Impacts of formal credit on rural household income:Evidence from deprived areas in western China

Financial support is a crucial part of China's poverty alleviation effort.Thus,it is vital to understand how formal credit impacts income growth in rural households.In 2012,2015,and 2018,a survey was conducted to obtain a panel dataset of 592 rural households from 6 poverty-stricken counties in western China,including counties in Guizhou,Yunnan,and Shaanxi provinces.We use the data to examine the effect of formal credit on rural household income and the mechanism that underlies this effect.We find that formal credit can significantly increase rural households'income in deprived areas in western China.Furthermore,formal credit promotes the reallocation of household labor from the agricultural sector to the non-agricultural sector and changes rural households'decisions about investment-consumption behavior.These are the drivers of changes in the amount and structure of household income.Further analyses show that formal credit may widen income inequality among rural households in western China's deprived areas.The individual characteristics of rural households,such as different levels of material capital,human capital,and social capital,bring about differences in the effects of formal credit on income growth.This study emphasizes that the implementation of formal credit is an essential strategy for poverty alleviation in underdeveloped areas,but policymakers should not excessively interfere with the financial market.

GPR based RTM imaging technology for estimating rhizome diameters and application in the western China mining area

The rhizome functions are of great significance to the ecological protection of the western China mining area,whose ecological management can be provided with technical support via accurate calculations of the rhizome biomass.The rhizome diameter is an important index parameter of rhizome biomass.In this study,we propose an estimation of rhizome diameters based on ground penetrating radar(GPR)-based reverse time migration(RTM)imaging technology.First,the spatial distribution of shallow rhizomes is simulated using the finite difference time domain method.The simulation data are examined via RTM imaging and single-channel rhizome analysis to obtain the rhizome index parameters:Δh,the width of the maximum positive peak amplitude measured at an amplitude of zero,andΔH,the distance between the zero-amplitude position above the largest positive peak in the shallow region and the zero-amplitude position below the largest positive peak in the deeper region.The experiments of physical models verify the effectiveness of the two parameters(Δh andΔH).and indicate that the values ofΔh andΔH are independent of the rhizome burial depth;instead,they are only related to the diameter of the rhizome.For both the numerical simulations and the physical model experiment,the estimation errors ofΔh andΔH for the rhizome diameters can be constrained to less than 6%and 5%,respectively,which shows that the estimation of the rhizome diameters using GPR based RTM imaging technology is reasonable and effective and its high estimation accuracy meets the technical requirements.

Rural vulnerability,migration,and relocation in mountain areas of Western China:An overview of key issues and policy interventions

Western China features a vast area of mountains and high plateaus where millions of people,including diverse ethnic minority groups,have inhabited for generations.Geographically located in the mountainous,remote,and isolated regions,rural communities are prone to natural hazards and thus become vulnerable to impoverishment.To reduce rural vulnerability,many people residing in mountainous villages opted to out-migrate from their original villages and hometowns while some took in-situ adaptation measures.A host of government-sponsored resettlement programs have been carried out to help rural villagers seek alternative livelihoods elsewhere over the past four decades.To achieve a sustainable future for rural communities in mountainous areas of western China,more effective policies and measures need to be developed and enforced.

Satisfaction of Village Doctors with the Township and Village Health Services Integration Policy in the Western Minority-inhabited Areas of China

Township and Village Health Services Integration Management（TVHSIM） is an essential form of China＇s two-tiered health service integration plan at the township and village level. Its main purpose, also one of the target goals in China＇s new healthcare reform, is to gradually integrate rural health services and appropriately allocate rural health resources. This study aims to assess the village doctors＇ satisfaction with the TVHSIM and provide scientific base to further improve TVHSIM. A cross-sectional study was carried out in which 162 village doctors from Qinghai, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang in western China were interviewed. Descriptive analysis, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Spearman rank correlation and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the difference and relevance between village doctors＇ personal characteristics and their satisfaction with TVHSIM and six subscales. Village doctors with different years of practice, social insurance status and essential medical knowledge level showed statistically significant differences in their satisfaction levels（all P〈0.05）. Age（P〈0.05） and years of practice（P〈0.01） were negatively correlated with Drug and Medical Device Management and Financing Management. Essential medical knowledge level（P〈0.05） was negatively correlated with Operations Management as well. However, social insurance status（P〈0.05） was positively correlated with Human Resources Management and Drug and Medical Device management. Gender, age and years of practice respectively had significant influence on village doctors＇ satisfaction with TVHSIM（P〈0.01）. In conclusion, in order to further promote TVHSIM policy in rural China, a well-rounded social insurance model for village doctors is urgently needed. In addition, the development of TVHSIM is regionally imbalanced. Efficient and effective measures aiming at rationalizing gender and age structure and enhancing essential medical training should be carefully considered.

Variation of Air-Sea Heat Fluxes over the Western Pacific Warm Pool Area and Its Relationship with the South China Sea Summer Monsoon Onset

Based on oceanic and atmospheric parameters retrieved by satellite remote sensing using a neural network method, air-sea heat fluxes over the western Pacific warm pool area were calculated with the advanced the advanced Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment 3.0 (COARE3.0) bulk algorithm method. Then, the average annual and interannual characteristics of these fluxes were analyzed. The rela- tionship between the fluxes and the South China Sea (SCS) summer monsoon onset is highlighted. The results indicate that these fluxes have clear temporal and spatial characteristics. The sensible heat flux is at its maximum in the Kuroshio area, while the latent heat flux is at its maximum in the North Equatorial Current and Kuroshio area. The distribution of average annual air-sea heat fluxes shows that both sensible and latent heat fluxes are maximized in winter and minimized in summer. The air-sea heat fluxes have obvious interannual variations. Correlation analysis indicates a close lag-correlation between air-sea heat fluxes in the western Pacific warm pool area and at the SCS summer monsoon onset. The lagcorrelation can therefore predict the SCS summer monsoon onset, providing a reference for the study of precipitation related to the monsoon.

Implement PPET Strategy and Develop Ecotourism of Minority Areas in Western China——Take Xinlong County of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province as An Example

To help the poor and to develop tourism are two mportant problems in poverty-stricken areas. However, they were isolated for years.The PPET strategy was put forward in this paper based on PPT.The feasibility and the realistic meaning of the strategy in developing the ecotourism, overcoming poverty, and achieving prosperity of minority areas inwestern China are analyzed bytaking Xinlong county of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province as an example.

Structural Styles of Fronts of Thrust-Detachment Faults in Petroleum-bearing Areas of Western China

The front of a thrust-detachment fault may have various styles such as decoupling, fold, forethrust and backthrust ones because of differences in magnitude, direction and time of the forces exerted on the fault and the inhomogeneity of rock mechanical properties. They have different characteristics and are usually associated with gravity structure, inverse structure and diapir structure. These structures exist together in the same thrust-detachment fault and can influence, compensate for and convert into each other. They provide important grounds not only for the study of the dynamic state, propagation mode, evolutionary process and formation mechanism but also for the analysis of the petroleum generation, migration, accumulation and preservation and arrangement of drill holes in foreland basins.

Attitudes toward income inequality:perspectives from farmers living in a poverty-stricken rural area of China

The attitude of the least advantaged people to income inequality is important in regard to social stability,which is also a major concern of the government and researchers in China.This paper aimed to investigate the perceptions and attitudes of the least advantaged people toward income inequality in China.An empirical analysis was conducted on farmers' attitudes to income inequality based on a questionnaire survey of 308 farmers in four villages in Yingshan,Hubei Province.Our results show that the respondents consider the income inequality as severe,and ability,hard work,and individual choices are the major determinant factors of income.It is shown that farmers in less developed areas are more likely to accept income inequality,and they ascribe this to their own failure rather than to social injustice.However,it is not the case that people living in poverty-stricken areas are satisfied with antipoverty policies;and these policies are expected to be further improved to increase the income of the poor.

Determining Optimal Strategies to Reduce Maternal and Child Mortality in Rural Areas in Western China: an Assessment Using the Lives Saved Tool

China, as a whole, is about to meet the Millennium Development Goals for reducing the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR), but the disparities between rural area and urban area still exists. This study estimated the potential effectiveness of expanding coverage with high impact interventions using the Lives Saved Tool (LiST). It was found that gestational hypertension, antepartum and postpartum hemorrhage, preterm birth, neonatal asphyxia, and neonatal childhood pneumonia and diarrhea are still the major killers of mothers and children in rural area in China. It was estimated that 30% of deaths among 0-59 month old children and 25% of maternal deaths in 2008 could be prevented in 2015 if primary health care intervention coverage expanded to a feasible level. The LiST death cause framework, compared to data from the Maternal and Child Mortality Surveillance System, represents 60%-80% of neonatal deaths, 40%-50% of deaths in 1-59 month old children and 40%-60% of maternal deaths in rural areas of western China.

Industrial Policy Analysis of Restricted Development Zones in Western China——A Study of State-level Main Producing Areas of Agricultural Products and Key Ecological Functional Areas

As one of the important policies of promoting the formation of main functional areas, the industrial policy directly determines the sustainable growth of space control ability of main functional areas. A restricted development zone is a type of main functional area which provides agricultural products and ecological products, assures the supply of national agricultural products and the stability of ecosystems, as well as safeguards the ecological functions and agricultural functions of wider regions by restricting its own development. Therefore scientific, complete and operable industrial policy support is needed. Restricted development zones are distributed widely in western China. With the restriction of their main functions, differential industrial policies should be implemented in the development of the restricted development zones: Dealing well with the relationship between industrial development and ecological protection, developing special industries which are friendly to resources and environment and appropriate for local conditions, guiding and encouraging industries to learn from regions with favorable development conditions, orderly withdrawing industries and enterprises adverse to main functions, facilitating industrial structure upgrading, optimizing industrial organization, improving industrial technological level and rationalizing industrial layout.

China Steps Up Anti-poverty Effort in Arid Western Areas

China＇s State Council, or the cabinet, has decided to further extend a program that involves special funds for infrastructure and other projects in three particularly add and poor areas in the country＇s remote northwest. While extending the program from 2009 to 2015, the government also decided to raise the annual total funding from 200 million yuan （29.2 million U.S. dollars） to 300 million yuan.

Analysis on the Changes of Temperature and Heat Resources in Rural Area of Chaoyang in Western Liaoning

[Objective] The aim was to study the change characteristics of temperature and heat resources in rural area of Chaoyang in western Liaoning. [Method] Based on the data from rural meteorological station in Chaoyang in western Liaoning from 1966 to 2010, the change characteristics of temperature and heat resources in rural area in Chaoyang were analyzed by means of serial correlation and climate tendency method, so as to master its climate situation. [Result] The annual average value of daily average temperature, daily maximum temperature and daily minimum temperature in rural area of Chaoyang in western Liaoning from 1966 to 2010 showed fluctuation variation, and the annual average value of daily maximum temperature increased most obviously with the climatic tendency of 0.328 ℃/10 a and highest significant level, so it played an important role in temperature increase, next came daily average temperature (0.151 ℃/10 a), while there was no obvious decrease in daily minimum temperature. The average of daily maximum temperature in winter half year increased more obviously than that in summer half year, with the climatic tendency of 0.417 and 0.250 ℃/10 a, respectively; the trend of daily average temperature reached low significant level, and there was no obvious variation in daily minimum temperature. In addition, ≥10 ℃ accumulated temperature in rural area of Chaoyang in western Liaoning went up obviously, with the climatic tendency of 42.59 ℃·d/10 a, namely it increased by 192 ℃·d in recent 45 years. [Conclusion] The study could provide climatic reference for the adjustment of agriculture structure and varieties distribution.

Analysis on Variations of the Temperature and Precipitation in North Slope Area of the Western Tianshan in Recent 50 Years

[Objective] The research aimed to analyze variation characteristics of the temperature and precipitation in north slope area of the Western Tianshan in recent 50 years.[Method] According to temperature and rainfall data from 1961 to 2010 at three meteorological stations in north slope area of the Western Tianshan,climate change in the zone in recent 50 years was analyzed by using linear trend analysis method and 5-year sliding average method.[Result] The temperature in north slope area of the Western Tianshan showed significant warming trend.The annual average temperature significantly increased at 0.3 ℃/10 a in recent 50 years.But rise rates of the temperature in different seasons were different:autumn> winter> spring> summer.The annual rainfall in north slope area of the Western Tianshan in recent 50 years overall presented relative increase trend.Seen from annual rainfall,it significantly increased at 16.9 mm/10 a.Seen from seasonal rainfall,except in autumn,rainfalls in other three seasons in the past 50 years all showed significant increase trends,with amplitude of 3.2-11.2 mm/10 a.The largest increase amplitude was in summer.After a small precipitation peak in the 1980s,autumn rainfall slightly declined in the past 20 years.[Conclusion] The climate in north slope area of the Western Tianshan become warm and wet.

Eurasia Continental Bridge——An Important Link of the Coordinated Development between China's Eastern,Central and Western Regions

The new Eurasia Continental Bridgeruns from East China to Central andWest China, crossing 11 provincesand regions, namely Jiangsu, Shandong,Hubei, Anhui, Shaanxi, Gansu, Shanxi,Sichuan, Qinghai, Xinjiang and Ningxia.The total area is 3.6 million sq km and thepopulation is about 300 million, accountingfor a third and a quarter of the whole countryrespectively. The area is very rich in naturalresources, so it is called an "Economic goldbelt" and "Gold corridor". Aerial remote-control survey indicates that along thecontinental bridge from Lianyungang to theAla Mountains within China’s boundary,

Countermeasures on Elevating Self-development Ability of Western Rural Areas on the Basis of Visual Threshold of Human Capital

The thesis underscores the significant role of human capital in elevating rural self-development ability.The investment of human capital is making great contribution to western rural economic growth,and it plays an irreplaceable role in promoting the socio-economic development prominently.The characteristics of human resources development in western rural areas for the moment are analyzed as follows:the employment structure is simple;the structure of human resources is irrational;the shortage of human resources aggregate is accompanied by the critical phenomenon of idling;the human resources drain badly;there is low input and low output of talents.The thesis also propounds the fundamental approaches in order to elevating self-development ability of western rural areas:we should practise and implement National Medium and Long-term Planning of Talents Development and lay down as soon as possible the detailed matching policies and measures based on the reality of western rural areas;we should develop the education in western rural areas vigorously,and formulate the developmental strategies of bridging "knowledge gap";we should establish sound rural human resources development system,and reinforce the degree of training returning-home migrant workers;we should adjust the structure of human investment timely as needed,and strengthen the degree of human capital investment conspicuously.

中国式现代化背景下西部农村学前教育高质量发展的困境与纾解

西部农村学前教育高质量发展对建设教育强国、推进中国式现代化具有重要意义。理论上,中国式现代化从普惠性教育、整体性思维、内涵式发展、共生型主张、前瞻性布局五个维度为农村学前教育高质量发展指明了方向。实践上,通过对我国西部70所农村幼儿园的大规模调研发现,在中国式现代化进程中,我国学前教育整体取得了跨越式发展,但西部农村学前教育仍面临规模与质量协同的“困顿”、教育资源供给与需求的“错配”、园本课程特色与底色的“迷失”、教师专业发展能动与被动的“纠葛”、教育督导与评估机制的“乏力”等困境。为此,有必要建立“量质并举”的教育质量观,顺应人口变动,合理调控教育资源,坚持乡土特色与课程底色并重,构建以教师为核心的“1+3+N”育人新格局,加强数字化教育质量评估体系建设。

我国西部农村地区固体燃料燃烧污染物排放因子测定及分布特征

排放因子是估算污染物排放量的重要参数,为获取可靠的、有区域特征的固体燃料排放因子,2018年在我国西部9个省/自治区利用稀释采样系统入户收集了226个固体燃料燃烧样本,获得了薪柴、秸秆和煤在不同类型炉具中燃烧排放CO_(2)、CO、OC、EC、PM_(2.5)的排放因子。结果表明:秸秆类较易燃烧的燃料有较高的OC、EC、PM2.5排放因子,煤有较高的CO_(2)、CO排放因子。炉灶类型对薪柴的OC、PM2.5的排放因子影响稍大,薪柴在炕中燃烧的OC、PM_(2.5)排放因子比在砖灶和铁炉高约2-3.1倍,但秸秆在不同炉具中的排放因子差异较小。受不同区域燃料和炉灶类型以及操作习惯差异的共同影响,排放因子呈现明显的区域性差异,高CO_(2)排放因子分布在以煤为主要燃料的区域,高OC、EC、PM_(2.5)排放因子分布在以生物质为主要燃料的区域,并且CO、OC和PM_(2.5)排放因子的区域分布呈现一定的相关性。

华西雨屏区不同林龄柳杉人工林土壤微生物生物量碳氮含量和氮矿化速率特征

【目的】探究华西雨屏区不同林龄柳杉人工林根际与非根际土壤微生物生物量碳氮含量、活性氮含量和氮矿化速率的差异,为该区域柳杉人工林土壤氮素管理提供理论支持。【方法】以华西雨屏区中龄林(13 a)、成熟林(33 a)和过熟林(53 a)的柳杉人工林为研究对象,采集根际土和非根际土壤样品,测定微生物生物量碳、氮含量及氮矿化速率等指标。【结果】(1)柳杉成熟林根际土微生物生物量碳、氮含量整体显著高于中龄林和过熟林阶段,非根际土微生物生物量碳、氮含量随林龄增加呈降低趋势,而根际与非根际土微生物生物量碳氮比值均随林龄增加呈增加的趋势。(2)成熟林根际土与非根际土的铵态氮含量、铵态氮与硝态氮比值整体均显著高于中龄林和过熟林,而土壤硝态氮和无机氮含量随林龄增加均呈降低趋势,并且根际土铵态氮、硝态氮以及无机氮含量整体均高于非根际土。(3)成熟林根际土铵化速率及其根际效应显著高于其他林龄阶段;中龄林和成熟林根际土与非根际土的硝化速率和净氮矿化速率整体显著高于过熟林,并且根际土的硝化速率和净氮矿化速率整体均高于非根际土。(4)柳杉人工林土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量和氮矿化速率与土壤理化性质密切相关。【结论】相较于中龄林和过熟林,柳杉成熟林根际土壤表现出更快的氮循环速率和更高的氮素有效性。因此,适当加强柳杉中龄林和过熟林氮肥管理可能更有利于提高柳杉人工林质量。

西部煤矿区微生物修复促进植物水分高效利用策略

西部煤矿区生态环境脆弱,叠加高强度开采致使水土流失、土壤退化、根系受损,植物水分利用效率低,生态恢复困难,提高水分利用效率成为西部矿区生态修复或重建的关键。土壤水是限制干旱半干旱煤矿区生态修复的关键因素,它连接大气水、地表水、地下水与植被生长,是水分循环与养分运输的重要载体。土壤水分的高效与合理利用关系到生态修复的成败,因此探究植物根系水分利用策略对于西部煤矿区生态修复具有重要作用。分析了国内外植物水分利用的主要研究方法,比较了不同方法之间的优缺点及相应研究进展。在干旱半干旱煤矿区受损生态环境中,采用植物-微生物联合的微生物修复技术,能提高植物水分利用效率,改善植物水分利用策略。同时,接种微生物降低了植物从浅层土壤吸收水分的比例,有效地增加植物从深层土壤中吸收和利用水分,提升了植物水分利用效率,使接菌植物在干旱半干旱煤矿区表现出更高的生态适应性。分析了目前西部煤矿区植物水分利用的研究进展和存在的问题,探讨了煤矿区微生物修复对水分利用策略的改善,提出了西部干旱煤矿区生态修复中不同植物组合对水分利用策略的影响及其研究重点,为实现矿区绿色可持续、高质量发展奠定了扎实的基础,具有重要的生态应用价值。

中小型土壤动物群落对华西雨屏区常绿阔叶林氮沉降的响应

【目的】掌握氮沉降对土壤动物群落特征的影响,为亚热带常绿阔叶林的可持续发展提供数据支撑。【方法】自2014年1月起在华西雨屏区进行模拟氮沉降试验,于2021年7月开始进行为期1年的季度采样试验。设置对照0 g/(m^(2)·a)、低氮5 g/(m^(2)·a)和高氮15 g/(m^(2)·a)3个施氮水平,采用干生漏斗对中小型土壤动物进行分离鉴定,研究土壤动物群落特征。【结果】试验共捕获中小型土壤动物8 390只,属2门5纲8目40科,优势类群为弹尾目等节(虫兆)科,占中小型土壤动物总密度的31.05%。土壤动物群落垂直分布表现出明显的表聚性特征。多样性特征均无显著变化。土壤动物功能类群以菌食性、腐食性和捕食性土壤动物为主。【结论】模拟氮沉降在一定程度降低了中小型土壤动物平均密度,增加了土壤动物类群数。氮沉降浓度的增加,不利于中小型土壤动物的生存发展。