Study on Development Sustainability of Atmospheric Environment in Northeast China by Rough Set and Entropy Weight Method

Analysis of the Variation in Antioxidant Activity and Chemical Composition upon the Repeated Thermal Treatment of the By-Product of the Red Ginseng Manufacturing Process

Steamed ginseng water (SGW) is a by-product of the repeated thermal processing of red ginseng, which is characterized by a high bioactive content, better skin care activity, and a large output. However, its value has been ignored, resulting in environmental pollution and resource waste. In this study, UHPLC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and multivariate statistical analysis were conducted to characterize the compositional features of the repeated thermal-treated SGW. The antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and OH) and chemical composition (total sugars, total saponins, and reducing and non-reducing sugars) were comprehensively evaluated based on the entropy weighting method. Four comparison groups (groups 1 and 3, groups 1 and 5, groups 1 and 7, and groups 1 and 9) were screened for 37 important common difference markers using OPLS-DA analysis. The entropy weight method was used to analyze the weights of the indicators; the seventh SGW sample was reported to have a significant weight. The results of this study suggest that heat treatment time and frequency can be an important indicator value for the quality control of SGW cycling operations, which have great potential in antioxidant products.

On the urban resource and environment carrying capacity in China: A sustainable development paradigm

As urbanization progresses, the number of resource and environmental problems that impede sustainable growth in cities is increasing. The urban resource and environment carrying capacity (URECC) serves as a crucial indicator for understanding the interaction between human activities and urban resource and environmental systems, guiding the practice of sustainable urban development. Thus, accurately comprehending and analyzing the URECC and coordinating the balanced growth of the economy and the URECC is essential to ensure cities' sustainable development. In this research, we combine DMSP/OLS and NPP/VIIRS night-time light data to assess the economic growth of Chinese cities using panel data for 282 prefecture-level cities in China from 2007 to 2019. The findings reveal the following outcomes: (1) Economic growth significantly contributes to the enhancement of the URECC, and the economic expansion of neighboring areas also promotes the URECC within the region. Economic growth can indirectly improve the URECC by fostering internet development, industrial upgrading, technological progress, opening up opportunities, and educational advancements. (2) The results from the threshold regression analysis suggest that as the level of internet development improves, the influence of economic growth on the URECC is initially constrained and then facilitated. Similarly, as financial development improves, the effect of economic growth on the URECC is initially constrained and subsequently promoted, with the promotion effect gradually increasing. (3) The relationship between economic expansion and the URECC varies across regions with different geographic locations, administrative levels, scales, and resource endowments.

Assessment of the urban waterlogging resilience and identification of its driving factors: A case study of Wuhan City, China

With rapid urbanization and extreme rainstorm events associated with climate change, urban waterlogging has become one of the most frequent and severe disasters globally. In this study, a multi-dimensional and multi-process index system based on the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) framework was developed to measure the level of urban waterlogging resilience (UWR). The spatial distribution of UWR on a block scale was explored based on the entropy weight method with the natural breakpoint method (EWM-NBM) in the central district of Wuhan City, China. In addition, the effects of the runoff control facilities and early warning measures on UWR were also quantified. Further, the Geodetector was used to investigate the main driving factors of UWR and their interactions. Results showed that the constructed index system for UWR based on the PSR framework performed reasonably, and the EWM-NBM was validated to be effective in the integrated assessment. In terms of the validation results, 82.72 % of the recorded waterlogging points belonged to high and very-high risk levels. The spatial heterogeneity of UWR was significant in the study area where the higher-level UWR mainly appears in the areas near the undeveloped suburban and water bodies (lakes and rivers), and the lower-level UWR was concentrated in central urban areas with more impervious surfaces. There was a clear increasing trend in UWR after the implementation of runoff control facilities and early warning measures, but its spatial distribution remained almost invariant. Among all the indexes, the impervious surface percentage had the strongest (69.58 %) explanatory ability for the UWR, and mean annual precipitation (15.51 %), GDP (14.03 %), and population density (11.98 %) also demanded attention. Most driving factors of UWR showed nonlinear interactions. This research could provide a benchmark for urban planning to enhance UWR to mitigate the waterlogging within the main urban area.

Data-Driven Coupling Coordination Development of Regional Innovation EROB Composite System: An Integrated Model Perspective

To promote coupling coordination development for regional innovation environment-resource-output-benefit (EROB) composite systems, we propose a data-driven integrated model method for measurement, evaluation, and identification. First, we construct an evaluation indicator system of coupling coordination development of regional innovation EROB composite systems. Second, we apply the entropy method to measure indicator weights and comprehensive development indices of regional innovation composite systems. The coupling coordination degree model is used to calculate and evaluate four subsystems’ coupling coordination development levels. The obstacle degree model is used to identify the main obstacle factors affecting coupling coordination development. Finally, using panel data of the Yangtze River Delta region (three provinces and one city) between 2014–2019 as a case study, we test the integrated model method. The results show that the comprehensive development level of the regional innovation EROB composite system in the Yangtze River Delta region maintained a stable growth trend; the coupling coordination development level among four subsystems continuously improved, with the main obstacle being the innovation resource subsystem. Accordingly, targeted policy suggestions are put forward. This study not only provides theoretical and methodological support for evaluating and optimizing regional innovation composite systems but also provides decision-making support for sustainable and high-quality development of regional economies.

Evaluation of the Resilience of the Socio-Hydrological System of the Tarim River Basin in China and Analysis of the Degree of Barriers

The study of changes in the resilience of socio-hydrological systems in arid zones is of great significance to ensure the sustainable development of socio-economic and water resources in arid zones. In order to fully understand the level of resilience development of the Tarim River Basin socio-hydrological system and the main impediments to its development, we constructed a resilience evaluation model of the Tarim River Basin socio-hydrological system from two aspects, vulnerability and adaptability, which is what makes this paper different from other studies. The evaluation index weights were determined using a comprehensive assignment, and the barrier factors and evolutionary characteristics of the system resilience were revealed based on the TOPSIS algorithm and barrier degree model. The results show that (1) during the period 2001–2020, the resilience of the socio-hydrological system in the Tarim River Basin showed a fluctuating upward trend, with the calculated values mainly in the range of 0.8–1.5, and the overall resilience level was mainly at the medium or good level; (2) from the changes in each criterion layer, the vulnerability and adaptability of the Tarim River Basin showed a fluctuating upward trend from 2001 to 2020, with an increase in vulnerability and adaptability; and (3) the main barriers to the resilience of the socio-hydrological system in the Tarim River Basin are the degree of pollution of surface water sources and the amount of water consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP. We believe that we should continue to change the economic development model, vigorously develop water-saving irrigation technology, improve water resource utilisation and economic benefits, and improve the overall resilience of the socio-hydrological system. A full understanding of the evolutionary characteristics of the resilience of socio-hydrological systems and the main influencing factors can provide a theoretical basis for future water resources development and utilisation, socio-economic development, and related policy formulation.

Fire Risk Assessment of Subway Stations Based on Combination Weighting of Game Theory and TOPSIS Method

With the rapid development of urban modernization, traffic congestion, travel delays, and other related inconveniences have become central features in people’s daily lives. The development of subway transit systems has alleviated some of these problems. However, numerous underground subway stations lack adequate fire safety protections, and this can cause rescue difficulties in the event of fire. Once the fire occurs, there will be huge property losses and casualties. In addition, this can have a vicious impact on sustainable development. Therefore, in order to make prevention in advance and implement targeted measures, we should quantify the risk and calculate the fire risk value. In this study, through consulting experts and analysis of data obtained from Changzhou Railway Company and the Emergency Management Bureau, the fire risk index system of subway stations was determined. We calculated the index weight by selecting the combination weighting method of game theory to eliminate the limitations and dependence of subjective and objective evaluation methods. The idea of relative closeness degree in TOPSIS method iwas introduced to calculate the risk value of each subway station. Finally, the subway station risk value model was established, and the risk values for each subway station were calculated and sorted. According to expert advice and the literature review, we divided the risk level into five levels, very high; high; moderate; low and very low. The results shown that 2 subway stations on Line 1 have very high fire risk, 2 subway stations on Line 1 have high fire risk, 2 subway stations on Line 1 have moderate fire risk, 8 subway stations on Line 1 have low fire risk, and 13 subway stations on Line 1 have very low fire risk. We hope that through this evaluation model method and the results to bring some references for local rail companies. Meanwhile, this evaluation model method also promotes resilience and sustainability in social development.

The Competitiveness of Regional Urban System in Hubei Province of China

Urban competitiveness is an indispensable topic for urban management. The purpose of this work was to study the status quo of urban system competitiveness in any region and explore the internal factors that affect urban competitiveness. In this study, 30 indicators were selected from six dimensions: population, economic strength, infrastructure, technology and culture, open exchange, and quality of life, and a two-level evaluation index system was constructed. The entropy weight method was used to calculate the weight, and 12 prefecture-level cities in Hubei Province were taken as the evaluation object. This study found that in Hubei province, (1) science, technology, and culture are the first driving forces of urban competitiveness; (2) the impact of the quality of life on urban competitiveness is deepening and obvious, especially the impact of residents’ consumption; and (3) Wuhan, the provincial capital city, is far ahead in terms of its competition and its position is unshakable, followed by Yichang and Xiangyang. Overall, the competitiveness gap between cities in the region is gradually narrowing.

Rough Set Construction and Entropy Weight Evaluation of Urban Higher Education Resource Carrying Capacity Based on Big Data

With the popularization of higher education, the scale of urban higher education continues to expand, and the contradiction between the supply and demand of educational resources becomes increasingly prominent, which restricts the steady development of urban higher education. Based on the rough set theory, this paper constructs a rough set of big data of urban higher education resource carrying capacity from the three levels of higher education core resources, urban economic resources and urban basic resources, and evaluates the entropy weight of the city where the university is located. According to the theoretical knowledge of higher education resource carrying capacity, the system deconstructs and expounds the balance mechanism of higher education resource carrying capacity, which provides solid theoretical support for the development of the paper. The research shows that the agglomeration development of higher education resources can improve the carrying capacity of urban higher education resources. The second section performed well on the whole, and the index distribution was more uniform. The third interval index structure distribution is complex and uneven, and the overall performance is general. The fourth section belongs to the poor section of educational carrying capacity with a low overall index. It can be seen that the carrying capacity of higher education resources varies significantly, which provides a scientific basis for improving the carrying capacity of higher education resources and theoretical and policy basis for realizing rational allocation and sustainable carrying capacity of higher education resources.

Coordinated Development of Innovation System in China’s Yangtze River Economic Belt, a Demand and Supply Perspective

The Development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) is not only a major regional coordination development strategy in China but also a core carrier supporting China’s innovation-driven development. Under this background, this paper explored the evolution, spatial difference, and coordination development of the regional innovation system in the period of 2007 to 2017 from the demand and supply perspective. We found that, during the study period, the development level of the innovation demand subsystem (IDS) and innovation supply subsystem (ISS), as well as their coordinated development, all showed an increasing trend. The development gap of IDS and the coordinated development among cities in YREB was quite balanced, while there existed a large gap among cities in YREB in the development of ISS. The development of IDS was better than the development of ISS in most of the cities of YREB, indicating that the innovation development of cities in YREB needs supply-side structural reform urgently. Most cities in YREB were at the moderately or slightly uncoordinated development phase, and Shanghai was the only city with coordinated development between IDS and ISS. This paper enriches the regional innovation system from a new perspective, the demand and supply perspective, as well as providing suggestions for the coordinated development of the regional innovation system in YREB.

Selection of Winter Season Crop Pattern for Environmental-Friendly Agricultural Practices in India

Owing to the sudden changes in climatic conditions, monsoon failure, and scarce availability of resources because of population hike, yielding a minimum profit has become a challenge for Indian farmers. This is a severe problem for India, as a major part of the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) depends on agriculture. To change this dreadful situation, Indian farmers must employ sustainable agricultural practices in farming, as it will help them to meet their agricultural needs and economic stability. Here, we have built a framework for selecting the ideal crop pattern for Winter Cropping Season (Rabi Season), as crop pattern plays a vital role in the effective function of sustainable agricultural practices. We have used the rough AHP-TOPSIS (Analytical Hierarchy Process-Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method for finding the best crop pattern for the Rabi season, by considering all the influential criteria in terms of agriculture sustainability. Our study demonstrates an overall idea to the farmers and stakeholders about attaining maximum crop productivity with optimum use of available resources, without compromising the economic, social, and ecological aspects of agriculture.

Operation Health Assessment of Power Market Based on Improved Matter-Element Extension Cloud Model

The complex power system and trading environment in China has led to higher requirements for the efficient and stable operation of the electricity market. With the continuous advancement of power system reforms, regular evaluation of the operation of the market can help us grasp its status and trends, which is of great significance for ensuring its sustainable development. In order to effectively evaluate the current operational status of the electricity market, the concept of operation health degree of power market (OHDPM) is proposed to measure whether the operation is safe, efficient, and sustainable. This paper establishes an improved model framework based on the matter-element extension theory for evaluation. In order to effectively avoid information distortion and loss in the evaluation process, this paper combines the cloud model, matter element extension theory, ideal point method (IPM), and cloud entropy optimization algorithm to deal with this problem. The matter-element extension cloud model (MEECM) can clearly represent the characteristics of the object to be evaluated. IPM is used to determine the weight of the index. For the improved matter-element extension model, the traditional rules of “3En” and “50% relevance” are taken into account, and the method of solving the entropy is optimized. Then, for the correlation degree between the object to be evaluated and the graded normal cloud, the weight vector solved by the IPM is used to weigh the cloud correlation degree, which can give a reliable evaluation result. The health evaluation index system of power market operation includes 16 sub-indicators in five categories: supply side, demand side, coordinated operation, market security, and sustainable development. In the empirical analysis, the OHDPM situation in Y Province was evaluated in May 2019. The results prove that the OHDPM level is medium, and the importance and health level of each index are given. The reliability of the power system, transaction price stability, Lerner index, residual proportion of producers, and user satisfaction have a greater impact on the health status. Finally, in order to verify the validity and stability of the model, different methods are used to evaluate the evaluation objects, and the advantages of OHDPM evaluation based on the model framework proposed in this paper are proven.