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On 20 July 2021, an extreme rainstorm battered Zhengzhou in China's Henan Province, killing 302 people, including 14 individuals who drowned in a subway tunnel and 6 who drowned in a road tunnel. As the global climate warms, extreme weather events similar to the Zhengzhou flood will become more frequent, with increasingly catastrophic consequences for society. Taking a case study-based approach by focusing on the record-breaking Zhengzhou flood, this paper examines the governance capacity of inland cities in North China for managing extreme precipitation and flooding events from the perspective of the flood risk management process. Based on in-depth case analysis, our paper hypothesizes that inland cities in North China still have low risk perceptions of extreme weather events, which was manifested in insufficient pre-disaster preparation and prevention, poor risk communication, and slow emergency response. Accordingly, it is recommended that inland cities update their risk perceptions of extreme rainfall and flooding events, which are no longer low-probability, high-impact "black swans", but turning into high-probability, high-impact "gray rhinos." In particular, cities must make sufficient preparation for extreme weather events by revising contingency plans and strengthening their implementation, improving risk communication of meteorological warnings, and synchronizing emergency response with meteorological warnings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous expansion of urban scale in China, the increase of passenger flow has brought great pressure to the urban public transport system. An accurate and timely prediction of the short-term passenger flow at each metro station is extremely important for the metro intelligent control system to make a timely decision. In this paper, based on the measured passenger flow data of Zijingshan station of Zhengzhou Metro Line 1, an improved whale optimization algorithm is proposed to predict the passenger flow on different time scales. The results show that the method has higher accuracy than the traditional least squares support vector machines algorithm. The paper opens a new window for nowcasting warning in the rush hour and long-period optimization of the public transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional "forecast-response" paradigm is facing significant practical challenges. For example, when different scenarios require different reaction mechanisms, the applicability of this method is weak since this paradigm describes the crisis itself from a macroperspective, neglecting analyzing emergency response measures from a microperspective. Hence, in this paper, the research paradigm will be shifting to "scenario-response" paradigm, which analyzes the impact of corresponding measures on events from a microscopic perspective. In 2021, an expected and torrential rainfall in Zhengzhou, Henan, China, causing caused 398 deaths and an estimated direct economic loss of 120.6 billion RMB. Accordingly, an empirical analysis was conducted for this heavy rain event to examine the intricate evolution of emergency response utilizing a constructed scenario Bayesian network. This network was constructed by fusing the knowledge meta-theory, scenario evolution and Dempster's rule of combination along with 362 relevant historical representative events, and it has the capability to identify the development of the various emergency events and fuse the assessments of different experts. The effects of each measure on the probability of response outcomes were analyzed in an event-driven Bayesian network. The counterfactual outcomes of the interventions were also explored through causal inference to determine the priority measures in the emergency response process. The similarity between each target scenario and each source scenario reached more than 0.7, among which the highest similarity reached 0.78. The evolutionary accuracy of the incident response process was examined by comparing the scenario similarity. The method proposed in this study can help as a theoretical basis for implementing the "scenario response" paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Advances in Atmospheric Sciences is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The proportion of universal segment in tunnel construction is constantly increasing. A key factor affecting the quality of tunnel construction is the selection of the shield segment assembly points. Nevertheless, the quality and efficiency of the current manual selection method cannot be guaranteed. To realize a high correct rate, high efficiency and intelligence of universal segment assembly points selection, an intelligent selection method of assembly points is proposed. First, the objective function is established by considering the thrust cylinder stroke and shield tail gap differences. Second, to adaptively optimize the weights of the objective function, the working conditions are divided into 81 intervals, and a genetic algorithm is proposed to optimize weights in each interval. Third, a Monte-Carlo-based method is proposed to generate an example dataset, which is used for the genetic algorithm to optimize the weights. Finally, the proposed method was applied to the segment assembly points selection for Line 8 of the Zhengzhou rail transit in China. The results show that the method of assembly segment selection can reach a 90.6% correct rate in the field. The research results of this paper can be used for the selection of the universal shield segment assembly points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Tree rings are widely used in global change research based on the accurate dating capabilities, climate sensitivity and wide distribution of samples. In the context of global warming, the response of tree growths in north–south transition zones to climate change is one of the hot issues in Dendroecology. The research results found that trees' growth had different responses to May–June temperature and precipitation on the north and south of the mountain. Therefore, we analyzed the relationship between tree ring and a regional hydrothermal composite factor and reconstructed its variation. The variations agree with other drought series and represent the drought variation in central and eastern monsoon regions, and may provide better understanding of drought variation and service for agricultural production. Tree ring data from the southern boundary of Chinese Pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.) distribution where is the southern warm temperate margin, the paper analyzes the response of climate factors along north–south direction to tree growth. The results show that temperature and precipitation in May–June and relative moisture from March to June are main limiting factors on trees growth; however, the temperature in the south of the mountains and the moisture in the north of the mountains have relatively greater influence on trees' growth. Additionally, we also found that the regional scPDSIMJ (that is scPDSI in May–June) was the most significant and stable factor limiting tree growth to be used for reconstruction. The reconstructed scPDSIMJ revealed that there were 29 extremely dry years and 30 extremely wet years during 1801–2016, and it could represent the drought variation in central and eastern monsoon region. The variation exists in good agreement with the reconstructed PDSI for Mt. Shennong and the drought/wetness series in Zhengzhou. Further research found that the droughts of May–June in central China were mainly impacted by local temperature and moisture (including precipitation, soil moisture, potential evaporation and water pressure), and then by the northern Pacific Ocean and the northern Atlantic Ocean. These results may provide better understanding of May–June drought variation and service for agricultural production in central China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extraordinary floods are linked with heavy rainstorm systems. Among various systems, their synoptic features can be quite different. The understanding of extreme rainstorms by their causative processes may assist in flood frequency analysis and support the evaluation of any changes in flood occurrence and magnitudes. This paper aims to identify the most dominant meteorological factors for extreme rainstorms, using the ERA5 hourly reanalysis dataset in Henan, central China as a case study. Past 72 h extreme precipitation events are investigated, and six potential factors are considered in this study, including precipitable water (PW), the average temperature (Tavg) of and the temperature difference (Tdiff) between the value at 850 hPa and 500 hPa, relative humidity (RH), convective available potential energy (CAPE), and vertical wind velocity (Wind). The drivers of each event and the dominant factor at a given location are identified using the proposed metrics based on the cumulative distribution function (CDF). In Henan, central China, Wind and PW are dominant factors in summer, while CAPE and Wind are highly related factors in winter. For Zhengzhou city particularly, Wind is the key driver for summer extreme rainstorms, while CAPE plays a key role in winter extreme precipitation events. It indicates that the strong transport of water vapor in summer and atmospheric instability in winter should receive more attention from the managers and planners of water resources. On the contrary, temperature-related factors have the least contribution to the occurrence of extreme events in the study area. The analysis of dominant factors can provide insights for further flood estimations and forecasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central China Normal University is the property of Huazhong Normal University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Disaster crisis management is the last defensive line in the face of extreme rainstorm disasters. However, fragmentation undermines the effectiveness of disaster crisis management, and the "7-20" extreme rainfall flooding disaster in Zhengzhou, Henan province, China in 2021 revealed a series of fragmentation problems. The effectiveness of China's emergency storm flooding management must be seriously considered. We used the "7-20" extreme rainfall event in Zhengzhou, Henan province in China as a case study to perform an inductive, qualitative investigation to understand what fragmentation is and how fragmentation reduces efficacy. Most of the data used for this research were gathered from Chinese official records and online news articles. This study first highlights pertinent studies that have been performed and then presents a comprehensive theoretical framework of fragmentation in catastrophe crisis management, which consists of five aspects: fragmented emergency legislation, emergency organization, information, perception, and services. Second, we have deduced which human responses in the "7-20" event represent the fragmentation issues, and we have examined the detrimental effects of fragmentation in flood crisis management. Finally, suggestions are made for China to increase the effectiveness of disaster crisis management, including encouraging regulatory convergence, matching emergency responsibility and authority, establishing an information-sharing platform, bolstering emergency education and raising risk perception, and changing the dualistic system in disaster crisis management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the occurrence status and removal efficiency of microplastics in wastewater treatment plant processes. Analysis of effluent and sludge samples from the Wulongkou and Shuangqiao wastewater treatment plants in Zhengzhou revealed an overall microplastic removal efficiency of 95.64% and 92.53%, respectively, indicating the effectiveness of wastewater treatment plants in reducing microplastic emissions. Microplastics primarily exist in forms such as fiber, fragment, floc, film, and grain. Fibers are predominant in the effluent of the Wulongkou plant, while fibers and films predominate in the effluent of the Shuangqiao plant. Moreover, microplastics are predominantly sized below 500 μm, with larger microplastics (2–5 mm) exhibiting higher removal efficiencies after secondary treatment. Analysis of microplastic types revealed that PE is the most common type in the effluent of the Wulongkou plant, while the Shuangqiao plant predominantly contains PE and PA66. The abundance of microplastics in sludge samples was found to be 6.4 ± 0.8 items/g and 11.3 ± 2.3 items/g, highlighting sludge as an important sink for microplastics. Surface analysis of microplastics revealed characteristics such as wrinkles and cracks, with energy-dispersive spectroscopy indicating significant adsorption of heavy metal elements such as Zn, Hg, and Pb onto microplastic surfaces in sludge. These findings underscore the importance of microplastic removal in wastewater treatment processes and provide scientific evidence for the control and management of microplastic pollution in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3Pediatric Rehabilitation Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China. Methods: Using convenient sampling, a total of 232 gynecological cancer chemotherapy patients from two tertiary hospitals in Zhengzhou, Henan, China, were selected as study subjects from February 2023 to April 2023. General information questionnaire, Self-Regulatory Fatigue Scale (SRF-S), Strategies Used by People to Promote Health (SUPPH) Scale, Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC) and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) were employed for data collection. The data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were executed to explore the correlates of selfregulatory fatigue, the significance level (a) was set at 0.05. Results: The self-regulatory fatigue score of the 232 patientswas 44 (36, 56). Binary logistic regression analyses revealed significant associations, demonstrating that residing in urban areas (OR=0.241, P=0.015), having no comorbidities (OR=0.158, P=0.015), increased perceived social support (OR=0.937, P=0.001), strong selfefficacy (OR=0.959, P=0.021), and heightened psychological resilience (OR=0.895, P<0.001) acted as protective factors against self-regulatory fatigue (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients residing in rural areas, having more than two comorbidities, lower self-efficacy and psychological resilience levels, and lower perceived social support are indicative of higher levels of self-regulatory fatigue. Identifying these influencing factors can provide references and support for developing individualized support and intervention measures to improve patients' physical and mental well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Journal of Irrigation & Drainage Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Railway capacity estimation problem is typically defined as estimating the maximum number of trains that can be operated in a railway section within a given time interval. However, trains with different speeds, routes, and stopping patterns in a railway network will likely compete for the limited capacity of network nodes and sections. As these trains may provide different services, it is ambiguous to simply indicate the network capacity by a scalar number of trains. To comprehensively estimate and interpret the railway capacity considering the capacity competition between heterogeneous trains, we propose a multiobjective perspective for the capacity estimation problem to enrich the capacity theory while handling the competition among trains with different routes and stopping patterns. Based on a time-space network timetable saturation model, we extend the multiobjective capacity estimation approach to the detailed timetable level by optimizing the saturated timetable under capacity estimation objectives with respect to different routes and stopping patterns. With the ε-constraint method, we can obtain the Pareto front of saturated timetables, i.e., a set of nondominated optimized timetables that no more candidate train can be additionally scheduled. The result is a more comprehensive capacity representation than a single absolute scalar number. A case study is conducted on a combined high-speed and intercity network of Zhengzhou Railway group in China. An extensive set of Pareto-optimal saturated timetables describing the effects on the capacity of the railway network is obtained. The results can help infrastructure managers select saturated timetables as the capacity utilization reference by considering the trade-off between time indexes from passengers' and operators' perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The train platforming problem is one of the most investigated topics in the train operation field. However, a systematic understanding of how train platforming improves the convenience of passenger transfer procedures is still lacking. To face the rapidly growing transfer demands in the high-speed railway station, this paper proposes a transfer-facilitating-oriented train platforming approach based on a multi-agent train operation simulation model. By evaluating the transfer connection quality using an indicator named Transfer Connection Strength(TCS), which considers transfer distance and transfer time, the proposed transfer-facilitating-oriented train platforming strategies can establish more convenient transfer connections and so improve the transfer service. A track occupation horizon based on the modelling of accurate train running processes is utilized to detect route conflicts and guarantee conflict-free train operations in the simulation model, enabling the solutions' feasibility of train platforming to be taken into account. A series of simulation experiments are conducted using real data of Zhengzhou East station in China. The experiment results show that, the proposed transfer-facilitating-oriented train platforming strategies are capable of obtaining a greater number of convenient transfer connections. The feasibility can be guaranteed by permitted train delays and route conflict detection for the succeeding trains in a forward-looking period. Additionally, the platform assignment plans can be generated with a specified priority of transfer distance or transfer time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe water erosion occurs during extreme storm events. Such an exceedingly severe storm occurred in Zhengzhou in central China on 20 July 2021 (the 7.20 storm). The magnitude and frequency of occurrence of this storm event were examined in terms of how erosive it was. To contextualize this extreme event, hourly rainfall data from 2420 automatic meteorological stations in China from 1951 to 2021 were analyzed to (1) characterize the spatial and temporal distribution of the rainfall amount and rainfall erosivity of the 7.20 storm, (2) evaluate the average recurrence interval of the maximum daily and event rainfall erosivity, and (3) establish the geographical distribution of the maximum daily and event rainfall erosivity in China. The center of the 7.20 storm moved from southeast to northwest in Henan Province, and the most intense period of rainfall occurred in the middle and late stages of the storm. Zhengzhou Meteorological Station happened to be aligned with the center of the storm, with a maximum daily rainfall of 552.5 mm and a maximum hourly rainfall intensity of 201.9 mm h -1. The average recurrence intervals of the maximum daily rainfall erosivity (43354±1863 MJ mm ha -1 h -1) and the maximum event rainfall erosivity (58874±2351 MJ mm ha -1 h -1) were estimated to be about 19 200 and 53 700 years, respectively, assuming the log-Pearson type-III distribution, and these were the maximum rainfall erosivities ever recorded among 2420 meteorological stations in mainland China up to 2022. The 7.20 storm suggests that the most erosive of storms does not necessarily occur in the wettest places in southern China, and these can occur in mid-latitude around 35 ∘ N with a moderate mean annual rainfall of 566.7 mm in Zhengzhou. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Continuous increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) has aggravated global warming and promoted urban tree planting projects for many countries. So it's imperative to select high carbon sequestering landscape tree species while considering their aesthetic values of urban green space. Results: 32 tree species were selected as test objects which were commonly used in landscaping in Zhengzhou, a typical northern city of China. To assess the comprehensive carbon sequestration potential of landscape tree species in different plant configuration types, we simultaneously considered their daily net carbon sequestration per unit leaf area (wCO2), daily net carbon sequestration per unit land area (WCO2) and daily net carbon sequestration of the whole plant (QCO2) through cluster analysis. Besides that, we found out the key factors affecting carbon sequestration potential of landscape tree species by redundancy analysis. Conclusion: Populus, P Stenoptera, P. acerifolia among large arbors (LA), V odoratissimum, P. Serratifolia, S. oblata among small arbors (SA), and B sinica var. Parvifolia, B. Megistophylla, L quihoui among shrubs (S) were recommended for local urban green space management. Photosynthetic rate (Pn), crown area (CA) and leaf area index (LAI) were the key factors which affected the comprehensive carbon sequestration potential both for LA, SA and S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale disasters can disproportionately impact different population groups, causing prominent disparity and inequality, especially for the vulnerable and marginalized. Here, we investigate the resilience of human mobility under the disturbance of the unprecedented '720' Zhengzhou flood in China in 2021 using records of 1.32 billion mobile phone signaling generated by 4.35 million people. We find that although pluvial floods can trigger mobility reductions, the overall structural dynamics of mobility networks remain relatively stable. We also find that the low levels of mobility resilience in female, adolescent and older adult groups are mainly due to their insufficient capabilities to maintain business-as-usual travel frequency during the flood. Most importantly, we reveal three types of counter-intuitive, yet widely existing, resilience patterns of human mobility (namely, 'reverse bathtub', 'ever-increasing' and 'ever-decreasing' patterns), and demonstrate a universal mechanism of disaster-avoidance response by further corroborating that those abnormal resilience patterns are not associated with people's gender or age. In view of the common association between travel behaviors and travelers' socio-demographic characteristics, our findings provide a caveat for scholars when disclosing disparities in human travel behaviors during flood-induced emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme precipitation poses significant threats to economic development and social security. In order to tackle this formidable issue, the Chinese government has invested substantial investments to promote the "sponge city" project. However, extreme precipitation in Zhengzhou on 21 July 2021 proved that this effort fell far short of its goal, highlighting the difficulty in relying solely on the government to respond to severe disasters. Collaborations between the public and the government have become essential for effectively managing extreme precipitation risk. However, bridging the gap between the public and the government remains a challenging task in China. Interestingly, an Online Collaborative Document (OCD) emerged without any financial investment from the government yet went on to save countless lives. The key lies in that the OCD greatly promoted the cooperation between spontaneous volunteering and official response. This study aims to explain how an OCD encourages effective collaboration between spontaneous volunteering and official responses in tackling extreme precipitation risk. This study employs the method of the case study about the extreme precipitation and analyzes the directed survey on the spontaneous volunteers, grassroots government officials, and affected individuals who used the OCD. Additionally, a variety of data collection techniques, including focus groups and one-on-one interviews, are used to examine the relevant information. This study explores how the OCD eliminated the paradox of collaboration between spontaneous volunteering and the official response thereby fostering coordination between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban forests have important functions to alleviate air pollution, adjust the regional climate, and promote visitors' mental health and well-being. Humans' perceptions towards both atmospheric particulate matter (PM) and meteorological factors can be a gauge for assessing the functional services of urban forests. The geographical locations of host cities experiencing urbanization could take part in effects on emotional states of forest visitors. In this study, a total of 6309 facial photos of urban forest visitors were obtained from social networks in 42 cities of mainland China. Happy, sad, and neutral emotions were rated as percent scores in 2020, when the same-day air pollutants, meteorological factors, and socioeconomic indicators were recorded. The positive emotional index (PEI) was calculated as the difference between happy scores and sad scores. The results reveal that severe air pollutants (jointly PM2.5 > 75 μg/m3, PM10 > 150 μg/m3, and AQI > 150) were more frequently found in cities in the northeastern and northern areas of China. The forest visitors in the northeastern cities showed higher happiness scores compared to the visitors in other regions. The Quasi-Poisson regression suggested that high scores of happiness were frequently disclosed in weathers with low PM10. High scores of sadness were regressed on exposure to cities with a low GDP per capita and low total retail sales but with a high GDP at low-longitudinal and high-latitudinal locations with low levels of PM2.5 pollution, relative humidity, and wind velocity and a high temperature. The happiness score and PEI showed high-value aggregations in mega-sized cities (population over 10 million), such as Beijing and Zhengzhou, and in a metro-sized city (population of 5–10 million in Langfang) from climate regions of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clothing can absorb fine particulate pollutants from the atmosphere outdoors and then release them after entering the room in a form similar to three-handed smoke. In this study, the experimental site in Zhengzhou, a typical city with heavy pollution in central China, was used to investigate the adsorption and diffusion patterns of three different fabrics of polyester, polyester-cotton, and cotton clothing for fine particle pollutants, to guide people's behavior patterns and indoor air distribution, and to reduce indoor pollution exposure. The results showed that when garments of three different fabrics were exposed to moderate and heavy PM2.5 pollution for 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h, respectively, and then transferred to the diffusion chamber, polyester always released the highest PM2.5 concentration to indoor air during the same release cycle, followed by cotton and polyester-cotton. In addition, the concentration of indoor air pollutants will be periodically affected by the diffusion of fine particulate adsorbed by clothing fabrics. With the increase in outdoor pollution and exposure duration, the indoor PM2.5 concentration takes longer to stabilize at certain levels after the clothing is transferred to the indoor side. Finally, the comparison of natural ventilation experiments proved that it is not feasible to rely solely on natural ventilation to improve the influence of clothing pollution sources on indoor air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More lung cancer cases are becoming diagnosed earlier in recent years. The diagnosis is often accompanied by fear of progression (FoP). There is a clear research gap in the existing literature on FoP and the most frequent concerns in newly diagnosed lung cancer patients. Objective: To identify the status and factors related to FoP in newly diagnosed Chinese lung cancer patients undergoing thoracoscopic lung cancer resection. Methods: A cross-sectional design with convenience sampling was used in this study. Participants (N = 188) with newly diagnosed lung cancer (≤ 6 months) at one hospital in Zhengzhou were recruited. A demographic questionnaire, Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form, Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire were used to assess characteristics, FoP, social support, coping style, and patient illness perceptions. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with FoP. Results: The mean score of FoP was 35.39 ± 8.03. There are 56.4% of the patients (scores ≥ 34) have a clinically dysfunctional level of FoP. FoP was higher in young (18–39 years) than middle-aged patients (40–59 years) and elderly patients (≧60 years) (P = 0.004). Patients aged 40–59 years showed significantly higher fear of family-related concerns (P < 0.001), a fear of potential harm from medications (P = 0.001); Patients aged 18–39 years and 40–59 years showed significantly higher fears of work-related concerns (P = 0.012). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that patients' age, the time from surgery and SSRS score were found to be independently associated with higher FoP. Conclusions: High FoP is a frequently reported problem among newly diagnosed lung cancer patients, especially those less than 60 years old. Professional psychoeducation, psychological interventions, and personalized support are needed for patients with a high FoP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 20 July 2021, the city of Zhengzhou in Henan Province, China experienced a record-breaking rainfall event ("21·7") with a maximum hourly precipitation of 201.9 mm, which caused a significant loss of life and property. Knowledge of the moisture sources and atmospheric circulations associated with this rainstorm can help understand the mechanisms of such extreme rainfall events for more accurate forecasts in the future. To this end, we investigate the moisture sources and pathways related to the "21·7" extreme rainfall with the water vapor budget analysis and the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model. In addition, the role of the circulation pattern is analyzed systematically based on ERA5 reanalysis. Results indicate that the Western Pacific Ocean and East China contribute 68.8% and 29.5% of the moisture to the extreme rainfall over Zhengzhou, respectively. Under the impact of tropical cyclone In-fa and Cempaka, and Western Pacific Subtropical High, the stable and abundant moisture transports toward Zhengzhou. Strong convergence and dynamic uplift trigger the convection due to the low vortex and the topography of mountains. Our findings can provide implications for short-term, extreme rainfall and flood forecasts under a changing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Advances in Atmospheric Sciences is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A record‐breaking flooding event occurred in Zhengzhou, Henan Province of China during 17–23 July 2021, causing hundreds of deaths and vast economic losses. Here, we evaluated the predictability of this extreme rainfall event and the impacts of tropical cyclones (TCs) using subseasonal‐to‐seasonal (S2S) operational models. On the monthly timescale, most models initialized in late June reasonably predicted the wet‐in‐north and dry‐in‐south patterns of anomalous rainfall over China in July, accompanied by the well‐predicted westward extension of the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) and eastward stretching of the South Asian High. On the weekly timescale, only four models captured the location, probability, and sudden intensification of the rainfall extremes in advance of 1 week, largely due to their reasonable prediction of WNPSH variability in mid‐latitudes. However, the S2S models still underestimated the super extremeness of this event. The prediction discrepancies came from the poor predictability of Typhoon IN‐FA and its impact on the daily evolution of the extreme rainfall event, even within a few days forecast lead. Compared with the observation, the prediction bias of tropical disturbance changed the environmental monsoon airflow to induce the earlier warning of rainfall extremes prior to the formation of IN‐FA. After the formation of IN‐FA, the prediction bias of the typhoon's moving speed distorted the typhoon location, which incorrectly predicted the moisture convergence center and underestimated their remote impacts on this heavy rainfall event. Plain Language Summary: Unprecedented heavy rainfall reaches the warming Earth more frequently, creating the need for effective risk‐warning alerts that utilize subseasonal‐to‐seasonal (S2S) forecasting to integrate information from nowcasting, weather, and seasonal predictions. On 17–23 July 2021, persistent heavy rainfall affected Henan Province of China, triggering devastating flooding and traffic chaos in Zhengzhou city. Some skillful S2S models can reasonably predict the monthly rainfall pattern in July. Although the chance of exceeding the new record daily rainfall is only approx. 0.7% in mid‐late July, they provide a high probability of this heavy weekly rainfall 1 week in advance. Nevertheless, the S2S models underestimate this super extremeness, mainly due to the poor predictability of tropical cyclones, even within a few leading days. The deficits in the tropical disturbance and moving speed of Typhoon IN‐FA in the model forecast altered the moisture transmission, underestimating their remote impacts on this extreme event. Risk management on S2S timescales is essential for many public and private sectors, as it provides pivotal lead times that save lives and property. Each extreme event exposes challenges regarding the credibility and sensitivity of the outcomes for decision‐making. Future research should improve our awareness of the challenges that remain in the S2S forecasts. Key Points: Most subseasonal‐to‐seasonal models produce the wet‐in‐north and dry‐in‐south rainfall anomalies and general circulation configuration over China in JulySudden intensification of rainfall in Henan China was predicted 1 week ahead by four models with accurate mid‐latitude adjustmentsDeficits in tropical disturbance and moving speed of Typhoon IN‐FA underestimate their remote impacts in forecasting [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flood produced by short duration heavy rainfall events in cities will still exist after raining and continues to cause harm and impact. To accurately predict the depth and duration of the flood, a coupled model of the extreme gradient boosting and long short-term memory algorithms was proposed. A practical application of three representative flooded points in the Zhengzhou city, China, the results showed the coupled model could fit and forecast the flood. The average of Mean relative error, Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient and Qualified rate of validation data were 9.13%, 0.96 and 90.3% respectively, which verified the superiority of the method in the flood prediction. And the flood processes at the flooded points caused by design rainfall under different return periods were predicted by the coupled model. The growth rates of the flood duration and peak flood depth were all the highest during the return periods 1a-2a. This study proves that the coupled model has great potential in predictions of flood and could provide scientific basis guidance for disaster reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific cognition and assessment of threats to cultural heritage and surrounding landscapes are prerequisites for targeted management and protection of cultural heritage. This study took 530 city sites in the Central Plains of China as the research object. Based on the survey information of city sites in the third national cultural heritage survey in China, a combination of high resolution google images and land use/land cover data products and city sites survey data enables a comprehensive evaluation of landscape elements impacts on city sites. With spatial statistical method, we divided city site landscape types, and constructed a landscape element risk assessment model and an urbanization intensity index to analyze the threats of each landscape element to city site protection. The results indicated that 40.64% of the sites are in farmland landscapes, where agricultural cultivation, irrigation, and other production activities may affect the surface and subsurface remains of the sites. The sites (16.82%) in urban landscapes are affected by activities such as building houses and roads. Only six sites belong to the water landscape area, which may be affected by water erosion. Other sites (2.84%) are mainly affected by plant root growth in forest landscapes. The city sites distributed in urban areas such as Zhengzhou or the urban–rural junction were significantly affected by urban expansion and got the greatest protection pressure. City sites in agricultural landscapes have the second highest conservation risk. Plant erosion and flooding mainly affected the city sites in the northwest-southwest mountainous areas or near the water area of the study area, and the risks were relatively small. It can be seen that landscape types such as urban and farmland, which are closely related to human activities, bring the most pressure to the protection of city sites, and it is necessary to focus on the impact of human activities such as urban construction on city sites and the surrounding environment in the future, while paying attention to the protection and rational use of city sites with high assessment risk in urban planning and management for the protection of the city site proper and landscape scenery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2021, a once-in-a-century heavy rainstorm suddenly attacked Zhengzhou, an important inland city in northern China. However, there have been no studies on the psychological health of disaster-stricken residents. This study is the first to comprehensively report on the mental health status and related factors of local ordinary residents after the heavy rainstorm. Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the mental health status and related influencing factors of local ordinary residents after the flood disaster, and to provide reference for government departments to formulate disaster psychological intervention countermeasures based on evidence-driven strategies. Methods: The snowball sampling technique was used in this study, and measurement tools of Rainstorm Exposure Questionnaire, Subjective Perception of Rainstorm, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian version (PCL-C), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DAS-21) and Chinese version of Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) were used to evaluate the rainstorm exposure, subjective perception of the rainstorm, psychological symptoms and social support of the disaster-stricken residents within a week after the rainstorm. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the psychological status and related factors of local residents after the rainstorm disaster. Results: A total of 469 valid samples were obtained in this study. All the subjects were in the disaster area and experienced the rainstorm personally, with normal intelligence. The statistical results showed that 25.37% people had experienced at least three rainstorm-related stresses, nearly 20.26% people had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and 39.3%, 53.92% and 65.83% people had depression, anxiety and stress symptoms, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated that female (all p < 0.05), the divorced, agricultural workers/farmers (all p < 0.05), students (all p < 0.05), people experiencing at least three rainstorm-related stresses (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01), people with lower satisfaction at the social flood fighting measures (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) and people with low social support (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) were all independent risk factors for poor psychological health, and college education or above (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01), the lower degree of worrying about themselves (all p < 0.01), family members (all p < 0.01) and family property (all p < 0.01) were all related to higher psychological health among flood survivors after the disaster. Conclusions: Rainstorm could cause local residents to have various degrees of psychological symptoms. This study identified factors associated with the psychological health of disaster-stricken residents, which could be used to develop psychological interventions in improving psychological health of local residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in 78 urban soil samples from Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China were determined in the study. The mean values of the eight heavy metals were lower than the natural background reference values of soils from Henan Province, with the exception of Cd and Pb. However, the peak values for six species of the elements exceed the corresponding reference values, indicating enrichment of these metals in urban soils in Zhengzhou City, especially for Cd and Pb. The spatial distribution patterns showed that levels of As, Co, Mn and Ni decreased gently from northwest to southeast without hot-pot area, whereas Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were with significant spatial variability. PMF model coupled with Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to apportion and quantify possible sources of the eight elements. Four Factors (natural source, industrial production, agricultural activities and traffic discharges) were distinguished and their respective contribution rates were 18.73%, 33.22%, 23.91% and 24.14%, respectively. Results of uncertainty analysis confirmed that the all four source Factors based on the PMF model were reliable. Furthermore, the probability distribution of health risk assessed by means of Monte Carlo simulation revealed that non-carcinogenic risks associated with heavy metals were acceptable for both adults and children, while the total carcinogenic risk values remained relatively high. Additionally, the children were more susceptible to health risks in comparison to adults, and the ingestion way was considered to be the major exposure pathway. The results of source-oriented health risk demonstrated that the agricultural source was the major contributor to health risks, which was characterized by As, Ni and Co. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic on the elderly, this study conducted field surveys of three communities in Zhengzhou City in China. The results showed that, outdoor activities and common space use by the elderly were not significantly affected by the pandemic. Through the reports of their lives under the general and the extreme (after restrictions on movement were imposed) conditions of the pandemic, we identified the value of activities on a daily basis and activities in the general definition to the elderly. This study also re‐recognized the role that was played by the use of common spaces that were located in close proximity to residential units during the pandemic. Physical range of restrictions and the relation to common spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of freshwater alga, Chara zhengzhouensis, is described and illustrated based on material collected in a lake at Zhengzhou, in Henan Province, China. Phylogenetic analysis of sequence data from the 18s rDNA, rbcL, and atpB indicated the separation between C. zhengzhouensis and other species of the genus Chara. Additionally, from a morphological point of view, C. zhengzhouensis differs from another closely related species, C. connivens, in its diplostichous cortex and corticate or ecorticate in based segments of branchlets. Therefore, the results based on both morphological observation and molecular evidence facilitated the proposal of this new species—C. zhengzhouensis. It represents another species in the charophyte diversity in China and the description of this new species provides more molecular data for phylogenetic analysis of the genus Chara. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the accelerating speed and scale of urbanization in China, a rational formulation of a composite development plan to increase the vitality and value of various areas is required. Thus, this study proposes a method for evaluating the spatial relationship among facilities around bus terminals by combining urban points-of-interest data and street view image data from two perspectives: the current level of development and potential of the terminals, and an evaluation of the surrounding pedestrian environment. This is in response to the lack of quantitative descriptions of the composite development of existing bus terminals. The validity and applicability of the methods are verified using the samples of five planned composite development bus terminals in the city of Zhengzhou. These results offer strategic suggestions for the composite development of the Zhengzhou bus terminals. This study demonstrates innovation in integrating geographic information data and street view image data. It reflects the spatial characteristics of the built environment using geographic information data and the visual characteristics of the built environment using street view images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme torrential rainfall events are low‐probability events. A "China‐Record Extremely Heavy Rainfall" (CREHR) event with rain rate of 201.9 mm/hr occurred on 20 July in Zhengzhou in North China. Using high‐density meteorological observations, ERA5 reanalysis data, remote sensing data from China's FY‐4A satellite, and numerical simulation, we revealed that sufficient warm–humid airflows were continuously transported to the Zhengzhou area via multiple pathways that were mainly modulated by the large‐scale western Pacific subtropical high to the north along with the anomalies of the westerly belt and a meso‐scale binary typhoon system. At the local scale, under the combined action of the vertical circulation that caused low‐level convergence and high‐level divergence, and the rapid uplift of water vapor related to the blocking by mountainous terrain, this CREHR event was eventually triggered. Particularly, our present work shows the roles of both typhoon Cempaka and meso‐scale convective systems to south of Henan province can not be ignored, producing a strong super‐thick water vapor transport layer. The existence of the binary typhoon raises the level of uncertainty involved in the water vapor transport of this CREHR event. Plain Language Summary: Extreme torrential rainfall events are low‐probability events. The rainfall from 16:00 to 17:00 Beijing time on 20 July in Zhengzhou in North China reached 201.9 mm, which was a record in mainland China—a so‐called "China‐Record Extremely Heavy Rainfall" (CREHR) event. By using high‐density meteorological observations, ERA5 reanalysis data, remote sensing data from China's FY‐4A satellite, and numerical simulation, we found that sufficient warm–humid airflows were continuously transported to the Zhengzhou area via multiple pathways that were mainly modulated by the large‐scale western Pacific subtropical high to the north along with the anomalies of the westerly belt and a meso‐scale binary typhoon system. At the local scale, under the combined action of the vertical circulation that caused low‐level convergence and high‐level divergence, and the rapid uplift of water vapor related to the blocking by mountainous terrain, this CREHR event was eventually triggered over northern mainland China. Our findings reveal that the existence of the binary typhoon circulation raises the level of uncertainty involved in the water vapor transport of this CREHR event, which has implications for improving our ability to predict and provide early warnings for severe rainstorms and related disasters in cities with such a complex context. Key Points: Sufficient warm‐humid airflows were continuously transported to the Zhengzhou area via multiple water vapor pathwaysMultiple pathways were mainly modulated by the large‐scale western Pacific subtropical high, the westerly belt and mesoscale binary typhoonsNorthward movement of multiple meso‐scale convective systems caused a strong super‐thick water vapor transport layer [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To predict the long‐term benefits and economic costs of the improvements in haemophilia care in China demonstrated by increasing use of prophylaxis, compared with the current status. Methods: City‐level predictions from 2018 to 2033 were conducted for five representative cities in China. The long‐term clinical and economic outcomes in the scenario where haemophilia care has significantly improved and the existing scenario of haemophilia care were calculated and compared. The model input data were obtained from local records, expert interviews, published literature, and other sources. Outcome measures including number of bleeds and joint bleeds, number of target joints, disability rate, direct and indirect costs were calculated at the patient and population levels. Results: The long‐term predictions for 2033 demonstrated significantly improved bleed control and joint outcomes due to increased use of prophylaxis. The total number of averted bleed events per patient ranged from 3.9 in Shenyang to 16.1 in Zhengzhou in 2033, and the population‐level averted bleed events ranged from 1963 in Xiamen to 14,868 in Zhengzhou. The treatment improvement also leads to significant economic costs driven by increase in clotting factor costs (more than 90%). At the population level, the additional total costs were highest in Zhengzhou (CNY 177.4 million) and lowest in Shenyang (CNY 45.4 million), due to their different population sizes and various existing treatment regimens. The outpatient and hospitalization costs decreased, while the factor costs increased. Conclusion: The long‐term prophylaxis is associated with avoided bleed events and disabilities. The improved treatment regimens are also associated with a significant economic burden, driven by factor costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal combustion for winter heating is a major source of heavy atmospheric pollution in China, while its impacts on black carbon (BC) are not yet clear. A dual-spot Aethalometer was selected to monitor the atmospheric BC concentration in Zhengzhou, China, during the heating season, which is from 15 November through 15 March of the following year, and the non-heating season (days other than heating season). The characteristics and sources of BC were analyzed, and a concentration weight trajectory (CWT) analysis was conducted. The results showed that the BC concentrations in the heating season were generally higher than those in the non-heating season. The diurnal variation in BC concentrations during heating season was bimodal, and that during the non-heating season was unimodal. The α-values in the heating and non-heating seasons indicated that combustion of coal and biomass and vehicle emissions were the major BC sources for the heating season and non-heating season, respectively. BC concentrations were positively correlated with PM2.5, PM10, CO, and NOX. There was a strong negative correlation between wind speed and BC concentrations, and that for relative humidity was the opposite. BC concentration during heating season was mainly influenced by the northwestern areas of China and the eastern part of Henan, and that in the non-heating season was mainly from the northeastern areas of China and southern Henan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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As the COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end, governments find themselves facing a new challenge: motivating citizens to resume economic activity. What is an effective way to do so? We investigate this question using a field experiment in the city of Zhengzhou, China, immediately following the end of the city's COVID-19 lockdown. We assessed the effect of a descriptive norms intervention providing information about the proportion of participants' neighbors who have resumed economic activity. We find that informing individuals about their neighbors' plans to visit restaurants increases the fraction of participants visiting restaurants by 12 percentage points (37%), among those participants who underestimated the proportion of neighbors who resumed economic activity. Those who overestimated did not respond by reducing restaurant attendance (the intervention yielded no "boomerang" effect); thus, our descriptive norms intervention yielded a net positive effect. We explore the moderating role of risk preferences and the effect of the intervention on subjects' perceived risk of going to restaurants, as well as the contrast with an intervention for parks, which were already perceived as safe. All of these analyses suggest our intervention worked by reducing the perceived risk of going to restaurants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution remains a serious environmental problem worldwide, and the effects of air pollutants with reproductive system diseases have already attracted extensive attention. The present study investigated the risk of air pollutants on reproductive system diseases, based on daily medical visits (DMV) of the past 5 years in central China. Data of DMV outpatients with reproductive system diseases were obtained from a general hospital in Zhengzhou, October 28, 2013 to May 31, 2018, as well as atmospheric pollutants data. Correlation of air pollutants and DMV was analyzed with distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM), including total cases of reproductive system diseases, and in different seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter), genders (male and female), and age groups (<26, 26–35, and >35 years old). A total of 374,558 visits were included. NO2 was most closely relevant to incidence risk of total cases analysis with each increased interquartile ranges (IQRs) in the 6 pollutants, with 30-day lag. Relationship to pollutants was more sensitive in fall, >35 years old, and male groups than in other seasons, ages, and females, and NO2 had the highest risk on reproductive diseases. Air pollution increased risk of reproductive system diseases, and different pollutants played different roles in different seasons, ages, and genders. The results of this study will provide evidence for effective air quality controlling and human reproductive protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research background: Previous studies on the economic and social development of urban agglomerations mostly focus on a single primacy comparative analysis and efficiency evaluation. Spatial structure differentiation is an important feature of urban agglomeration. The lack of economic and social analysis on the spatial structure makes it impossible to determine the development positioning of each city in the urban agglomeration, which affects the sustainable economic development ability of these areas. Purpose of the article: The objective of the article is to analyze the spatial development law and experience of urban agglomeration, this study explores the practice of economic and population spatial structure of city areas in China. For this purpose, CPUA and its central city Zhengzhou was taken as an example, the spatial gradient structure of example was analyzed. Methods: Using economic and population data of 32 cities in this region, growth pole theory, and pole-axis theory, the economic and population spatial structure of urban agglomeration, the spatial gradient structure of central cities in urban agglomerations were analyzed with the method of cluster about radiation index. Findings & value added: (1) In the process of the formation of CPUA, the geo-graphical spatial pattern plays a decisive role in economic and social development. This is an experience from developing countries. (2) CPUA presents a gradient development pattern with Zhengzhou as the center, and economic and social development gradually radiates to the metropolitan area, the core development area, and the character development demonstration area. (3) The economic and social gradients of Zhengzhou, the central city, present the hierarchy rules and characteristics which are driven by the Beijing-Guangzhou-Railway axis and the Longhai-Railway axis. (4) The central city of Zhengzhou still presents insufficient primacy in regional development, which shows that Zhengzhou accounts for 6% of the population of the Central Plains Economic Zone and 14% of GDP, and insufficient agglomeration. Different countries at different stages of economic development have different urban agglomeration development models. The conclusions from China provide new decision-making ideas and methods for spatial structure research and development strategy analysis of urban agglomerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lighting energy consumption occupies a large proportion in the building electricity consumption. It cannot only save energy, but also reduce the uneven and constant illumination of the working face, which makes full use of the natural lighting and combines with the intelligent lighting control. An office building in Zhengzhou of China has been selected as an example for analyzing the climatic factors that influence building daylighting and the factors of the building itself, the illuminance of working faces in different sky models and at different times has been simulated and calculated to analyze the illuminance variation law in the direction of room depth and parallel direction of side Windows. Partition and point combined constant illumination control strategy for the lamps in different areas has been put forward and realized by BP neural network algorithm. By controlling the dimming of artificial light source and adjusting the curtain opening degree intelligently, uniform and constant illumination has been achieved. Energy saving effect in combination with natural lighting has been evaluated to prove that the control strategy cannot only maintain constant illumination in every working face but also significantly reduce the electric energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summer extreme high-temperatures occur frequently in large cities; urban spatial form is the primary factor affecting the urban thermal environment. Thus, planning and arranging urban spaces is a key approach to regulating urban microclimates. Studies into how urban spatial forms influence the formation of urban microclimates have been carried out for multiple cities in warm and hot regions; however, few studies of this kind have been carried out for cities in cold regions. In this study, we analyze Zhengzhou, a city located in a cold region of China, using summer 2017 measurement data to determine why high temperatures develop in cold areas. We investigated how temperature and humidity vary during the morning, at noon, and in the evening given different land use properties (commercial and residential) and different spatial forms (building height, building density, green coverage rate, and plot ratio); we then studied the correlation between urban spatial form and the urban thermal environment. Our research results indicate that the commercial district's thermal microclimate was related to PR and BH in the afternoon and GCR in the morning and at night. In the residential district, the key urban morphology factors related to its thermal microclimates were BD, PR, and GCR during almost the whole day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]