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Introduction: A good quality of sleep is not only an important guarantee for students' academic life, but also an important founding condition for their physical and mental health development. The study aims to explore the relationship between sleep quality and students' learning engagement, and to deeply analyze the moderating role played by mental health. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among some junior high school students in Rizhao City, Shandong Province for the research. Results: The results show that: (1) The main effect of sleep quality on learning engagement is significant (β = 0.476, t = 1.829, p < 0.001), specifically, the better the sleep quality, the higher the students' learning engagement. (2) The influence of sleep quality on learning engagement is moderated by mental health (β = –0.850, t = -2.652, p = 0.006), that is to say, the influence of sleep quality on learning engagement is more significant for students with poor mental health, and mentally healthy students can effectively alleviate the negative impact of sleep problems on their learning engagement. Discussion: Research shows the significance of good sleep quality and mental health for students' learning. The research results provide empirical evidence for schools, families, and policy makers to improve students' academic achievement and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable urban growth is an important issue in urbanization. Existing studies mainly focus on urban growth from the two-dimensional morphology perspective due to limited data. Therefore, this study aimed to construct a framework for estimating long-term time series of building volume by integrating nighttime light data, land use data, and existing building volume data. Indicators of urban horizontal expansion (UHE), urban vertical expansion (UVE), and comprehensive development intensity (CDI) were constructed to describe the spatiotemporal characteristics of the horizontal growth, vertical growth, and comprehensive intensity of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) urban agglomeration from 2013 to 2023. The UHE and UVE increased from 0.44 and 0.30 to 0.50 and 0.53, respectively, indicating that BTH has simultaneously experienced horizontal growth and vertical growth and the rate of vertical growth was more significant. The UVE in urban areas and suburbs was higher and continuously increasing; in particular, the UVE in the suburbs changed from 0.35 to 0.60, showing the highest rate of increase. The most significant UHE growth was mainly concentrated in rural areas. The spatial pattern of the CDI was stable, showing a declining trend along the urban–suburb–rural gradient, and CDI growth from 2013 to 2023 was mainly concentrated in urban and surrounding areas. In terms of temporal variation, the CDI growth during 2013–2018 was significant, while it slowed after 2018 because economic development had leveled off. Economic scale, UHE, and UVE were the main positive factors. Due to the slowdown of CDI growth and population growth, economic activity intensity, population density, and improvement in the living environment showed a negative impact on CDI change. The results confirm the validity of estimating the multi-dimensional growth of regions using remote sensing data and provide a basis for differentiated spatial growth planning in urban, suburban, and rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction inspection is essential for maintaining the quality of hydraulic engineering projects. Due to the inefficiency and inaccuracy of existing inspection methods, a risk-based approach has been explored to identify critical inspection items and allocate inspection resources efficiently during construction. However, misalignment with the construction schedule and insufficient analysis of risk-influencing mechanisms at the inspection item level are the main limitations. Therefore, this study proposes an enhanced risk-based framework that combines the risk breakdown matrix with the construction schedule and employs the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory-interpretative structural modeling (DEMATEL-ISM) method to analyze risk-influencing mechanisms at the inspection item level. A case study of a pumping station is used to evaluate the framework. Results demonstrate that the framework effectively identifies critical inspection items and offers valuable insights into quality risks, including a detailed analysis of the influencing mechanisms at the inspection item level. The main contribution of this research is that the proposed framework enables quality inspectors to allocate resources more efficiently and improve overall construction quality by targeting critical inspection items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Landscape Architecture (1673-1530) is the property of Beijing Landscape Architecture Journal Periodical Office Co., Ltd. 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.)

Copyright of South Architecture / Nanfang Jianzhu is the property of South Architecture 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.)

The properties of soil matrix have an impact on the fluorescence intensity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which restricts the application of fluorescence spectral technology in detecting PAHs in soil. The present study explored the mechanism of the influence of soil matrix properties on the fluorescence intensity of PAHs from the perspective of specific surface area (SSA). A three-factor three-level experimental design was adopted for investigating the relationship between soil matrix properties, PAH fluorescence intensity, and soil SSA. The typical benzo[ghi]perylene pollutant in soil as the research object, 27 soil samples with different sand content, moisture content, humic acid content, and given benzo[ghi]perylene concentration (2 mg/g) were prepared. On the basis of obtaining the fluorescence spectra and SSA data of soil samples, statistical analyses of fluorescence intensity and SSA were investigated in relation to the soil matrix properties. The statistical results showed that the soil matrix properties had a significant influence (P < 0.05) on the fluorescence intensity and SSA. Furthermore, combined with the technology of fluorescence microscopy imaging, the influence mechanism of soil matrix properties on fluorescence intensity was revealed. The soil matrix properties affected the soil SSA, resulting in a change of benzo[ghi]perylene concentration in the soil surface at the probe window, thereby affecting the fluorescence intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Overseas investment activities play a role in multinational corporations' green performance. • MNEs aimed at expanding foreign markets would achieve greening through competition effects and economies of scale. • Profits from overseas subsidiaries and incomes from exporting intermediate products are utilized to obtain financial support. • Reverse technology spillovers of MNEs with better technology absorptive capacity and flexible intellectual property protection contribute to transition toward greener practices. Enterprises, including multinational ones, play a crucial role in harmonizing economic growth with environmental conservation through green transition efforts. Based on a panel dataset of 1,916 publicly listed Chinese companies, this study investigates how overseas investment activities conducted by multinational enterprises (MNEs) influence their green transition performance. We find that the increase in overseas investment significantly contributes to MNEs' transition toward greener practices, with this positive effect being particularly pronounced in greenfield investments. Mechanism analysis suggests that overseas investment benefits the green transition performance of MNEs through competitive effects, economies of scale, and profit feedback from overseas subsidiaries. Moreover, reverse technology spillovers derived from overseas investments are effective in promoting MNEs' greening, an effect amplified when MNEs possess a higher technology absorptive capacity or operate in flexible intellectual property protection. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While high-quality development (HQD) is a feasible means to achieve coordinated development of the economy, the environment, and society, the most efficient pathway to implement this strategy still remains unknown. How to improve the HQD level of one specific industry through heterogeneous environmental regulation under the comprehensive action of multiple factors such as energy, investment, openness, and structure also remains unclear. To address this research gap, this paper adopts the G1-entropy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution method to quantitatively measure the HQD level of the iron and steel industry (ISI) in China from 2006 to 2019. Then, environmental regulations are divided into three categories: command-based environmental regulation (ERC), market-based environmental regulation (ERM), and voluntary environmental regulation (ERV). Their heterogeneous effects on the HQD level are examined using the Tobit model. The results show that the overall level of HQD in ISI over the past 14 years was only 0.3885, and its evolution trend presented a V-shaped change. Of the four dimensions, the score of integration is the highest and its growth rate is the fastest, while the score of innovation is the lowest and quality benefit has the slowest growth rate. ERC negatively affects the HQD level, and both ERM and ERV have a U-shaped relationship with the HQD level. In the influencing mechanism, ERM is currently the most effective policy tool for promoting HQD, but ERV will soon also contribute significantly. Moreover, the energy production rate provides an important bridge to strengthen the effect of ERM and ERV on the HQD level, and research and development needs to continuously increase to achieve the "innovation compensation effect". This paper enriches the industrial transformation literature and presents important implications for policymakers in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines influencing mechanisms of digital transformation across a range of industries using literature review method. Through the analysis of 114 papers from the comprehensive search of related databases, we have obtained the following results. Firstly, digital transformation unfolds in three phases: initial readiness, intermediate implementation, and innovation disruption. Secondly, internal challenges include unclear strategies, insufficient technology infrastructure, and employee resistance, while external challenges involve limited government incentives and customer resistance. Finally, the study highlights the importance of specific assets, capabilities, and organizational structures for success and develops industry-specific growth strategies based on each industry's unique characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveEcosystem services are the link between ecosystems and social systems. While effectively coordinating regional ecological, social and economic needs and promoting carbon sequestration and emission reduction, ecosystem services can be transmitted to surrounding areas to boost regional ecological space optimization. Under the guidance of the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, clarifying the positive impact of ecosystem services on net carbon sink efficiency in metropolitan areas and the spillover effect of ecosystem services can effectively contribute to regional ecosystem service enhancement, and realize efficient carbon sequestration and reduction in ecological space.MethodsSupported by multi-source panel data spanning the period from 2010 to 2020, this research takes the Shanghai Metropolitan Area as the research object and divides the research area into 40 research units. Based on the multiple benefits of ecosystem services in synergistically promoting urban sink enhancement and emission reduction, this research constructs a net carbon sink efficiency indicator system. Then, utilizing the undesirable slacks-based measurement (SBM) model, the research evaluates the net carbon sink efficiency of each unit during the period from 2010 to 2020, and further explores the distributional characteristics and spatial-temporal changes of carbon sinks, carbon emissions, and net carbon sink efficiency from the geospatial perspective. In combination with the guiding content of spatial synergistic planning for the Shanghai Metropolitan Area, four important ecosystem services, namely water retention, water purification, soil retention and biodiversity maintenance, are quantitatively characterized with the InVEST model. Subsequently, based on the spatial decomposition effects (direct, indirect and total effects) obtained with spatial econometric model, the influencing mechanisms of ecosystem services and their interrelationship on the net carbon sink efficiency of 40 research units are analyzed. In addition, the spatial spillover effects of ecosystem services are innovatively revealed according to ecosystem service flow conduction mechanisms.ResultsResearch results are summarized as follows. 1) During the 11 years from the 2010 to 2020, the growth of carbon dioxide emissions in the Shanghai Metropolitan Area gradually slowed down, while the net primary productivity of vegetation continued to increase, and the areas with high carbon emissions and high carbon sinks were partially overlapped; in addition, the net carbon sink efficiency of some core nodes, such as Shanghai City, maintained a steady improvement, effectively driving neighboring cities to reduce carbon emissions and increase carbon sinks; meanwhile, the areas with improved net carbon sink efficiency have some similar characteristics and can be divided into 2 types: areas with high production value, high carbon emissions, and high carbon sinks, and those with medium-high production value, low carbon emissions, and medium-high carbon sinks. 2) The four ecosystem services have significant spatial heterogeneity and relatively stable changes over the 11-year period, with the high values mainly distributed in the southwestern part of the area with high vegetation cover and the area around the Taihu Lake with concentrated water resources, while the low values mainly distributed in the concentrated urban construction areas and near the regional traffic arteries, and the total amount of the four ecosystem services has shown fluctuating characteristics. 3) Regarding the spatial decomposition effects of ecosystem services on net carbon sink efficiency, there are differences in the coefficients, directions and significance of the spatial effects of different ecosystem services. For the ecosystem service trade-off index and relationship index, the direct effects are significantly positive, while indirect effects significantly negative.ConclusionThe research clarifies that water-related ecosystem services such as water retention and water purification services can significantly affect carbon reduction and sink enhancement in the Shanghai Metropolitan Area, and attention should be paid to water network system and its coupling effects with green and grey spaces, so as to further stimulate the ecological vitality of Jiangnan water vein. As there are differences in the spillover effects of different ecosystem services, it is necessary to differentiate the optimization and enhancement strategies for each type of ecological space and its ecosystem services according to local conditions, and the conservation of important ecological spaces in the metropolitan area should be continuously strengthened, followed by joint protection and control of ecological red lines in neighboring areas, so as to promote territorial spatial carbon reduction and sink enhancement activities, thus contributing to the steady improvement of the net carbon sink efficiency of the Shanghai Metropolitan Area in general. The research clearly demonstrates the positive effects of enhancing water-related ecosystem services and conserving important ecological spaces on regional carbon sinks and reduction, and effectively reveals an effective path for synergistic carbon reduction in the region, which may provide certain reference for improving territorial spatial management.

Abstract Exploring the spatial pattern and its influencing mechanism of cultural heritage is of great significance for the systematic protection, inheritance and utilization of cultural heritage. In this study, the national-level cultural heritage of China as the research object, and the spatial patterns of the cultural heritage (CH), tangible cultural heritage (TCH) and intangible cultural heritage (ICH) are analyzed are summarized using the multiple geospatial analysis method, and their spatial distribution differences. Then, the optimal parameter geodetector model was further used to analyze the influencing and interaction effect of natural environment (NE) factors, socioeconomic and cultural environment (SCE) factors on the spatial distribution of CH, TCH and ICH, and the interaction mechanism was deeply discussed. The results show that high-density region of CH are mainly located in the southeastern Heihe-Tengchong Line of China, while low-density region are mostly located in the northwestern Heihe-Tengchong Line. In terms of local spatial differences, the spatial distribution of material cultural heritage is different in different river basins, different terrains and different climates. The spatial distribution of ICH mainly shows significant differences in terrain and climate, and does not show significant differences in river basins. In terms of influencing factors, sociocultural environment, education level, historical settlement environment, road traffic, climate, economy, population and terrain factors all have a significant impact on the spatial distribution of CH and TCH. Sociocultural environment, education level, historical settlement environment, road traffic, climate, economy and population have a significant impact on the spatial distribution of ICH, while topographic factors and water system factors have no significant impact on the spatial distribution of ICH. Compared with ICH, TCH is more likely to be directly affected by topographic conditions (altitude, relief of terrain) and hydrological conditions (production and living water sources and flood risk) during its formation stage. At the same time, topographic and hydrological conditions can also indirectly affect the spatial distribution of TCH by directly affecting human agricultural activities, economic activities and cultural activities.

Abstract Environmental pollution of livestock and poultry breeding (LPB) has always been a global hot topic. This study has introduced a bayesian network model to explore factors influencing the LPB farmers' willingness to environmental management based on 121 questionnaires obtained from coastal China. This study revealed that: (1) Educational level, breeding scale, annual income of breeding, farmers' environmental awareness, the availability of technical guidance, environmental perception, policy publicity and the completeness of relevant social policies all positively affected farmers' willingness to environmental management. However, farmer's age and subsidies for dead animal showed an opposite effect. (2) Among all factors, acting pathway of "technical guidance → enhancing environmental awareness/increasing breeding income → promoting willingness to prevent environmental pollution" may likely play a dominating role in the LPB environmental management, which deserved to be focused closely in the future. (3) For local government, enhancing perceptions on changes of surrounding soils and air, strengthening the LPB training, and accurately adopting subsidy policies can effectively rise farmers' willingness to the LPB environmental management. This study will be helpful to accurately promote the LPB management in coastal areas.

Psychological happiness represents the ultimate pursuit of human beings, and the impact of digital technology on psychological happiness is becoming increasingly significant in the era of the digital economy. Based on data from 2020 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this study constructs an empirical model that examines the effect and mechanism of digital technology on happiness. Additionally, this study investigates the heterogeneity and robustness of the impact of digital technology on happiness. The research conclusions are as follows: Firstly, digital technology can promote psychological happiness. When controlling for other factors, the marginal effect coefficient of digital technology is 0.031. Secondly, the effect of digital technology on personal happiness varies among different groups, particularly among women, young individuals, primary and college graduates, and rural residents. Furthermore, as absolute income increases, the happiness effect of digital technology diminishes. Thirdly, in terms of the influencing mechanism, digital technology indirectly affects individual happiness by influencing health status, interpersonal relationships, employment situations and income levels. Specifically, digital technology negatively impacts personal health, interpersonal relationships, and agricultural work, while positively impacting family relationships, non-agricultural employment, absolute income and relative income. Digital technology affects happiness through these channels indirectly. Based on the study results, it is proposed that efforts should be made to enhance the development of digital technology infrastructure in remote rural areas, reduce the financial burden associated with digital technology, and promote the digital technology ecosystem. Moreover, providing online services, such as e-commerce, travel reservations, and digital financial management, can improve access to digital technology in rural areas and contribute to increased happiness levels. Simultaneously, there is a need to strengthen digital skills training, particularly among vulnerable populations such as the elderly and rural residents, to improve their proficiency in digital technologies. This can be achieved through the integration of additional educational resources, thereby facilitating cost-free digital technology training and guidance. Meanwhile, it is essential to vigorously develop the new economy and innovative employment models, create job opportunities, foster entrepreneurial prospects, and improve income levels to enhance individual well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the spatial pattern and its influencing mechanism of cultural heritage is of great significance for the systematic protection, inheritance and utilization of cultural heritage. In this study, the national-level cultural heritage of China as the research object, and the spatial patterns of the cultural heritage (CH), tangible cultural heritage (TCH) and intangible cultural heritage (ICH) are analyzed are summarized using the multiple geospatial analysis method, and their spatial distribution differences. Then, the optimal parameter geodetector model was further used to analyze the influencing and interaction effect of natural environment (NE) factors, socioeconomic and cultural environment (SCE) factors on the spatial distribution of CH, TCH and ICH, and the interaction mechanism was deeply discussed. The results show that high-density region of CH are mainly located in the southeastern Heihe-Tengchong Line of China, while low-density region are mostly located in the northwestern Heihe-Tengchong Line. In terms of local spatial differences, the spatial distribution of material cultural heritage is different in different river basins, different terrains and different climates. The spatial distribution of ICH mainly shows significant differences in terrain and climate, and does not show significant differences in river basins. In terms of influencing factors, sociocultural environment, education level, historical settlement environment, road traffic, climate, economy, population and terrain factors all have a significant impact on the spatial distribution of CH and TCH. Sociocultural environment, education level, historical settlement environment, road traffic, climate, economy and population have a significant impact on the spatial distribution of ICH, while topographic factors and water system factors have no significant impact on the spatial distribution of ICH. Compared with ICH, TCH is more likely to be directly affected by topographic conditions (altitude, relief of terrain) and hydrological conditions (production and living water sources and flood risk) during its formation stage. At the same time, topographic and hydrological conditions can also indirectly affect the spatial distribution of TCH by directly affecting human agricultural activities, economic activities and cultural activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The imbalance in the "production–living–ecology" function (PLEF) has become a major issue for global cities due to the rapid advancement of urbanization and industrialization worldwide. The realization of PLEF coupling and coordination is crucial for a region's sustainable development. Existing research has defined the concept of PLEF from the perspective of land function and measured its coupling coordination level using relevant models. However, there is still room for improvement in the indicator system, research methods, and other aspects. This work builds a PLEF coupling coordination evaluation-index system based on the perspective of human habitat using multi-source data in order to examine the spatial differences in PLEF coupling coordination level and the influencing factors in the Yellow River Basin (YRB). Using the modified coupling coordination model, the Moran index, spatial Markov chain model, and geographically weighted random forest model were introduced to analyze its spatial and temporal differentiation and influencing factors. The results found that (a) the level of PLEF coupling coordination in the YRB from 2010 to 2022 has been improving, and the number of severely imbalanced cities has been reduced from 23 to 15, but the level of downstream cities' coupling coordination is significantly higher than that of upstream cities. The probability of cities maintaining their own level is greater than 50%, and there is basically no cross-level transfer. (b) The Moran index of the PLEF coupling coordination level has risen from 0.137 to 0.229, which shows a significant positive clustering phenomenon and is continually strengthening. The intercity polarization effect is being continually enhanced as seen in the LISA clustering diagram. (c) There is significant heterogeneity between the influencing factors in time and space. In terms of importance level, the series is per capita disposable income (0.416) > nighttime lighting index (0.370) > local general public budget expenditure (0.332) > number of beds per 1000 people (0.191) > NO2 content in the air (0.110). This study systematically investigates the dynamic evolution of the coupled coordination level of PLEF in the YRB and its influencing mechanism, which is of great practical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between government transparency and firm innovation, exploring the mechanisms through which government transparency influences firm innovation using Chinese provincial-level and firm-level data from 2013 to 2020. The findings reveal a significant positive association between government transparency and both firm innovation input and output. Mechanism analysis suggests that government transparency enhances firm innovation by fostering improvements in the regional institutional environment. Furthermore, the study identifies heterogeneity in the effects, indicating that state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and high-tech firms derive greater benefits from government transparency. This research contributes to the existing literature by addressing the role of government transparency in promoting firm innovation and offers valuable insights for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low rate activation process is always used in conventional transition metal oxide cathode and fully activates active substances/electrolyte to achieve stable electrochemical performance. However, the related working mechanism in lithium‐sulfur (Li‐ battery is unclear due to the multiple complex chemical reaction steps including the redox of sulfur and the dissolution of polysulfides intermediate. Hence, the influencing mechanism of activation process on Li‐S battery is explored by adopting different current densities of 0.05, 0.2, and 1 C in initial three cycles before long‐term cycling tests at 0.2 C (denoted by 0.05, 0.2, and 1‐battery). 0.05‐battery presents the highest initial capacity in activation process, while 0.2‐battery presents superior electrochemical performances after 150 cycles. The similar trend can be found in more long‐term cycling rates such as 0.02, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 C. Potentiostatically Li2S precipitation test demonstrates that rapid generation of Li2S is achieved at higher current density, and S8‐Li2Sn‐Li2S conversion is accelerated according to Tafel plots. However, interfacial electrochemical and physical characterizations suggest that serious lithium dendrite growth will be induced under high current density. Therefore, considering the reaction kinetics and interfacial properties, low rate activation process is unnecessary when cycling current lower than 1 C for Li‐S battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological happiness represents the ultimate pursuit of human beings, and the impact of digital technology on psychological happiness is becoming increasingly significant in the era of the digital economy. Based on data from 2020 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this study constructs an empirical model that examines the effect and mechanism of digital technology on happiness. Additionally, this study investigates the heterogeneity and robustness of the impact of digital technology on happiness. The research conclusions are as follows: Firstly, digital technology can promote psychological happiness. When controlling for other factors, the marginal effect coefficient of digital technology is 0.031. Secondly, the effect of digital technology on personal happiness varies among different groups, particularly among women, young individuals, primary and college graduates, and rural residents. Furthermore, as absolute income increases, the happiness effect of digital technology diminishes. Thirdly, in terms of the influencing mechanism, digital technology indirectly affects individual happiness by influencing health status, interpersonal relationships, employment situations and income levels. Specifically, digital technology negatively impacts personal health, interpersonal relationships, and agricultural work, while positively impacting family relationships, non-agricultural employment, absolute income and relative income. Digital technology affects happiness through these channels indirectly. Based on the study results, it is proposed that efforts should be made to enhance the development of digital technology infrastructure in remote rural areas, reduce the financial burden associated with digital technology, and promote the digital technology ecosystem. Moreover, providing online services, such as e-commerce, travel reservations, and digital financial management, can improve access to digital technology in rural areas and contribute to increased happiness levels. Simultaneously, there is a need to strengthen digital skills training, particularly among vulnerable populations such as the elderly and rural residents, to improve their proficiency in digital technologies. This can be achieved through the integration of additional educational resources, thereby facilitating cost-free digital technology training and guidance. Meanwhile, it is essential to vigorously develop the new economy and innovative employment models, create job opportunities, foster entrepreneurial prospects, and improve income levels to enhance individual well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation cover can regulate regional climate and associated dry–wet variations. However, the effects of the quantitative structure and landscape pattern of vegetation cover on climatic drought remain unclear. Yunnan Province in China, with its abundant vegetation resources, provides a good setting for addressing this research gap. Our objective is to provide guiding recommendations for climate-warming mitigation through the study of the topic. This study adopted four periods of vegetation cover data, from 1992 to 2020, and explored their dynamics. Monthly average precipitation and temperature data from 125 meteorological stations in Yunnan were used to calculate standardized precipitation–evapotranspiration index (SPEI) for 1992–2020 to understand the responses of climatic drought to vegetation cover dynamics. The correlations between quantitative structure, landscape pattern, and climatic drought were investigated by Pearson's correlation coefficient in 10 km, 20 km, 30 km, and 40 km grid cells, respectively. The results indicate that changes in the quantitative structure of vegetation could influence regional climates, with the contributions to climatic drought mitigation ranked in the following order: broad-leaved forest > shrubland > needle-leaved forest > cropland > grassland. Landscape patterns significantly affected local climates, where broad-leaved and needle-leaved forests had the strongest and most stable correlations with climatic drought, whereas shrubland and grassland showed weaker correlations. The correlations between landscape patterns and climatic drought were stronger during the dry season than the rainy season. Factors such as the landscape dominance index, fragmentation index, and aggregation index had a significant impact on climatic drought. The dominant and aggregated-distribution broad-leaved forests were conducive to climatic drought mitigation, while needle-leaved forests, croplands, and grasslands might exacerbate climatic drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution of livestock and poultry breeding (LPB) has always been a global hot topic. This study has introduced a bayesian network model to explore factors influencing the LPB farmers' willingness to environmental management based on 121 questionnaires obtained from coastal China. This study revealed that: (1) Educational level, breeding scale, annual income of breeding, farmers' environmental awareness, the availability of technical guidance, environmental perception, policy publicity and the completeness of relevant social policies all positively affected farmers' willingness to environmental management. However, farmer's age and subsidies for dead animal showed an opposite effect. (2) Among all factors, acting pathway of "technical guidance → enhancing environmental awareness/increasing breeding income → promoting willingness to prevent environmental pollution" may likely play a dominating role in the LPB environmental management, which deserved to be focused closely in the future. (3) For local government, enhancing perceptions on changes of surrounding soils and air, strengthening the LPB training, and accurately adopting subsidy policies can effectively rise farmers' willingness to the LPB environmental management. This study will be helpful to accurately promote the LPB management in coastal areas. Article Highlights: Bayesian network model adopted in this study identified the contributions of non-structural factors affecting farmer's willingness. Subsidies for dead animal and farmer's age all showed a negative impact on farmer's willingness to the LPB environmental management. A dominant acting pathway affecting farmer's willingness has been determined which benefited to sustainable development of the future LPB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the effect and transmission mechanism of air pollution on urbanization based on data from China's 107 cities during 2005-2018. In order to identify the impact of air pollution on China's urbanization, we utilized night light data to represent the level of urbanization and used temperature inversion as an instrumental variable to mitigate endogeneity within the two-stage least squares framework. The results suggest that air pollution significantly slowed China' s urbanization process with economic growth acting as the transmission mechanism. The heterogeneity analyses revealed that air pollution had a greater negative impact on urbanization in northern regions than that in southern regions, and a greater negative impact in resource-oriented cities than that in non-resource-based cities. We also find that air pollution was to the detriment of urbanization in larger cities, which have more than 3 million residents, while it did not have a significant impact on Type II large cities, which have fewer than 3 million residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tourism Tribune / Lvyou Xuekan is the property of Tourism Institute of Beijing Union 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.)

IntroductionA good quality of sleep is not only an important guarantee for students’ academic life, but also an important founding condition for their physical and mental health development. The study aims to explore the relationship between sleep quality and students’ learning engagement, and to deeply analyze the moderating role played by mental health.MethodsA questionnaire survey was conducted among some junior high school students in Rizhao City, Shandong Province for the research.ResultsThe results show that: (1) The main effect of sleep quality on learning engagement is significant (β = 0.476, t = 1.829, p < 0.001), specifically, the better the sleep quality, the higher the students’ learning engagement. (2) The influence of sleep quality on learning engagement is moderated by mental health (β = –0.850, t = -2.652, p = 0.006), that is to say, the influence of sleep quality on learning engagement is more significant for students with poor mental health, and mentally healthy students can effectively alleviate the negative impact of sleep problems on their learning engagement.DiscussionResearch shows the significance of good sleep quality and mental health for students’ learning. The research results provide empirical evidence for schools, families, and policy makers to improve students’ academic achievement and mental health.

The Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) is a pivotal contributor to China's economic growth, particularly as the nation undergoes a green transformation. Achieving synergistic reductions on pollution and carbon emissions is deemed crucial for this transition. This paper examines the spatial and temporal changes in the synergy of pollution and carbon reduction in the YREB and delves into the underlying mechanisms. Our findings indicate that while the synergy in the YREB is increasing, it manifests disparities across regions, with the lower reaches outperforming the middle and upper ones. Enterprise behavior, government guidance, and regional endowments influence this synergy. Cities in the YREB must strategically plan their urban scale, curb population overgrowth, recalibrate their industrial structures, curtail energy consumption, and enhance policy efficacy. Distinct regions should prioritize various objectives: the lower reaches should hasten scientific advancements and technological innovations; the middle reaches should foster innovation and industrial upgrades; and the upper reaches should prioritize rural and urban land intensification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of South Architecture / Nanfang Jianzhu is the property of South Architecture 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.)

Based on the data of international students' flow from 2000 to 2018, social network analysis and negative binomial regression model are used to analyses the change of spatial networks of African students' flow and its influencing mechanism. The results show that: ① The spatial flow of African international students always presents a "butterfly" spatial distribution pattern, with the north-south flow from Africa to Europe as the main path, and the expansion of Africa to other continents as the secondary path. ② The change of spatial flow network structure of African international students shows significant scale expansion and relative agglomeration. While the number of African international student increases significantly, the scale of international African student among different countries has a hierarchical distribution gap. ③ The nodes of spatial flow network of African international students always present a core-edge structure, and the spatial flow network is increasingly closely connected. The clustering characteristics of African international students flowing to core and sub-core nodes are becoming increasingly significant. ④ Analysis of influencing factors shows that language proximity and historical colonial have the greatest influence on the choice of African international students, followed by the level of education in universities. In addition, agglomeration effect, trade connection, and geographical distance have little influence, while the number of college students in host country, GDP difference and per capita GDP difference have the least influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional integration plays a pivotal role in the socio-economic advancement of various global regions and is closely linked with the expansion of construction land. This expansion is a major contributor to urban carbon emissions. Utilizing a geographical regression discontinuity design (GRDD), this paper estimates the impact of urban construction land expansion on carbon emissions and explores the underlying mechanisms within the regional integration process of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), China. The findings reveal that urban construction land expansion significantly influences carbon emissions, displaying an inverted "U"-shaped pattern. Furthermore, this expansion affects carbon emissions through the transformation of industrial structures, shifts in consumption patterns, and enhancements in scientific and technological investments. Our findings span the performance of the Yangtze River Delta from its early development stages to a relatively mature phase. This paper also partially reveals how the Yangtze River Delta, with both megacities and large- to medium-sized cities, manages urban construction land expansion during the integration process and strives for low-carbon emissions reduction. These results can provide green growth recommendations that balance socio-economic development, low-carbon emissions, and social equity not only for other urban agglomerations in China but also for similar regions in other developing countries by altering construction land utilization patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study prepared resistant starch (RS) from waxy corn starch and normal corn starch and analyzed the effects of its molecular and microstructural characteristics on RS content. The RS content of waxy corn resistant starch (RS-WCS) was highest at 57.8%, whereas that of normal corn resistant starch (RS-NCS) was 41.46%. The short-chain amylose contents of RS-WCS and RS-NCS were 47.08% and 37.24%, respectively, proportional to their RS content. Additionally, RS content positively correlated with crystallinity, short-range order degree, and degree of polymerization (DP), exceeding 25. Electron microscopic images, before and after enzymolysis, revealed that RS-WCS was hydrolyzed from the surface to the center by pancreatic α-amylase, while RS-NCS underwent simultaneous hydrolysis at the surface and center. These results indicate that the higher RS content in RS-WCS, compared to RS-NCS, is attributable to the synergistic effects of molecular structure and microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Three Gorges Project is the largest hydraulic hub project in the world, and its hydrological management has altered the hydrological environment of the reservoir area, affecting the carbon emission and absorption of the reservoir water. In this study, representative hydrological stations in the Three Gorges Reservoir area were selected as research sites to monitor the CO2 and CH4 fluxes of the reservoir water and nine environmental factors during the drainage and impoundment periods in 2022. The study aimed to explore the mechanisms of hydrological management and environmental factors on greenhouse gas emissions. The results showed that the mean CO2 fluxes of the reservoir water during the drainage and impoundment periods were (103.82 ± 284.86) mmol·m−2·d−1 and (134.39 ± 62.41) mmol·m−2·d−1, respectively, while the mean CH4 fluxes were (1.013 ± 0.58) mmol·m−2·d−1 and (0.571 ± 0.70) mmol·m−2·d−1, respectively, indicating an overall "carbon source" characteristic. Through the evaluation of the characteristic importance of environmental factors, it was found that the main controlling factors of CO2 flux during the drainage period were total phosphorus (TP) and chlorophyll a (Chl_a), while total nitrogen (TN) was the main controlling factor during the impoundment period. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was the main controlling factor of CH4 flux during the different periods. Based on these findings, a "source-sink" mechanism of CO2 and CH4 in the Three Gorges Reservoir water under reservoir regulation was proposed. This study is of great significance for revealing the impact of reservoir construction on global ecosystem carbon cycling and providing scientific support for formulating "emission reduction and carbon sequestration" plans and achieving "dual carbon" goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of South Architecture / Nanfang Jianzhu is the property of South Architecture 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.)

Abstract This study aims to quantify meteorological–hydrological drought propagations and examine the potential impacts by climatic variability, LULC change (LULC), and human regulations. An integrated observation-modeling framework quantifies drought propagation intervals and assesses mechanisms influencing hydrological droughts. Meteorological droughts are characterized using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), and hydrological droughts are assessed through the Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI) across diverse climatic zones. Cross-correlation analysis between SPEI and SSI time series identifies the lag time associated with the highest correlation as the drought propagation interval. Mechanisms are investigated via a coupled empirical-process modeling framework incorporating the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Discrepancies between simulated and observed SSI time series help quantify the extent of human regulation impacts on hydrological drought characteristics and propagation. The Yellow River Basin (YRB), divided into six subzones based on climate characteristics, is selected as the case study. Key findings include: (1) Meteorological droughts were extremely severe across most YRB during the 1990s, while the 2000s showed some mitigation primarily due to precipitation increases. (2) Hydrological droughts and propagation times from meteorology to hydrology demonstrated substantial spatiotemporal variability. In general, summer propagation times were shorter than other seasons. (3) Propagation times were shorter in arid regions with cropland or built-up land cover versus grassland and woodland, while the reverse held for humid regions. (4) Human regulations prolonged propagation times, likely due to reservoir regulations designed to overcome water deficits. While the YRB is the focus of this paper, the methodologies and findings are applicable to other regions worldwide to enhance drought forecasting and water resource management. In various hydrological and climatic contexts worldwide.

In the context of climate change and rapid urbanization, there have been unparalleled changes in land use and land cover (LULC), resulting in substantial impacts on the surrounding habitat quality (HQ), particularly in ecologically vulnerable arid regions. However, previous studies on the influencing mechanisms of HQ in arid urban agglomerations and future multi‐scenario simulations remain limited. To fill this knowledge gap, this study aimed to reveal the influencing mechanisms in HQ changes and to develop a multi‐scenario HQ assessment framework within arid urban agglomerations. We assessed the spatiotemporal variations in HQ using the InVEST model and three periods of LULC data for the urban agglomeration on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains (UANSTM), and the partial least squares structural equation model was introduced to explore the interactions between natural and non‐natural factors and their impacts on HQ. Additionally, we coupled multi‐objective programming and PLUS models to predict the LULC under different optimization scenarios (natural development scenario (NDS), ecological protection scenario (EPS), ecological–economic coordinated scenario, and economic development scenario) for the UANSTM in 2030, and to assess HQ. Results show that (1) the HQ index of the UANSTM was 0.507, 0.520, and 0.495 in 2000, 2010, and 2020 respectively, with a spatial distribution pattern of high values in the west, low values in the east, and high in the central and low in the north and south; (2) geomorphic, climatic, and LULC factors have direct positive effects on HQ, while socio‐economic factors have a direct negative effect on HQ. In addition, geomorphic, socio‐economic, and climatic factors also influence HQ through potential indirect paths. Climatic and LULC factors enhance the positive effect of geomorphic on HQ while counteracting the direct negative effect of socio‐economic factors on HQ. Climatic factors have the largest negative effect on HQ through their influence on LULC; (3) according to the four scenarios in 2030, the highest HQ index (increased by 0.13%) was found under the EPS, which also aligns more closely with SDGs. Conversely, NDS showed the lowest HQ index (declined by 2.59%). The research results could provide a scientific basis for promoting sustainable land management and ecological conservation for the UANSTM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to quantify meteorological–hydrological drought propagations and examine the potential impacts by climatic variability, LULC change (LULC), and human regulations. An integrated observation-modeling framework quantifies drought propagation intervals and assesses mechanisms influencing hydrological droughts. Meteorological droughts are characterized using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), and hydrological droughts are assessed through the Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI) across diverse climatic zones. Cross-correlation analysis between SPEI and SSI time series identifies the lag time associated with the highest correlation as the drought propagation interval. Mechanisms are investigated via a coupled empirical-process modeling framework incorporating the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Discrepancies between simulated and observed SSI time series help quantify the extent of human regulation impacts on hydrological drought characteristics and propagation. The Yellow River Basin (YRB), divided into six subzones based on climate characteristics, is selected as the case study. Key findings include: (1) Meteorological droughts were extremely severe across most YRB during the 1990s, while the 2000s showed some mitigation primarily due to precipitation increases. (2) Hydrological droughts and propagation times from meteorology to hydrology demonstrated substantial spatiotemporal variability. In general, summer propagation times were shorter than other seasons. (3) Propagation times were shorter in arid regions with cropland or built-up land cover versus grassland and woodland, while the reverse held for humid regions. (4) Human regulations prolonged propagation times, likely due to reservoir regulations designed to overcome water deficits. While the YRB is the focus of this paper, the methodologies and findings are applicable to other regions worldwide to enhance drought forecasting and water resource management. In various hydrological and climatic contexts worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most important digestive and immune organ of the body, intestinal microbiome is complex and diverse, which plays a crucial role in the growth and health of the host. For the large number of marine fishes, much progress has been made in the study of gut microbiome. This paper reviews the research progress of intestinal microbiome of marine fishes at home and abroad, including the research methods, composition and influencing factors, as well as the influence mechanism of gut microbiome on marine fishes, in order to provide some guidances and help to promote the healthy, efficient, green and sustainable development of marine fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting the high-quality development of the marine economy is an inevitable choice for building a maritime power, and technological innovation can provide strong impetus for the high-quality development of the marine economy. Therefore, it is urgent to clarify the impact mechanism of technological innovation on the high-quality development of the marine economy, and promote the high-quality development of the marine economy. This study employs panel data from 11 coastal provinces and municipalities (autonomous regions) in China, spanning the years 2006 to 2020. The objective is to empirically evaluate the mechanism through which scientific and technical innovation impacts the high-quality development of the marine economy. This is achieved by utilizing the PVAR model and the mediation effect model. The research findings indicate that there is a noteworthy impact of enhancing scientific and technological innovation on the marine economy of China. Moreover, there exists a significant reciprocal relationship between scientific and technological innovation and the pursuit of high-quality development in the marine economy. It is observed that scientific and technological innovation not only has a positive influence on the high-quality development of the marine economy by enhancing green total factor productivity and optimizing the industrial structure, but it also facilitates the advancement of the marine economy through the chain mediation path of "improving green total factor productivity and optimizing industrial structure". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• KDE and DBSCAN were used in spatial distribution analysis of ICH. • The overall and various types of ICH in the YRB showed a agglomeration distribution. • ICH mainly concentrated in the middle-lower reaches and cultural areas of the YRB. • Socioeconomic factors had the most significant influence on the distribution of ICH. Given the background of ecological protection and high-quality development strategies in the Yellow River Basin (YRB), studying the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing mechanisms of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in the YRB is of great significance for objectively understanding the entire process of cultural occurrence, evolution, protection, and development in the YRB. Considering 787 counties in nine provincial areas of the YRB as the research area, this study adopted density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN), kernel density estimation (KDE), and GeoDetector, and explored the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing mechanisms of 892 national-level ICH items. The results showed that the entire ICH was spatially agglomerated in the YRB. Concurrently, regional differences were apparent, mainly concentrated in the middle–lower reaches and several cultural areas. Although all 10 ICH types showed spatial gathering characteristics, the degree of agglomeration of folk art and literature, traditional sports recreation, and acrobatics was relatively low. DBSCAN clustering showed that the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River were the core areas of ICH and various types of ICH clustering. The kernel density also showed an agglomeration distribution trend and formed a "3 + 4 + 5" kernel density hierarchy, exhibiting prominent "center–periphery" characteristics. Among the natural environmental, socioeconomic, and historical–cultural factors, the socioeconomic factors significantly affected ICH spatial distribution, whereas natural environmental factors were less influential. The gross domestic product (GDP), national historical and culturally famous towns and villages, populations, and museums strongly influenced ICH spatial distribution. The factor interaction explanatory force was greater than that of a single factor, indicating synergistic effects between the factors. The explanatory force of GDP, urbanization level, population, minority population, and traffic interaction with other factors on ICH spatial distribution significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a significant challenge in human health. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), acting as a link between human activities and the environment, create ideal conditions for the selection and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). Unfortunately, current treatment processes are ineffective in removing ARGs, resulting in the release of large quantities of ARB and ARGs into the aquatic environment through WWTP effluents. This, in turn, leads to their dispersion and potential transmission to human through water and the food chain. To safeguard human and environmental health, it is crucial to comprehend the mechanisms by which WWTP effluent discharge influences the distribution and diffusion of ARGs in downstream waterbodies. In this study, we examine the latest researches on the antibiotic resistome in various waterbodies that have been exposed to WWTP effluent, highlighting the key influencing mechanisms. Furthermore, recommendations for future research and management strategies to control the dissemination of ARGs from WWTPs to the environment are provided, with the aim to achieve the "One Health" objective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the academic community has come to accept the Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme (CETS) as a viable market incentive for environmental control, more research is needed to determine if the creation of such a scheme can spur the development of green technologies. Based on the panel data of 274 Chinese cities from 2010 to 2017, this paper uses the propensity score matching-difference in difference (PSM-DID) method to empirically test the green innovation effect of the pilot areas relative to the non-pilot areas before and after the implementation of the policy, uses the mediating effect model and the moderating effect model to test its internal influence mechanism, and further examines the heterogeneity of the policy effects. The findings indicate that pilot CETS deployment can significantly improve green technology innovation (GTI), and the conclusion is still valid after a series of robustness tests. Moreover, the human capital input and the science and technology support have a significant partial mediating effect in the policy effect of CETS on GTI, with the latter contributing greatly. The overall marketization and the financial development positively moderate the impact of CETS on GTI, but government involvement have a reverse moderating effect. In addition, the policy effects is better in cities with higher administrative levels in China and in cities in eastern and western China, while the policy effects in cities with lower administrative levels and in central China is weak or not significant. This study has far-reaching theoretical value and momentous practical significance for China and other developing countries in terms of further deepening and improving the CETS, enhancing GTI, and promoting urban sustainable development.

The imbalance in the “production–living–ecology” function (PLEF) has become a major issue for global cities due to the rapid advancement of urbanization and industrialization worldwide. The realization of PLEF coupling and coordination is crucial for a region’s sustainable development. Existing research has defined the concept of PLEF from the perspective of land function and measured its coupling coordination level using relevant models. However, there is still room for improvement in the indicator system, research methods, and other aspects. This work builds a PLEF coupling coordination evaluation-index system based on the perspective of human habitat using multi-source data in order to examine the spatial differences in PLEF coupling coordination level and the influencing factors in the Yellow River Basin (YRB). Using the modified coupling coordination model, the Moran index, spatial Markov chain model, and geographically weighted random forest model were introduced to analyze its spatial and temporal differentiation and influencing factors. The results found that (a) the level of PLEF coupling coordination in the YRB from 2010 to 2022 has been improving, and the number of severely imbalanced cities has been reduced from 23 to 15, but the level of downstream cities’ coupling coordination is significantly higher than that of upstream cities. The probability of cities maintaining their own level is greater than 50%, and there is basically no cross-level transfer. (b) The Moran index of the PLEF coupling coordination level has risen from 0.137 to 0.229, which shows a significant positive clustering phenomenon and is continually strengthening. The intercity polarization effect is being continually enhanced as seen in the LISA clustering diagram. (c) There is significant heterogeneity between the influencing factors in time and space. In terms of importance level, the series is per capita disposable income (0.416) > nighttime lighting index (0.370) > local general public budget expenditure (0.332) > number of beds per 1000 people (0.191) > NO2 content in the air (0.110). This study systematically investigates the dynamic evolution of the coupled coordination level of PLEF in the YRB and its influencing mechanism, which is of great practical use.

Copyright of Geography & Geographic Information Science is the property of Geography & Geo-Information Science 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.)

This study prepared resistant starch (RS) from waxy corn starch and normal corn starch and analyzed the effects of its molecular and microstructural characteristics on RS content. The RS content of waxy corn resistant starch (RS-WCS) was highest at 57.8%, whereas that of normal corn resistant starch (RS-NCS) was 41.46%. The short-chain amylose contents of RS-WCS and RS-NCS were 47.08% and 37.24%, respectively, proportional to their RS content. Additionally, RS content positively correlated with crystallinity, short-range order degree, and degree of polymerization (DP), exceeding 25. Electron microscopic images, before and after enzymolysis, revealed that RS-WCS was hydrolyzed from the surface to the center by pancreatic α-amylase, while RS-NCS underwent simultaneous hydrolysis at the surface and center. These results indicate that the higher RS content in RS-WCS, compared to RS-NCS, is attributable to the synergistic effects of molecular structure and microstructure.

Regional integration plays a pivotal role in the socio-economic advancement of various global regions and is closely linked with the expansion of construction land. This expansion is a major contributor to urban carbon emissions. Utilizing a geographical regression discontinuity design (GRDD), this paper estimates the impact of urban construction land expansion on carbon emissions and explores the underlying mechanisms within the regional integration process of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), China. The findings reveal that urban construction land expansion significantly influences carbon emissions, displaying an inverted “U”-shaped pattern. Furthermore, this expansion affects carbon emissions through the transformation of industrial structures, shifts in consumption patterns, and enhancements in scientific and technological investments. Our findings span the performance of the Yangtze River Delta from its early development stages to a relatively mature phase. This paper also partially reveals how the Yangtze River Delta, with both megacities and large- to medium-sized cities, manages urban construction land expansion during the integration process and strives for low-carbon emissions reduction. These results can provide green growth recommendations that balance socio-economic development, low-carbon emissions, and social equity not only for other urban agglomerations in China but also for similar regions in other developing countries by altering construction land utilization patterns.

The process of rapid urbanization has exerted immense pressure on the ecological environment of cities. Consequently, achieving green development during urbanization has emerged as the new focal point. Based on 2011–2020 panel data of 110 cities at the prefecture level and above in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB), this study aims to investigate the impact of urbanization on urban green development. Specifically, this study analyzes the spatial and temporal evolution patterns of urbanization and urban green development, and examines the spatial disparities and influencing mechanisms of urbanization on urban green development with the help of panel econometric model and mediation model. The results verify that the urbanization and urban green development levels in the YREB have generally improved, but there are significant differences across cities in terms of their aggregate level and growth rate. The relationship between urbanization and urban green development in the YREB follows a “U” shaped curve, where urbanization initially hinders green development but later facilitates it. Spatially, cities located in the middle and lower reaches, as well as urban agglomerations, benefit from location and organization advantages that amplify the effect of urbanization on urban green development. Conversely, cities in the upper reaches and non-urban agglomerations, with their advantages in late development, have the great potential to promote urban green development at a lower threshold. Moreover, Urbanization influences urban green development through non-linear mediating effects. As the level of urbanization increases, green life consumption (GLC) and green technology innovation (GTI) gradually replace infrastructure construction (IC) as the primary mechanisms driving urban green development in the YREB.