Study on the Evolution and Optimization of the Spatial Structure of the Oasis in the Arid Area: A Case Study of the Aksu River Basin in China.

To achieve high-quality sustainable development in arid areas based on the concept of ecological civilization, it is necessary to deeply study the territorial spatial structure characteristics. Taking the Aksu River Basin, an important ecological security barrier in northwest China, as an example, this paper follows the research idea of "feature analysis-suitability evaluation-conflict identification analysis-optimization" and constructs a comprehensive model based on the AHP-entropy weight comprehensive evaluation method, ArcGIS spatial identification analysis, variance coefficient-TOPSIS method, and NRCA. A comprehensive model based on the AHP-entropy power integrated evaluation method, ArcGIS spatial identification analysis, variance coefficient-TOPSIS method, and NRCA was constructed to guide the optimization of the territorial spatial layout by exploring the characteristics of territorial spatial pattern, the suitability of territorial spatial development, the identification of territorial spatial conflicts, and the efficiency and functional advantage of territorial spatial utilization in the study area.

Impacts of socio-economic determinants, spatial distance and climate factors on the confirmed cases and deaths of COVID-19 in China.

This study is to assess the influences of climate, socio-economic determinants, and spatial distance on the confirmed cases and deaths in the raise phase of COVID-19 in China. The positive confirmed cases and deaths of COVID-19 over the population size of 100,000 over every 5 consecutive days (the CCOPSPTT and DOPSPTT for short, respectively) covered from 25th January to 29th February, 2020 in five city types (i.e.

Characteristics and sources of atmospheric pollutants in typical inland cities in arid regions of central Asia: A case study of Urumqi city.

The arid zone of central Asia secluded inland and has the typical features of the atmosphere. Human activities have had a significant impact on the air quality in this region. Urumqi is a key city in the core area of the Silk Road and an important economic center in Northwestern China.

Influence of Meteorological Factors on the COVID-19 Transmission with Season and Geographic Location.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the relationship between meteorological factors (i.e., daily maximum temperature, minimum temperature, average temperature, temperature range, relative humidity, average wind speed and total precipitation) and COVID-19 transmission is affected by season and geographical location during the period of community-based pandemic prevention and control.

Correction: Climatic and topographic variables control soil nitrogen, phosphorus, and nitrogen: Phosphorus ratios in a Picea schrenkiana forest of the Tianshan Mountains.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Climatic and topographic variables control soil nitrogen, phosphorus, and nitrogen: Phosphorus ratios in a Picea schrenkiana forest of the Tianshan Mountains.

Knowledge about soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, stocks, and stoichiometric ratios is crucial for understanding the biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem function in arid mountainous forests. However, the corresponding information is scarce, particularly in arid mountainous forests. To fill this gap, we investigated the depth and elevational patterns of the soil N and P concentrations and the N: P ratios in a Picea schrenkiana forest using data from soil profiles collected during 2012-2017.

[Contamination Assessment and Sources Analysis of Soil Heavy Metals in Opencast Mine of East Junggar Basin in Xinjiang].

The opencast mine of East Junggar Basin in Xinjiang is the largest self-contained coalfield in China, and the ecological environment of the opencast is very fragile because of its arid climate and poor soil. In this study, 50 soil samples (from 0 to 30 cm depth soil at intervals of 10 cm) in opencast Mine of East Junggar Basin in Xinjiang were collected in order to explore the heavy metals contamination of the coal mining. The contents of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) were measured and the degree of pollution was assessed by Nemerow index, geo-accumulation (Igeo) index and potential ecological risk index.