Boundary Shift of Potential Suitable Agricultural Area in Farming-grazing Transitional Zone in Northeastern China under Background of Climate Change During 20th Century

Climate change affected the agricultural expansion and the formation of farming-grazing transitional patterns during historical periods. This study analyzed the possible range of the boundary shift of the potential suitable agriculture area in the farming-grazing transitional zone in the northeastern China during the 20th century. Based on modem weather data, 1 km-resolution land cover data, historical climatic time series, and estimation by using similar historical climatic scenes, the following was concluded： 1） The climate conditions of suitable agriculture areas in the farming-grazing transitional zone in the northeastern China between 1971 and 2000 required an average annual temperature above 1℃ or ≥ 0℃ accumulated temperature above 2500℃-2700℃, and annual precipitation above 350 mm. 2） The northern boundary of the potential suitable agriculture area during the relatively warmer period of 1890-1910 was approximately located at the position of the 1961-2000 area. The northern boundary shifted back to the south by 75 km on average during the colder period of the earlier 20th century, whereas during the modem warm period of the 1990s, the area shifted north by 100 km on average. 3） The western and eastern boundaries of the suitable agricul^re area during the heaviest drought periods between 1920s and 1930s had shifted northeast by 250 km and 125 km, respectively, contrasting to the boundaries of 1951-2008. For the wettest period, that is, the 1890s to the 1910s, the shift of western and eastern boundaries was to the southwest by 125 km and 200 km, respectively, compared with that in the 1951-2008 period. This study serves as a reference for identifying a climatically sensitive area and planning future land use and agricultural production in the study area.

Discussion on position of China’s north-south transitional zone by comparative analysis of mountain altitudinal belts

The Qinling Mountains has always been regarded as an essential dividing line between the warm temperate zone and the subtropical zone in eastern China and plays a vital role in the geoecological pattern of China.However,there is controversy about the specific location of this geographical boundary in the academic community.As a product of the combined effects of zonal and non-zonal factors,the mountain altitudinal belts(MABs)can reflect both the horizontal zonality and the vertical zonality of vegetation distribution.Using the MAB information,we can not only profoundly understand the complex mountain system of QinlingDaba Mountains but can also judge its nature as a geographical boundary more scientifically.Therefore,based on the comparative analysis of basal belt,dominant belt characteristics and belt structure characteristics of the MABs in Qinling-Daba Mountains,subtropical and temperate mountains,this paper analyzed the MAB differences and similarities among Qinling-Daba Mountains,subtropical and temperate typical mountains,to reveal the vegetation distribution characteristics in the north-south transitional zone.The results show that:(1)The MABs of the southern part of QinlingDaba Mountains(southern slope of the Daba Mountains)are the same or similar to those of the Subtropical Mountains,and the MABs of the northern part of Qinling-Daba Mountains(northern slope of the Qinling Mountains)are similar to those of the temperate mountains.While it shows obvious transitional characteristics in the vast area between the northern slope of the Daba Mountains and the southern slope of the Qinling Mountains:the basal belts gradually transit from the evergreen broadleaved forest belt(basal belt in subtropical mountains)to the evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest belt,and the dominant belts also transit from the evergreen broad-leaved forest belt to the evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest belt or the deciduous broad-leaved forest belt.(2)The transitional zone between the subtropical zone and the warm temperate zone is located between the northern slope of the Daba Mountains and the southern slope of the Qinling Mountains.The southern boundary of the transitional zone is along the northern slope of Shennongjia Mountain-the northern slope of Micang Mountain-Baishuijiang Nature Reserve,and the northern boundary is along the southern slope of Funiu Mountain-the southern slope of Taibai Mountain-Lianhua Mountain.Additionally,in the transitional zone,the average temperature in January is between-5°C and 1°C,the annual average temperature is between 10°C and 13°C except Hanzhong Basin and Hanshui Valley,and the accumulated temperature above 10°C ranges from 2000°C to 4000°C,the annual rainfall is about 800-1000 mm.The results provide a scientific basis for revealing the characteristics of China’s north-south transitional zone and scientific division of the boundary between the subtropical zone and warm temperate zone in China.

Spatial Pattern and Development of Protected Areas in the North-south Transitional Zone of China

The north-south transitional zone in China mainly consists of the Qinling-Daba Mountains. It is the most important West-East geo-ecological space in China, containing protected areas vital for biodiversity conservation and ecological security of China. The protection and rational development of its natural habitat is of great significance to China’s ecological security and integration of protected areas based on mountain forest ecosystems on a global scale. In this study, five important types of protected areas in the transitional zone were selected, and their spatial patterns were analysed. Spatial analysis methods, such as kernel density estimation and accessibility analysis, were employed for both point and areal data, and focused on four aspects: land use scale, shift in the centre of gravity, spatial agglomeration, and accessibility. In addition, policy background and evolution of spatial and temporal characteristics of the protected area system in the transitional zone from 1963 to 2017 were also examined. We analysed the characteristics and geographical significance of the West-east corridor using the spatial pattern of the protected area system from the perspective of ecological and economic spaces. We focused on spatial shape, type intersection, and key areas to analyse the spatial overlap of the protected areas. Protected area establishment was divided into three stages: initial(1956–1980), rapid development(1981–2013), and national park transformation(2014–present). These stages reflected the change in the concept of ‘simple protection—sustainable use—integration and upgrade’ for protected areas of China. The spatial centre of gravity of the protection zone system was located in the west Qinling-Daba Mountains, and its high-density core exhibited a relatively stable N-shaped structure composed of four gathering areas. Affected by factors such as geographic environment and socio-economic development density, the average access time for protected areas was high(1.56 h);wetland parks and scenic areas are located closer to the city centre. As the West-east corridor in the transitional zone extends from west to east, there is a clear spatial dislocation between the development of protected areas and the intensity of human activities. During development, differentiated goal orientation should be adopted based on the idea of zoning and classified governance. With the advancement of the construction of protected areas, the spatial overlap of protected areas in the transition zone has become more prominent. At present, the spatially overlapped protected areas in the transitional zone remain prominent, with inclusion overlap being the most common, and forest parks exhibiting the highest probability of overlap with other protected areas, we should focus on in the integration process of the corridor-type ecological space based on the mountain forest ecosystem.

An Experimental Study of Mixture Corrosion Effects of Carbonate Rocks in the Transitional Zone of Littoral Karst Areas

The mechanism for development of littoral karst differs from that of inland karst, and the mixture corrosion effects are one of the most important factors that control the development of littoral karst. Through seven groups of static experiments carried out in a closed CO2-H2O system, basic conclusions can be drawn as follows: (1) the basic law of corrosion process in a transitional zone of seawater-freshwater in littoral karst areas is identical with that in the fresh water, i.e., the lithologic characteristics and rock structure are the main factors which control the development of littoral karst; (2) the mixture corrosion rate of the carbonate rock in the above transitional zone is faster than that in fresh water or seawater; (3) the mechanism for development of carbonate rocks differs at various pressures of CO2 in a transitional zone in littoral karst areas.

Study of crust-mantle transitional zone along the northeast margin of Qinghai-Xizang plateau

This study deals with complexity, frequency spectrum and velocity model of the crust-mantle transitional zone in different tectonic units along the northeast margin of Qinghai-Xizang plateau, based on PmP waveform data from two deep seismic sounding profiles passing through the area. It reveals that Moho has stable tectonic features in Ordos and Lingzhong basins, where crust and mantle are coupled as first-order discontinuity. Moho shows obvious signs of activity in Haiyuan seismic region and in the contact zone between Bayanhar block and Qaidam block. Crust and mantle in these two areas are coupled as complicated crust-mantle transitional zone consisting of multiple laminae with alternate high and low velocities, totaling 20 km in thickness. The difference between Moho of different tectonic units reflects heterogeneity of the coupled crust-mantle zone; the difference between fine structures of Haiyuan seismic region and Maqin fault zone reflects different deep material composition of the two continent-continent collision zones and the interaction between blocks.

DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA AND PROSTATE CANCER IN THE TRANSITIONAL ZONE EVALUATED BY ~1H MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPIC IMAGING

Objective To quantitatively evaluate the metabolic changes of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) and prostate cancer in the transitional zone using magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging(MRSI),and to analyze the characteristics and differences of the spectra in this zonal area.Methods Eighteen patients with prostate cancer in the transitional zone underwent magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)/MRSI examinations.The(Choline+Creatine)/Citrate(CC/Ci) ratio and the Choline/Creatine(Cho/Cr) ratio were evaluated in each voxel with cancer or BPH confirmed by pathological results.Discriminant analysis was used to determine the power of the two ratios in differentiation between cancer and BPH.Results The CC/Ci ratio and Cho/Cr ratio for cancer voxels were significantly higher than those in the voxels with BPH in the transitional zone(CC/Ci:2.36±1.31 vs.0.85±0.29,P<0.01;Cho/Cr:4.14±1.79 vs.1.26±0.45,P<0.01).As for the discriminant function with the CC/Ci ratio and the Cho/Cr ratio,the specificity,sensitivity,and accuracy were 98.6%,85.7%,92.9% respectively for the differentiation between cancer and BPH.Conclusions The prostate cancer is characterized by higher CC/Ci ratio and Cho/Cr ratio compared to BPH in the transitional zone.Both CC/Ci ratio and Cho/Cr ratio have high specificity,sensitivity,and accuracy in their discriminative power between cancer and BPH in this zonal area.

Response of Vegetation Cover to Climate Change and Influence of Dusty Weather in the Desertloess Transitional Zone of China

[Objective]This study aimed to analyze the relationships of the normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)(1981-2006)in the desert-loess transitional zone of China with precipitation and temperature.[Method]The average method and the correlation function were applied in this study.[Result]The results indicated that during the growing season NDVI was positively correlated with precipitation in the current month,last month and the month before last,especially the last month.NDVI mostly negatively correlated with temperature,especially the temperature in the last month,which shows that the higher temperature,the more adverse the conditions for vegetation growth.[Conclusion]NDVI from August to October clearly is one of the significant factors influencing dust storm weather in spring of the next year.

The Permian-Triassic Transitional Zone: Jordan, Arabian Plate;Linked to Siberian Large Igneous Province and Neo-Tethys Breakup Degassing via Climate Forcing, Atmospheric Hazard and Metal Toxicity

End-Permian Gondwana siliciclastics (50 - 70 m) of the Um Irna F exposed along the NE Dead Sea, exhibit carbonate-free fining upward cycles (FUC) deposited during acid flash flood events under tropical climate. Several ferruginous paleosol intercalations cover periods of drying upward formation (DUP) under semiarid/arid climates. Thin grey pelite beds interbedded between paleosol and overlying FUC, are interpreted as tephra deposits sourced in Siberian LIP- and Neo-Tethys (NT)-Degassing. The Wadi Bassat en Nimra-section exhibits the P-T transitional zone where flash flood deposits meet supra-/intertidal sediments of the southward-directed transgressive NT. Decreasing flash-flooding continued through the Lower Scythian (Ma’in F.) during transgression, reworking, and resedimentation. Two euryhaline foraminifera-bearing limestone beds are discussed as indicators for the end of mass extinction (recovery phase: ca. 250.8 - 250.4 Ma) possibly correlating with the Maximum Flooding Surface MFS Tr 10 (ca. 250.5 Ma) on the Arabian Shelf (Khuff cycles B;A). Comparable data from the Germanic Basin as FUC/DUP-cycles, tephrasuspicious “Grey Beds” with high concentrations of As, Co, Pb, Zn, and Cu as well as the U-Pb Age data of the Siberian LIP meet the PTB-Zone between the MFSs Intervals P 40 (ca. 254 Ma)/Tr 10 (ca 250.5 Ma) on the Arabian Shelf. MFS (Tr 10, 20, 30) and SBs resp. on the Arabian Plate, as well as Scythian Substage boundaries correlate with ∂13 C-excursions recorded at Musandam, UAE. Thereby, the ratio of greenhouse gases (+climate forcing)/aerosols und tephra (-climate forcing) takes a significant influence on the ∂13C-Variation.

Interdecadal variation of drought patterns and associated influencing factors in the north-south transitional zone of China

In the context of global warming,escalating water cycles have led to a surge in drought frequency and severity.Yet,multidecadal fluctuations in drought and their multifaceted influencing factors remain inadequately understood.This study examined the multidecadal changes in drought characteristics(frequency,duration,and severity)and their geographical focal points within China's north-south transitional zone,the Qinling-Daba Mountains(QDM),from 1960 to 2017 using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index(SPEI).In addition,a suite of eight scenarios,correlation analysis,and wavelet coherence were used to identify the meteorological and circulation factors that influenced drought characteristics.The results indicate the following:(1)From 1960 to 2017,the QDM experienced significant interdecadal variations in drought frequency,duration,and severity,the climate was relatively humid before the 1990s,but drought intensified thereafter.Specifically,the 1990s marked the period of the longest drought duration and greatest severity,while the years spanning 2010 to 2017 experienced the highest frequency of drought events.(2)Spatially,the Qinling Mountains,particularly the western Qinling Mountain,exhibited higher drought frequency,duration,and severity than the Daba Mountains.This disparity can be attributed to higher rates of temperature increase and precipitation decrease in the western Qinling Mountain.(3)Interdecadal variations in droughts in the QDM were directly influenced by the synergistic effects of interdecadal fluctuations in air temperature and precipitation.Circulation factors modulate temperature and precipitation through phase transitions,thereby affecting drought dynamics in the QDM.The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation emerges as the primary circulation factors influencing temperature changes,with a mid-1990s shift to a positive phase favoring warming.The East Asian Summer Monsoon and El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation are the main circulation factors affecting precipitation changes,with positive phase transitions associated with reduced precipitation,and vice versa for increased precipitation.

Near-surface wind field characteristics of the desert-oasis transition zone in Dunhuang,China

The desert-oasis transition zone(DOTZ)serves as a buffer area between the desert and oasis.Understanding its wind field characteristics is of great significance for the prevention and control of aeolian disasters in the oasis.In this study,we used meteorological data during 2013–2019 from the portable meteorological stations at five sites(site A on the edge of the oasis,sites B,C,and D in the DOTZ,and site O in the desert)in Dunhuang,China to analyze the near-surface wind field characteristics and their causes,as well as to reveal the key role of the DOTZ in oasis protection.The results showed that the mean wind speed,frequency of sand-driving wind,and directional variability of wind decreased from west to east within the DOTZ,and wind speed was significantly affected by air temperature.The terrain influenced the prevailing winds in the region,mainly from northeast and southwest.Only some areas adjacent to the oasis were controlled by southeasterly wind.This indicated that the near-surface wind field characteristics of the DOTZ were caused by the combined effects of local terrain and surface hydrothermal difference.At site D,the annual drift potential(DP)was 24.95 vector units(VU),indicating a low wind energy environment,and the resultant drift direction(RDD)showed obvious seasonal differences.Additionally,the DOTZ played an important buffering role between the desert and oasis.Compared with the desert,the mean wind speed in the oasis decreased by 64.98%,and the prevailing wind direction was more concentrated.The results of this study will be useful in interpreting the aeolian activity of the DOTZ in Dunhuang.

Unraveling the Stray Current-Induced Interfacial Transition Zone(ITZ)Effect on Sulfate Corrosion in Concrete

The rail transit in sulfate-rich areas faces the combined effects of stray current and salt corrosion;however,the sulfate ion transport and concrete degradation mechanisms under such conditions are still unclear.To address this issue,novel sulfate transport and mesoscale splitting tests were designed,with a focus on considering the differences between the interfacial transition zone(ITZ)and cement matrix.Under the influence of stray current,the ITZ played a pivotal role in regulating the transport and mechanical failure processes of sulfate attack,while the tortuous and blocking effects of aggregates almost disappeared.This phenomenon was termed the“stray current-induced ITZ effect.”The experimental data revealed that the difference in sulfate ion transport attributed to the ITZ ranged from 1.90 to 2.31 times,while the difference in splitting strength ranged from 1.56 to 1.64 times.Through the real-time synchronization of splitting experiments and microsecond-responsive particle image velocimetry(PIV)technology,the mechanical properties were exposed to the consequences of the stray currentinduced ITZ effect.The number of splitting cracks in the concrete increased,rather than along the central axis,which was significantly different from the conditions without stray current and the ideal Brazilian disk test.Furthermore,a sulfate ion mass transfer model that incorporates reactivity and electrodiffusion was meticulously constructed.The embedded finite element calculation exhibited excellent agreement with the experimental results,indicating its reliability and accuracy.Additionally,the stress field was determined utilizing analytical methods,and the mechanism underlying crack propagation was successfully obtained.Compared to the cement matrix,a stray current led to more sulfates,more microstructure degradation,and greater increases in thickness and porosity in the ITZ,which was considered to be the essence of the stray current-induced ITZ effect.

Dynamic Identification and Evolution of Urban-suburban-rural Transition Zones Based on the Blender of Natural and Humanistic Factors: A Case Study of Chengdu, China

Urban-suburban-rural(U-S-R)zones exhibit distinctive transitional characteristics in interaction between human and nature.U-S-R transition zones(U-S-RTZ)are also highlighting the function diversity and landscape heterogeneity across territorial spaces.As a super megacity in western China,Chengdu’s rapid urbanization has driven the evolution of U-S-R spaces,resulting in a sequential structure.To promote the high-quality spatial development of urban-rural region in a structured and efficient manner,it is essential to con-duct a scientific examination of the multidimensional interconnection within the U-S-RTZ framework.By proposing a novel identifica-tion method of U-S-RTZ and taking Chengdu,China as a case study,grounded in a blender of natural and humanistic factors,this study quantitatively delineated and explored the spatial evolutions of U-S-RTZ and stated the optimization orientation and sustainable devel-opment strategies of the production-living-ecological spaces along the U-S-R gradients.The results show that:1)it is suitable for the quantitative analysis of U-S-RTZ by established three-dimensional identification system in this study.2)In 1990-2020,the urban-sub-urban transition zones(U-STZ)in Chengdu have continuously undergone a substantial increase,and the scale of the suburban-rural transition zones(S-RTZ)has continued to expand slightly,while the space of rural-ecological transition zones(R-ETZ)has noticeably compressed.3)The landuse dynamics within U-S-RTZ has gradually increased in 1990-2020.The main direction of landuse transition was from farmland to construction land or woodlands,with the expansion of construction land being the most significant.4)R-ETZ primarily focus on ecological functions,and there is a trade-off relationship between the production-ecological function within the S-RTZ,and in the U-STZ,production-living composite functions are prioritized.This study emphasizes the importance of elastic planning and precise governance within the U-S-RTZ in a rapid urbanization region,particularly highlighting the role of suburbs as landscape corridors and service hubs in urban-rural integration.It elucidates to the practical implications for achieving high-quality development of integrated U-S-R territorial spaces.

Tumor formation of prostate cancer cells influenced by stromal cells from the transitional or peripheral zones of the normal prostate

This study was designed to investigate the different involvements of prostatic stromal cells from the normal transitional zone(TZ)or peripheral zone(PZ)in the carcinogenesis of prostate cancer(PCa)epithelial cells(PC-3)in vitro and in vivo co-culture models.Ultra-structures and gene expression profiles of primary cultures of human prostatic stromal cells from the normal TZ or PZ were analyzed by electron microscopy and microarray analysis.In vitro and in vivo co-culture models composed of normal TZ or PZ stromal cells and human PCa PC-3 cells were established.We assessed tumor growth and weight in the in vivo nude mice model.There are morphological and ultra-structural differences in stromal cells from TZ and PZ of the normal prostate.In all,514 differentially expressed genes were selected by microarray analysis;483 genes were more highly expressed in stromal cells from TZ and 31 were more highly expressed in those from PZ.Co-culture with PZ stromal cells and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)increased the tumor growth of PC-3 cells in vitro and in vivo,as well as Bcl-2 expression.On the other hand,stromal cells of TZ suppressed PC-3 cell tumor growth in the mouse model.We conclude that ultra-structures and gene expression differ between the stromal cells from TZ or PZ of the normal prostate,and stroma-epithelium interactions from TZ or PZ might be responsible for the distinct zonal localization of prostate tumor formation.

Impacts of land-use and climate changes on ecosystem productivity and carbon cycle in the cropping-grazing transitional zone in China

The impact of land-use/land-cover and climate changes on ecosystem productivity and carbon cycle is one of the most important issues in global change studies.In the past 20 years,the climate and land-use in China have changed significantly and have had important ecological consequences,especially in ecologically sensitive regions,e.g.the cropping-grazing transition zone(CGTZ).Here we present a study that used a process-based ecosystem model and data of land-use changes based on remote sensing and of climate change at high spatial and temporal resolution to estimate the impacts of land-use and climate changes on net primary productivity(NPP),vegetation carbon storage,soil heterotrophic respiration(HR),carbon storage and net ecosystem productivity(NEP)in the CGTZ of China.The results show that the warming and decreases in precipitation in CGTZ reduced NPP by 3.4%,increased HR by 4.3%,and re-duced annual mean total NEP by 33.7Tg from the 1980s to the 1990s.Although carbon storage in vegetation and soil was increasing because the mean NPP for the period was higher than HR,the decreasing NEP indicate that climate change reduced the carbon uptake rate.However,land-use changes in this zone caused increases in NPP by 3.8%,vegetation carbon storage by 2.4%,and annual total NEP by 0.59Tg.The land-use changes enhanced ecosystem carbon up-take,but not enough to offset the negative effect of the climate change.The climate change had greater impacts than the land-use change for the whole CGTZ zone,but had smaller impacts than the land-use change in the regions where it occurred.

Crust-mantle transitional zone of Tianshan orogenic belt and Junggar Basin and its geodynamic implication

The traveling time of the reflection waves of each shot point from the crust-mantle transitional zone has been obtained by data processing using wavelet transform to the waves reflected from the crust-mantle transitional zone. The crust-mantle transitional zone of the Xayar-Burjing geoscience transect can be divided into three sections: the northern margin of the Tarim Basin, the Tianshan orogenic belt and Junggar Basin. The crust-mantle transitional zone is composed mainly of first-order discontinuity in the Tarim Basin and the Junggar Basin, but in the Tianshan orogenic belt, it is composed of 7–8 thin layers which are 2-3 km in thickness and high and low alternatively in velocity, with a total thickness of about 20km. The discovery of the crust-mantle transitional zone of the Tianshan orogenic belt and Junggar Basin and their differences in tectonic features provide evidence for the creation of the geodynamic model “lithospheric subduction with intrusion layers in crust” for the Tianshan orogenic belt.

Vegetation Change and Soil Nutrient Distribution along an Oasis-Desert Transitional Zone in Northwestern China

Many studies have focused on soil nutrient heterogeneity and islands of fertility in arid ecosystems. However, few have been conducted on an oasis-desert transitional zone where there is a vegetation pattern changing from shrubs to annual herbs. The goal of the present study was to understand vegetation and soil nutrient heterogenity along an oasis-desert transitional zone in northwestern China. Three replicated sampling belts were selected at 200 m intervals along the transitional zone. Twenty-one quadrats （10 x 10m） at 50m intervals were located along each sampling belt. The vegetation cover was estimated through the quadrats, where both the soil under the canopy and the open soil were sampled simultaneously. The dominated shrub was Haloxylon ammodendron in the areas close to the oasis and Nitraria tangutorum dominated the areas close to the desert. In general, along the transitional zone the vegetation cover decreased within 660 m, increased above 660 m and decreased again above 1 020 m （close to the desert）. The soil nutrients （organic matter, total N, NO3^- and NH4^＋） showed significant differences along the zone. The soil nutrients except the soil NH4^＋ under the canopy were higher than those in open soil, confirming ＂islands of fertility＂ or nutrient enrichment. Only a slight downward trend of the level of ＂islands of fertility＂ for soil organic matter appeared in the area within 900 m. Soil organic matter both under canopy and in interspace showed a positive correlation with the total vegetation cover, however, there was no significant correlation between the other soil nutrients and the total vegetation cover. We also analyzed the relationship between the shrubs and annuals and the soil nutrients along the zone. Similarly, there was no significant correlation between them, except soil organic matter with the annuals. The results implied that annual plants played an important role in soil nutrient enrichment in arid ecosystem.

Velocity Preset and Transitional Zone′s Shape Optimization for Tailor Rolled Blank

Tailor rolled blank （TRB） is a type of emerging material to produce lightweight vehicle parts. Transitional zoners shape is an important parameter for tailor rolled blank. It not only affects mold design and the local carrying capacity of the stamping parts, but also determines the maximum value and variation characteristics of rolling force. How to get the best transitional zone＇s shape is a key problem for production of tailor rolled blank. A double power function is put forward using for transitional curve, which is continuous and smooth at all connection points inde- pendent of its parameters, so the sudden change of mechanical parameters during rolling and forming process can be avoided. At the same time, the velocity formula and restriction for arbitrary transitional curve are derived to preset vertical velocity of the roller and judge whether the curve can be rolled successfully or not. Then, the finite element method （FEM） is used to verify the precision of velocity formula and study the mechanical characteristics of different curves. Finally, a method to obtain the optimal curve equation is put forward and verified.

Distribution patterns of SOC/TN content and their relationship with topography,vegetation and climatic factors in China’s north-south transitional zone

The spatial distributions and variation mechanism of key soil indices in the Qinling-Daba Mountains are important indicators for the identification of the transitional effect and regional characteristics of the north–south transitional zone in China.This manuscript analyzes the spatial variations in soil organic carbon(SOC)and total nitrogen(TN)and corresponding relationships with major geographical factors based on spatial analysis and geostatistics considering data obtained from the Second National Soil Survey.The results indicate that the spatial distributions of the SOC and TN contents are consistent,and three high-content areas,one secondary high-content area and one low-content area are observed.High content values are located in the high-altitude regions of the Qinling-Daba Mountains and mountainous areas to the west of the Jialing River,the low-content area occurs on the north slope of the Qinling Mountains,and the secondary high-content area mainly encompasses both sides of the Hanjiang River and regions in the Qinling-Daba Mountains at altitudes below 1000 m.The SOC and TN contents vary between the above two ranges,with the gradual increase in content revealing a horn-shaped pattern.Considering the spatial variations and functions of vegetation,topography and climate factors,it is found that the SOC/TN range in the secondary high-content area remains consistent along the 1000 m contour line,the upper limit of the transitional mountain altitudinal belt,the 0℃isotherm line in January and the 24℃isotherm line in July.This region constitutes the main body of the transitional zone between the subtropical and warm temperate zones,and the northern boundary is roughly distributed along the Dujiangyan-Maoxian-Pingwu-Wenxian line to the west of the Jialing River and the 1000 m contour line on the southern slope of the Qinling Mountains,while the southern boundary occurs along the Dujiangyan-Beichuan-Qingchuan line to the west of the Jialing River and the 1000 m contour line on the northern slope of the Daba Mountains.SOC/TN spatial variation provides a reference for the demarcation of the subtropical and warm temperate zones,and further identification of the soil processes and ecological effects in typical regions can help reveal multidimensional transitional characteristics and variation mechanisms.

Impacts of Recent Climate Change on Dry-Land Crop Water Consumption in the Northern Agro-Pastoral Transitional Zone of China

Climate change has substantially impacted crop growth and development in the northern agro-pastoral transitional zone. Examination of the response of crop water consumption to climate change may provide a guide for adapting local agricultural production and ecological construction to new realities. The water consumption of three local crops （wheat, naked oats, and potatoes） is examined for Wuchuan County in the northern agro-pastoral transitional zone of China using meteorological data from 1960 to 2007 and soil moisture data from 1983 to 2007. The relationships between climate change and the crop water consumption are discussed. The results show that Wuchuan experienced both a warming trend and a reduction of precipitation between 1960 and 2007. The annual mean surface air temperature increased at a rate of 0.04℃ yr-1 and the annual precipitation decreased at a rate of 0.7 mm yr-1 . Both trends are particularly pronounced between 1983 and 2007, with an increase in annual mean temperature of 0.09℃ yr-1 and a decrease in annual mean precipitation of 2.1 mm yr-1 . Crop water consumption decreased between 1983 and 2007 for wheat （1.65 mm yr-1 ）, naked oats （2.04 mm yr-1 ）, and potatoes （3.85 mm yr-1 ）. Potatoes and naked oats consume more water than wheat. Climate change has significantly impacted crop water consumption. Water consumption and rainfall during the growing season are positively correlated, while water consumption and active accumulated temperature are negatively correlated. Compared to precipitation, accumulated temperature has little impact on crop water consumption. Recent climate change has been detrimental for crop production in Wuchuan County. Adaptation to climate change should include efforts to breed drought-resistant crops and to develop drought-resistant cultivation techniques.

Decomposition of Phragmites australis rhizomes in artificial land-water transitional zones （ALWTZs） and management implications

Rhizomes are essential organs for growth and expansion of Phragmites australis. They function as an important source of organic matter and as a nutrient source, especially in the artificial land-water transitional zones （ALWTZs） of shallow lakes. In this study, decomposition experiments on 1- to 6-year-old R australis rhizomes were conducted in the ALWTZ of Lake Baiyangdian to evaluate the contribution of the rhizomes to organic matter accumulation and nutrient release. Mass loss and changes in nutrient content were measured after 3, 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 days. The decomposition process was modeled with a composite exponential model. The Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationships between mass loss and litter quality factors. A multiple stepwise regression model was utilized to determine the dominant factors that affect mass loss. Results showed that the decomposition rates in water were significantly higher than those in soil for 1- to 6-year-old rhizomes. However, the sequence of decomposition rates was identical in both water and soil. Significant relationships between mass loss and litter quality factors were observed at a later stage, and P-related factors proved to have a more significant impact than N-related factors on mass loss. According to multiple stepwise models, the C/P ratio was found to be the dominant factor affecting the mass loss in water, and the C/N and C/P ratios were the main factors affecting the mass loss in soil. The combined effects of harvesting, ditch broadening, and control of water depth should be considered for lake administrators.