Search Results (9)

The balance between water supply and demand is essential for industrial growth, affecting economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Our research employs a Gaussian process regression for demand prediction. Additionally, it takes into account water limits and policy thresholds when determining the supply, thereby defining a range of uncertainty for both the industrial demand and the supply. A pattern recognition method matches this trade-off range, identifying three patterns to support water management. The study focuses on the analysis of industrial water supply and demand dynamics under uncertain conditions in nine cities (Baiyin, Dingxi, Gannan, Lanzhou, Linxia, Pingliang, Qingyang, Tianshui, and Wuwei) in Gansu Province of China’s Yellow River Basin in 2030. The results of the study show that industrial water use in Baiyin, Linxia, Dingxi, and Tianshui cities falls into Pattern I, providing water resources to support industrial development. Industrial water use in Wuwei, Pingliang, Qingyang, and Gannan cities represents Pattern II, which maintains a balance between supply and demand while allowing flexibility in water demand. Finally, the industrial water use in Lanzhou city is characterized by Pattern III, which requires optimization through structural, technological, and management improvements to mitigate the negative impacts of water scarcity on the sustainable development of the economy and society. The results of the research can be used as a reference for policy making in water resources planning and management in the basin. Full article

Huang-Qi (Astragali radix) is one of the most widely used herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, derived from the dried roots of Astragalus membranaceus or Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus. To date, more than 200 compounds have been reported to be isolated and identified in Huang-Qi. However, information pertaining to Huang-Qi breeding is considerably fragmented, with fundamental gaps in knowledge, creating a bottleneck in effective breeding strategies. This review systematically introduces Huang-Qi germplasm resources, genetic diversity, and genetic breeding, including wild species and cultivars, and summarizes the breeding strategy for cultivars and the results thereof as well as recent progress in the functional characterization of the structural and regulatory genes related to horticultural traits. Perspectives about the resource protection and utilization, breeding, and industrialization of Huang-Qi in the future are also briefly discussed. Full article

Water shortages are serious in northwest China due to the level of social and economic development, engineering, resource shortages, and other factors being restricted, so the conflict between supply and demand for water resources is prominent in different regions and different water use sectors. Therefore, Pingliang City was selected as the research object in this study. The membership function was introduced, and an interactive algorithm to correct model parameters based on the fairness constraint was derived. An uncertain multi-objective fuzzy programming model was also established. The results show that the optimal allocation of water will be 38,051.9~40,740 × 10⁴ m³ and 39,938.4~41,317.5 × 10⁴ m³ under a normal year (p = 50%) and a dry year (p = 75%) in 2025, respectively, and the corresponding water shortage rates will be 4.2% and 6.7%. In 2035, the optimal water allocation will be 45,644.1~49,245.9 × 10⁴ m³ and 46,442.4~50,044.2 × 10⁴ m³ and the water shortage rates will be 7.0% and 7.0%, respectively. The proportion of groundwater supply will decrease by 8.8% and 13.8% in 2025 and 2035 after the optimal allocation, the proportion of surface water supply will increase by 9.6% and 12.2%, and the proportion of reclaimed water will increase by −0.78% and 2.1%, respectively. The results can provide a technical reference for the development and utilization of water resources in other cities and similar areas in semi-arid regions. Full article

Pingliang City has a complex topography and diverse soil types. To realize the improvement of soil according to local conditions and the reasonable and sustainable use of soil resources, an evaluation of soil quality in Pingliang City was carried out, based on the soil distribution situation in Pingliang City, adopting a method combining fuzzy mathematics and cluster analysis of the main evaluation factors, such as soil organic matter, topsoil depth, soil erosion intensity, soil moisture regime, effective soil thickness, soil texture, soil profile structure, soil nutrient status and topographical parts, to carry out a comprehensive evaluation. A comprehensive evaluation of soil quality was conducted in seven counties under the jurisdiction of Pingliang City, and the evaluation results were compared and analyzed against the national standard, “Cultivated land quality grade”, to provide a basis for the selection of scientific soil improvement methods. The results of the arable land quality grades indicate that the quality of farmland in Pingliang City is divided into three to ten grades, and the average quality grade of farmland is 6.83, which is in the middle–lower level, and the overall grade distribution shows the characteristics of low in the middle and high in the east and west. The results of fuzzy mathematics combined with cluster analysis indicated the following trends in soil quality for the 12 soil genera: Chuan black gunny soil > yellow moist soil > sandy soil > silt soil > mulching helilu soil> loessal soil> loamy soil > slope loessal soil > arenosol > tillage leaching gray cinnamon soil > calcareous gray cinnamon soil > red clay soil. The results of the combination of fuzzy mathematics and clustering were significantly correlated with the results of the evaluation of the soil quality of arable land; the correlation coefficient was 0.884. This indicates that the method can accurately and objectively review the advantages and disadvantages of arable land soil and can be effectively applied to the evaluation of the soil quality of agricultural soils in other regions. It is a complement to the existing evaluation of the soil quality of arable land and at the same time provides a reference for the improvement of soil quality in agricultural regions. Full article

The neutral detergent fiber (NDF)/starch ratio is a key determinant of the carbohydrate composition in ruminant diets, which affects the development of the gastrointestinal tract and animal growth. In this study, we used a combination of 16S amplicon sequencing and metabolomics technologies to reveal changes in the microbiota and their metabolites associated with digestive matter in the colon of lambs between different starter NDF/starch ratios and before and after weaning. A total of 40 male lambs of Hu sheep with a newborn weight of 3.14 ± 0.05 kg were selected for the experiment and fed with breast milk until 10 days of age, and were randomly divided into 2 groups, which were fed ad libitum with a starter of NDF/starch of 0.5 (A) or 1.0 (B) for a period of 56 days, and then weaned off the milk powder at 35 days of age. Six lambs with weights close to the average weight of the group were selected for slaughter in each of the two groups before (35 days of age) and after weaning (56 days of age), and were accordingly named A35, A56, B35 and B56. The results showed that, before weaning, the concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) in group B35 were significantly higher than those in group A35 (p < 0.05), while the concentrations of isobutyric acid, valeric acid and isovaleric acid were significantly lower than those in group A35 (p < 0.05). After weaning, the concentrations of all volatile acids and total acids in group B56 were significantly lower than those in group A56 (p < 0.01). At the phylum level, the dominant phyla identified were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes; the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Desulfobacterota were significantly higher and lower in group B35 than in group A35, respectively (p < 0.05); the relative abundances of Euryarchaeota and Desulfobacterota were significantly higher and lower in group A56 than in group A35 (p < 0.05); and, at the genus level, the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae_FCS020_group and Eubacterium nodatum group had higher relative abundance in group B35 before weaning (p < 0.05). Metabolomic results showed that feeding 1.0 NDF/starch ratio starter before weaning significantly up-regulated (p < 0.05) the concentrations of several anti-inflammatory-related metabolites such as lithocholic acid, oleanolic acid and LysoP. After weaning, the number of differential microorganisms and anti-inflammatory-related metabolites decreased between the two ratios. In summary, feeding a 1.0 NDF/starch ratio starter may be more effective in regulating microbial fermentation, leading to an increase in beneficial microbiota and metabolites, thus improving colonic environmental homeostasis in lambs before and after weaning. Full article

Element flow has gradually become an important method for studying urban spatial structure. This study examined 11 prefectural cities in the Guanzhong Plain urban agglomeration; constructed a measurement model for information, traffic, migration, and composite networks; and analyzed the spatial structure of the urban network of the urban agglomeration through social network analysis and spatial visualization. The spatial structure of the composite flow network had Xi’an as the center and Xianyang, Baoji, Weinan and Tianshui as important nodes; Yuncheng, Linfen and Qingyang were the secondary nodes, radiating to the surrounding three cities. Element flow connection strength was unbalanced, and only three city pairs were in the first level of the composite flow network. Network density was low-middle, and the network connection was weak. Xi’an was the primary central city of the Guanzhong Plain urban agglomeration with the strongest agglomeration and radiation capabilities; it could communicate with other cities without intermediate cities and was a bridge for other cities. Tongchuan, Pingliang, Shangluo, and Qingyang were at the edge of the urban agglomeration and had weak agglomeration, radiation, and intermediary capabilities. The inner cities of cohesive subgroups were closely related with weak connections between subgroups. The single-polarization of the Guanzhong Plain urban agglomeration was serious, and the single-core spatial structure centered on Xi’an had limited impact on the urban agglomeration. Development of small and medium-sized cities should be strengthened in the future. Full article

Understanding the spatial differentiation and driving mechanisms of ecosystem service value (ESV) is helpful for the protection and sustainable development of the ecological environment. Despite the fact that various studies on ESV have been conducted in various regions, few studies have discussed the spatial differentiation characteristics of ESV in a long time series at a national scale, and even fewer studies have thoroughly examined the driving mechanism of the spatial differentiation of ESV from the perspective of different regions. On the basis of China’s land use data from 1990 to 2018, this paper used the methods of land use dynamics, the ESV evaluation model, hot spot analysis, the barycenter model, and the geographical detector model to study the temporal and spatial differentiation characteristics of land use and ESV in the study area. Moreover, it analyzes the driving mechanisms of the spatial differentiation of ESV at the national scale and in different regions of China. Our results showed the following: (1) Other land types have increased overall, with the exception of grassland. Obvious differences were observed in the single land use dynamics of each land type, especially the construction land, where farmland was the primary source of construction land. With the passage of time, the dynamic degree of comprehensive land use increased. (2) During the study period, ESV generally showed a decreasing trend, with distinct characteristics in high and low ESV areas. The center of gravity of ESV was constantly in Dingxi County and Pingliang City, Shaanxi Province, and its trajectory was generally “S”-shaped. (3) From the perspective of national scale and different regions, the dominant factors affecting the spatial differentiation of ESV were different, and the interaction among multiple factors was significantly stronger than that of a single factor. The findings of the study can provide more scientific decision-making services for China in order to promote regional environmental protection and develop ecological civilization. Full article

Urban efficiency can effectively measure the management and allocation level of urban factor inputs. Based on the data of 30 prefecture-level cities in Northwest China from 2006 to 2015, urban efficiency is measured by data envelopment analysis (DEA). Then the spatiotemporal evolution rule is identified by Malmquist model. The results illustrate that the overall average urban efficiency of cities in Northwest China each year from 2006 to 2015 was at the low level. Only Jiayuguan, Yulin, Yan’an, and Karamay reached the high average urban efficiency, while Dingxi, Pingliang, Guyuan, Shangluo, Tianshui, Longnan, and Baiyin were at the inefficient level. Most cities in Northwest China were still in the “growing” stage of increasing returns to scale. The scale of urban investment was relatively insufficient, and economies of scale had not yet formed. Cities with decreasing returns to scale were mainly distributed in the capital cities and the central and sub-central cities of Guanzhong-Tianshui Economic Zone with relatively abundant urban resources and capital. Cities with constant returns to scale were mainly distributed in four cities including Yan’an, Yulin, Jiayuguan, and Karamay with high efficiency. The overall comprehensive efficiency, technical efficiency, and scale efficiency of cities in Northwest China were not only low, but also showing a downward trend. The overall progress of urban technology had failed to make up for the shortfall caused by low efficiency, resulting in total factor productivity (TFP) decreasing by 0.5%. Therefore, the cities in Northwest China should continuously improve their technical efficiency and scale efficiency, and ultimately enhance the comprehensive efficiency. Full article

The idea of a circular economy (CE), which differs from traditional linear economy with a high consumption of natural resources and pollution, has captured much interest and attention. This paper uses a CE system of coal power and cement in Kongtong District, Pingliang City, Gansu Province, China as a case study to analyze the comprehensive effects of CE paradigm. Our simulation results, based on system dynamics (SD) modeling, infer that the transformation of manufacturing towards a CE system can prominently help coal power and cement enterprises reduce waste emission and increase economic profits. Through solid waste exchanges, a power plant can achieve over RMB 80 million of additional revenue per year at the highest level. CE also contributes to the reduction of regional pollution, saves mineral resources, and improves the atmospheric environment, an accumulated total of 14.11 million t of natural gypsum and 22.67 million t of coal can be saved. This sets a promising example for coal power and cement plants worldwide. Effective regulatory measures and further optimization towards a circular economy system are essential in maintaining the stable development of a CE system due to the risk of surplus production of upstream industries and other defects. Full article