Impoverishment of Soil Nutrients in Gully Erosion Areas in Yuanmou Basin

The impoverishment of soil nutrients of nine gully head areas in Yuanmou Basin is assessed through an integrated evaluation method established on the basis of Fuzzy mathematics and multivariate mathematical theory. Results show that soil erosion of gully erosion area in Yuanmou basin has resulted in severe impoverishment of soil nutrients. All gully head areas are at high leves of impoverishment except for one at middle. By probing into and analyzing the mechanism of impoverishment of soil nutrients, we find that soil erosion has led to impoverishment of soil nutrients in a way of compacting soil, heightening position of obstacle horizon, and reducing the content of organic matter, as well as the direct loss of nutrient elements. Finally, this paper points out that soil and water conservation arming at the prevention of soil erosion is the most effective way against impoverishment of soil nutrients in Yuanmou basin.

Compensation and benefit sharing: Why resettlement policies and practices must be reformed

Many public and private sector projects, such as hydropower dams or mines, trigger forced population displacement but fail to resettle people sustainably and instead cause their impoverishment. Social science research has found that one root cause of such failures and of impoverishment is asset dispossession and the insufficient financing of resettlement. Most governments, however, state that （1） compensation alone is sufficient for restoring the income and livelihood of those displaced, and （2） resources to supplement compensation with additional financing are not available. The author critiques and rejects these positions. He offers a theoretical analysis of the limits and flaws of compensation payments for expropriated assets, and argues that resources are available for supplementing compensation with financial investments for resettlers＇ development. The sources for supplementary financing are the economic rent （windfall profits） generated by natural resource projects such as hydropower or mining and the regular stream of benefits generated by all projects that require resettlement. Further, the author argues that financial investments in resettlers＇ welfare are indispensable and what benefit sharing is feasible. Therefore, both should become basic principles of resettlement legislation and practice. In addition to theoretical analysis, the author documents with empirical evidence that some countries （China, Brazil, Canada, Columbia and Japan） already make investments additional to compensation for post-displacement reconstruction. The author sums up his argument in these key points： （1） Compensation alone cannot prevent the impoverishment of resettlers and cannot in itself restore and improve their livelihoods; （2） Additional financing is needed for direct investments in resettlement with development; （3） Compensation levels must be increased; （4） Financing resources are available in most cases for investing in resettlers＇ development, but allocation of investments depends on the political will of governments and project owners; （5） Firm opposition to displacement and under-compensation is growing in many countries and the strength of resettlers＇ demands and political opposition does influence allocation levels; （6） Mechanisms for benefit sharing and transfer are known arid effective and these mechanisms Can be adjusted todifferent country and economic sector conditions; （7） The introduction of benefit-sharing rules requires legislative enactment for robust application.

Electroencephalogram evidence for the activation of human mirror neuron system during the observation of intransitive shadow and line drawing actions

Previous studies have demonstrated that hand shadows may activate the motor cortex associated with the mirror neuron system in human brain. However, there is no evidence of activity of the human mirror neuron system during the observation of intransitive movements by shadows and line drawings of hands. This study examined the suppression of electroencephalography mu waves （8-13 Hz） induced by observation of stimuli in 18 healthy students. Three stimuli were used： real hand actions, hand shadow actions and actions made by line drawings of hands. The results showed significant desynchronization of the mu rhythm （＂mu suppression＂） across the sensodmotor cortex （recorded at C3, Cz and C4）, the frontal cortex （recorded at F3, Fz and F4） and the central and right posterior parietal cortex （recorded at Pz and P4） under all three conditions. Our experimental findings suggest that the observation of ＂impoverished hand actions＂, such as intransitive movements of shadows and line drawings of hands, is able to activate widespread cortical areas related to the putative human mirror neuron system.

Quantification of restricting factors of agricultural development in Min County of Gansu, China

Agricultural development in povertystricken areas is a major problem affecting agricultural modernization in China. This study discusses the restrictive factors affecting agricultural development in impoverished areas in China. A typical impoverished mountainous area, Min County,was selected for a case study. A regression analysis on the factors and characteristics of agricultural development in Min County between 1982 and 2017 was performed in this study. Taking agricultural output as the dependent variable, we selected nine main inputs of agricultural production in impoverished mountainous areas as the independent variables. Ridge regression analysis was carried out by testing for unit root and co-integration to verify the equilibrium relationship of the data. The results showed that the real Gross domestic product(GDP)per capita, the non-grain area ratio, the proportion of government expenditure on agriculture support to total expenditure, and the amount of chemical fertilizer applied in unit cultivated land area were the four most significant factors. The proportion of government expenditure on agriculture support to total expenditure was a negative influence, whereas the other three significant factors had a positive influence on agricultural output. This study highlights about the most significant factors affecting the agricultural development of impoverished mountainous regions in China.

Poverty Alleviation by Helping the Disabled in Impoverished Mountainous Areas of Western China:Taking Luquan Yi and Miao Autonomous County in Yunnan Province as an Example

Disabled people are the poorest in the rural poor with the biggest difficulty in getting rid of poverty and the highest rate of returning to poverty.They are one of the key groups in rural poverty alleviation work.This is the key and difficult point of winning the fight against poverty.Luquan County is a national poverty-stricken county with a large number of disabled people.Since the implementation of the fight against poverty in 2016,the county has introduced a series of policies and measures to help the disabled to get rid of poverty from housing,medical care,schooling for children of the disabled and income increase,and good results have been achieved in poverty alleviation,making important contributions to the poverty alleviation of the county.Based on field research and interviews,this paper analyzes and condenses the specific practices,main results and successful experience of the poverty alleviation model in Luquan County,Yunnan Province to provide necessary reference for the targeted poverty alleviation by helping the disabled in Yunnan Province and other provinces.

Satisfaction of targeted poverty alleviation policies and its influencing factors based on farmers' perspective:Questionnaire survey and research on 1720 farmers in Shaanxi Province of China

Based on the first-hand data of the household survey of targeted poverty alleviation policies,five dimensions were analyzed from the residential regions,the individual characteristics,the household income characteristics,the poverty status and the farmers' relevancy to poverty alleviation policies.Through descriptive statistics and correlation analysis,the satisfaction of targeted poverty alleviation policies and its influencing factors have been inspected.It is found that the farmers,on the whole,are satisfied with the targeted poverty alleviation policies.Their satisfaction for the implementation of local poverty alleviation policies is in a moderate high level,however at the same time they expect the policies to be improved.The impoverished farmers in southern Shaanxi have higher satisfaction towards the poverty alleviation policies.Those farmers' awareness,participation,and benefit are positively related to the level of satisfaction towards policies.The implementation of the poverty alleviation from the government is not only favorable for its people,but also the country.It can greatly enhance the recognition of the government's legitimacy and local government's credibility.To formulate and implement the targeted alleviation policies,the relationship between farmers,especially impoverished farmers,and such policies should be taken into consideration.The starting point and judging criteria of poverty alleviation job should be based on questions whether the farmers know,need,and have the willing to participate in and satisfy with the policies.Those farmers' right to know,participate,benefit and judge should be protected,and it will continuously promote the efficiency of implementing poverty alleviation.

The Content and Approaches of Human Resource Development in Impoverished Rural Regions in the Context of Targeted Poverty Alleviation

Poverty alleviation requires knowledge support. Targeted poverty alleviation, aiming to tackle rural poverty, needs to be supported by corresponding rural human resource development. Currently, China's human resource development in impoverished rural regions is faced with some major problems; a huge population distributed over a vast area, a lack of technological and cultural attainment, obsolete concepts, obsolete technical resources, and a significant gap between rural and urban education attainment. Rural human resource development, which is geared to targeted poverty alleviation, includes a variety of impoverished rural population-oriented trainings, such as intelligence development, skills training, modern professionalism &work attitude cultivation, physical & mental health education, as well as modern lifestyle & civilized manners guidance. Targeted poverty alleviation should be equipped with mechanisms of comprehensive layout & planning, coordinated advancement of development content and implementation, and a mechanism of organization & input. The approaches to the advancement of rural human resource development are enhancing basic education, building a system of vocational education and training, raising the social security level and improving the supporting mechanisms.

Railways’ Quantum Leap

From checking in with a paper ticket to facial recognition boarding and from trav-eling at a snail-paced 60 km per hour to high-speed trips of 350 km per hour,China's railway has seen a quantum leap in devel-opment over the past 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.In this time China has developed from an impoverished and weak country into the world's second larg-est economy,and China's railway development has changed from a learner to a leader.

Non-formal Education Bails Out Impoverished Ethnic Youth

On a hot summer day in August 2006, Lamao Cering crouched in a windy field in west China＇s Qinghai Province murmuring to herself. ＂I want to go to school,＂ she chanted quietly over and over in an almost mantra-like trance, oblivious to her father＇s call to come back and tend the sheep.

Village Inspiration A CPPCC National Committee member turns the fortunes of an impoverished village around with determination and innovation

On entering the mountainous vii lage of Yanbo in southwest China＇s Guizhou Province. the first thing noticeable is the flat roads and rows of new houses with cars parked in front of them. Against the hillside behind ihe houses are several bustling village run enterprises, including a distillery and poultry farms.

Out-of-pocket payments and economic consequences from tuberculosis care in eastern China:income inequality

Background:Despite the availability of free tuberculosis(TB)diagnosis and treatment,TB care still generates substantial costs that push people into poverty.We investigated out-of-pocket(OOP)payments for TB care and assessed the resulting economic burden and economic consequences for those with varying levels of household income in eastern China.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted among TB patients in the national TB programme networks in eastern China.TB-related direct OOP costs,time loss,and coping strategies were investigated across households in different economic strata.Analysis of Variance was used to examine the differences in various costs,and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare the difference in total costs as a percentage of annual household income.Results:Among 435 patients,the mean OOP total costs of TB care were USD 2389.5.In the lower-income quartile,OOP payments were lower,but costs as a percentage of reported annual household income were higher.Medical costs and costs prior to treatment accounted for 66.4 and 48.9%of the total costs,respectively.The lower the household income was,the higher the proportion of medical costs to total costs before TB treatment,but the lower the proportion of medical costs patients spent in the intensive phase.TB care caused 25.8%of TB-affected households to fall below the poverty line and caused the poverty gap(PG)to increase by United States Dollar(USD)145.6.Patients in the poorest households had the highest poverty headcount ratio(70.2%)and PG(USD 236.1),but those in moderately poor households had the largest increase in the poverty headcount ratio(36.2%)and PG(USD 177.8)due to TB care.Patients from poor households were more likely to borrow money to cope with the costs of TB care;however,there were fewer social consequences,except for food insecurity,in poor households.Conclusions:Medical and pretreatment costs lead to high costs of TB care,especially among patients from the poorest households.It is necessary to train health system staff in general hospitals to promptly identify and refer TB patients.Pro-poor programmes are also needed to protect TB patients from the medical poverty trap.

Improved particle filter based on fine resampling algorithm

In order to solve particle degeneracy phenomenon and simultaneously avoid sample impoverishment, this paper proposed an improved particle filter based on fine resampling algorithm for general case, called as particle filter with fine resampling （PF-FR）. By introducing distance-comparing process and generating new particle based on optimized combination scheme, PF-FR filter performs better than generic sampling importance resampling particle filter （PF-SIR） both in terms of effectiveness and diversity of the particle system, hence, evidently improving estimation accuracy of the state in the nonlinear/non-Gaussian models. Simulations indicate that the proposed PF-FR algorithm can maintain the diversity of particles and thus achieve the same estimation accuracy with less number of particles. Consequently, PF-FR filter is a competitive choice in the applications of nonlinear state estimation.

Bidirectional Feedback Dynamic Particle Filter with Big Data for the Particle Degeneracy Problem

Particle Filter （PF） is a data assimilation method to solve recursive state estimation problem which does not depend on the assumption of Gaussian noise, and is able to be applied for various systems even with non-linear and non-Gaussian noise. However, while applying PF in dynamic systems, PF undergoes particle degeneracy, sample impoverishment, and problems of high computational complexity. Rapidly developing sensing technologies are providing highly convenient availability of real-time big traffic data from the system under study like never before. Moreover, some sensors can even receive control commands to adjust their monitoring parameters. To address these problems, a bidirectional dynamic data-driven improvement framework for PF （B3DPF） is proposed. The B3DPF enhances feedback between the simulation model and the big traffic data collected by the sensors, which means the execution strategies （sensor data management, parameters used in the weight computation, resampling） of B3DPF can be optimized based on the simulation results and the types and dimensions of traffic data injected into B3DPF can be adjusted dynamically. The first experiment indicates that the B3DPF overcomes particle degeneracy and sample impoverishment problems and accurately estimates the state at a faster speed than the normal PF. More importantly, the new method has higher accuracy for multidimensional random systems. In the rest of experiments, the proposed framework is applied to estimate the traffic state on a real road network and obtains satisfactory results. More experiments can be designed to validate the universal properties of B3DPF.

How to improve the COVID-19 health education strategy in impoverished regions:a pilot study

Background:It is of great challenge to raise the public coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)related health literacy(CRHL)in impoverished regions due to the limits of poor infrastructure,large proportion of vulnerable groups,etc.However,those limits cannot be solved in the short term.Therefore,this study chose Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture,one of the poorest areas in China,as a pilot,to reveal the quantitative relationships among diferent dimensions under the COVID-19 health education framework,clarify the key points for health promotion,and provide specifc suggestions for COVID-19 health education strategy in impoverished regions.Methods:A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in fve regions of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in 2020.There were 2,100 individuals sampled by multi-stage method.This survey mainly measured the four dimensions:CRHL,COVID-19 related tense psychological reactions(CRTPR),COVID-19 related information report acquisition(CRIRA),and general health literacy(GHL).The multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the infuence of demographic characteristics on each dimension.Furthermore,to quantify the relationships among different dimensions,this study employed the structural equation model(SEM),and analyzed the mediating efects of CRHL and CRIRA as well as the moderating efects of regional characteristic variables.Results:The CRHL played an important role in promoting COVID-19 health education,reaching 52.5%in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.The GHL(β=0.336)and age(β=0.136)had statistically positive impacts on CRHL.The CRHL afected CRTPR negatively(β=−0.198)and CRIRA positively(β=0.052).The CRHL played signifcant mediating roles among the four dimensions(P<0.05).Efectiveness of government prevention and control as well as the ethnicity moderated not only the relationships between CRHL and other dimensions,but also the mediating efect of CRHL(P<0.05).People with lower income and education levels had lower GHL(β=0.286,1.292).The youth were more likely to show CRTPR(β=−0.080).Conclusions:By proposing and verifying the theoretical framework,this study put forward specifc suggestions on how to improve COVID-19 health education strategies in impoverished regions via implementation methods,key groups and efect evaluation,which also provided references about future public health emergencies for other impoverished regions of the world.

Coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic in impoverished area: Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture as an example

Background The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)had spread worldwide.Although the world has intensively focused on the epidemic center during this period of time,it is imperative to emphasize that more attention should also be paid to some impoverished areas in China since they are more vulnerable to disease outbreak due to their weak health service capacities.Therefore,this study took Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture as an example to analyze the COVID-19 epidemic in the impoverished area,evaluate the control effect and explore future control strategies.Methods In this study,we collected information including age,gender,nationality,occupation,and address of all COVID-19 cases reported from 25 January 2020 to 23 April 2020 in Liangshan Prefecture from the Nationwide Notifiable Infectious Diseases Reporting Information System(NIDRIS),which were used under license and not publicly available.Additionally,we retrieved other information of cases through epidemiological investigation reports reviewing.Data were analyzed using the software Excel 2010 and SPSS 17.0.The geographic distribution of cases was mapped using ArcGIS10.2.Results By 23 April 2020,a total of 13 COVID-19 cases and two asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers were reported in Liangshan,in three family clusters.Among the cases,eight cases had a history of sojourning in Hubei Province(61.54%),of which six were related to Wuhan.Cases aged under 44 years accounted for 61.54%,with no child case.The delay of patients’hospital visiting,and the low degree of cooperation in epidemiological investigation are problems.Conclusions During the study period,Liangshan was well under control.This was mainly contributed to strict preventive strategies aimed at local culture,inter-sectoral coordination and highly degree of public cooperation.Besides,some possible environmentally and culturally preventive factors(e.g.,rapid air flow and family concept)would affect disease prevention and control.In the next step,the health education about COVID-19 should be strengthened and carried out according to the special culture of ethnic minorities to enhance public awareness of timely medical treatment.

Multidimensional poverty and types of impoverished counties in Gansu province of China

Gansu province,considered as one of the poorest provinces in China,faces great challenges in fighting against poverty.This study highlights the importance of studying multidimensional poverty in Gansu province.The Multidimensional Poverty Indices of 75 poverty-stricken counties in Gansu province are measured quantitatively.The main driving factors of poverty are identified through the construction and application of a multidimensional poverty measurement system,classifying the impoverished counties into several categories.This study provides a scientific basis for formulating effective policies to achieve sustainable poverty reduction and highquality development in the region after 2020.The results show that:(1)more than half of the poverty-stricken counties in Gansu province have a degree of multidimensional poverty that is below the median poverty level,with regional variations;(2)the main factors driving poverty in these counties include shortages in water and land resources,educational disruptions,undesirable medical conditions,and the underutilisation of labour,which show spatial variations;and(3)these poverty-stricken counties are categorised into four types:counties with fragile ecological environments and insufficient natural resources,counties with undesirable socio-economic conditions,counties with unfavourable conditions in development,and counties with relatively balanced development conditions.Finally,this paper proposes policy recommendations to achieve stable poverty alleviation based on different types of impoverished counties.

Land of Hopes

Aerial photo taken on September 12,2018 shows the ripe rice fields at Nanniwan in Yan'an, northwest Chinas Shaanxi Province. Yanan, which hosted the then headquarters of the Communist Party of China from 1935 to 1948, has eliminated absolute poverty after its Last two impoverished counties met the country's requirement to cast off the tide, the Shaanxi Provincial Government said on May 7.