Prediction of the spatiotemporal evolution of vegetation cover in the Huainan mining area and quantitative analysis of driving factors.

The prediction of the spatiotemporal dynamic evolution of vegetation cover in the Huainan mining area and the quantitative evaluation of its driving factors are of great significance for protecting and restoring the environment in this area. This study uses the Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 8 OLI time-series data to estimate the vegetation cover and uses the transition matrix to analyze the spatiotemporal transfer of vegetation cover from 1989 to 2004, 2004 to 2021, and 2021 to 2030. In addition, a structural equation model (SEM) was established in this study to assess the driving factors of vegetation cover. The quantitative analysis and the cellular automata (CA)-Markov model were performed to predict the future vegetation cover in the Huainan mining area. The results are as follows: (1) In different periods, the vegetation cover types were mainly high cover types transferred to other vegetation cover types; (2) human activities are the key factors affecting the vegetation growth, while topographical factor is the most influential factor promoting the vegetation growth; (3) highly consistent CA-Markov and multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) predicted results of vegetation cover in 2030 compared to that in 2021. The proportion of bare soil and low cover types had increased significantly, mainly concentrated in the internal area of the mines. The prediction of the spatiotemporal evolution of vegetation cover in the Huainan mining area and the quantitative change in driving factors are of significant importance for the restoration of the environment in mining areas.

Simulation of land use trends and assessment of scale effects on ecosystem service values in the Huaihe River basin, China.

Land use demand change in the Huaihe River basin (HRB) and ecosystem service values (ESVs) in watersheds are important for the sustainable development and use of land resources. This paper takes the HRB as the research object, and using remote sensing images of land use as the data source adopts the comprehensive evaluation analysis method of ESVs based on equivalent factors and sensitivity analysis of the performance characteristics of ESV changes of different land use types. The PLUS model is used to predict spatiotemporal land use change characteristics to 2030 combining inertial development, ecological development, and cultivated land development. The spatial distribution and aggregation of ESVs at each scale were also explored by analyzing ESVs at municipal, county, and grid scales. Considering also hotspots, the contribution of land use conversion to ESVs was quantified. The results showed that (1) from 2000 to 2020, cultivated land decreased sharply to 28,344.6875 km2, while construction land increased sharply to 26,914.563 km2, and the change of other land types was small. (2) The ESVs in the HRB were 222,019 × 1012 CNY in 2000, 235,015 × 1012 CNY in 2005, 234,419 × 1012 CNY in 2010, 229,885 × 1012 CNY in 2015, and 224,759 × 1012 CNY in 2020, with an overall fluctuation, first increasing and then decreasing. (3) The ESVs were 219,977 × 1012 CNY, 218,098 × 1012 CNY, 219,757 × 1012 CNY, and 213,985 × 1012 CNY under the four simulation scenarios of inertial development, ecological development, cultivated land development, and urban development, respectively. At different scales, the high-value areas decreased, and the low-value areas increased. (4) The hot and cold spots of ESV values were relatively clustered, with the former mainly clustered in the southeast region and the latter mainly clustered in the northwest region. The sensitivity of ecological value was lower than 1, while the ESV was inelastic to the ecological coefficient, and the results were plausible. The mutual conversion of cultivated land to water contributed the most to ESVs. Based on the multi-scenario simulation of land use in the HRB by the PLUS model, we identified the spatial distribution characteristics of ESVs at different scales, which can provide a scientific basis and multiple perspectives for the optimization of land use structure and socio-economic development decisions.

Effect of prenatal nutritional intervention on foetal growth restriction: a real-world study in Shenzhen, China.

OBJECTIVE: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is the primary cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Although nutritional intervention is generally used to cure FGR, its effects on early- and late-onset FGR have not been reported. This study aimed to resolve this issue in a real-world setting. STUDY DESIGN: We collected the data of pregnant women whose fetuses were diagnosed with FGR and subsequently born at Nanshan Women and Children's Care Hospital in Shenzhen, China. We conducted a MANOVA and series of Cox regression analyses to evaluate the effects of a prenatal nutritional intervention on early and late FGR after adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that the average birth weights in the four sub-intervention groups were 50.36-160.05 g higher than those in the nonintervention group. These differences were insignificant with respect to early-onset FGR. In late-onset FGR, however, the interventions led to birth weight increases of 164.95-244.45 g greater than those in the nonintervention group, and these differences were significant. During early-onset FGR, four different nutritional interventions reduced the incidence of small-for-gestational age by 8.00-13.76% relative to the incidence in the nonintervention group, while in late-onset FGR, the incidence decreased by 11.37-17.39%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results based on a real-world setting reaffirmed that a prenatal nutritional intervention could improve the birth outcomes in cases of FGR and further suggested a better effectiveness on late-onset FGR.

Placental weight mediates association between prenatal exposure to cooking oil fumes and preterm birth.

Background: There are some reports on association between maternal prenatal cooking oil fume (COF) exposure and preterm birth (PTB), but its mechanism remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study aims to assess whether placental weight mediates their associations.Method: We enrolled 619 pregnant women delivering PTB newborns as cases and 1701 delivering full-term appropriate for gestational age newborns as controls. They were inquired with a self-reported questionnaire about prenatal COF exposure, socio-demographics and obstetric characteristics at Women and Children's Hospitals of Shenzhen and Foshan. After controlling for the potential confounders, a series of logistic and linear regressions were conducted to assess associations among COF exposure, placental weight and PTB, and the mediation of placental weight in the association between COF exposure and PTB.Results: Maternal prenatal COF exposure was significantly associated with PTB and the frequency of prenatal COF exposure was negatively associated with placental weight. Compared with mother who never cooked, those cooking occasionally, sometimes or often increased the risk of PTB, and similarly, those cooking between half to an hour was also showed a higher risk of PTB. Typical Chinese cooking methods including stir-frying, pan-frying and deep-frying were also associated with PTB. Different oil types mainly used, including peanut oil, corn oil and animal oil were associated with PTB as well. Mediation analysis illustrated that placental weight partially mediated 13.60% (95% CI = 10.62-33.20%) of the effects on the association between the frequency of maternal prenatal COF exposure and PTB.Conclusion: Maternal cooking during pregnancy and the frequency of prenatal COF exposure might increase the risk of PTB, in which placenta might play mediation role.

Cohort protocol: Guangzhou High-Risk Infant Cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the increase in the survival rate of high-risk infants (HRIs) worldwide, the prevalence of motor and neurodevelopmental sequelae in such newborns has not shown concomitant improvement. Meanwhile, there are few cohorts that explore factors related to the development of HRIs in China. Therefore, the Guangzhou High-Risk Infant Cohort (GHRIC) has been designed to examine the complex relationships among a myriad of factors influencing growth and development in such children. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The GHRIC study is a prospective cohort study that by the year 2023 will enrol an estimated total of 3000 HRIs from Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center (GWCMC) in Guangzhou, China. This study is designed to assess the growth and cognitive characteristics of HRIs and the risk factors affecting their development and prognoses. Data on risk factors, neurodevelopmental and cognitive-function evaluations, laboratory results, and specimens will be collected and analysed. Information on perinatal and clinical interventions for these infants will also be recorded during regular follow-up visits until age 6. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The protocol for this study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of GWCMC, which accepted responsibility for supervising all of the aspects of the study (No. 2017102712). Study outcomes will be disseminated through conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, the Internet and social media. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR-EOC-17013236.

Association between prenatal exposure to cooking oil fumes and full-term low birth weight is mediated by placental weight.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence regarding the association between prenatal exposure to cooking oil fumes (COF) and full-term low birth weight (FTLBW) is still controversial, and the mechanism remains unclear. This study thus aims to explore the association of prenatal COF exposure with off-spring FT-LBW as well as the mediating role of placenta in their association. METHODS: A case-control study enrolling 266 pregnant women delivering FTLBW newborns (cases) and 1420 delivering normal birth weight (NBW) newborns (controls) was conducted. Information on prenatal COF exposure, socio-demographics, and obstetric conditions were collected at the Women's and Children's Hospitals of Shenzhen and Foshan in Guangdong, China. Linear and hierarchical logistic regression models were undertaken to explore the associations among COF exposure, placenta and birth weight, as well as the mediation effect of placental weight. RESULTS: After controlling for potential confounders, prenatal COF exposure was significantly associated with the higher risk of FT-LBW (OR = 1.31, 95% CI= 1.06-1.63) and the lower placental weight (ß = -0.12, 95% CI= -0.23 ~ -0.005). Compared with mothers who never cooked, those cooking sometimes (OR= 2.99, 95% CI= 1.48-6.04) or often (OR= 3.41, 95% CI= 1.40-8.34) showed a higher risk of FT-LBW, and likewise, those cooking for less than half an hour (OR= 2.08, 95% CI= 1.14-3.79) or cooking between half to an hour (OR= 2.48, 95% CI= 1.44-4.29) were also more likely to exhibit FT-LBW. Different cooking methods including pan-frying (OR= 2.24, 95% CI= 1.30-3.85) or deep-frying (OR= 1.78, 95% CI= 1.12-2.85) during pregnancy were associated with increased FT-LBW risks as well. The further mediation analysis illustrated that placental weight mediated 15.96% (95% CI: 12.81~28.80%) and 15.90% (95% CI= 14.62%~16.66%) of the associations of cooking during pregnancy and frequency of prenatal COF exposure, respectively, with FT-LBW.