Effects of Enclosure on Grassland Ecological and Economic Benefits in Northern China

Grasslands in northern China serve the country as both an ecological barrier and a livestock production base.There,installing enclosures has been becoming the major grassland restoration measure adopted by many local governments.However,the effects of restoration on both ecological and production benefits of grassland remain unclear for implemented grassland restoration policies.Therefore,a representative rangeland in northern China,the Maodeng pasture in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was selected as the study area,and remote sensing monitoring analyses were carried out to quantify the ecological benefits and economic benefits from 2015 to 2021.The results showed that:1) in terms of ecological benefits,the grassland area with a grassland coverage rate of more than 60% accounts for 32.3% of the regional area,and 86.4% of its grassland grew significantly better than the same period in2015,showing a significant improvement in grassland growth.Using the average amount of carbon per unit area as the ecological benefit evaluation index,it increased by 27.1% to 32.48Tg C/yr from 2015 to 2021.2) In terms of economic benefits,both theoretical grass production and livestock carrying capacity increased from 2015 to 2021.Compared to 2015,the theoretical grass production in 2021 increased by 24.8% to 71 900 t.The livestock carrying capacity reached 52 100 sheep units in 2021,nearly 11 000 sheep units more than that in 2015.During the study period,multiple economic indicators(on a per capita basis of permanent residents) for the pastoral area of Xilinhot City to which the Maodeng pasture belongs,have grown steadily.Per capita total income rose from 29 630 yuan(RMB) in2015 to 62 859 yuan(RMB) in 2021.Relying on grassland resources to develop the pastoral ecology also broadens the potential economic development space.Overall,the establishment of the reserve and the experiment of implanting an enclosure policy have had a significant and positive impact on Maodeng pasture’s development from both an ecological and economic perspective.With the support of scientific evidence,enclosure policy can be extended to more than 110 000 km~2 of grasslands in northern China with similar precipitation and temperature conditions,enhancing the productive and ecological potential of grasslands.The above research results will contribute to the scientific formulation of grassland pasture quality improvement plans in northern China.

Moment tensor inversion and source rupture process of the September 27, 2003 M_S=7.9 earthquake occurred in the border area of China, Russia and Mongolia

plane with the strike of 127°, the dip of 79° and the rake of 171°. The rupture process inversion result of MS=7.9 earthquake shows that the total rupture duration is about 37 s, the scalar moment tensor is M0=0.97 × 1020 N·m. Rupture mainly occurred on the shallow area with 110 km long and 30 km wide, the location in which the rupture initiated is not where the main rupture took place, and the area with slip greater than 0.5 m basically lies within 35 km deep middle-crust under the earth surface. The maximum static slip is 3.6 m. There are two distinct areas with slip larger than 2.0 m. We noticed that when the rupture propagated towards northwest and closed to the area around the MS=7.3 hypocenter, the slip decreased rapidly, which may indicate that the rupture process was stopped by barriers. The consistence of spatial distribution of slip on the fault plane with the distribution of aftershocks also supports that the rupture is a heterogeneous process owing to the presence of barriers.

The China and Mongolia Cultural Communication Status Quo and Development Trend in the Context of the Construction of the China–Mongolia–Russia Economic Corridor

As a part of the"The Belt and Road"initiative,the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor is a tailored mode of regional cooperation,combined with the construction of the Russia Eurasia Channel and the Mongolia Grassland Road.This paper analyses the Chinese and Mongolian cultural communication status quo and development trend in the Context of the construction of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor.It then proposes that the two countries make great efforts in following three aspects to create new prosperity for China-Mongolia cultural communication and cooperation:strengthening the folk cultural communication and cooperation by consolidating its folk communication basis,vigorously promoting folk cultural diplomacy and improving the level of folk cultural communications,and consolidating the existing cooperation and creating new cultural communication through this cooperation mechanism.

Studies on the Belt and Road Initiative and the China—Mongolia—Russia Culture Industry Corridor

Culture is the concentrated reflection of national spirit and civilization, and is an important part of foreign exchanges since ancient times. Under the guidance of the Belt and Road Initiative, with the goal of reviving the Prairie Silk Road and Culture Industry Corridor suited to the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, in accordance with the requirements in the China, Mongolia and Russia Tripartite Cooperation Medium-term Road Map approved by the three countries, government organs, enterprises and social organizations should make appropriate plans to develop cultural tourism in advance, highlight its characteristics, build the brand, build investment and financing platforms, new media platforms and carry out large-project-driving strategies, so that the value of cultural resources along the Prairie Silk Road can be fully tapped and resources can be integrated for industrial and economic advantages. The interconnection of China's Belt and Road Initiative, Mongolia's Prairie Road and Russia's Eurasian Economic Union will help establish closer cooperation between the three countries and form an arena of culture competition in Northeast Asia. This is of great practical significance and has promising prospects.

Features of the M7.9 Earthquake in the Russia-Mongolia-China Boundary Region

At 19:33 p.m on September 27, 2003, an earthquake with M7.9 occurred in the Russia-Mongolia-China boundary Region. It was strongly felt in the Altay region of Xinjiang. The losses caused by the earthquake was 76 million yuan (RMB). Some information about the earthquake was outlined, including basic parameters, focal mechanism, evaluation of earthquake disaster losses and so on. The satellite remote sensing information worked initial analysis for deformation of ground and failure phenomenon.

The Significance and Measures of Building the China—Mongolia—Russia Economic Corridor

In September 2014,Chinese leaders introduced the initiative to build the China,Mongolia and Russia Economic Corridor during the SCO summit in Dushanbe.In March 2015,China issued The prospect and action of promoting to build the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road,which officially made building the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor a strategic

A New Protoceratopsid (Dinosauria: Neoceratopsia) from the Late Cretaceous of Inner Mongolia, China

An almost complete skull, which was collected from the Upper Cretaceous of the Bayan Mandahu area in Inner Mongolia, China by the Sino-Canadian Dinosaur Project, is described and assigned to a new genus of protoceratopsid dinosaur, Magnirostris dodsoni gen. et sp. nov. This new taxon is distinguished from other protoceratopsids by the robust rostral bone and the existence of incipient orbital horn cores. The existence of an additional antorbital fenestra indicates a close relationship between Magnirostris and Bagaceratops.

Spinel + quartz-bearing ultrahigh-temperature granulites from Xumayao,Inner Mongolia Suture Zone,North China Craton:Petrology,phase equilibria and counterclockwise p-T path

The Khondalite Belt within the Inner Mongolia Suture Zone （IMSZ） in the North China Craton is a classic example for Paleoproterozoic ultrahigh-temperature （UHT） metamorphism. Here we report new spinel-bearing metapelitic granulites from a new locality at Xumayao within the southern domain of the IMSZ. Petrological studies and thermodynamic modeling of the spinel -- quartz-bearing assemblage shows that these rocks experienced extreme metamorphism at UHT conditions. Spinel occurs in two textural settings：（1） high Xzn（Zn/（Mg ＋ FeH -- Zn） = 0.071--0.232） spinel with perthitic K-feld- spar, sillimanite and quartz in the rock matrix; and （2）low Xzn （0.045-0.070） spinel as inclusions within garnet porphyroblasts in association with quartz and sillimanite. Our phase equilibria modeling indicates two main stages during the metamorphic evolution of these rocks：（l） near-isobaric cooling from 975 ℃ to 875 ℃ around 8 kbar, represented by the formation of garnet porphyroblasts from spinel and quartz; and（2）cooling and decompression from 850 ℃, 8 kbar to below 750 ℃- 6.5 kbar, represented by the break-down of garnet. The spinel ＋ quartz assemblage is considered to have been stable at peak metamorphism, formed through the break-down of cordierite, indi- caring a near isothermal compression process. Our study confirms the regional extent of UHT metamor- phism within the IMSZ associated with the Paleoproterozoic subduction-collision process.

A New Species of Phoenicopsis Subgenus Windwardia(Florin) Samylina(Czekanowskiales) from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, China

A new species of Phoenicopsis subgenus Windwardia （Florin） Samylina, Phoenicopsis neimengguensis sp.nov., is recognized from the Middle Jurassic Zhaogou Formation in the Shiguai Basin, a Jurassic coal-bearing sedimentary basin in Inner Mongolia, China. Linear leaves are in bundles of six to eight and are attached on a short shoot. The leaf is amphistomatic with one or two irregular rows of longitudinally oriented stomata in each intercostal zone on the upper epidermis and three or four （occasionally six） rows of stomata in each intercostal zone on the lower epidermis. Each stomata is surrounded by four to six subsidiary cells with unevenly developed papillae. The anticlinal walls of epidermal cells are straight. Cuticular thickenings or papillae are present on the outer surface of the periclinal walls. This is the first time that Phoenicopsis subgenus Windwardia （Florin） Samylina is recognized from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, China. The occurrence of the new species is noteworthy because it extends the geological and geographic distribution of Phoenicopsis subg. Windwardia in China and Eurasia. The discovery is significant as it increases our knowledge of Phoenicopsis subg. Windwardia by providing new data on morphological and epidermal features.

Kalligrammatid Lacewings from the Upper Jurassic Daohugou Formation in Inner Mongolia, China

A new species, referable to a new genus, is erected, and named the Sinokalligramma jurassicum gen. et sp. nov. It is the second finding of kalligrammatids in the Daohugou Formation. The origin and migration of the family Kalligrammatidae are discussed. The geological age and stratigraphic correlation of the Daohugou and Karabastau Formations are briefly reviewed and reassessed.

A Baby Pterodactyloid Pterosaur from the Yixian Formation of Ningcheng,Inner Mongolia,China

A new baby pterodactyloid pterosaur with soft tissue preserved, Ningchengopterus liuae gen. et sp. nov., is erected based on a nearly complete skeleton with a skull. It was characterized by the skull, slightly longer than the combined length of the dorsal and sacral vertebrae; 50 teeth （including upper and lower jaws）; short mid-cervical vertebrae; the humerus and the scapula, equal to that of the wing metacarpal in length; the ulna and the femur, equal to that of the first and third wing phalanx in length, respectively. The similar ratio of the wing phalanx 2 to wing phalanx 1 of Ningchengopterus and Eosipterus implies that Ningchengopterus may be close to the ctenochasmatid pterosaur. However, it may also imply that the isometrically growing of the first two wing phalanges exists among some pterosaurs.

New Isophlebioid Dragonflies from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia,China(Insecta:Odonata:Isophlebioptera:Campterophiebiidae)

Three new species of fossil dragonflies assigned to Sinokaratawia Nel, Huang and Lin in family Campterophlebiidae, i.e.S, daohugouica sp. nov., S. magica sp. nov. and S. gloriosa sp. nov., and new materials of male S. prokopi Nel, Huang and Lin, 2007 are described from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China. An emended diagnosis of genus Sinokaratawia was proposed.

Transnational Economic Connection Analysis Based on Railway Class Accessibility Between China and Russia

Under the background of ‘the Belt and Road’ initiative, the economic cooperation has great potential between China and Russia. The railway accessibility has an important influence on the economic connections of cities along the railway line. This paper studied the Sino-Russian transnational economic connection based on the railway class accessibility along Trans-Siberian railway(the transnational China railway branch line). The results are as following. First, the railway accessibility of the Chinese nodes is stronger than that of the Russian nodes, which in general displays a tendency of space attenuation from China to the Sino-Russian border, then to Russia. Spatially, the railway accessibility within the study area shows a ‘High East, Low West’ and ‘High South, Low North’ spatial pattern. The railway accessibility of the nodes, which are located at the beginning and end of the railway line, is weaker than those nodes located in the middle of the line. Second, the railway accessibility and external economic connection intensity summation of the nodes show a positive relationship along the railway line. The economic connection intensity summation of different nodes presents obvious regional differentiation. Finally, as economic connection network has evolved, the small world effect of Sino-Russian railway economic connection network becomes strong.

Tectono-Thermal Evolution, Hydrocarbon Filling and Accumulation Phases of the Hari Sag, in the Yingen-Ejinaqi Basin, Inner Mongolia,Northern China

This work restored the erosion thickness of the top surface of each Cretaceous formations penetrated by the typical well in the Hari sag, and simulated the subsidence burial history of this well with software BasinMod. It is firstly pointed out that the tectonic subsidence evolution of the Hari sag since the Cretaceous can be divided into four phases: initial subsidence phase, rapid subsidence phase,uplift and erosion phase, and stable slow subsidence phase. A detailed reconstruction of the tectonothermal evolution and hydrocarbon generation histories of typical well was undertaken using the EASY R% model, which is constrained by vitrinite reflectance(R) and homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions. In the rapid subsidence phase, the peak period of hydrocarbon generation was reached at c.a.105.59 Ma with the increasing thermal evolution degree. A concomitant rapid increase in paleotemperatures occurred and reached a maximum geothermal gradient of about 43-45℃/km. The main hydrocarbon generation period ensued around 105.59-80.00 Ma and the greatest buried depth of the Hari sag was reached at c.a. 80.00 Ma, when the maximum paleo-temperature was over 180℃.Subsequently, the sag entered an uplift and erosion phase followed by a stable slow subsidence phase during which the temperature gradient, thermal evolution, and hydrocarbon generation decreased gradually. The hydrocarbon accumulation period was discussed based on homogenization temperatures of inclusions and it is believed that two periods of rapid hydrocarbon accumulation events occurred during the Cretaceous rapid subsidence phase. The first accumulation period observed in the Bayingebi Formation(Kb) occurred primarily around 105.59-103.50 Ma with temperatures of 125-150℃. The second accumulation period observed in the Suhongtu Formation(Ks) occurred primarily around84.00-80.00 Ma with temperatures of 120-130℃. The second is the major accumulation period, and the accumulation mainly occurred in the Late Cretaceous. The hydrocarbon accumulation process was comprehensively controlled by tectono-thermal evolution and hydrocarbon generation history. During the rapid subsidence phase, the paleo temperature and geothermal gradient increased rapidly and resulted in increasing thermal evolution extending into the peak period of hydrocarbon generation,which is the key reason for hydrocarbon filling and accumulation.

Characteristics of the active-layer under the China-Russia Crude Oil pipeline

Active layer is a key component for permafrost environment studies as many subsurface biological,biogeochemical,ecological,and pedogenic activities prevail in this layer.This study focuses on active layer temperature monitoring in an area with sporadic permafrost at two adjacent sites along China-Russia Crude Oil Pipeline(CRCOP),NorthEast China.Site T1 is located in disturbed ground on the right-of-way(on-ROW)2 m away from the center of the oil pipeline.T2 is located in a natural and undisturbed site,around 16.6 m off-ROW.Our objective was to study seasonal variability of the active layer depth and thermal regime from October 2017 to September 2018.The monitoring sites consist of soil temperature probes arranged in a vertical array at different depths at both sites.The following parameters were computed:number of isothermal days(ID),freezing days(FD),thawing days(TD),freezing degree days(FDD),thawing degree days(TDD),number of freeze-thaw days(FTD).The mean air temperature in the monitoring period reached-3.2℃.The temperature profile indicates that the maximum active layer thickness observed during the study period was 10 m at T1 and 2 m at T2.The majority of the soil temperatures were above or close to 0℃,resulting in great values of TDD,especially in the first 4 m depth.TDD for T1 were predominant and ranged between 600-1160℃·days(0-4 m depth)reflecting the influence of oil temperature from the pipeline.In T2 borehole FDD were predominant for all the soil layer depths resulting in less permafrost degradation.This comparison emphasizes the significant influence of vegetation removal and the dispersed heat from the pipeline on the active layer thickness.

The Prevalence of Blindness, Visual Impairment and Cataract Surgery in Tuoketuo and Shangdu Counties, Inner Mongolia, China

Aim: A population-based survey was conducted in Tuoketuo and Shangdu Counties in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, in the Autumn of 2010, to assess the prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment of people aged 50 years and over. Methods: Random cluster sampling was used to select 82 clusters of 50 residents in the 2 counties. Each survey team included an ophthalmologist, a nurse and a coordinator, who went to door to door in each cluster to identify eligible people. A torch, direct ophthalmoscope and portable slit lamp were used for eye examination. Visual acuity (VA) was tested for each eye of every subject. Those with VA below 6/18 in either eye were examined and causes identified. Results: The survey identified a prevalence of blindness in people aged 50+ in Tuoketuo of 1.2% (95% Confidence Interval: 0.7% - 1.7%) and in Shangdu of 1.4% (95% CI: 1.0% - 1.9%). Cataract was identified as the leading cause of blindness (BL) and severe visual impairment (SVI), and uncorrected refractive errors were the major causes of moderate visual impairment (MVI) in both counties. Over two thirds of blindness, SVI and MVI were identified as avoidable. Conclusions: The prevalence of blindness in people aged 50+ in Tuoketuo and Shangdu was low compared to other studies conducted in China [1] [2]. The prevalence of blindness of people aged 50 years and over could be reduced by up to two thirds through better eye services in the two study areas.

Characteristics of Hypertension Death in Low-income Regions of Inner Mongolia, China

Hypertension has been a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease[1].Hypertension overall prevalence in adults is 30%–45%,becoming>60%in people aged above 60 years[2],with a worldwide agestandardised prevalence of 20 and 24%in women and men,respectively[3].

The First Discovery of the Early Palaeozoic Carbonatite in the Bayan Obo Deposit, Inner Mongolia, China: Evidence from Zircon U-Pb Geochronology

Objective The Bayan Obo in the northern North China Craton is the world’s largest REE-Nb-Fe deposit. The genesis of its hosted carbonatite is still controversial for sedimentary or igneous(Song et al.,2018). Recent geological exploration, including 1:10000 geological mapping and drilling exploration, have revealed new exposures of zonal distribution of alteration and mineralization, which combined with previous results of isotopical geochemistry indicate the

First record of Early Cretaceous pterosaur from the Ordos Region, Inner Mongolia,China

A new dsungaripterid pterosaur,Ordosipterus planignathus gen.et sp.nov.,is established on the incomplete articulated lower jaws from the Lower Cretaceous Luohandong Formation in Otog Qi,Ordos Region,Inner Mongolia,China.It differs from other dsungaripterids mainly by having broad and low dentary at and just behind the mandibular symphysis,flat dentary dorsal plane forming the distinct lateral ridge with the curved dentary lateral side,and lower alveoli arranged along the dentary dorsolateral margin with wide spacing that increases from rostral to caudal.It represents the first diagnostic pterosaur from the Ordos Region in Inner Mongolia,and further enlarges the geographical distribution of the family Dsungaripteridae from northwestern China(together with western Mongolia)to central North China.

REE characteristics of the coal in the Erlian Basin, Inner Mongolia, China, and its economic value

The rare earth elements(REE)content of the coal in the Erlian Basin was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS),and it turns out that the REE content from different geological age shows a significant difference:The REE content of the coal in the Jurassic Alatanheli Group is from 152.05×10^(−6) to 1416.21×10^(−6),with an average value of 397.31×10^(−6),and the relative concentration factor shows enriched;the REE content of the coal in Early Cretaceous Baiyanhua Group is from 20.65×10^(−6) to 102.53×10^(−6),the mean value is 49.06×10^(−6),and the relative concentration factor shows normally.The REE distribution patterns samples in Jurassic and Cretaceous shows the difference:The REE pattern in Jurassic coal mainly manifests as H-type distribution,with the Y,Lu positive anomaly,it is speculated that the fluid carried REE ions into the coal-bearing basin,and the heavy REE gather in the coal due to the different chemical properties of each REE.The REE occurrence mode is presumed to be mainly organic.Flat type is the REE main distribution pattern in Cretaceous coal.The REE patterns in clastic rocks of the roof,parting and floor of coal seam are similar to the REE patterns in the coal and the most possible reason is that the REE main source is from the clastic rock.It showed that the coal of the Early Jurassic,especially of Amugulen coalfield has resource value.