Does empowering women benefit poverty reduction?Evidence from a multi-component program in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China

Ending poverty is a top priority of the international development agenda,and governments worldwide have attached great importance to poverty alleviation measures.However,poverty reduction policies have mostly focused on men,which has widened the gap in productivity and income between men and women and increased gender inequality.This paper aims to determine the impacts of a multi-component program on women's empowerment and poverty reduction,and explore the role empowered women play in poverty reduction.The dataset used in this study was collected in nine poor counties of Ulanqab City in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China at the end of 2014,yielding a sample of 900 households.Recall questions were used to reconstruct the baseline data and build a panel dataset.Smaller groups of rural households were further identified to better target the women in the beneficiary group.To control the selection bias,propensity score matching,inverse probability weighting,and the difference-in-differences matching method were used to analyze the effect of the program and undertake robust checks.The results show that the program has positive effects on women's empowerment and poverty reduction simultaneously.Empowering women also has positive effects on poverty reduction,and the women who were the beneficiaries have contributed to increasing the incomes and living standards of households.Training,microfinance,and associations are common means or strategies to empower women to address poverty.This paper provides new empirical evidence that women can benefit from a gender-focus program through portfolio intervention such as training,cooperatives,and credit.Empowered women further improve the livelihoods of poor households and help lift them out of poverty.The results suggest that researchers and policymakers need to pay more attention to poverty issues from the perspective of gender.

Further development and sustainable utilization mode of grassland tourism resources: a case study of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China

Tourism resources are important foundation for the development of tourism industry.Grassland is not only a kind of important resource but also a great attraction to visitors.Therefore,the integrated development and sustainable utilization of grassland tourism resources are of great significance.This paper,based on the analysis of literatures and the current problems existing in grassland tourism,summarizes the speciality of grassland tourism development,deals nation as example and carries out empirical research.Based on the status quo of grassland tourism resources in Inner Mongolia,this study analyzes the characteristics of grassland tourism resources,the necessity and feasibility of integrated development,then proposes the following suggestions： idea for development,mode of development,regional cooperation,tourism products development,especially the three modes of development based on the resources conditions - the mode of relying on market,the mode of combination aggregation and the mode of relying on quality.

Behavior Analysis of Self-Driving Tourists Based on Content Analysis of Network Travel Notes: A Case Study of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Self-diiviiig tour is one of the most important wajrs for people to travel, and network travel notes actually reflect the traveling information of self-driving tourists. In this paper, witii the network travel notes of self-driving tourists as the tesearch object^ methods such as text analysis and visualization were adopted to study behavior patterns of self-driving tourists, tourism experience, time-space migration, and distribution of tourism resources in Inner Mongolia, fi：om the multiple dimensions of mobile drivers, perceived, dimensions, and spatial migration. The results showed tiiat ①self-cidviiig tourists had a variety of motivations for traveling, in which love for nature dominated; ②self-driving tour destinations were mainly Hulunbuir, Ordos, and Alxa League; ③spatial migration was characterized by obvious seasonal fluctuations. The fesearch on the behavior of self-driving tourists in Inner Mongolia is an important part of the study of the connection between tourism resources and market connection in Inner Mongolia, and is of significance for guiding the theory, practice and poliqr foimuktion of self-doving tours in Inner Mongolia.

Epidemiologically characteristics of human brucellosis and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Brucella melitensis in Hinggan League of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,China

Background:Hinggan League is located in the Northeast of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,the historically endemic area of animal and human brucellosis.In this study,the epidemiological characteristics of human brucellosis were analyzed,and the genotypic profile and antimicrobial susceptibilities of Brucella melitensis strains isolated from humans in Hinggan League were investigated.Methods:The epidemic characteristics were described using case number,constituent ratio,and rate.The 418 human blood samples were collected and tested by bacteriology,and suspect colonies were isolated and identified by conventional biotyping assays,the VITEK 2.0 microbial identification system,and AMOS(Brucella abortus,B.melitensis,B.ovis,and B.suis)-PCR.Subsequently,all strains were genotyped using multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis(MLVA)assays,and the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Brucella strains against the 10 most commonly used antibiotics was determined by microdilution method.Results:A total of 22848 cases of human brucellosis were reported from 2004 to 2019,with an annual average incidence of 87.2/100000.The incidence rates in developed areas of animal husbandry(Horqin Youyi Qianqi[161.2/100000]and Horqin Youyi Zhongqi[112.1/100000])were significantly higher than those in forest areas(Arxan[19.2/100000])(χ2=32.561,P<0.001).In addition,peak morbidity occurred during May–August,accounting for 72.6%(16582/22848)of cases.The highest number of cases occurred in the 40+age group,accounting for 44.4%(10137/22484)of cases,and morbidity in males was significantly higher than that in females in all age groups(χ2=299.97,P<0.001),the most common occupation was farmers.A total of 54 B.melitensis strains were divided into 37 genotypes(GT1–37)with 80–100%genetic similarity.All 25 strains were sensitive to seven tested antibiotics,phenotypic resistance to cotrimoxazole and azithromycin was observed in 5(20%)and 25(100%)of the isolates,respectively.Conclusions:Human brucellosis exhibited a significant increasing trend and B.melitensis is the main pathogen responsible for human brucellosis in this region.Improved surveillance of infected animals(sheep)and limiting their transfer and trade are optional strategies for decreasing the incidence of this disease.

Genesis of Kaolinite Deposits in the Jungar Coalfield,North China:Petrological,Mineralogical and Geochemical Evidence

Petrological,mineralogical and geochemical studies carried out on kaolinite deposits in Haerwusu surface mine,Jungar Coalfield,northern Ordos Basin,North China,define their characteristics,ore genesis and economic interest.Based on the crystalline size,two different types of kaolinite rocks,cryptocrystalline and grainy,were identified under the microscope.XRD data show that kaolinite is the predominant mineral,associated with boehmite,magnesite,anatase,pyrite,diaspore and calcite.However,high boehmite content(mean 70%)shows up in the middle layers.Kaolinite minerals present homogeneous shape and a good crystallinity(HI=0.96–1.26).Geochemical studies show that the SiO_(2)/Al_(2)O_(3)molar ratio of kaolinite is close to the theoretical value,and the contents of Na_(2)O,K_(2)O,CaO,Mg O are less,suggesting a strong chemical weathering environment.The REE and Eu anomalies show a close relationship between kaolinite and the Yinshan Oldland granite.A Ce anomaly reflects a continental sedimentary environment with shallow water.A temperature range of 26.7–34℃was calculated on the basis of the isotopic signatures(δ18O,δD)of the kaolinite rocks.All these data indicate that the formation of the kaolinite is caused mainly by the dissolution,coagulation,precipitation and recrystallization of aluminosilicate clastics in acidic conditions.The formation of boehmite in the middle layers indicates that the source rocks have changed.Boehmite is mainly formed by dehydration and compaction of an aluminum-rich colloid which transported into peat swamp during diagenesis.In addition,it formed by desiliconization of kaolinite under acidic conditions.Due to its high kaolinite content(up to 90%)and low iron mineral content(less than 1%),and good crystallinity,kaolinite deposits occurred at Haerwusu surface mine probably have great economical value in the future.

Greenhouse gas emissions from Daihai Lake,China:Should eutrophication and salinity promote carbon emission dynamics?

Greenhouse gases(GHGs)emitted or absorbed by lakes are an important component of the global carbon cycle.However,few studies have focused on the GHG dynamics of eutrophic saline lakes,thus preventing a comprehensive understanding of the carbon cycle.Here,we conducted four sampling analyses using a floating chamber in Daihai Lake,a eutrophication saline lake in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,China,to explore its carbon dioxide(CO_(2))and methane(CH_(4))emissions.The mean CO_(2)emission flux(FCO_(2))and CH_(4)emission flux(FCH_(4))were 17.54±14.54 mmol/m^(2)/day and 0.50±0.50 mmol/m^(2)/day,respectively.The results indicated that Daihai Lake was a source of CO_(2)and CH_(4),and GHG emissions exhibited temporal variability.The mean CO_(2)partial pressure(p CO_(2))and CH_(4)partial pressure(p CH_(4))were 561.35±109.59μatm and 17.02±13.45μatm,which were supersaturated relative to the atmosphere.The regression and correlation analysis showed that the main influencing factors of p CO_(2)were wind speed,dissolved oxygen(DO),total nitrogen(TN)and Chlorophyll a(Chl.a),whereas the main influencing factors of p CH_(4)were water temperature(WT),Chl.a,nitrate nitrogen(NO_(3)^(-)-N),TN,dissolved organic carbon(DOC)and water depth.Salinity regulated carbon mineralization and organic matter decomposition,and it was an important influencing factor of p CO_(2)and p CH_(4).Additionally,the trophic level index(TLI)significantly increased p CH_(4).Our study elucidated that salinity and eutrophication play an important role in the dynamic changes of GHG emissions.However,research on eutrophic saline lakes needs to be strengthened.

Replicating the Kubuqi’s Success

In north China＇s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, there lies a desert by the name of Kubuqi. Three decades ago, it was a barren place, but today this desolation has been replaced by an idyllic scene of plentiful flora and greenery. This is not a legend, but a successful example of China＇s fight against desertification, and possibly the only example of success in transforming desert into oasis thus far in the world.