Search Results (85)

High-quality growth of the construction industry and an improved human settlements environment are essential to sustainable urbanization. Existing studies have paid limited systematic attention to the spatial and temporal dynamics of the coordinated development between the construction industry and human settlements, as well as the underlying factors driving regional disparities. This gap restricts the formulation of precise, differentiated sustainable policies tailored to regions at different development stages and with varying resource endowments. Southern China, characterized by pronounced spatial heterogeneity and unique development trends, offers a natural laboratory for examining the spatio-temporal interaction between these two dimensions. Using panel data for 15 southern provinces (2013–2022), we applied the entropy method, coupling coordination model, Dagum Gini coefficient, spatial trend surface analysis, gravity model, and grey forecasting to evaluate current conditions and predict future trends. The main findings are as follows. (1) The coupling coordination degree rose steadily, forming a stepped spatial pattern from the southwest through the center to the southeast. (2) The coupling coordination degree appears obvious polarization effect, presenting a spatial linkage pattern with Jiangsu-Shanghai-Zhejiang, Hubei-Hunan-Jiangxi, and Sichuan-Chongqing as the core of the three major clusters. (3) The overall Dagum Gini coefficient declined, but intra-regional disparities persisted: values were highest in the southeast, moderate in the center, and lowest in the southwest; inter-regional differences dominated the total inequality. (4) Forecasts for 2023–2027 suggest further improvement in the coupling coordination degree, yet spatial divergence will widen, creating a configuration of “eastern leadership, central catch-up acceleration, and differentiated southwestern development.” This study provides an evidence base for policies that foster high-quality construction sector growth and enhance the living environment. The findings of this study indicate that policymaking should prioritize promoting synergistic regional development, enhancing the radiating and driving role of core regions, and establishing a multi-level coordinated governance mechanism to bridge regional disparities and foster more balanced and sustainable development. Full article

Gerbera piloselloides (L.)Cass. is an important ethnomedicinal plant. Wild populations are steadily declining, however, posing a risk of failure to meet future market demand. Investigating suitable habitats for this plant and key influencing factors is crucial for its artificial cultivation. In this study, we implemented an optimized MaxEnt to project suitable habitats for the target species in five different periods and explored the impact of different environmental variables on its distribution. Our study findings provide confirmation of the following: (1) The current and future potential distributions of Gerbera piloselloides are primarily located in the areas south of the Qinling–Huaihe boundary in China, with future expansions expected to shift northward and westward. (2) Notably, there was a contraction in the junction regions of the provinces of Jiangxi, Anhui, Hunan, and Hubei. (3) The number of highly suitable habitats in Fujian, Guangdong, Yunnan, and Guangxi is expanding; in comparison, the number in Guizhou, Sichuan, and Hainan is declining. (4) The primary environmental determinants shaping its range, together with the threshold values for highly suitable habitats, are the minimum temperature of the coldest month (bio6, 0.88–22.58 °C) and the temperature seasonality (bio4, 461.54–763.9). The findings presented in this work provide support for the artificial cultivation and conservation of this plant. Full article

Huperzine A (HupA) can alleviate Alzheimer’s disease due to its reversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The chemical synthesis and plant extraction of HupA is plagued by route complexity and resource scarcity, respectively. Although some endophytic fungi from Huperzia serrata can independently biosynthesize HupA, their yields are trivial. After a comprehensive investigation of HupA-producing H. serrata across China, we focused on the endophytic fungi from Hunan and Hubei provinces, which demonstrated high-level HupA. Morphological characteristics and internal transcriptional sequence (ITS) analysis revealed their diversity. Among the four HupA-producing endophytic fungi, Colletotrichum kahawae is the best-performing and was thus subjected to fermentation optimization. When its fermentation medium was supplemented with H. serrata flavonoids daidzein and apigenin, HupA yields reached 58.38 μg/g (dry cell weight, dcw) and 72.21 μg/g dcw, respectively. In contrast, the addition of L-lysine and H. serrata extracts led to yields of 50.17 μg/g dcw and 255.32 μg/g dcw, respectively. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that H. serrata extracts substantially upregulated the expression of HupA biosynthesis genes in C. kahawae. Overall, H. serrata extracts outperformed L-lysine, daidzein, and apigenin in boosting HupA production, as they encompass all the necessary nutrients for C. kahawae growth. This study not only connotes a nutritional exchange between H. serrata and C. kahawae during long-term coevolution but also offers insights for harnessing plant extracts for the overproduction of desired metabolites in endophytic fungi. Full article

Tea saponins are excellent natural surfactants, and previous studies on their extraction from C. oleifera seed meals in subcritical water have mainly focused on the optimization of external extraction conditions. In order to achieve the efficient extraction of tea saponins in subcritical water, this study explores the influence of the composition-internal factors on the extraction rate of tea saponins. In this study, the composition of three C. oleifera seed meals purchased from Hubei, Hunan and Guizhou province and extraction rates of tea saponins, dissolution rates of reducing sugars and proteins from these C. oleifera seed meals were compared, and the results showed that reducing sugars and proteins were intrinsic components affecting extraction rates of tea saponins in subcritical water. The simulation system involving tea saponins, whey protein isolate (WPI), and glucose in subcritical water showed that WPI reduced the content of tea saponins through the Maillard reaction, and glucose inhibited the participation of tea saponins in the Maillard reaction. The above mechanism was verified using alkaline protease, which changed the content of reducing sugars and proteins in the C. oleifera seed meal purchased from Hubei province, and provided guidance for achieving the efficient extraction of tea saponins. Full article

Anthracnose significantly threatens the cultivation of Polygonatum cyrtonema, severely impacting its quality and yield. Between 2022 and 2023, 50 Colletotrichum isolates were obtained from diseased leaves collected in three P. cyrtonema production areas within the Two Lakes region of China (Hubei and Hunan provinces). Morphological and molecular analyses identified six Colletotrichum species as the causative agents of anthracnose: C. aenigma, C. siamense, C. gloeosporioides, C. spaethianum, C. fructicola, and C. karsti. Among these pathogens, C. fructicola and C. spaethianum were predominant (82%), while C. siamense and C. fructicola exhibited the highest aggressiveness. Physiological investigations revealed that the optimal temperature range for all six pathogens was 25–28 °C. C. spaethianum thrived under acidic conditions, whereas C. aenigma, C. siamense, and C. gloeosporioides preferred alkaline environments. In contrast, C. fructicola and C. karsti showed no significant response to pH variations. Fungicide screening demonstrated that pyraclostrobin, prochloraz, and carbendazim effectively inhibited the growth of Colletotrichum species. These findings elucidate the epidemiological factors, primary pathogens, and effective control agents for P. cyrtonema anthracnose in the Two Lakes region, providing a basis for developing targeted prevention and control strategies. Full article

The evaluation of water resource carrying capacity (WRCC) is crucial for guiding regional water management. This study established a WRCC evaluation index system and standards for the middle and lower Yangtze River, covering four subsystems: water resources, and social, economic, and ecological dimensions. The study improved the matter–element extension model by introducing triangular fuzzy numbers. The enhanced model was then used to assess the WRCC of seven provinces in the middle and lower Yangtze (2015–2023). Furthermore, GIS was used to examine the spatiotemporal variations and driving factors of WRCC. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) from 2015 to 2023, the evaluated level of WRCC in the Yangtze River’s middle and lower reaches remained stable and improved overall. Among them, the WRCC of Shanghai rose most significantly, from level III to level I. Zhejiang’s WRCC remained stable at level II, while Hubei and Hunan remained stable at level III, but with a trend toward improvement. Jiangsu’s WRCC fluctuated significantly. (2) The evaluation values of the subsystems in each region show a certain level of volatility. The water resource subsystem remained relatively stable in most regions, the social subsystem showed some variability, and both the economic and ecological subsystems developed well, showing positive effects in economic development and ecological protection in various regions. (3) The water resource subsystem had the greatest influence on WRCC. Per capita water resources, the urbanization rate, the greening coverage rate in built-up areas, and per capita GDP have the most significant impact on the WRCC in the Yangtze River’s middle and lower reaches. Full article

Accurately delineating the range of the Xiang-E submarine uplifts is the key to the exploration and development of Silurian shale gas in the Western Hunan–Hubei region. Based on the graptolite stratigraphic division of Well JD1 in Jianshi area, Hubei Province, and combined with the GBDB online database (Geobiodiversity Database), the study compared the shale graptolite sequences of the Wufeng Formation and Longmaxi Formation from 23 profile points and 11 wells which cross the Ordovician–Silurian boundary. The range of the Xiang-E submarine uplift was delineated, and its evolution model and formation mechanism at the Ordovician–Silurian transition were discussed. The graptolite stratigraphic correlation results of drillings and profiles confirmed the development of submarine uplifts in the Western Hunan–Hubei region at the Ordovician–Silurian transition–Xiang-E submarine uplift. Under the joint control of the Guangxi movement and the global sea-level variation caused by the condensation and melting of polar glaciers, the overall evolution of the Xiang-E submarine uplift is characterized by continuous uplift from the Katian Age to the early Rhuddanian Age, with the influence gradually expanding, and then gradually shrinking back in the middle and late Rhuddanian Age. The initial form of the Xiang-E submarine uplift may have originated from the Guangxi movement, and the global sea-level variation caused by polar glacier condensation and melting is the main controlling factor for the changes in its influence range. Within the submarine uplifts range, the Wufeng–Longmaxi Formations generally lack at least two graptolite zone organic-rich shales in the WF2-LM4, and the shale gas reservoir has a poor hydrocarbon generation material foundation, posing a high risk for shale gas exploration. The Silurian in Xianfeng, Lichuan, Yichang of Hubei and Wushan of Chongqing has good potential for shale gas exploration and development. Full article

This study employs the Biomod2 model, along with 22 bioclimatic variables, to predict the geographic distribution of the medicinal plant Epimedium acuminatum Franch. for the current period and three future timeframes (2050s, 2070s, and 2090s). Ultimately, 11 key environmental variables were identified as critical for assessing the habitat suitability of the medicinal plant. These include the annual mean temperature (Bio 1), isothermally (Bio 3), temperature seasonality (Bio 4), maximum temperature of the warmest month (Bio 5), minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio 6), mean temperature of the driest quarter (Bio 9), mean temperature of the coldest quarter (Bio 11), precipitation of the driest quarter (Bio 17), elevation (Elev), aspect, and slope. The results indicate that the current high suitability areas are primarily distributed across Yunnan, Chongqing, Sichuan, Hunan, Guangxi, and Hubei provinces. In the future, the extent of high suitability areas is expected to increase. This study aims to provide a theoretical reference for the conservation of E. acuminatum genetic resources from a geographic distribution perspective. Full article

Physical and psychological distress frequently challenges athletes throughout their careers. The perception of pain and coping strategies are often crucial factors in achieving victory. These factors not only reflect their commitment to daily training, but can also indicate their level of athletic performance. This study is a cross-sectional research using convenience and snowball sampling methods. It explores the relationship between mindfulness and athletes’ distress tolerance, revealing the mediating roles of cognitive reappraisal and mental toughness. A sample of 285 athletes was drawn from universities, youth training centers, and sports academies in Hunan, Hubei, and Sichuan provinces in China. To assess the proposed hypotheses, structural equation modeling was conducted using AMOS v23. The findings identified a significant positive correlation between mindfulness, cognitive reappraisal, and mental toughness. Additionally, both cognitive reappraisal and mental toughness were positively associated with distress tolerance. Further analysis demonstrated that cognitive reappraisal and mental toughness function as mediators in the mindfulness–distress tolerance relationship. These results indicate that athletes with higher mindfulness levels exhibit enhanced cognitive reappraisal skills, greater mental toughness, and improved distress tolerance. This means that athletes with higher mindfulness levels are more likely to detach from negative psychological states in a timely manner, utilizing emotional regulation skills such as cognitive reappraisal, and face training and competition with greater mental resilience. This can help athletes alleviate negative psychological states and, to some extent, reduce their experience of pain, enabling them to better cope with challenges. Therefore, athletes can actively engage in mindfulness practices combined with cognitive reappraisal strategies to achieve better psychological states, which can support their adherence to training and rehabilitation plans. Full article

Establishing a standard model for water resource ecological compensation, based on water quantity and quality, is one of the current research hotspots in the field of ecological economy. This paper calculates the water footprint from 2011 to 2021, constructs an inter-provincial water resource ecological compensation model in the Yangtze River Basin, and discusses the horizontal compensation of water resource ecology in the Yangtze River Basin. Firstly, the water footprint method and the water footprint ecological load index are used to evaluate and analyze the overall water resource utilization in the basin and in various administrative regions within the basin; secondly, the decoupling analysis method is used to study the coordinated relationship between water resource utilization and economic development among different administrative regions; finally, the identity of the compensation subject and object are determined on the basis of the calculation of ecological surplus and deficit of water resources in each administrative region, and the compensation standards are quantitatively calculated. The results indicate the following: (1) Over the 11 years, the overall water footprint of the Yangtze River Basin and its provinces has shown a growth trend, with significant differences in the quantity of water footprints among different administrative regions, and the average water footprint exhibits a decreasing distribution from “midstream—downstream—upstream”. There are significant differences in the water footprint ecological load index among provinces, with the load index showing a trend of being higher in the east and lower in the west. (2) From the perspective of the decoupling index, there has been no state of dis-coordination in the Yangtze River Basin overall over the 11 years, with 2016, 2018, and 2019 being in a high-quality coordinated state, while the other years were in a primary coordinated state. (3) In terms of horizontal payment for ecological compensation, Tibet, Yunnan, and Qinghai have consistently been regions receiving ecological compensation, while Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, and Chongqing have been determined as compensation subjects required to make payments over the years. Full article

The objective of this study was to elucidate the transmission pathways and spatial distribution of potential source areas for PM_2.5 pollution in Chenzhou City across diverse seasons in southern Hunan. Utilizing Sampling Kriging interpolation analysis, we modeled the temporal and spatial oscillations of PM_2.5 concentrations in Chenzhou City, complemented by HYSPLIT air mass backward trajectories. Furthermore, the model conducted cluster analysis to identify discernible patterns. Our findings unveiled marked seasonal variations in PM_2.5 concentrations within Chenzhou City. The pinnacle is discerned during winter (75.13 μg·m⁻³), whereas the nadir is pronounced in summer (27.64 μg·m⁻³). Notably, the PM_2.5/PM₁₀ ratio surpasses 0.55 during both autumn and winter. Spatially, Chenzhou exhibits an annual average distribution of PM_2.5 pollution characterized by a gradient “from north to south in the western and central sectors, tapering towards the east”. Pollution source analysis suggests that PM_2.5 pollution in Chenzhou City is predominantly ascribed to local emissions. Transmission pathway analysis reveals that the primary transmission corridors, spanning northwest Guangdong, southwestern Henan, Hubei, southern Anhui, and specific zones of southwestern Jiangxi, consistently align with external PM_2.5 pollution sources affecting Chenzhou City throughout the year. Noteworthy seasonal disparities emerge in the spatial distribution and contribution of potential source regions. During spring, autumn, and winter, the predominant contributing regions are primarily located in adjacent provinces. In contrast, during summer, regions with relatively elevated values predominantly streak across the central and western sectors of Jiangxi and the southeastern Hunan region. A comprehensive examination of the seasonal distribution patterns, potential transmission routes, and likely contributing sources of PM_2.5 in Chenzhou City can offer invaluable insights for regional atmospheric environmental governance. Furthermore, it underscores the paramount importance of collaborative regional strategies directed towards the prevention and control of PM_2.5 pollution. Full article

The key strategic point for facilitating domestic circulation is to enhance and expand household consumption. Based on a survey of 1080 farming households in Hunan, Hubei, and Jilin Provinces, this study examines the impact of digital finance use on the scale and structural upgrading of household consumption among farmers. The findings indicate that digital finance use effectively expands the scale of household consumption and promotes structural upgrades. The results remain robust through various endogenous and robust methods. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the benefits of digital finance use are greater for middle- to high-income groups and those with lower education levels, indicating the presence of a digital divide effect. Furthermore, the construction of village communities, skill training, improvements in village logistics services, and the availability of medical clinic facilities can enhance the consumption-promoting effects of digital finance use. Mechanism analysis shows that digital finance primarily operates through alleviating credit constraints, enhancing risk prevention, and improving financial returns to influence the scale and structural upgrading of household consumption. This study provides policy insights for rural revitalization and unlocking the consumption potential of rural residents. Full article

In the context of global climate warming, climate change is subtly reshaping the patterns of wildfires. Therefore, it is particularly urgent to conduct in-depth research on climate change, wildfires, and their management strategies. This study relies on detailed fire point data from 2001 to 2020, skillfully incorporating a spatial autocorrelation analysis to uncover the mysteries of spatial heterogeneity, while comprehensively considering the influences of multiple factors such as climate, terrain, vegetation, and socioeconomic conditions. To simulate fire conditions under future climates, we adopted the BCC-CSM2-MR climate model, presetting temperature and precipitation data for two scenarios: a sustainable low-development path and a high-conventional-development path. The core findings of the study include the following: (i) In terms of spatial heterogeneity exploration, global autocorrelation analysis reveals a striking pattern: within the southern forest region, 63 cities exhibiting a low–low correlation are tightly clustered in provinces such as Hubei, Anhui, and Zhejiang, while 48 cities with a high–high correlation are primarily distributed in Guangxi and Guangdong. Local autocorrelation analysis further refines this observation, indicating that 24 high–high correlated cities are highly concentrated in specific areas, 14 low–low correlated cities are located in Hainan, and there are only 3 sparsely distributed cities with a low–high correlation. (ii) During the model construction and validation process, this study innovatively adopted the LR-RF-SVM ensemble model, which demonstrated exceptional performance indicators: an accuracy of 91.97%, an AUC value of 97.09%, an F1 score of 92.13%, a precision of 90.75%, and a recall rate of 93.55%. These figures, significantly outperforming those of the single models SVM and RF, strongly validate the superiority of the ensemble learning approach. (iii) Regarding predictions under future climate scenarios, the research findings indicate that, compared to the current fire situation in southern forest areas, the spatial distribution of wildfires will exhibit a noticeable expansion trend. High-risk regions will not only encompass multiple cities in Hunan, Hubei, southern Anhui, all of Jiangxi, and Zhejiang but will also extend northward into southern forest areas that were previously considered low-risk, suggesting a gradual northward spread of fire risk. Notably, despite the relatively lower fire risk in some areas of Fujian Province under the SS585 scenario, overall, the probability of wildfires occurring in 2090 is slightly higher than that in 2030, further highlighting the persistent intensification of forest fire risk due to climate change. Full article

Global climate change has a main impact on the distribution of plants. Aralia chinensis L. is economically valuable, making it necessary to predict the impact of climate change on its distribution. It is important for researching the effects of climate change on A. chinensis distribution to achieve sustainable utilization. Based on 340 occurrence records of A. chinensis covering all known provinces and 58 environmental factor data, we used MaxEnt to simulate the potential distribution of A. chinensis under current and different future climate scenarios, analyzing the key environmental variables affecting its distribution. The results were as follows: (1) Suitable A. chinensis habitats under current and different future climate scenarios were mainly distributed in the southern region of China, east of the Hu Huanyong line. (2) Annual precipitation, minimum temperature during the coldest month, precipitation during the driest month, and slope were the key environmental variables affecting its potential distribution, and annual precipitation was more important. (3) Suitable habitat areas were projected to increase under different future climate scenarios and expand westward and northward while shrinking in the central regions, such as Hubei and Hunan. The results provide a theoretical reference for the conservation and cultivation of A. chinensis. Full article

This study focuses on Central China (CC), including Shanxi, Henan, Anhui, Hubei, Jiangxi, and Hunan provinces. The 2019 average annual precipitation (PRE), average annual temperature (TEM), average annual wind speed (WS), population density (POP), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), aerosol optical depth (AOD), gross domestic product (GDP), and elevation (DEM) data were used as explanatory variables to predict the average annual PM_2.5 concentrations (PM_2.5Cons) in CC. The average annual PM_2.5Cons were predicted using different models, including multiple linear regression (MLR), back propagation neural network (BPNN), and random forest (RF) models. The results showed higher prediction accuracy and stability of the RF algorithm (RFA) than those of the other models. Therefore, it was used to analyze the contributions of the explanatory factors to the PM_2.5 concentration (PM_2.5Con) prediction in CC. Subsequently, the spatiotemporal evolution of the PM_2.5Cons from 2010 to 2021 was systematically analyzed. The results indicated that (1) PRE and AOD had the most significant impacts on the PM_2.5Cons. Specifically, the PRE and AOD values exhibited negative and positive correlations with the PM_2.5Cons, respectively. The NDVI and WS were negatively correlated with the PM_2.5Cons; (2) the southern and northern parts of Shanxi and Henan provinces, respectively, experienced the highest PM_2.5Cons in the 2010–2013 period, indicating severe air pollution. However, the PM_2.5Cons in the 2014–2021 period showed spatial decreasing trends, demonstrating the effectiveness of the implemented air pollution control measures in reducing pollution and improving air quality in CC. The findings of this study provide scientific evidence for air pollution control and policy making in CC. To further advance atmospheric sustainability in CC, the study suggested that the government enhance air quality monitoring, manage pollution sources, raise public awareness about environmental protection, and promote green lifestyles. Full article