Shenmu County Research Articles

Coal Mine Air Pollution and Number of Children Hospitalizations because of Respiratory Tract Infection: A Time Series Analysis.

To analyze the relationship between levels of air pollution and number of children hospitalizations because of respiratory tract infection in Shenmu County, the data regarding meteorological factors, environmental pollutants, that is SO2 and NO2, Particulate Matter 10 (PM10), and hospitalizations of children less than 16 years of age was collected during the time duration of November 2009 to October 2012. Using SAS 9.3, descriptive data analysis for meteorological and environmental factors and hospital admissions were performed along with main air pollutants determination. Using the statistical software R 3.0.1, a generalized additive Poisson regression model was established, the linear fitting models of the air pollutant concentrations and meteorological factors were introduced considering the lag effect, and the relative risk of the main atmospheric pollutants on children hospitalization was evaluated. The results showed that the primary air pollutant in Shenmu County is PM10 and its Pearson correlation coefficient with Air Pollution Index (API) is 0.917. After control of long term climate trend, “week day effect,” meteorological factors, and impact of other contaminants, it was found that, on the same day and during the lag of 1 to 10 days, PM10 concentrations had no significant effect on children hospitalization rate.

A Brief Analysis of Health Care Reform Modes

By introducing the cases of health care reforms in Peoples’ Hospital of Gaozhou City in Guangdong province and Shenmu county in Shaanxi province, namely, “Gaozhou mode” and “Shenmu mode”, we investigate the different policies and effectiveness of the two modes and discuss the influences of government subsidies and market factors to health care reform in order to gain experience and inspiration of health system reform.

Impact of Shanxi Province Shenmu County's meteorological factors on children's lower respiratory tract infection

Objective To evaluate the relationship between Shenmu County's meteorological factors and the number of children's hospitalization due to lower respiratory tract infection. Methods Data collection was performed during Jan.2009 to Dec.2012, concerning Shenmu county's meteorological factors (temperature, pressure, rainfall, light intensity, wind velocity and relative humidity)for the hospitalization of children under 16 years of age. The statistical software SAS 9.3 was used to detect and analyze the correlations of the lower respiratory tract diseases with the hospita-lization rate with respect to meteorological factors, and to compare the total number of hospitalization due to lower respiratory tract diseases.Degree of correlation and the regression relationship were explored among various meteorological factors and the rate of hospitalization because of respiratory infections. Results There were 19 772 patients in this study, including 4 449 lower respiratory tract infection hospitalizations, accounting for 22.5%.The hospitalization rate of lower respiratory tract infection was significantly associated with air temperature(r=-0.651, P<0.001), barometric pressure(r=0.560, P<0.001), rainfall (r=-0.614, P<0.001) and relative humidity (r=-0.470, P<0.001), while it was not statistically associated with the light intensity and the wind velocity.Multiple linear regressions indicated that the lower respiratory tract infection hospitalization rate decreased with the gradual increase of temperature and relative humidity(F=38.30, 15.58, all P<0.001). Conclusion Temperature and relative humidity are the major influencing factors for lower respiratory tract infection hospitalization rate in Shenmu County's children. Key words: Meteorological factors; Hospitalized children; Lower respiratory tract infection

The Shimao Site in Shenmu County, Shaanxi

AbstractIn Shimao Site, stone city walls, city gates, watchtowers, corner towers and auxiliary structures similar to “bastions” are found. The city site comprised the “Imperial City Terrace”, the inner city and the outer city, the general area of which would be larger than 400ha. The eastern gate of the outer city consisting of the inner and outer barbicans, stone-lined rammed earth gate body, the guardhouses, and so on had huge scale, complex structure and advanced construction technique, and yielded jade spades, jade

Ecological Footprint Analysis Applied to a Coal‐Consumption County in China

Sustainable development is a critical issue in developing countries, especially for some regions whose economy depends greatly on non‐renewable resources. The ecological footprint is a measured area‐based indicator to analyze the sustainable use of natural resources. It has been widely used to evaluate whether the natural ecosystem's carrying capacity in a region could support its development. In this study, the method was utilized to determine the per capita ecological footprint, biocapacity and related indices for Shenmu County. Results showed that the ecological deficit was 20.075 ha/capita (cap) in 2009, indicating that Shenmu County was practicing unsustainable development, both socially and economically, and was over‐exploiting its natural resources and the environment. The ecological deficit worsened between 2004, when it was “overloading” (1.978 ha/cap), and 2009, when it was “seriously overloading” (20.075 ha/cap); this was linked to increases in the ecological footprint. The main reason for the ecological deficits was the large energy consumption of industrial production. Most coal consumption was used to produce coke, and coke output thus had that greatest impact on deficits as indicated by stepwise multiple linear regression. In order to decrease ecological deficits, attention should focus on the development of alternative energy sources or technology. Improving and changing land use and energy‐consumption patterns to create a resource‐saving approach would result in steady increases in resource conservation leading to sustainable consumption that will improve the future ecological environment of Shenmu County.

An Important Ornithischian Tracksite in the Early Jurassic of the Shenmu Region, Shaanxi, China

Abstract:A large track site with multiple, well‐preserved trackways of an Early Jurassic quadrupedal ornithischian dinosaur is the first report of Moyenisauripus‐like trackways from Asia, herein named Shenmuichnus youngteilhardorum. The tracks occur in a clastic fluvial sequence in the Fuxian Formation in Shenmu County, Shaanxi Province, which is in the same general region as the discovery site of Sinoichnites, the first dinosaur track reported from China. Based on size and morphology, it is likely that Sinoichnites, which is now lost, also represents an ornithischian. The Shenmuichnus youngteilhardorum trackways show two modes of preservation: the first representing deeper tracks, with sediment rims, results in Deltapodus‐like tracks, with indistinct pes digit traces and sub‐circular manus traces, the second produces Moyenosauripus‐like tracks, with clear tridactyl and pentadactyl digit traces in the pes and manus respectively. Thus the Shenmu trackways play a key role in resolving globally significant ichnotaxonomic problems surrounding the nomenclature of Sinoichnites, Moyenosauripus, Deltapodus and other named (Ravatichnus) and unnamed trackways from Asia, Africa and Europe. In addition they shed important light on the paleogeographical and paleoecological distribution of quadrupedal ornithischians in the Early Mesozoic. The track site has been the focus of a major excavation to transfer the trackways from their original remote location to the new Shenmu Museum, in Shenmu City. Other tracksites in the area which reveal Anomoepus, Grallator and the Deltapodus morphotype, together with Shenmuichnus and plant fossil evidence, suggest an Early Jurassic age for the tracksite.

Landscape Ecological Pattern Evolution of ShenMu County in Northern Shaanxi Province

In this paper, the evolution characteristics of landscape ecological pattern of Shenmu County are addressed based on the principles and methods of landscape ecology and the spatial analysis of GIS and Fragstats in order to maintain and improve the landscape pattern in this region as well as provide support for planning. Firstly, the typical TM / ETM images in 1989, 2002 and 2006 are pro-processed based on GIS software to analyze the land use / cover change process in Shenmu county, and then the change characteristics of landscape pattern are analyzed by landscape indicators. The results demonstrate that the regional differences among different landscape types enlarge gradually, the landscape fragmentation and heterogeneity increase constantly, and the landscape diversity and evenness decrease over the past years.

Landscape Ecological Pattern Evolution of ShenMu County in Northern Shaanxi Province

In this paper, the evolution characteristics of landscape ecological pattern of Shenmu County are addressed based on the principles and methods of landscape ecology and the spatial analysis of GIS and Fragstats in order to maintain and improve the landscape pattern in this region as well as provide support for planning. Firstly, the typical TM / ETM images in 1989, 2002 and 2006 are pro-processed based on GIS software to analyze the land use / cover change process in Shenmu county, and then the change characteristics of landscape pattern are analyzed by landscape indicators. The results demonstrate that the regional differences among different landscape types enlarge gradually, the landscape fragmentation and heterogeneity increase constantly, and the landscape diversity and evenness decrease over the past years.

Temporal-spatial variability of desertification in an agro-pastoral transitional zone of northern Shaanxi Province, China

Desertification has been widely treated as one of the major environmental hazards in the world by scientific communities and the public. Monitoring the dynamics and causes of desertification is essential to provide important instruction for desertification control strategies and rational planning of land use in arid and semi-arid areas. In order to assess temporal–spatial variability of desertification from 1986 through 1993 to 2003 in an agro-pastoral transitional zone of northern Shaanxi, China, satellite images were interpreted and analyzed along with meteorological and socio-economic data. During the intervening 17-year period, desertification has decreased in severity and increased in extent. Temporally, severe desertification has decreased in area by 26.8% from 1986 to 2003. Desertification landscape patch quantities and fragmentation indexes have increased gradually. Spatially, desertification has increased in extent north of the Great Wall and decreased in extent in the Wuding river valley and north-western Shenmu County. The geographic centers of deserts in the study area have moved to the south-west and north-east. Climate change and human activities were somewhat responsible for the decrease in desertification severity but significantly affected the increase in desertification extent. The “Three North Shelterbelt Program” and “Grain-for-Green Project” carried out by the governments were the dominant contributors to the desertification severity reversal. Desertification control is a difficult and gradually process and the government should continue to play and enhance the leading role in this process.

Remote sensing-based temporal-spatial variability of desertification and driving forces in an agro-pastoral transitional zone of Northern Shaanxi Province, China

Desertification has been widely treated as one of the major environmental hazards in the world by scientific communities and the public. In order to assess temporal-spatial variability of desertification from 1986 through 1993 to 2003 in an agro-pastoral transitional zone of Northern Shaanxi, China, satellite images were interpreted and analyzed along with meteorological and socio-economic data. During the intervening 17-year period, desertification has decreased in severity and increased in extent. Temporally, severe desertification has decreased in area by 26.8% from 1986 to 2003. Desertification landscape patch quantities and fragmentation indexes have increased gradually. Spatially, desertification has increased in extent north of the Great Wall and decreased in extent in the Wudao river valley and north-western Shenmu County. The geographic centers of deserts in the study area have moved to the south-west and north-east. Climate change and human activities were somewhat responsible for the decrease in desertification severity but significantly affected the increase in desertification extent. The “Three north shelterbelt program” and “grain-for-green project” carried out by the governments were the dominant contributors to the desertification severity reversal. Desertification control is a difficult and gradually process and the government should continue to play a leading role in this process. Key words: Desertification, spatio-temporal variation, landscape patch quantities, geographic centers, agro-pastoral transitional zone

Can rapid economic growth benefit more? Review of the medical care reform in Shenmu County in China

Shenmu County, Shaanxi Province of China, used to be a poor county but has become rich due to rapid economic growth in recent years. This article examines whether all people living in Shenmu can rightfully benefit from this new economic prosperity and wealth. Facing various challenges, the local government adopted breakthrough social reforms, especially the ‘medical care system free for everyone’. This represented an essential progress in the promotion of citizen's right to health, and the Shenmu case demonstrates the important relationship between human rights and good governance. The experiences of Shenmu attract wide attention inside the country and may be quite enlightening for other localities in today's China.

Temporal changes of soil hydraulic properties under different land uses

Soil hydraulic properties impact the hydrologic cycle. Soil hydraulic conductivity ( K) and the pore size distribution parameter, Gardner α, are important parameters for understanding some aspects of unsaturated soil water flow. They influence infiltration and runoff and the transport of nutrients in soils. K and Gardner α vary with time as well as with spatial position. The objective of this study was to identify whether K, Gardner α, and the contribution of pore size classes to flow varied through time under natural conditions in an Entisol in Shenmu County, China. Disc infiltration experiments at pressure heads of − 15,− 6,− 3, and 0 cm were performed for four times from May to August in 2005 on four fields with different land uses (bunge needlegrass field, alfalfa field, soybean field, and korshinsk peashrub field). The sandy loam textured soil in all of the fields was classified as Ust-Sandic Entisol. The soybean field was moldboard plowed and seeded about 20 days before the commencement of the first set of infiltration measurements, but the other three fields were not subjected to recent human activities before or during the infiltration measurements. The results showed that K and Gardner α under the different land uses generally decreased from May to August, while no significant difference with respect to hydraulic properties was found between different land uses except for K at pressure head of − 15 cm. The contribution of each pore fraction to flow also changed significantly with time, i.e., for macropores (> 0.5 mm), mesopores1 (0.5–0.25 mm), and mesopores2 (0.25–0.1 mm) the contribution decreased, while it increased for micropores (< 0.1 mm). Analysis of variance suggested that K and Gardner α were influenced more by a time factor than by land use. Our results will be helpful for describing hydraulic parameters with the aim of modeling soil water flow more accurately.

Evapotranspiration over the Grassland Field in the Liudaogou Basin of the Loess Plateau, China

Abstract Severe desertification on the Loess Plateau of China since the 17th century as a result of improper land use has caused critical soil erosion and water shortages in the lower reaches of the Yellow River. To prevent further soil erosion, it is very important to cover the bare land surface with natural vegetation. Evapotranspiration (ET) over the grassland ( Stipa bungeana ) in Shenmu County of the Loess Plateau during the growing season is estimated to be about 1 mm day –1 , and the ratio of ET to reference Evapotranspiration (ET/ET 0 ) is below 0.3. Evaporation from the bare soil surface simulated by a three-layer soil model is less than ET; that is, ET is 1.5 times greater than evaporation from the soil surface during the growing season. This study examines the relationships among the surface resistance r s in the Penman–Monteith equation, solar radiation, vapor-pressure deficit, temperature, wind speed, and soil water content. Surface resistance ( r s ) is strongly affected by the vapor-pressure deficit and soil water content.

Study of Land Use Change in Shenmu County Based on RS & GIS

This paper takes Shenmu county as an example. Shenmu county is located in the northern-most part of Yulin prefecture. It covers an area of 7 635 km~2. Depending on 1986 and 2000 TM images and other data, we achieved the land-use change data after interpretation. This paper analyzed the situation of land-use change in temporal and spatial aspects with the GIS and statistic methods. Then this paper analyzed the situation of landscape change with FRAGSTATS 3.3. The results show that: in recent 15 years the cultivated land and the grassland increased by 5 161.11 hm~2 and 56 462.25 hm~2 respectively, the non-used land decreased by 43 763.01 hm~2,the change rate of non-used land is most high. In the direction of land-use change the conversion from non-used land to grassland land and forestland is prominent. The results also show that the landscape structure changed dramatically during the past 15 years. The decrease of Shannon's diversity index and evenness index manifested that the landscape heterogeneity and landscape diversity decreased. The land conservation works well in recent years.