New Rural Community Construction or Retention Development:A Comparative Analysis of Rural Settlement Transition Mechanism in Plain Agriculture Area of China Based on Actor Network Theory

It is an important way to realize rural revitalization and sustainable development to guide rural settlement transition(RST)in an appropriate way.This paper uses actor network theory(ANT)to construct a theoretical framework for the study of RST.Taking two typical villages with different transition paths in rural areas of North China Plain as examples,this paper reveals the mechanism of RST and makes a comparative analysis.The results show that:1)after identifying problems and obligatory passage point,key actors recruit heterogeneous actors into the actor network by entrusting them with common interests,and realize RST under the system operation.2)Rural settlements under different transition paths have similarities in the problems to be solved,collective actions and policy factors,but there are differences in the transition process,mechanism and effect.The actor network and mechanism of RST through the path of new rural community construction are more complex and the transition effect is more thorough.In contrast,the degree of RST of retention development path is limited if there is no resource and location advantage.3)Based on the applicable conditions of different paths,this paper designs a logical framework of‘Situation-Structure-Behavior-Result’to scientifically guide the identification of RST paths under the background of rural revitalization.

Spatiotemporal Evolution and Influencing Factors of Urban-rural Construction Land in Rural Industrialized Areas in China:Case Studies in Changyuan City and Xinxiang County of Henan Province

Since China’s reform and opening up in 1978,the acceleration of industrialization and urbanization in China had led to dramatic changes in the pattern of urban-rural land use.In this paper,we focused on the rural industrialized areas in central China(Xinxiang County and Changyuan City of Henan Province).We used the average nearest neighbor index,spatial statistical analysis,and a structural equation model to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution and influencing factors of urban-rural construction land based on multisource spatial data and survey data.The results showed that:1)from 1975 to 2019,the spatial distribution of urban-rural construction land in rural industrialized areas had evolved from homogeneous distribution to local agglomeration.In terms of comparative analysis of cases,the spatial distribution of urban-rural construction land in Changyuan City had shown a trend from diffusion to agglomeration,and Xinxiang County had overall shown a spatial change from homogenization to agglomeration and then to regional integration development.2)The hot spots with increased urban-rural construction land significantly expanded,and they had a high degree of spatial overlap with industrial development.Among them,Xinxiang County was concentrated in central and marginal areas,and Changyuan was mainly concentrated in central urban areas.3)From the evolution of spatial proximity of urban-rural construction land,rural industrialized areas generally decline,showing the characteristics of internal differentiation in the rate of change.4)Industrial development,social economy,the policy environment,and urban development played a positive role in promoting the expansion of urban-rural construction land in rural industrialized areas.To promote the optimal use of regional land and the integrated development of urban-rural areas,we should combine the advantages of regional endowment,formulate development strategies according to local conditions,and adjust the way that land is used in a timely manner.

Influence of Transportation Accessibility on Urban-rural Income Disparity and Its Spatial Heterogeneity

Transportation accessibility has been treated as an important means of reducing the urban-rural income disparity.However,only a few studies have examined the effects of different types of transportation accessibility on urban-rural income disparity and their spatial heterogeneity.Based on data from 285 prefecture-level(and above)Chinese cities in 2000,2005,2010,2015,and 2020,this study uses spatial econometric models to examine how highway accessibility and railway accessibility influence the urban-rural income disparity and to identify their spatial heterogeneity.The result reveals that highway accessibility and railway accessibility have‘coreperiphery’ring-like circle structures.The urban-rural income disparity exhibits strong spatial clustering effects.Both highway accessibility and railway accessibility are negatively associated with urban-rural income disparity,and the former having a greater effect size.Moreover,there is a substitution effect between highway accessibility and railway accessibility in the whole sample.Furthermore,these associations differ in geographic regions.In the central region,highway accessibility is more important in reducing the urban-rural income disparity,but its effect is weakened with the increase of railway accessibility.In the western region,railway accessibility has a larger effect on narrowing the urban-rural income disparity,and this effect is strengthened by the increase of highway accessibility.We conclude that improving transportation accessibility is conducive to reducing the urban-rural income disparity but its effect is spatial heterogenetic.Highways and railways should be developed in a coordinated manner to promote an integrated transport network system.

Laboratory Life:Twenty Years of Experimental Research with Locals and New Comers in Remote Rural Areas

Through the Latour concept of philosophy of science of laboratory life,the life course of a(geo)ethnographer researcher is analyzed,in order to establish the emotional or more personal dimensions that do not usually appear in research papers,but that have notable relevance in qualitative research.The text is structured in three large parts:A conceptual vision of the new experimental geography;the experimental geo-ethnography in old social,new social and place scenarios;and finally,the most personal and emotional dimension of the research.The first part establishes the geo-ethnographic experimental context and the assumptions in fieldwork,in addition to the geo-ethnographic reconciliation process.In the second part,the main qualitative research problems related to mobility,resistance and dynamics in place are established.Finally,in the third part the research perceptions,the personal experiences,and the emotional dimension of the research in remote rural areas are established.The laboratory life of a researcher,allows one to establish scalar conclusions and rigor in qualitative research.

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.

Paths for the Coordinated Development of Rural Economy and Environment in Economically Underdeveloped Areas——A Case of Huaian,China

Taking Huaian as an example,the rural economic and environmental problems in economically underdeveloped areas are expounded.The results show that rural areas in economically underdeveloped areas confront with lagged economic development,serious environmental pollutionand scarce shortage of equipments for treating environmental pollution.The causes of problems are analyzed,including inadequate fiscal supportfrom the local government;unscientific system for assessing government officers' performances;backward ideas in environmental protection and im-perfect laws and regulations on environmental protection.Based on these causes,the strategy of employing the circular economy to promote the co-ordinated development of rural environment and economy in economically underdeveloped areas is put forward.The strategy covers transformingthe way of agricultural production;adjusting agricultural production structure;positively collecting funds and increasing the input on handling rural en-vironmental problems;strengthening the efforts on promotion and education,and forming the healthy habits of consumption;enforcing supervisionand establishing a professional administration team for protecting rural environment;laying stress on rural technological innovation and strengtheningthe force of expansion;accelerating the path of industrialization and promoting the industrialization of villages and towns vigorously.

Research on the Harmonious Development of New Rural Communities under the Perspective of Balancing Urban and Rural Areas

On the basis of offering a definition of New Rural Communities (NRCs), the paper analyzes the values of New Rural Communities and argues that the construction of NRCs is able to contribute to the enhancement of the comprehensive agricultural production capability as well as the development of social productivity. Meanwhile the incomes of the rural residents can be boosted, which denotes the realization of a harmonious society where the achievements of China's reform and development are shared by each citizen. Moreover, the construction of NRCs facilitates the economization of land use and thus improves the overall living standard of the residents, while helping to cut the administrative cost and promote democracy at the primary level. This paper also points out various problems arising during the construction of NRCS in China: blindly following suit in accordance with the modes of the urban communities; lack of funds, which leads to the absence of the supporting mechanisms of NRCs; vague positioning and the ensuing shortage of impetus for continued development. Finally, the paper raises the corresponding measures and suggestions: first, based on reality, make overall planning and scientific arrangement; second, the government should play the dominant role while respecting the principal position of the rural residents and introducing the market mechanism; third, increase science and technology input and attach equal importance to economic and social benefits; fourth, broaden fund-raising channels while completing the supervision mechanism.

Fermented Corn Flour Poisoning in Rural Areas of China Ⅲ. Isolation and Identification of Main Toxin Produced by Causal Microorganisms

Flavotoxin A was isolated from Pseudomonas cocovenenans subsp. farinofermentans culture in semisolid potato-dextrose-agar medium, which was isolated from fermented corn meal that had caused food poisoning outbreaks in China. The isolation, purification, and chemical structure of this toxin were studied. The NMR spectra, the uv spectra, and molar extinction coefficients, and the mass spectra of Flavotoxin A are in good agreement with those reported for bongkrekic acid. Therefore, Flavotoxin A and bongkrekic acid are the same organic chemical compound; the molecular formula is C_(28)H_(38)O_7. The oral LD_(50) of the purified Flavotoxin A in mice was 3.16mg/kg (1.53-6.15mg/kg). The existence of bongkrekic acid in toxic fermented corn samples collected during food poisoning outbreaks was also confirmed. It is concluded that bongkrekic acid has played an important role in the outbreaks of fermented corn poisoning. 1989 Academic Press, Inc.

Current Situation and Countermeasures of Water Body Pollution in Rural Areas of China

At present, people＇s environmental awareness gradually enhances, and the environmental requirements on production and living continuously improve. Urban sewage discharge management and sewage treatment intensity are increasing in whole country, and urban water environment has certain improvement. But in rural areas, due to relatively weak environmental awareness of residents, not high economic development degree and not perfect infrastructure construction, the issue has not been handled properly. It seriously restricts further development of rural economy, and contradiction between water pollution worsening and farmers eager to raise the level of living environment increasingly aggravating has become key problem restricting China＇s new rural construction. According to status quo of rural water pollution in China, causes and hazards of rural water pollu- tion are analyzed in detail, and several treatment suggestions are put forward.

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.

Rocky Land Desertification and its Driving Forces in the Karst Areas of Rural Guangxi,Southwest China

With a subtropical climate,Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has a typical karst landscape.Rocky desertification has become a serious environmental issue due to its high vulnerability caused by the joint effect of natural settings and human activities,because of which its eco-environment has been deteriorated in recent years,and farmland has been disappearing sharply at the same time.This,in turn,has exacerbated the poverty level in the rural areas of the region.In this study,we monitored the spatial distribution of rocky land desertification and its temporal evolution using Landsat TM/ETM images of 1985,1995,2000 and 2005.We also analyzed the driving forces of the desertification and its expansion.Through constructing regression models by using all the relevant variables and considering the lagged effects as well as fixed effects,we quantified the exact role of different factors causing rocky land desertification in the study area with some new findings.The new findings in this study are greatly helpful for preserving,restoring and reconstructing the degraded mountain environment in Guangxi and other karst areas in Southwest China,and also for alleviating poverty in the rural areas in the future.

New Perspectives on Restructuring of Old Industrial Areas in China: A Critical Review and Research Agenda

The restructuring of old industrial areas has been receiving much attention in regional development studies both in industrialized and emerging economies. Although ample Chinese-speaking studies have been published on the topic, most of them suffer from paying too little attention to dynamic multi-scalar interactions between firms, institutions, policies and places, as well as a too strong focus on individual cases. They also mostly disregard internationally recognized concepts and theories in the field. Based on these internationally recognized modern concepts, this paper therefore puts forward some potential avenues for future research on the evolution of old industrial areas in China, which should overcome existing deficits in the Chinese-speaking literature. It suggests that some evolutionary economic geography concepts such as path dependence, lock-in, path creation, relatedness, as well as multi-scalar institutional and leadership approaches have useful potentials to better understand the evolutionary processes and mechanisms of old industrial areas in China.

The Exploration to the Historical Origin of Differences between Urban and Rural Areas in China

In order to understand the historical origins of encircling the cities from the rural areas implemented by the Communist Party of China and the current dual structures of urban and rural development, urban-rural differences are analyzed from the four aspects of production mode, management mode, culture and social division of labor. Industrial development in modern times has promoted the modernization of urban production in China. But the rural areas still maintain their traditional self-sufficient natural economy. After the Opium War, the process of modernization of city politics is promoted by more economic elements of capitalism and the formation of Chinese bourgeoisie. During the management of urban modernization, rural areas still adopt the traditional self-management mode. In the aspect of culture, city is the center of development, having large population, developed traffic, and prosperous culture. But the village is lack of information and its culture is relatively backward. In modern times, affected by the foreign capitalist, urban area has become the center of modern productivity. After separating from agriculture, handicraft industry has transferred into urban areas and the social division of labor in both urban and rural areas has shown great changes. Thus, a new pattern of "Urban Industry, Rural Agriculture" has formed.

Study on Characteristics of Consumption Demand and Its Constraints of Rural Areas in China

Combining the statistic data of 1997~2009,this paper analyzes the income of farmers in eight minority areas, structure of consumption demand, the marginal propensity to consume and its constraints factors on eight minority provinces,finally, concludes with some specific proposals. That includes increasing peasant’s income, strengthening rural infrastructure construction, establishing perfect rural social security system and promoting reasonable and healthy consumption of peasants.

A Better Instrument for Screening Diabetes in Rural Areas of China: An Equation Developed from Multivariate Logistic Regression or a Simplified Scoring Form

Diabetes has become a major public health concern in the world and the total number of diabetic patients is considered to soar to 366 million in 2030. Emerging evidence has suggested that earlier detection of type 2 diabetes, glycaemic control improvement and intensified risk factor management may result in clinically important improvements in diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. According to the World Health Organization （WHO）p strategies such as clinical questionnaires, urine glucose, blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin A1C （HbA1C） and combinations of the above tests can be used for screening diabetes.

Investigation on the Culture of Square Dance in China’s Rural Areas

In recent years,the living standard of the peasants has been improved continuously.As a result,they pay more attention to the quality of their life.They spontaneously jump square dance more and more,which also plays a more and more important role in the cultural life of the peasants.At present,the development of rural square dance have been well developed,but there are also some problems with it,such as:the lacking of government support,deficiency of dancing skills,etc.Grass roots government should increase support for rural square dance,strengthening lead dancer’s training,encouraging social forces to support the rural square dance activities.

A Survey on English Reading Status of Left-behind Children in Rural Areas of Northern China

Taking Suining County in Xuzhou city of Jiangsu province as the survey subject,this paper is to study the current English reading situation of the left-behind children based on a questionnaire survey of 472 respondents from 4 primary and middle schools in rural areas.The result indicated that there are serious problems in the current situation of English reading among left-behind children in rural areas,which are as follows:insufficient reading time and books,few access to having books,increased digital reading,many reading disabilities,poor reading environment,etc.This paper analyzes the reasons and gives corresponding countermeasures for society,school and family,to improve the English reading condition of rural left-behind children and to better promote their reading ability and habits.It also provides the reference for narrowing the disparity gap of reading resources services between urban and rural China.

Innovation of Adult Education Supply in Rural Areas from the Aspect of Rural Public Goods——A Case Study of Quzhou City,Zhejiang Province,China

Status of rural adult education in Quzhou City is analyzed from three aspects of supply main body,supply method and fund source.Problems in the rural adult education in Quzhou City are pointed out.Firstly,the top-down supply decision model can not fully meet the needs of farmers.Secondly,education resources can not be best allocated.Thirdly,both rural labor force market and employment service are not perfect.In order to promote the development of rural adult education,the education supply mode of rural adults should be established,which is "supplied by the government,coordinated by the government,participated by the society,operated according to market mechanisms".This needs to set up the leading position of government,to establish the pattern of diversified main bodies of adult education supply in rural areas,and to construct the market operation mechanism driven by interests.

Gap between Urban and Rural Economic Development in Less Developed Areas——A Case of Northern Jiangsu Area,China

Taking northern Jiangsu area as an example,economic disparity between urban and rural areas is described according to the data in 2000-2009 Jiangsu Statistical Yearbook.Result shows that there are significant differences in the rural and urban economic development in less developed areas,which are mainly reflected in the differences in per capita income,living standard,and Engel coefficient.Reasons for urban and rural economic disparity in less developed areas are analyzed.The asymmetry and immobility of rural and urban resources have objectively caused the income gap between urban and rural residents;urban industrial development,which is faster than agricultural development,has widened the income gap between urban and rural residents;and the differences in comparative labor productivity in rural and urban areas have enlarged their income gap.Countermeasures to minimize the urban and rural economic development gap are put forward,such as deepening the reform,realizing the free flow of economic resources between urban and rural areas,developing rural areas through urban development,exerting the function of urban areas in the coordinated development of urban and rural areas,paying attention to the agriculture and rural areas,and improving the comparative labor productivity of agriculture.