GIS-based Effect Assessment of Soil Erosion Before and After Gully Land Consolidation: A Case Study of Wangjiagou Project Region, Loess Plateau

The Loess Plateau is one typical area of serious soil erosion in the world. China has implemented ′Grain for Green′(GFG) project to restore the eco-environment of the Loess Plateau since 1999. With the GFG project subsidy approaching the end, it is concerned that farmers of fewer subsidies may reclaim land again. Thus, ′Gully Land Consolidation Project′(GLCP) was initiated in 2010. The core of the GLCP was to create more land suitable for farming in gullies so as to reduce land reclamation on the slopes which are ecological vulnerable areas. This paper aims to assess the effect of the GLCP on soil erosion problems by studying Wangjiagou project region located in the central part of Anzi valley in the middle of the Loess Plateau, mainly using the revised universal soil loss equation(RUSLE) based on GIS. The findings show that the GLCP can help to reduce soil shipment by 9.87% and it creates more terraces and river-nearby land suitable for farming which account for 27.41% of the whole study area. Thus, it is feasible to implement the GLCP in places below gradient 15°, though the GLCP also intensifies soil erosion in certain places such as field ridge, village land, floodplain, natural grassland, and shrub land. In short, the GLCP develops new generation dam land and balances the short-term and long-term interests to ease the conflicts between economic development and environmental protection. Furthermore, the GLCP and the GFG could also be combined preferably. On the one hand, the GFG improves the ecological environment, which could offer certain safety to the GLCP, on the other hand, the GLCP creates more farmland favorable for farming in gullies instead of land reclamation on the slopes, which could indirectly protect the GFG project.

A cloud model target damage effectiveness assessment algorithm based on spatio-temporal sequence finite multilayer fragments dispersion

To solve the problem of target damage assessment when fragments attack target under uncertain projectile and target intersection in an air defense intercept,this paper proposes a method for calculating target damage probability leveraging spatio-temporal finite multilayer fragments distribution and the target damage assessment algorithm based on cloud model theory.Drawing on the spatial dispersion characteristics of fragments of projectile proximity explosion,we divide into a finite number of fragments distribution planes based on the time series in space,set up a fragment layer dispersion model grounded in the time series and intersection criterion for determining the effective penetration of each layer of fragments into the target.Building on the precondition that the multilayer fragments of the time series effectively assail the target,we also establish the damage criterion of the perforation and penetration damage and deduce the damage probability calculation model.Taking the damage probability of the fragment layer in the spatio-temporal sequence to the target as the input state variable,we introduce cloud model theory to research the target damage assessment method.Combining the equivalent simulation experiment,the scientific and rational nature of the proposed method were validated through quantitative calculations and comparative analysis.

Synthetic damage effect assessment through evidential reasoning approach and neural fuzzy inference:Application in ship target

The damage effect assessment of anti-ship missiles combines system science and weapon science,which can provide reference for the assessment of battlefield damage situation.In order to solve the difficulty of heterogeneous data aggregation and the difficulty in constructing the mapping between factors and damage effect,this paper analyzes the specific damage process of the anti-ship missile to the ship,and proposes a synthetic Evidential Reasoning(ER)–Adaptive Neural Fuzzy Inference System(ANFIS)to assess the damage effect.To solve the problem of fuzziness and uncertainty of criteria in the assessment process,the belief structure model is used to transform qualitative and quantitative information into a unified mathematical structure,and ER algorithm is used to fuse the information of lower-level criteria.In order to solve the problem of fuzziness and uncertainty of the information contained in the first-level variables,and the strong non-linear characteristics of the mapping between first-level variables and damage effect,the ANFIS with selfadaptation and self-learning is constructed.The map between the three first-level variables and damage effect is established,and the interaction process of the various factors in the damage effect assessment are clear.Sensitivity analysis shows that assessment model has good stability.The result analysis and comparative analysis show that the process proposed in this paper can effectively assess the damage effect of anti-ship missiles,and all criteria data are objective and comparable.

Damage effectiveness assessment method for anti-ship missiles based on double hierarchy linguistic term sets and evidence theory

The research on the damage effectiveness assessment of anti-ship missiles involves system science and weapon science, and has essential strategic research significance. With comprehensive analysis of the specific process of the damage assessment process of anti-missile against ships, a synthetic damage effectiveness assessment process is proposed based on the double hierarchy linguistic term set and the evidence theory. In order to improve the accuracy of the expert ’s assessment information, double hierarchy linguistic terms are used to describe the assessment opinions of experts. In order to avoid the loss of experts ’ original information caused by information fusion rules, the evidence theory is used to fuse the assessment information of various experts on each case. Good stability of the assessment process can be reflected through sensitivity analysis, and the fluctuation of a certain parameter does not have an excessive influence on the assessment results. The assessment process is accurate enough to be reflected through comparative analysis and it has a good advantage in damage effectiveness assessment.

Community Needs Assessment in Relation to Urban Heat Effects: A Study in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Urban areas usually experience higher temperatures compared with their rural surroundings; this is characterized as urban heat islands （UHIs）, which are the result of environmental overheating due to anthropic activities. Urban areas,which are characterised by massive construction that reduce local vegetation coverage, are subject to the absorption of a large amount of solar radiation,which is only partially released into the atmosphere by radiation in the thermal infrared.

Paired Assistance:Policy Rationale and Economic Performance as Illustrated by Xizang and Xinjiang

This study highlights the changing priorities of China’s paired assistance throughout the past decades,as well as its theoretical implications and economic growth effects for recipient regions.Using panel data from 32 prefecture-level cities from 1990 to 2020,this study uses the multiperiod difference-in-differences approach to examine how paired assistance has contributed to economic growth in Xizang Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.The findings indicate that,first,the implementation of the paired assistance policy has boosted economic growth in Xizang and Xinjiang.Second,paired assistance has stimulated economic growth in recipient communities by improving infrastructure.Third,paired assistance has contributed to economic growth in recipient communities by providing improved public services such as education and healthcare.Improvements to public services have a relatively smaller indirect effect in short term than infrastructure development on economic growth.Yet both education and healthcare are crucial to people’s quality of life in recipient communities.This paper has refined and broadened research on the effects of paired assistance,providing preference for future policymaking.

Assessing the Effectiveness of a Cervical Cancer Screening Program in a Hospital-based Study

This study compared HPV testing and liquid-based cytology （LCT） as performance indicators for cervical cancer screening in a hospital-based study. A total of 61,193 outpatients were screened initially by LCT. Samples with screening results showing atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance （ASC-US） or worse were referred for colposcopy, and some samples were tested for high-risk HPV types with the Hybrid Capture II system （HC II）. Data on LCT （n=61,193） and HC II （n=1056） results were analysed. Overall test positivity for LCT was 2.53% using an ASC-US threshold, 3.11% using a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion （LSIL） threshold, and 0.67% using a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion （HSIL） threshold. A total of 1839 women （84% of the 3893 patients with abnormal cytology） underwent colposcopy-directed biopsy. HPV was positive in 80.3% of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 （CIN1）, 88.3% of those with CIN2, 79.2% of women with CIN3 and 50% （2 of 4） of women with invasive cancer. There was a significant increase in the detection of CIN2 or worse with adjunct HPV testing of women with ASC-US and LSIL However, there were detection of CIN2＋ cases no differences in the with adjunct HPV testing of women with HSlI.. The results indicate that HPV testing for HSlL triage should not be recommended in cervical cancer screening.

Impact Assessments of Transgenic cry1Ab Rice on the Population Dynamics of Five Non-Target Thrips Species and Their General Predatory Flower Bug in Bt and Non-Bt Rice Fields Using Color Sticky Card Traps

A 2-yr field study was conducted to assess the effects of transgenic japonica rice（KMD1 and KMD2） with a synthetic cry1 Ab gene from Bacillus thuingiensis Berliner on population dynamics and seasonal average densities of five thrips species including Stenchaetothrips biformis（Bagnall）,Frankliniella intonsa（Trybom）,F.tenuicornis（Uzel）,Haplothrips aculeatus（Fabricius）,Haplothrips tritici（Kurd） and their general predatory flower bug,Orius similis Zheng as compared to the parental control rice line using the white,blue and yellow sticky card traps.Population dynamics and seasonal average densities of these five thrips species and their general predatory flower bug were not significantly affected by rice type.Additionally,the white sticky card trap was suggested to be the most suitable for monitoring the population of these five thrips species and their general predator.These results show that our tested Bt rice lines do not interrupt the population of non-target thrips species and their general predatory flower bug in the field,and also cannot result in more occurrence of these thrips species in the rice ecosystem.

Assessing Adverse Effects of Aroclor 1254 on Perinatally Exposed Rat Offspring

To assess the neurotoxic effects and redoxresponses of Aroclor 1254 （A1254） on perinatallyexposed rat offspring, A1254 was administered bygavage from gestational day （GD） 6 to postnatal day（PND） 21. Neurobehavioral development,antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation（LPO）, nitric oxide （NO）, and NO synthase （NOS）levels were analyzed in the offspring.Neurobehavioral development analysis revealeddelayed appearance of the righting reflex, negativegeotaxis, and cliff drop test responses in A1254exposed group. Developmental A1254 exposurealso caused oxidative stress in the brain of PND 22offspring via reductions in the activity of SOD andGSH-Px, and by promoting a rise in the levels of NOand NOS.

Assessing the Effect of Natural Controls and Land Use Change on Sediment Yield in a Major Andean River:The Magdalena Drainage Basin,Colombia

马格达莱纳河是哥伦比亚安第斯山区的一个世界级的河流网络，该河流年产沙量约为150Mt，是全世界10大主要产沙河流之一。在本研究中，我们探讨主要自然因子和人类活动对马格达莱纳河流域产沙模式的影响，重建该区森林砍伐和农业活动时空模式，探讨土地利用变化与产沙趋势的关系。我们的研究结果表明，整个马格达莱纳河流域的产沙量可以用自然变量（包括径流量和最大河水流量）来解释。这两个因子解释了产沙量58％的变化。含沙率和土地利用的时间分析表明，在过去10～20年里流域侵蚀呈现增加的趋势。许多人类活动的影响，包括森林覆被在20年里减小了近40％．农业和牧场增加了65％、土壤保持差、开矿活动，以及城市化的加速，都促进了该地区域尺度上产沙量的增加。

cKBET:assessing goodness of batch effect correction for single-cell RNA-seq

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the gene structure and gene expression status of a single cell,which can reflect the heterogeneity between cells.However,batch effects caused by non-biological factors may hinder data integration and downstream analysis.Although the batch effect can be evaluated by visualizing the data,which actually is subjective and inaccurate.In this work,we propose a quantitative method cKBET,which considers the batch and cell type information simultaneously.The cKBET method accesses batch effects by comparing the global and local fraction of cells of different batches in different cell types.We verify the performance of our cKBET method on simulated and real biological data sets.The experimental results show that our cKBET method is superior to existing methods in most cases.In general,our cKBET method can detect batch effect with either balanced or unbalanced cell types,and thus evaluate batch correction methods.

Effectiveness Assessment of Soil Erosion Critical Source Areas for Soil and Water Conservation

Critical source areas （CSAs）, characterized by severe soil erosion and high sediment yield, are considered to have a high priority for conservation. How to identify CSAs and assess the effectiveness of conservation practices is a key issue in site-specific watershed management. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool （SWAT） model is a useful tool for site-specific conservation practices design and several studies have attempted to identify CSAs based on watershed models. However, limited research has reported about the effectiveness of conservation practices targeting CSAs. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of conservation pracrices targeted on CSAs using the SWAT model. CSA was firstly identified based on the 4-year average yearly erosion of each HRU. Appropriate soil conservation practices were then designed for the CSAs. A scenario with conservation practices for the whole watershed was also established as the contrasting counter parts scheme and then compared to the outcome of CSA-targeted conservation practices. The result shows that SWAT can accurately simulate sediment yield in the study area. CSAs were mainly located in slope farmland areas and steep gullies, coinciding with the distribution of land use and slope. The identified CSA covered 20% of the HRUs and contributed on average 44% of sediment yield. Conservation practices targeting CSAs had higher sediment reduction effectiveness （24 115 t km-2 y-1） than conservation practice covering the whole watershed （20 290 t km-2 y-1）. Thus conservation practices targeting CSAs are more effective than broad conservation practices. We conclude that soil conservation practices focusing on CSAs do increase sediment reduction effectiveness. Targeting the placement of soil conservation practices based on the CSAs concept will assist water quality control in watersheds.

MF-CFI:A fused evaluation index for camouflage patterns based on human visual perception

The evaluation index of camouflage patterns is important in the field of military application.It is the goal that researchers have always pursued to make the computable evaluation indicators more in line with the human visual mechanism.In order to make the evaluation method more computationally intelligent,a Multi-Feature Camouflage Fused Index(MF-CFI)is proposed based on the comparison of grayscale,color and texture features between the target and the background.In order to verify the effectiveness of the proposed index,eye movement experiments are conducted to compare the proposed index with existing indexes including Universal Image Quality Index(UIQI),Camouflage Similarity Index(CSI)and Structural Similarity(SSIM).Twenty-four different simulated targets are designed in a grassland background,28 observers participate in the experiment and record the eye movement data during the observation process.The results show that the highest Pearson correlation coefficient is observed between MF-CFI and the eye movement data,both in the designed digital camouflage patterns and largespot camouflage patterns.Since MF-CFI is more in line with the detection law of camouflage targets in human visual perception,the proposed index can be used for the comparison and parameter optimization of camouflage design algorithms.

Assessing performance of collision mitigation brake system in Chinese traffic environment

Advanced driver-assistance systems such as Honda’s collision mitigation brake system(CMBS)can help achieve traffic safety.In this paper,the naturalistic driving study and a series of simulations are combined to better evaluate the performance of the CMBS in the Chinese traffic environment.First,because safety-critical situations can be diverse especially in the Chinese environment,the Chinese traffic-accident characteristics are analyzed according to accident statistics over the past 17 years.Next,10 Chinese traffic-accident scenarios accounting for more than 80%of traffic accidents are selected.For each typical scenario,353 representative cases are collected from the traffic-management department of Beijing.These real-world accident cases are then reconstructed by the traffic-accident-reconstruction software PC-Crash on the basis of accident-scene diagrams.This study also proposes a systematic analytical process for estimating the effectiveness of the technology using the co-simulation platform of PC-Crash and rateEFFECT,in which 176 simulations are analyzed in detail to assess the accident-avoidance performance of the CMBS.The overall collision-avoidance effectiveness reaches 82.4%,showing that the proposed approach is efficient for avoiding collisions,thereby enhancing traffic safety and improving traffic management.

Thrips-mediated impacts from transgenic rice expressing Cry1Ab on ecological fitness of non-target predator Orius tantilus(Hemiptera:Anthocoridae)

Various rice lines have been genetically modified with genes from Bacillus thuringiensis（Bt） to continuously produce Bt insecticidal proteins against lepidopteran larvae. The Bt insecticidal protein constantly expresses in the plants to create an opportunity for non-target herbivores to acquire and convey the protein to their predators or parasitoids across trophic levels. This paper evaluates the effects of Bt rice（namely, Kemindao 1（KMD1） and Kemindao 2（KMD2）） expressing Cry1 Ab as compared to its non-Bt control line, Xiushui 11 on non-target predator Orius tantilus（a generalist predatory anthocorid of thrips） under laboratory and field conditions. To measure several biological parameters such as total nymphal duration and fecundity of this bug, it was reared on thrips and pollens of KMD1 and KMD2 as compared to their control under laboratory conditions. By comparison with the control, Bt rice did not significantly affect main life-history characteristics（total nymphal duration, female adult longevity, oviposition period and fecundity） of this anthocorid preying on Bt rice-fed thrips along with Bt rice pollens, except that the fecundity of this predator for KMD1 was distinctly lower as compared with KMD2 or the control. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） results showed that no Cry1 Ab protein was detected in this predator fed on thrips or rice pollen from Bt rice but was in Bt rice pollens. With the beat plate, plastic bag and color trap sampling methods, two-year field monitoring of O. tantilus abundance demonstrated that Bt rice had no significant detrimental effects on the population dynamics and seasonal average densities of this predatory anthocorid as compared with the control. Thus, it is suggested that growing our tested Bt rice（KMD1 and KMD2） producing Cry1 Ab will pose a negligible risk to the anthocorid, O. tantilus.

Assessment of Effect of Shexiang Baoxin Pill for Labour Angina Pectoris Patients with Computerized Tomography Myocardial Imaging

Objective:To assess the effect of Shexiang Baoxin Pill（SXBXP）for labour angina pectoris.Methods:Effect of 66 patientstreated withconven tional treatment or conventional treatment plus SXBXP were observed and compared with^(99m) TC-MIBI singlepho tonemissi on computerized tomography（SPECT）target cardiograph to estimate is chemia my ocardial area.Results:The total effectiverate was much higher in patients treated with SXBXP than that in patients treated with conventional treatment only（87.8%vs.56%,P＜0.05）.The effective rate on ECG in the two group swas 70.7% and 52%respectively,with out significant statistical difference between them（P＞0.05）.While significant difference was observed in is chemiaarea of my ocardiali mage between the two groups after treatment,18.2±8.2%vs23.8±9.8%,P<0.05.Moreover,there currence of anginapect or is and cardiaceven twerealsolessin the SXBXPgroup.Conclusion:the SXBXP was effective for labourangina pectoris.

Assessment of echinococcosis control in Tibet Autonomous Region,China

Background:In China the highest prevalence of echinococcosis is in Tibet Autonomous Region(TAR).The government has issued documents and implemented comprehensive prevention and control measures focusing on controlling the source of infection of echinococcosis.It was very important to understand the implementation and effect of infectious source control measures.The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation of measures to control infectious source(domestic and stray dogs)in TAR and to assess their effectiveness.Methods:We collected data on domestic dog registration and deworming and stray dog sheltering in 74 counties/districts in the TAR from 2017 to 2019.Fecal samples from domestic dogs were collected from randomly selected towns to determine Echinococcus infection in dogs using coproantigen ELISA.We analyzed the data to compare the canine rate of infection between 2016 and 2019.The data analysis was performed by SPSS statistical to compare dog infection rate in 2016 and 2019 by chi-square test,and ArcGIS was used for mapping.Results:From 2017 to 2019,84 stray dog shelters were built in TAR,and accumulatively 446,660 stray or infected dogs were arrested,sheltered,or disposed of.The number of domestic dogs went downward,with an increased registration management rate of 78.4%(2017),88.8%(2018),and 99.0%(2019).Dogs were dewormed 5 times in 2017,12 times in 2018,and 12 times in 2019.The dog infection rate was 1.7%(252/14,584)in 2019,significantly lower than 7.3%(552/7564)from the survey of echinococcosis prevalence in Tibet in 2016(P<0.05).Conclusion:Between 2017 and 2019,the number of stray dogs and infection rate of Echinococcus spp.in domestic dogs decreased significantly,indicating that dogs were effectively controlled as a source of infection in TAR and reflecting a significant decrease in the risk of echinococcosis transmission.

Research methods in complementary and alternative medicine： an integrative review

The scientific literature presents a modest amount ot evidence m the use or complementary ana al[erna- tire medicine （CAM）. On the other hand, in practice, relevant results are common. The debates among CAM practitioners about the quality and execution of scientific research are important, Therefore, the aim of this review is to gather, synthesize and describe the differentiated methodological models that encompass the complexity of therapeutic interventions. The process of bringing evidence-based medicine into clinical practice in CAM is essential for the growth and strengthening of complementary medicines worldwide.