20 to 7.15%; p = 0.04) in placental telomere length.ConclusionsIn conclusion, we showed that maternal residential proximity to traffic and lower residential surrounding greenness is associated with shorter placental telomere length at birth. This may explain a significant proportion of air pollution-related adverse health outcomes starting from early life, since shortened telomeres accelerate the progression of many diseases.     

China Resource Satellite's Application

Abstract

On the basis of introducing the principle of path analysis, this paper positively analyzes the influence factors of cultivated land change from 1978 to 2002 in Hubei Province. The relationship between the influence factors and cultivated land change is studied by means of the path analysis. The results show that the construction rearrangement of agriculture, grain security and market mechanism are the main factors that decide the cultivated land change. Meanwhile, the impact of investment, urbanization and benefit gap among the different utilizing ways also leads to the change of cultivated land. The result means that though some factors have less direct influence on the change of cultivated land, their indirect influence is significant or vice versa.     

基于不同尺度的湘鄂赣地区传统村落空间分异及影响因素

分析区域传统村落的空间分异及影响因素,可为传统村落的整体保护与分区保护提供理论支撑,也可为制定保护政策提供科学依据。以湘鄂赣地区550个传统村落为研究对象,运用空间分析方法和数理统计方法,从市域、县域两个尺度探讨传统村落的空间分异及影响因素。结果表明:湘鄂赣地区传统村落具有分布广泛、局部集中的特征,分布形态呈集聚型,且县域尺度的集聚特征比市域尺度更明显;江汉-洞庭湖平原为低低集聚区域,传统村落分布稀疏。在两个尺度上,传统村落数量均与平均海拔、年均降雨量呈正相关,与河流密度、年均气温、公路密度、城镇化率、人均GDP、人口密度呈负相关。平均海拔、公路密度在市域尺度对传统村落的分布影响显著,年均气温、年均降雨量、人均GDP在县域尺度对传统村落的分布影响显著。自然地理因素是湘鄂赣地区传统村落形成的环境基础,并通过影响社会经济活动进而影响传统村落的保存。     

长江经济带县域信息化水平的空间差异及影响因素

在县域尺度下,以长江经济带719个县（市）作为空间研究单元,构建以信息化发展环境支撑、信息基础设施建设水平、信息技术创新支撑、信息网络消费水平4个层次9个具体指标的信息化水平评价体系,运用均方差决策法、空间插值、空间自相关分析、核密度估计等方法分析长江经济带县域信息化水平的空间分布特征以及影响因素。研究表明：（1）从空间聚类分布上看,长江经济带信息化水平东西地区差异显著,呈现出一个核心发展片区,多个副核心中心,整体由东部沿海向西部内陆递减的空间格局;（2）从空间关联格局上看,长江经济带信息化水平存在空间集聚现象。以显著HH区与显著LL区为主,显著HH区主要在金华、绍兴、温州、苏州、南通、常州等地区的县（市）分布;显著LL区主要在全椒县、和县、枞阳县等分布;（3）从核密度估计上看,随着搜索半径的扩大,长江经济带县域信息化水平空间层次性趋于明显,由最初长三角地区的两个高密度值区转变为多核心-边缘结构,最终形成高密度值片区;（4）从影响因素的解读看,区位条件的差异化影响明显,经济基础的支撑作用强,工业化、科技化进程与信息化水平相匹配,政策的引领作用强但不同水平区作用效果不一,人才与科技支撑在中西部地区需要大力提升。     

An environmental wide association study (EWAS) approach to the metabolic syndrome

BackgroundEnvironmental contaminants have previously been linked to components of the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). However, exposure to environmental contaminants is in part determined by various lifestyle factors.ObjectiveUsing an “Environmental Wide Association Study” (ELWAS) integrating environmental contaminants and lifestyle factors, we aimed to evaluate a possible additive role of both contaminants and lifestyle factors regarding MetS.Methods1016 subjects aged 70 years were investigated in the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study. 43 environmental contaminants were measured in the circulation. Dietary records were used to evaluate 21 nutrients and the proportions of 13 fatty acids were determined in serum cholesterol esters to further quantify fat quality intake. Adding 5 other important lifestyle factors yielded together 76 environmental and lifestyle factors. MetS was defined by the NCEP/ATPIII-criteria.Results23% had MetS. Using cross-validation within the sample, fourteen environmental contaminants or lifestyle factors consistently showed a false discovery rate < 0.05. When the major variables entered a multiple model, only p, p′-DDE levels (positive), PCB209 (inverse) and exercise habits (inverse) were together with a fatty acid pattern, with high levels of palmitic acid and oleic acid and low levels of linoleic acid, related to MetS (p < 0.002 for all variables).ConclusionUsing a cross-sectional EWAS approach, certain environmental contaminants and lifestyle factors were found to be associated with prevalent metabolic syndrome in an additive fashion in an elderly population.     

Population and development: impacts on environmental performance

Population growth and development patterns have a significant impact on the environmental performance. The issue of concern is whether population growth or the consumption/production patterns are responsible for environmental deterioration. This paper is an attempt to capture the impact of technological development, affluence, and population on environmental performance index, while previous studies had captured the impact of these three factors on environment only through CO₂ emissions. The analysis reveals that technological development and population size have a negative impact on environmental performance, whereas measures to improve affluence have a positive impact. Technological development has increased the production of energy efficient products but at the same time consumption of these products has increased manifold leading to environmental deterioration. Demographic attributes need specific attention to improve environmental performance. This paper concludes on some policy reflections on slowing the population growth as well as persuades individuals and economies to relook to their consumption and production patterns and channelize their efforts to protect the environment.     

Movement towards a low carbon emitted environment: a test of some factors in Malaysia

There exists a high global concern in different nations on environmental sustainability especially at the focal stage of increased economic growth and development process due to high level of environmental degradation and pollution. The major aim of this study was to empirically examine how to minimise carbon emissions (CO₂) in Malaysia which are mainly caused by energy production, fossil fuel consumption, population density and economic growth. The study adopted the method of autoregressive distributed lag bound testing approach to analyse the data for the period 1971–2011. The study found that economic growth in Malaysia has a direct relationship with CO₂ emissions in both the short run and the long run. Similarly, there is a positive relationship between fossil fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions over the same period. Population density was found to have positive impacts on CO₂ emissions. Contrarily, the relationship between the activities of energy production and pollution is negative in the long run. The study recommends that a targeted GDP growth rate should be set with the consideration to avoid more environmental pollution. In addition, the positive impact of fossil fuel consumption on the environmental pollution implies that there is a need to make and implement policies that will encourage the use of public transportation system more than private transportations. That is, the unnecessary use of private vehicles should be discouraged in order to reduce the extent of fossil fuel consumption.     

The influence of socioeconomic, environmental, and demographic factors on municipality-scale land-cover change in Mexico

Land-cover change is the result of complex multi-scale interactions between socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental factors. Demographic change, in particular, is thought to be a major driver of forest change. Most studies have evaluated these interactions at the regional or the national level, but few studies have evaluated these dynamics across multiple spatial scales within a country. In this study, we evaluated the effect of demographic, environmental, and socioeconomic variables on land-cover change between 2001 and 2010 for all Mexican municipalities (n?=?2,443) as well as by biome (n?=?4). We used a land-cover classification based on 250-m MODIS data to examine the change in cover classes (i.e., woody, mixed woody, and agriculture/herbaceous vegetation). We evaluated the trends of land-cover change and identified the major factors correlated with woody vegetation change in Mexico. At the national scale, the variation in woody vegetation was best explained by environmental variables, particularly precipitation; municipalities where woody cover increased tended to be in areas with low average annual precipitation (i.e., desert and dry forest biomes). Demographic variables did not contribute much to the model at the national scale. Elevation, temperature, and population density explained the change in woody cover when municipalities were grouped by biome (i.e., moist forest, dry forest, coniferous forest, and deserts). Land-cover change at the biome level showed two main trends: (1) the tropical moist biome lost woody vegetation to agriculture and herbaceous vegetation, and (2) the desert biome increased in woody vegetation within more open-canopy shrublands.     

Estimate on spillover effect of environmental pollution between peripheral areas

ABSTRACT

Interaction of environmental pollution between peripheral areas has become a central topic in the field of resources and environment but little is known about the actual impact on peripheral areas in the current literature. This paper sets out a simultaneous equation model to investigate the spillover effect of environmental pollution between China’s peripheral areas utilizing the panel data of 218 cities in China. Making use of indicators for measuring the impact on environmental pollution, it identifies that environmental pollution between cities of China has a significant two-way spillover effect. After standardization of variables, it is found that the spillover effect of peripheral areas on urban environmental pollution cannot be neglected. Nearly, a third of the environmental pollution level in a city is induced by the environmental pollution in peripheral areas. If the indicator of environmental pollution in peripheral areas is missing, wrong conclusions will be drawn. Therefore, government should shift the emphasis of environmental regulation from local to global, and improve the overall environmental quality through coordinated management of regional environment.     

Effect of lifestyle changes and consumption patterns on environmental impact: a comparison study of Pakistan and China

Increased economic development and industrialization put strain on environment, hence causing pollution and destroying ecosystem. Generally, many different factors affect the environment. These factors include GHG emissions, deforestation, and others. These are all related to human activities on Earth. Other factors that affect environment include population, consumption patterns, and changing life styles of people due to increased income. This study involves the comparison analysis of Pakistan and China on the basis of environmental impact caused by some major driving factors. China is the second largest CO₂ emitter in the world with a population of 1.37 billion in 2016 and the second largest economy in the world. Pakistan is ranked as 40th on the basis of nominal GDP. Both the countries observed noticeable growth in economic development for over 55 years, i.e. 1960–2016. This study identifies how population, affluence, consumption, and emissions as the major factors affect environmental pollution and use ImPACT equation, or I = PACT, to calculate the environmental impact and to determine which factors affect the environment the most. The study suggests that the people of both China and Pakistan have experienced increased income for the past 50 years and this increase has led to the changes in their lifestyles, from suitable clothing and quality food to comfortable living and increased energy consumption, thus affecting environment.     

长江中游城市群县域城镇化水平空间格局演变及驱动因子分析

在通过可达性方法确定长江中游城市群县域范围的基础上,运用熵值法从人口、经济及社会3个子系统对长江中游城市群县域2001、2006及2011年3个时期城镇化发展水平进行综合测度,运用空间自相关对综合城镇化水平的空间演变进行分析并分类,利用回归分析对各类型县域进行驱动因子分析。结果表明:(1)长江中游城市群县域综合城镇化水平持续提升,但各地区间的发展速度差异明显;在子系统演化过程中,以经济城镇化的快速演进为主要特征,其次为社会城镇化,最后为人口城镇化过程。(2)综合城镇化水平及其变化率与城市等级规模、交通及产业结构转型密切相关;各子系统在空间格局演变进程中有着不同的特点,但子系统变化率间具有明显的正相关性。(3)长江中游城市群县域城镇化依据关联性可以划分为"耦合聚集"型、"中心洼地"型、"拮抗聚集"型及"核心边缘"型,各类型县域空间格局演变明显。(4)內源力在"耦合聚集"型县域及"拮抗聚集"县域城镇化进程中具有促进作用,投资力对"中心洼地"型县域影响作用明显,而"核心边缘"型县域主要驱动因子为行政力和內源力;根据各类型县域主要驱动因子提出促进城镇化发展的相应措施,以做到因地制宜地指导各地区城镇化健康发展。     

Uncertainty,Irreversibility and the Timing Problems of Environmental Policy

Abstract

Most environmental issues and policy designing are uncertain and irreversible; therefore, the timing of environmental policy implementation becomes especially important. This paper establishes a random dynamic programming model and analyzes the optimal timing problems in environmental policy under uncertain variables. This model results indicate that two variables have a significant impact on the timing of environmental policy implementation and they work in opposite directions: on one hand, the more uncertain the economy is, the higher the cost of policies implementation will be, and consequently the incentive to immediately adopt the policy will be stronger. On the other hand, the higher the uncertainty of the environment is, the stronger the irreversibility of ecological harm caused by pollutants per unit will be. Therefore, the government should implement new environmental policies as early as possible in order to gain more ecological benefits.     

Tour Level Mode Choice Analysis of Madison Area in Wisconsin

Abstract

This study is to investigate what factors and how they affect tours (trip chains) behavior. The key issue is the understanding and definition of tour and tour level mode. Also, these definitions should fit for the data. A semi-home based tour definition is stated, and a competing mode based tour mode is defined. Based on the definition, this study used Madison Area Data from National Household Survey to estimate a MNL structured model. It is found that travel distance could be a positive factor for car mode. Meanwhile, the number of trips is also a positive factor for choosing car.