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This paper systematically presents the development process of studying ancient Chinese ethnic scripts over the past seven decades since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, including the establishment of related research institutions and academic disciplines. Firstly, it records the establishment of the Chinese Association for Ethnic Paleography, the emergence of ancient scripts of ethnic groups in China as an academic discipline, and the conduction of a comprehensive and in-depth study of ancient Chinese ethnic literature in history. Secondly, this paper outlines the establishment of the National Leading Group for Compilation and Publication Planning of Ancient Ethnic Books, the census of ancient books written in ethnic scripts, the specialized preservation and conservation of ancient ethnic books in Xizang and Xinjiang, the promotion of compiling and publishing ancient ethnic books, and how the promotion further drives the protection of and research on ancient books written in ethnic scripts. Thirdly, the paper lists many innovative outcomes in studying ancient ethnic books. Fourthly, the paper proposes to conduct further censuses and in-depth research in this area, establish a grading system for ancient ethnic books, and utilize the resource of ancient ethnic books written in ethnic scripts in a modern context to further promote the excellent cultural heritages of the Chinese nation and enhancing ethnic unity and national unity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pivotal role of farmers' cropland conservation behavior (CCB) in advancing green agricultural practices is well-recognized. This paper underscores the critical role of stable land tenure in enhancing farmers' CCB, exemplified by the practice of mulch recycling. Drawing on a survey of 349 cotton farmers in Xinjiang, Northwest China, it offers a systematic examination of how land tenure stability influences CCB and its underlying mechanisms. The findings reveal a significant positive correlation between land tenure stability and CCB. Notably, this relationship is mediated by the facilitation of land mortgages, wherein written contracts and extended land tenure durations enhance farmers' participation in land mortgages, thereby bolstering CCB. Furthermore, the stabilizing effect of land tenure on CCB also mitigates the negative impacts of risk aversion and time preference. The study additionally highlights the differential effects of land tenure stability based on farm size and technical training; its facilitative role in CCB is more pronounced among larger-scale farmers and those engaged in technical training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Seriphidium transiliense desert pasture is an important spring-autumn pasture in northern Xinjiang, China, and has been subjected to grazing by livestock at different intensities, thus resulting in widespread deterioration of its biodiversity and ecosystem services. To understand the response mechanism of stoichiometric characteristics of desert vegetation to grazing, the leaf carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and C:N:P ratios of S. transiliense were studied under different grazing intensities. The results show that the control S. transiliense leaf C, N and P contents and C:N, C:P and N:P ratios were 458.79 ± 53.5 g/kg, 20.6 ± 7.18 g/kg, 2.83 ± 1.24 g/kg, 25.69 ± 11.08, 190.28 ± 75.65 and 8.21 ± 4.01, respectively. The differences in these characteristics varied with grazing intensity in accordance with sampling time, so both factors need to be considered comprehensively. General linear model (GLM) analysis indicated that grazing intensity had a strong main effect on S. transiliense leaf C, N, and P content, C:N ratio and N:P ratio. As grazing intensity increased, the leaf N content and N:P ratio increased (P < 0.01), and the C:N ratio decreased (P < 0.01). N content was the limiting factor for the growth of S. transiliense, but the grazing intensity, sampling year and growth season each affected the degree of N limitation. Our findings suggest that the remaining moderate stocking rate was essential for sustaining desert stabilisation in Xinjiang, and although S. transiliense could adapt its nutrient content and leaf stoichiometry to the grazing intensity, N was always the limiting element for the growth of S. transiliense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, leveraging search engine data, investigates the dynamics of China's domestic tourism markets in response to the August 2022 epidemic outbreak in Xinjiang. It focuses on understanding the reaction mechanisms of tourist-origin markets during destination crises in the post-pandemic phase. Notably, the research identifies a continuous rise in the potential tourism demand from tourist origin cities, despite the challenges posed by the epidemic. Further analysis uncovers a regional disparity in the growth of tourism demand, primarily influenced by the economic stratification of origin markets. Additionally, the study examines key tourism attractions such as Duku Road, highlighting its resilient competitive system, which consists of distinctive tourism experiences, economically robust tourist origins, diverse tourist markets, and spatial pattern stability driven by economic factors in source cities, illustrating an adaptive response to external challenges such as crises. The findings provide new insights into the dynamics of tourism demand, offering a foundation for developing strategies to bolster destination resilience and competitiveness in times of health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many autocrats govern with an in-group, whose support must be secured, and an out-group, which is subject to repression. How do autocrats exploit in-group/out-group dynamics to secure their survival? One strategy, we argue, is to broadcast out-group repression to the in-group as a signal of the regime's capacity for violence. Empirically, we focus on China, where the government represses ethnic Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Drawing on 1 million articles from six propaganda newspapers, we show that the regime broadcasts out-group repression to urban elites on each anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, when 10% of Beijing residents joined anti-regime protests. To understand its effects, we conducted a survey experiment balanced on the national census during the June 2020 Tiananmen anniversary. Using a list experiment to mitigate preference falsification, we show that CCP propaganda about Uyghurs during the Tiananmen anniversary discourages protests among politically engaged urban elites because they fear repression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought, as a widespread natural calamity, leads to the most severe agricultural losses among all such disasters. Alterations in the yield of major global agricultural products are pivotal factors influencing food prices, food security, and land use decisions. China's rapidly expanding demand for sustenance will persist over the forthcoming decades, emphasizing the critical need for an accurate assessment of drought's impact on food production. Consequently, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the drought risk in China and its repercussions on agricultural output. Additionally, we delved into the underlying factors driving changes in yield for three primary grain crops (wheat, corn, and rice), which hold particular relevance for shaping effective strategies to mitigate future drought challenges. The findings divulge that both the number of drought months (DM) and the drought magnitude index (DMI) have displayed an upward trajectory over 60 years with a correlation coefficient of 0.96. The overall severity of meteorological drought has escalated across China, and it is particularly evident in regions such as the southwest and central parts of the Huang-Huai-Hai region, the northwestern middle region, and the Xinjiang region. Conversely, there has been some relief from drought conditions in southern China and the Yangtze River Delta. Shifts in the total grain output (TGO) during this period were compared: it underwent three stages, namely "fluctuating growth" (1961–1999), then a "sharp decline" (2000–2003), followed by "stable growth" (2004–2018). Similarly, changes in the grain planting area (GPA) experienced two stages, "continuous reduction" (1961–2003) succeeded by "stable growth" (2004–2018), while maintaining an upward trend for grain yield per unit area (GY) throughout. Furthermore, it was revealed that the drought grade serves as a significant constraint on continuous expansion within China's grain output—where the drought damage rate's influence on the TGO outweighs that from the GY. Our research outcomes play an instrumental role in deepening our comprehension regarding how drought impacts agricultural production within China while furnishing the scientific groundwork to devise efficacious policies addressing these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oasis serves as the primary supply of cultivable land, along with the hub for human production and habitation in Xinjiang. Accordingly, predicting the land use of these areas based on various goals is an effective instrument for encouraging the sensible distribution of resource space. The study investigated the creation of a land use-allocation optimization model based on the various objectives of ecological protection, food security, and urban growth using the Weigan–Kuche River oasis as an example. The GMOP-PLUS model's restriction conversion area was adjusted to include the findings of the land suitability evaluation. Additionally, it optimized and simulated the spatial arrangement and quantitative structure of land usage in the Weigan–Kuche River oasis in 2035. The results indicate the following: (1) the model's overall accuracy is 89.36%, and its Kappa coefficient is 0.872, more than 0.8. Thus, the model can be considered for adoption in the future when predicting changes in land use in the districts and counties of the Weigan–Kuche River oasis; (2) based on the results of the land suitability evaluation, the percentage of areas that are most suited for agricultural development, urban development, and ecological protection is 39.32%, 24.21%, and 14.06%, respectively; and (3) the three scenarios satisfy the various demands for growth within the oasis, and the land use structure of the oasis varies considerably in response to the various development objectives, with the construction and cultivated land undergoing the most substantial modifications. The multi-scenario simulation of land usage in the oasis can provide essential support and a range of perspectives for future land spatial planning and socioeconomic development decision-making in the Weigan–Kuche River oasis. This is essential for both the efficient use of land resources and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nephrite belt in the Altun Mountain–Western Kunlun Mountain region, which extends about 1300 km in Xinjiang, NW China, is the largest nephrite deposit in the world. The Qiemo region in the Altun Mountains is a crucial nephrite-producing area in China, with demonstrated substantial prospects for future exploration. While existing research has extensively investigated secondary nephrite deposits in the Karakash River and native black nephrite deposits in Guangxi Dahua, a comprehensive investigation of black nephrite from original deposits in Xinjiang is lacking. Margou black-toned nephrite was recently found in primary deposits in Qiemo County, Xinjiang; this makes in-depth research on the characteristics of this mine necessary. A number of technical analytical methods such as polarizing microscopy, Ultra-Deep Three-Dimensional Microscope, electron microprobe, back-scattered electron image analysis, X-ray fluorescence, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were employed for this research. An experimental test was conducted to elucidate the chemical and mineralogical composition, further clarifying the genetic types of the black and black cyan nephrite from the Margou deposit in Qiemo, Xinjiang. The results reveal that the nephrite is mainly composed of tremolite–actinolite, characterized by Mg/(Mg + Fe2+) ratios ranging from 0.86 to 1.0. Minor minerals include diopside, epidote, pargasite, apatite, zircon, pyrite, and magnetite. Bulk-rock rare earth element (REE) patterns exhibit distinctive features, such as negative Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.00–0.17), decreasing light REEs, a relatively flat distribution of heavy REEs, and low total REE concentrations (1.6–38.9 μg/g); furthermore, the Cr (6–21 μg/g) and Ni (2.5–4.5 μg/g) contents are remarkably low. The magmatic influence of granite appears to be a fundamental factor in the genesis of the magnesian skarn hosting Margou nephrite. The distinctive black and black cyan colors are attributed to heightened iron content, mainly associated with FeO (0.08~6.29 wt.%). Analyses of the chemical composition allow Margou nephrite to be classified as typical of magnesian skarn deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire blight, a devastating disease caused by Erwinia amylovora, poses a significant threat to pear and apple trees in Xinjiang province, China. In an effort to combat this pathogen, we isolated 10 bacteria from various components of apple and crabapple trees and conducted screenings to assess their ability to inhibit E. amylovora in vitro. Through biochemical tests and partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we identified two promising strains, Priestia megaterium strain H1 and Bacillus subtilis strain I2. These strains were then evaluated for their efficacy in biocontrol under controlled laboratory conditions, focusing on immature fruits and leaves. Remarkably, all selected antagonists exhibited the capability to reduce the severity of the disease on both fruit and leaves. P. megaterium strain H1 and B. subtilis strain I2 exhibited significant reductions in disease incidence on both immature fruits and leaves compared to the control. Specifically, on immature fruits, they achieved reductions of 53.39% and 44.76%, respectively, while on leaves, they demonstrated reductions of 59.55% and 55.53%, respectively. Furthermore, during the study, we detected the presence of lipopeptides, including surfactin, iturins, bacillomycin D, and fengycins, in the methanol extract obtained from these two antagonistic bacteria using thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Based on the results obtained, B. subtilis strain I2 and P. megaterium strain H1 exhibit considerable potential for controlling fire blight. However, further evaluation of their efficacy under natural field conditions is essential to validate their practicality as a biocontrol method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mammalian orthoreovirus (MRV) infects many hosts, including humans and animals, in which it causes gastroenteritis and respiratory disease. In China, it has been found in domestic animals such as pigs, cattle, deer, and minks; however, MRV prevalence in small ruminants is still unknown, and a rapid, specific, quantification assay for clinical detection of animal samples is urgently needed. In this study, we established a TaqMan qRT-PCR method for MRV detection targeting the conserved L1 gene. The method was optimized, and the specificity, sensitivity, and repeatability were used to assess quality. We used this method for MRV detection in goat and sheep samples. The overall MRV prevalence was 8.2% (35/429), and the test showed a significantly higher sensitivity than RT-PCR and virus isolation. MRV clearly showed seasonal prevalence, with a high positive rate of infections in goats and sheep from September to April. Small ruminants under two months of age were susceptible to MRV infection. This study investigated the epidemiological characteristics of MRV infection and provides the first evidence of MRV infection in sheep and goats in China, broadening our knowledge of MRV hosts in this country. Mammalian orthoreovirus (MRV) infections are ubiquitous in multiple mammalian species including humans, and mainly causes gastroenteritis and respiratory disease. In this study, we developed a rapid and sensitive TaqMan qRT-PCR method for MRV detection based on the primers and probe designed within the conserved L1 gene. The qRT-PCR assay was evaluated for its sensitivity, specificity, efficiency and reproducibility. It was found that the detection sensitivity was equivalent to 10 DNA copies/μL, and the standard curves had a linear correlation of R2 = 0.998 with an amplification efficiency of 99.6%. The inter- and intra-assay coefficients of variation (CV%) were in the range of 0.29% to 2.16% and 1.60% to 3.60%, respectively. The primer sets specifically amplified their respective MRV segments and had the highest detection sensitivities of 100.25 TCID50/mL with amplification efficiencies of 99.5% (R2 = 0.999). qRT-PCR was used for MRV detection from samples of sheep, goats, and calves from four regions in China, and the overall MRV prevalence was 8.2% (35/429), whereas 17/429 (4.0%) were detected by RT-PCR and 14/429 (3.3%) by virus isolation. The qRT-PCR assay showed significantly higher sensitivity than RT-PCR and virus isolation. Results from an epidemiological survey indicated that the positive rate of MRV in rectal swabs from sheep and goats tested in Shaanxi, Jiangsu, and Xinjiang were 9/80 (11.3%), 12/93 (12.9%) and 14/128 (10.9%), respectively. In goats and sheep, MRV prevalence was obviously associated with season and age, with a high positive rate of more than 8% during September to April and approximately 13% in small ruminant animals under two months of age. This is the first instance of MRV infection in sheep and goats in China, thus broadening our knowledge of MRV hosts. Consequently, primer optimization for qRT-PCR should not only prioritize amplification efficiency and specificity, but also sensitivity. This assay will contribute to more accurate and rapid MRV monitoring by epidemiological investigation, viral load, and vaccination efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A culture-dependent method was used to isolate fungal endophytes from the leaves, stems, and roots of the invasive plant Solanum rostratum Dunal. growing in Xinjiang Province, China. All isolates were identified according to ITS (internal transcribed spacer) region of ribosomal DNA sequences and analyzed by Nucleotide BLAST according to NCBI GenBank and Mycobank database. Altogether 176 endophytic fungal isolates corresponding to 44 OTUs were identified, which were classified into 12 genera, with Penicillium (59.66%) and Aspergillus (23.29%) being the highly dominant genera. Ten endophytic isolates (OTU1, OTU15, OTU16, OTU21, OTU23, OTU25, OTU26, OTU30, OTU37 and OTU44) were identified as potential new species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In regions with severe cold and high latitudes, concrete structures are susceptible to cracking and displacement due to uneven temperature stress, which directly impacts their normal utilization. Therefore, to investigate the temperature distribution characteristics of concrete box girders under the combined influence of low temperatures and cold waves, a temperature test was conducted on a model of concrete box girders in Xinjiang Province, China. Based on the measured data, the distribution pattern of the most unfavorable negative temperature differential observed in high-latitude regions was determined. Long-term numerical simulation and extreme value analysis were performed using historical meteorological data, revealing that the vertical negative temperature gradient in the concrete box girder structures follows a composite exponential distribution. The temperature differential at the top complies with Chinese code requirements, while at the bottom, it aligns more closely with British standard BS5400. Statistical analysis of historical meteorological data predicts that the 50-year temperature differential will result in a drop amplitude of 26.42 °C, which is 1.44 times higher than measured values obtained from experiments. The proposed negative temperature gradient pattern for concrete box girders presented in this study can encompass general design codes and provide guidance for designing concrete bridges in severe cold areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to advance the recycling of mercury-containing waste and promote sustainable development within the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) industry. Our innovative system integrates pre-treatment technology (spraying potassium permanganate and demisting and dust removal) with efficient non-thermal plasma oxidation, resulting in excellent treatment efficiency, low cost, and simple operation. With a processing capacity of 3000 m3/h, the concentration of mercury emissions in flue gas can achieve the target of <0.01 mg/m3, boasting a removal efficiency exceeding 98%, which satisfies the standard "Emission standard of air pollutants for industrial kiln and furnace" (GB 9078-1996). Our results can provide technical support for the comprehensive purification of mercury-containing flue gas during the resource recovery process from mercury-containing waste. The application of our system can contribute to reducing mercury emissions in the PVC industry, lowering occupational exposure risks for workers, and promoting China's better compliance with "the Minamata Convention on Mercury". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of global climate change and human activities are anticipated to significantly impact ecosystem services (ESs), particularly in urban agglomerations of arid regions. This paper proposes a framework integrating the dynamic Bayesian network (DBN), system dynamics (SD) model, patch generation land use simulation (PLUS) model, and the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model for predicting land use change and optimizing ESs spatial patterns that is built upon the SSP-RCP scenarios from CMIP6. This framework is applied to the oasis urban agglomeration on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang (UANSTM), China. The findings indicate that both the SD model and PLUS model can accurately forecast the distribution of future land use. The SD model shows a relative error of less than 2.32%, while the PLUS model demonstrates a Kappa coefficient of 0.89. The land use pattern displays obvious spatial heterogeneity under different climate scenarios. The expansion of cultivated land and construction land is the main form of land use change in UANSTM in the future. The DBN model proficiently simulates the interactive relationships between ESs and diverse factors. The classification error rates for net primary productivity (NPP), habitat quality (HQ), water yield (WY), and soil retention (SR) are 20.04%, 3.47%, 4.45%, and 13.42%, respectively. The prediction and diagnosis of DBN determine the optimal ESs development scenario and the optimal ESs region in the study area. It is found that the majority of ESs in UANSTM are predominantly influenced by natural factors with the exception of HQ. The socio-economic development plays a minor role in such urban agglomerations. This study offers significant insights that can contribute to the fields of ecological protection and land use planning in arid urban agglomerations worldwide. • An integrated framework combining DBN, SD, PLUS and InVEST models was proposed. • Impact of natural and socioeconomic factors on ESs was determined under climate scenarios. • The spatial pattern of ESs was optimized and partitioned using DBNs. • ESs in arid oasis urban agglomerations are mainly affected by natural factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Synergistic effects of surface and groundwater on desert riparian vegetation were analyzed. • The cautionary depth to groundwater for vegetation expansion in the lower Tarim River is 4.0–5.0 m. • Flooding by surface water (lateral water transfer coverage) acts as the main driver for the expansion of vegetation in arid areas. • A zonal ecological water transfer strategy helps to promote effective ecosystem restoration in the region. Restoring degraded ecosystems in drylands is challenging because of low precipitation and high evapotranspiration. Water availability determines the existence and spatiotemporal distribution patterns of key endangered species struggling to survive in the severely damaged desert riparian ecosystem of the lower Tarim River (LTR) in NW China. Ecological water flow restoration measures with high costs and uncertainties have been implemented since 2000. The key task for scientists is to assess the success and drawbacks of this restoration project and propose specific recommendations for stakeholders to optimize the ecological benefits of the project in a cost-effective manner. In this study, Landsat time-series data from 1990 to 2020 were used to extract vegetation index values from river corridors along the LTR and explore the spatiotemporal patterns of desert riparian forest (DRF) vegetation. Based on land use and surface water data, we extracted the interannual spatial distribution range of vegetation and surface water, and selected several sample plots to demonstrate the influence of surface water and groundwater on vegetation change trends. The study results showed the following. 1) From 1990 to 1999, the vegetation slowly degraded; from 2000 to 2012, the extent of vegetation restoration was approximately 1 km from the river; and from 2013 to 2020, the extent of vegetation restoration at the Yingsu and Karday sections increased to 4.5–6.0 km, while that at the Arghan and Yiganbujima sections remained within 1 km from the river. 2) The vegetation growth rate increased substantially and was spatially heterogeneous when the groundwater level reached 4.0–5.0 m and was influenced by surface water divergence; the average vegetation expansion rates per square km for P 1 –P 4 were 0.017 km2/a, 0.011 km2/a, 0.005 km2/a, and 0.002 km2/a, respectively. 3) Flooding by surface water was the main driver of vegetation expansion when groundwater was stable and elevations in surface vegetation area were often accompanied by the spreading of surface water. Surface water was significantly correlated with vegetation cover and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (Water pixels–Vegetation cover [P 1 : R2 = 0.57, P < 0.001; P 2 : R2 = 0.45, P < 0.01]; Water pixels–NDVI [P 1 : R2 = 0.22, P < 0.05; P 2 : R2 = 0.40, P < 0.01]). The increase in surface vegetation has alleviated the desertification process in the LTR, and the survival of the poplar has been mitigated. The results of this paper can help decision makers to formulate reasonable ecological water conveyance strategies and realize sustainable management of DRF ecosystems in arid zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Freeze–thaw erosion is one of the three major soil erosions in China, including wind erosion and hydraulic erosion, which leads to the destruction of the natural environment, the imbalance of economic development, a threat to personal safety, and irreversible disaster to the country and people. China's permafrost area accounts for about one-fifth of the country's land area, and the seasonal permafrost area accounts for half of China's land area, mainly concentrated in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, Xinjiang Province, Heilongjiang Province, Gansu Province, and other regions. In order to establish an evaluation system for the ecological function reserve of the Greater Hinggan Mountains, nine evaluation indicators were selected from the perspectives of topography, climate, soil, and vegetation conditions. GIS technology, a multiple collinearity test, and principal component analysis were used to comprehensively evaluate the freeze–thaw erosion in the ecological function reserve of the Greater Hinggan Mountains. This study categorized the evaluation results into five intensity levels, from micro to severe. Finally, the degree of influence of different influencing factors on freeze–thaw erosion and the interactions between the factors were analyzed using a geographic detector. The results showed the following: (1) The intensity of freeze–thaw erosion in the study area gradually increased from west to east, and the comprehensive evaluation results were −0.2552 to 0.7581. Overall, moderate, severe, and mild erosion accounted for 29.83%, 25.9%, and 21.54% of the total area of the freeze–thaw zone, respectively. (2) Soil moisture content and the annual range in temperature were the main factors contributing to freeze–thaw erosion. The degree of influence of the two effects on freeze–thaw erosion (q = 0.5997) was better than that of the single-factor effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]